Mount for handheld electronic devices

Abstract

A mount includes a mount base and a mount head coupled to the mount base. The mount base supports the mount head relative to another stationary or movable structure. A handheld electronic device couples to the mount head to be supported relative to the structure at the selection of a user.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A mount comprising:
 a head adapted to engage with a case of a handheld electronic device;   a base coupled to the head; and   an expanding clamp coupled to the base, the expanding clamp including a cylinder, a driver, and a fastener, the driver and fastener aligned with the base along a common axis;   wherein the fastener passes at least partially through the base to engage with the driver, the cylinder is positioned around the fastener, and the fastener is configured to move the driver axially relative to the base to move at least a portion of the cylinder radially between a retracted position and an expanded position at the selection of a user;   wherein the cylinder is defined by a plurality of keys, wherein the keys are positioned around the fastener, and wherein the fastener is configured to move the driver axially relative to the base to move at least one of the keys radially between a retracted position and an expanded position at the selection of a user; and   wherein the keys are held together by one or more retainers.   
     
     
       2. The mount of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more retainers bias the keys toward the retracted position. 
     
     
       3. The mount of  claim 1 , wherein each key is formed to define one or more grooves for positioning the one or more retainers relative to the keys.  
     
     
       4. The mount of  claim 1 , wherein each key is formed to define a beveled surface at an axial end of the key, and wherein the beveled surfaces of the keys engage with a beveled surface of the driver to translate axial movement of the driver into radial movement of the keys. 
     
     
       5. A mount comprising:
 a head adapted to configured to extend into and engage with a receiver of a case of a handheld electronic device for removably mounting the handheld electronic device to the mount; 
 a base coupled to the head; and 
 an expanding clamp coupled to the base, the expanding clamp including a cylinder plurality of keys, a driver, and a fastener, the driver and fastener aligned with the base along a common axis; 
 wherein the fastener passes at least partially through the base to engage with the driver, the cylinder is plurality of keys are positioned around the fastener, and the fastener is configured to move the driver axially relative to the base to move at least a portion of the cylinder one key of the plurality of keys radially between a retracted position and an expanded position at the selection of a user; 
 further comprising a post coupled to the base, wherein each key of the plurality of keys is formed to define a beveled surface surfaces at an opposing axial end ends of the key, and wherein the beveled surfaces of the keys engage with a beveled surface of the driver and a beveled surface of the post to translate axial movement of the driver into radial movement of the keys; 
 wherein each key of the plurality of keys is further formed to define slots in radially inner surfaces at the opposing axial ends of the key, and wherein the slots of the keys engage with flanges of the driver and the base post to align the keys relative to the base and block rotation of the driver relative to the base; and 
 wherein the plurality of keys are held together by one or more retainers. 
 
     
     
       6. A mount comprising:
 a head adapted to engage with a case of a handheld electronic device;   a base coupled to the head; and   an expanding clamp coupled to the base, the expanding clamp including a cylinder, a driver, and a fastener, the driver and fastener aligned with the base along a common axis;   wherein the fastener passes at least partially through the base to engage with the driver, the cylinder is positioned around the fastener, and the fastener is configured to move the driver axially relative to the base to move at least a portion of the cylinder radially between a retracted position and an expanded position at the selection of a user;   wherein the cylinder is defined by a plurality of keys, wherein the keys are positioned around the fastener, and wherein the fastener is configured to move the driver axially relative to the base to move at least one of the keys radially between a retracted position and an expanded position at the selection of a user; and   further comprising a post coupled to the base, wherein each key is formed to define a beveled surface at an axial end of the key, and wherein the beveled surfaces of the keys engage with a beveled surface of the post to translate axial movement of the driver into radial movement of the keys.   
     
     
       7. The mount of  claim 6 , wherein each key is further formed to define slots in radially inner surfaces at opposing axial ends of the key, and wherein the slots of the keys engage with flanges of the driver and the post to align the keys relative to the base and block rotation of the driver relative to the base. 
     
     
       8. The mount of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keys includes four keys. 
     
     
       9. The mount of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more retainers includes two retainers.  
     
     
       10. A mount comprising:
 a head adapted to engage with a case of a handheld electronic device;   a base coupled to the head;   an expanding clamp coupled to the base, the expanding clamp including a cylinder, a driver, and a fastener, the driver and fastener aligned with the base along a common axis;   wherein the fastener passes at least partially through the base to engage with the driver, the cylinder is positioned around the fastener, and the fastener is configured to move the driver axially relative to the base to move at least a portion of the cylinder radially between a retracted position and an expanded position at the selection of a user;   wherein the cylinder is defined by a plurality of keys, wherein the keys are positioned around the fastener, and wherein the fastener is configured to move the driver axially relative to the base to move at least one of the keys radially between a retracted position and an expanded position at the selection of a user; and   further comprising an attachment arm coupled at a first end to the base and at an opposite second end to the head, wherein the adjustment arm is configured to position the head relative to the base.   
     
