This is a mouting bracket for a mobile phone on a tripod or similar, where a 1/4" screw is used.

After reviewing many earlier designs here on thingiverse, I desided to re-invent yet another wheel and submit my own design.

• All one piece. No assembly, no support removal. Yet it is spring-loaded and firmly grips a phone at the sides.
• One hand phone release. Squeeze the two springs together and the bracket releases the phone. Same for mounting: squeeze, and you can snap in the phone from the front. No need to slide it in sideways.
• No accidential button presses. Indentations inside the brackets leave room for buttons on the side of the phone.
• No extra parts. This design needs no rubberbands or screws or inserted nuts. Well, durability would probably benefit from an inserted 1/4" nut, but as they are rarely found in Europe, we rely on the self cutting properties of the tripod screw. They are usually quite sharp.
• Symmetric. Both bottom and top has two holes for mounting. In case of wear, flip it upside down, or use the other position.

Versions

The newer version is called phone_clamp_springy-angular-75mm.stl -- The brackets holding the phone are now prismatic. The design is simpler and works fine for many different phones.

The springy sections are now wider and thinner. This has about the same flexibility when you press the elbows for mounting and unmounting, but this is more rigid in the back and forth direction, when you e.g. tap on the screen.

The FreeCAD file still includes the earlier "rounded" version with brackets that tried to match the contour of my phone very closely, with extra cutouts for not pressing any switches on the phone's edges.

Material

Use PETG for printing. We need a moderately flexible material, so that the springs work and so that the tripod screw can cut ist own way. ABS may also work - not tested. PLA is not recommended. PLA becomes brittle when exposed to moisture for longer time. PLA looses its spring tension over time.

Dimensions

It nicely fits phones 76mm to 80mm wide, that is suitable for candy bar sizes around 6" display size. The thickness allows for 10mm, so that a phone with a cover also fits.

You can bend the springs to adapt for larger or smaller phones. Put the bracket into hot water for 1 minute, then gently pull or squeeze. Let cool.

You can also scale the print. E.g. use 90% for a 70mm phone like the Samsung S4) If the holes are then too tight for your tripod screw, use a 5.5mm drill to gently remove some material.

Best option is to change the dimensions in the included FreeCAD file. It is parametric. Look for a sketch named back_contour.

Inspired by

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11435 https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:25098 https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:293679 https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1681212 https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2423960 https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2639479 https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2955168 https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3681512