IP Library Granted Patent US 9,890,899
Granted Patent B2
US 9,890,899 · App. 15/165,815 · Granted Feb 13, 2018

Portable electronic device mounting systems and methods

Inventors: John William Theis (St. Paul, MN); Shaun Christopher Lindblad (Lino Lakes, MN); Robert William Fluhrer (Prior Lake, MN); Mustafa A. Ergun (Plymouth, MN)
Assignee: Ergotron, Inc.
F16M13/022A47B23/04F16M11/04F16M11/041F16M11/2064F16M13/02A45F2200/0525A47B2097/006F16M2200/028
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,890,899
App. No.
15/165,815
Granted
Feb 13, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus to hold an electronic device includes a housing assembly including a housing body; a first arm configured to extend from a first end of the body; a first hook and a second hook engaged to and extending from a first end region of the first arm, a portion of the first hook and a portion of the second hook extending toward the body, the first hook and the second hook forming a first hook pair to receive the device; a second arm configured to extend from a second end of the body; and a third hook and a fourth hook engaged to and extending from a first end region of the second arm, a portion of the third hook and a portion of the fourth hook extending toward the housing body, the third hook and the fourth hook forming a second hook pair to receive the device.

Claims (67)

1. An apparatus configured to hold a portable electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a housing assembly including:

a housing body;

a first arm formed as a single component configured to extend from a first end of the housing body and including:

a first hook and a second hook extending from a first end region of the first arm, the first hook having a top and a base and the second hook having a top and a base, the base of the first hook and the base of the second hook being engaged to the first end region of the first arm, a portion of the first hook and a portion of the second hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the first hook and the second hook forming a first hook pair configured to receive a first portion of the portable electronic device;

wherein the first hook includes at least two faces defining a first inner rounded edge, the first inner rounded edge including a first contacting surface configured to contact the portable device;

wherein the second hook includes at least two faces defining a second inner rounded edge, the second inner rounded edge opposing the first inner rounded edge, and the second inner rounded edge including a second contacting surface configured to contact the portable device opposite the first contacting surface; and

a second arm formed as a single component configured to extend from a second end of the housing body and including:

a third hook and a fourth hook extending from a first end region of the second arm, the third hook having a base and the fourth hook having a base, the base of the third hook and the base of the fourth hook being engaged to the first end region of the second arm, a portion of the third hook and a portion of the fourth hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the third hook and the fourth hook forming a second hook pair configured to receive a second portion of the portable electronic device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing defines a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber separated from the second chamber by a divider, the first chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the first arm, and the second chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the second arm.

3. An apparatus configured to hold a portable electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a housing assembly including:

a housing body;

a first arm configured to extend from a first end of the housing body;

a first hook and a second hook engaged to and extending from a first end region of the first arm, the first hook having a top and a base and the second hook having a top and a base, the base of the first hook and the base of the second hook being engaged to the first end region of the first arm, a portion of the first hook and a portion of the second hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the first hook and the second hook forming a first hook pair configured to receive a first portion of the portable electronic device;

a second arm configured to extend from a second end of the housing body; and

a third hook and a fourth hook engaged to and extending from a first end region of the second arm, the third hook having a base and the fourth hook having a base, the base of the third hook and the base of the fourth hook being engaged to the first end region of the second arm, a portion of the third hook and a portion of the fourth hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the third hook and the fourth hook forming a second hook pair configured to receive a second portion of the portable electronic device, wherein the housing body defines a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber separated from the second chamber by a divider, the first chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the first arm, and the second chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the second arm, wherein the divider defines a plurality of divider teeth, the housing assembly comprising a lock rod including:

a lock rod body having a first end and a second end;

a key lock positioned at the first end of the lock rod body and configured to receive a key; and

a plurality of lock rod teeth positioned at the second end of the lock rod body, the plurality of lock rod teeth configured to engage the plurality of divider teeth and prevent movement of the first arm when the lock rod body is turned using the key.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lock rod body extends through a portion of the first arm.

5. The apparatus of any claim 1 , wherein the second arm includes a cover, the cover defining a plurality of notches, the housing assembly including a housing cover and a lock latch rotatingly coupled to the housing cover, the lock latch defining at least one tooth, the lock latch configured to engage one of the plurality of notches and lock the second arm in a position relative to the housing body.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a lock spring attached to an end of the lock latch, the lock spring configured to bias the lock latch toward the plurality of notches.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

a first boss attached to the housing body;

a second boss attached to the first arm; and

a spring having a first end engaged to the first boss and a second end engaged to the second boss, the spring configured to bias the first arm towards a closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the first hook and the portion of the second hook angularly extending toward the housing body are straight, and wherein the portion of the third hook and the portion of the fourth hook angularly extending toward the housing body are straight.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first hook and the second hook are not connected to one another, and wherein the third hook and the fourth hook are not connected to one another.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is a first corner and wherein the second portion is a second corner.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is a first edge and wherein the second portion is a second edge.