     
       11. An expanding clamp for use with a mount of a handheld electronic device, the expanding clamp comprising:
 a cylinder;   a driver; and   a fastener extending at least partially through the mount to engage with the driver, the fastener and the driver aligned along a common axis,   wherein the cylinder is positioned around the fastener, and the fastener is configured to move the driver axially relative to the mount to move at least a portion of the cylinder radially between a retracted position and an expanded position at the selection of a user;   wherein the cylinder is defined by a plurality of keys, wherein the keys are positioned around the fastener, and wherein the fastener is configured to move the driver axially relative to the mount to move at least one of the keys radially between a retracted position and an expanded position at the selection of a user; and   wherein the keys are held together by one or more retainers.   
     
     
       12. The expanding clamp of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more retainers bias the keys toward the retracted position. 
     
     
       13. The expanding clamp of  claim 11 , wherein each key is formed to define one or more grooves for positioning the one or more retainers relative to the keys. 
     
     
       14. The expanding clamp of  claim 11 , wherein each key is formed to define a beveled surface at an axial end of the key, and wherein the beveled surfaces of the keys engage with a beveled surface of the driver to translate axial movement of the driver into radial movement of the keys. 
     
     
       15. The expanding clamp of  claim 14 , wherein each key is further formed to define a slot in a radially inner surface at the axial end of the key, and wherein the slots of the keys engage with flanges of the driver to block rotation of the driver relative to the keys.  
     
     
       16. The expanding clamp of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of keys includes four keys. 
     
     
       17. The expanding clamp of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more retainers includes two retainers. 
     
     
       18. The mount of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more retainers bias the keys toward the retracted position. 
     
     
       19. The mount of  claim 5 , wherein each key of the plurality of keys is formed to define one or more grooves for positioning the one or more retainers relative to the keys. 
     
     
       20. The mount of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more retainers includes two retainers and wherein the one or more grooves includes two grooves. 
     
     
       21. The mount of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of keys includes four keys. 
     
     
       22. The mount of  claim 5 , further comprising an adjustment arm coupled at a first end to the base and at an opposite second end to the head, wherein the adjustment arm is configured to position the head relative to the base. 
     
     
       23. A mount comprising:
 a head configured to engage with a case of a handheld electronic device for removably mounting the handheld electronic device to the mount;   a base coupled to the head;   a post coupled to the base and rotationally fixed relative to the base; and   an expanding clamp coupled to the base, the expanding clamp including keys, a driver, and a fastener, the driver and fastener aligned with the post along a common axis;   wherein the fastener passes at least partially through the base and the post to engage with the driver, the keys are positioned around the fastener, and the fastener is configured to move the driver axially relative to the base to move at least one of the keys radially between a retracted position and an expanded position at the selection of a user,   wherein each key has a post-contacting portion at a first axial end and the post has a complementary key-contacting portion for each key;   wherein each key has a driver-contacting portion at a second axial end and the driver has a complementary key-contacting portion for each key;   wherein the post-contacting portion is configured to engage the complementary key-contacting portion of the post and the driver-contacting portion is configured to engage the complementary key-contacting portion of the driver to translate axial movement of the driver relative to the post into radial movement of the keys and to block rotation of the driver relative to the base, and   wherein the keys are held together by one or more retainers configured to bias the keys toward the retracted position.   
     
     
       24. The mount of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the post-contacting portion of each key includes a beveled surface and a slot, and each key-contacting portion of the post has a beveled surface and a flange configured to engage the slot; and   the driver-contacting portion of each key includes a beveled surface and a slot, and each key-contacting portion of the driver has a beveled surface and a flange configured to engage the slot.   
     
     
       25. The mount of  claim 23 , wherein each key is formed to define one or more grooves for positioning the one or more retainers relative to the keys. 
     
     
       26. The mount of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more retainers includes two retainers and wherein the one or more grooves includes two grooves. 
     
     
       27. The mount of  claim 23 , wherein the keys include up to four keys circumferentially distributed around the fastener. 
     
     
       28. The mount of  claim 23 , further comprising an adjustment arm coupled at a first end to the base and at an opposite second end to the head, wherein the adjustment arm is configured to position the head relative to the base.