U.S. patent application number 11/401157 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-05 for supporting stand.
This patent application is currently assigned to Avermedia Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Chao-Jung Chen.
Application Number | 20070075208 11/401157 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36580898 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070075208 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Chao-Jung |
April 5, 2007 |
Supporting stand
Abstract
A supporting stand for supporting an object includes a hinge
coupler, a prop plate and a coupling member. The hinge coupler is
fixed onto a back plate of the object. The prop plate is coupled to
the hinge coupler and permissible for multi-angle rotation. When
the prop plate is rotated to a desired position where the center of
gravity of the object reaches static force balance, the object will
stably stand on a platform in an upright manner. The coupling
member includes a first magnetic element and a second magnetic
element, which are respectively arranged on the prop plate and the
back plate. The first magnetic element and the second magnetic
element are magnetically coupled to each other when the prop plate
is collapsed onto the back plate. In response to a specified
operation, the first magnetic element is detached from the second
magnetic element such that the prop plate is rotated to the desired
position to have the object stand on the platform in the upright
manner.
Inventors: |
Chen; Chao-Jung; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MADSON & AUSTIN;GATEWAY TOWER WEST
SUITE 900
15 WEST SOUTH TEMPLE
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84101
US
|
Assignee: |
Avermedia Technologies,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36580898 |
Appl. No.: |
11/401157 |
Filed: |
April 10, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/455 ;
248/454 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 11/10 20130101;
F16M 2200/08 20130101; F16M 13/005 20130101; F16M 2200/02
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/455 ;
248/454 |
International
Class: |
A47G 1/24 20060101
A47G001/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 4, 2005 |
TW |
094217170 |
Claims
1. A supporting stand for supporting an object, the object
including a back plate, said supporting stand comprising: a hinge
coupler fixed onto said back plate; a prop plate coupled to said
hinge coupler and permissible for multi-angle rotation, the object
stably standing on a platform in an upright manner when said prop
plate is rotated to a desired position where the center of gravity
of the object reaches static force balance; and a coupling member
comprising a first magnetic element and a second magnetic element,
which are respectively arranged on said prop plate and said back
plate, wherein said first magnetic element and said second magnetic
element are magnetically coupled to each other when said prop plate
is collapsed onto said back plate, and in response to a specified
operation, said first magnetic element is detached from said second
magnetic element such that said prop plate is rotated to said
desired position to have the object stand on the platform in the
upright manner.
2. The supporting stand according to claim 1 wherein the object is
a small-size liquid crystal display or a photo frame.
3. The supporting stand according to claim 1 wherein said hinge
coupler includes an accommodating member and a linkage member, said
linkage member being rotatably accommodated within said
accommodating member so as to permit the multi-angle rotation.
4. The supporting stand according to claim 3 wherein said prop
plate is coupled to said linkage member of said hinge coupler, and
said prop plate is synchronously rotated with the multi-angle
rotation of said linkage member in said accommodating member.
5. The supporting stand according to claim 1 wherein said back
plate, said prop plate and the platform are substantially
maintained as a triangular configuration when the center of gravity
of the object reaches static force balance, such that the weight of
the object is evenly distributed to the bottom of said back plate
and said prop plate to have the object stand on the platform in the
upright manner.
6. The supporting stand according to claim 1 wherein said first
magnetic element and said second magnetic element are both made of
magnetic substances experiencing magnetic fields, or one of said
first magnetic element and said second magnetic element is made of
said magnetic substance and the other one is made of a paramagnetic
body.
7. The supporting stand according to claim 6 wherein said magnetic
substance is a magnet, and said paramagnetic body is an iron
piece.
8. The supporting stand according to claim 1 wherein said first
magnetic element is arranged on said prop plate facing said back
plate, and said second magnetic element is arranged on said back
plate corresponding to said first magnetic element, wherein said
first magnetic element and said second magnetic element are
magnetically coupled to each other due to magnetic attraction, so
that said prop plate is securely attached onto said back plate in a
collapsed state.
9. The supporting stand according to claim 8 wherein said second
magnetic element is embedded within an indentation structure of
said back plate and arranged corresponding to said first magnetic
element, where the exposed surface of said second magnetic element
is substantially aligned with the surface of said back plate, so
that the surface of said back plate is smooth in appearance.
10. The supporting stand according to claim 8 wherein said second
magnetic element is buried within said back plate and arranged
corresponding to said first magnetic element, so that the surface
of said back plate is smooth and succinct in appearance.
