GB2504055A

GB2504055A - Mounting apparatus for a mobile device

Info

Publication number: GB2504055A
Application number: GB201207198A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Butcher; Paul Spiers; Caroline Patterson; Andrew Oliver
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-04-24
Filing date: 2012-04-24
Publication date: 2014-01-22
Also published as: GB201207198D0

Abstract

A mount for a mobile device, such as a tablet computer, smart phone or PDA, that comprises a foldable structure made from a laminate material and that has a back surface 2 against which the device is held in use. At least one surface extends from the back surface 2 forming a wall 4 extending outwardly from the perimeter of the back surface. The back surface 2 has support means 28 (fig. 3) extending from its surface opposite that from which the surrounding wall 4 extends, to retain the back surface substantially perpendicular from a support surface on which the mounting apparatus is located in use. The mount may be made from cardboard and may be provided as a blank which can be assembled. The wall 4 may extend around the entire perimeter of the back surface 2, and may comprise four wall elements linked together. These wall elements may be linked through slot and tab formations.

Description

Mounting device for a mobile communication apparatus

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a mounting device for mobile communication apparatus. Communication apparatus would include, without limitation, a smart phone, FDA, tablet computer and any similar device having wireless data communications functionality e.g. WIFI, 3G, Bluetooth etc. More especially, the invention relates to a oardboard blank that is constructed by a user to form a mounting device in which the apparatus be held to allow a user to view the screen of the apparatus within the mounting device.

Background to the invention

A significant proportion of the population carry and use communications apparatus such as tablets or smart phones on a day-to-day basis. It is becoming increasingly common for owners of such apparatus to use them as a multi-media tool to access and watch video footage wherever they may

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The use and mobility such apparatus, and the growth of online video applications such as YOUTUBE has driven an increasing demand to access instantaneous video footage of current events as soon as they have been made available online.

It is often the case that video footage of concerts, for example during music festivals, is posted online for

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access by the public through communications apparatus, as soon as the concert has finished or, in some cases, whilst the concert is even still in progress.

whilst watching video footage on the screen of a communications apparatus is very popular, the flat screen, and in the case of mobile phones the size of the screen, makes overall watching experience fall short of the experience and feeling of actually being at the event or in the case of film footage, of being at the cinema.

The present invention seeks to provide apparatus for, and a method of, constructing a mount for a communications apparatus than provides a feeling of depth to the image and an enhanced visualisation experience when viewing the screen of the apparatus located within the mount.

Statement of invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a mounting apparatus for a mobile communications device, the mounting apparatus comprising a foldable structure made from a laminate material and having a back surface against which the device is held in use, and at least one surface extending from the back surface which forms a wall extending outwardly from the perimeter of the back surface, the back surface further having support means extending from its surface opposite that from which the surrounding wall extends, to retain in use the back surface substantially perpendicular from the a support surface on which the mounting apparatus is located in use.

Preferably the mount is made from cardboard.

Preferably the wall extends around the entire perimeter of the back support.

Preferably still the wall surface comprises four wall elements linked together.

Preferably the all elements are linked together through slot and tab formations.

According to a further aspect there is provided a blank of laminate material which can be assembled in use to form a mount according to the first aspect.

Brief description of the drawings

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of mounting apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the mounting apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank which is assembled to form the mounting apparatus of figures 1 and 2.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

The invention provides a mount for a mobile communications apparatus. Examples of communications apparatus include, without limitation, iPhones or Android" phones, iPods' or iPads.

The mount is made from lightweight laminate such as cardboard. The laminate may include a water resistant layer or may otherwise be made from water resistant material.

The mount may be provided as a blank for assembly by the user. Figures 1 and 2 show the mount in assembled form.

Figure 3 shows the blank assembled by a user to form the mount.

The mount comprises a back support 2 surrounded by upstanding walls 4. The back support 2 is generally rectangular.

In the embodiment described, there are four wall elements 4A-D extending from respective side edges of the back support 2. The back support 2 and wall elements 4A-D are formed as a single structure with each wall element 4 being foldable with respect to back support 2. The edges of each wall element 4 are tapered towards the back support 2.

The wall elements 4, once assembled, form a top wall 4A, bottom wall 4D and two side walls 4B&C of the mount.

During assembly each wall element 4A-D is folded upwardly from the baok support 2 and is connected to its neighbouring wall elements through a series of tabs 6 and slots 8.

The top 4A and bottom 4D wall elements have a greater length than the side walls 4B&C. The top 4A and bottom 4D wall elements have side tabs 6 which extend into and through respeotive slots 8 formed in the side walls. The tabs 6 are generally semi-circular. The semi-circular shape makes it easier to locate the tab 6 through its respective slot 8 and provides is smooth profile provides less likelihood of the tab 6 being torn off through repetitive use.

Onoe assembled, the wall elements slope outwardly such that the width of the opening increases as the distance from the back support 2 increases.

