Claims:We Claim:
1. A holding assembly 100 for holding an article 300, the holding assembly 100 being configured on an interior panel 200 of a vehicle, the holding assembly 100 comprising:
a flexible member 110;
wherein the interior panel 200 is configured with one or more cavity 120 and the flexible member 110 is arranged to close the cavity 120;
an actuating member 130 connected to the flexible member 110 and adapted to move a part of the flexible member 110 toward and away from the cavity 120 inside the interior panel 200; and
an operating member 140 operably connected to the actuating member 130, the operating member 140 is operable in a first direction to move the actuating member 130 away from the cavity 120 for pulling the flexible member 110 to create a suction-cup or a vacuum 220 on the interior panel 200 for holding an article 300 thereon in a holding position.

2. The holding assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior panel 200 having plurality of cavities 120 and the actuating member 130 has a respective number of extending arms 135 connected to the flexible member 110 from inside the interior panel 200, and the extending arms 135 are positioned centrally to the each of the cavity 120.

3. The holding assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating member 130 is having a lead screw arrangement 145 arranged centrally thereon, and the operating member 140 has an opening (not shown) with an inner threads engages with the lead screw arrangement 145, upon rotating the operating member 140 the actuating member 130 reciprocate.

4. The holding assembly 100 as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lead screw arrangement 145 moves toward and away from the cavity 120 inside the interior panel 200 according to the movement of the operating member 140 in the second direction or in the first direction.

5. The holding assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating member 140 is rotatably arranged on the interior panel 200.

6. The holding assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein a part 148 of the operating member 140 is accessible to a user from an outer surface 230 of the interior panel 200 for operating thereof.

7. The holding assembly 100 as claimed in claims 1 and 4, wherein the flexible member 110 is arranged/sandwich in between the outer surface 230 and an inner surface 210 of the interior panel 200.

8. The holding arrangement 100 as claimed in claims 1, wherein the interior panel 200 is a trim part of a headrest/backrest of a vehicle seat or a dashboard of the vehicle.

9. The holding arrangement 100 as claimed in claims 1, wherein the flexible member 110 is made of a suction film or an EPDM film and the like.
, Description:Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a holding assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a holding assembly for holding an article configured on an interior panel of a vehicle.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Generally, the vehicles are not having provisions for keeping an article such as mobile phone, tablets and the like safely and accessibly inside a vehicle interior. If a user keeps his articles inside a storage compartment, the article such as a mobile phone may not be easily accessible to the user. As the mobile phone has become an essential article which needs to be easily accessible to one and all. Additional holders such as mobile holder can be placed inside the vehicle interior for keeping articles which can be accessible to the user. But the additionally placed holder occupy more space on the instrument panel which may be uncomfortable to the user. Also, the additional holder consumes more space and is not safe for storing the articles inside the vehicle interior as it is not permanently fixed inside the vehicle interior. The additionally placed holder may have provided with a limitation of size to the article which can be placed on the holder.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to provide a holding assembly for holding articles configured on a vehicle interior, which overcomes few or all drawbacks of the existing prior art.

Objects of the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a holding assembly for holding an article configured on an interior panel of a vehicle.

[0005] One more object of the present invention is to provide a holding assembly for holding an article configured on an interior panel of a vehicle, which can be easily accessible to a user.

[0006] Further object of the present invention is to provide a holding assembly for holding an article configured on an interior panel of a vehicle, which is aesthetically pleasing with very less visible components.

[0007] Furthermore object of the present invention is to provide a holding assembly for holding an article configured on an interior panel of a vehicle, which is used for holding articles of any sizes.

[0008] Yet one more object of the present invention is to provide a holding assembly for holding an article configured on an interior panel of a vehicle, which is easy to install and operate.

[0009] Still one object of the present invention is to provide a holding assembly for holding an article configured on an interior panel of a vehicle, which is compact and simple in construction.

[0010] Still one object of the present invention is to provide a holding assembly for holding an article configured on an interior panel of a vehicle, which does not have a sharp edge, thereby occupant friendly.

