FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 OF 1970)
AND
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; Rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
“DEVICE HOLDER”
APPLICANTS
Tata Motors Limited
of Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Mumbai 400001, Maharashtra, India;
An Indian Company;
and
Tata Motors European Technical Centre plc
of 18 Grosvenor Place,
London, SW1X 7HS, United Kingdom;
Nationality: United Kingdom
INVENTOR
COUTEL, Rene-Louis Paul
Nationality: French/Swiss (dual nationality),
DOISY, Aurelien Eugene Narcisse
Nationality: French and
IRVING, David Paul
Nationality: United Kingdom
All from Tata Motors European Technical Centre plc,
Commercial Department, International Automotive Research Centre,
University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in
which it is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a device holder for use in a vehicle and particularly, but not exclusively, to a device holder for mounting on a dashboard of a vehicle to support a mobile or portable device such as a phone, a tablet, a map or the like. Aspects of the invention relate to a device holder and to a vehicle comprising a device holder.
BACKGROUND
In-car holders for mobile phones and other portable electronic devices are well known. These usually mount to the dashboard of the car and allow for the position and orientation of the portable electronic device to be adjusted.
Published patent application EP2070768A1 describes a portable electronic device holder which detachably mounts to the dashboard of a vehicle using double sided silicon adhesive tape. The electronic device is held on a mounting plate via a catch which engages with a corresponding slot on the electronic device. A motor is included which allows the mounting plate to rotate. An inconvenience of this device is that it is limited in terms of the type of device it can hold, as the device must have a corresponding slot to engage with the catch on the mounting plate. Such holders are therefore bespoke, because different devices require a different holder configuration.
Granted patent US5187744 describes a mobile phone holder which attaches to the dashboard (or other desired surface) of a vehicle by means of four screws. The holder is mounted on an articulated arm which allows for the position and orientation of the device to be adjusted. The mobile phone is held between two laterally adjustable fingers and two spring loaded fingers. This allows the holder to accommodate a variety of widths of device, but limits it to those which are substantially planar. Furthermore, the bulky adjustable fingers for holding of the device provide an obstruction on the dashboard when the device is removed.
Numerous other device holders for use in vehicles are known, but many are device specific. There remains a need for a universal device holder which is adaptable for devices of different shape and size, and which does not destroy the aesthetic of the dashboard or other surface when not in use.
It is one object of at least certain embodiments of the invention to address this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a device holder and a vehicle
incorporating a device holder.
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a device holder for holding a device securely in a vehicle; the device holder comprising a support for supporting one end of the device in a holding position; a retractable strap carrying a retaining member which is cooperable with the other end of the device in the holding position and a biasing means for biasing the retractable strap towards a retracted position. The retractable strap is movable out of the retracted position into the holding position, against the biasing force, by pulling on the retractable strap to engage the retaining member with the other end of the device to hold the device in the holder.
The invention is beneficial in that it provides a universal device holder for holding a device securely in a vehicle. In this context, ‘universal’ is intended to signify suitability of the device holder for a broad range of electronic and non-electronic devices of varying size, shape or material.
There are numerous benefits to the present invention over the device holders disclosed in the prior art. In the prior art, the device holders described are severely limited in the shape and size of the devices they can hold and some even require the device to be held to have a specific feature to engage with the device holder. A benefit of the present invention is that the retractable strap which holds the device in position has a continuously adjustable length allowing the device holder to retain a broad range of devices with varying dimensions. Furthermore, this is not limited to the holding of electronic devices, as the device to be held is not required to have any specific feature in order to engage with the retractable strap which forms the holding mechanism in the present invention.
The invention is particularly suitable for use on a dashboard of a vehicle within the vehicle cabin but equally may be used on any other surface of the vehicle cabin, whether exposed or within a compartment, or within the vehicle trunk or boot space.

