Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to stand for an electronic device, to a kit of parts comprising said stand and to a method for supporting an electronic device. Background to the Invention

Electronic devices such as mobile phones, e-readers and tablets are nowadays being used in an increasingly wide range of applications and it is a known problem that many people struggle with neck, back, and shoulder pain because they are constantly hunched over the electronic device which either rests on a flat surface or is poorly propped at an angle. To alleviate these ailments a user can attach the electronic device to a stand which enables the user to view the electronic device at eye level or at a more appropriate angle. In order to secure the electronic device to the stand most stands use mechanical attachment means. However, while such stands provide adequate support to the electronic device, they suffer from the disadvantage that it can be difficult and time consuming to remove and re-attach the electronic device to the stand, which in turn can spoil the user experience. A further known disadvantage is that conventional stands must be rested on a flat surface otherwise they may topple over and cause damage to the electronic device attached to the stand.

Accordingly, it is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a stand which can be used on a variety of surfaces without toppling over.

It is also an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a stand that enables an electronic device to be attached and removed easily from the stand. It is also an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a stand that enables the orientation of the electronic device to be adjusted easily and quickly without removing the electronic device from the stand.

It is a further object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a stand that enables the electronic device to be attached to the stand without mechanical attachment means.

It is yet a further object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a stand that is portable.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a deformable stand for an electronic device, wherein the deformable stand comprises a material capable of conforming to the shape of a surface on which the stand is placed and a magnetic element for releasably securing the electronic device to the stand. The present invention therefore enables an electronic device to be securely retained on the stand without the need for mechanical fixing. Moreover, since a magnetic connection is used to secure the electronic device to the stand, rather than a mechanical connection, it is much easier and quicker for a person to remove and replace the electronic device on the stand. This may be of particular benefit to the disabled or the elderly. The deformable nature of the stand also means that the stand of the present invention can be used and is stable on a variety of surfaces because it is able to conform to the topography of the surface on which it is placed. For instance, the deformable stand can be used on a flat surface such as a table or on a curved surface such as an arm of a chair. The invention also allows the orientation of the electronic device to be adjusted easily and quickly and without having to remove the electronic device from the stand. For instance, the electronic device can simply be rotated about the magnetic element from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation or vice- versa. The stand also enables the electronic device to be retained when the deformable stand is lifted and moved or if minor adjustments are made to the position and/or configuration of the deformable stand.

In the context of present invention the term electronic device includes but is not limited to mobile phones, e-readers and electronic tablets. Further, and for ease of reading, the material capable of conforming to the shape of a surface on which the stand is placed shall hereafter be referred to as "the conformable material".

The stand may comprise a cover. The cover is preferably flexible and may be made from natural or synthetic materials. For instance, the cover may be made from cotton, suede, leather or faux leather. The term "faux leather" would be understood to mean artificial or synthetic leather and may comprise a polymeric material such as polyurethane (PU) or polyvinylchloride (PVC).

The stand may comprise a housing within the cover. The housing may house the conformable material and may be in the form of a bag. The housing may be detachable from the cover or permanently fixed to the cover. By providing the conformable material in the housing it enables the cover to be exchanged for a different cover design or temporarily removed for washing purposes when desired or needed. As an alternative the conformable material may be provided directly within the cover, in which case the housing is not required. In some embodiments the housing may be formed from the same material as the conformable material. For instance the housing and the conformable material may both be formed from polypropylene. The housing may be a non-woven fabric.

The deformable stand may comprise an enclosure for retaining the magnetic element. The magnetic element may be fully enclosed with within the enclosure or may be partially enclosed, e.g. the enclosure may be in the form of a pocket. The magnetic element may be in the form of disc, ring, block, cube, sphere or cylinder and therefore the shape of the enclosure may be adapted to the shape of the magnetic element. In one example the stand may comprise a plurality of magnetic elements and therefore the enclosure may be configured to house one or more magnetic elements as appropriate. The enclosure may be made from the same material as the cover or the housing, i.e. cotton, suede, leather, faux leather or polypropylene. Alternatively the enclosure may comprise shell fabric.

