6,076,790
`[11] Patent Number:
`[19]
`United States Patent
`
`Richter
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Jun. 20, 2000
`
`IJSOO6076790/\
`
`[54] MOBILE ARTICLE SUPPORT DEVICE
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Herbert Richter, Drosselweg 8, 75331
`Engelbrand Germany
`’
`
`2,693,788
`5,215,285
`5,221,006
`5,405,004
`5,760,668
`
`11/1954 Spatz ...................................... 211/69.1
`6/1993 Lewis ...................................... 248/457
`
`6/1993 Plumlee 6t al~
`206/350
`
`4/1995 Vest et al.
`206/350
`............................. 335/285
`6/1998 Testa et al.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 09/045,916
`.
`M313 23: 1998
`Flled3
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`[22]
`[30]
`
`Primary Examiner—Ramon 0. Ramirez
`Assistant Examiner—David Heisey
`Attorney, Agent, or FWm—Klaus J‘ Bach
`
`Jan. 5, 1998
`
`[GB]
`
`United Kingdom .............. 198 00 174
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Int. Cl.7 ....................................................... A47G 1/17
`[51]
`.
`[52] US. Cl.
`...................................... 248/2065, 248/3094
`248/206 5 309 4
`[58] Field of Search
`iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii248/309 1 .687 683
`i
`’
`’
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`In a support device for supporting mobile articles, particu-
`larly for supporting a mobile-telephone in a motor vehicle,
`which includes a support base having a support plate With a
`support surface, permanent magnets are embedded in the
`support surface for holding an article consisting at least
`partially of a magnetic material which is placed onto the
`support surface, in firm engagement With the support sur-
`face.
`
`1,890,000 12/1932 Oakley .................................... 248/687
`2,580,099
`12/1951 Jaeger ..................................... 335/285
`
`4 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`81*
`
`1
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`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 20, 2000
`
`6,076,790
`
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`6,076,790
`
`1
`MOBILE ARTICLE SUPPORT DEVICE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates to a mobile telephone support
`device which includes a base body to be mounted on a
`support surface for firmly retaining an article such as a
`mobile telephone.
`With the increasing use of cellular telephones such sup-
`port devices are becoming quite popular recently particu-
`larly for supporting cellular telephones in motor vehicles.
`Generally, such support devices include side walls which are
`pulled together by springs whereby an article or a telephone
`is engaged between the side walls. Also, support devices
`have become known which have side walls which can be
`
`moved toward each other against the force of a spring and
`which can be locked in various positions in which they
`engage an article or telephone therebetween. This arrange-
`ment has the advantage that the article can be released by
`unlocking the side walls so that they are moved apart by the
`spring and, in their rest positions, the side walls are disposed
`apart so that the article can be easily placed between the side
`walls of the support device and the side walls can then be
`moved together into engagement with the article and locked
`in place.
`A support device, which operates particularly well, is
`disclosed in US. application Ser. No. 08/654,122. This
`support device includes a base body with two clamping
`walls which are movable relative to each other that is at least
`
`one of them is movable toward the other against the force of
`a spring and can be locked in various positions. A release
`mechanisms is provided by which the clamping walls can be
`released.
`It further includes a rotary member which is
`pivotally supported and is operatively coupled with the
`clamping wall so as to be rotated by lateral movement of the
`clamping wall. The locking mechanism includes a first
`engagement wedge by which the rotary member can be
`engaged. Although this support device operates effectively,
`it may not be suitable for all support applications, or it may
`be considered to be unnecessarily cumbersome by some
`users as the clamping walls have to be moved for depositing
`an article on, or removing it from, the support device.
`It is therefore the principal object of the present invention
`to provide a support device for supporting articles and
`particularly mobile telephones in such a way that there is no
`need for the movement of engagement walls for retaining
`the article upon depositing the article nor for the removal of
`the article from the support device.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In a support device for supporting mobile articles, par-
`ticularly for supporting a mobile-telephone in a motor
`vehicle, which includes a support base having a support
`plate with a support surface, permanent magnets are embed-
`ded in the support surface for holding an article consisting
`at least partially of a magnetic material which is placed onto
`the support surface, in firm engagement with the support
`surface.
`
`to firmly hold the
`The magnetic forces are sufficient
`article in engagement with the bottom plate so that the article
`will not move unintentionally out of the support device but,
`on the other hand, the magnetic forces are sufficiently weak
`so that the article can be easily removed from the support
`device. Although only such articles are firmly held by the
`support device according to the invention which include a
`housing or housing portions of a ferromagnetic material
`most, articles which one wishes to support in such a way that
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`they are readily available, such as mobile telephones, do
`include some portions of a ferromagnetic material.
`Accordingly, such a limitation is not particularly restric-
`tive.
`
`Preferably, the magnet or magnets are permanent mag-
`nets. A cobalt nickel alloy permanent magnet was found to
`be particularly suitable. However, a ceramic magnet dis-
`posed in a steel containment is also quite suitable. These
`magnets provide a force which represents a good compro-
`mise between providing a firm hold for the article in the
`support device and a relatively easy removal of the article
`from the support device.
`It is particularly advantageous if the support surface of the
`support device is provided with a non-skid surface cover.
