U.S. patent application number 12/552996 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-03 for electronic device with magnetic supporting structure.
Invention is credited to Cheng-Hong Chen, Hsien-Cheng Chiu, Chih-Cheng Liao, Meng-Ju Yang.
Application Number | 20100133398 12/552996 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42221904 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100133398 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chiu; Hsien-Cheng ; et
al. |
June 3, 2010 |
ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH MAGNETIC SUPPORTING STRUCTURE
Abstract
A linkage and a supporter are attached to a back of the housing
via a magnetic element of an electronic device with a magnetic
supporter. The supporter is drawn to a supporting position via the
linkage to support the electronic device body and provide various
angles for the user to easily operate the electronic device in
several modes. Moreover, since the linkage and the supporter are
attached via the magnetic element, when the electronic device body
is overloaded, for example, a user applies overlarge force to
operate a touch panel, the magnetic element is detached from the
electronic device body to prevent the linkage and the supporter
from being damaged or permanently destroyed.
Inventors: |
Chiu; Hsien-Cheng; (Taipei,
TW) ; Chen; Cheng-Hong; (Taipei, TW) ; Yang;
Meng-Ju; (Taipei, TW) ; Liao; Chih-Cheng;
(Taipei, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dr. BANGER SHIA;Patent Office of Bang Shia
102 Lindencrest Ct.
Sugar Land
TX
77479-5201
US
|
Family ID: |
42221904 |
Appl. No.: |
12/552996 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/206.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 23/043
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/206.5 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/06 20060101
A47B096/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 28, 2008 |
TW |
97146095 |
Claims
1. An electronic device, comprising: an electronic device body; and
a magnetic supporting structure, including: a magnetic element
attached to a back of the electronic device; a linkage, wherein an
end of the linkage is pivotally connected with the magnetic
element; and a supporter pivotally connected with the other end of
the linkage, wherein the supporter is kept at a storing position at
the back of the electronic device via the linkage, the supporter is
drawn via the linkage to a supporting position at which the
electronic device is supported, and when the supporter is at the
supporting position, the magnetic element is detached from the
electronic device once the electronic device is overloaded.
2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a
containing space formed at the back of the electronic device body
and allowing the magnetic element to be disposed and attached
to.
3. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a
slideway allowing the magnetic element to be attached to.
4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the
supporter comprises a cross-rod, the width of the cross-rod is
equal to the width of the electronic device, two connection
portions are extended from two ends of the cross-rod, respectively,
and the connection portion is pivotally connected with the back of
the electronic device.
5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the linkage
comprises a first sliding block and a second sliding block
cooperate with each other.
6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first
sliding block has a groove allowing the second sliding block to
slide.
7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the second
sliding block is fixed at the first sliding block via a fixing
element passing the groove.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an electronic device with a
magnetic supporting structure, more particularly to a magnetic
supporting structure attached to the electronic device via a
magnetic element.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] To cooperate with operation habits of users, a supporter may
be disposed at an electronic device such as a notebook or a tablet
computer to support the electronic device at various angles. Thus,
a user may operate the electronic device easily. Common operation
angles may be divided into high angles (about 70.about.80 degrees),
middle angles (about 40.about.60 degrees), and low angles (about
20.about.35 degrees). At the high angles, the electronic device can
be used as a digital frame or a stock machine. At the middle
angles, the user can adjust the electronic device to a proper angle
when he makes a report with a projected image to easily remind the
user of contents of the report or touch the electronic device to
control it and read and so on. At the low angles, the user can
write easily.
[0005] The supporter can be divided into a built-in mode and an
appendant mode according to its characteristics. A built-in
supporter is usually connected with a back of the electronic
device. When the built-in supporter is not used, it can be folded
and kept in the electronic device. When the user uses the built-in
supporter, he can pull the built-in supporter out to support the
electronic device. In view of easy keeping and consistency of an
appearance of the electronic device, the structure of the built-in
supporter is usually fragile. An appendant supporter is an
additional accessory, and the user can choose it according to his
demands. Since the supporter is specially used for supporting the
electronic device, the structure of the appendant supporter is
slightly firmer. However, since the appendant supporter and the
electronic device are not designed together, the volume of the
appendant supporter is larger, and the appendant supporter is not
easy to take.