In an embodiment of the invention the enclosure may be permanently or releasably attached to an interior surface of the cover. By attaching the enclosure to the interior surface of the cover the magnetic element retained therein is easy to locate which in turn speeds up the mounting operation of the electronic device to the deformable stand. The enclosure may alternatively be attached to an outer surface of the housing. By attaching the enclosure to an outer surface of the housing or an interior surface of the cover, the aesthetic appearance of the deformable stand can be improved because the enclosure and the magnetic element are not visible to the user. Moreover, by retaining the magnetic element within the cover, the risk of the enclosure/magnet becoming detached from the stand and lost is minimised.

The enclosure may be fixedly secured to the cover or the housing, e.g. by stitching. Alternatively, the enclosure may be releasably fastenable to the cover or to the housing, e.g. by using Velcro (RTM), a button-type fastening, a popper-type fastening or a zip-type fastening.

The magnetic element may be configured to interact with the electronic device so as to retain the electronic device directly on the stand. Alternatively, the magnetic element may be configured to interact with an electronic device support to retain the electronic device on the stand. The electronic device support may comprise a magnetic member and the magnetic element may be configured to interact with the magnetic member. The magnetic member may be provided at or proximal to the central portion of the electronic device support which allows the electronic device support to be rotated about the magnetic element after a magnetic connection has been made.

The electronic device support may comprise a plurality of peripheral cup portions. Each of the cup portions may be size-adjustable which enables the electronic device support to be used with a variety of electronic devices. The electronic device support may comprise at least two cup portions which may be configured to extend along opposing sides of an electronic device. In another embodiment of the invention the electronic device may comprise three cup portions. For instance, one cup portion may extend along a longitudinal edge of an electronic device and two further cup portions may cup the corners of an opposing longitudinal edge. Alternatively, the electronic device support may comprise four cup portions which may be configured to cup each corner of the electronic device.

The cup portions may comprise a base, a roof which extends at least partly over the base and walls which extend between the base and the roof. In certain embodiments the walls of the cup portion may comprise a notch which enables the electronic device support to hold a variety of electronic devices of different sizes. For example, the electronic device support is able to hold an iPhone (RTM), an iPad Mini (RTM) and an iPad (RTM).

The cup portions may be shaped to enable the electronic device support to be self-standing. In this context the electronic device support is able to stand in a substantially upright position by itself without any kind of external support.

In some embodiments the cup portions may comprise at least one flat surface. In other embodiments the cup portions may comprise at least two flat surfaces. This has the benefit that the electronic device support is able to stand by itself irrespective of whether it is oriented vertically (portrait) or horizontally (landscape).

Each cup portion may be connected to the central portion of the electronic device support by an arm which extends radially outwards from the central portion. Each radially extending arm may be size-adjustable which enables a variety of electronic devices to be supported. One or more of the radially extending arms may be spring loaded. Each cup portion may comprise a rubberised material to minimise the risk of the corners of the electronic device becoming damaged.

The electronic device support may be made from plastics. The use of plastics has the advantage that the overall weight of the electronic device support can be reduced and the likelihood of the electronic device becoming scratched or damaged is minimised. In an embodiment of the invention the electronic device support may comprise a magnetic plastics material. The electronic device support may be made using an injection moulding process. In an embodiment of the invention one or more of the cup portions may be formed from a thermoplastic material. In particular, the cup portions may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer such as polyurethane.

The magnetic element may comprise a rare earth metal and may for example comprise a neodymium alloy. NdFeB alloy magnets are very suitable for retaining the electronic device or the electronic device support on the stand due to their high magnetic strength. The magnetic member may also comprise a rare earth metal such as a neodymium alloy. To optimise the magnetic interaction between the magnetic element and the magnetic member the magnetic member may also comprise an NdFeB alloy.

The conformable material may comprise an organic material such as a plurality of dried beans or seeds. It has been found that Cassia seeds are very suitable as the comfortable material. Alternatively, the conformable material may comprise a plurality of pellets or balls and in an embodiment of the invention the comfortable material may comprise a polymeric material such polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene or polystyrene. Alternatively, the conformable material may be made from polyethylene, polycarbonate or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

The stand may comprise a pocket and the pocket may be adapted to house the electronic device support.

The stand may be adapted to comprise one or more speakers and/or one or more lights.

In another embodiment of the invention the deformable stand is capable of being used as a power source for the electronic device. This has the benefit that the electronic device can be used for longer periods in the absence of a mains power supply, e.g. when travelling or when located away from a plug socket.

