Portable Electronic Device Retention System

Abstract

An exemplary magnetic portable electronic device retention system includes a device holder and mounting base. The device holder includes a mating surface with one or more magnets disposed within one or more recesses. The mounting base includes a magnetic portion. The device holder and mounting base are held together by the magnetic attractive force between the magnets and magnetic portion. The attractive force is strong enough to hold the base and holder together during rigorous physical activity, while still being capable of unencumbered manual separation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable electronic device retention system comprising:
 a device holder comprising a mating surface and one or more magnets; and   a mounting base having a magnetic portion.   
     
     
         2 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 1 , wherein the device holder comprises one or more recesses defined within the mating surface, and wherein each of the one or more magnets is disposed within a recess. 
     
     
         3 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 2 , wherein the recesses are located in four corners of the mating surface, and wherein the device holder comprises at least four magnets mounted within the recesses defined within the mating surface. 
     
     
         4 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 3  further comprising a recess located in the center of the mating surface, and wherein the device holder comprises at least five magnets mounted within the recesses defined within the mating surface. 
     
     
         5 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 2 , wherein the magnets are disposed below an upper surface of the mating surface. 
     
     
         6 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 5 , wherein the magnets are disposed between about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.5 millimeters below the upper surface of the mating surface. 
     
     
         7 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting base comprises a magnetic plate surrounded by a rim configured to receive the mating surface of the device holder. 
     
     
         8 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 7 , further comprising a gap between the rim of the mounting base and an outer periphery of the mating surface of the device holder when the device holder is attached to the mounting base. 
     
     
         9 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 8 , wherein the gap surrounds the mating surface. 
     
     
         10 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 1 , further comprising a base support attached to the mounting base at an attachment location. 
     
     
         11 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 10 , wherein the base support comprises an arm band. 
     
     
         12 . A portable electronic device retention system comprising:
 a device holder;   a mounting base comprising a mating surface and one or more magnets.   
     
     
         13 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 12 , wherein the mounting base comprises one or more recesses defined within the mating surface, and wherein each of the one or more magnets is disposed within a recess. 
     
     
         14 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 12 , wherein the recesses are located in four corners of the mating surface, and wherein the mounting base comprises at least four magnets mounted within the recesses defined within the mating surface. 
     
     
         15 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 14  further comprising a recess located in the center of the mating surface, and wherein the mounting base comprises at least five magnets mounted within the recesses defined within the mating surface. 
     
     
         16 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 13 , wherein the magnets are disposed below an upper surface of the mating surface. 
     
     
         17 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 16 , wherein the magnets are disposed between about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.5 millimeters below the upper surface of the mating surface. 
     
     
         18 . A portable electronic device retention system comprising:
 a device holder comprising:
 a sidewall forming a recess for retaining an electronic device; 
 one or more openings in the sidewall for providing access to the electronic device; 
 a mating surface disposed on a back surface of the device holder; 
 a plurality of recesses defined within the mating surface; and 
 a plurality of magnets disposed within the plurality of recesses; and 
   a mounting base comprising:
 a magnetic plate; and 
 a rim surrounding the magnetic plate that defines a mating receptacle configured to receive the mating surface of the device holder. 
   
     
     
         19 . The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 18 , wherein the mating surface extends to the sidewall of the device holder.
 The portable electronic device retention system of  claim 18 , wherein the magnets are disposed between about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.5 millimeters below an upper surface of the mating surface.