[0006] Generally speaking, neither the built-in supporter nor the
appendant supporter involves the consideration for operation
characteristics of the users. Usually, the electronic device only
may be supported at a single angle and it is not easy to be
operated. Furthermore, some electronic devices are designed with
touch screens. When this kind of electronic device is supported by
the supporter, if the user improperly operates the electronic
device, applies overlarge force or knocks against the electronic
device carelessly, or the electronic device is pressed by a fallen
object such as a book, the above mentioned load is too large
instantaneously, which usually makes the supporter without a safety
protection design bended or permanently destroyed. Thus, it is
rather in convenient for the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An electronic device with the magnetic supporting structure
according to the invention includes an electronic device body and a
magnetic supporter. The magnetic supporting structure has a
magnetic element, a linkage, and a supporter. Two ends of the
linkage are pivotally connected with the magnetic element and the
linkage, respectively. The magnetic supporting structure is
attached to a back of the electronic device body via the magnetic
element. The supporter is kept at a storing position at which the
supporter flatly contacts the back of the electronic device via the
linkage, and the supporter is drawn via the linkage to a supporting
position at which the electronic device is supported. When the
supporter is at the supporting position, if the user improperly
operates the electronic device, applies overlarge force or knocks
against the electronic device carelessly, or the electronic device
is pressed by a fallen object such as a book, which causes the
electronic device to be overloaded, the magnetic element is
detached from the back of the electronic device body to prevent the
supporter and the linkage from being permanently damaged due to an
overlarge load.
[0008] On the other hand, when the supporter is at the supporting
position, the height of the position of the back of the electronic
device body at which the magnetic element is attached is changed
via the magnetic element, and thus a supporting angle can be
adjusted to provide more diverse chooses to the user. At the same
time, the slideway may be designed for the magnetic element to
slide in, or connecting blocks may be utilized as the linkage to
further provide position at different support angles to facilitate
use of the user. Additionally, the supporter may be designed to
include a cross-rod and a connection portion extended from two ends
of the cross-rod to provide larger support area and improve support
stability.
[0009] Consequently, a magnetic attraction between the magnetic
supporting structure and the electronic device body can be adjusted
and controlled via the magnetic element. Thus, when the user
improperly operates the electronic device, applies overlarge force
or knocks against the electronic device carelessly, or the
electronic device is pressed by a fallen heavy object, which causes
that the electronic device body is overloaded, the supporting
supporter are not damaged. Furthermore, the user is prompted about
improper operations, and additional cost due to repair and
replacement after the supporting supporter is damaged is also
avoided.
[0010] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram showing an electronic device
with a magnetic supporting structure according to a first
embodiment of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram showing the electronic device
with the magnetic supporting structure in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3A.about.3C are schematic diagrams showing the
electronic device with the magnetic supporting structure in FIG. 1
in use;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing detachment action of
the electronic device with the magnetic supporting structure in
FIG. 1 when the electronic device is overloaded;
[0015] FIG. 5 is an exploded diagram showing an electronic device
with a magnetic supporting structure according to a second
embodiment of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 6A.about.6C are schematic diagrams showing changes of
the supporting positions of the electronic device with the magnetic
supporting structure in FIG. 5;
[0017] FIG. 7A.about.7B are exploded diagrams showing an electronic
device with a magnetic supporting structure according to a third
embodiment of the invention; and
[0018] FIG. 8A.about.8B are schematic diagrams showing changes of
the supporting positions of the electronic device with the magnetic
supporting structure in FIG. 7A.about.7B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram showing an electronic device
with a magnetic supporting structure according to a first
embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram showing
the electronic device with the magnetic supporting structure in
FIG. 1.
[0020] The electronic device with the magnetic supporting structure
according to the first embodiment of the invention includes an
electronic device body 40 and a magnetic supporting structure. The
magnetic supporting structure includes a magnetic element 10, a
linkage 20, and a supporter 30. The magnetic supporting structure
can be disposed at a back 41 of the electronic device body 40 to
support the electronic device body 40 at a certain angle. Thus, a
user may operate the electronic device more easily. The magnetic
element 10 may be a magnet, a combination member with metal
covering a magnetic object, and the magnetic element 10 is attached
to the back 41 of the electronic device body 40 via its
magnetism.
[0021] A containing space 42 is formed at the back 41 of the
electronic device body 40 to dispose the magnetic element 10. An
outer housing of the electronic device body 40 is usually made of
aluminum, a magnesium alloy, or reinforced plastic and so on. If
the outer housing is made of a magnetic metal such as aluminum and
the magnesium alloy, the magnetic element 10 can be directly
attached to the containing space 42. If the outer housing is made
of a material without magnetism such as reinforced plastic, a
magnetic material needs to be laid at the containing space 42 to
attach the magnetic element 10.