12. A system configured to hold a portable electronic device, the system comprising:

a mounting bracket;

a housing assembly configured to couple to the mounting bracket and hold a portable electronic device, the housing assembly including:

a housing body;

a first arm formed as a single component configured to extend from a first end of the housing body and including:

a first hook and a second hook extending from a first end region of the first arm, the first hook having a top and a base and the second hook having a top and a base, the base of the first hook and the base of the second hook being engaged to the first end region of the first arm, a portion of the first hook and a portion of the second hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the first hook and the second hook forming a first hook pair configured to receive a first portion of the portable electronic device;

wherein the first hook includes at least two faces defining a first inner rounded edge, the first inner rounded edge including a first contacting surface configured to contact the portable device;

wherein the second hook includes at least two faces defining a second inner rounded edge, the second inner rounded edge opposing the first inner rounded edge, and the second inner rounded edge including a second contacting surface configured to contact the portable device opposite the first contacting surface; and

a second arm formed as a single component configured to extend from a second end of the housing body and including:

a third hook and a fourth hook extending from a first end region of the second arm, the third hook having a base and the fourth hook having a base, the base of the third hook and the base of the fourth hook being engaged to the first end region of the second arm, a portion of the third hook and a portion of the fourth hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the third hook and the fourth hook forming a second hook pair configured to receive a second portion of the portable electronic device.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the housing defines a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber separated from the second chamber by a divider, the first chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the first arm, and the second chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the second arm.

14. A system configured to hold a portable electronic device, the system comprising:

a mounting bracket;

a housing assembly configured to couple to the mounting bracket and hold a portable electronic device, the housing assembly including:

a housing body;

a first arm configured to extend from a first end of the housing body;

a first hook and a second hook engaged to and extending from a first end region of the first arm, the first hook having a top and a base and the second hook having a top and a base, the base of the first hook and the base of the second hook being engaged to the first end region of the first arm, a portion of the first hook and a portion of the second hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the first hook and the second hook forming a first hook pair configured to receive a first portion of the portable electronic device;

a second arm configured to extend from a second end of the housing body; and

a third hook and a fourth hook engaged to and extending from a first end region of the second arm, the third hook having a base and the fourth hook having a base, the base of the third hook and the base of the fourth hook being engaged to the first end region of the second arm, a portion of the third hook and a portion of the fourth hook angularly extending toward the housing body, the third hook and the fourth hook forming a second hook pair configured to receive a second portion of the portable electronic device, wherein the housing body defines a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber separated from the second chamber by a divider, the first chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the first arm, and the second chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the second arm, wherein the divider defines a plurality of divider teeth, the housing assembly comprising a lock rod including:

a lock rod body having a first end and a second end and extending through a portion of the first arm;

a key lock positioned at the first end of the lock rod body and configured to receive a key; and

a plurality of lock rod teeth positioned at the second end of the lock rod body, the plurality of lock rod teeth configured to engage the plurality of divider teeth when the lock rod body is turned using the key.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second arm includes a cover, the cover defining a plurality of notches, the housing assembly including a housing cover and a lock latch rotatingly coupled to the housing cover, the lock latch defining at least one tooth, the lock latch configured to engage one of the plurality of notches and lock the second arm in a position relative to the housing body.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a lock spring attached to an end of the lock latch, the lock spring configured to bias the lock latch toward the plurality of notches.

17. The system of claim 14 , comprising:

a first boss attached to the housing body;

a second boss attached to the first arm; and

a spring having a first end engaged to the first boss and a second end engaged to the second boss, the spring configured to bias the first arm towards a closed position.

18. The system of claim 14 , comprising:

a support arm configured to be engaged to a support surface, an end of the support arm configured to couple to the mounting bracket.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the support surface is a wall.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the support surface is a generally horizontal work surface, the system comprising:

a clamp configured to attach to the work surface; and

a riser configured to extend upwardly from the clamp, the support arm configured to slidingly couple to the riser.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first hook and the third hook extend toward each other along a first plane, wherein the second hook and the fourth hook extend toward each other along a second plane, and wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially parallel.

22. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first hook and the third hook extend toward each other along a first plane, wherein the second hook and the fourth hook extend toward each other along a second plane, and wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially parallel.

Assignments (2)
GRANT OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2022
From: ERGOTRON, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 060613/0415 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2016
From: THEIS, JOHN WILLIAM; LINDBLAD, SHAUN CHRISTOPHER; FLUHRER, ROBERT WILLIAM; ERGUN, MUSTAFA A.
To: ERGOTRON, INC.
Reel/Frame 039942/0541 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62189471 · Jul 7, 2015
Related Publication 20170009935A1 · Jan 12, 2017