[0001] The invention concerns a handheld device holder. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention concerns a handheld device holder to secure a handheld device such as a mobile telephone or a GPS unit at a position inside a vehicle wherein the device can be operated by a user while driving the vehicle.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Road traffic legislation in a number of jurisdictions makes it an offence to drive a motor vehicle while holding a mobile telephone during a telephone conversation. The aim of such legislation is to prevent accidents occurring as a result of a driver's attention being diverted from traffic conditions while operating a mobile telephone.

[0003] Numerous hands-free devices have as a result been developed for holding a mobile telephone in an accessible location relative to a driver's position in a vehicle. Those devices make it possible for the driver to speak over the telephone without holding the telephone, thus making it possible to conduct a telephone conversation while still maintaining both hands on the steering wheel.

[0004] Examples of existing hands-free devices include cradles which are secured either against the windscreen or the dashboard of a vehicle. The drawback, however, of Such cradles is that they are often secured in a position which requires that the driver's attention be diverted from the road for a period of time when answering or making a call. For example, in the event of a mobile telephone held in a dashboard mounted cradle ringing, the driver's gaze will be diverted firstly in order to locate the telephone and thereafter to locate a button for answering the telephone. During the time interval from the driver's gaze being diverted to locate the ringing phone and returning to oncoming traffic, an incident ahead may have required immediate action by the driver. However, as a result of the driver's attention having been diverted, there is not sufficient time to take preventative action and a collision occurs.

[0005] A danger posed in the event of the driver leaning forward towards a cradle-held mobile telephone during a collision is that of an airbag stored in the vehicle steering wheel. Specifically, if the driver is leaning forward to reach the mobile telephone as the airbag is deployed, the driver's body position relative to the airbag could cause serious injury.

[0006] Another known type of hands-free device does not include a cradle, but simply comprises microphone and earphone wiring connected to a mobile telephone. Often a driver will not connect the mobile telephone to the wiring prior to commencing a journey, but will only do so when the phone rings. This action can be particularly dangerous as the driver will first be required to search for the phone, which may be located in any number of positions inside the vehicle, then locate the earphone-microphone wiring and finally connect the phone and wiring. This activity can take several seconds during which traffic conditions ahead may render a collision unavoidable. Alternatively, the user may simply elect to answer the phone and conversing while holding the phone against an ear, thus committing a road traffic violation. Apart from using a mobile telephone without a hands-free device being an offence, the potential for causing an accident while searching for the phone during the process of driving the vehicle is significantly increased.

Object of the Invention

[0007] It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or to provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed herein a handheld device holder including:

a holding formation adapted to hold a handheld device; and

an attachment formation conhectable to said holding formation, said attachment formation being adapted to attach said holding formation to a hub of a vehicle steering wheel, wherein said handheld device holder includes one or more zones of weakness that in use are adapted to cause said holding formation to be released and displaced from said hub under the influence of a force exerted on said holding formation by an inflating airbag deployed from said hub. [0009] Preferably said handheld device holder includes an anchor adapted to secure said holding formation to said steering wheel when said holding formation has been released from said hub of said steering wheel.

[0010] Preferably said attachment formation comprises one or more, elongate straps adapted to secure said holding formation to one or more spokes of said steering wheel.

[0011] Preferably said anchor comprises an elongate strap adapted to secure said holding formation to said steering wheel when said holding formation has been displaced from said hub of said steering wheel.

[0012] In an embodiment said one or more zones of weakness define a holding zone. [0013] Preferably said holding formation is located within said holding zone. [0014] Preferably said holding formation includes a base. [0015] Preferably said base is flexible.

[0016] Preferably said base includes a case adapted to hold said handheld device in a snug-fit. [0017] Preferably said case is flexible.

[0018] Preferably said base is adapted in use to flex in order to follow contours of said hub of said vehicle steering wheel.

[001 ] Preferably said zones of weakness are located in said flexible base.

[0020] Preferably said flexible base includes an outer rim and an insert held within a cavity defined by said outer rim.

[0021] Preferably said outer rim comprises a thermoplastic polyamide.

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[0022] Preferably said insert comprises rubber.

[0023] Preferably said rubber is neoprene. [0024] Preferably said straps are produced of webbing.

[0025] In a first embodiment said anchor is at one end attached to said holding zone and, in use, a second end of said anchor is secured to said vehicle steering wheel via said attachment formation, said anchor being adapted such that upon deployment of said airbag, said zones of weakness defining a holding zone will become separated from said base while said anchor secures said holding zone with said mobile telephone to said vehicle steering wheel.