In order to use the device holder, the user is only required to handle the retractable strap and the retaining member, and all other moving parts are hidden from the user. This is advantageous as it decreases the likelihood of damage to the working parts of the device holder. This also provides a convenient mechanism which allows the device to be mounted in the holder using just one hand.
An aesthetic benefit of the present invention is that when the device holder is not in use all parts sit flush with the dashboard (or other surface to which the device holder may be attached). This means that the presence of the device holder within the vehicle creates minimal disruption to the surface onto which it is attached. As the device holders disclosed in the prior art have no such method for retracting into their casing when not in use, it would be necessary for them to be entirely removed from the vehicle surface to achieve the same effect as is obtained in the present invention when not in use.
In one embodiment of the invention, the support may form a part of a trim piece for the vehicle. The trim piece may be part of a dashboard of the vehicle.
The trim piece may define an opening for receiving the retaining member when the retractable strap is in the retracted position. The retaining member may close the opening when the retractable strap is received within the opening.
The effect of the strap retracting into the trim piece and the retaining member sitting neatly within the opening when the device holder is not in use, is that there is minimal impact on the aesthetic of the vehicle dashboard.
The retractable strap may be wound onto a reel. The reel may be of cylindrical form having a formation of ridges along its length. The retractable strap may further comprise a stop feature to limit the extent to which the retractable strap is unwound from the reel.
The device holder may comprise a casing for the reel, wherein the casing defines an opening through which the retractable strap extends. The stop feature if provided may be cooperable with the casing to limit the extent to which the retractable strap is unwound from the reel. For example, the opening may be dimensioned so as to prevent the stop feature passing through when the retractable strap reaches a maximum range of extension.

The provision of the stop feature reduces the likelihood of the user accidentally pulling the retractable strap entirely off of the reel and damaging the device. A further benefit is that if the retractable strap cannot be further extended once the maximum range of extension of the retractable strap has been reached, there will be no unnecessary strain on the reel on which the strap is retained.
In one embodiment, the support may comprise a channel for receiving the end of the device, in use. The device holder may, in some embodiments, be provided with electrical connectivity. For example, the electrical connectivity of the device holder may be provided by a connector located within the channel of the device holder. The channel may be provided with a coating to prevent slip of the device when in the holding position. The retaining member may have an internal surface which may also be provided with a coating to prevent slip of the device relative to the retaining member when in the holding position. The retaining member may be formed from a material that is relatively hard compared to the coating.
The coatings on the channel and internal surface of the retaining member assist with the secure holding of the device.
In another embodiment of the invention, the biasing means incorporated in the device holder
may comprise a constant force spring which provides the biasing force for the retractable
strap.
This allows the device to be held securely and also ensures that when the holder is not in use
the strap retracts into the trim piece leaving the interior of the car with a clean appearance.
The biasing means may take an alternative form to a constant force spring and may, for example, take the form of any resilient material, such as elongatable and/or stretchable and/or an elastic material, such as rubber. In this case, the strap may itself provide the biasing function.
In another embodiment, the support may have an attachment feature for the dashboard of the vehicle.

One embodiment of the invention can provide a device holder for securing an electronic device such as a tablet or a mobile phone.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle incorporating a universal device holder according to the above aspect of the invention.
Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a vehicle, showing the device holder located on the vehicle dashboard;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the assembled device holder of one embodiment showing a retractable strap of the holder in a holding position for a portable device;
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the assembled device holder in Figure 2 with the retractable strap securing the portable device in the holding position;
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the device holder in Figure 2 showing all constituent parts; Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the assembled device holder of Figure 3 from a first side showing the retractable strap of the holder securing the portable device in the holding position; Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the assembled device holder in Figures 3 and 5 from the other side, showing the housing for the retractable strap when in an extended position and securing the portable device in the holding position;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of the device holder taken along the line D-D of Figure 6
showing the configuration of the retractable strap and a biasing spring for the retractable
strap;
Figure 8 is an isometric view of an axle of a drum assembly of the device holder in Figures 2
to 7;
Figure 9 is an isometric view of a reel of the drum assembly of the device holder in Figures 2
to 7;
Figure 10 is an isometric, cross-section view of a cassette when mounted within the drum of
the drum assembly in Figure 9; and
Figure 11 is a side view of a retaining member mounted at the end of the retractable strap of
the device holder in Figures 2 to 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 shows a vehicle 6 with a vehicle dashboard 8, with which a device holder 10 of the invention may be used to hold a device (not shown in Figure 1) securely to the vehicle dashboard 8 or other internal surface within the vehicle cabin or within the vehicle trunk. Referring also to Figures 2 to 7, the device holder 10 comprises a support 14 with a channel 16 for receiving one end of a device 12. The support 14 typically forms a part of a trim piece for the dashboard 8, but in other embodiments may form a part of a trim piece in other areas of the vehicle cabin. Attachment features 18 are provided on an interior side of the trim piece 14 for attachment of the device holder 10 to the interior of the vehicle. In other embodiments, the trim piece may form an integral part of the dashboard 8 so that the holder is formed as a moulded part with the rest of the dashboard 8.
The support 14 defines an opening 20 through which a retractable strap 22 is extensible by a variable amount, between a retracted position and a holding position, depending on the extent to which a user pulls the strap 22 through the opening 20. The strap has an interior end 24 and an exterior end 26, with the exterior end 26 being provided with a retaining member 28 which cooperates by engagement with the other end of the device 12 remote from the support 14. In this embodiment, the device 12 is an electronic tablet device. In other embodiments, the device 12 could be an electronic device such as a mobile phone, or a non electronic device such as a book or a map.