The top 4A and bottom 4D wall elements have foldable end portions 10 which extend to outwardly protruding securing members 12. The ends of each securing member 12 are formed with hock elements 14. During assembly each securing member 12 folds such that the hook part 14 engages with a side of the tab 6, after the tab 6 has been located through its respective slot 8. This retains the tab 6 in place and prevents the tab 6 from remerging from the slot 8 accidentally.

During disassembly of mount each securing member 12 is simply lifted to disengage the hook part 14 from the tab 6 to allow the tab 6 to be removed from the slot 8 thereby to separate the wall elements 4.

The back support 2 provides a surface against which the communications device (not shown) can be held in use. The device is held against the back support 2 using support tabs 16 (see Figure 3) which protrude upwardly from the bottom wall 4. The device is positioned to lie on its side between the support tabs 16 and the back support 2 with the screen facing outwardly away from the back support 2 and towards a user looking into the mount.

A front panel 18 comprising a generally rectangular card structure with side tabs 20 and a central window out-out 22 is located over and across the front of the device in use. The window 22 of the front panel extends across the screen of the device to allow it to be visible from a user looking into the mount. The front panel is retained in position by the side tabs 20 which extend into and through slots 24 formed in the side walls 4B&C.

The size of the window 22 is dictated by the size and type of device that is to be held within the mount. The overall dimensions of the mount may also vary. The mount may incorporate extension pieces to expand its size.

When in place, the front panel 18 forms a frame to the device screen to provide an enhanced viewing experience and to avoid the eye of the user being distracted by other elements of the device. The frame also gives the appearance of the screen being inset within a larger structure, such as like a big screen within the wall of the cinema.

Apertures 26 are formed in the top and side walls that correspond to locations on the device and that may require an input of some kind, for example, the inputs for headphones.

The back support 2 is, in use, supported by a support stand 28 which extends from the back su:face of the back support 2 towards the surface on which the mount is located in use. The mount is suitable for location on any surface, and may be used for example on the ground. The mount may be used for example on the ground within a tent of a festival goer to revisit a performance that has just been witnessed.

In the embodiment described the suppcrt stand 28 fcrms part of the back support 2 and includes cut and fold lines to allow that part of the back support 2 to fold outwardly from the back support 2.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the part cf the back support 2 that provides the support stand 28 in use comprises a generally rectangular first section 30 cut along three edges 32 and foldable about the fourth edge 34 to allow the section to fold outwardly with respect to the back support 2 (see also Figures 1 and 2) . The first section 30 includes a second foldable internal section 36 also generally rectangular and which is cut along three edges 38 and foldable about a fourth edge 40 with respect to the first section 30. The second section 36 includes tab 42 foldable with respect to the end of the second section 36 and which, in use, is received in a slot 44 formed in the back support 2.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the first section 30 of the support stand 28 extends out from the back surface of the back support 2 towards the floor and the second section 36 extends back towards the mount, generally parallel to the floor, to be connected thereto by inserting the tab 42 into the slot 44. Additional securing means may be provided to retain the tab 42 through the slot 44.

The support stand 28 provides sufficient support to retain the back support 2 at an angle, generally vertical, to the surface on which the mount is located.

The internal surfaces of the mount, essentially consisting of the wall elements 4, front panel frame 18 and end portions 10 of the top and bottom wall elements 4A, 4D, may have images or illustrations printed thereon, for example, to provide the appearance of a cinema or stage surrounding the device screen which would then have the appearance of the big cinema screen or performance stage.

The illustrations may, for example, include rigging and/or an audience.

Research has shown that the vision of the user will be focused on the screen and mounting images and the user will very guickly have the impression of being in the cinema or at the concert.

Sound will also be directed towards the user thereby enhancing the overall experience.

The outer surface of the mount has plenty of space available for advertising.

The mount may have printed thereon a QR (Quick Response) tag or code 46 that directs users to a website where the video link may be found.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the blank (and front panel 18) may be supplied within a cardboard sheet to be popped-out when required. The cardboard sheet may include a handle 48 to be easily carried. Two front panels 18 may be provided depending on the size and type of the user's device.

It is envisaged that the invention hereinbefore described has particular application as a promotional tool and POP product at retail outlets, The invention is designed primarily, but with no limitation, for use at festivals, for streaming movies or promotional videos, for direct to customers and ambient advertising purposes, for branded promotional marketing campaigns and for practical marketing.

It will be understood, that the various embodiments described herein have been described by way of example only and that modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. Mounting apparatus for a mobile telecommunication device, the mounting apparatus comprising a foldable structure made from a laminate material and having a back surface against which the device is held in use, and at least one surface extending from the back surface which forms a wall extending outwardly from the perimeter of the back surface, the back surface further having support means extending from its surface opposite that from which the surrounding wall extends, to retain in use the back surface substantially perpendicular from the a support surface on which the mounting apparatus is located in use.
2. Mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mount is made from cardboard.
3. Mounting apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the wall extends around the entire perimeter of the back support.
4. Mounting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wall surface comprises four wall elements linked together.
5. Mounting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the wall elements are linked together through slot and tab formations.
6. A blank of laminate material which can be assembled in use to form a mount according to the first aspect.