Apparatus and method for holding a portable electronic device

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are disclosed for holding a portable electronic device such as a navigation system unit, a multimedia/music player, a cellular phone, and a satellite radio. In one embodiment of the invention, a clamp enables a firm and removable attachment of a novel portable electronic device holder to a neck of a center rear view mirror in a vehicle. In an alternate embodiment, a C-clamp with a turning screw is used instead. A vertical bar or a non-straight-line-shaped extension operatively attached to the clamp is typically extendable and retractable to allow a user to adjust the novel portable electronic device holder to a comfortable length. The design of the novel portable electronic device holder does not require a use of an air suction cup or adhesive materials for a base piece attachment to a vehicle's dashboard which provides several advantages over conventional designs.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to a portable electronic device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for holding a portable electronic device, especially in a spatially limited environment such as an interior of a vehicle.[0002]Many portable electronic devices in the market today are increasingly becoming essential to a consumer's daily tasks. A portable Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) navigation system, for example, was once a proprietary technology exclusively used in military applications. Rapid advancements in microprocessors' computational power, miniaturized storage capacities, and display technologies in recent years brought GPS applications to the consumer market at affordable prices. Consumers are increasingly becoming dependent on portable GPS navigation systems and other portable electronic devices such as portable MP3 players, palm-top computers, and smart-phones which may be required t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Summary and Abstract summarize some aspects of the present invention. Simplifications or omissions may have been made to avoid obscuring the purpose of the Summary or the Abstract. These simplifications or omissions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0008]In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for holding a portable electronic device is disclosed. This apparatus comprises a clamp configured to latch onto a neck of a center rear view mirror in a vehicle; one or more grips on the clamp, wherein the one or more grips can be squeezed to create an opening to position the clamp on the neck of the center rear view mirror before the opening is closed sufficiently to hold the clamp and the neck of the center rear view mirror firmly; a vertical bar or a non-straight-line-shaped extension operatively attached to the clamp, wherein the vertical bar or the non-straight-line-shaped extension may optionally comprise one or more segments and may optionally be extendable or retractable; and a device latch operatively attached to the vertical bar or the non-straight-line-shaped extension, wherein the device latch is configured to dock the portable electronic device.

[0009]In another embodiment of the invention, a portable electronic device holder comprises a clamp configured to latch onto an appropriate location and/or an appropriate material, such as a neck of a center rear view mirror in a vehicle; one or more grips on the clamp, wherein the one or more grips can be squeezed to create an

Problems solved by technology

Although factory-spec in-dash navigation systems are also increasingly becoming popular, the cost of the factory-spec in-dash navigation is typically much higher than a portable GPS navigation system.

Unfortunately, the conventional portable electronic device holders have significant drawbacks for users.

For example, an air suction cup-based portable electronic device holder frequently loses its adhesion to a windshield if there is a change in ambient temperature near the windshield.

In certain cases, a driver is required to attach a GPS navigation system only to a corner portion of a front windshield, because certain local, state, and/or national governme

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