Touch screen tablet holder for aircraft yoke assembly

{
  "publication_number": "US10520128B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Touch screen tablet holder for aircraft yoke assembly",
  "abstract": "A personal computer holder for attachment to an aircraft yoke assembly having a control rod and a yoke. The personal computer holder has a hook that is snap-fitted to the control rod. A slider is slidingly connected to the hook. A personal computer holder is pivotally connected to the hook and a personal computer is attached to the personal computer holder. The slider is pushed and pulled to adjust the viewing angle of the personal computer. In a preferred embodiment the personal computer is a touch screen tablet.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A personal computer holder for an aircraft yoke assembly, said yoke assembly comprising a control rod and a yoke, said personal computer holder comprising: A) a hook snap-fitted to said control rod, B) a slider slidingly connected to said hook, C) a personal computer holder pivotally connected and removably connected to said hook, D) a personal computer removably attached to said personal computer holder, wherein said slider is slid to adjust the viewing angle of said personal computer, wherein said slider is held in position due to friction force between said slider and said control rod and between said slider and said hook.",
    "2. The personal computer holder as in claim 1, wherein said personal computer is a touch screen tablet.",
    "3. The personal computer holder as in claim 1, further comprising: A) a pivot rod connected to said personal computer holder, and B) a pivot slot in said hook, said pivot slot for receiving said pivot rod.",
    "4. The personal computer holder as in claim 1, wherein said hook further comprises a deformable partial snap ring for snap fitting said hook to said control rod.",
    "5. The personal computer holder as in claim 1, wherein said personal computer holder comprises: A) at least one cooling fan, and B) a battery for providing power to said at least one cooling fan and said personal computer.",
    "6. The personal computer holder as in claim 1, wherein said slider is hand operated."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to personal computer holders, and in particular, for personal computer holders within general aviation aircraft.\n\nTouch screen tablet personal computers (also referred to as “tablets”) are known. A tablet is a wireless, portable personal computer with a touchscreen interface. The tablet is typically smaller than a notebook computer, but larger than a smartphone. The IPad and the IPad Mini (both trademarks of Apple Inc.) are both examples of a touch screen tablet personal computers. Apps are also known. An app is an abbreviated form of the word “application.” An application is a software program that's designed to perform a specific function directly for the user or, in some cases, for another application program. Several advanced navigational apps have been written for the IPad. These apps contain flight information in some cases superior to the information available on units costing many thousands of dollars more. These other units occupy excessive panel space in comparison to an IPad or an IPad Mini. The iPad system has been approved by the FAA and is in use by many airlines. Additionally, the FAA now allows electronic maps to replace paper maps.\n\nThere are various types of tablet holders that are currently available to pilots that allow them to mount a touch screen tablet personal computer onto mounting device in the cockpit of the aircraft. However, these devices tend to be cumbersome, bulky and can take up space in the cockpit.\n\nFor example, many pilots do not own aircraft but rent them instead or belong to flying clubs.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16M 11/06",
    "B64D 2045/0075",
    "B64D 43/00",
    "B64D 45/00",
    "F16M 11/041",
    "F16M 11/10",
    "F16M 13/00",
    "G06F 1/1626",
    "G06F 1/1632",
    "G06F 1/20",
    "G06F 1/263",
    "G06F 3/041"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16M 11/06",
    "G06F 1/16",
    "G06F 3/041",
    "H05K 5/00",
    "H05K 7/00"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Robert Longo"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-01-05",
  "publication_date": "2019-12-31",
  "grant_date": "2019-12-31",
  "priority_date": "2018-01-05",
  "application_number": "US-201815862635-A",
  "family_id": "67140088",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
  "citations": [
    "US3809338A",
    "US4969623A",
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    "US5626320A",
    "US5704212A",
    "US6567069B1",
    "US6394406B1",
    "US20080296454A1",
    "US20100072323A1",
    "US20140191033A1",
    "US8910863B2"
  ]
}