In Figure 2 the retractable strap 22 is pulled out of the retracted position and in Figure 2 the strap 22 is in the holding position with the retaining member 28 engaged with a device 12 which is being held. As can be seen in Figure 3, when the device 12 is in situ within the holder 10, the lower end of the device rests in a channel 16 defined in the support 14 while the upper end is retained by the retaining member 28. The channel 16 is provided with a relatively soft coating 30 or grip to prevent the lower end of the device from slipping.
Referring in particular to Figure 4, the retractable strap 22 is wound on a rotatable reel 32 which is held on a fixed axle 34 with the interior end 24 of the strap 22 being securely attached to the reel 32. Referring to Figures 8 and 9, the body of the reel 32 and the body of the axle 34 are provided with a plurality of ridges 36 in a ridge formation, separated by spaces 38 where no material is present. These ridge formations 36 are shaped to define substantially cylindrical surfaces. The ridge formations 36 provided in the body of the axle 34 define a substantially cylindrical surface upon which the reel 32 is rotatable without the need for the axle to be entirely solid. Similarly, the ridge formations 36 provided in the body of the reel 32 define a substantially cylindrical surface for the retractable strap 22 to be wound on, without the need for the part to be entirely solid. This allows less material to be used in the production of the parts which form the axle 34 and the reel 32, which in turn reduces the total manufacturing costs associated with the device holder 10. A further advantage to this design is that the removal of unnecessary material from the axle 34 and reel 32 reduces the weight of these parts, providing a more lightweight device holder 10.
Referring in particular to Figures 9 and 10, a space 40 is provided in the ridge formation 36 on the body of the reel 32 to which the interior end 24 of the strap 22 is secured. The reel 32 is provided with a plate 42 at one end, and a drum 44 at the other end. The drum 44 houses a biasing means 46 for biasing the retractable strap 22 towards the retracted position, in which the strap 22 is retained within the support 14 and shielded from view of the user. The biasing means 46 takes the form of a constant force spring which is retained on a cassette reel 47 of a cassette 48 (also shown in Figures 4 and 7) mounted on the end of the axle 34 proximate to the drum 44. The cassette 48 is received within the drum 44 and the outermost end of the spring 46 is fixed at the slot 49 in the drum 44. It should be noted that the embodiment shown in Figure 10 comprises a slot 49 with a slightly different form to that shown in the embodiment of Figure 9, with the slot in Figure 10 being longer than the very narrow slot in Figure 9. The innermost end of the spring passes through a slot 51 in the cassette reel 47 and

