Abstract:
A foldable holder for holding and supporting a portable electronic device includes a first outer sheet, a second outer sheet, a handle portion extending from the first outer sheet and the second outer sheet configured for being handled. A base plate, a first main supporting plate, a second main supporting plate, two first side supporting plates, and two second side supporting plates located on the second outer sheet. When the holder is folded, the base plate, the first main supporting plate, the first side supporting plates, and the second side supporting plates cooperatively form a three-dimensional structure that can support the portable electronic device at an angle relative to the second outer sheet without collapsing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent applications (Attorney Docket Nos. US45483, US45484 and US45472), all entitled “HOLDER FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE”, and all invented by CHUEH LEE. All these related applications have the same assignee as the present application and have been concurrently filed herewith. The above-identified applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to holders for portable electronic devices, particularly, to a multifunction holder for protecting and supporting portable electronic devices. 
         [0003]    Holders are widely used to protect portable electronic devices and support the portable electronic device for a user to, for example, read an eBook or watch video. However, it can be difficult to carry the holder and the electronic device at the same time. 
         [0004]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the holder can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the holder. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a holder, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but shown from another aspect. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the holder, showing the holder for receiving a portable electronic device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 2 , showing the holder in a state of being partially folded. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , showing the holder folded as a support. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , showing the latching portion of the holder to be bent. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows the holder supporting the portable electronic device in a first state. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows the holder supporting the portable electronic device in a second state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show an exemplary embodiment of a holder  100 . The holder  100  can receive and protect a portable electronic device  200 , and can also support and hold the portable electronic device  200 . 
         [0015]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show that the holder  100  includes a first outer sheet  10 , a second outer sheet  20 , a expandable portion  30 , and a handle portion  40 . A receiving space (not labeled) is defined between the second outer sheet  20  and the first outer sheet  10  for receiving the portable electronic device  200 . The second outer sheet  20  and the first outer sheet  10  are connected to each other along their edges by the expandable portion  30 , leaving an entrance  31  that allows the portable electronic device  200  to be inserted into the receiving space. The holder  100  shown herein for illustrative purpose includes the first outer sheet  10  and the expandable portion  30 ; however, the expandable portion  30  may be omitted and the first and second outer sheets  10 ,  20  connected to each other along their perimeters. In another example, if the holder  100  is not used for receiving the portable electronic device  200  therein, only one of the first outer sheet  10  and the second outer sheet  20  may also be used. The first outer sheet  10 , the expandable portion  30 , and the second outer sheet  20  are made of soft material, e.g., fiber, cotton, vinyl, thermoplastics. 
         [0016]    The handle portion  40  includes two extending sheets, one extending sheet extending from the first outer sheet  10  and the other extending sheet extending from the second outer sheet  20 . The handle portion  40  defines a through hole  41  passing through the two extending sheets. The through hole  41  makes the holder  100  convenient to carry. To lock the handle portion  40 , two attractive magnet members may be attached to the two extending sheets for preventing the portable electronic device  100  from separating from the entrance  31 . 
         [0017]    The handle portion  40  defines a slot  21  on one side of the through hole  41 . A tongue portion  50  is formed in the slot  21 . One edge of the tongue portion  50  is connected to the handle portion  40 . Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 8 , the tongue portion  50  may be bent away the handle portion  40  to allow the portable electronic device  200  to be supported by the tongue portion  50 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows that a base plate  61 , a first main supporting plate  62 , a second main supporting plate  63 , two first side supporting plates  64 , and two second side supporting plates  66  are formed on the second outer sheet  20 . The base plate  61 , the supporting plates  62 ,  63 ,  64 , and  66  are made of rigid material. 
         [0019]    In the exemplary embodiment, the base plate  61  is adjacent to the covering portion  40 , and is rectangular. The first main supporting plate  62  is positioned between the base plate  61  and the second main supporting plate  63 . In the exemplary embodiment, the first main supporting plate  62  and the second main supporting plate  63  are isosceles trapezoid-shaped. The two first side supporting plates  64  are symmetrically positioned at two sides of the first main supporting plate  62 . The two second side supporting plates  64  are symmetrically positioned at two sides of the second main supporting plate  63 . A first folding region  71  is positioned between the base plate  61  and the first main supporting plate  62 . A second folding region  73  is positioned between the first main supporting plate  62  and the second main supporting plate  63 . The first side supporting plates  64  and the second side supporting plates  66  are triangular, and are respectively positioned at two sides of the second folding region  73 . The first main supporting plate  62  includes two side edges  623 . Each first side supporting plate  64  has a sloping edge  643 , which is adjacent to and parallel to one of the side edges  623  of the first main supporting plate  62 . The second main supporting plate  63  includes two side edges  633 . Each second side supporting plate  66  has a sloping edge  663 , which is adjacent to and parallel to one of the side edges  633  of the second main supporting plate  633 . Thus, a third folding region  75  is positioned between the first main supporting plate  62  and the first side supporting plate  64 , and a fourth folding region  77  is positioned between the second main supporting plate  63  and the second side supporting plate  66 . 
         [0020]    The base plate  61 , the first main supporting plate  62 , the second main supporting plate  63 , the first side supporting plates  64  and the second side supporting plates  66  can be folded relative to each other along the folding regions  71 ,  73 ,  75 ,  77 . However, since the base plate  61 , the four supporting plates  62 , 63 , 64 , 66  are made of rigid material; the base plate  61 , the first main supporting plate  62 , the second main supporting plate  63 , the first side supporting plates  64 , and the second side supporting plates  66  cannot be folded. 
         [0021]    The base portion  61  has a latching piece  55  formed thereon adjacent to the handle portion  40 . The latching piece  55  is positioned at another side of the through hole  41 , and has a bendable portion  551 . The bendable portion  551  may be folded away the base portion  61  to allow the second supporting portion  63  to be supported thereon. 
         [0022]    When the portable electronic device  200  needs to be received in the holder  100 , the handle portion  40  is opened to expose the entrance  31 . The device  200  can then be inserted into the receiving space of the holder  100  via the entrance  31  for storage. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show that in order to fold the holder  100  to form a support, the first main supporting plate  62  and the second main supporting plate  63  are folded toward the base plate  61  along the first folding region  71  and the second folding region  73  until the second main supporting plate  63  stands on the base plate  61 . Then, the first side supporting plate  64  and the second side supporting plate  66  at each side of the first main supporting plate  62  and the second main supporting plate  63  is folded along the third folding region  75  and the fourth folding region  77 . The bendable portion  551  is folded to allow the second main supporting plate  63  to be supported by the bendable portion  551 . The first main first supporting plate  62  is angled with the base plate  61 , the second main supporting plate  63  is supported by the base plate  61 , and each of the first side supporting plates  64  and the second side supporting plates  66  are angled with the first main supporting plate  62  and the second main supporting plate  63 . Thus, the base plate  61 , the first main supporting plate  62 , the second main supporting plate  63 , the first side supporting plates  64 , and the second side supporting plates  66  can form a three-dimensional structure that will not collapse.  FIG. 7  shows that the portable electronic device  200  is set on the holder  100  as a support. One end of the portable electronic device  200  is supported between the foldable piece  551  and the second main supporting plate  62 . The portable electronic device  200  is supported by the first main supporting plate  62 , the second main supporting plate  63 , the first side supporting plates  64 , and the second side supporting plates  66  at an angle. Thus, users can comfortably view the display of the portable electronic device  200 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 6 and 8  show that if the viewed angled of the portable electronic device  200  needs to be adjusted, the tongue portion  50  can be bent around the edge along a direction far away from the covering portion  40 . The portable electronic device  200  is held on the tongue portion  50 . Thus, users can comfortably view the display of the portable electronic device  200  at a different angle. 
         [0025]    It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.