Support device

A support device is disclosed. The support device includes a connecting element and a first support frame. The connecting element is used for connecting the support device to a portable electronic device and includes a plurality of positioning protruding points. One end of the first support frame includes a positioning hole used for connecting to one of the plurality of the positioning protruding points; another end of the first support frame contacts a plane so that a clamping angle between the portable electronic device and the plane is formed, and the clamping angle is different if the positioning hole connects to different positioning protruding points.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a support device, especially to an easily-used support device which allows a portable electronic device to be positioned at several angles.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the rapid development of technologies, a main trend of electronic product development is to make the electronic products portable. Among these electronic products, more tablet computers (or smart phones) controlled by touch screens than traditional laptops are being selected by increasing numbers of users of consumer electronics and business-related workers because the touch-screen interface eliminates the need for a physical keyboard. Although tablet computers are light-weight and not cumbersome, users need to hold them with their hands in order to keep them upright or tilted so that the tablet computers are face-on to the users when being operated. Therefore, when compared with the traditional laptop computers from the past, the monitors of which stay upright or tilted when they are placed on a desktop or on a lap, the tablet computers are not in accordance with the general users' habits of using laptops, nor are they ergonomically sound. For this reason, in order to enable users to use tablet computers with more ease when it comes to long hours of use, support stands of all styles have been invented.

The support devices for supporting tablet computers are substantially categorized into support bases and support covers. Support bases have an advantage in that they can expand the functions of the tablet computers, but the volume of the support bases is quite large, and they are not convenient to carry. Support covers can protect the screen and the casing of tablet computers from being scratched when the users are not using the tablet computers. Support covers can also provide a support function when the users use the tablet computers. However, the range of angles formed by the support covers when supporting the tablet computers is limited, so the viewing angles that can be chosen by the user are quite few in number.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a support device that is easy to operate and can allow a portable electronic device to present a plurality of viewing angles.

To achieve the above object, a support device of the present invention is disclosed. The support device is used for supporting a portable electronic device, thereby forming a clamping angle between the portable electronic device and a plane. The support device includes a connecting element and a first support frame. The connecting element is used for connecting to the portable electronic device and includes a plurality of positioning protruding points. One end of the first support frame includes a positioning hole provided for connecting to one of the plurality of the positioning protruding points, and another end of the first support frame contacts the plane to support the portable electronic device, wherein the clamping angle is varied when the positioning hole is connected to different positioning protruding points.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the connecting element includes an upper clip body and a lower clip body. The upper clip body is connected with the lower clip body, and the upper clip body and the lower clip body can be clipped to the portable electronic device by an elastic force, such that the connecting element detachably connects to the portable electronic device in clipping.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the connecting element further includes an elastic member connected with the lower clip body for providing an elastic force.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first support frame includes an axle shaft, and the connecting element includes an axle hole, and the axle shaft is connected to the axle hole.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the support device further includes a second support frame connected with the first support frame.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second support frame includes a chute and a convex dot, and the first support frame further includes a plurality of concave holes. The first support frame is connected to the chute, and the convex dot is used for engaging the plurality of concave holes.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first support frame or the second support frame has a non-slip plane.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lower clip body includes two curved planes, and the two curved planes allow the lower clip body to more closely attach to the portable electronic device when the upper clip body and the lower clip body are clipped to the portable electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

First, please refer toFIG. 1, which is a back view diagram of a support device supporting a portable electronic device according to the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, in one embodiment of the present invention, the support device1of the present invention is used for supporting a portable electronic device90, such that the portable electronic device90can be placed on a plane80upright or slopingly to form a clamping angle θ between the display device and the plane80. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the portable electronic device90is a tablet computer, but the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned example; the portable electronic device90could also be a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, or other portable electronic products.

Next, please refer toFIG. 1,FIG. 2,FIG. 3AandFIG. 3Bat the same time.FIG. 2-3Bare structural schematic diagrams of the support device and its connecting element according to the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the support device1of the present invention includes a connecting element10, a first support frame20, and a second support frame30.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the connecting element10includes a plurality of positioning protruding points11, an upper clip body12, a lower clip body13, an axle hole14, and an elastic member15.

