Background to the invention

The present invention relates to a holder.

Specifically, the present invention relates to a holder for a media device.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a holder for a portable and/or handheld media device.

Media devices are able to store and transmit media content in a number of different forms. This can include text, audio, still images, animation, video or interactivity content forms. Media devices are commonly manufactured as multimedia devices whereby the medium has multiple content forms which can be recorded, stored, played, displayed and/or accessed by information content devices. A known form of multimedia device is that of electronic multimedia devices whereby the user can store and experience multimedia content.

Multimedia devices can include televisions, electronic radios, telecommunication devices, computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones and multimedia cameras.

More specifically, hand-held and/or portable multimedia devices are widely available and include tablet PCs, l-Pads®, electronic book viewers such as Kindles®, digital photo frames, l-Phones and other android or smart phones. In addition, other hand-held or portable media devices can include hand-held games consoles and satellite navigation systems. Portable and/or hand-held media devices are generally of a size and nature such that they can be transported and used away from a user's home, desk or office. As hand-held/portable multimedia devices are substantially planar in dimensions, should a user wish to rest such a multimedia device on a surface, the surface is generally required to be flat and lateral, for example the surface of a table or a desk. It is difficult for a multimedia device to be mounted on to a wall or vertical structure or surface.

A number of multimedia device holders are known that attempt to overcome these problems, however they have various disadvantages. Commonly, multimedia device holders are restricted in size and dimensions to only fit a certain specific multimedia device make and/or model and therefore cannot be manipulated to be used for different multimedia devices. Furthermore, known multimedia device holders tend to interfere and obstruct operational buttons, speakers, microphones, and connection points and other operational interfaces of multimedia devices that are generally part of a functioning multimedia device. Known multimedia device holders also tend to interfere or obstruct the display screen of multimedia device holders. A number of multimedia device holders comprise moving parts which limit the durability of the device holder itself. Existing multimedia device holders are not configurable such as to locate and be retained on a transparent or translucent wall or surface such as glass or plastic and retain a multimedia device such that the display screen of the multimedia device can be viewed from the opposing side of the translucent and/or transparent surface. For example should the operator be having a shower, current multimedia device holders are configured such that the device holder must be attached to the inside of the shower screen. This is disadvantageous as due to multimedia devices being electronic in nature, contact with water would likely damage the multimedia device.

Many known multimedia device holders are not configured to locate and retain a multimedia device on a surface over long periods. This disadvantage is compounded when multimedia devices have a vibration means. The vibration of a media device commonly causes the location means of the multimedia device holder to come away from a particular surface and therefore the multimedia device holder and multimedia device is susceptible from falling off the surface which can lead to damage to the multimedia device.

There is a need for a multimedia device holder which is configurable for use with a range of multimedia devices, minimises interference with the operation and functionality of a multimedia device, is re-usable and is further configurable to retain a multimedia device on a non-porous and/or smooth surface as well as a translucent and/or transparent surface such that the multimedia device display screen is visible from an opposing side of the translucent/transparent surface. In particular there is a need for a media device holder which can be retained on a vertical or substantially upright wall, window, or other surface.

Summary of the Invention According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided, a holder for a media device, said holder comprising:

a mounting arrangement operable to mount the holder to a surface, during use, and

a body of resilient material defining a re-entrant portion to receive a media device in use, thereby mounting the media device to the surface. The body of resilient material may provide a recess to define a gap between a base of the resilient material and a media device in use. The resilient material may provide at least two positions to engage a media device, and the gap being located between the at least two positions.

The gap may be a groove in the body of resilient material.

The resilient material may comprise a concave wall configured to engage with a corner of a media device in use. The resilient material may comprise a straight wall configured to engage with a side of a media device in use. The body of resilient material may be configured to prevent interaction of the resilient material with an operational button and/or a switch and/or a speaker of a media device in use. The body of resilient material may be configured to be complementary to a media device. The resilient material may comprise a first wall and a second wall which define the recess.

The holder may comprise a locating means for locating and retaining the holder on a surface. The locating means may be integral with the body of resilient material.

Alternatively, the locating means may be a separate component to the body. The locating means may comprise a magnet.

Alternatively, the locating means may comprise a permanent, semipermanent or non-permanent adhesive.

Alternatively, the locating means may comprise at least one sucker. The body of resilient material may be shaped to facilitate engagement with a side and/or a corner of a media device.

The resilient material may be such as to reduce vibrations passing to the media device from the holder when in use.

The resilient material may be such as to reduce vibrations passing from a surface to a media device when in use. The resilient material may comprise rubber or a rubberised material.

The resilient material may comprise polyurethane.

The resilient material may comprise polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically a first perspective view of a holder for a media device according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically a second perspective view of a holder for a media device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically a third view of a holder for a media device of Figure 1 in use with a media device.

Detailed Description of the Invention Embodiments of the invention will now be described herein with reference to the drawings by way of example only. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to the specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as to not unnecessarily obscure the description.

Figure 1 illustrates media device holder 1 10, body 100, resilient member/resilient material 101 , recess 102, back wall/base back wall 103, engaging wall 104, engaging wall 105, re-entrant portion 106, location means 107, protrusion 108, location point 109, stabilising platform 1 19, first wall 120 and second wall 121 . Figure 2 shows media device holder 1 10, reinforcement means 21 1 , body 100, resilient member 101 , protrusion 108, location means 107, location point 109 and stabilising platform 1 19.

Figure 3 shows media device holder 1 10, body 100, resilient member 101 , re-entrant portion 106, location means 107, protrusion 108, location point 109, reinforcement means 21 1 , first wall 120, second wall 121 and stabilising platform 1 19.

Figure 3 further shows media device 400, media device corner 401 , media device side 402, media device display screen 403. The media device 400, shown in Fig. 3, is substantially planar, as noted above.

The media device 400 can be any multimedia device which is portable and/or hand-held including telecommunications devices and other multimedia devices which have been described above. In one instance, media device holder 1 10 is configured to retain a media device 400 in the form of a tablet PC, smart phone, or electronic book viewer. The media device holder 1 10 comprises a main body 100. The main body 100 comprises a stabilising platform 1 19 which is located at a first end of the main body 100. The stabilising platform may form part or be a separate component of the main body 100. The main body 1 00 comprises a re-entrant portion 106. The walls of the re-entrant portion of the main body are substantially defined by the resilient material 101 . The re-entrant portion is such that it forms a gap/entrance for a media device 400 to enter the media device holder 1 10 and to engage the media device holder within the re-entrant portion 106. The resilient material 101 has a recess 102 defined by a first wall 120, a second wall 121 and a back wall 103. The first wall and second wall also provide engaging walls 104, 105. The engaging wall 104 may engage with a side 402 of a media device 400, as will be described. The engaging wall 105 may engage with a corner 401 of a media device 400. Each engaging wall 104, 105 defines a position at which the wall 104, 105 can engage with the media device 400. The first wall 120 and the second wall 121 are separated by the recess 102 which provides a gap therebetween.

Preferably, the first wall 120 and the second wall 121 are of the same shape and configuration such that a media device corner 401 or media device side 402 can engage with the first wall 120 and second wall 121 such that the media device screen 403 of a media device 400 is facing towards the location point 109 or away from the location point 109, as will be described. The engaging wall 105 is preferably configured to be complementary to the media device corner 401 such as to improve the engagement of the media device 400 and the holder 1 10 and so that the media device 400 can securely fit the holder 1 10. The engaging walls 104 have a shape complementary to a side 402 of a media device 400.

The recess 102 may be in the form of a groove which runs along a length of the holder 1 10 and is defined by a length of the first wall 120 and the second wall 121 and the back wall/base 103 of the resilient material 101 . Alternatively, the recess 102 forming a groove does not necessarily have to run along the full length of the resilient material 101 and may run along only a part of the resilient material 101 .