11. The supporting stand according to claim 1 wherein said first
magnetic element is detached from said second magnetic element in
response to said specified operation when an external pulling force
is applied on said prop plate to resist the magnetic attraction
between said first magnetic element and said second magnetic
element and cancel magnetic coupling between said first magnetic
element and said second magnetic element.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a supporting stand, and
more particularly to a supporting stand for supporting an object
such as a small-size liquid crystal display (LCD) or a photo
frame.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] With increasing development of high technology industries, a
variety of new high-tech products are brought forth and the old
ones are weeded out soon. In modern society, handheld electronic
devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, personal digital
assistants (PDAs), small-sized liquid crystal displays (LCDs),
handheld game devices, etc. become essential electronic devices
because they are feasible to be used in many instances. For
example, the handheld electronic devices are often used in our
daily lives or workplaces, or otherwise employed for teaching or
amusement purposes. On account of their portability, the users can
use such handheld electronic devices wherever and whenever they
are. In addition to convenience and amusement, the general trends
in designing handheld electronic devices are toward small size,
light weightiness and slim volume.
[0003] Take a small-size liquid crystal display for example.
Generally, the small-size liquid crystal display has a radio
frequency receiver as an accessory. By means of the radio frequency
receiver, the user can watch wireless TV programs on the liquid
crystal display. Alternatively, in a case that the small-size
liquid crystal display is communicated with a DVD player, the video
data will be transmitted from the DVD player to the liquid crystal
display, so that the user can watch the video data on the liquid
crystal display as required. Nevertheless, for a purpose of
continuously watching the programs shown on the small-size liquid
crystal display, it is desired to put the small-size liquid crystal
display on a platform such as a desk plane.
[0004] Referring to Fig. 1(a), a schematic diagram of a
conventional portable upright liquid crystal display 10 is
illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1(a), the conventional portable
upright liquid crystal display 10 comprises a display panel 11 and
a foot stand 12. The foot stand 12 is disposed at the back side of
the display panel 11. By means of the foot stand 12, the portable
upright liquid crystal display 10 can be made upright when resting
on the platform. Typically, the foot stand 12 comprises a hinge
coupler 121 pivotally coupled to the back side of the display panel
11 and a prop plate 122 attached to the hinge coupler 121. When the
foot stand 12 is movably pulled open to permit the center of
gravity of the liquid crystal display 10 to reach static force
balance, the display panel 11 can be supported to stand. The foot
stand 12 of the liquid crystal display 10 functions as the foot
stand commonly used in photo frames. Likewise, when the foot stand
of the photo frame is movably pulled open to permit static force
balance, the photo frame can be allowed to stand stably.
[0005] As noted above, the hinge coupler 121 usually has the
functions for multi-stage securing. For example, in a lid-type
mobile phone or notebook computer, the hinge coupler often imparts
multi-stage angles between the display screen and the control
keyboard, so that the display screen is pivotally coupled to the
control keyboard. Likewise, when the hinge coupler 121 is applied
to the portable upright liquid crystal display 10, the hinge
coupler 121 can optionally adjust the tilt of the display panel 11,
so that the user can easily and comfortably watch video programs in
various orientations.
[0006] Generally, the hinge coupler 121 includes a spring and a
plurality of linkages made of friction-imparting material. The
friction force generated during operation of the hinge coupler 121
may shorten the lifetime of the hinge coupler 121. In addition,
since the prop plate 122 of the foot stand 12 is frequently
adjusted to maintain desired angle of the display panel 11, the
hinge coupler 121 is readily damaged and subject to fatigue. At
this moment, the connection between the prop plate 122 and the
display panel 11 is likely loosened or otherwise the prop plate 122
fails to be securely attached onto the back side of the display
panel 11. Under this circumstance, the angle between the prop plate
122 and the display panel 11 fails to be maintained as desired, and
thus it is not convenience to store the portable upright liquid
crystal display 10. In order to store the liquid crystal display
10, a fixing member disposed on the back side of the display panel
11 is utilized. After the prop plate 122 of the food stand 12 is
collapsed such that the prop plate 122 is in close contact with the
back side of the display panel 11, the fixing member may facilitate
securely attaching the prop plate 122 onto the back side of the
display panel 11.
[0007] Please refer to Figs. 1(b) and 1(c), which schematically
illustrate operations of the fixing member 111 arranged on the back
side of the display panel 11. As shown in FIG. 1(b), the fixing
member 111 is a rotatable latch piece. When the portable upright
liquid crystal display 10 is arranged to stand, the fixing member
111 is rotated upwardly or downwardly as shown in FIG. 1(c) to make
the fixing member 111 disengage from the prop plate 122. Meanwhile,
the prop plate 122 is adjustable such that the angle between the
prop plate 122 and the display panel 11 is maintained as desired.
On the other hand, in order to store the prop plate 122, the prop
plate 122 should be adjusted to be close contact with the back side
of the display panel 11 as shown in FIG. 1(b), and then the fixing
member 111 is rotated to its original position so as to securely
attach the prop plate 122 onto the back side of the display panel
11.
[0008] Although the fixing member 111 may facilitate securely
attaching the prop plate 122 onto the back side of the display
panel 11, there are still some drawbacks. For example, since the
fixing member 111 is protruded from the back side of the display
panel 11, the fixing member 111 is readily damaged due to an
improper force exerted thereon and thus the securing function
thereof is lost at that moment. In addition, when the prop plate
122 in its collapsed state, the protruded fixing member 111 is
adverse to space utilization of the portable upright liquid crystal
display 10 and affects the appearance viewed from the back side of
the display panel 11 in appearance. Moreover, the fixing member 111
is not integrally formed with the display panel 11. That is, the
fixing member 111 and the display panel 11 should be separately
produced in different fabricating processes, and then the fixing
member 111 is mounted onto the display panel 11. Therefore,
additional production cost and processing time are required.
[0009] In views of the above-described disadvantages resulted from
the prior art, the applicant keeps on carving unflaggingly to
develop a supporting stand according to the present invention
through wholehearted experience and research.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention provides a supporting stand for
supporting an object in an upright manner. The supporting stand for
supporting an object, which has a back plate. The supporting stand
comprises a hinge coupler, a prop plate and a coupling member. The
hinge coupler is fixed onto the back plate. The prop plate is
coupled to the hinge coupler and permissible for multi-angle
rotation. When the prop plate is rotated to a desired position
where the center of gravity of the object reaches static force
balance, the object will stably stand on a platform in an upright
manner. The coupling member comprises a first magnetic element and
a second magnetic element, which are respectively arranged on the
prop plate and the back plate. The first magnetic element and the
second magnetic element are magnetically coupled to each other when
the prop plate is collapsed onto the back plate. In response to a
specified operation, the first magnetic element is detached from
the second magnetic element such that the prop plate is rotated to
the desired position where the center of gravity of the object
reaches static force balance to have the object stand on the
platform in the upright manner. 100111 In an embodiment, the object
is a small-size liquid crystal display or a photo frame.
[0011] In an embodiment, the hinge coupler includes an
accommodating member and a linkage member, wherein the linkage
member is rotatably accommodated within the accommodating member so
as to permit the multi-angle rotation.
[0012] In an embodiment, the prop plate is coupled to the linkage
member of the hinge coupler, and the prop plate is synchronously
rotated with the multi-angle rotation of the linkage member in the
accommodating member.
[0013] In an embodiment, the back plate, the prop plate and the
platform are substantially maintained as a triangular configuration
when the center of gravity of the object reaches static force
balance, such that the weight of the object is evenly distributed
to the bottom of the back plate and the prop plate to have the
object stand on the platform in the upright manner.
[0014] In an embodiment, the first magnetic element and the second
magnetic element are both made of magnetic substances experiencing
magnetic fields. Alternatively, one of the first magnetic element
and the second magnetic element is made of the magnetic substance
and the other one is made of a paramagnetic body.
[0015] In an embodiment, the magnetic substance is a magnet, and
the paramagnetic body is an iron piece.
[0016] In an embodiment, the first magnetic element is arranged on
the prop plate facing the back plate, and the second magnetic
element is arranged on the back plate corresponding to the first
magnetic element. The first magnetic element and the second
magnetic element are magnetically coupled to each other due to
magnetic attraction, so that the prop plate is securely attached
onto the back plate in a collapsed state.
[0017] In an embodiment, the second magnetic element is embedded
within an indentation structure of the back plate and arranged
corresponding to the first magnetic element. The exposed surface of
the second magnetic element is substantially aligned with the
surface of the back plate, so that the surface of the back plate is
smooth in appearance.
[0018] In another embodiment, the second magnetic element is buried
within the back plate and arranged corresponding to the first
magnetic element, so that the surface of the back plate is smooth
and succinct appearance.