As shown inFIG. 1,FIG. 3A, andFIG. 3B, in one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of positioning protruding points11are disposed on the lower clip body13. The upper clip body12is connected with the lower clip body13. The upper clip body12includes a first pressing end123and a first clipping end125, and the lower clip body13includes a second clipping end135having two curved surfaces1351and a second pressing end133. The second pressing end133corresponds to the first pressing end123, and a gap is kept between the first pressing end123and the second pressing end133. In addition, the second clipping end135corresponds to the first clipping end125, and a gap is also kept between the second clipping end135and the first clipping end125. The first pressing end123and the second pressing end133are provided for users to press. When a user presses the first pressing end123and the second pressing end133inwardly, the gap between the first clipping end125of the upper clip body12and the second clipping end135of the lower clip body13will be increased, thereby being clipped to one side of the portable electronic device90(as shown inFIG. 1). When the upper clip body12and the lower clip body13are clipped to one side of the portable electronic device90, the two curved surfaces1351allow the lower clip body13to attach the portable electronic device90more closely.

The axle hole14is disposed on the lower clip body13, and the plurality of positioning protruding points11are disposed around the axle hole14. The elastic member15is connected with the lower clip body13, and the elastic member15is used for providing an elastic force, such that the upper clip body12and the lower clip body13can be clipped to the portable electronic device90via the elastic force provided by the elastic member15. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the elastic member15is a torsion spring, but the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned example.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the first support frame20includes an axle shaft21, a positioning hole22, a plurality of concave holes23, and a non-slip plane24.

The axle shaft21is disposed on one end of the first support frame20, and the axle shaft21is used for passing through the axle hole14so as to connect the first support frame20with the connecting element10. The positioning hole22is used for female joining with one of the positioning protruding points11, thereby fixing the first support frame20. The non-slip plane24is disposed on a bottom surface of another end of the first support frame20, and the non-slip plane24is used for increasing the friction force of the bottom surface.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the second support frame30includes a chute31, a convex dot32, and a non-slip plane34. The chute31is engaged with the first support frame20, thereby connecting the second support frame30to the first support frame20. The convex dot32is disposed on one end of the second support frame30for passing through the plurality of concave holes23to fix the first support frame20. The non-slip plane34is disposed on a bottom surface of another end of the second support frame30, and the non-slip plane34is used for increasing the friction force of the bottom surface.

Finally, please refer toFIG. 4toFIG. 7, which are schematic diagrams of using the support device of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 4toFIG. 6, the clamping angle between the first support frame20and the portable electronic device90varies when the positioning hole22of the first support frame20is connected to different positioning protruding points11. Thus, the clamping angle between the portable electronic device90and the plane80will have multiple variants when the positioning hole22is connected to different positioning protruding points11and the second support frame30is used at the same time. TakeFIG. 4as an example. When the positioning hole22is connected to the positioning protruding point11b, i.e., the second positioning protruding point counted counterclockwise, the clamping angle θ between the portable electronic device90and the plane80is 75 degrees. At this moment, the first support frame20and the second support frame30are needed because the clamping angle θ is too great. Further takeFIG. 6as an example; when the positioning hole22is connected to the positioning protruding point11d, i.e., the fourth positioning protruding point counted counterclockwise, the clamping angle θ between the portable electronic device90and the plane80is17degrees. In this situation, the use of the second support frame30is not necessary because the clamping angle θ is not great. Finally, when the first support frame20and the second support frame30are removed by the user, the portable electronic device90can also be supported by the connecting element10(as shown inFIG. 7).

In summary, regardless of the function, the method and result of the present invention are shown to have technical characteristics different from the prior arts, and said method and result constitute a significant advance in the field. It is hoped that the examiners will appreciate the novelty of the present invention and grant this patent so as to benefit society. However, the aforementioned embodiments are just for illustration of the principle and the result of the present invention and should not be construed to limit the range of the present invention. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the content herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.