In a further embodiment of the invention the electronic device support is configured to act as power source for the electronic device. In this context, the electronic device support may comprise a charging unit that is configured to provide power to the electronic device when the electronic device is connected to the electronic device support. Alternatively, the electronic device support may be adapted to house one or more batteries for powering the electronic device. The batteries may be rechargeable.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for supporting an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

i. providing a deformable stand for an electronic device, the deformable stand comprising a material capable of conforming to the shape of a surface on which the stand is placed and a magnetic element for releasably securing the electronic device to the stand, and

ii. forming a magnetic connection between the magnetic element and the electronic device or an electronic device support to retain the electronic device on the deformable stand.

The deformable stand may be the stand according to the first aspect of the invention and therefore the method according to the second aspect of the invention may, as appropriate, incorporate any or all of the features described in relation to the first aspect of the invention. The method may comprise the step of rotating the electronic device or the electronic device support from a first orientation to a second orientation. It has been found that the strength of the magnetic connection is sufficiently strong to allow the electronic device or the electronic device support to be rotated about the magnetic element without the electronic device or the electronic device support becoming detached from the stand. This in turn enables the orientation of the device to be adjusted easily and quickly. For instance the electronic device or the electronic device support can be adjusted from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation.

Alternatively, the method may comprise the step of lifting the electronic device or the electronic device support from the deformable stand, optionally adjusting the orientation of the electronic device or electronic device support and reforming the magnetic connection. Although additional force will be required to lift the electronic device or the electronic device from the stand, this can still be done both easily and quickly and does not require the electronic device to be taken out of and returned to a holder for example.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a kit for providing support to an electronic device, the kit comprising a deformable stand comprising a material capable of conforming to the shape of a surface on which the stand is placed and a magnetic element for releasably securing the electronic device or an electronic device support to the stand.

The deformable stand may be the deformable stand according to the first aspect of the invention and therefore the kit according to the third aspect of the invention may, as appropriate, incorporate any or all of the features described in relation to the first aspect of the invention. The kit may additionally comprise an electronic device support. The kit may also comprise one or more replacement cup members.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided an electronic device support, said electronic device support comprising a central hub, a plurality of arms extending radially outwards from the central hub, a cup portion provided at an end region of each radially extending arm and a magnetic member provided at or proximal to the central hub.

The electronic device support may as appropriate, incorporate any or all of the features relating to the electronic device support described in connection with the first aspect of the invention.

The electronic device support is adapted to engage with the deformable stand of the first aspect of the invention. However, the electronic device support can also engage with other metallic surfaces, e.g. those conventionally found in the home. For instance, the electronic device support may be releasably attached to flat metallic surfaces such as refrigerator doors, cookers or metal cabinets.

When a user wishes to place the electronic device support on a non-metallic surface such as a wall or a windscreen of a motor vehicle, the user may attach the electronic device to the non-metallic surface via a metallic plate. The metallic plate may be adhered to the wall or windscreen using a suitable adhesive or by using double-sided adhesive tape. The adhesive metallic plates may be provided with a release paper which can be peeled away prior to bringing the surface bearing the adhesive into contact with the wall or windscreen. The metallic plate may be in the form of a disc and in certain embodiments the dimensions of the metallic plate corresponds with those of the magnetic member of the electronic device support. Such metallic plates may be provided in the kit according to the third aspect of the invention.

The electronic device support may be connected to an adaptor that enables the electronic device support to be mounted to a bracket that itself can be releasably attached to an interior surface of a motor vehicle. The bracket may comprise a ball portion and the adaptor may comprise a recess or socket that is adapted to receive and engage with the ball portion. This arrangement has the benefit that it permits relative angular adjustment of the electronic device support when mounted to the bracket.

The bracket may comprise a suction mount that is attachable to a vehicle dashboard, window, windscreen or side panel. Alternatively, the bracket may be insertable into a vehicle's CD player or mounted to a vehicle's air vent.