[0022] The linkage 20 is mainly used for connecting the magnetic
element 10 and the supporter 30. A first pivot 21 and a second
pivot 22 are used for pivotally connecting with the magnetic
element 10 and the supporter 30, respectively, to make the linkage
20 rotate relative to the magnetic element 10, and the supporter 30
may also rotate relative to the linkage 20. In this embodiment, the
linkage 20 is designed to be shaped like a flat plate to improve
support strength. Besides the supporter 30 in the form as shown in
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the supporter 30 may be changed or enlarged to
increase the support area.
[0023] The shape of the containing space 42 is the same as that of
the magnetic element 10, the linkage 20, and the supporter 30. When
the magnetic supporting structure is not used, the magnetic element
10, the linkage 20, and the supporter 30 are kept in the containing
space 42 to maintain the appearance integrity of the back 41 of the
electronic device body 40. The magnetic element 10 is fixedly
attached to the containing space 42 via magnetic force. The linkage
20 and the supporter 30 may be attached to the storing position via
weaker magnetic force. The linkage 20 and the supporter 30 also may
be fixed at the storing position in mechanical ways such as using
tight fit, a fastening recess or a fastening point, and they do not
drop off.
[0024] FIG. 3A.about.3C are schematic diagrams showing the
electronic device with the magnetic supporting structure in FIG. 1
in use.
[0025] When the user wants to operate the electronic device 40 at a
special angle, he pulls the linkage 20 out of the containing space
42 to make the supporter 30 drawn out together. At the time, the
magnetic element 10 is still attached to an origin position of the
electronic device body 40 and is unchanged, The electronic device
body 40 may be supported at a supporting position with a low angle
as shown in FIG. 3A by supporting the supporter 30 on a fixing flat
surface 70 to allow the user to perform normal operation such as
writing.
[0026] When the support angle needs to be changed, the user only
needs to move the magnetic element 10 downward. In other words, as
shown in FIG. 3B, the magnetic element 10 is moved toward the
fixing flat surface 70. At the same time, the bottom of the
electronic device body 40 is moved toward the supporter 30 (or the
supporter 30 is moved toward the electronic device body 40) to make
the electronic device body 40 closer to the supporter 30 to provide
a supporting position with a middle angle. Thus, the user can
adjust the electronic device to a proper angle when he makes a
report with a projected image to easily remind the user of contents
of the report or touch the electronic device to control it and read
and so on. Certainly, as shown in FIG. 3C, the magnetic element 10
may be further moved close to the bottom of the containing space 42
to provide a supporting position with a high angle, and then the
electronic device may be used as an electronic digital frame or a
stock machine.
[0027] As a result, to achieve a multi-angle support function, if
the outer housing of the electronic device body 40 is made of a
nonmagnetic material such as reinforced plastic, the magnetic metal
laid on the containing space 42 needs to be extended to almost the
whole containing space 42 to allow the magnetic element 10 to vary
different support angles at which the electronic device body 40 is
supported by changing attach positions.
[0028] Since the supporter 30 is pivotally connected with the
linkage 20, however the support angles changes, the supporter 30
can flatly contact the fixing flat surface 70 to provide stable
support. To achieve the function of positioning at different
support angles, the linkage 20 and the magnetic element 10 can be
designed to be tight fit or designed with a fastening dot or a
fastening block and so on at the position where they are pivotally
connected to provide fixing effect at different angles.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing detachment action of
the electronic device with the magnetic supporting structure in
FIG. 1 when the electronic device is overloaded.
[0030] When the magnetic supporting structure at the supporting
position (including supporting positions in FIG. 3A.about.3C), if
the user improperly operates the electronic device, applies
overlarge force or knocks against the electronic device carelessly,
or the electronic devices are pressed by a fallen object such as a
book, which causes the electronic device body 40 to be overloaded,
since the magnetic element 10 at the back 41 is attached to the
electronic device body 40 via the magnetic force but not in
conventional mechanical fixing connection ways, when the load
exceeds a magnetic attraction between the magnetic element 10 and
the electronic device body 40, the magnetic element 10 is detached
from the electronic device body 40, which prevents the linkage 20
or the supporter 30 from being damaged or permanently
destroyed.
[0031] On the other hand, to improve the support ability of the
supporter, FIG. 5 is an exploded diagram showing an electronic
device with a magnetic supporting structure according to a second
embodiment of the invention.
[0032] The supporter 30 includes a cross-rod 31. The width of the
cross-rod 31 is equal to that of the electronic device body 40.