The resilient material 101 may be part of body 100 to form a single component. Alternatively, the resilient material 101 may be a separate component to the body 100. When the body 100 and resilient material 101 are formed of separate components, each of these components will be separately formed. One process in which the body 100 and resilient material 101 can be manufactured is by injection moulding according to techniques well known in the art. Examples of resilient material 101 can be, but are not limited to, rubber, silicon, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane. The body 100 may also be formed of the same material as the resilient material 101 . Alternatively, the body 100 could be made of material of greater strength or more rigidity, for example, a toughened plastic, wood or a metal or alloy, for example, aluminium, silver, iron or steel. The first wall and second wall may be of a material suitable to grip a media device by friction upon engagement.

The body 100 provides a location point 109 to carry a location means 107. A location point 109 may either be located on the stabilising platform 1 19 or the main body 100. The location point 109 may comprise a locating means 107 or comprise a connection point to which a location means can be connected. The location means 107 can be any means to attach the holder 1 10 to surfaces including a wall, a table, a shower screen, a window or any other non-porous and/or smooth surface. Preferably, the location means 107 is configured to locate the holder 1 10 to a substantially flat surface. The location means 107 may be in the form of a sucker which attaches to a surface by creating a vacuum, a permanent, semi-permanent or non- permanent adhesive such as glue or a magnet. Other location means may be used that are able to be attached to a surface.

The location means may either be an integral component of the body 100 or may comprise a separate component to the body 100. Alternatively, the media device holder 1 10 may comprise a location point 109 whereby a location means can be attached to the body and the location means does not form part of the holder 1 10. In a preferred mode, the holder 1 10 will have at least three points of location 109 whereby each of the three points can individually provide location means 107 or be configured to be attachable to the location means 107. Another number of points of location could be provided.

When the location means 107 is in the form of suckers, the location means 107 may comprise protrusions 108 which can be gripped by the user to facilitate the placement or removal of the holder 1 10 from a surface. The protrusions 108 may alternatively be formed on the body 100.

The location means 107 will either be pre-attached to at least one location point 109 or will be assembled to be attached to at least one location point 109. Alternatively, the location points 109 may also act as the location means. When the location means 107 is in the form of suckers, the device holder 1 10 can be attached to a surface by locating the location means 107 at the surface and pressing down on the media device holder 1 10 such that air is expelled from a gap between the suckers and the surface to create a vacuum and therefore attach the location means 107 and therefore the device holder 1 10 to the surface.

To remove the media device holder 1 10 from a surface, either the location means 107 can be removed from the surface by the user pulling on the body 100, or alternatively, the protrusion 108 can be used to facilitate a user pulling on the protrusions to release the vacuum and remove the location means 107 from the surface.

The body 100 may further comprise a stabilising platform 1 19 located in between the locating means 107 and the body 100 such to provide a wide surface area to stabilise the holder 1 10. The body may also comprise a reinforcement means 21 1 . The reinforcement means 21 1 is configured to not only provide body 100 with additional strength, the reinforcement means 21 1 also provides stability to the holder 1 10 such as to prevent movement or distortion of the holder 1 10 when in use. The reinforcement means 21 1 may be in the form of stabilising fin held between the platform 1 19 and the reentrant portion 106.

The media device holder 1 10 can be attached to a surface prior to a media device being held within the media device holder 1 10 or after the media device is introduced into the media device holder 1 10. In order to locate and retain a media device 400 within a media device holder 1 10, either a side of a media device 402 or a corner of a media device 401 will be pushed by the user into the media device holder 1 10. The corner 401 or side 402 of the media device 400 may be pressed against the resilient material 101 such as to abut or engage with either engaging walls 104 or engaging walls 105.

When a corner 401 of the media device 400 is introduced, the media device 400 is engaged by engaging walls 105. These form a concavity. However, when a side of a media device 402 is engaged with the media device holder 1 10, the media device 400 is engaged by engaging walls 104, which are straight.

In either configuration, a gap or recess 102 is retained such that the corner 401 or side 402 of the media device does not come into contact with the base or back wall 103 of the media device holder 1 10. As there is provided a first wall 120 and second wall 121 located either side of the recess 102, both the first wall 120 and second wall 121 will provide engaging walls 104 and/or engaging walls 105.