[0026] In another embodiment of a handheld device holder, said attachment formation comprises one or more straps, each strap being detachably attachable to said base of said holding formation via a zone of weakness.

[0027] Preferably said one or more zones of weakness are provided by one or more hook-and- loop fasteners, wherein a hook portion and a corresponding loop portion of said one or more hook-and-loop fasteners are adapted to become separated under the influence of said force exerted on said holding formation by said inflating airbag.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter, by Way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment handheld device holder;

[0030] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the first embodiment handheld device holder secured to a three-spoke vehicle steering wheel;

[0031] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of second embodiment handheld device holder secured to a four-spoke vehicle steering wheel;

[0032] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment handheld device holder secured to a vehicle steering wheel having an oblong hub; [0033] Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a front view of a fourth embodiment handheld device holder; and

[0034] Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a rear view of the fourth embodiment handheld device holder.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0035] Figure 1 and Figure 2 show a first embodiment handheld device holder, generally indicated with the reference numeral 10. The handheld device holder 10 includes a holding formation 12 which is adapted to hold a handheld device, for example a mobile telephone or a GPS device. A handheld device such as an Apple iPhone 4™ mobile telephone, indicated with the reference numeral 11 is shown to be held by the holding formation 12 in Figure 2.

[0036] The handheld device holder 10 further includes an attachment formation 14 which is connected to the holding formation 12. The attachment formation 14 is adapted to attach the holding formation 12 to the steering wheel 16 of a vehicle, shown in Figure 2.

[0037] By having the mobile telephone 11 secured to the vehicle steering wheel 16, the telephone is located in a position which is readily accessible and in close proximity to the driver of the vehicle. The driver can as a result of the positioning of the mobile telephone 11 , use the telephone while only being required to divert his gaze from the road ahead for a very brief period of time, for example when answering the phone. Further, by positioning the mobile telephone 11 directly in front of a driver, the phenomenon of the hands of a driver following the gaze of his eyes when studying a mobile telephone located off-centre and to steer in the direction of his gaze can be addressed.

[0038] Also, with the mobile telephone 11 located directly beneath his line of sight, only a very slight shift in gaze is required between where the mobile telephone is located and the road ahead. Furthermore, unlike certain prior art holder devices, the handheld device holder 10 maintains the windscreen free of obstructions which could hinder sight. The attachment formation 14 also allows the handheld device holder 10 to be secured to a range of different vehicle steering wheels as is discussed below. [0039] The holding formation 12 is provided in the form of a flexible case which is adapted to hold outer surfaces of the mobile telephone 11 in a snug-fit. The case has an oblong shape which is dimensioned to hold a specific model mobile telephone, here an Apple iPhone 4™. To ensure that the telephone 11 can be used while held by the handheld device holder 10, the case of the holding formation 12 has an open face to allow a user to access the touchscreen of the telephone 11. It will of course be appreciated that the case can be produced in a range of configurations to accommodate different mobile telephone types.

[0040] The holding formation 12 is produced from neoprene.

[0041] The holding formation 12 is secured to a flexible base 18. The flexible base 18 is adapted to bend or flex when used in order to follow the contours of a hub 20 of the vehicle steering wheel 16, thereby to ensure proper attachment thereto of the handheld device holder 10. The flexible base 18 includes an outer rim 22 and an insert 24 that is held within a cavity defined by the outer rim. The insert 24 includes zones of weakness 26 which define a holding zone 27. As shown, the case of the holding formation 12 is located within the holding zone 27.

[0042] During a collision, an inflating airbag stored inside the hub 20 will rupture the zones of weakness 26 so that the holding zone 27 with the holding formation 12 and mobile telephone 11 attached thereto will become separated from the flexible base 18, and pushed out of the way of the inflating airbag so that the handheld device holder 10 stored on the steering wheel 16 will as a result not impede normal operation of a steering wheel mounted airbag.

[0043] The outer rim 22 is produced of a thermoplastic polyamide, here of the type sold under the trade name Nylon. The insert 24, on the other hand, is produced from neoprene.