Connection portions 32 and 33 are extended from two ends of
cross-rod 31, respectively. The cross-rod 31 is pivotally connected
with two ends of the bottom of the back 41 of the electronic device
body 40 via the connection portions 32 and 33, respectively. At the
same time, the magnetic element 10 is shaped like a sliding block,
and cooperating with a slideway 43 at the back 41 of the electronic
device body 40, the magnetic element 10 can slide in the slideway
43. Similarly, if the outer housing of the electronic device body
40 is made of the nonmagnetic material such as the reinforced
plastic, the magnetic metal needs to be laid in the slideway 43.
The linkage 20 is shaped like a slender rod. The linkage 20 is
pivotally connected with the magnetic element 10 and the cross-rod
31 of the supporter 30 via ball-shaped two ends of the linkage
20.
[0033] FIG. 6A.about.6C are schematic diagrams showing changes of
the supporting positions of the electronic device with the magnetic
supporting structure in FIG. 5.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 6A, when the supporter 30 is at the storing
position, the magnetic element 10 is at the rightmost side of the
slideway 43. Similarly, to maintain the consistency of the
appearance, the linkage 20 is shaped like the slender rod.
Meanwhile, the slideway 43 is extended downward and obliquely with
a shape which is the same as that of the linkage 20, and the
linkage 20 can be disposed in the slideway 43 to maintain the
smoothness of the appearance. When the user needs to operate the
electronic device, he turns the supporter 30 out. At the time, as
shown in FIG. 6B, the linkage 20 drives the magnetic element 10 to
slide in the slideway 43. Finally, as shown in FIG. 6C, the
magnetic element 10 slides to the leftmost side of the slideway 43.
As a result, in this embodiment, the magnetic element 10 may be
located at different positions to provide different supporting
positions with different angles.
[0035] To position the supporting position, the magnetic element 10
or the slideway 43 may be designed to be tight fit, or be designed
with a protrudent dot, or a position fastening dot and so on.
Similarly, since the magnetic element 10 is utilized to make
attachment, if the electronic device body 40 is overloaded, the
magnetic element 10 may also be detached, a risk of damaging the
linkage 20 and the supporter 30 also can be avoided.
[0036] FIG. 7A.about.7B are exploded diagrams showing an electronic
device with a magnetic supporting structure according to a third
embodiment of the invention.
[0037] The linkage 20 includes a first sliding block 23 and a
second sliding block 24. The first sliding block 23 has two grooves
25. The second sliding block 24 is restricted to slide in the
grooves 25 via fixing elements 26 to allow the first sliding block
23 to slide relative to the second sliding block 24. As shown in
FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the fixing element 26 is a cooperation of a
screw and a nut. Certainly, the fixing elements 26 may be replaced
by tenons or protrudent dots.
[0038] FIG. 8A.about.8B are schematic diagrams showing changes of
the supporting positions of the electronic device with the magnetic
supporting structure in FIG. 7A.about.7B.
[0039] When the supporter 30 is at the storing position, as shown
in FIG. 8A, the magnetic element 10 and the linkage 20 are kept via
the containing space 42 to maintain the consistency of the
appearance to make the supporter 30 flatly contact the back 41 of
the electronic device body 40. When the electronic device body 40
needs to be adjusted to the supporting position, the position is
changed by downwardly moving the magnetic element 10 in the
containing space 42. At the same time, the linkage 20 drives the
supporter 30 to be turned out to support the electronic device
10.
[0040] Since the linkage 20 is composed of the first sliding block
23 and the second sliding block 24, the support angles not only can
be changed by changing the position of the magnetic element 10, as
shown in FIG. 8B, the support angles can also be controlled via
relative slide between the first sliding block 23 and the second
sliding block 24. At the same time, if the fixing element 26 is
realized via a screw, stepless positioning can also be provided.
The second sliding block 24 can be fixed at any position of the
grooves 25 of the first sliding block 23.
[0041] As a result, the linkage and the supporter of the electronic
device with the magnetic supporting structure according to the
invention are attached to the back of the electronic device body
via the magnetic element. When at the supporting position, if the
user improperly operates the electronic device, applies overlarge
force or knocks the electronic device carelessly, or the electronic
device is pressed by a fallen object such as a book, which causes
that the load of the electronic device body is too large and
excesses the magnetic attraction between the magnetic element and
the electronic device body, the magnetic element is detached from
the electronic device body. Thus, unlike conventional supporting
supporters, the linkage and the supporter are not damaged or
permanently destroyed.
[0042] Although the present invention has been described in
considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments
thereof, the disclosure is not for limiting the scope of the
invention. Persons having ordinary skill in the art may make
various modifications and changes without departing from the scope
and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the appended
claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred
embodiments described above.
[0043] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are intended to be included within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *