BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cross-Reference to Related Application

[00(11] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.

61/484,915, filed May 11, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a support bracket for a tablet computing device capable of positioning a video screen on one side of the tablet computing device in different directions.

[0003] Tablet computing devices are becoming ubiquitous in the office computing environment. Various tablet computing devices such as the Apple iPad, Motorola XOOM, Blackberry Playbook, Samsung Galaxy, Vizio Via, and ASUS Eee PC EP90, are used in the typical business office. In addition, several mounting devices have been developed for these tablet computing devices including desk-mount, wall-mount and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention relates to a mounting device for a tablet computing device for viewing through a window. In one aspect, the mounting device can include a bracket configured to hold a tablet computing device, a base adapted to mount to a surface, at least one arm having a first pivot connection with the base and a second pivot connection with the bracket, wherein the first pivot connection enables pivoting motion toward and away from the window and the second pivot connection enables pivoting motion of the bracket at least 180 degrees relative to the at least one arm, and a charging socket positioned on one of the base and the bracket for connection to a power port on the tablet computing device.

[0005] In another aspect, the mounting device can include a bezel configured to hold a tablet computing device, and having an opening sized and positioned to align with the display of the tablet computing device, a retainer to hold the tablet computing device onto the bezel in a first position where the display is visible through the opening and a second position where the display is not visible through the opening, and a first charging socket positioned to connect to a power port on the tablet computing device in the first position and a second charging socket positioned to connect to the power port on the tablet computing device in the second position. [0006] In yet another aspect, the mounting device can include a bracket configured to hold a tablet computing device, a base adapted to mount to a surface, and two arms spaced from each other and having a first pivot connection with the base and a second pivot connection with the bracket, wherein the first pivot connection enables pivoting motion toward and away from the window and the second pi v ot connection enables pi voting motion of the bracket at least 180 degrees relative to the arms about an axis extending through the tablet computing device, and wherein the second pivot connection is slidabie on the arms relative to the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] In the drawings:

[0008] Fig. 1 is a portion of an upright perspective view of the bracket for a tablet computing device shown visible through a glass wall of a conference room.

[0009] Fig. 2 is a view of the bracket and tablet computing device of Fig. 1 shown from the interior of the portion of the glass-wall conference room shown in Figure 1.

[ΘΘ10] Fig. 3 is a first embodiment of the tablet computing device shown in Figs. 1-2 wherein a tablet computing device is shown mounted on the bracket so that a video screen portion of the tablet computing device is faced outwardly of the glass-wall conference room and the tablet computing device is in a docked position with respect to a charging port on the bracket.

[0011] Fig. 4 is an upright perspective view of the first embodiment of the bracket for tablet computing device shown in Fig. 3 wherein the tablet computing device has been un docked from the charging port on the bracket.

[0012] Fig. 5 is an upright perspective view of the first embodiment of the bracket for tablet computing device shown in Figs. 3-4 when the tablet computing device has been pivoted from the undocked position shown in FIG. 5 so that the video screen portion of the tablet computing device no longer faces outwardly.

[0013] Fig. 6 is an upright perspective view of the first embodiment of the bracket for a tablet computing device wherein the pivoting motion shown in Fig, 5 has been completed and the video screen portion of the tablet computing device now faces inwardly.

[0014] Fig, 7 is a second embodiment of a bracket for a tablet computing device wherein the charging port is provided on a bracket attached to the tablet computing device and power cables for the charging port are routed within the bracket and then to a charging port on the bracket, with the video screen portion of the tablet computing device facing outwardly. 10015] FIG. 8 is an upright perspective view of the second embodiment of the bracket for tablet computing device shown in Fig. 7 when the tablet computing device has been pivoted from the position shown in FIG. 7 so that the video screen portion of the tablet computing device no longer faces outwardly.

[0016] Fig. 9 is an upright perspective v iew of the second embodiment of the bracket for a tablet computing device wherein the pivoting motion shown in Fig. 8 has been completed and the video screen portion of the tablet computing device now faces inwardly.

