FR3051165A1 - MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE SUPPORT SYSTEM HAVING BUCKLES AND HOOKS - Google Patents

Abstract

Support system (11) for a mobile communication device (1) comprising a casing and a screen, this system (11) comprising: - a shell (12) for protecting the device (1), of a shape complementary to the casing ; - a support comprising a support structure and a plate, of dimensions smaller than those of the shell (12), mounted on the support structure; - a primary attachment strip, with loops or hooks, fixed to an outer face of the shell (12); - A secondary fastening strip (27), with hooks or, respectively, loops, fixed to a front face of the plate and capable of adhering removably to the primary fastening strip.

Description

The invention relates to a support system for a mobile communication device such as a smartphone or a tablet.

It is common that one seeks to fix, temporarily and removably, a mobile communication device, to have it in range and enjoy its features while having free hands for occupation such as driving.

This need is old: we can eg. see U.S. Patent No. 5,529,271 (Dunchock), which provides support for a vehicle-mount-mounted phone to allow the driver to have the phone within reach. In a first version, the hooking of an antenna telephone is made by interlocking a tongue fitting. In a second version, the docking of the home box of a wired telephone is achieved by means of Velcro (trademark) fastening strips.

The first version is practical, in theory at least. In reality, the fitting is troublesome when the phone is used outside the context of the vehicle, especially when the user wants to slip into a pocket or put it on a table. In the first case, the tongue clings to the clothes. In the second case, the tongue lines the surface of the table. In addition, the phone must, before being removed from its support, slid up to release the tab. The positioning of the support must therefore take into account the release stroke, which is binding. In addition, the fixing of the phone on its support must be carried out accurately, the slightest error in the positioning of the phone causing its fall. But it is common that the user has neither the time nor the opportunity (especially to keep your eyes fixed on his path) to proceed to such positioning.

As for the second version, it fears by the necessity, when the home box must be hooked by other means (eg by screwing) on another surface, to remove the Velcro strap, at the risk of damaging The box. The aim of the invention is to provide a support system for a mobile communication device, which, among other objectives: leaves the device itself intact, allowing the device to be removed from its support by simple traction, in particular to allow positioning the support at any place suitable for the user, is simple in structure and easy to use, allows a fast (and even effective) fixing (removable) (while effective) of the device. For this purpose, it is proposed a support system for a mobile communication device provided with a front face and a rear face, this apparatus comprising a housing forming the rear face and a screen mounted on the housing and forming at least a part of the front face, this device comprising: a protective shell of the device, of complementary shape to the housing, this shell comprising a bottom intended to be applied against the rear face of the housing, and side walls formed in protruding from the bottom and provided with returns intended to snap or fit on the side edges of the front face; a support comprising a support structure and a plate, mounted on the support structure and which has at least a width or height less than a width or, respectively, a height of the shell; a primary fastening band, with loops or hooks, fixed on an outer face of the bottom of the hull; a secondary hooking band, hooked or respectively to loops, fixed on a front face of the plate and adapted to adhere removably to the primary fastening strip.

Various additional features may be provided, alone or in combination. Thus: the plate advantageously has a width less than a width of the shell; the plate advantageously has a height less than a height of the shell; the plate can be mounted on the supporting structure: o rigidly, o by means of a ball joint, o or by any other articulation; the primary fastening band is advantageously a loop band, and the secondary band hooking a hook band; the primary loop fastening strip is advantageously fixed by gluing on the outer face of the shell; the secondary fastening band is advantageously fixed by gluing on the plate; the shell is preferably made of a rigid or semi-rigid material; the plate is, for its part, preferably made of a rigid material; the carrier structure defines eg. a clamping ring adapted to be mounted on a tubular, such as a bicycle handlebar. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of the description of an embodiment, given below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view, on top , showing a mobile communication apparatus, a protective shell of this apparatus and a loop fastening tape; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view, on top, showing a support for the apparatus, in a first version; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, from below, showing the apparatus of FIG. FIG.4 is an exploded perspective view, from below, of the support of FIG.2; FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view showing the implantation of the support of FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 on a bicycle handlebar; FIG.6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the support and the mobile device mounted thereon; FIG.7 is a cross-sectional view along the plane VII-VII of FIG.6; FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing, on top of it, a mobile communication apparatus and a support therefor in a second version; FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing, from below, the mobile communication apparatus and the support of FIG. FIG.10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the support of FIG.8 and FIG.9; FIG.11 is a perspective view showing the implantation of the support of FIG.9 and FIG.10 on a dashboard of a motor vehicle.