In some embodiments of the invention the adaptor may comprise a clamp so that the electronic device support can be retained securely on the handlebars of a push bike for example. The clamp may comprise a ball portion that is insertable into the recess or socket of the adaptor. The clamp may be substantially U-shaped and the ball portion may be attached to an outer surface of the curved part of the U-shaped clamp via a stem. A threaded rod may extend through threaded openings provided in each of the leg portions, and rotation of the rod allows the clamp to be opened and closed. Detailed Description of the Invention In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a deformable stand supporting an electronic device in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the deformable stand and an electronic device support in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a front view of an inner surface the cover. Figure 4 shows a rear view of an outer surface of the cover.

Figure 5 shows a top-view of an electronic device support in a first configuration.

Figure 6 shows a top-view of an electronic device support in a second configuration. Figure 7 shows a front-view of the electronic device support in the first configuration.

Figure 8 shows a front-view of the electronic device support in the second configuration.

Figures 9A-9C show a further electronic device support in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of an adhesive metal disc for use with the electronic device supports of the present invention.

Figure 11 shows a side view of an electronic device support together with an adaptor Figures 12A and 12B show an electronic device support connected to a clamp.

With reference to the drawings, and in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a deformable stand 1 for an electronic device 2 such as a mobile phone, e-reader or tablet device. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2 the deformable stand 1 comprises a cover 3 made of a flexible material such as cotton, faux leather, leather or suede. The cover 3 can be of any suitable size or shape provided it is capable of supporting the electronic device 2. However, as shown in Figure 1 the deformable stand 1 generally adopts hemispherical shape when filled with a conformable material (not shown).

As best shown in Figure 4 the rear of the cover 3 is provided with a zip-type fastening 4 which extends from one side of the cover to the other. When in its open configuration the zip-type fastening 4 provides an opening for introducing the conformable material into the cover 3. Once the conformable material has been provided within the cover 3 the zip-type fastening 4 is returned to its closed configuration to seal the conformable material within the cover 3. In accordance with the present invention the conformable material may be selected from a natural material such as cassia seeds or a polymeric material in the form of a plurality of pellets or balls. The polymeric material may for instance comprise polyurethane, polypropylene or polyvinylchloride.

In an alternative embodiment the conformable material is provided and releasably sealed within a housing (not shown), e.g. in the form of a bag. The housing is formed from a cotton or shell based fabric and is removable from the cover which enables the cover to be exchanged or removed as desired or required. Suitable means for releasably fastening the housing to the interior of the cover 3 includes Velcro (RTM), a button-type fastening or a popper-type fastening. In another embodiment the housing can be stitched to the interior of the cover 3. The housing is preferably the same shape as the cover 3 but is adapted to fit within the cover 3 when filled with the conformable material. It will appreciated that the housing with the conformable material can be introduced into the cover via the opening that is formed when the zip- type fastening 4 is in its open configuration. In one embodiment the housing and the conformable material are formed from the same material, e.g., a polymer such as polypropylene.

As best shown in Figure 3, the cover 3 comprises an enclosure 5 attached centrally to an interior surface of the cover 3. In this embodiment the enclosure 5 is made from cotton or a shell type fabric and is releasably fastened to an inner surface of the cover 3 using a releasable fastener 6 such as Velcro (RTM). The enclosure 5 is adapted to enclose a magnetic element 7 which in use contributes to retaining the electronic device 2 on the deformable stand 1. The magnetic element 7 in this embodiment is in the form of a disc having a diameter of 25 mm and a height dimension of 3 mm. It will be appreciated that the dimensions of the magnetic element 7 (and therefore the enclosure 5) can be varied as desired or as required. The magnetic element 7 used in this embodiment comprises a zinc coated neodymium alloy such as NdFeB (N48/Zn).

As best shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 there is provided an electronic device support 8 made substantially from plastics, metal or a combination of both. The electronic device support 8 is adapted to interact with the magnetic element 7 to secure the electronic device 2 to the deformable stand 1 when being supported by the electronic device support 8. The electronic device support 8 has a central region 9 that houses a magnetic member (not shown) and four size-adjustable arms 10 that extend radially outwards from the central region 9. Each size-adjustable arm 10 is associated with its own casing 11 which encases at least part of the size-adjustable arm 10 and a resilient member (not shown) which in use is operable to force the size-adjustable arms 10 radially outwards away from the central region 9 and towards the corners of the electronic device 2 to be supported. As shown in Figure 7 and in Figure 8 the casing comprises apertures 12 along its length which are adapted to engage with corresponding retractable protrusions on the size-adjustable arms 10 to temporarily secure the size-adjustable arms 10 in the desired position.

