Universal Cell Phone Holder

Abstract

Disclosed is a holder for retaining an electronic device within a vehicle. The holder includes a first segment oriented along a first axis, a second segment unitary with the first segment and oriented along a second axis, and a third segment unitary with the second segment and oriented along a third axis. The second segment includes opposite end portions. The vehicle includes a sun visor mounted on an elongated member mounted to an inner surface of the vehicle. The elongated member includes opposite end portions. The first segment of the holder includes a hooked end portion that is non-rotatably secured to one of the opposite end portions of the elongated member. The holder includes a strip of hook-and-loop material adhesively secured to the third segment. The cell phone has a backside surface to which is secured another strip of hook-and-loop material. One of the strips of hook-and-loop material, when engaged with and secured to the other of the strips of hook-and-loop material, secures the cell phone to the third segment.

Claims

1. A holder for retaining a cell phone within a vehicle, comprising: a first elongated segment disposed along a first axis, a second elongated segment disposed along a second axis and defining a first end portion unitary with the first segment, wherein the second segment includes a second end portion spaced opposite the first end portion and a third elongated segment disposed along a third axis, wherein the third segment is unitary with the second end portion of the second segment, wherein the vehicle includes a sun visor mounted on an elongated member mounted to an inner surface of the vehicle, wherein the elongated member defines a first end portion and a second end portion spaced from the first end portion, wherein the first elongated segment defines a hooked end portion removably secured to at least one of the first and second end portions of the elongated member that is connected to the inner surface of the vehicle, wherein the holder further includes a first elongated strip of hook-and-loop fabric material secured to the third elongated segment along the third axis thereof, wherein the cell phone defines an exterior surface to which is secured a second strip of hook-and-loop fabric material, wherein the second strip of hook-and-loop fabric material, when engaged with and removably secured to the first strip of hook-and-loop fabric material, removably secures the cell phone to the third elongated segment of the holder.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a car, a sport utility vehicle, a pickup truck, a bus, and a tractor trailer.

3. The holder of claim 2, wherein the vehicle includes a rearview mirror adjacent the sun visor, and wherein the rearview mirror defines a horizontal axis used by an operator of the vehicle to determine adjacent and rear traffic activity.

4. The holder of claim 3, wherein the holder is configured to orient the cell phone above the horizontal axis of the rearview mirror, to present a cell phone viewing window at a level and at a depth-of-field useful to a driver of the vehicle.

5. The holder of claim 3, wherein the holder is configured to orient the cell phone below the horizontal axis of the rearview mirror, to present a cell phone viewing window at a level and at a depth-of-field useful to a driver of the vehicle.

6. The holder of claim 3, wherein the holder is configured to orient the cell phone along the horizontal axis of the rearview mirror, to present a cell phone viewing window at a level and at a depth-of-field useful to a driver of the vehicle.

7. An electronic device holder for removably securing an electronic device within a vehicle, wherein the holder comprises: a first elongated segment disposed along a first axis and at least one other elongated segment unitary with the first segment and disposed along a second axis, wherein the second axis is oriented transverse to the first axis, wherein the vehicle includes a sun visor rotatably mounted on an elongated member pivotally mounted to an inner surface of the vehicle, wherein the elongated member defines a first end portion and a second end portion spaced from the first end portion, wherein the first elongated segment defines a hooked end removably secured to at least one of the first and second end portions of the elongated member pivotally connected to the inner surface of the vehicle, wherein the holder further includes a first elongated strip of hook-and-loop fabric material secured to the at least one other segment along the second axis, wherein the electronic device defines an exterior surface to which is secured a second strip of hook-and-loop fabric material, wherein the second strip of hook-and-loop fabric material, when engaged with and removably secured to the first strip of hook-and-loop fabric material, removably secures the cell phone to the at least one other elongated segment.

8. The electronic device holder of claim 7, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a car, a van, a limousine, a pick-up truck, a bus, a sport utility vehicle (“SUV”), an all-wheel drive (“AWD”) vehicle, and a tractor trailer.

9. The electronic device holder of claim 7, wherein the at least one other elongated segment consists of: a second elongated segment disposed along the second axis, wherein the second segment has a first end portion unitary with the first segment, wherein the second segment includes a second end portion spaced from the first end portion and a third elongated segment disposed along a third axis, wherein the third segment is unitary with the second segment at the second end portion thereof.

10. The electronic device holder of claim 9, wherein the third axis is oriented transverse to the second axis.

11. The electronic device holder of claim 10, wherein the third axis is oriented about 160 degrees relative to the second axis.

12. The electronic device holder of claim 11, wherein the second axis is oriented about 90 degrees relative to the first axis.

13. The electronic device holder of claim 7, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a cell phone or a personal digital assistant.

14. The electronic device holder of claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a cell phone.

15. The electronic device holder of claim 14, wherein the vehicle includes a rearview mirror adjacent the sun visor, wherein the rearview mirror defines a horizontal axis used by an operator of the vehicle to determine traffic activity.

