Accessory mount for portable electronic devices

{
  "publication_number": "US10288217B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Accessory mount for portable electronic devices",
  "abstract": "An accessory mount for a portable electronic device includes: a main body including first and second legs which meet at mutual proximate ends thereof so as to form an L-shape; a first flange disposed at a distal end of the first leg that extends away from the first leg in a direction opposite to the second leg; and a second flange disposed at a distal end of the second leg that extends away from the second leg in a direction opposite to the first leg.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An accessory mount for a portable electronic device, comprising: a main body comprising a monolithic plate incorporating a plurality of rigid bends therein, the plurality of rigid bends defining: first and second legs which meet at mutual proximate ends thereof so as to form an L-shape, wherein the second leg defines a front face comprising means for connecting a portable electronic device thereto; a first flange disposed at a distal end of the first leg that extends away from the first leg in a direction opposite to the second leg; and a second flange disposed at a distal end of the second leg that extends away from the second leg in a direction opposite to the first leg; an extension comprising a monolithic plate incorporating at least one rigid bend therein, the at least one bend defining a first extension leg which meets a second extension leg to form an L-shape at mutual proximate ends thereof; wherein the main body includes a plurality of assembly openings passing therethrough, and the extension includes at least one assembly opening passing therethrough; and a mechanical fastener passing through aligned ones of the assembly openings of the main body and the extension, so as to connect the main body and the extension to each other, wherein the assembly openings of the main body and the extension are disposed such that the main body and the extension can be connected to each other in a plurality of different configurations, using the mechanical fastener passing through selected aligned ones of the assembly openings in the main body in the extension.",
    "2. The accessory mount of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting include: a recess formed in the second leg; and a magnet disposed in the recess.",
    "3. The accessory mount of claim 1 wherein a width of the first leg tapers to a smaller dimension from its proximate end to its distal end.",
    "4. The accessory mount of claim 1 further comprising an inductive charging coil carried by the second leg.",
    "5. The accessory mount of claim 1 wherein a hole having a diameter of approximately 1.125 inches is formed through the second flange.",
    "6. The accessory mount of claim 4 further comprising an array of magnets disposed around the inductive charging coil.",
    "7. The accessory mount of claim 1 wherein the main body comprises a polymer.",
    "8. The accessory mount of claim 1 where the extension comprises a polymer."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates generally to accessories for portable electronic devices and more particularly to a mounting apparatus for portable electronic devices.\n\nNumerous types of portable electronic devices are available on the market, such as telephones, tablet computers, portable global positioning system (“GPS”) navigators, electronic book readers, digital music players, cassette and compact disk (CD) players, calculators, and the like. Many of these portable electronic devices are similar in that they have a slab-like form, with a generally rectangular shape in plan view and a thickness which is small compared to the lateral dimensions of the rectangular shape. For example, so-called “smart phones” and tablet computers (or simply “tablets”) often include a flat front screen on a thin slab-like body.\n\nIt is often desirable to support or mount such portable electronic devices in a fixed position to facilitate their use for specific purposes. For example, they may be placed on a desk or table, or mounted in a vehicle in the operator's field of view. Numerous accessory mounts are known for portable electronic devices, but often lack flexibility for use with multiple devices, or can be bulky and inconvenient.\n\nAccordingly, there remains a need for an improved accessory mount accommodating various portable electronic devices.\n\nThis need is addressed by a modular accessory mount which can be assembled in numerous configurations for use with portable electronic devices.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16M 13/02",
    "B60R 11/02",
    "B60R 2011/0008",
    "B60R 2011/0015",
    "B60R 2011/0035",
    "F16B 1/00",
    "F16B 2001/0035",
    "F16B 2200/83",
    "F16M 11/24",
    "F16M 13/00",
    "F16M 13/022",
    "H01F 38/14",
    "H02J 50/10",
    "H02J 7/0042",
    "H02J 7/0044",
    "H02J 7/025",
    "H02J 7/70",
    "H02J 7/731",
    "H04B 1/3877",
    "H04M 1/04"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60R 11/00",
    "B60R 11/02",
    "F16B 1/00",
    "F16M 11/24",
    "F16M 13/00",
    "F16M 13/02",
    "H01F 38/14",
    "H02J 50/10",
    "H02J 7/00",
    "H02J 7/02",
    "H04B 1/3877",
    "H04M 1/04"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Stephen D. Griggs"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-12-03",
  "publication_date": "2019-05-14",
  "grant_date": "2019-05-14",
  "priority_date": "2014-12-04",
  "application_number": "US-201514958131-A",
  "family_id": "56092447",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
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}