Mobile device cradle

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of supports and cradles for mobile phones and other mobile devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of cradles for mobile devices which enable hands-free viewing of video and/or graphic content.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Mobile phones and tables are increasingly used for viewing streaming video content, including sporting events, television and movies. In viewing such content, the display screen of the mobile device is typically oriented horizontally, similar to a television or movie screen. Manually holding the mobile device in the optimal viewing position, however, is at best awkward and inconvenient, and it is often impossible if the viewer is simultaneously engaged in other manual activities.

Therefore, the need arises for a device that will provide a hands-free cradle for the mobile device which securely retains the device in a horizontal position, with the viewing screen reclined at approximately 60 degrees for optimal viewing. The cradle should be portable and light-weight so as to be conveniently carried by the user, and it should have an open structure so as to allow for maximum heat dissipation from the mobile device.

The present invention is a cradle for mobile devices comprising an annular frusto-conical cradle base, having a diameter of 3 to 6 inches and a height of 0.75 to 1.5 inches. Surmounting the cradle base and extending upward therefrom are a front flange and a rear flange. The front flange is a crescent-shaped arcuate frusto-conical section subtending a chord of length 2.5 to 4.5 inches. The front flange has two lateral edges that are splayed at an acute angle of between 50 and 70 degrees. The rear flange is a crescent-shaped arcuate frusto-conical section subtending a chord of length 3 to 6 inches. The rear flange has two lateral edges that are beveled at acute angle between 50 and 70 degrees, such that the lateral edges of the front and rear flanges are substantially parallel to each other. Between the lateral edges of the front and rear flanges there are gaps of 0.5 to 1.5 inches, within which the mobile device can rest at an angle of between 50 and 70 degrees.

The mobile device cradle of the present invention securely supports the mobile device with the display screen at an optimal viewing angle, while leaving virtually the entire front sides and back areas of the device open and exposed to ambient air for maximum heat dissipation.

Structurally, this cradle can be carved out of a standard disposable coffee container, so that it can be inexpensively fabricated from a modified coffee container mold. The cradle material can be a light-weight plastic, such as styrofoam.

The foregoing summarizes the general design features of the present invention. In the following sections, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in some detail. This specific embodiment is intended to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing the present invention in accordance with the general design features discussed above. Therefore, the detailed description of this embodiment is offered for illustrative and exemplary purposes only, and it is not intended to limit the scope either of the foregoing summary description or of the claims which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a mobile device cradle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the cradle holding a mobile device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cradle for mobile devices 10 comprises an annular frusto-conical cradle base 11, a front flange 12 and a rear flange 13. The front flange 12 and the rear flange 13 extend continuously circumferentially upward from the cradle base 11. The front flange 12 comprises a crescent-shaped arcuate frusto-conical section subtending a first chord length 14. The front flange 12 has two splayed lateral edges 15, each of which forms an acute first angle 16 with the cradle base 11. The rear flange 13 comprises a crescent-shaped arcuate frusto-conical section subtending a second chord length 17, which is longer than the first chord length 14. The rear flange 13 has two beveled lateral edges 17, each of which forms an acute second angle 19 with the cradle base 11. Between the splayed lateral edges 15 of the front flange 12 and the beveled lateral edges 18 of the rear flange 13 are flange gaps 20, which form a device seat 21 within which the mobile device 22 can rest against the beveled lateral edges 18 of the rear flange 13, while reclining at the acute second angle 19 with respect to the cradle base 11.

Preferably, the acute first angle 16 is equal to the acute second angle 19, such that the splayed lateral edges 15 of the front flange 12 are parallel to the beveled lateral edges 18 of the rear flange 13. For optimal viewing of the display screen of the mobile device 22, the acute first angle 16 and the acute second angle 19 should be in the range of 50 to 70 degrees.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many additions, modifications and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the accompanying claims.