Abstract:
A stand is provided. The stand is connected to a back cover of an object, and comprises a holding element; a positioning element disposed on the holding element; an elastic element having a hole and a first positioning portion, wherein the first positioning portion is engaged with a positioning slot of the back cover; and a fixing element fixing the elastic element to the holding element through the hole.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a stand, and more particularly to a stand applicable to an electronic device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The traditional picture frame is used for showing the picture. However, a traditional picture frame can only show one picture, which is very inconvenient. With the advance of science and technology, the digital picture frame has been invented to overcome the above-mentioned issue. The digital picture frame is not only light and thin but also can continuously display lots of digital pictures, so that it has gradually replaced the traditional picture frame and become popular in the market. The digital picture frame can save the space for disposing many of traditional picture frames as well as the capacity for collecting and preserving pictures. Besides, the digital pictures stored in the digital picture frame will not be faded as time goes by. 
         [0003]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which shows the digital picture frame with a stand in the prior art. The stand  12  is engaged with the digital picture frame  10  through a screw  14 . If the digital picture frame  10  is to be adjusted from vertical to horizontal, the screw  14  must be dismantled from the digital picture frame  10 . Subsequently, the digital picture frame  10  is adjusted to a horizontal direction and then the stand  12  is engaged with the digital picture frame  10  through the screw  14 , and vice versa. However in this way, the digital picture frame  10  might be toppled over easily due to the loosing of the screw  14 . 
         [0004]    In order to overcome the drawbacks in the prior art, a stand and the electronic device using the same are provided. The particular designs in the present invention not only solve the problems described above, but also are easy to be implemented. Thus, the present invention has the utility for the industry. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a stand is provided to reduce the abrasion between the stand and the back cover of the object due to rotating motion. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a stand is provided to prevent the object from toppling over due to the loosing of fixing elements. 
         [0007]    In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a stand is provided. The stand is connected to a back cover of an object, and comprises a holding element; a positioning element disposed on the holding element; an elastic element having a hole and a first positioning portion, wherein the first positioning portion is engaged with a positioning slot of the back cover; and a fixing element fixing the elastic element to the holding element through the hole. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the stand further comprises a spacer disposed between the back cover and the elastic element. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the spacer comprises a second positioning portion engaged with the positioning slot of the back cover. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the back cover further comprises a plurality of hot melt pillars fixing the spacer. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the holding element is made of one of plastics and metal. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the elastic element is made of one of plastics and metal. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the elastic element has a bottom being arc-shaped. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the first positioning portion is U-shaped. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the elastic element further comprises a protruding portion. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the positioning element further comprises a recess engaged with the protruding portion of the elastic element. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the fixing element is made of one of plastics and metal. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the positioning element is a pillar having a height substantially equal to a thickness of the back cover. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the pillar is a cylinder. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the positioning element and the holding element are formed in one piece. 
         [0021]    In accordance with further another aspect of the present invention, a picture frame is provided. The picture frame comprises a body and a stand disposed at a side of the body, wherein the stand is connected to a back cover of an object and comprises a holding element; a positioning element disposed on the holding element; an elastic element having a hole and a first positioning portion, wherein the first positioning portion is engaged with a positioning slot of the back cover; and a fixing element fixing the elastic element to the holding element through the hole. 
         [0022]    In accordance with further another aspect of the present invention, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device comprises a body and a stand disposed at a side of the body, wherein the stand is connected to a back cover of an object and comprises a holding element; a positioning element disposed on the holding element; an elastic element having a hole and a first positioning portion, wherein the first positioning portion is engaged with a positioning slot of the back cover; and a fixing element fixing the elastic element to the holding element through the hole. 
         [0023]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  shows the digital picture frame with a stand in the prior art; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the stand in the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the stand in the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the holding element in the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are enlarged views of the elastic element in the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  shows the object with the stand before engagement; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7   a  shows the digital picture frame with the stand through clockwise engagement; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7   b  shows the assembly of the digital picture frame and the stand in a vertical direction; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8   a  shows the digital picture frame with the stand through anticlockwise engagement; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8   b  shows the assembly of the digital picture frame and the stand in a horizontal direction; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  shows the back cover in the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  shows the engagement of the back cover with the spacer in the present invention; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the engagement of the back cover with the spacer in the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0037]    The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for the purposes of illustration and description only; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed. 
         [0038]    Please refer to  FIGS. 2-4 ,  5   a ,  5   b  and  6 .  FIG. 2  is a front view of the stand in the present invention.  FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the stand in the present invention.  FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the holding element in the present invention.  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are enlarged views of the elastic element in the present invention.  FIG. 6  shows the object with the stand before engagement. The stand  20  includes a holding element  22 , a positioning element  23 , an elastic element  25  and a fixing element  24 . The positioning element  23  is disposed on the holding element  22 , and the holding element is engaged with a back cover  30  of an object through the fixing element  24 . The holding element  22  is made of plastics or metal. The object can be a digital picture frame, a traditional picture frame or an electronic device, etc. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the object is exemplified by a digital picture frame. 
