Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a remote control holder and a method of using same.

Background

Existing remote controls used to operate aircraft such as drones can be difficult or uncomfortable to hold for extended periods.

The flying of drones often utilises an electronic display device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, via which a user can receive live visual feedback of what the camera(s) of the drone is viewing.

Existing components and methods for mounting electronic display devices to remote controls are often clunky, unreliable, difficult to attach to and detach from the remote control, may not provide satisfactory adjustment of the mobile phone or tablet, and may result in the mobile phone or tablet at least partially obstructing the controls and/or a screen of the remote control.

Flying drones is also gear-intensive. Specific storage with various pockets and compartments to securely and safely store drone-flying equipment is often needed. Such storage options may not adequately protect gear such as the remote control, the antennae of which may be vulnerable to inadvertently unfolding and snapping during storage and/or transport.

There is a need to address the above, and/or at least provide a useful alternative. Summary

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control holder comprising: a body configured for releasably receiving a remote control for controlling a drone; and a stand via which an electronic display device can be mounted to the holder such that, in use, visual information captured by a drone can be displayed to the user via the display device.

In embodiments of the invention, the holder further comprises an upwardly projecting arm extending from the body for securing the remote control to the holder.

In embodiments of the invention, the upwardly projecting arm comprises a lip which, in use, protrudes over an upper portion of the remote control to prevent it from inadvertent dislodgment from the holder.

In embodiments of the invention, the lip is configured to latch over a portion of the remote control.

In embodiments of the invention, the lip comprises a downwardly extending projection for latching against the remote control.

In embodiments of the invention, the upwardly projecting arm has a generally U- shaped profile, the lip defining a first arm of the U, the second arm of the U extending towards and joining the body.

In embodiments of the invention, the second arm of the U presents an abutment surface for abutting against a rear portion of the remote control so that the remote control is held snugly between the lip and the abutment surface.

In embodiments of the invention, the abutment surface forms part of an adapter that is removable from the holder.

In embodiments of the invention, the holder is configured to releasably receive adapters of different sizes such that the depth of the abutment surface can be adjusted to fit remote controls of different widths. In embodiments of the invention, the holder comprises a groove for slidably receiving the adapter.

In embodiments of the invention, a base of the U is spaced from a top of the held remote control to permit airflow thereto, the base of the U serving to guard the or each antenna when they are in an inactive folded position while the remote control is stored in the holder.

In embodiments of the invention, the stand extends upwardly from the upwardly projecting arm such that, in use, an electronic display device secured via the stand is held generally above the remote control. In embodiments of the invention, the stand is releasably engageable with the upwardly projecting arm.

In embodiments of the invention, the upwardly projecting arm comprises an opening for releasably receiving a lower portion of the stand.

In embodiments of the invention: the lower portion of the stand comprises a flexible tab having a securing lip; and the upwardly extending arm comprises a second opening presenting an edge via which the securing lip latches to secure the stand to the upwardly projecting arm.

In embodiments of the invention, the flexible tab can be manually urged through the second opening to release the stand from the upwardly projecting arm. In embodiments of the invention, the stand comprises attachment means via which a holder for holding the electronic display device can be releasably attached.

In embodiments of the invention, the attachment means comprises a spherical head which forms the ball of a ball and socket joint between the stand and the electronic display device holder. In embodiments of the invention, the holder further comprises connection means via which a support strap can be removably secured so that in use, the strap can be worn by the user to bear at least a portion of the weight of the holder and remote control.

In embodiments of the invention, the connection means comprises a component which is releasably securable to the electronic display device holder.

In embodiments of the invention, the holder further comprises one or more grips via which a user can, in use, grasp the holder and operate the received remote control.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of maintaining an electronic display device generally above a remote control of a drone such that in-flight visual information captured thereby can be viewed on the display, the method comprising securing the remote control to the body of a holder of any one of the preceding claims.

In embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises attaching a stand to the holder and securing an electronic display device holder to the stand such that the electronic display device can be maintained generally above the remote control.

In embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises, prior to securing the remote control to the holder, securing an adapter with an abutment surface to the holder such that the remote control can be snugly held between the abutment surface and an opposed portion of the holder. In embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises, prior to securing an electronic display device holder relative to the holder, securing a connection component to the display device holder such that a support strap can be attached to the connection component.

Brief description of the drawings In order that the invention may be more easily understood, an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a remote control for controlling a drone, the remote control shown in a folded configuration;

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the remote control of Figure 1 shown in an unfolded configuration; Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the remote control of Figure 1 in the folded configuration and held in a remote control holder according to embodiments of the invention, an electronic display device being supported via a stand of the holder;

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of a body of the holder according to embodiments of the present invention; Figure 5 is a top perspective view of the body of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the body of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a front perspective view of a body of the holder according to embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a side view of the holder of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a rear view of the holder of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a front perspective view of a body, stand and adapter of a holder according to embodiments of the invention;

Figure 11 is a rear perspective view of the holder of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a side view of the holder of Figure 10 with the adapter secured thereto; Figure 13 is a front perspective view of the stand shown in Figure 10;

Figure 14 is a front view of the stand of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a side view of the stand of Figure 13; Figure 16 is a front perspective view of a connection means via which a securing strap can be secured to support the holder; and

Figure 17 is a rear view of the connection means of Figure 16 secured to a rear of an electronic display device holder. Detailed description

Figure 1 shows a remote control 2 for controlling a drone (not shown). The remote control 2 is shown in a stowed state, wherein the two antennae 4 at the top of the remote 2 are folded downwardly, and the two hand grips 6 at a bottom of the remote 2 are folded upwardly toward the body 8 of the remote 2. Figure 2 shows the remote control 2 in an unfolded state. The handgrips 6 are unfolded and can be gripped by a user. The antennae 4 are raised upwardly for communication with the drone. An electronic display device (not shown) may be held between the two handgrips 6. As a result, to view a live visual stream from an in-flight drone on the electronic display device, the user must arch his or her neck downwardly to view the display, which arching can be uncomfortable over extended periods. Additionally, as the user is flying the drone, it is common to frequently visually inspect the drone itself, in addition to the footage (and/or flight information and diagnostics) shown on the display screen. This can be cumbersome, inconvenient and uncomfortable if the user must repeatedly look downwardly at a display between the two handgrips 6, and back up at an in-flight drone, and the user may even be caused to temporarily lose sight of the drone.

Figure 3 shows the remote control 2 secured to a holder 10 embodying the present invention. The holder 10 includes a support or extension, which is shown as a detachable stand 12 in the Figures, via which a mobile phone or tablet holder 14 (see Figure 17) can be removably secured to hold an electronic display device 16 above the remote control 2. The holder is provides an ergonomic means for holding and operating the remote control, and the user does not need to arch their neck downwardly as much to view the display 16 since it is held generally infront of the user's torso and/or face and above the remote control. Figures 4 to 6 show the body 18 of the holder 10 according to embodiments of the invention. The body 16 defines a cradle or receptacle 20 for releasably receiving the remote control 2. The body 16 comprises two spaced-apart side walls 22 for bordering and abutting against respective sides 24 (see Figure 1) of the remote control 2, and a rear wall 26 against which the rear of the remote control 2 can sit. The rear wall 26 of the body 18 comprises an opening 28 via which cables 30 (see Figure 3) and other connectors can be connected to the remote control 2.

Referring to Figure 5, an interior base surface 32 of the body 18 comprises two rectangular projections 34 configured to engage corresponding openings 36 (see Figures 1 and 2) in the handgrips 6 of the remote control 2. This male-female engagement between the projections 34 and handgrip openings 36 help retain the remote control 2 to the holder 10.

The holder 8 also comprises hand grips 38 which are ergonomically contoured to the hands of the user. The side walls 22 of the body 18 have a stepped cutaway 40 configured to leave uncovered portions of the sides 22 of the remote control 2. This allows for one or more ports, connection points, buttons 42 (see Figure 1) etc. in the sides 24 of the remote control 2 to be accessed even while the remote control 2 is held in the holder 10.

The holder 10 is also provided with means 44 via which it can be mounted to stabilising devices, such as tripods (not shown), should a user not wish to physically support the weight of the holder 10 and any gear or equipment secured thereto. To this end, and with reference to Figure 6, the base 46 of the body 18 comprises a threaded opening 44 which allows the holder 18 to be mounted to stands and stabilising devices such as tripods.

The holder 10 also comprises an upwardly extending or projecting arm 48 which helps secure the remote control 2 to the holder 10. The upwardly projecting arm 48 has a U-shaped profile, with one arm 50 of the U extending towards and joining the rear wall 26 of the body 18, the other arm of the U being in the form of a lip 52 which is configured to protrude over a top portion 54 of the remote control 2. The lip 52 may be configured to latch over or to the upper portion 54 of the front of the remote control 2. To this end, and with reference to Figure 4, the lip 52 comprises a downwardly extending projection, tooth or ridge 56 which latches against or engages an upper portion or surface 54 of the remote control 2. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, an interior surface of the arm 48 which joins the rear wall 26 of the body 18 comprises a pair of upwardly extending projections 58 against which an upper end of the rear of the remote control 2 can abut when held in the holder 10. In this way, the remote 2 is held snugly between the downwardly extending projection 56 of the lip and the rear wall projections 58. This snug fit, together with the basal projections 34 of the body 18 which mate with the remote control grips 6, work together to secure the remote control 2 to the holder 10.

The design of the holder 10 allows for easy securement and removal of the remote control 2 relative to the holder 10. The upwardly extending arm 48 latches over the remote control 2 and between its unfolded antennae 4. The arm 48 thus serves to prevent accidental inward collapse or snapping of the antennae 4.

When the remote control 2 is stowed for storage, it can be moved into its folded state (Figure 1) and held within the body 18 of the holder 10. In this configuration, the upwardly extending wall 60 which forms the base of the U of the upwardly projecting arm 48 protects the antennae 4 from inadvertently unfolding or snapping. The wall 60 is slightly spaced from the folded antennae to not abut thereagainst, but is close enough to the antennae 4 to stop them from being pulled away from the remote control 2 and thus protects them from snapping in this direction. The lip 52 of the upwardly extending arm 48 also blocks the folded antennae 4 of the stowed remote 2 from being completely unfolded as in Figure 2. Advantageously, the spacing between the base wall 60 of the upwardly extending arm 48 and the top of the remote control 2 permits air to flow into air vents typically provided towards a top and/or rear of remote controls.

There is a range of remote controls that are commercially available, not all of which are identical in shape and size. As such, for holders 10 embodying the present invention to snugly receive remote controls of different depths, the form of the receptacle 20, such as its depth, may need to be adjustable.

One such embodiment of the holder 10 which can securely receive remote controls of varying depths is shown in Figures 7 to 9, wherein like reference numerals refer to like features. In this embodiment, a lower arm 50 of the U presents an abutment surface 62 for abutting against a rear of the remote control 2 so that the remote control 2 is held snugly between the projection 56 of the lip 52 and the abutment surface 62.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the abutment surface 62 is formed as part of a substantially rectangular adapter 64 which is configured to be removably secured to the upwardly extending arm 48 (though could just as well be located at or engaged with a rear wall 26 of the body 18). To this end, the upwardly projecting arm 48 comprises a longitudinal slot 66, and a rear of the adapter 64 comprises a complementary protrusion 68 arranged to slide into the slot 66. In this way, adapters 64 of different heights can be interchanged with one another and secured to the holder, thereby adjusting the gap between the projection 56 of the lip 52 and the abutment surface 62. For example, the lip projection 56 and adapter 64 shown in Figure 8 is configured to hold remote controls of a certain depth and may not snugly hold shallower remotes. To account for this, the depicted adapter 64 can be slid out from the slot 66 and replaced with a slightly taller adapter, thereby reducing the gap between the abutment surface 62 and the projection 56 of the lip 52 to more firmly grip the remote control therebetween.

Of course, other means for adjusting the size of the cradle 20 for receipt of remote controls of different widths are within the scope of the present invention. To this end, the size, shape and/or form of the receptacle or cradle 20 which receives the remote control 2 can be reversibly varied. For example, an adapter of the type discussed above could instead be detachably engaged with, for example, the lip 52 of the upwardly extending arm 48. In one such embodiment, the abutment surface 62 could instead define the lip projection 56, such that to receive remote controls of different widths, the height of the lip protection 56 is adjusted by replacing it with differently shaped or sized adapters 64. Figures 10 to 12 show the holder 10 of Figures 7 to 9 with a stand 12 detachably secured thereto. The stand 12 extends upwardly from the upwardly projecting arm 48 such that, in use, an electronic display device 16 secured via the stand 12 is held generally above the remote control 2. The stand 12 comprises an elongate stem 70, an upper end of which comprises a spherical head 72 configured to form the ball of a ball and socket joint between the stand 12 and electronic display device holders. One such holder 14 is shown in Figure 17. The rear of the holder 14 comprises a socket 74 into which the spherical head 72 can be located, thereby allowing the display holder 14 to be freely adjusted and rotated about the socket joint.

Figures 13 to 15 show an embodiment of a stand 12 configured to releasably secure to the body 18 of the holder 10 via the upwardly extending arm 48. A lower portion 76 of the stand 12 comprises a flexible central tab 78 having a securing lip 80, and two relatively rigid prongs 82 on each side of the tab 78. The upwardly extending arm 48 comprises a top (or first) opening 84 via which the lower portion 76 of the stand 12 can be inserted. The arm 48 also has a front (or second) opening 86 which defines an engagement edge 88 with the securing lip 80 of the stand 12. As such, when the lower portion 76 of the stand 12 is inserted into the top opening 84, the securing lip 80 protrudes through the front opening 86 and abuts against the engagement edge defined by the upper, inner ledge 88 of the front opening 86. This abutment between the securing lip 80 and the ledge 88 helps retain the stand 12 to the body 18 of the holder 10.

To remove the stand 12, a user can simply insert a finger into the front opening 86 and push against the flexible tab 78, thereby urging it inwardly in the direction of the remote control 2 and releasing the securing lip 80 from its engagement with the engagement edge 88. Once so released, the stand 12 can be removed from the upwardly projecting arm 48 of the holder 10. Referring back to Figures 10 to 12, the stand 12 may comprise a central longitudinal slot 90 via which mounts such as screws 92 can be provided to secure additional fittings or equipment such as cameras.

During use, having to hold and support by hand the weight of the holder 10, remote control 2, stand 12, electronic display device 16 and an associated holder 14 can be physically tiring, especially over extended periods. As such, it can be helpful for users to wear a support strap (not shown) which straps to their body and bears some or all of the weight of the aforementioned equipment and gear. To this end, and with reference to Figures 16 and 17, holders 10 embodying the present invention may also comprise a strap connection component 94 via which a support strap can be secured to the holder 10.

In the depicted embodiment, the connection component 94 has a tab-like base portion 96 and a head in the form of a circular opening 98. The circular opening 98 is configured to receive the socket 74 of the electronic display device holder 14, as shown in Figure 17. The base portion 96 comprises an aperture 100 via which common support straps, such as a neck or shoulder strap, can be secured.

In use, a user may decide to use only the body 18 of the holder 10. In this case, the user simply needs to slide the remote control 2 into the receptacle 20 defined by the body 18 of the holder 10.

If the user wishes to view visual feedback from the drone via an electronic display device 16, the stand 12 can be attached to the body 18 via the upwardly projecting arm 48, thereby allowing an electronic display device holder 14 to be secured to the holder 10 via the stand 12.

If the user wishes to wear a support strap, the strap connection component 94 simply needs to be secured to the rear socket portion 74 of the device holder 14 before securing the holder 14 to the stand 12.

Many modifications of the above embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, although the body 18 is depicted in the Figures as having two hand grips 38, the body could avoid having grips altogether, and instead have provisions to allow the grips 6 of the remote 2 to be unfolded and used.

In addition to varying the shape and size of the receptacle 20 to receive remotes 2 of different depths, the shape and size of the receptacle may also be varied to receive remotes of different widths. For example, adapters and spacers similar to the adapters 64 discussed herein may also be engaged with, for example, inner surfaces of the side walls 22 of the body 18 so as to vary the width of the receptacle 20. In this way, remote controls of wider or narrower profiles may also fit snugly within the receptacle or cradle 20 of the body 18. While the stand 12 is shown as a component that is detachable from the body 18 of the holder, it is of course possible that the stand 12 is integrally formed therewith. In certain embodiments, the stand 12 and upwardly extending arm 48 may not be physically separate components. For example, the body 18 could simply comprise an upwardly extending support or extension which acts both to help secure the remote to the holder and provide a connection means (such as a ball joint) via which an electronic display device holder can be mounted.

The stand 12 depicted in the Figures is only but one embodiment, and could of course comprise a range of other types of connection means so that it can connect to display device holders of the user's choosing. For example, rather than (or in addition to) a spherical head, the stand may comprise a slot via which a screw, such as the type found in tripod mounts, can be secured thereto to provide attachment to other types of device holders.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.