[0017] Fig. 10 is a third embodiment of a bracket for a tablet computing device in which a bracket attached to the tablet computing device includes a magnetic docking port which is disconnected from a charging port on the bracket when the tablet computing device is pivoted from an outwardly-facing position to an inwardly-facing position, with the video screen portion of the tablet computing device facing outwardly.

[ΘΘ18] FIG. 1 1 is an upright perspective view of the third embodiment of the bracket for tablet computing device shown in Fig. 10 when the tablet computing device has been pivoted from the position shown in FIG. 10 so that the video screen portion of the tablet computing device no longer faces outwardly.

[0019] Fig. 12 is an upright perspective view of the third embodiment of the bracket for a tablet computing device wherein the pivoting motion shown in Fig. 1 1 has been completed and the video screen portion of the tablet computing device now faces inwardly.

[ΘΘ20] Fig. 13 is a fourth embodiment of a bracket for a tablet computing device in which the bracket shown in the earlier embodiments of Figs. 1-12 is shown with a surrounding bezel so that a display of the tablet computing device is framed by the bezel when the ta blet computing device is faced outwardly of the glass-wall conference room, with the video screen portion of the tablet computing device facing outwardly.

[0021] Fig. 14 is an upright perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the bracket for a tablet computing device shown in Fig. 13, with the video screen portion of the tablet computing device facing inwardly.

[ΘΘ22] Fig. 15 is a front perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a bracket for a tablet computing device in which the tablet computing device can be mounted to a surrounding bezel in a first position wherein the tablet computing device is faced outwardly of the glass- wall conference room, and disconnected and remounted to the surrounding bezel so that the tablet computing device is faced inwardly to the conference room.

[0023] Fig. 16 is a rear perspecti ve view of the fifth embodiment of the bracket shown in Fig. 15. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Turning to Fig. 1, a portion of a glass-walled conference room is shown generally by reference number 10. In the example construction of the glass-walled conference room shown in Fig. 1, a glass pane 12 is shown adjacent to a door jamb 14 and a conference room door 16. A bracket 20 according to the invention is shown mounted to the glass pane 12 and a tablet computing device 22 is shown mounted thereto with a video screen portion 24 of the tablet computing device 2.2. shown facing outwardly from the glass pane 12. of the conference room wall 10. It will be understood that the bracket 20 can be mounted to the door jamb 14 or any other part of the conference room 10 so long as it is positioned to be visible through the glass pane 20, whether or not the glass pane constitutes a wall or a window in a wall.

[0025] It will be understood that the tablet computing device can be any suitable computing device, including tablet devices such as the Apple iPad, Motorola XOOM, Blackberry Playbook, Samsung Galaxy, Vizio Via, and ASUS Eee PC EP90, and the like.

[ΘΘ26] Fig. 2 shows the conference room 10 with the tablet computing device 20 positioned as shown in Fig. 1 from the perspective of the user positioned inside the conference room. The bracket 20 is shown in greater detail in Fig. 3 and comprises a base or housing 30 pivotally mounting a pair of support arms 32. which, in turn, support a mounting bracket 34 for the tablet computing device 22,

[0027] The housing 30 comprises a vertically-elongated member 36 which has a pair of extending end flanges 38 located at each vertical end thereof. An axle 40 extends between pivot mounts 42 on the end flanges 38. The axle 40 supports a charging dock 44 which includes a suitable charging socket 46 at a generally central location thereof. The charging socket 46 is integrally connected by suitable wiring 48 to a distal charging port 50 with interconnection to a suitable charging adapter, such as a typical USB-configured charging adapter as is known in the art.

[0028] Each of the support arms 32 comprises an elongated body 52 which has a sleeve 54 at a firs t end thereof and a retainer 56 at a second end thereof.

