Attachment for holding portable device, holding structure for portable device, and holding method

Abstract

To provide an attachment for holding a mobile device which is not costly, does not easily pop out due to vibration, and can be easily removed.SOLUTION: An attachment (2) for holding a mobile device is attached, in use, to a holder (1) for holding a smartphone and has a base portion (21) formed in a shape of a rectangular flat plate with which a clip portion (32) of a mobile device (3) can be engaged in a first direction, and a pair of side walls (22, 23) protruding in a same direction from edges of the base portion (21), which are regions facing each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and is formed to have a U-shaped cross section. When an inner surface (21a) of the base portion (21) is divided in the second direction into two being a first region (AR1) and a second region (AR2), the second region (AR2) is flat, meanwhile the first region (AR1) is flat on one side in the first direction and an engaging portion (25) is provided on the other side, in which a cross section in the first direction is approximately triangular, and engaging protrusions (251) protruding from the inner surface (21a) and extending in the second direction are arranged side by side in the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2B

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an attachment for holding a portable device, a holding structure for a portable device, and a holding method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a holding structure for holding a portable device such as a portable radio on a wall surface, etc. The holding structure described in Patent Document 1 includes a base plate having an engaging recess-forming member that forms an insertion hole, and a holder main body that has a clip that engages with the insertion hole in the base plate and can clamp the portable radio. The base plate is then fixed in advance to the wall surface, etc., on which the portable radio is to be held, and the clip of the holder main body, with the portable radio clamped, is engaged with the insertion hole in the base plate. This allows the portable radio to be held on the wall surface, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-214051 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] With the widespread use of smartphones, universal holders for attaching smartphones to automobile dashboards have also become popular. These holders have, for example, a back panel that is fixed to the dashboard, a bottom wall that protrudes from the back panel toward the passenger compartment and supports the lower edge of the smartphone, and multiple arms that elastically clamp both sides of the smartphone. Holders with this structure are highly versatile, being able to hold a variety of smartphones with small differences in external dimensions. On the other hand, portable radios generally have a clip on the back or are capable of being fitted with a clip so that they can be easily held in a user's pocket or belt.

[0005] When the holding structure described in Patent Document 1 is used to hold a portable device, such as a portable radio, which has a clip for hanging on a belt, on a dashboard, for example, a smartphone holder cannot be used because the external shapes of a portable radio and a smartphone are significantly different. In other words, a dedicated holder that matches the external shape of the portable radio must be used, which increases costs. Furthermore, if the holding structure involves inserting the clip by sliding it into a base plate, there is a risk that the portable radio will pop out and become detached due to the vehicle's intense up-and-down vibrations. To prevent the portable radio from popping out, a corrugated engagement structure between the clip and the base plate has been considered. However, to remove the portable radio, the clip must be pulled out by opening the tip with one's fingers to release the corrugated engagement, which makes removal not necessarily easy. Therefore, there is a demand for a holding structure for a portable device that is not expensive, does not jump out due to vibration, and can be easily removed.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for holding a portable device, a holding structure for a portable device, and a holding method that are not expensive, do not easily pop out due to vibration, and can be easily removed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an attachment for holding a portable device and a holding structure for a portable device according to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention have the following configurations. 1) It is attached to a holder that holds a smartphone, The clip portion of the portable device is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape and has a base portion that can be engaged with the clip portion of the portable device in a first direction, and a pair of side walls that protrude in the same direction from edges of the base portion, which are regions that face each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and is formed in a U-shaped cross section; When the inner surface of the base portion is divided into two in the second direction into a first region and a second region, the second region is flat; The first region is an attachment for holding a portable device, which has one side flat in the first direction and on the other side has an engaging portion with a cross section in the first direction that is approximately triangular, protrudes from the inner surface, and extends in the second direction, and has multiple engaging protrusions arranged side by side in the first direction. 2) a holder having a base plate and capable of holding a smartphone placed on the base plate; an attachment placed on the base plate and held by the holder; Equipped with The attachment is an attachment for holding a portable device as described in 1), wherein the pair of side wall portions are held in a direction facing the base plate, and a space is formed between the base plate of the holder and the base portion of the attachment, a portable device having a clip portion with a clip arm portion is held by inserting the clip arm portion of the clip portion into the first region of the attachment in the space from the one side and engaging with the engaging portion; This is a holding structure for a portable device, in which the held portable device can be slid sideways into the second area to disengage the clip arm portion from the engagement portion, and then moved toward the one side to remove it from the space and remove it. 3) An attachment for holding a portable device having a clip portion, a first region having a flat surface on one side in a first direction and an engaging portion that engages with the clip portion on the other side; and a second region having a flat surface adjacent to the first region in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the portable device is inserted into the first area from one side in the first direction while being clipped by the clip portion to be in a holding state where the portable device is engaged with the engagement portion; This is a method for holding a portable device, in which the held portable device is slid sideways in the second direction to move to a second area where the engagement between the clip portion and the engagement portion is released, and then moved toward one side in the first direction to remove it from the attachment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The attachment for holding a portable device, the holding structure for a portable device, and the holding method of the present invention have the advantages of being less costly, not easily thrown out by vibration, and being easily removable. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder 1 in a holding structure HK, which is one embodiment of a holding structure for a portable device of the present invention, viewed obliquely from below and rear to the right. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the attachment 2 in the holding structure HK, seen from diagonally below and rear to the right. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the attachment 2 as seen from diagonally above the front right side. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2C is a front view of the attachment 2. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the holder body HT in the holding structure HK, seen from diagonally below and rear to the right. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line S3B-S3B in FIG. 3A. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A is a first perspective view seen from diagonally above the front right, for explaining a method for holding the portable radio device 3 on the attachment 2. FIG. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a second perspective view seen from diagonally above the front right, for explaining a method for holding the portable radio device 3 on the attachment 2. FIG. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4C is a perspective view seen from diagonally above the front right, illustrating a method for removing the portable radio device 3 from the attachment 2. FIG. [Figure 4D] FIG. 4D is a perspective view of the holder body HT holding the portable radio device 3, as viewed from diagonally below and behind the right side. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an attachment 2A, which is a first modification of the attachment 2, as viewed from diagonally above and to the front right. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a front view of an attachment 2B which is a second modification of the attachment 2. As shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A holding structure HK, which is one embodiment of the holding structure for a mobile device of the present invention, will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3B. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a holder 1 in the holding structure HK, which is one embodiment of the holding structure for a mobile device of the present invention, as seen from diagonally below and rear right. Fig. 2A is a perspective view of an attachment 2 in the holding structure HK, as seen from diagonally below and rear right. Fig. 2B is a perspective view of the attachment 2, as seen from diagonally above and front right. Fig. 2C is a front view of the attachment 2. Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a holder body HT in the holding structure HK, as seen from diagonally below and rear right. Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the S3B-S3B position in Fig. 3A.

[0011] For ease of explanation, the up / down, left / right, front / rear directions are defined as the directions shown in Fig. 1. These up / down, left / right, front / rear directions are defined with the front being the direction of travel of the automobile in a mode in which the portable radio device 3 is held on the dashboard of the automobile, which will be described later as an example of an installation mode. The up / down direction is also referred to as the first direction, and the left / right direction is also referred to as the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The upper side of the up / down direction is also referred to as one side, and the lower side is also referred to as the other side.

[0012] The holding structure HK has a holder 1 and an attachment 2. When the attachment 2 is attached to the holder 1 to form a holder body HT, the clip portion of the portable radio 3 can be engaged with the attachment 2 for holding a portable device, thereby holding the portable radio 3. First, the holder 1 will be described.

[0013] (Holder 1) 1, the holder 1 has an attachment portion 11, a support portion 12, and a base plate 13. The attachment portion 11 is formed as a base and is a portion that is attached to a desired attachment member by, for example, adhering. The attachment member is, for example, a dashboard of an automobile. The support column 12 is erected on the mounting section 11 and connects the mounting section 11 to the base plate 13. The support column 12 has an angle adjustment mechanism (not shown), which allows the angle of the surface of the base plate 13 relative to the extending direction of the support column 12 to be adjusted to any angle within a predetermined range.

[0014] The base plate 13 is formed in a flat plate shape and has pressing pieces 14 and 15 protruding rearward, and a bottom piece 16 . The pressing pieces 14 are a pair of plate-shaped pieces provided on the left and right edges of the base plate 13, respectively, extending rearward opposite each other, and are elastically expandable in the widthwise (left-right) spacing as shown by arrow DR1. In this example, a pair of pressing pieces, pressing piece 15, is also provided at a position spaced below pressing piece 14.

