throbber
US006076790A
`6,076,790
`(114) Patent Number:
`United States Patent 55
`Richter
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Jun. 20, 2000
`
`
`[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 Spat w...ecssesceeesersetseeenes 211/69.1
`6/1993) LeWiS oo. eeeseseeeeeeeeneeteeeeeenees 248/457
`
`. 206/350
`6/1993 Plumleeetal.
`
`... 206/350
`4/1995 Vest et al.
`.....
`cccccccccsssssssssesseeeeee 335/285
`6/1998 Testa et ale
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 09/045,916
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Mar. 23, 1998
`
`[30]
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Primary Examiner—Ramon O. Ramirez
`Assistant Examiner—David Heisey
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Klaus J. Bach
`
`Jan. 5, 1998
`
`[GB]
`
`United Kingdom ue. 198 00 174
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Tint, C07 ccccccccsscccseccsssnssscesesessteseeeesee A47G 1/17
`[SL]
`[52] US. Che ccssscsssssseccseessseeseeeees 248/206.5; 248/309.4
`[58] Field of Search oo... 248/206.5, 309.4,
`248/309.1, 687, 683
`
`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.
`
`APPLE 1030
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1,890,000 12/1932 Oakley ...cec ec ceeeeeceee 248/687
`2,580,099
`12/1951 Jaeger w.ccceecseccesccseeseeenees 335/285
`
`4 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1030
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 20, 2000
`
`6,076,790
`
`{|
`f
`|
` ]
`4
`
`~~,
`ASANASANSAASNNAASASAANAAAA
`
`7272
`Y
`
`
`STScoo
`SSS
`
`
`
`™Nre
`
`(JPIMCDLMRDPODLMAMEDLLMLDMML|SSNsN]“Ss0Ne
`RASSEEEBABES
`
`
`2
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`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 wherebyanarticle or a telephone
`is engaged between the side walls. Also, support devices
`have become known which have side walls which can be
`
`10
`
`15
`
`2
`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 ofthe article
`from the support device.
`It is particularly advantageousif the support surface of the
`support device is provided with a non-skid surface cover.
`The non-skid surface coverretains the article more safely as
`the magnetic forces engage the article firmly with the
`non-skid surface sothat 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 wherebythe article is snugly received
`in a depression generated by the magnetic forces. With the
`raised area extending aroundthearticle, displacementof the
`article on the support surfaceis 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
`one of them is movable toward the other against the force of
`extending normal to the support surface extends along one
`a spring and can be locked in various positions. A release
`side of the support surface. The web structure forms a side
`mechanismsis provided by which the clamping walls can be
`wall of the support structure and providesfor side support of
`released.
`It further includes a rotary member which is
`an article placed onto the support surface so that the article
`pivotally supported and is operatively coupled with the
`35
`clamping wall so asto be rotated by lateral movementof the
`can be properly placed onto the support surface without
`
`clamping wall. The locking mechanism includesafirst looking at the support device that is it can be placed onto the
`engagement wedge by which the rotary member can be
`support surface simply by feel.
`engaged. Although this support device operates effectively,
`Placementof an article on the support device can bestill
`it may not be suitable for all support applications,or it may
`more facilitated if the web structure extends along two
`be considered to be unnecessarily cumbersome by some
`adjacent side edges of the support surface of the support
`users as the clamping walls have to be moved for depositing
`device. Such an arrangementprovides for an angle or comer
`an article on, or removing it from, the support device.
`into which the article can be placed. With the angled side
`wall an article such as a mobile telephone can easily be
`It is therefore the principal object of the present invention
`placed properly onto the support surface of the support
`to provide a support device for supporting articles and
`device without observing the process. This is particularly
`particularly mobile telephones in such a waythat there is no
`advantageousif the support device is used in a motorvehicle
`need for the movement of engagement walls for retaining
`as the driver can place for example a mobile phone back
`the article upon depositing the article nor for the removal of
`onto the support surface without taking the eyes from the
`the article from the support device.
`street traffic.
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`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 betweenthe 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 U.S. application Ser. No. 08/654,122. This
`support device includes a base body with two clamping
`walls which are movablerelative to each otherthatis at least
`
`25
`
`30
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`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 whichis placed onto
`the support surface, in firm engagement with the support
`surface.
`
`to firmly hold the
`The magnetic forces are sufficient
`article in engagementwith 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 wishesto support in such a way that
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`It is also possible to provide side walls at two opposite
`side edges. Such an arrangementis 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 betweenthe side walls. The distance betweenthe side
`walls may be so adjusted that anarticle 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 websis 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 U.S. 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 44 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 magnets3, 3' is disposed in the same planeas the
`top side of the bottom plate 2. On the top of the supportplate
`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 supportplate 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 powercord 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 shownin (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.
`Whatis claimedis:
`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 havingat 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 forminga flat support surface for supporting
`said mobile telephone when placed thereon and holdingit 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.
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4
`
`

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket