Suzuki Swift (2009) Console Phone Holder

In contrast to the phone holder I created for my previous car (search "Complicated, Ugly, and Over-engineered Phone Holder"), I wanted the one for my new (to me anyway) car to be as simple, attractive, and under-engineered as possile.

I've replaced my car's standard stereo with one of those cheap, generic, Chinese units that are such great value for money for non-audiophiles like me.

On my previous car, I'd fitted a similar unit with a built in satnav but, as I found the feature clunky and awkward to use, I ended up using Waze on my phone instead (hence the horizontal phone holder I made for that car).

This time I plumped for another Chinese unit, but without GPS. To get around this I chose one with a USB screen mirror facility. Thus I can use Waze, but view and operate it on my stereo unit's touch screen. With the bonus that it's charging my phone at the same time too.

Now I don't need the phone at eye level any more, but I DO need to keep it in a horizontal position. Chucking it in the centre console does the job, but it isn't pretty. And, if the phone slips on the journey, the display on both devices reorients itself to vertical - always at the most inconvenient time too!

So I needed something I could pop into the centre console, with a ledge for the phone. I planned it to work like the sliding doors on old bathroom cabinets: slide the phone into the top channel, and then drop the bottom into the lower channel. My first design did this perfectly, but then I realised that I'm due a phone upgrade, and the new phones are larger! So I moved the top channel upwards to allow for a larger phone in future. Of course, I don't know if this will be enough until I upgrade. :D

Then I hit a slight snag: The holder went a little too far into the console for the cable slot to function, and the phone wouldn't sit right. My first thought was to design a complete new unit. But then I realised that all I needed was a spacer that could be glued to the rear of the unit to adjust the depth. Nor did it have to be a solid unit. It could simply be a frame with an open centre, saving lots of plastic and print time. Even better, I could print it in TPU, and this would provide an additional element of grip to make sure it stayed put.

I had originally designed two flexible clips for the rear of the holder (in case it wasn't a tight fit in the console) but it turned out these weren't needed. But, conveniently for me, the slots for them were still in the finished design, and these were perfect for mating the two parts together - I still recommend glueing though.

It's a nice straight friction-fit into the console's storage aperture, and it can be kept in the glove box when not in use. It could also be left in place to just conceal items in the centre console from prying eyes; it's a nice dark position, and the printed part blends in nicely, even in daylight - Unless you print it in some garish colour, obviously! :D

Category: Automotive