In FIG.1 is shown a mobile communication apparatus 1. It is in this case a mobile phone type smartphone, but it could be any other mobile communication device easily transportable, such as a tablet. This apparatus 1 is provided with a front face 2 and an opposite rear face 3. The front side 2 and the rear side 3 are connected by songs, namely a pair of side edges 4, a top edge 5 and a lower edge 6, which can be rounded to make the grip of the apparatus more comfortable. 1. The apparatus 1 generally has a rectangular shape, the corners may be rounded. From a structural point of view, the apparatus 1 comprises a housing 7, which forms the rear face 3 and, if appropriate, the edges 4, 5, 6. This housing 7 constitutes the framework of the apparatus 1 and houses the essential electronic components necessary for its operation. In some models, the housing 7 may be at least partly metallic (eg aluminum). In others, the housing 7 is mostly made of a plastic material. The apparatus 1 further comprises a screen 8 which forms at least a portion of the front face 2. This screen 8, which is advantageously tactile, can be made in a mineral (eg glass or synthetic ruby), or in a plastic material.

The front face 2 is delimited, in the vicinity of the side edges 4, by lateral edges 9 and, in the vicinity of the upper edge 5 and the lower edge 6, by upper and lower edges 10.

FIG. 2 also shows a support system 11 for such a mobile communication apparatus 1.

This support system 11 comprises, in the first place, a shell 12 for protecting the apparatus 1, of a shape complementary to the housing 7. This shell 12 comprises a bottom 13 intended to be applied against the rear face 3, and 14 side walls formed projecting from the bottom 13.

These side walls 14 are provided with returns 15 intended to snap or fit on (that is to say hook to hold firmly whatever removably) the side edges 9 of the front face 2 of the apparatus 1. The side walls 14 can match the edges 4, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 7, where the side walls 14 are, like the side edges 4, rounded.

According to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the shell 12 is indented at the right of the upper edge and the lower edge 6 of the device 1, so as to facilitate, for the user, the connection of external devices, such as a charger or a helmet. Similarly, the side walls 14 may be provided with windows 16 intended to allow the user to access control buttons mounted on the side edges 4 of the apparatus, such as a button 17 ignition or buttons for adjusting the sound volume of the integrated loudspeakers of the apparatus 1. The bottom 13 of the shell 12 comprises an internal face 18, intended to be applied against the rear face 3 of the apparatus 1, and an outer face 19 opposite.

The support system 11 comprises, in the second place, a support 20 intended to allow the temporary mounting of the apparatus 1 on a carrier P (such as a bicycle handlebar, see FIG. 5, or a control panel of FIG. motor vehicle, see FIG.11).

The support 20 comprises a structure 21 carrying, by which the support 20 is intended to be fixed (removably or permanently) on the bearing P, and a plate 22, mounted on the structure 21 carrier and on which the apparatus 1 is intended to be fixed (removably).

The carrier structure 21, advantageously made of rigid material, e.g. aluminum (or an alloy of this metal) or in a rigid plastic material (eg of polyoxymethylene or POM type), is advantageously provided with a base 23 by which its fixing on the carrier P can be carried out, in particular by bonding tightening, venting or any other equivalent means of attachment.

The plate 22 is advantageously in the form of a rectangular plate. In the example shown, the corners of the plate 22 are straight but they could be rounded, like those of the device 1. The plate 22 has a rear face 24, intended to be turned towards the bearing P, and a face 25 opposite front.

For fastening by screwing, the plate 22 may be provided with holes for the passage of screws. For adhesive bonding, it is not necessary to provide such holes. For attachment by venting, the plate 22 may be secured to a suction cup intended to be pressed against a bearing P (eg a vehicle windshield).

To allow the removable attachment of the apparatus 1 to the support 20, the system 11 comprises, first of all, a primary hook or hook fastening strip 26 fixed on the outer face 19 of the bottom 13 of the shell 12 and secondly, a secondary hooking strip 27 or hook respectively, fixed on the front face 25 of the plate 22 and adapted to adhere removably to the primary band 26 of attachment.

The primary fastening strip 26 and the secondary fastening strip 27 together form a complementary fastening system of the type known under the trademark Velcro (registered trademark). In such a system 26, 27, the hooks, made of a plastic material are hooked in the loops, also made of a plastic material. This system 26, 27 has a good tearing resistance when the tensile forces do not exceed a threshold beyond which the hooks deform (elastically) and dissociate loops, which allows the separation of parts on which bands are fixed. An advantage of such a fastening system is its durability, the tear resistance being almost invariable over time.