         [0039]    Please refer to  FIGS. 4 ,  5   a ,  5   b ,  7   a ,  8   a  and  9 . The elastic element  25  includes a hole  253 , and is fixed to the holding element  22  by the fixing element  24  passing through the hole  253 . The elastic element  25  further includes a first positioning portion  251  being U-shaped, as shown in  FIG. 5   a . The first positioning portion  251  is engaged with a positioning slot  35  of the back cover  30 . The elastic element  25  is made of plastics or metal, and has a bottom being arc-shaped, as shown in  FIG. 5   b . The fixing element  24  is made of plastics or metal, and is used for engaging the elastic element  25  with the stand  20 . The positioning element  23  is a pillar, and the height of the pillar is substantially equal to the thickness of the back cover  30 . The center of the pillar is the center that the stand  20  rotates around. In  FIG. 4 , the positioning element  23  is exemplified by a pillar; however, it is not limited thereto. Moreover, the positioning element  23  and the holding element  22  can be formed in one piece or separately. 
         [0040]    Please refer to  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  FIG. 9  shows the back cover in the present invention, and  FIG. 10  shows the engagement of the back cover with the spacer in the present invention. For avoiding the abrasion between the stand  20  and the back cover  30 , the stand  20  further includes a spacer  31  disposed between the back cover  30  and the elastic element  25 . The spacer  31  includes a second positioning portion  32  engaged with the positioning slot  35  of the back cover  30 . The back cover  30  includes a plurality of hot melt pillars  33  for fixing the spacer  31 . The hot melt pillars  33  and the back cover  30  are formed in one piece. Please refer to  FIGS. 4 and 5   b . The positioning element  23  further includes a recess  232 , and the elastic element  25  further includes a protruding portion  252  which protrudes downward. The recess  232  is engaged with the protruding portion  252  to ensure the elastic element  25  firmly disposed on the positioning element  23 . 
         [0041]    Please refer to  FIGS. 6 ,  10  and  11 . After the holding element  22 , the positioning element  23 , the elastic element  25  and the fixing element  24  are engaged with each other, the stand  20  is inserted into an opening  34  of the back cover  30 , so that the elastic element  24  passes through the opening  34  and the spacer  31 . Then, the stand  20  is rotated clockwise until the first positioning portion  251  of the elastic element  25  is engaged with the second positioning portion  32  of the spacer  31 . Hence, the assembly of the digital picture frame and the stand  20  in a vertical direction is completed, as shown in  FIG. 7   b.    
         [0042]    Please refer to  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b .  FIG. 8   a  shows the digital picture frame with the stand through anticlockwise engagement, and  FIG. 8   b  shows the assembly of the digital picture frame and the stand in a horizontal direction. After the holding element  22 , the positioning element  23 , the elastic element  25  and the fixing element  24  are engaged with each other, the stand  20  is inserted into an opening  34  of the back cover  30 , so that the elastic element  24  passes through the opening  34  and the spacer  31 . Then, the stand  20  is rotated anticlockwise until the first positioning portion  251  of the elastic element  25  is engaged with the second positioning portion  32  of the spacer  31 . Hence, the assembly of the digital picture frame and the stand  20  in a horizontal direction is completed, as shown in  FIG. 8   b.    
         [0043]    Please refer to  FIGS. 4 ,  5   b ,  10  and  11 . The engagement of the recess  232  of the positioning element  23  with the protruding portion  252  of the elastic element  25  can enhance the durability of the elastic element  25 , and limit the slide between the first positioning  251  of the elastic element  25  and the second positioning portion  32  of the spacer  31 . 
         [0044]    Besides, the elastic element  25  and the spacer  31  are made of plastics or metal which is wear-resisting and elastic, the back cover  30  further includes the hot melt pillars  33  for fixing the spacer  31 , and the hot melt pillars  33  and the back cover  30  are formed in one piece. Accordingly, the slide between the spacer  31  and the back cover  30  will not occur. This reduces the abrasion of the digital picture frame due to the long and persistent rotating motion, and thus significantly increases the life of the digital picture frame. 
         [0045]    In conclusion, the present invention uses the way of engaging to fix the stand to the digital picture frame. In this way, the amount of elements used is small, the structure is simple, and the stand is fixed to the digital picture frame more steadily. Accordingly, the present invention can effectively solve the problems and drawbacks in the prior art, and thus it fits the demand of the industry and is industrially valuable. 
         [0046]    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 embodiments. 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.