Summary of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, there is provided with a holding assembly for holding article on an interior panel of a vehicle interior. The holding assembly may be configured for holding articles, such as mobile phone, tablet and the like, inside a vehicle interior. The holding assembly may be configured on/in an interior panel of the vehicle, especially on a trim part of a headrest/backrest of a vehicle seat or on a dashboard of the vehicle. The holding assembly may have a flexible member, an actuating member and an operating member. Further, the interior panel may be configured with one or more cavity. The cavities may be symmetrically configured on the interior panel. The flexible member may be arranged to close the cavities. The flexible member may be placed on an outer surface or inner surface of the interior panel or maybe a sandwich between the inner and outer surface of the interior panel. The article may place on the circumferential surface of the flexible member.

[0012] Further, the actuating member may be connected to the flexible member and adapted to move the flexible member toward and away from the cavity inside the interior panel. The actuating member may be provided to operate the holding assembly for holding and removing the article from the interior panel. The actuating member may provide with a plurality of extending arms and a lead screw arrangement. Specifically, the interior panel may have a plurality of cavities, and the actuating member may have a respective number of extending arms connected to the flexible member from inside the interior panel. The extending arms may be positioned centrally to each of the cavities. The extending arms may facilitate the actuating member to move the flexible member toward and away from the plurality of cavities. Further, the lead screw arrangement may be arranged centrally on the actuating member. The lead screw arrangement may be adapted to move toward and away from the cavity inside the interior panel, thereby moving the actuating member towards and away.

[0013] Further, the operating member may be rotatably arranged on the interior panel. The operating member may be a circular disc with an opening with an inner threads. The operating member may have an opening with the inner threads. The inner threads of the operating member engage with an external threads of the lead screw arrangement of the actuating member. Upon rotating the operating member, the actuating member may reciprocate. Further, the operating member may be operably connected with the actuating member. Further, a part of the operating member may be accessible to a user from the outer surface of the interior panel for operating the holding assembly.

[0014] The operating member may be operable in a first direction to move the actuating member away from the cavity to create a suction-cup or a vacuum on the interior panel. The suction-cup/vacuum may facilitate the holding assembly to hold the article in a holding position. Similarly, the operating member may be operable in a second direction to move the actuating member towards the cavity to releasing the suction-cup or the vacuum formed on the cavity for releasing the article from the interior panel. In another way, the article placed on the flexible member may be pulled by applying an external force, thereby releasing or removing the article from the interior panel. Upon releasing the article, the suction-cup or the vacuum may release.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols.

[0016] Figure 1 illustrates a top view of a holding assembly for holding an article configured on an interior panel of a vehicle in accordance with the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic side view of the holding assembly where an actuating member is pushed in an anticlockwise direction, and the article is released from the base of the holding assembly;

[0018] Figure 3 illustrates another schematic view of the figure 2 where the actuating member is pulled in a clockwise direction, and an article is placed thereby on the base of the holding assembly; and

[0019] Figure 4 illustrates an operating position of the operating member.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0020] An embodiment of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be described in detail. The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open-ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

[0021] The terms "first," "second," and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms "a" and "an" herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

[0022] The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0023] Referring now to figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, various views of a holding assembly 100 for holding an article 300 on an interior panel 200 of a vehicle in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The holding assembly 100 is configured for holding articles 300, such as mobile phone, tablet and the like, inside a vehicle interior. In the present embodiment, the holding assembly 100 is configured on an interior panel 200 of the vehicle, especially on a trim part of a headrest/backrest of a vehicle seat or on a dashboard of the vehicle. It may be obvious to a person skilled in the art to configure the holding assembly 100 at different locations inside the vehicle interior such as on a door trim panel, console trim panel and the like. The holding assembly 100 is having a flexible member 110, an actuating member 130 and an operating member 140.
[0024] In the present embodiment, the interior panel 200 is configured with one or more cavity 120. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the interior panel 200 is having a plurality of cavities 120. The cavities 120 are symmetrically configured on the interior panel 200.

[0025] The flexible member 110 is arranged to close the cavities 120. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the flexible member 110 is sandwiched in between an inner surface 210 and an outer surface 230 of the interior panel 200. In another embodiment, the flexible member 110 is placed on an inner surface 210 or an outer surface 230 of the interior panel 200. The article 300 is placed on the circumferential surface of the flexible member 110. The flexible member 110 is made of a suction film or an EPDM film and the like.

[0026] Further, the actuating member 130 is connected to the flexible member 110 and adapted to move the flexible member 110 toward and away from the cavity 120 inside the interior panel 200. The actuating member 130 is provided to operate the holding assembly 100 for holding and removing the article 300 from the interior panel 200.