[0015] The bottom piece 16 is provided as a plate piece extending rearward from the lower edge of the base plate 13 . With the bottom piece 16 and the pressing pieces 14, 15, the holder 1 functions as a holder that can hold smartphones of various external dimensions by placing them on the base plate 13, supporting their lower edge with the bottom piece 16, and elastically clamping their widthwise sides with the pressing pieces 14, 15. As described above, the holder 1 has the same structure as a general-purpose smartphone holder, and therefore it is possible to use a suitable smartphone holder from among the various types of smartphone holders available on the market.

[0016] (Attachment 2) As shown in Figure 2A, the attachment 2 has a rectangular, flat base portion 21 and side wall portions 22, 23 that rise in the same direction from the left and right edges of the base portion 21, and is formed so that its cross-sectional shape is U-shaped (U-shaped cross section).

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, a guide portion 24 and an engagement portion 25 are formed on an inner surface 21a, which is the front surface of the base portion 21, so as to protrude slightly forward. The inner surface 21a has two regions that are divided almost equally in the width direction: an insertion region AR1, which is the first region on the left side, and a removal region AR2, which is the second region adjacent to the right side.

[0018] The guide portion 24 is a protrusion having a right-angled triangular cross section and extending in the vertical direction. The guide portion 24 is formed across the insertion area AR1 and the removal area AR2, and is formed with an inclined portion 24a having a flat inclined surface that is higher on the removal area AR2 side, and a back portion 24b that connects the top of the inclined portion 24a to the inner surface 21a and is generally perpendicular to the inner surface 21a. The upper end of the guide portion 24 is located at the same position as the upper end of the base portion 21, and the lower end of the guide portion 24 is located slightly above the center of the base portion 21 in the vertical direction.

[0019] The engagement portion 25 is provided in approximately the lower half of the insertion area AR1 in the vertical direction, and is a portion where a plurality of engagement protrusions 251 extending left and right are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Each engagement protrusion 251 has a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape with the lower side rising toward the front. Specifically, the engagement protrusion 251 has an inclined portion 25a having a flat inclined surface that rises from top to bottom with respect to the inner surface 21a, an apex 25b that is the maximum height of the inclined portion 25a, and a back surface 25c that connects the apex 25b and the inner surface 21a and is approximately perpendicular to the inner surface 21a.

[0020] A holder body HT is formed by attaching the attachment 2 to the holder 1. As shown in Fig. 3A, the attachment 2 is held by the holder 1 with the side wall portions 22, 23 extending forward, the lower edge of the base portion 21 abutting against the bottom piece 16 of the holder 1, and the side wall portions 22, 23 of the attachment 2 being clamped in the width direction (left-right direction) by the pressing pieces 14, 15 as shown by the arrows DR2.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3B, the holder body HT is surrounded by the base plate 13, the side walls 22, 23, and the base portion 21, and the upper side is widely open to the outside, forming a space E that penetrates in the vertical direction.

[0022] (Portable radio 3) 4D shows a state in which the above-mentioned holder body HT holds a portable radio 3 as a portable device. The portable radio 3 has a housing 31 that can be held in the hand. On the front side of the housing 31, from above, there are provided a display unit 33 that displays information, an operation unit 34 including controls (buttons, etc.) for operating the portable radio 3 with fingers or the like, and an audio input / output unit 35 that has a microphone for inputting audio and a speaker for outputting audio disposed therein.

[0023] 4A, the portable radio device 3 has a clip portion 32 on the back surface of the housing 31. The clip portion 32 is provided integrally with the back surface of the housing 31. Of course, the clip portion 32 may be detachably attached to the housing 31. The clip portion 32 has a clip arm portion 321, which is a plate-like piece that is long in the vertical direction. The clip arm portion 321 rotates (see arrow DR31) about a rotation axis CL3 that extends in the width direction (left-right direction) with respect to the housing 31, and extends downward from the rotation axis CL3.

[0024] A clip protrusion 322 that protrudes toward the housing 31 is formed at the tip of the inner surface of the clip arm 321. In this example, the clip protrusion 322 is formed in the shape of a rib that extends in the left-right direction. The tip of clip protrusion 322 has an inclined surface formed such that the height of protrusion from clip arm 321 decreases toward the tip. This inclined surface guides the belt or the like to enter inside clip portion 32 when clip arm 321 is engaged with the belt or the like. Furthermore, the inclined surface rotates clip arm 321 in the opening direction at the initial stage of the belt or the like entering clip portion 32. This allows the belt or the like to be smoothly engaged with clip portion 32.

[0025] Clip arm 321 is always biased to rotate toward housing 31 by a biasing member (not shown), and in a natural state without external force, clip protrusion 322 is biased and abuts against housing 31. Clip arm 321 can be rotated by pinching it with fingers or the like and lifting it to the opposite side from housing 31 against the biasing force of the biasing member.

[0026] 4A to 4C, the portable radio 3 is attached to and detached from the holder body HT. Specifically, the portable radio 3 is attached by engaging the clip portion 32 with the base portion 21 of the attachment 2 of the holder body HT. 4A to 4C are perspective views of the attachment 2 and the portable radio device 3 attached to and detached from the attachment 2, as viewed from diagonally above and to the front right, with the holder 1 of the holder body HT not shown.

[0027] (Method of holding portable radio 3) 4A, the user of the portable radio 3 moves the portable radio 3 above the insertion area AR1 of the attachment 2 to an upright position, and then moves the base portion 21 downward so as to insert it between the clip arm portion 321 of the clip portion 32 and the housing 31 (see arrow DR3). That is, the user inserts the clip arm portion 321 into the space E from above. At this time, if the insertion position of the portable radio 3 is biased toward the removal area AR2, the clip protrusion portion 322 abuts against the inclined portion 24a of the guide portion 24, and the insertion position is naturally guided toward the insertion area AR1.

[0028] As the downward movement continues, base portion 21 abuts against the inclined surface of clip protrusion 322, and is further lowered, the insertion is guided by the inclined surface, clip arm 321 rotates in the opening direction, and the upper edge of base portion 21 enters clip portion 32. Upper portion 21a1 of engagement portion 25 in insertion area AR1 is a flat surface with no irregularities. Therefore, even if base portion 21 enters clip portion 32 even slightly, portable radio 3 can continue to move downward with almost no resistance.

[0029] When the portable radio 3 is further moved downward, clip protrusion 322 of clip arm 321 reaches engaging portion 25, increasing the resistance to movement. By further pressing down the portable radio 3 against the increased resistance to movement, clip protrusion 322 moves downward while climbing over engaging protrusion 251 of engaging portion 25. When the portable radio 3 continues to move downward and the upper edge 21b of base portion 21 abuts against the base of clip portion 32 as shown in FIG. 4B , the downward movement of the portable radio 3 is restricted. In other words, the portable radio 3 is held by base portion 21 at a position where clip protrusion 322 is caught on back surface 25c of engaging protrusion 251, just before the movement is restricted. In this way, the portable radio 3 is held by holder body HT.

[0030] (Removing portable radio 3) When removing the portable radio device 3 held in the holder body HT as described above, the user first slides the portable radio device 3, which is engaged and held by the engaging portion 25 of the insertion area AR1, laterally (to the right) to move it to the removal area AR2 (see arrow DR4), as shown in Fig. 4C. Since the engaging protrusions 251 of the engaging portion 25 extend in the left-right direction and the protruding height of the guide portion 24 is lower than the inner surface of the clip arm portion 321, the sliding in the lateral direction can be easily performed without much resistance.

[0031] After moving the portable radio 3 into the removal area AR2 and releasing the engagement, it is then moved upward to separate it from the space E of the attachment 2, i.e., removed (see arrow DR5). This upward movement can be easily performed without much resistance because the removal area AR2 is flat. In other words, the holding structure HK allows the portable radio 3 to be easily removed by sliding it sideways and then moving it upward, with virtually no resistance felt.

[0032] As described above in detail, the holding structure HK is not costly because a general-purpose smartphone holder can be used as the holder 1. Furthermore, in the holding state shown in Fig. 4B , the clip protrusion 322 of the clip arm 321 of the clip portion 32 engages with the engagement portion 25 of the base portion 21 of the attachment 2. Therefore, when the held portable radio device 3 is moved upward, excessive resistance is generated, and the portable radio device 3 is unlikely to jump out of the holder body HT even if vibrations or the like are applied.

[0033] The present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the holding structure HK may be one in which the holder 1 and the attachment 2 are integrally formed.

[0034] (Variation 1) The attachment 2 may be an attachment 2A of Modification 1 having an engaging portion 25A shown in FIG. The engaging portion 25A is different from the engaging portion 25 in that the right edge of the engaging protrusion 251 is formed as an ascending portion 25Ab that becomes higher toward the right end. As a result, when the user slides the portable radio 3, which has been held by the attachment 2A with the clip arm 321 engaged with the engaging portion 25, to the side, a resistance that can be felt by the rising portion 25Ab is generated. Therefore, the user can reliably know that the portable radio 3 has moved to the removal area AR2 when the resistance is eliminated.

