TABLET HOLDING SYSTEM

A tablet holding system includes a mounting fixture and a housing. The housing has a back plate, holding elements arranged along the periphery of the back plate, and a locking mechanism. The housing is mountable onto the mounting fixture to support the housing in desired positions. The mounting fixture has a cylindrical portion. The tablet holding system has a connection element that connects the housing to the mounting fixture. The connection element has a fastening portion that is insertable into the cylindrical portion of the mounting fixture and fastenable to the inside of the cylindrical portion of the mounting fixture. The housing is fastened to the connection element with a screw through the back plate in a direction from the tablet facing side of the back plate towards the fastening portion of the connection element and which is hidden by a tablet when a tablet is locked in the housing.

The current invention relates to a tablet holding system comprising a housing suitable for holding a tablet, said housing comprising a back plate which is suitable for supporting a tablet, holding elements arranged along the periphery of the back plate which are suitable for holding onto the side edges of a tablet and a locking mechanism with a key, said locking mechanism arranged to lock the holding elements so that it is not possible to remove a tablet held in the housing when the locking mechanism is activated, a mounting fixture onto which the housing is mountable to support the housing in a desired position or positions, said mounting fixture comprising a cylindrical portion.

By tablet holding system, is meant a system which holds a tablet in a desired position. In certain cases, the system can be arranged to allow the tablets position to be changed, for example by providing a fitting which can pivot thereby allowing the tablet to pivot or by arranging the mounting fixture to be displaceable thereby allowing the tablet to change its location. The position in which the tablet is held is dependent on the intended use of the tablet holding system.

By tablet is meant an electronic tablet, such as an iPad™ or similar. Tablets are usually rectangular in shape and have a diagonal dimension between 17 cm and 35 cm. They are usually of reduced thickness, usually less than 3 cm, less than 2 cm or less than 1.5 cm. However, the system of the current invention could also be used with larger tablets or even flatscreen TVs or monitors.

It should also be noted that the term cylindrical portion should not be limited to cylinders with circular cross sections, but could include any other form as well, for example square and rectangular. Furthermore it should be noted that the cylindrical portion could be bent into a curved shape if desired without falling outside of the scope of protection.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Many different tablet holding systems are available in the prior art. One non-limiting example use of such a tablet holding system is when a tablet is used as a display at an exhibition or in a shop. This is sometimes called a Point of Sale display, or POS display. The tablet can be used to provide interactive communication with visitors/customers at the exhibition or shop. In such situations, it is firstly desired to provide a proper stand so that the tablet is held in a position where the visitors/customers can effectively use and view the tablet. Secondly it is desired to ensure that a thief cannot steal the tablet. The tablet holding system should therefore be arranged with some form of locking mechanism to lock the tablet.

Some examples of tablet holding systems are provided in US2012026684 AA, DE202011102783 U1, US2012080577 AA and US2012025035 AA. The prior art solutions however suffer from various drawbacks. For example, some of the prior art tablet holding systems cannot be locked effectively, others cannot pivot and others cannot be connected securely to a charging cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the current invention is therefore to provide a tablet holding system as mentioned in the introductory paragraph which is better than the solutions provided in the prior art.

This is provided in that the tablet holding system further comprises a connection element which connects the housing to the mounting fixture, said connection element comprising a fastening portion which is insertable into the cylindrical portion of the mounting fixture and fastenable to the inside of the cylindrical portion of the mounting fixture by expanding the fastening portion from the inside of the cylindrical portion of the mounting fixture and in that the housing is fastened to the connection element with a screw which is inserted through the back plate in a direction from the tablet facing side of the back plate towards the fastening portion of the connection element and which is hidden by a tablet when a tablet is locked in the housing.

In this way a secure connection is established between the housing and the mounting fixture which ensures that it is not possible to remove the housing or the tablet from the housing without first opening the locking mechanism and removing the tablet. Therefore, the key in the locking mechanism is required to disassemble the tablet holding system.

In one embodiment, the connection element could be arranged to allow the housing to pivot, but to limit the pivot motion to a motion of less than 360 degrees, less than 180 degrees or equal to 90 degrees. This is advantageous since a charging cable attached to the tablet will not get overtwisted and thereby break. In another embodiment, instead of limiting the motion, stops could be provided which stop the pivot motion when the tablet is at 0 and 90 degrees. This provides an easy way to put the tablet in a landscape or a portrait orientation. The stop elements could be arranged in many different ways, one example being a spring loaded pin which snaps into detentions or recesses.

In one embodiment, the screw which holds the housing onto the fastening portion of the connection element could be arranged within the area defined by the area of the connection element which is in contact with the housing or within the area defined by a cross section through the cylindrical portion of the mounting fixture taken along a plane which is parallel to the housing when the housing is mounted to the fastening portion. In this way the screw cannot be accessed since it is located inside the cylindrical portion of the mounting fixture.

It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising/comprised of” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. For example in claim1it is stated that the housing is fastened to the connection element with a screw. However, this should be read in that the housing is fastened to the connection element with at least one screw.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the claims as currently on file define one scope of protection however, a separate divisional application which focuses on the combination of a tablet holding housing and the pivot fitting disclosed in the current specification could also be filed in the future.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-5show different views and orientations of a first embodiment of a tablet holding system according to the invention. It should be noted that the embodiment shown in the figures discloses a number of other inventions which could be the subject of divisional applications.

The embodiment 1 shown in the figures comprises a tablet2, a housing3for holding the tablet, a mounting fixture4and a connection element5for connecting the housing to the mounting fixture4. In the current embodiment, the tablet2is an iPad™ but it could just as well be another tablet for example a Windows™ or an Android™ tablet. Depending on the type of tablet used, the form of the housing might be different, for example to accommodate different charging connector sizes and locations.

The housing3of the current embodiment comprises a rectangular back plate6which provides the main support for the tablet2. On two opposing side edges7a,7cof the back plate a protrusion8a,8cis arranged which protrudes perpendicularly from the back plate. The protrusions8a,8care arranged to sandwich the tablet between them and prevent the tablet from displacing in a direction parallel to the plane of the back plate and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the opposing side edges7a,7c. On the other two opposing side edges7b,7dof the back plate6, a holding flange8b,8dis arranged. The holding flanges comprise a base portion9which extends perpendicularly to the back plate and a cover portion10which protrudes from the base portion and covers a part of the tablet. Both the holding flanges and the side protrusions are non displacable in the current embodiment.

In the current embodiment, a displaceable element11arranged together with one of the holding flanges8b, can be displaced towards the opposing holding flange8d. In a mounting operation, the tablet is first slid under the cover portion10of the holding flange8bwhich comprises the displaceable element and then set down on the back plate6. The displaceable element is then displaced towards the opposing holding flange8dthereby displacing the tablet under the cover portion of the opposing holding flange. In this embodiment, the distance between opposing edges of the cover portions is less than the length dimension of the tablet. Therefore, the tablet can't be removed once the displaceable element has pushed the tablet under the opposing cover portion.

In the current embodiment, the displaceable element11is displaced with a key mechanism12.

It should be noted that many other embodiments of housings could also be used together with the current invention. For example, instead of a solid back plate, a frame could be provided instead. One embodiment of a frame would be an X shaped frame comprising two elements arranged in an X form. Side locking elements and end locking elements could be provided at the ends of the elements of the X-frame which engage with the corners of the tablet.

Furthermore, it should be noted that instead of side protrusions which extend along the entire length of the back plate, point protrusions or other forms of elements preventing sideways motion could be provided. Furthermore, instead of a displaceable element which pushes the tablet under the cover portion, the cover portion or the holding flanges themselves could be displaceable.

In general, the person skilled in the art will be able to provide many different embodiments of housing which are suitable for use with the current invention. Furthermore, the term “back plate” when used in the claims should be interpreted broadly and should not be limited to a solid back plate as shown in the figures, but should encompass all different planar forms which could support a tablet.

Furthermore, a number of different mechanisms for holding the tablet on the back plate would be available to the person skilled in the art. In general terms, the housing will have “holding elements” which can hold the tablet on the back plate by gripping onto the edges of tablet. The housing will furthermore have a locking mechanism which is activated by a key. This should also be interpreted quite broadly. Especially the word “key” should be interpreted broadly enough to include combination locks, fingerprint sensors, keypads, etc.

The back plate of the current embodiment has a number of mounting holes15. These holes are used if it is desired to mount the housing directly to a standard fitting, for example a VESA, RAM or Vogel fitting. In these situations, the screws are inserted through the back plate and into the standard fitting from the tablet facing side of the back plate. Once the screws are placed in the backplate and screwed into the fitting, then they will be covered by the tablet when the tablet is inserted into the housing. As such, it is not possible to remove the screws without first removing the tablet from the housing.

In the current embodiment, in the centre of the back plate, a larger hole16is provided. This hole is used to allow a charging cable (not shown) for the tablet to be brought into the housing. The hole can also be used together with a pivoting connection element5as will be described below.

In the current embodiment, the mounting fixture4is provided in the form of an elongated circular tube. The tube is of a standard diameter and can be purchased with a length which fits the current task at hand. The tube can also be bent to a desired shape. On the lower end (opposite the housing) the mounting fixture can be provided with a stand or it could be provided with fastening means for fastening it to another structure or foundation. If the tube is large enough, a charger for the tablet can be arranged in the tube itself.

In the current embodiment, the connection element5comprises two separate portions, a fastening portion20and a pivot portion21, however in other embodiments the fastening portion and the pivot portion could be combined into one element. The fastening portion20is provided as a tubular element which is cut at an angle on one or both sides. In the current embodiment, the fastening portion is cut at a first angle on one side and a second angle on the other side. This allows the same fastening portion to be used to provide two different mounting angles for the housing. The fastening element has two holes22in the side of the tubular element through which a screw (not shown) can be inserted. By screwing the screw through one of the holes, the screw can be pressed into the inner side of the tubular portion4of the mounting fixture and in this way the fastening element can be “expanded” to press fit itself into the tubular mounting fixture. The fastening portion also comprises an end plate23which is welded to the tubular portion of the fastening portion. The end plate23comprises holes24with internal threads for connecting with screws which hold the housing3in place.

The pivot portion21comprises a plate element25on which is formed a cylindrical protrusion26arranged at the centre of the plate element. The cylindrical protrusion fits into the hole16in the housing in a rotational fit, such that the housing is prevented from displacing along the plane of the back plate when the housing is mounted on the cylindrical protrusion. However, the housing can pivot about the cylindrical protrusion26.

In order to prevent the housing from being removed from the cylindrical portion, the pivot portion21also comprises a circular locking plate27which has a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the hole16in the back plate. The locking plate is screwed onto the cylindrical portion and further into the end plate23of the fastening portion, thereby sandwiching the housing between the locking plate and the fastening portion of the connection element. A friction reducing element28is arranged between the locking plate and the housing in order to reduce friction between the housing and the locking plate during pivot motion.

On the housing along the circumference of the hole in the centre of the back plate on the tablet facing side of the back plate, a groove30is machined, thereby expanding the diameter of the hole on the tablet facing side of the back plate. However, the groove does not extend along the entire circumference of the hole, thereby leaving a stop portion31. The outer diameter of the locking plate27is arranged to fit inside the new outer diameter of the groove30. The locking plate27is then placed in the groove and screwed to the cylindrical protrusion. A cutout32along the circumference of the locking plate allows the stop portion on the housing to fit into the cutout of the locking ring.

Due to the difference between the sector angle of the cutout32in the locking plate27and the sector angle of the stop portion31of the housing, the housing is able to pivot, but is limited to how much it can pivot. In the current example, the pivot only allows the housing to pivot 90 degrees. This restriction in pivot degrees ensures that the charging cable doesn't break due to over pivoting the housing.

It should be noted that the current embodiment shows a circular locking plate. However, other forms of locking plate could also be imagined. For example a square or rectangular element could be imagined which is arranged to fit inside the groove30. Or an embodiment could be imagined which did not have a groove in the back plate6, and where the locking plate was just arranged to be larger than the diameter of the hole in the back plate. Furthermore, in the current embodiment, the stopping mechanism for preventing over rotation of the housing is arranged via cutouts in the locking plate and via stop portions in the groove, however, other embodiments could also be imagined, for example, comprising pins or protrusions arranged on the back plate which interact with the locking plate. Many different embodiments are possible.

It should also be noted that in the current embodiment, the cylindrical protrusion element26is fastened to a plate element which is arranged on the side of the back plate which is facing away from the tablet. The housing is first mounted on the cylindrical protrusion after which the locking plate is mounted on the cylindrical protrusion. However another embodiment would be where the locking plate and the cylindrical protrusion were joined together into a single element. The cylindrical protrusion could then be inserted into the hole16in the housing from the tablet facing side of the back plate after which the housing could be placed on the fastening portion of the connection element and screwed into place.

It can also be noted that the plate element25of the pivot portion21of the connection element5of the current embodiment comprises holes29on the sides of the circular cylindrical protrusion element26. These holes can be used to mount the plate element25directly to another standard fitting. This could be used if the fastening portion20of the connection element should not be used. The holes29could for example be arranged in a standard VESA pattern which would allow the pivot fitting to be attached to other mounting fixtures which have a VESA hole mounting pattern.

FIGS. 2 and 3show the housing with a tablet mounted in the housing in the two pivoted positions, first a portrait orientation and then a landscape orientation.

FIGS. 4a-4cshow the mounting procedure in more detail. In a first step (FIG. 4a) the connection element5is inserted into the cylindrical portion of the mounting fixture4. In the next step (FIG. 4b), a screw40is inserted into the hole22of the connection element5to fix the connection element in the mounting fixture4. In the next step (FIG. 4c) the housing is placed on the cylindrical portion26of the connection element. Then the locking plate27and the friction reducing plate28is screwed onto the cylindrical portion26thereby fixing the housing to the connection element. The tablet can then be inserted into the housing and the locking mechanism locked to prevent the tablet from being removed from the housing.