16. The electronic device holder of claim 15, wherein the electronic device holder is configured to orient the cell phone above the horizontal axis of the rearview mirror.

17. The electronic device holder of claim 15, wherein the electronic device holder is configured to orient the cell phone below the horizontal axis of the rearview mirror.

18. The electronic device holder of claim 15, wherein the holder is configured to orient the cell phone along the horizontal axis of the rearview mirror.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] FIG. 1 is a combination including a backside view (left) and side elevational view (right) of an electronic device holder according to the present subject matter.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a backside view of cell phones used in combination with the holder.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a picture of a view through a windshield of a car.

[0023] FIGS. 4 and 5 are screen shots of a vehicle component shown in FIG. 3.

[0024] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a component shown in FIG. 1.

[0025] FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views that a driver within a vehicle would see.

[0026] Throughout the drawing figures and detailed description, I shall use similar reference numerals to refer to similar components of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Please refer to the figures referenced below to view a present embodiment of the present subject matter. An illustrated embodiment of the present subject matter—my present invention—is directed to an electronic device holder that I designed to securely retain an electronic device including but not limited to a cell phone such as an iPhone (which is sold, for example, by Apple) and/or a “smart” phone (which is sold, for example, by Samsung and others) within a vehicle. My electronic device holder is also designed to securely, yet removably, retain the electronic device in a manner, so as to present to a driver of a vehicle including but not limited to a car, a van, a bus, a sport utility vehicle, a pickup truck, and a tractor trailer, with an electronic device viewing window positioned at substantially the same level as a driver's rearview mirror, and to the far left of the rearview mirror, and thus away from a driver's view-of-the-road through a windshield of the vehicle.

[0028] My electronic device holder 100 (please see FIG. 1) is of special design for securely, yet removably, retaining an electronic device such as a smaller cell phone 200A or a larger cell phone 200B (please see FIG. 2) in a vehicle. My electronic device holder 100, made of a relatively stiff metallic or polymeric material, consists of a first elongated segment 102 oriented along a first axis A-A, a second elongated segment 104 oriented along a second axis B-B, and a third elongated segment 106 oriented along a third axis C-C. The first axis A-A is oriented transverse, preferably about 160 degrees, relative to the second axis B-B; and the second axis B-B is oriented transverse, preferably about 90 degrees, relative to the third axis C-C. The second elongated segment 104 has a first end portion 108 unitary the first elongated segment 102 and a second end portion 110 (spaced opposite the first end portion 108) unitary with the third elongated segment 106.

[0029] The holder 100, which is preferably about 0.25 inches thick and about 1 inch wide, is made of rigid materials including but not limited to metallic and polymeric materials, to which strips of loop-and-hook fabric can be adhesively attached, and which materials will maintain their rigidity, overall strength, and integrity over time and under conditions where temperatures, to which a holder is subjected, will vary.

[0030] As used throughout this patent specification and for purposes of the present subject matter, the term “vehicle” shall be understood to include but not be limited to: a car, a van, a limousine, a pick-up truck, a bus, a sport utility vehicle (“SUV”), an all-wheel drive (“AWD”) vehicle, a tractor trailer (whether or not the tractor is connected to a trailer to become an “18-wheel” vehicle), with a car 300A (please see FIG. 3) being a preferred vehicle for purposes of the present subject matter.

[0031] Vehicle 300A (please refer to FIG. 3) includes a sun visor 310A which is mounted on an elongated member or support rod 312A (please see FIG. 4) which, in turn, is mounted to an inner upper surface 314A (please see FIG. 5) of the vehicle 300A. The elongated member or support rod 312A includes opposite end portions, which are described as a support rod first end portion 316A and a support rod second end portion 318A spaced opposite the first end portion 316A (FIG. 5).

[0032] Briefly referring to FIG. 1, please note that the drawing presented on the right is a mirror-image of the electronic device holder of the present subject matter. Thus, the first elongated segment 102 of the electronic device holder 100, shown schematically, includes a hooked end portion 112 configured and dimensioned to be securely fixed to (and also detachable from) the support rod second end portion 318A (please see FIG. 5) which is located to the far left of a driver of the vehicle.

[0033] Further in this regard, the third elongated segment 106 of my electronic device holder 100 (FIG. 1), includes an elongated strip of hook-and-loop fabric 114 oriented longitudinally along longitudinal axis C-C (FIG. 1), and outlined in white (FIG. 6) for purposes of providing dimensional details relative to the third elongated segment 106 of my electronic device holder 100. The hook-and-loop fabric material 114 is adhesively bonded to the third elongated segment 106 by an adhesive material. Presently available adhesive materials that would be suitable for purposes of the present subject matter include wood glues, elastomers, silicone sealants, pressure-sensitive tapes, and pressure-sensitive films. To keep clean and maintain the integrity of the hook-and-loop fabric material, a protective film 116 is used to cover and protect the hook-and-loop fabric material 114 until it is utilized.