[0044] Turning now to the attachment formation 14, in the handheld device holder 10 depicted in Figures 1 and 2, the attachment formation is provided by a number of strap pairs 28, 30 and 32 produced of webbing. The strap pairs 28, 30 and 32 each includes fasteners 34 that allow the straps of each strap pair to be secured to one another. In the handheld device holder 10, the strap pair 28 includes a fastener 34 in the form of a buckle. In the strap pairs 30 and 32, on the other hand, the fastener is a hook-and-loop type fastener wherein a hook formation is secured to one strap of the strap pair and a loop formation on the corresponding strap pair counterpart. [0045] An elongate member 36 is shown to be secured to the base 18. This is effected by way of stitching. The strap pair 28 is secured towards the bottom of the member 36. Further, one strap member 30a and 32a of each strap pair 30 and 32 is also secured to the member 36. The other strap members 30b and 32b of each strap pair member is secured to the outer rim 22.

[0046] The strap pairs 28, 30 and 32 are disposed about the base 18 in such a manner that the handheld device holder 10 can be secured to the three spoke steering wheel 16 in a wrap-around manner.

[0047] By altering the configuration of the strap pairs of the attachment formation 14, the handheld device holder 10 can be adapted for attachment to a number of different steering wheel configurations. For example, Figure 3 shows a second embodiment handheld device holder 40 for attachment to a four-spoke steering wheel 42. Figure 4 further shows a third embodiment handheld device holder 44 secured to a steering wheel 46 having an oblong hub 48.

[0048] As shown in Figure 2, an anchor 52 is at a first end 50 attached to the holding zone 27 and at a second end 54 to the member 36. The member 36, in turn, is secured to the vehicle steering wheel 16. In the event of a collision causing the airbag to be deployed, the holding zone 27 will become separated from the flexible base 18 allowing the mobile telephone 11 to be displaced from the hub of the steering wheel. As the mobile telephone 11 is pushed towards the driver by the inflating airbag, the anchor 52 will secure the holding zone 27 with the mobile telephone to the vehicle steering wheel so that the mobile telephone is deterred from flying into the driver and causing injury.

[0049] In the handheld device holder of Figure 2, the anchor 52 will cause thf mobile telephone to be pulled downwardly away from the driver. In the embodiment illustrate^ in Figure 4, the anchor 52 will cause the mobile telephone 11 to be pulled sideways away froijn the driver and, in a right-hand steering vehicle, towards the driver's door.

[0050] A fourth embodiment handheld device holder is shown in Figures 5 ai^d 6 and generally indicated by the reference numeral 60. The handheld device holder 60 includes a holding formation 62 adapted to hold a handheld device such as a mobile telephone, fhe handheld device holder 60 further includes an attachment formation 64 connectable to sjaid holding formation 62. The attachment formation 64 is adapted to attach said holding formation 62 to a hub of a vehicle steering wheel so as to secure the mobile telephone to the hub of the steering wheel. The attachment formation 64 comprises a number of elongate, longitudinally extending straps 66. Each strap 66 is detachably attachable to a base 68 of the holding formation 62. The attachment between the straps 66 and the base 68 is achieved by way of hook-and-loop fasteners. In this embodiment, the base 68 includes a loop formation 70 that is located on an operative rear surface of the base 68. The straps 66, in turn, each include two hook formations 72 that are respectively located towards the longitudinal ends of the straps 66.

[0051] To secure the handheld device holder 60 to the hub of a steering wheel, a first end of each of the straps 66 is secured via its hook formation 72 to the loop formation 70 of the base 68. The base 68 is now placed on the hub of a steering wheel whereafter the straps 66 are wound about spokes of the steering wheel. Finally the loose ends of the straps are secured to the base 68 by having the hook formations 72 of the straps 66 engage the loop formation .70 of the base.

[0052] The handheld device holder 60 further includes an anchor 74 having an elongate, longitudinally extending anchor strap 75. One end of the anchor strap 75 has a male clip member 76 attached thereto. The other end of the anchor strap 75 is secured to the base 68. The anchor 74 further includes a female clip component 78 secured to the base 68. In use the anchor strap 75 is wound about a portion of the steering wheel, whereafter the male and female clip components 76 and 78 are clipped together.

[0053] In this embodiment the hook-and-loop fasteners provide zones of weakness. In particular the hooks and the loops of the hook-and-loop fasteners are adapted to be disengaged when an airbag stored within the hub of the steering wheel is deployed and exerts a force thereon. When the hook-and-loop fasteners are released, the holding formation 62 can be displaced from the hub of the steering so as not to impede the operation of the inflating airbag. The anchor 74, however, remains intact to prevent the mobile telephone from being projected onto the driver of the vehicle. The holding formation of this embodiment includes a case 80 which is accessed via a zip fastener 82. The handheld device holder 60 is produced from polyester.

[0054] In a non-illustrated embodiment the handheld device holder comprises a holding formation and an attachment formation which is of unitary construction. [0055] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.