`The non-skid surface cover retains the article more safely as
`the magnetic forces engage the article firmly with the
`non-skid surface so that the article remains firmly in position
`on the support device.
`If the non-skid surface consists of an elastic material the
`
`article is still better retained on the support device: The
`magnetic forces cause the article to compress the elastic
`material so that
`the article is slightly embedded in the
`resilient surface layer whereby the article is snugly received
`in a depression generated by the magnetic forces. With the
`raised area extending around the article, displacement of the
`article on the support surface is practically impossible. It has
`been found to be particularly advantageous to use a sponge
`rubber as the non-skid surface layer on the support surface
`of the support device.
`In another embodiment of the invention, a web structure
`extending normal to the support surface extends along one
`side of the support surface. The web structure forms a side
`wall of the support structure and provides for side support of
`an article placed onto the support surface so that the article
`can be properly placed onto the support surface without
`looking at the support device that is it can be placed onto the
`support surface simply by feel.
`Placement of an article on the support device can be still
`more facilitated if the web structure extends along two
`adjacent side edges of the support surface of the support
`device. Such an arrangement provides for an angle or corner
`into which the article can be placed. With the angled side
`wall an article such as a mobile telephone can easily be
`placed properly onto the support surface of the support
`device without observing the process. This is particularly
`advantageous if the support device is used in a motor vehicle
`as the driver can place for example a mobile phone back
`onto the support surface without taking the eyes from the
`street traffic.
`
`It is also possible to provide side walls at two opposite
`side edges. Such an arrangement is advantageous if one of
`the side walls is slideably adjustable so that the distance
`between the opposite side walls can be changed. However,
`since the holding force is generated by the magnets, the side
`walls do not need to apply clamping forces to an article
`placed between the side walls. The distance between the side
`walls may be so adjusted that an article can be placed on the
`support surface of the support device with some play. The
`side walls may be adjustable by a notch structure or by
`means of screws.
`
`In another embodiment of the invention, the side wall
`formed by the webs is interrupted, that is, a recess is formed
`therein through which a connecting cable such as a power
`supply cord or an antenna cable may extend to a mobile
`phone disposed on the support device.
`The support device preferably includes a mounting struc-
`ture by way of which it can be mounted onto a support
`
`3
`
`

`

`6,076,790
`
`3
`structure. Such a mounting structure may be, for example, a
`mounting bracket as shown in applicants US design patent
`D. 391,266 or Applicants US. patent (appl. Ser. No. 08/670,
`459), which includes engagement claws adapted to be
`received in corresponding openings formed in the bottom
`wall of the support device. With such a mounting
`arrangement, the support device can be easily mounted on,
`and removed from, the mounting structure. However, the
`mounting structure may also consist simply of a double-
`sided self-adhesive pad disposed on the bottom wall of the
`support device.
`The invention will be described in greater detail below on
`the basis of the accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. 1 is a top view of the support device according to the
`invention,
`FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2—2 of
`FIG. 1,
`FIG. 3 is a plain side view of the device shown in FIG. 1
`and,
`FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4—4 of
`FIG. 1.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`As can be seen from the figures the support device
`comprises a base body 1 with a support plate 2 for support-
`ing an article which is not shown. The bottom plate 2
`includes two recesses 2' in which two cylindrical permanent
`magnets 3, 3' are firmly received. The upper surface of the
`permanent magnets 3, 3' is disposed in the same plane as the
`top side of the bottom plate 2. On the top of the support plate
`2 and the magnets 3, 3', there is a non-skid layer 4 of a
`resilient rubber which covers the support surfaces of the
`support device.
`
`4
`The base body 1 and the support plate 2 are rectangular in
`shape. An upstanding web 5, 6 extends along two adjacent
`side edges of the support surface so as to provide side walls
`5, 6 extending at a right angle with respect to each other. The
`side wall 6 extending along a transverse edge includes a
`recess 7 permitting passage for example of a power cord for
`a mobile telephone placed onto the support device.
`At its bottom wall 8 opposite the support plate 2, the
`device includes some openings 9 by which the support
`device can be engaged for mounting onto a support device
`holder as shown in (Ser. No. 08/670,495) whereby hook-like
`clamps extend through the openings 9 for engagement with
`the support device. Alternatively, a two-sided self adhesive
`foil may be disposed on the bottom wall 8 for mounting the
`support device onto a support surface.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. A support device for supporting a mobile telephone,
`comprising a support base including means for mounting
`said support device on a support structure and having a top
`for supporting said mobile telephone, said top having at least
`one recess formed therein a permanent magnet disposed in
`each recess, a non-skid layer disposed on said top so as to
`cover said top and said magnet or magnets in said at least
`one recess and forming a flat support surface for supporting
`said mobile telephone when placed thereon and holding it in
`engagement with said non-skid layer on said top, and a web
`extending along at least one side edge of said support plate
`so as to form a side wall delimiting said support surface.
`2. A support device according to claim 1, wherein said
`non-skid layer consists of a resilient sponge rubber pad.
`3. A support device according to claim 1, wherein said
`web extends along two adjacent side edges of said top so as
`to form an angled side wall.
`4. A support device according to claim 3, wherein said
`web includes a recess for receiving a power cord extending
`to a mobile telephone placed onto said support device.
`*
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