is retained in the slot 59 formed in the end of the fixed axle 34, thus prohibiting rotation of the cassette 48. In use, the drum 44 turns on the axle 34, while the axle 34 and cassette 48 remain fixed. This causes the spring 46 to be wound or unwound accordingly from the cassette 48, depending on the direction of rotation of the drum 44.
The axle 34, the reel 32 and the cassette 48 are housed within a two-part reel casing 50, the two parts of which are shaped to define an opening 52 at the top through which the retractable strap 22 extends from the interior to the exterior of the support 14. Each part of the reel casing 50 defines a hollow which together define a volume for receiving the axle 34, reel 32 and drum assembly 53. An outer shell of one half of the reel casing 50 is curved, whilst an outer shell of the other part of the reel casing 50 defines a flat surface. The opening 52 is of generally rectangular form.
For assembly of the reel casing 50, one part has projections 54 which correspond with openings 56 provided on the other part of the reel casing 50. There are four projections 54 (and four openings 56) in total which connect the two casing parts together. The projections 54 and their corresponding openings 56 are located at either end of the axle 34, with two at each end. One part of the reel casing 50 also includes two openings 58, each of which receives one end of the axle 34. The ends of the axle 34 sit in these two openings 58, keeping the axle 34 fixed but allowing the reel 32 to rotate when the strap 22 is pulled. As can be seen in Figure 8, the axle 34 is formed from a single part moulding having a first, relatively short section at the drum 44 end of the reel 32 and a second, longer section. The relatively short section of the axle 34 is provided with a slot 59 which receives and anchors the inner end of the coil spring 46 housed in the cassette 48.
At the location on the axle 34 where the two sections of the axle 34 meet, there is a lip of solid material which extends radially outwards from the body of the axle 34, forming a ring 60 around the axle 34. In use, this ring 60 sits between the face of the drum 44 and the face of the cassette 48 on which the biasing means 46 is retained, preventing the face of the drum 44 and the face of the cassette 48 from coming into contact. When the reel 32 rotates, friction is generated between the face of the drum 44 and the lip 60, and the face of the cassette 48 and the lip 60. If the ring 60 were not present on the axle 34, the opposing faces of the drum 44 and the cassette 48 would be in direct contact with each other and friction would be generated

between these two surfaces. In this way, the ring 60 on the axle 34 functions to reduce the friction created when the reel 32 rotates by reducing the area of surface in contact.
The retractable strap 22 has a stop feature 62 which is cooperable with the reel casing 50 to prevent extension of the retractable strap 22 past its maximum range of extension. The stop feature 62 takes the form of two elongate pieces 64, one on either side of the strap 22, which clip around (optionally through) the strap 22. The stop feature 62 is dimensioned such that it cannot fit through the opening 52 in the top of the reel casing 50 which is formed when the reel casing 50 is assembled. This is achieved by the stop feature 62 having a larger width or length than the corresponding dimension of the opening 52 in the top of the reel casing 50. It is also possible for the stop feature 62 to be both wider and longer than the opening 52 in the top of the reel casing 50 to produce the stopper effect. The stop feature 62 is located at a position on the length of the strap 22 near to the interior end 24 of the strap 22, such that when the stop feature 62 reaches its stop position the retractable strap 22 is at full extension. The stop feature 62 therefore serves to limit the extent to which the strap 22 is unwound from the reel 32.
A benefit of the stop feature 62 is that it prevents the retractable strap 22 from being pulled past its maximum range of extension, reducing the likelihood of the user accidentally pulling the strap 22 off the reel 32 entirely and damaging the product. Furthermore, the presence of the stop feature 62 prevents the axle 34 and reel 32 from being pulled towards the opening 20 in the support 14, which would occur if the strap 22 was pulled past full extension. This limits the strain on the reel 32 and axle 34 and potentially increases the working lifetime of the product.
Referring to Figure 11, the retaining member 28 is of generally U-shaped cross section including a flat upper portion 66 and an angled nose 68 extending downwards from the upper portion 66 to the front of the device holder 10. An elongate piece 70 extends downwards from the rear of the retaining member 28 and engages with a rear surface of the strap 22 at its exterior end 26. Within the U-shaped section the internal surface 72 of the retaining member 28 is provided with a coating 74 of relatively soft material such as rubber which defines an engagement surface 76 for the upper end of the device 12 when mounted in the holder 10. The function of the rubber coating 74 is to assist with engagement and prevent slip of the device 12, and so aids secure holding of the device 12 at the top end and prevents damage, in

