U.S. patent application number 16/543299 was filed with the patent office on 2021-02-18 for stand for desktop phone.
The applicant listed for this patent is Plantronics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Anthony Martin Duys, Hector Rodriguez, Gabriela Vargas, Nathan Yang.
Application Number | 20210051224 16/543299 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005370975 |
Filed Date | 2021-02-18 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210051224 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rodriguez; Hector ; et
al. |
February 18, 2021 |
STAND FOR DESKTOP PHONE
Abstract
A stand includes a neck, a base coupled to a first end of the
neck, and a receiving interface located at a second end of the
neck. The receiving interface is configured to receive a short
stand of a desktop phone device.
Inventors: |
Rodriguez; Hector; (Austin,
TX) ; Duys; Anthony Martin; (Merrimac, MA) ;
Yang; Nathan; (Austin, TX) ; Vargas; Gabriela;
(Austin, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Plantronics, Inc. |
Santa Cruz |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005370975 |
Appl. No.: |
16/543299 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/11 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04M 1/11 20060101
H04M001/11 |
Claims
1. A stand comprising: a neck; a base coupled to a first end of the
neck; and a receiving interface located at a second end of the
neck, wherein the receiving interface is configured to receive a
short stand of a desktop phone device.
2. The stand of claim 1, wherein the receiving interface comprises
a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the second
panel spaced to form a slot that is complementary to a shape of the
short stand.
3. The stand of claim 2, further comprising; a first shield piece
attached to a side of the first panel opposite the second panel;
and a second shield piece attached to a side of the second panel
opposite the first panel.
4. The stand of claim 2, wherein the second panel includes an
opening configured to align with an opening in the short stand and
to receive a puck for retaining the short stand in the receiving
interface.
5. The stand of claim 2, further comprising a sleeve attached to
the neck and configured to receive cables from the desktop phone
device.
6. The stand of claim 2, wherein the neck is generally planar.
7. The stand of claim 2, wherein the neck is perpendicular with
respect to the base.
8. An apparatus comprising: a desktop phone device including: a
main body, a short stand; and a friction hinge coupling the short
stand to the main body; and a tall stand including: a neck; a base
coupled to a first end of the neck; and a receiving interface
located at a second end of the neck, wherein the receiving
interface is configured to receive the short stand.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiving interface is
angled with respect to the neck.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the friction hinge is
configured to move between angles greater than and less than the
angle of the receiving interface with respect to the neck is within
a range of angles.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiving interface
comprises a first panel and a second panel, the first panel and the
second panel spaced to form a slot that is complementary to a shape
of the short stand.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tall stand further
comprises; a first shield piece attached to a side of the first
panel opposite the second panel; and a second shield piece attached
to a side of the second panel opposite the first panel.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a puck for
retaining the short stand in the receiving interface, wherein the
second panel includes an opening configured to align with an
opening in the short stand and to receive the puck.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the opening in the short
stand corresponds to a cable routing opening.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the puck includes a
removable tab.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the puck includes latches
configured to secure the puck to the receiving interface.
17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tall stand further
comprises a sleeve attached to the neck and configured to receive
cables from the desktop phone device.
18. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the neck is generally
planar.
19. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tall stand further
includes a sleeve coupled to the neck and configured to receive
cables of the desktop phone device.
20. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the neck is perpendicular
with respect to the base.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates to desktop phones.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Desktop phone devices are used in teleconferencing systems.
Such phone devices often include a camera configured to record an
image of a local participant and a screen to display an image of a
remote participant. Unfortunately, the camera may generate images
that poorly display the local participant due to a location of the
camera on the desktop phone device. For example, the local
participant may be poorly framed in an image generated by the
camera located on the desktop phone device. Similarly, the screen
may be inconvenient to view for the local participant due to a
location of the screen on the desktop phone device. To illustrate,
the local participant seated or standing at a desk may be required
to look downward to view the screen on the desktop phone device. As
a result, the local participant may develop neck soreness while
viewing the screen for an extended period of time. In addition,
images of the local participant generated by the camera located on
the desktop as the local participant looks down toward the desktop
may be unflattering and may not capture the local participant's
face.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] For the purpose of illustration, there are shown in the
drawings certain embodiments described in the present disclosure.
In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout.
It should be understood that the full scope of the inventions
disclosed herein are not limited to the precise arrangements,
dimensions, and instruments shown. In the drawings:
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a tall stand for a desktop phone
device.
[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates a top-down view of the tall stand.
[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates a profile view of the tall stand.
[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the tall stand.
[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the tall stand from
below.
[0009] FIG. 6 illustrates a desktop phone device docked with the
tall stand.
[0010] FIG. 7 illustrates a profile view of the desktop phone
device docked with the tall stand.
[0011] FIG. 8 illustrates a rear perspective view of the tall stand
and the desktop phone device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] In the drawings and the description of the drawings herein,
certain terminology is used for convenience only and is not to be
taken as limiting the embodiments of the present disclosure. In the
drawings and the description below, like numerals indicate like
elements throughout.
[0013] FIGS. 1-5 are various views depicting a tall stand 100 for a
desktop phone device 702 (FIG. 6-8). The tall stand 100 includes a
base 102 and a neck 104, and a receiving interface 112. The base
102, the neck 104, and the receiving interface 112 may include
metal, plastic, etc. The neck 104 is coupled to a first end of the
base 102 and the receiving interface 112 is located at a second end
of the neck 104. In the illustrated example, the neck 104 and the
receiving interface 112 are formed of common components. To
illustrate, the neck 104 includes a first piece 104a that forms a
first panel 112a of the receiving interface 112. The neck 104
further includes a second piece 104b that forms a second panel 112b
of the receiving interface 112. Bends in the pieces 104a, 104b
cause the first panel 112a and the second panel 112b to be spaced
apart forming a slot 111. The receiving interface 112 and the slot
111 are angled with respect to the neck 104. In the illustrated
example, the receiving interface 112 is positioned at an angle 107
with respect to the neck 104.
[0014] The receiving interface 112 is configured to receive a short
stand 804 (e.g., short relative to the tall stand 100) of a desktop
phone device 702 in the slot 111 as is described further below. The
slot 111 preferably has a shape that is complementary to the short
stand 804 of the desktop phone device 702 as described further
below. The first panel 112a and or the second panel 112b may be
flexible or configured to flex apart from each other and spaced
such that a short stand 804 received in the slot 111 flexes the
panels 112a, 112b and a spring force of the panels maintains the
short stand 804 in the slot 111. The receiving interface 112
includes one or more shield pieces located on inner walls of the
slot 111 and placed to protect the short stand 804 of the desktop
phone device 702 from scratches caused by sliding the short stand
804 within the slot 111. The shield pieces may include panels that
comprise plastic, rubber, etc., or a combination thereof In the
illustrated example, a first shield piece 114a and a second shield
piece 114b are attached to the first panel 112a on a side opposite
the second panel 112b. A third shield piece 114c and a fourth
shield piece 114d are attached to the second panel 112b on a side
opposite the first panel 112a. The panels 112a, 112b may include a
different number of shield pieces. For example, in some
implementations, each of the panels 112a, 112b includes a single
shield piece.
[0015] An opening 109 is formed in the second panel 112b. The
opening 109 is positioned to align with an opening 906 (FIG. 8)
(e.g., a cable routing opening) of the short stand 804 of the
desktop phone device 702. The opening 109 may have a shape that is
similar or congruent to a shape of a cable routing opening 906 of
the short stand 804. A puck 110 is configured to be inserted
through the opening 109 and the opening 906 of the short stand 804
to maintain the short stand 804 within the slot 111. In the
illustrated example, the puck 110 includes a tab for easy
manipulation. In the illustrated example, the puck 110 includes a
tab 113. The tab 113 may be removable. In some implementations, the
puck 110 does not include the tab 113. The puck includes levers
115a, 115b for manipulating latches integrated into a back portion
of the puck 110.
[0016] A sleeve 106 is attached to the second piece 104b and forms
a channel 108 between the second piece 104b and the sleeve 106.
Cables from the desktop phone device 702 received in the receiving
interface 112 may be routed through the channel 108 and through
holes (not illustrated) in the first piece 104a and the second
piece 104b to a location behind the tall stand 100. Accordingly,
the sleeve 106 may hide such cables from sight.
[0017] The tall stand 100 includes pads under the base 102. While
FIG. 3 illustrates a first pad 302 and a second pad 304 attached to
the base 102, other pads 402 and 502 may be attached to the base
102 to provide pads on all four corners of the base 102. Other
arrangements of different numbers of pads are possible. Some
implementations do not include pads. Such pads include rubber,
plastic, another material, or a combination thereof and are
configured to prevent the base 102 from contacting (and scratching)
a surface (e.g., a desk) upon which the tall stand 100 is
placed.
[0018] The tall stand 100 may be constructed in different
configurations than those shown. In some such alternative examples,
the neck 104 and the receiving interface 112 may be formed from
discrete components coupled to each other. Further, the first piece
104a and the second piece 104b of the neck 104 correspond to a
single component in some examples. In such examples, the neck 104
may be just one piece rather than two pieces. Similarly, the first
panel 112a and the second panel 112b may be a single curved panel.
Further, while the tall stand 100 is illustrated as a fixed height
stand, the tall stand 100 has an adjustable height in other
implementations. In some examples, the neck 104 includes a single
piece and the receiving interface includes two separate panels
(e.g., 112a, 112b) coupled to the single piece of the neck 104.
Further, while depicted as planar, the neck 104 and the receiving
interface 112 may have different shapes. To illustrate, the neck
104 may include one or more cylindrical rods and the receiving
interface 112 may include a pin configured to be received within
the rod to couple the neck 104 to the receiving interface 112.
Alternatively, the rods may be configured to fit within a recess of
the receiving interface 112.
[0019] In another design, the neck 104 is an arc rather planar,
though the receiving interface may be generally planar to mate with
a generally planar short stand 804. In yet another design, both the
neck 104 and the receiving interface 112 are curved or in arc. This
design is desirable if the short stand 804 is also curved or in an
arc. In most designs the shape of the receiving interface 112 is
complementary to the shape of the short stand 804 as the short
stand 804 mates with the receiving interface 112.
[0020] Generally, the base 102 is planar as it is designed to rest
on the top surface of a desk or work surface, which top is
generally planar and also generally horizontal. If the tall stand
100 is to be used on a slanted surface, such as a drawing table,
the neck 104 can be connected to the base 102 by a hinge to allow
the neck 104 to be generally vertical even if the resting surface
is not horizontal.
[0021] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the desktop phone device 702 docked
to the tall stand 100. The desktop phone device 702 has a main body
703 which includes a camera 704 and a screen 706. The desktop phone
device 702 is configured to capture images of a local participant
in a teleconference using the camera 704 and to display images of
remote participants using the screen 706. Because the tall stand
100 elevates the desktop phone device 702 off a surface, the screen
706 is more easily viewed by the local participant (e.g., without
looking down and straining). Similarly, the camera 704 generates
images of that may better frame the local participant as compared
to an implementation in which the desktop phone device 702 is
located on a desk.
[0022] FIG. 7 depicts a side view of the tall stand 100 with the
desktop phone device 702 docked. As shown, the desktop phone device
702 includes the short stand 804 attached to the desktop phone
device 702 body by a friction hinge 802. The desktop phone device
702 may be placed on a surface propped up by the short stand 804.
However, a local participant using the desktop phone device 702 may
still need to gaze downward at the desktop phone device 702 when
the desktop phone device 702 is placed directly on a surface and
propped up by the short stand 804. Further, the camera 704 may be
positioned such that images captured by the camera 704 frame the
local participant's torso rather than the local participant's face.
By docking the short stand 804 to the tall stand 100, the desktop
phone device 702 is elevated such that the screen 706 is more
convenient to view and the camera 704 is positioned to capture
better framed images.
[0023] As shown, the short stand 804 fits into the slot 111 of the
receiving interface 112 and the slot 111 is formed in a shape that
is complementary to the short stand 804. The puck 110 is placed
through the opening 109 in the second panel 112b and through an
opening 906 in the short stand 804 (e.g., a cable routing opening)
securing the desktop phone device 702 to the tall stand 100. The
friction hinge 802 is configured to position the short stand 804
with respect to the desktop phone device 702 at angles greater than
and less than the angle 107 of the receiving interface 112 with
respect to the neck 104. Said another way, the angle 107 of the
neck 104 with respect to the receiving interface 112 is a midpoint
in a range of angles supported by the friction hinge 802. When the
friction hinge 802 is positioned at an angle 803 that is equal to
the angle 107, the screen 706 of the desktop phone device 702 is
parallel to the neck 104. If the neck 104 is substantially
vertical, the screen 706 of the desktop phone device 702 is then
also substantially vertical. Because the angle 107 is within the
range of motion of the friction hinge 802, the desktop phone device
702 may be angled (e.g., via articulation of the friction hinge
802) such that the screen 706 and camera 704 are parallel to the
neck 104 (e.g., perpendicular to the base 102, generally vertical),
at a negative angle with respect to the neck 104 (e.g., generally
downwardly), or at a positive angle with respect to the neck 104
(e.g., generally upwardly). Thus, the angle between the neck 104
and the receiving interface 112 in conjunction with the friction
hinge 802 provides a wide degree of configurability of desktop
phone device 702 docked to the tall stand 100 for participants of
many heights. In implementations in which the neck 104 is not
perpendicular to the base 102, the receiving interface 112 is
positioned at an angle "x" with respect to the base 102. X is not
equal to 90 degrees and 90-x is an intermediate angle in a range of
angles supported by the friction hinge 802. Accordingly, when the
friction hinge 802 is positioned at angle 90-x, the screen the
screen 706 and the desktop phone device 702 will be perpendicular
to the base 102 and the desktop phone device 702 may be angled
upward and downward.
[0024] FIG. 8 illustrates a rear perspective view of the tall stand
100 and the desktop phone device 702. As depicted in FIG. 8, the
short stand 804 of the desktop phone device 702 includes an opening
906. The opening 906 may be used for cable management. The opening
109 in the receiving interface 112 is similar or congruent to the
opening 906 and the puck 110 is complementary to the opening 906.
The opening 109 is positioned on the receiving interface 112 such
that the opening 906 aligns with the opening 109 in response to
insertion of the short stand 804 into the slot 111. Thus, the puck
110 may be inserted into the openings 109 and 906 to secure the
short stand 804 within the slot 111. In the illustrated example,
the puck 110 includes latches 904a, 904b. The latches 904a, 904b
may be operable to secure the puck 110 to a wall of the first panel
112a. The latches 904a, 904b may be toggled by means of the levers
115a, 115b.
[0025] The neck 104 includes an opening 908. Cables of the desktop
phone device 702 may be passed through the channel 108 and out the
opening 908. Accordingly, the cables may be shielded from view by
individuals in front of the tall stand 100.
[0026] In some implementations, the puck 110 is replaced by a
different locking mechanism. For example, the short stand 804 and
the receiving interface 112 may each include one or more openings
configured to receive pins. Such pins may be configured to pass
through the one or more openings when in a particular orientation
but include projections that are too wide to pass through the
openings when rotated from that particular orientation.
Accordingly, the pins may be placed through the openings and
rotated to secure the short stand 804 to the receiving interface
112. Further, in some implementations, the receiving interface 112
does not form the slot 111. For example, the receiving interface
112 may include a single panel to which the short stand 804 may be
secured (e.g., with twisting locking pins). Other types of locking
mechanisms may be used to secure the desktop phone device 702 to
the tall stand in other implementations.
[0027] Thus, FIGS. 1-8 illustrate a tall stand configured to
elevate a desktop phone device. Such a tall stand improves framing
of images captured by a camera of the desktop phone device and
increases usability of the desktop phone device by reducing a need
for a user to bend his/her neck to look down at the desktop phone
device.
[0028] The various embodiments described above are provided by way
of illustration only and should not be construed so as to limit the
scope of the disclosure. Various modifications and changes can be
made to the principles and embodiments described herein without
departing from the scope of the disclosure and without departing
from the claims which follow. As an illustrative example, the
friction hinge 802 can be replaced with a different type of hinge
or bearing. Similarly, the camera 704 and the screen 706 may be
arranged differently than is shown.
* * * * *