[0019] In an embodiment, the first magnetic element is detached
from the second magnetic element in response to the specified
operation when an external pulling force is applied on the prop
plate to cancel the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic
element and the second magnetic element and cancel magnetic
coupling between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic
element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The above contents of the present invention will become more
readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after
reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1(a) is a schematic diagram of a conventional portable
upright liquid crystal display;
[0022] FIGS. 1(b) and 1(c) schematically illustrate operations of a
fixing member arranged on the back side of the display panel of the
coventional portable upright liquid crystal display;
[0023] FIG. 2(a) is a schematic assembled diagram of a small-sized
liquid crystal display and a supporting stand according to a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2(b) is a schematic diagram of the hinge coupler used
in the supporting stand of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 2(c) is a schematic diagram of the coupling member
according to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 2(d) is a schematic diagram illustrating that the prop
plate of the supporting stand is collapsed onto the back plate
according to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 2(e) is a schematic diagram of the coupling member
according to a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0028] FIG. 2(f) is a schematic diagram illustrating that the prop
plate of the supporting stand is collapsed onto the back plate
according to the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] Referring to FIG. 2(a), a schematic assembled diagram of a
small-sized liquid crystal display 20 and a supporting stand 30
according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention
is illustrated. In the first preferred embodiment, the small-sized
liquid crystal display 20 is an object intended to be supported by
the supporting stand 30. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the small-sized
liquid crystal display 20 has a back plate 21. The supporting stand
30 includes a hinge coupler 31, a prop plate 32 and a coupling
member 33. The hinge coupler 31 is fixed onto the back plate 21.
Likewise, the hinge coupler 31 may function as a known hinge
coupler used in a lid-type mobile phone or notebook computer so as
to impart multi-stage securing. The hinge coupler 31 also includes
a spring and a plurality of linkages, which are made of
friction-imparting material. By means of the hinge coupler 31, the
prop plate 32 is pivotally coupled to the back plate 21 and
securely fixed onto the back plate 21. As previously described, if
the hinge coupler 31 is damaged or subject to fatigue, the hinge
coupler 31 fails to function well.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 2(b), a schematic diagram of the hinge
coupler 31 is illustrated. The hinge coupler 31 includes an
accommodating member 311 and a linkage member 312. The linkage
member 312 is movably accommodated within the accommodating member
311 so as to permit multi-angle rotation. In the first preferred
embodiments, the hinge coupler 31 and the accommodating member 311
are made of friction-imparting material. The friction force
resulting from rotation of the linkage member 312 in the
accommodating member 311 will fix the relative position
therebetween. The main body of the hinge coupler 31 is fixed onto
the back plate 21 by for example screwing or using adhesive
material. Alternatively, the accommodating member 311 of the hinge
coupler 31 is integrally formed with the back plate 21. The process
of fixing the hinge coupler 31 onto the back plate 21 is apparent
to those skilled in the art, and is not redundantly described
herein.
[0031] Please refer to FIG. 2(b) again. The prop plate 32 is
coupled to the linkage member 312 of the hinge coupler 31, so that
the prop plate 32 is synchronously rotated with multi-angle
rotation of the linkage member 312 in the accommodating member 311.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2(a), when the prop plate 32 is rotated
to a desired position where the center of gravity of the
small-sized liquid crystal display 20 reaches static force balance,
the small-sized liquid crystal display 20 will stably stand on a
platform such as a desk plane (not shown) in an upright manner. In
the static-force-balance state, the back plate 21, the prop plate
32 and the platform are substantially maintained as a triangular
configuration. Under this circumstance, the weight of the
small-sized liquid crystal display 20 is evenly distributed to the
bottom of the back plate 21 in contact to the platform and the prop
plate 32, so that the small-sized liquid crystal display 20 is able
to stably stand on the platform in an upright manner.
[0032] The coupling member 33 is schematically illustrated with
reference to FIG. 2(c). In particular, the feature of the present
invention is to dispose the coupling member 33 on the supporting
stand 30 for facilitating storing the prop plate 32. In this first
preferred embodiment, the coupling member 33 includes a first
magnetic element 331 and a second magnetic element 332. As can be
seen in FIG. 2(c), the first magnetic element 331 and the second
magnetic element 332 are arranged on the prop plate 32 and the back
plate 21, respectively.
[0033] Moreover, the first magnetic element 331 is arranged on the
prop plate 32 facing the back plate 21, i.e. the inner side of the
prop plate 32. The second magnetic element 332 is arranged on the
back plate 21 corresponding to the first magnetic element 331. As
shown in FIG. 2(c), the back plate 21 further includes an
indentation structure 333 having a size matching the second
magnetic element 332. After the second magnetic element 332 is
embedded within the indentation structure 333, the exposed surface
of the second magnetic element 332 is substantially aligned with
the surface of the back plate 21, so that the surface of the back
plate 21 is very smooth. In addition, since the majority of the
second magnetic element 332 is embedded within the indentation
structure 333, the second magnetic element 332 will not affect the
appearance of the whole apparatus. When the prop plate 32 is moved
toward the back plate 21, the first magnetic element 331 and the
second magnetic element 332 will magnetically coupled to each other
due to magnetic attraction. Meanwhile, the prop plate 32 is
securely attached onto the back plate 21 in a collapsed state.