[0034] Referring again briefly to FIG. 2, a smaller size cell phone 200A such as an iPhone (sold by Apple in calendar year 2017 approximately) and a larger size cell phone 200B are shown. Each cell phone 200A, 200B in FIG. 2 is shown vertically oriented. Moreover, each cell phone 200A, 200B has a strip of hook-and-loop fabric material adhesively bonded vertically to a backside. Furthermore, the smaller size cell phone 200A has bonded to its backside a strip of hook-and-loop fabric material 214A which, preferably, is about 0.75 inches wide and about 1.5 inches long; and the larger size cell phone 200B has bonded to its backside a strip of hook-and-loop fabric material 214B that, preferably, is 0.75 inches wide and about 2 inches long.

[0035] The strips of hook-and-loop fabric material 214A, 214B (FIG. 2)—respectively adhesively bonded to each of the cell phones 200A, 200B—when engaged with and attached to the hook-and-loop fabric material 114 adhesively bonded to the third elongated segment 106, removably secures one of the cell phones 200A and 200B to the third elongated segment 106 of the electronic device holder 100 (FIG. 1).

[0036] Installation Instructions for Electronic Device (Universal Cell Phone) Holder: Normally, the sun visor 310A (please see FIG. 4) located in the vehicle 300A for the benefit of the driver will usually have been raised above a typical line-of-sight of the driver and often will additionally have been raised against the inner upper surface 314A (see FIG. 5) of the vehicle 300A. A first step involves bringing the sun visor 310A down, then unclipping the support rod or elongated member 312A from its mount 325A (see FIG. 4), and finally pivoting the formerly clipped end portion 316A of the support rod or elongated member 312A toward the driver side window (FIG. 5). Note that the support rod or elongated member 312A, on which the sun visor 310A is rotatably mounted (FIG. 5), includes the support rod end portion 316A, formerly clipped to the mount 325A (FIG. 4), and the support rod opposite end portion 318A pivotally mounted to the inner upper surface 314A above the driver by a pivot mechanism 330A. The support rod end portion 318A is secured to the inner upper surface 314A above the driver (FIG. 5). A second step involves mounting the hooked end portion 112 of the electronic device holder 100 (FIG. 1) to the support rod end portion 318A at a location that is far left of the driver (FIG. 5), to avoid impairing or interfering with a driver's view of the road, then next rotating the support rod or elongated member 312A about the pivot mechanism 330A, and finally re-clipping the end portion 316A to the mount 325A. A final step involves attaching the appropriately sized cell phone 200A, 200B to the electronic device holder 100 by securing the hook-and-loop fabric material 214A, 214B adhesively secured to the backside of an appropriately sized cell phone 200A, 200B (FIG. 2) to the hook-and-loop fabric material 114 that is adhesively secured to the third elongated segment 106 of the electronic device holder 100 (FIG. 6).

[0037] Referring again briefly to FIG. 3, the vehicle 300A is provided with a rear view mirror 320A which is located adjacent to (also described as “located near to”) the sun visor 310A which was discussed above in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. For vehicles having a rear view mirror, mounted similar to the rear view mirror 320A shown in FIG. 3, the rear view mirror 320A provides a horizontal axis X-X that is used by an operator or driver of vehicle 300A to determine forward, adjacent (i.e., along the left-hand side and/or right-hand side), and backside traffic activity.

[0038] As noted above, the drawing presented on the right side of FIG. 1 is a mirror-image of the electronic device holder 100 of the present subject matter. Thus, the first elongated segment 102 of the electronic device holder 100, shown schematically, includes the hooked end portion 112 configured and dimensioned to be securely fixed to (yet also removable from) the support rod second end portion 318A (FIG. 5) which is located to the far left of a driver of the vehicle. When the hooked end portion 112 (FIG. 1) is secured to the support rod end portion 318A (FIG. 5), the hooked end portion 112 (FIG. 1) is non-rotatably secured to the support rod end portion 318A (FIG. 5), to enable the second segment 104 (FIG. 1) and/or 104B (FIG. 7) of the electronic device holder 100 (FIG. 1) to be urged upwardly and away from the driver, which in turn enables the third segment 106 (FIG. 1) and/or 106B (FIG. 7) of the electronic device holder 100 (FIG. 1) to be located along, either slightly above or slightly below, the horizontal axis X-X (FIG. 3), to enable an appropriate cell phone 200A, 200B to be held by the third segment 106 (FIG. 1), 106A (FIG. 8) toward the far left side of a driver's line-of-sight.

[0039] The cell phone holder of the present subject matter—my invention—thus enables a driver to periodically check the electronic device holder-mounted cell phone for incoming information and/or the rearview mirror of the vehicle for nearby traffic conditions, while maintaining eye contact with roads being traveled.

[0040] What has been illustrated and described in this application is a novel holder for an electronic device such as a cell phone, where the electronic device holder was designed to be used within a vehicle for the purpose of providing a driver of the vehicle with hands-free use of the electronic device. While the present subject matter has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, the present subject matter is not limited to these examples. On the contrary, many alternatives, changes, and/or modifications will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the field of the present subject matter after this application is read. Thus, all such alternatives, changes, and/or modifications are to be treated as part of the present subject matter insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of claims that follow.