use. The retaining member 28 itself is formed from a relatively hard material such as plastic or metal.
In order to use the device holder 10, first one end of the device 12 is placed in the channel 16 of the support 14, locating the device 12 on the grip surface 30. The retractable strap 22 is pulled out of the retracted position, unwinding the strap 22 from the reel 32 so that a relatively long length of strap 22 projects through the opening 20. As the strap 22 is pulled out of the retracted position, the reel 32 is free to rotate (but against a restoring force or torque imparted by the biasing means). As the axle 34 is fixed by the reel casing 50, the axle 34 does not rotate. The upper end of the device 12 is received within the retaining member 28, in abutment with the relatively soft coating 74. The biasing force of the spring 46 on the reel 32 urges the strap 22 towards the retracted position so that the device 12 is held securely, under the biasing force, between the retaining member 28 and the channel 16. The operation can be performed simply by the user, possibly one handed, so that the device 12 can be fitted quickly into the holder 10 as the user enters the vehicle. A device of any height can be accommodated in the holder by extending the retractable strap by an appropriate amount, and allowing the strap to retract to the length required for the retaining member 28 to engage with the upper end of the device 12. Devices of varying width and depth can be accommodated, provided they fit within the channel 16.
Many modifications may be made to the above examples without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. For example, the device holder may be provided with suitable electrical connections to enable charging or Bluetooth® connectivity for the device when held in situ. This may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following; a wireless charging pad, USB connection, NFC connection or Bluetooth® transceiver. These features may be included on the external surface of the device holder 10, especially (but not exclusively) when direct contact with the device 12 is required for use. For example, a USB connector may be located in the channel 16 of the device holder 10, allowing the device 12 to be plugged into the USB connector when being held in the device holder 10. These features may also be included internally within the device holder 10 such that they or not visible to the user, maintaining the unobtrusive appearance of the device holder 10 within the vehicle 6. For example, where electrical connectivity is achieved through proximity to the device (such as in the case of a Bluetooth connection for example), the wireless component may be located beneath the surface of the channel 16.

WE CLAIM:
1. A device holder (10) for holding a device (12) securely in a vehicle (6); the device
holder (10) comprising:
a support (14) for supporting one end of the device (12) in a holding position;
a retractable strap (22) carrying a retaining member (28) which is cooperable with the other end of the device (12) in the holding position; and
a biasing means (46) for biasing the retractable strap (22) towards a retracted position, wherein the retractable strap (22) is movable out of the retracted position into the holding position, against a force due to the biasing means (46), by pulling on the strap (22) to engage the retaining member (28) with the other end of the device (12) to hold the device (12) in the holder (10).
2. The device holder (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support (14) forms a part of a trim piece for the vehicle (6).
3. The device holder (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the trim piece (14) is a part of the vehicle dashboard (8).
4. The device holder (10) as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the trim piece (14) defines an opening (20) for receiving the retaining member (28) when the retractable strap (22) is in the retracted position.
5. The device holder (10) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the retaining member (28) closes the opening (20) when the retractable strap (22) is received within the opening (20).
6. The device holder (10) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the retractable strap (22) is wound onto a reel (32).
7. The device holder (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reel (32) is of cylindrical form having a formation of ridges (36) along its length.

8. The device holder (10) as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the retractable strap (22) comprises a stop feature (62) to limit the extent to which the retractable strap (22) can be unwound from the reel (32).
9. The device holder (10) as claimed in claim 8, comprising a casing (50) for the reel (32), and wherein the stop feature (62) is cooperable with the casing (50) to limit the extent to which the retractable strap (22) can be unwound from the reel (32).
10. The device holder (10) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the casing (50) defines an opening (52) through which the retractable strap (22) extends but wherein the opening (52) is dimensioned so as to prevent the stop feature (62) passing through when the retractable strap (22) is at a maximum range of extension.
11. The device holder (10) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the support (14) comprises a channel (16) for receiving the end of the device (12), in use.
12. The device holder (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the device holder (10) is provided with electrical connectivity.
13. The device holder (10) as claimed in claim 12 when dependent on claim 11, wherein the electrical connectivity is provided by means of a connector located within the channel (16) of the device holder (10).
14. The device holder (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the channel (16) is provided with a coating (30) to prevent slip of the device (12) when in the holding position.
15. The device holder (10) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the retaining member (28) has an internal surface (72) provided with a coating (74) to prevent slip of the device (12) relative to the retaining member (28) when in the holding position.
16. The device holder (10) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the retaining member (28) is formed from a material that is relatively hard compared to the coating (74).

17. The device holder (10) as claimed in claims 1 to 16, wherein a constant force spring (46) provides the biasing force for the retractable strap (22).
18. The device holder (10) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the retractable strap (22) is made from a resilient material to itself provide the biasing force.
19. The device holder (10) as claimed in claims 1 to 18, wherein the support (14) has an attachment feature (18) for a dashboard (8) of the vehicle (6).
20. The device holder (10) as claimed in claims 1 to 19, for securing an electronic device (12) such as a tablet or a mobile phone.
21. A vehicle (6) incorporating a device holder (10) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 20.
22. A device holder (10) substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
23. A vehicle (6) substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.