[0034] In the above embodiment, both of the first magnetic element
331 and the second magnetic element 332 are made of magnetic
substances experiencing magnetic fields, e.g. magnets.
Alternatively, one of the first magnetic element 331 and the second
magnetic element 332 is a magnet and the other is made of a
paramagnetic body, e.g. an iron piece. Due to the magnetic
attraction between the first magnetic element 331 and the second
magnetic element 332, the prop plate 32 is securely attached onto
the back plate 21 in the collapsed state.
[0035] It is preferred that the first magnetic element 331 and the
second magnetic element 332 are slim elements, so that the
supporting stand 30 is collapsed to a reduced compact size. Under
this circumstance, the possibility of damaging the supporting stand
30 from collision is significantly reduced.
[0036] In the first embodiment, the first magnetic element 331 and
the second magnetic element 332 are arranged on the prop plate 32
and the back plate 21, respectively. It is noted that, however,
those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the
teachings of the invention. For example, corresponding portions of
the prop plate 32 and the back plate 21 may be made of the magnetic
substances, so that the prop plate 32 and the back plate 21 are
magnetically coupled to each other due to magnetic attraction. In
this instance, the supporting stand 30 is collapsed to the possible
minimum compact size.
[0037] After the prop plate 32 of the supporting stand 30 is
collapsed onto the back plate 21, as is shown in FIG. 2(d), the
prop plate 32 is securely fixed onto the back plate 21. In addition
to maintaining smoothness of the back plate 21, the second magnetic
element 332 has satisfactory concealment. Therefore, the problems
of causing damage of the protruded fixing member 111 as occurred in
the prior art will be overcome. On the other hand, in response to
an external pulling force applied on the prop plate 32 to resist
the attractive force between the first magnetic element 331 and the
second magnetic element 332, the first magnetic element 331 is
detached from the second magnetic element 332. When the prop plate
32 is rotated to a desired position where the center of gravity of
the small-sized liquid crystal display 20 reaches static force
balance, the small-sized liquid crystal display 20 will stably
stand on the platform in an upright manner.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 2(e), the schematic diagram of the
coupling member 33 according to a second embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the second magnetic
element 332 is buried within the back plate 21 and at the location
corresponding to the first magnetic element 331. In such manner,
the surface of the back plate 21 is kept smooth and the supporting
stand 30 is also collapsed to the possible minimum compact size.
The other components included therein are similar to those
described in the first preferred embodiment, and are not
redundantly described herein. In this embodiment, since the second
magnetic element 332 is buried within the back plate 21, the back
plate 21 is very clean in appearance.
[0039] Please refer to FIG. 2(f), which is a schematic diagram
illustrating that the prop plate of the supporting stand is
collapsed onto the back plate according to the second preferred
embodiment of the present invention. Although the second magnetic
element 332 is buried within the back plate 21, the first magnetic
element 331 and the second magnetic element 332 are still
magnetically coupled to each other due to magnetic attraction when
the supporting stand 30 is collapsed onto the back plate 21, so
that the prop plate 32 is securely fixed onto the back plate 21.
Likewise, in response to an external pulling force applied on the
prop plate 32 to resist the attractive force between the first
magnetic element 331 and the second magnetic element 332, the first
magnetic element 331 will be detached from the second magnetic
element 332. When the prop plate 32 is rotated to a desired
position where the center of gravity of the small-sized liquid
crystal display 20 reaches static force balance, the small-sized
liquid crystal display 20 will stably stand on the platform in an
upright manner.
[0040] From the above description, the present invention can solve
the problem in the prior art by taking advantage of the coupling
member 32 consisting of the first magnetic element 331 and the
second magnetic element 332. The first magnetic element 331 and the
second magnetic element 332 are simply made of magnet and magnet
(or magnet and iron piece), which are quite cheap and
cost-effective. In addition, since the exposed surface of the
second magnetic element 332 is substantially aligned with the
surface of the back plate 21 or buried within the back plate 21,
the back plate 21 is clean in appearance and the problems of
causing damage of the protruded fixing member 111 as occurred in
the prior art will be overcome. The present invention is
illustrated by referring to a small-sized liquid crystal display
20. Nevertheless, the present invention can be applied to other
objects requiring for stably standing on a platform in an upright
manner, for example photo frames.
[0041] While the invention has been described in terms of what is
presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be
limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is
intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which
are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to
encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
* * * * *