Pivotable vehicle mounting system for mobile computing devices

1. A mounting device, comprising:

a cradle comprising a first recess and configured to be mounted in a vehicle;

a pivotable hinge member coupled to the cradle; and

a docking tray coupled to the pivotable hinge member, wherein the docking tray comprises a second recess shaped and dimensioned to receive a rear surface of an electronic computing device,

wherein the docking tray is configured to alternate between a first position in which the docking tray is recessed within the first recess in the cradle, and a second position in which the docking tray is diposed at a distance away from the cradle in an area in front of the cradle,

wherein the first recess is shaped and dimensioned to receive an entirety of a rear surface of the docking tray, and the entirety of the rear surface of the docking tray is disposed within the first recess while the docking tray is in the first position,

wherein the docking tray alternates between the first position and the second position in response to activating the pivotable hinge member, and the pivotable hinge member is activated by pushing the docking tray in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the docking tray, and

wherein the second recess is substantially parallel to the first recess.

2. The mounting device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a securing member disposed on a first end of the docking tray; and

a connection member disposed on a second end of the docking tray, opposing the first end, wherein

the connection member comprises a connection port configured to matingly receive a connector of the electronic computing device and supply power to the electronic computing device, and

the securing member is configured to slidably move in a first direction away from the docking tray to receive the electronic computing device into the docking tray, and slidably move in a second direction toward the docking tray to secure the electronic computing device within the docking tray.

3. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable hinge member is coupled to the cradle near a center of the cradle and is coupled to the docking tray near a center of the docking tray.

4. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the docking tray is configured to rotate about a plurality of axes while the docking tray is in the second position.

5. The mounting device of claim 4 , wherein the docking tray is configured to rotate about two axes while the docking tray is in the second position.

6. The mounting device of claim 5 , wherein a first axis of the two axes is a rotation axis and a second axis of the two axes is a tilt axis, an orientation of the electronic computing device while coupled to the docking tray is adjusted upon rotating the docking tray about the rotation axis, and a viewing angle of the electronic computing device while coupled to the docking tray is adjusted upon rotating the docking tray about the tilt axis.

7. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic computing device comprises a tablet device or a smartphone.

8. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the cradle is disposed in a vehicle headrest.

9. The mounting device of claim 8 , wherein a front surface of the electronic computing device is substantially flush with an outer surface of the vehicle headrest while the electronic computing device is coupled to the docking tray and while the docking tray is in the first position.

10. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the cradle is configured to be disposed in an overhead in the vehicle.

11. A mounting device, comprising:

a cradle comprising a first recess and configured to be mounted in a vehicle headrest;

a pivotable hinge member coupled to the cradle; and

a docking tray coupled to the pivotable hinge member, wherein

the docking tray is configured to lock in a first locked position in which the docking tray is locked within the first recess in the cradle, and lock in a second locked position in which the docking tray is locked at a distance away from the cradle in an area in front of the cradle,

the first recess is shaped and dimensioned to recieve an entirety of a rear surface of the docking tray, and the entirety of the rear surface of the docking tray is disposed within the first recess while the docking tray is locked in the first locked position,

the docking tray comprises a second recess shaped and dimensioned to receive an electronic computing device,

the docking tray is configured to alternate between locking in the first and second locked positions in response to a force being applied to the docking tray in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the docking tray to activate the pivotable hinge member, and

the docking tray is configured to rotate about a rotation axis and a tilt axis while the docking tray is in the second locked position, wherein an orientation of the electronic computing device while coupled to the docking tray is adjusted upon rotating the docking tray about the rotation axis, and a viewing angle of the electronic computing device while coupled to the docking tray is adjusted upon rotating the docking tray about the tilt axis.

12. The mounting device of claim 11 , further comprising:

a securing member disposed on a first end of the docking tray; and

a connection member disposed on a second end of the docking tray, opposing the first end, wherein

the connection member comprises a connection port configured to matingly receive a connector of the electronic computing device and supply power to the electronic computing device, and

the securing member is configured to slidably move in a first direction away from the docking tray to receive the electronic computing device into the docking tray, and slidably move in a second direction toward the docking tray to secure the electronic computing device within the docking tray.

13. The mounting device of claim 11 , wherein a front surface of the electronic computing device is substantially flush with an outer surface of the vehicle headrest while the electronic computing device is coupled to the docking tray and while the docking tray is in the first locked position.

14. The mounting device of claim 11 , wherein the pivotable hinge member is coupled to the cradle near a center of the cradle and is coupled to the docking tray near a center of the docking tray.

15. A mounting device, comprising:

a cradle comprising a recess configured to be mounted in a vehicle headrest;

a pivotable hinge member coupled to the cradle; and

a docking tray coupled to the pivotable hinge member, and shaped and dimensioned to receive an electronic computing device, wherein

the docking tray is configured to alternate between a first locked position and a second locked position in response to a force being applied to the docking tray in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the docking tray to activate the pivotable hinge member,

wherein an entirety of a rear surface of the docking tray is disposed within the recess in the cradle while in the first locked position, and the docking tray is disposed outside of the recess in the cradle while in the second locked position,

the docking tray is configured to rotate about a rotation axis and a tilt axis while disposed in the second locked position, wherein the docking tray is located in an area between the cradle and a vehicle seat facing the cradle while in the second locked position, and

an orientation of the electronic computing device while coupled to the docking tray is adjusted upon rotating the docking tray about the rotation axis, and a viewing angle of the electronic computing device while coupled to the docking tray is adjusted upon rotating the docking tray about the tilt axis.

16. The mounting device of claim 15 , wherein the pivotable hinge member is coupled to the cradle near a center of the cradle and is coupled to the docking tray near a center of the docking tray.

17. The mounting device of claim 16 , further comprising:

a securing member disposed on a first end of the docking tray; and

a connection member disposed on a second end of the docking tray, opposing the first end, wherein

the connection member comprises a connection port configured to matingly receive a connector of the electronic computing device and supply power to the electronic computing device, and

the securing member is configured to slidably move in a first direction away from the docking tray to receive the electronic computing device into the docking tray, and slidably move in a second direction toward the docking tray to secure the electronic computing device within the docking tray.

18. A mounting system, comprising:

a cradle comprising a first recess and configured to be mounted in a vehicle;

a pivotable hinge member coupled to the cradle;

a docking tray coupled to the pivotable hinge member, wherein

the docking tray is configured to lock in a first locked position in which the docking tray is disposed within the first recess in the cradle in response to a first force being applied to the docking tray in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the docking tray to activate the pivotable hinge member while the docking tray is locked in a second locked position in which the docking tray is disposed outside of the first recess in the cradle, and lock in the second locked position in which the docking tray is disposed outside of the first recess in the cradle in response to a second force being applied to the docking tray in the direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the docking tray to activate the pivotable binge member while the docking tray is locked in the first locked position,

the first recess is shaped and dimensioned to receive an entirety of a rear surface of the docking tray, and the entirety of the rear surface of the docking tray is disposed within the first recess while the docking tray is locked in the first locked position, and

the docking tray is shaped and dimensioned to receive an electronic computing device;

a securing member disposed on a first end of the docking tray, wherein

the securing member is configured to slidably move in a first direction away from the docking tray to receive the electronic computing device into the docking tray, and slidably move in a second direction toward the docking tray to secure the electronic computing device within the docking tray;

a connection member disposed on a second end of the docking tray, opposing the first end, wherein the connection member comprises a second recess shaped and dimensioned to receive a removable connection adapter; and

a plurality of removable connection adapters, each comprising a different connection port configured to matingly receive a connector of a different electronic computing device and supply power to the different electronic computing devices.