[ΘΘ29] The tablet mounting bracket 34 comprises an elongated body 58 having a pair of clip mounts 60 at each vertical end thereof which are preferably reversely curved and adapted to clip to edges of the tablet computing device 22. The clip mounts 60 can also include reversely-directed detent portions to provide additional gripping to the surface of the tablet computing device 22. The tablet mounting bracket 34 can also be provided in multiple sizes to fit different types of tablet computing devices 22, or can also include a telescoping portion at a central area thereof so thai the tablet mounting bracket 34 can be resized to fit different tablet computing devices 22. A slide retainer 62 is provided at an outer surface of the clip mounts 60 and is connected to the clip mount 60 by a swivel mount 64 which allows for 360° rotational movement of the mount with respect to the retainer sleeve.

[0030] In assembly, the support arms 32 are pivoted with the axle 40 of the housing 30 adjacent the charging socket 46 of the charging dock 44 located on the axle 40. The support, arms 32 can thereby pivot with respect to the axle 40 by virtue of the mounting of the sleeve 54 on the axle 40 support arm 32. The slide retainer 62 is mounted to the elongated arms 52 of the support, arms 32 so that the mounting bracket 34 can slide axially only with respect to each support arm 32.

[0031] In use, a tablet computing device 22 is clipped within the clip mounts 60 of the mounting bracket 34. The tablet computing device can thereby have its video screen portion 24 facing outwardly of the clip mounts 60 as shown in the public position of Fig. 3. A charging port 66 on the tablet computing device 22 is preferably docked into the charging socket 46 as shown in the docked position in Fig. 3.

[0032] The video screen portion 24 of the tablet computing device 22 can be rotated with respect to the support anus 32 such that the video screen portion 24 of the tablet computing device 22 is located in an inwardly facing position as shown in Fig. 6. The movement of the tablet computing device 22 with respect to the bracket 20 is shown progressively from the outwardly -facing docked position in Fig. 3, to the outwardly-facing undocked position of Fig, 4, to a pivoted position in Fig. 5, to the inwardly-facing position in Fig. 6.

[0033] In order to accomplish this movement, the mounting bracket 34 which houses the tablet computing device 22 is slid in the retainer 62 along the support arms 32 to the bracket 20 so that the charging port 66 becomes docked with the charging socket 46 on the housing 30. The tablet computing device 22 is thereby shown in this position in Fig. 4, wherein the charging port 66 is now docked with the charging socket 46 on the bracket 20 and the retainers 56 are positioned on the end of the support, arms 32. Support arms 32 are pivoted with respect to the housing 30 and the mounting bracket 34 is rotated with respect to the retainers 32 so that the video screen portion 24 of the tablet computing device 22 passes through the position shown in Fig. 5 and the tablet, computing device 22, now having its video screen portion 24 facing inwardly, as shown in Fig. 6 is returned to a position where the inwardly-facing video screen portion 24 of the tablet computing device 22 is positioned against the wall of the conference room again. [0034] Second and third embodiments of the mounting bracket 34 for the bracket 20 are shown in Figs. 7-9 and .10-12, respectively.

[0035] Figs. 7-9 show a second embodiment of the bracket. 20 for the tablet, computing device 22, wherein the charging socket 46 is provided on the tablet mounting bracket 34 attached to the tablet computing device 22 and electrical wiring 48 for the charging socket 46 is routed within the bracket. 20 and then to a charging port 50 on the bracket 20. Positions of the video screen 24 portion of the tablet computing device 22 are shown in outwardly, pivoted, and inwardly facing position in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, respectively. In this embodiment, when the charging port 50 on the body 36 is connected to a source of power, the routing of the electrical wiring 48 through the tablet mounting bracket 34, along the mounting arm 32 and to the charging socket 46 means that the tablet computing device 22 will be continuously charged regardless of the position of the tablet computing device 22 with respect to the bracket 20.