According to a preferred embodiment, the primary band 26 is of the loop type, which offers the advantage of a softness to the touch and does not interfere with the grip of the apparatus 1 provided with its shell 12, nor the manipulations of it when it has to be slipped into a garment or bag. In this case, the secondary band is complementary to the hook type.

To removably fix the device 1 provided with its shell 12 on the plate 22, it is sufficient to press the primary fastening strip 26 against the secondary band 27 of attachment. The tear resistance of the removable fastening system 26, 27 thus constituted is more than sufficient to ensure that the apparatus 1 is firmly held.

However, the apparatus 1 must be able to be pulled easily enough from the support 20 to be used or carried away. For this purpose, the plate 22 has at least one dimension among a width and a height less than a respective dimension among a width and a height of the shell 12.

According to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the plate 22 thus has a width L1 smaller than that, denoted L2, of the shell 12. In other words, L1 <L2. In this way, the fingers of the user can grip the shell 12 without being impeded by the presence of the plate 22 and exert a traction, possibly associated with a tilting, to detach the shell 12 of the plate 22.

According to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the plate 22 has a height H1 lower than that, denoted H2, of the shell 12, so as to facilitate the removal of the apparatus 1 by tilting from top to bottom (or from bottom to top) without the fingers of the user are also hindered by the presence of the plate 22. In other words, H1 <H2.

It will be noted that the characteristics according to which L1 <L2 and H1 <H2 can be considered separately or in combination.

The primary fastening strip 26 is advantageously fixed by gluing on the outer face 19 of the shell 12. In this case, the primary fastening strip 26 has, for example, a rear face 28 (opposite to the loops or hooks) coated by advance of an adhesive, preferably strong to prevent inadvertent takeoff of the outer face 19 of the shell 12 during the detachment maneuvers of the apparatus 1 of the support 20.

The primary fastening strip 26 may have any shape, insofar as its area is smaller than that of the outer face 19 of the shell 12. In the example illustrated, the primary fastening strip 26 has a rectangular contour, but any other form may be suitable. We can choose a square outline, circular or diamond (non-exhaustive list). The primary band 26 can also be divided into several juxtaposed strips, possibly separated from each other. The primary strip 26 or strips that constitute it may form decorative patterns, provided that these reasons do not affect the ability of attachment of the primary band 26.

Similarly, the secondary fastening strip 27 is advantageously bonded to the front face of the plate 22. In this case, the secondary fastening strip 27 has for example a rear face 29 (opposite the hooks or, respectively, , to the loops) coated in advance with an adhesive, preferably strong to prevent inadvertent takeoff of the plate 22 during the detachment maneuvers of the apparatus 1 of the support 20.

According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly in FIG.2 and FIG.4, the secondary strap 27 is cut to be able to wrap the plate 22. For this purpose, the secondary strip 27 is advantageously provided with flaps 30 which cover the edges of the plate 22 and stick on the rear face 24 thereof. This assembly increases the resistance of the secondary strip 27 during take-off during tearing operations of the apparatus 1 of the support 20.

The plate 22 can be mounted on the structure 21 carrier: rigidly; via a ball joint; or by any other articulation.

According to a first embodiment illustrated in FIG.2, FIG.4, FIG.6 and FIG.7, the plate 22 is rigidly mounted on the carrier structure 21, that is to say that it is integral with this one (while being able to be dismantled). In this case, the fixing of the plate 22 on the carrier structure 21 may, as in the example illustrated in the drawings, be carried out by means of a screw 31.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the carrier base 23 defines a clean clamping ring to be mounted on a pipe 32 such as a handlebar of FIG. bicycle (FIG. 5).

More specifically, the base 23 comprises e.g. a semi-annular female element 33 provided with a notch 34 and a lug 35 having a threaded hole 36, and a male element 37, also semi-annular, provided with a claw 38 suitable for lodging in the notch 34, and a lug 39 provided with a bore 40 for the passage of a fixing screw 41 in helical engagement with the threaded hole 36 of the female element 33. Together, the female element 33 and the male element 37 come to grip the tubing 32, the clamping force (and, with the latter, the inclination of the assembly) being adjusted by means of the screw 40.