Therefore, the media device holder will comprise at least two positions for a media device 400 to locate to the media device holder 1 10 and preferably at least one position on the first wall 120 and one position on the second wall 121 .

In an alternative arrangement when in use, the corner 401 or side 402 of the media device 400 may be placed between the first wall 120 and second wall 121 such that the corner 401 or side 402 of the media device 400 takes up a position within the recess 102 such that the media device 400 is retained in a position close to or engaged with the base or back wall 103. Should the user wish to remove the media device 400 from the media device holder 1 10, the media device 400 can simply be pulled out from the reentrant portion 106. In one arrangement, multiple media device holders 1 10 may be used to retain a single media device 400, each holding either a corner 401 or side 402 of the media device 400.

When in use, the media device side 402 or media device corner 401 will abut either engaging wall 104 or engaging wall 105 accordingly such that there is a gap between the media device corner 401 or media device side 402 and the back wall 103 such that they do not touch or interact. This is advantageous in that the holder 1 10 does not obstruct or interfere with the operational or functional buttons, microphone connection points and/or speakers of a media device. This prevents accidental operation of a button or other interface of a media device. Furthermore, the recess 102 allows for air flow between the media device and the holder. This is advantageous to prevent the holding blocking sound from a speaker of the media device. When the media device 400 is positioned such that the display screen 403 is located facing towards location means 107, the holder 1 10 and media device 400 can be located against a surface which is translucent or transparent, for example, a window or a shower screen. This enables the user to view the display screen 403 of a media device 400 through the surface. For example, the display screen 403 can be viewed whilst a user is in the shower but the media device is outside of the shower, preventing the media device 400 from getting wet. Therefore the user can, for example, watch a video on a media device 400 without having to hold the media device and without the media device getting damaged. Alternatively, the display screen 403 can be directed away from the location means 107, allowing the media device 400 to be mounted securely on an opaque structure, such as a wall, while allowing the screen 403 to be viewed. In addition to being attached to a shower screen, the device 1 10 could be attached to other surfaces, for example, but not limited to, a kitchen window so that the holder 1 10 can be safely and securely viewed without fear of a holder getting wet, or securing the holder 1 10 to a surface to stabilise the media device 400 if the media device has an in built camera function, or locating the holder 1 10 such that the media device 400 is secured to the internal side of an external window to allow the device 400 to be viewed from outside the property without fear that the device 400 will get wet, dusty or lost, or securing the holder 1 10 to a window of a private or public transport automobile, or attaching the holder 1 10 to locate a media device to an office or home furniture object.

Multiple holders 1 10 will usually be used, as illustrated (Figure 3). In each case, either a side 402 of the media device 400 or a corner 401 of the media device 400 is received in each media device holder 1 10.

In one instance, the holder 1 10 is formed as a single component with no moving parts such that the holder 1 10 is suitable for children of a young age and minimising the risk of losing or breaking the component features of the holder 1 10.

The material of the body 100 should be chosen to provide sufficient strength to retain the structural shape of the holder 1 10 and have a durability for repetitive use of the holder 1 10. The body 100 may have sufficient material strength to protect the media device 400, in use. The resilient material 101 engages with the media device 400 in use, as noted above. The resilient material is preferably sufficiently resilient such that the material conforms substantially to the shape of the media device side 402 or media device corner 401 that the resilient material 101 has engaged with in use. The resilient material 101 is preferably also resilient such that when engaged with the media device 400, and the media device 400 vibrates, the resilient material 101 dampens the vibration and thus reducing the resonance of the vibration through to the holder 1 10. The dampening of the vibration is advantageous as this minimises the vibrational shaking of the holder 1 10 such that when the holder 1 10 is located on a surface, the vibration does not cause the holder 1 10 to disengage with a surface and potentially fall off the surface. This is particularly advantageous when in use, the holder 1 10 is located to a vertical, substantially upright or upstanding wall or other surface.

Alternatively, the resilient material 101 may also dampen vibrations from a surface, such that the shaking of a media device is reduced, during use. For example, when the media device holder is attached to a vehicle window when the vehicle is moving, vibration will be dampened by the resilient material 101 and not carried through to the media device 400.