[0036] Figs. 10-12 show a third embodiment of the bracket 20 for the tablet computing device 22 in which the bracket 20 includes a magnetic docking port 68 on the housing 30 selectively interconnected with a corresponding magnetic docking port. 70 on the tablet mounting bracket 34. The magnetic docking port 70 is operably interconnected with the charging port 66, which is also provided on the tablet mounting bracket 34. Therefore, the tablet computing device 22 is selectively interconnected to the charging port 50 via the docking of the tablet computing device 22 with the charging port 66 on the bracket 34 which, in turn, is operably interconnected to the charging port 50 on the bracket. 20 via the magnetic interconnection of the docking ports 68, 70 when the bracket 34 is positioned to align the docking ports 68, 70. The docking ports 68, 70 can be simply forcibly disconnected when the tablet computing device 22 is translated or rotated with respect, to the housing 30, such as when the tablet computing device 22 is pivoted from the outwardly-facing position, shown in Fig. 10, to the inwardly- facing position, shown in Fig. 12.

[0037] Figs. 13-14 show another embodiment, of the bracket 20 for a tablet, computing device 22 in which the bracket 20 shown in the earlier embodiments of Figs. 1-12 is shown with a surrounding bezel 72 so that the display 24 of the tablet computing device 22 is framed by the bezel 72 when the tablet computing device 22 is faced outwardly of the glass-wall conference room. The charging socket 46 can be provided on the housing 30 or tablet mounting bracket 34, as described in previous embodiments, or on the bezel 72.

[0038] Figs. 15-16 show an additional embodiment of a bracket 80 for a tablet computing device 22 in which the tablet computing device 22 can be mounted to a surrounding bezel 82 in a first position wherein the tablet computing device 22 is faced outwardly of the glass- wall conference room, and disconnected and remounted to the surrounding bezel 82 so that the tablet computing device 22 is faced inwardly to the conference room. like elements from earlier embodiments of Figs. 1 -12 are identified with like reference numerals. In the illustrative embodiment shown in Figs. 15-16, a pivotable retaining tab 86 is shown along an upper edge of the bezel 82 for selectively retaining the tablet computing device 22 within the bezel 82. Slotted retainers 88 are shown along a lower edge 84 of the bezel 82 for receipt of a lower edge of the tablet computing device 22. In use, the tablet 22 can be slid into the retainers 88 and held in place by the retaining tab 86. The particular mechanical

configuration of the retainer shown in Figs. 15-16 is by example only, and should not be constmed as limiting upon this invention, since any mechanical device which can retain the tablet 22 against the interior wall of the bezel 82 can be employed without departing from the scope of this invention. The bezel 82 defines an opening through which the video screen portion 24 of the tablet computing device 22 is selectively visible. A pair of charging sockets 46 can be provided on the bezel 82, in opposing relationship to each other on either side of the opening, so that the tablet computing device 22 can be coupled to one of the charging sockets 46 in either the outwardly-facing or inwardly-facing positions.

[0039] In any of the embodiments shown, a source of power can be connected to the bracket to power the charging port(s) on the particular embodiment shown. In the versions with multiple charging ports, the tablet computing device 22 can be charged whether the display (described herein as video screen portion 24 of the tablet computing device 22) for the tablet computing device 22 is facing inwardly or outwardly with respect to the bracket 20.

[0040] It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the mounting bracket 20 for the tablet computing device 22 allows the bracket 20 to position the video screen 24 either forwardly or reversely with respect to the bracket 20. In this way, a first application can be used to display conference room information, such as the EventBoard application available in the iTunes App Store for the Apple iPad when the screen 24 is feeing out of the conference room, and other applications used by users inside the conference room when the bracket 20 is reversed so the tablet computing device can be used inside the conference room.

[0041] It will also be understood that the pair of support arms 32 could also comprise a single support arm 32 with a rotational joint interconnecting the bracket 34 with the body 36. As with other components in the bracket 20, additional or fewer components can be employed without departing from the scope of this invention. [0042] It will also be understood by one skilled in the art that the bracket 20 can also include a secure mounting to whatever surface it is mounted to, to make the bracket 20 difficult to remove from the surface. In addition, the bracket 20 can include a secure mounting to the tablet computing device 22, such as a set screw, key lock, pad lock, cable mount, and other known methods for secure and anti-theft devices known in the art.

[0043] While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.