According to a second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the plate 22 is mounted on the carrier structure 21 via a hinge 42 with a ball joint. In the example illustrated, this articulation 42 is provided with: a spherical cradle 43 formed on or in the support 20, a ball joint 44 integral with the plate 22 and which is housed in the cradle 43, with a nut 45 which secures the ball 44 to the cradle 43 (and thus the plate 22 to the support 20).

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10, the attachment of the ball 44 to the plate 22 may be effected by means of a nut 46 which engages helically with a threaded rod 47 formed on the ball 44 through a hole 48 made in the plate 22.

Such a ball joint 42 is particularly advantageous for mounting the support system 11 on a curved P-shaped carrier, such as a vehicle dashboard (FIG. 11), since it allows an orientation of the plate 22 (and therefore the 1) towards the user regardless of the topography of the underlying P-holder.

According to another embodiment (not shown), the plate 22 is mounted on the carrier structure 21 by a simple articulation (that is to say pivot), allowing the tilting of the plate 22 (and therefore of the apparatus 1) relative to the support 20 in a plane. Such articulation may be sufficient in many cases, e.g. for home or office use.

In all its embodiments, the support system 11 has the following advantages.

Firstly, thanks to the attachment made through the shell 12, the device 1 itself is left intact. It is not only preserved tensile forces accompanying its removal from the support 20, but also the effects of the adhesive by which the primary band 26 is fixed on the shell 12. More precisely, thanks to the latching of the side walls 14 on the songs 4, 5, 6 of the apparatus 1, the forces exerted on the shell 12 during the withdrawal are (possibly) transmitted by the returns 15, that is to say on the front face 2. In other words, the device 1 does not undergo any pulling effort tending to separate its components (and in particular its housing 7 of its screen 8).

Second, given the dimensions of the plate 22, lower than those of the shell 12, the user can firmly grip the shell 12 (and therefore the device 1) to remove it from the plate 22, in order to use it or take it away.

Thirdly, thanks to the hook and loop fastening system 26, the positioning of the apparatus 1 with respect to the plate 22 can only be approximate, to the benefit of its ease of use.

Fourthly, the removal of the apparatus 1 (to be used or carried away) can be achieved by simple pulling. This simplicity of movement saves the user congestion concerns when positioning the support 20 on the carrier P.

Fifth, the support system 11 is simple in structure (the number of parts is limited) and easy to use (simply press the device 1 against the plate 22 or, on the contrary, tear it off).

Sixthly, despite the possibly approximate nature of its fixation, the apparatus 1 is effectively and firmly held on the plate 22. Potential thrashing of the P-bearing (especially in the case of a bicycle or a motor vehicle) have no effect on its maintenance.

Claims (10)

1. Support system (11) for a mobile communication apparatus (1) provided with a front face (2) and a rear face (3), said apparatus (1) comprising a housing (7) forming the face (3) rear and a screen (8) mounted on the housing (7) and forming at least a portion of the face (2) front, this system (11) comprising: a shell (12) for protecting the device ( 1), of complementary shape to the housing (7), this shell (12) comprising a bottom (13) designed to be applied against the rear face (3) of the housing (7), and side walls (14) formed protruding from the bottom (13) and provided with returns (15) intended to snap or fit on the edges (9) side of the side (2) front; a carrier (20) comprising a carrier structure (21) and a platen (22) mounted on the carrier structure (21); this system (11) being characterized: in that it comprises: o a primary fastening strip (26), with loops or hooks, fixed on an outer face (19) of the bottom (13) of the shell (12) ); a secondary hooking or hooking strip (27) fastened to a front face (25) of the plate (22) and able to adhere removably to the primary strip (26); hanging; in that the plate (22) has dimensions smaller than those of the shell (12). 2. System (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (22) has a width (L1) and / or a height (H1) lower, respectively, to a width (L2) and / or to a height (H2) of the hull (12). 3. System (11) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the plate (22) is rigidly mounted on the structure (21) carrier. 4. System (11) according to claim 3, characterized in that the structure (21) carrier defines a clamping ring adapted to be mounted on a pipe (32), such as a bicycle handlebars. 5. System (11) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the plate (22) is mounted on the structure (21) carrier by means of a hinge (41) ball. 6. System (11) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the band (26) primary hooking is a loop band, and the band (27) secondary hooking a hook band. 7. System (11) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strip (26) primary attachment is fixed by gluing on the outer face (19) of the shell (12). 8. System (11) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strip (27) secondary attachment is fixed by gluing on the plate (22). 9. System (11) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shell (12) is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material. 10. System (11) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (22) is made of a rigid material.