[0035] (Variation 2) The attachment 2 may be an attachment 2B of a second modified example having an engaging portion 25B shown in FIG. Engagement portion 25B has curved portion 25Bb where the right edge of engagement protrusion 251 bends upward toward the right end, compared to engagement portion 25. Since the spacing between the tops of curved portion 25Bb in the up-down direction becomes narrower toward the right end, it is preferable that clip protrusion 322B at the tip of clip arm 321B of portable radio 3 has a hemispherical shape that protrudes toward engagement portion 25B, rather than a rib shape that extends in the left-right direction. As a result, when the user slides the portable radio 3 sideways to move it to the removal area AR2, it naturally lifts upward slightly, so that the user can sense by touch that it is being moved to the removal area AR2, and the amount of upward movement when removing it is also reduced, making it easier to remove.

[0036] The above-described portable radio 3 is an example of a portable device having a clip for hanging on a belt or the like, but the portable device is not limited to a portable radio and may be other devices.

[0037] The attachments 2, 2A, and 2B are made of, for example, resin, but may also be made of metal or other materials other than resin.

[0038] The positions and ranges of the engagement portions 25, 25A, 25B are not limited, but it is preferable to set them to roughly half in the left-right direction, and the up-down direction may be set appropriately depending on the shape of the holder for the portable radio to be held. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 holder 11 Mounting part 12 Support section 13 Base plate 14,15 Clamp 16 bottom piece 2, 2A, 2B attachments 21 Base 21a Inside (front) 21a1 upper part 22,23 Side wall 24 Guide section 24a Slope 24b back 25,25A,25B Engagement part 25a Slope section 25Ab rising part 25Bb curved section 25b Top 25c back 251 Engagement protrusion 3 Portable radio 31 Case 32 Clip part 321,321B Clip arm 322,322B Clip protrusion 33 Display section 34 Control section 35 Audio input / output section AR1 insertion region AR2 sampling area CL3 rotation axis E space HK retention structure HT holder body MD mounting part (dashboard)

Claims

1. It is attached to a holder that holds a smartphone, a base portion formed in a rectangular flat plate shape and capable of engaging with a clip portion of a portable device in a first direction; and a pair of side walls projecting in the same direction from edges of the base portion, which are regions facing each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and having a U-shaped cross section; When the inner surface of the base portion is divided into two in the second direction into a first region and a second region, the second region is flat; An attachment for holding a portable device, wherein the first region has one side flat in the first direction and the other side has an engaging portion having a cross section in the first direction that is approximately triangular, protruding from the inner surface and extending in the second direction, and wherein multiple engaging protrusions are arranged side by side in the first direction.

2. 2. An attachment for holding a portable device as described in claim 1, which has a guide portion formed to extend in the first direction, having an inclined surface that spans the first area and the second area on one side of the inner surface in the first direction and whose protruding height from the inner surface increases as it approaches the second area.

3. 2. The attachment for holding a portable device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging protrusion has an end portion on the side of the second region that is formed as an inclined portion whose protruding height increases toward the end portion.

4. 2. An attachment for holding a portable device as described in claim 1, wherein the engaging protrusion has a curved portion at the end on the side of the second region, the top of which curves toward the one side of the first direction as it approaches the end.

5. a holder having a base plate and capable of holding a smartphone placed on the base plate; an attachment placed on the base plate and held by the holder; Equipped with The attachment is an attachment for holding a portable device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pair of side wall portions are held in a direction facing the base plate, and a space is formed between the base plate of the holder and the base portion of the attachment, a portable device having a clip portion having a clip arm portion is held by inserting the clip arm portion of the clip portion into the first region of the attachment in the space from the one side and engaging with the engaging portion; A holding structure for a portable device, in which the held portable device can be slid sideways into the second area to disengage the clip arm portion from the engagement portion, and then moved toward the one side to remove it from the space and remove it.

6. An attachment for holding a portable device with a clip part, a first region having a flat surface on one side in a first direction and an engaging portion that engages with the clip portion on the other side; and a second region having a flat surface adjacent to the first region in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, the portable device is inserted into the first area from one side in the first direction while being clipped by the clip portion to be engaged with the engaging portion, A method for holding a portable device, in which the portable device in the held state is slid sideways in the second direction to move to a second area where the engagement between the clip portion and the engagement portion is released, and then the device can be removed from the attachment by moving it toward one side in the first direction.

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