Gripping mechanism for gripping portable object

Abstract

A holding device. The holding device can hold portable objects such as MP3 players, mobile phones, navigation devices, etc. The holding device has one or more arms, which can grip the portable object. In predetermined orientations, one arm is prevented from moving outward, to prevent the held portable object from falling even when it is being inserted or removed from the holder.

1 . A holding device comprising:
 a platform;   a first arm attached to the platform;   a second arm attached to the platform opposing the first arm, wherein the first arm or the second arm is capable of moving inward and outward;   a first locking mechanism adapted to prevent the first arm or the second arm from moving outward; and   a second locking mechanism adapted to prevent the first arm or the second arm from moving outward when the platform is in a predetermined orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The holding device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a release mechanism for releasing the first locking mechanism.   
     
     
         3 . The holding device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a biasing member coupled with the first arm and or second arm, wherein the biasing member is configured to provide outward force.   
     
     
         4 . The holding device of  claim 3 , wherein the biasing member is a spring. 
     
     
         5 . The holding device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible support member coupled with the platform   
     
     
         6 . The holding device of  claim 1 , wherein both the first arm and the second arm are capable of moving inward and outward, and further wherein the first locking mechanism is adapted to prevent the first arm and the second arm from moving outward. 
     
     
         7 . The holding device of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined orientation comprises a rotation of the platform such that the platform is in a landscape orientation. 
     
     
         8 . The holding device of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism comprises:
 a primary rack coupled to the first arm or the second arm;   locking tabs capable of engaging with the primary rack; and   a release lever coupled with the locking tabs, wherein rotation of the release lever results in the locking tabs disengaging from the primary rack.   
     
     
         9 . The holding device of  claim 1 , wherein the second locking mechanism comprises:
 an auxiliary rack coupled to the first arm or the second arm; and   a circular shaped inner pivot, wherein approximately half the circumference of the inner pivot comprises a protrusion and further wherein the platform is capable of rotating relative to the inner pivot such that the protrusion couples with the auxiliary rack, when the platform is in the predetermined orientation.   
     
     
         10 . The holding device of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion couples with the auxiliary rack by means of a cam follower, wherein at the predetermined orientation of the platform, the protrusion engages the cam follower such that the cam follower mates with the auxiliary rack. 
     
     
         11 . The holding device of  claim 9 , wherein the auxiliary rack is a first auxiliary rack coupled to the first arm, the holding device further comprises a second auxiliary rack coupled to the second arm, wherein the protrusion couples one of the first auxiliary rack or the second auxiliary rack when the platform is in the predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         12 . The holding device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base attached to the platform;   an electrical connector coupled with the base; and   a cable having two ends, wherein one cable end is coupled to the electrical connector and the other cable end is coupled to a power connector.   
     
     
         13 . The holding device of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical connector is capable of connecting to a portable media device. 
     
     
         14 . The holding device of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical connector is capable of sliding across the base in a lateral direction. 
     
     
         15 . The holding device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a lateral slot across the base;   a stand disposed within the slot, wherein the connector is attached to the stand; and   a clip coupled to the stand, wherein the clip is configured to guide the cable.   
     
     
         16 . The holding device of  claim 1 , wherein the second locking mechanism comprises:
 a tube disposed within the platform, wherein the tube has two ends and wherein at least one tube end couples with the first arm or the second arm; and   a ball bearing disposed within the tube, wherein the ball bearing is forced by gravity to the at least one tube end when the platform is in the predetermined orientation.   
     
     
         17 . The holding device of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined location occurs when the first arm or the second arm is substantially parallel with the ground. 
     
     
         18 . The holding device of  claim 16 , wherein the ball bearing holds in place the first arm or the second arm coupled with the at least one tube end, when the platform is at the predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The holding device of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 at least one biasing member coupled with at least one of the first arm and the second arm, wherein the biasing member is configured to provide force in the outward direction.   
     
     
         20 . The holding device of  claim 1 , wherein both the first arm and the second arm are capable of moving inward and outward, and further wherein the second locking mechanism is adapted to prevent the first arm and the second arm from moving outward when the platform is in predetermined orientations. 
     
     
         21 . A holding device comprising:
 a platform, wherein the platform has an adjustable rotation;   a first arm attached to the platform;   a second arm attached to the platform opposing the first arm, wherein the first arm or the second arm are disposed to move inward and outward;   a first means for locking the first arm or the second arm from moving in the outward direction;   means for releasing the first means for locking; and   a second means for locking the first arm or the second arm when the platform is at a predetermined rotation relative to the surface.   
     
     
         22 . The holding device of  claim 21 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are disposed to move inward and outward;
 the first means includes means for locking the first arm and the second arm from moving in the outward direction; and   the second means includes means for locking the first arm and the second arm when the platform is at predetermined rotations relative to the surface.   
     
     
         23 . The holding device of  claim 21 , wherein the predetermined rotation comprises a left landscape orientation or a right landscape orientation. 
     
     
         24 . A method of using a holding device comprising:
 placing a portable object in the holding device comprising first and second arms;   securing the portable object in the holding device using the first and second arms, wherein the object is in a portrait orientation; and   rotating the portable object so that it is in a landscape orientation while the portable object is held by the first and second arms.