At the free end of each size-adjustable arm 10 there is provided a cup portion 13. The cup portion 13 comprises a semi-circular base 14 and walls 15 which extend upwardly from the base 15 and a roof 16. In this embodiment the upper surface of the base 14, the inner surface of the walls 15 and the inner surface of the roof 16 are rubberised so as to prevent the corners of the electronic device 2 from becoming damaged during use.

To support an electronic device 2 such as a mobile phone, the size-adjustable arms 10 of the electronic device support 8 are caused to move from a first configuration in which the arms are retracted (Figure 6) to a second configuration where the arms 10 are fully extended (Figure 5). The mobile phone 2 is then provided within the perimeter of the electronic device support 8 and the corners of the mobile phone 2 are aligned and brought into contact with the cup portions 13. Advantageously, the apertures 12 are arranged along the casing 11 at pre-determined positons so that when the size-adjustable arms 10 contact the cup portions 14 the protrusions extend into apertures 12 to secure the size-adjustable arms 10 and the mobile phone 2 into position.

Once the mobile phone 2 has been secured to the electronic device support, the central region 9 that houses the magnetic member is aligned with the magnetic element 7 of the deformable stand 1. The electronic device support 8 is then moved closer to the deformable stand 1 until a magnetic connection is formed between the magnetic element 7 and the magnetic member. The deformable stand 1 and the electronic device support 8 are then moved to a location where the mobile phone 2 user wishes to view and use the mobile phone 2. For example, the user can position the deformable stand 1 on an arm of a chair, in which case the deformable stand 1 will conform to the curved profile of the chair arm while maintaining the mobile phone 2 in a substantially upright position.

Advantageously, the orientation of the mobile phone 2 can be altered from a landscape orientation (Figure 1) to a portrait orientation, or vice- versa, simply by rotating the electronic device support 8 by 90°. Moreover, this can be achieved without removing the mobile phone 2 from the electronic device support 8 which means that the mobile phone 2 is continuously supported as the orientation of the mobile phone 2 is changed. A further benefit of the present invention is that the electronic device support 8 can be easily removed or replaced on the deformable stand in a single step.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, and as best shown in Figure 9A, there is provided a second electronic device support 108. The electronic device support 108 has a central hub region 109 that houses a magnetic member (not shown) and four telescoping arms 110 that extend radially outwards from the central region 109, and as best shown in Figure 9B, a magnetic member 110 is attached to a rear surface of the central region 109. The electronic device support 108 comprises a cup portion 111 at an end region of each telescoping arm 110, and in this embodiment notches 112 are provided in the walls that extend between the base 113 and the roof 114 of the cup portion 111 (Figure 9C). Each cup portion 111 has a width of 22 mm, a height of 22mm and a depth of 18 mm. By providing notches 112 in the walls, the electronic device support 108 is able to support a greater variety of electronic devices of different sizes.

In use, the magnetic member 110 of the electronic device support 108 is able to engage with the magnetic element 7 of the deformable stand 1, a flat metallic surface such as a refrigerator door (not shown) or alternatively it may engage with a metallic disc 201 (Figure 10) that itself can be adhered or otherwise fixed to a non- metallic surface such as a wall or windscreen. The metallic disc 201 is provided with a layer of adhesive (not shown) and a release paper 202 that can be peeled away to expose the adhesive layer prior to bringing the surface bearing the adhesive into contact with the wall or windscreen.

As best shown in Figure 11, the electronic device support 301 comprises an adaptor 302. The adaptor 302 is configured to engage with a bracket (not shown) that can be mounted to an interior surface of a motor vehicle such as a windscreen. In particular, the bracket comprises a ball portion (not shown) and the adaptor comprises a corresponding recess in which the ball portion may be inserted and retained.

The adaptor 302 can alternatively be connected a clamp 401 so that the electronic device support can be secured on the handlebars of a push bike for example (Figures 12A-12B). In this embodiment the clamp 401 is substantially U-shaped and the ball portion 402 is attached to the clamp 401 via a stem 403. A threaded rod member 404 may extend through threaded openings 405 provided in each of the leg portions 406 of the U-shaped clamp 401, and rotation of the rod member 404 via grip 407 allows the clamp 401 to be opened and closed. The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.