[0027] Further, the actuating member 130 is provided with an extending arms 135 and a lead screw arrangement 145. In the present embodiment, the actuating member 130 is provided with a plurality of extending arms 135. The plurality of extending arms 135 are symmetrically configured on the actuating member 130. Specifically, the interior panel 200 is having the plurality of cavities 120, and the actuating member 130 has a respective number of extending arms 135 connected to the flexible member 110 from inside the interior panel 200. Specifically, the extending arms 135 are positioned centrally to each of the cavity 120. The extending arms 135 facilitate the actuating member 130 to move the flexible member 110 toward and away from the plurality of cavity 120.

[0028] Further, the lead screw arrangement 145 is arranged centrally on the actuating member 130. A power screw or a translation screw instead of the lead screw arrangement 145 can be used. The lead screw arrangement 145 is adapted to move toward and away from the cavity 120 inside the interior panel 200, thereby moving the actuating member 130 towards and away. In the present embodiment, the actuating member 130 moves in upwards and downwards direction and restricted to move rotationally.

[0029] Further, the operating member 140 is rotatably arranged on the interior panel 200. In the present embodiment, the operating member 140 is a circular disc with an opening with an inner threads (not shown). The operating member 140 has an opening (not shown) with the inner threads. Specifically, the inner threads of the operating member 140 engage with an external thread 146 of the lead screw arrangement 145 of the actuating member 130. Upon rotating the operating member 140, the actuating member 130 reciprocates. Specifically, the direction of movement of the actuating member 130 depends on the direction of angle of the external thread 146. For example, the right-handed external thread 146 allows the movement of the actuating member 130 downwards. Similarly, the left-handed external thread 146 allows the movement of the actuating member 130 upwards.

[0030] Further, the operating member 140 is having a flange (not shown) configured peripherally thereon. The flange engages with a groove (not shown) configured on the interior panel 200 of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the operating member 140 is operably connected with the actuating member 130. Further, a part 148 of the operating member 140 is accessible to a user from an outer surface 230 of the interior panel 200. The part 148 of the operating member 140 is provided for operating the holding assembly 100.

[0031] In the present embodiment, the operating member 140 is operable in a first direction and a second direction. By way of non-limiting example, in the present embodiment, the first direction is a clockwise direction, and the second direction is an anticlockwise direction. The operating member 140 is operable in the first direction to move the actuating member 130 away from the cavity 120. Upon operating the operating member 140 in the first direction, the actuating member 130 moves upwards. Specifically, by moving the operating member in the first direction, the extending arms 135 moves away from the flexible member 110 from the cavity 120 inside the interior panel 200. Specifically, when an article is held on the interior panel, the operation of the operating member in the first direction create a suction-cup or a vacuum 220, as shown in figure 3. The suction-cup or a vacuum 220 facilitates the holding assembly 100 to hold the article 300 in a holding position.

[0032] Similarly, in the present embodiment, the operating member 140 is operable in the second direction to move the actuating member 130 downwards towards the cavity 120. Specifically, by moving the operating member 140 in the second direction, the extending arms 135 moves the flexible member 110 towards the cavity 120 thereby releasing the suction-cup or the vacuum 220 formed on the interior panel 200. Specifically, by operating the operating member in the second direction, the article 300 is removable from the interior panel 200. In another way, the article 300 placed on the flexible member 110 is pulled by applying an external force, thereby removing the article. Upon removing the article 300, the operating member 140 moves to the second direction and releases the suction-cup or the vacuum 220 on the interior panel 200.

[0033] In the present embodiment, the operating member 140 is operated in the first direction when the article 300 is placed on the outer surface 230 of the interior panel 200 such that the suction-cup or the vacuum 220 formed by the cavity 120 facilitates to adhere with the article thereby holding the article 300 on the interior panel 200. When the operating member 140 is operated in the second direction, the suction-cup or the vacuum 220 formed by the cavity 120 is released, and the flexible member 110 forms a flat position such that the article 300 held on the interior panel 200 is released from the interior panel 200.

[0034] Accordingly, the present invention is to provide a holding assembly 100 for holding the article 300 configured on a vehicle interior. The holding assembly 100 is configured on a vehicle interior and easily accessible to a user. Also, the holding assembly 100 is aesthetically looking nice, and no mechanical device is visible. The holding assembly 100 may be used for holding any size of mobile or tablet. Further, the holding assembly 100 is easy to install and operate and compact. The holding assembly 100 body does not have any sharp edge.

[0035] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.