Auxiliary fastening apparatus

An auxiliary fastening apparatus for engaging with tablet electronic device is provided, including a receiving unit, an angle adjustment mechanism and a support unit. The apparatus may further include an auxiliary belt. The receiving unit is for placing the tablet PC on, and the angle adjustment mechanism and the support unit are to enable the receiving unit to stand in either portrait or landscape mode. The auxiliary belt can be wrapped around the wrist to prevent the handheld tablet PC from slipping and falling to the ground. The unique structure of the support unit allows the tablet PC to tilt a small angle when placed on a desk top for convenient use. The auxiliary fastening apparatus of the present invention provides convenient use of the tablet PC in various occasions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an auxiliary fastening apparatus, applicable to tablet-shaped electronic devices, such as, tablet PC and electronic books, for convenient operations of the electronic devices for reading or viewing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tablet PCs has been marketed for many years. With the progress of touch panel technology and application developments in recent years, tablet PC is easier to operate than before. The large-sized display and suitable weight also accelerate the acceptance of the tablet PC in the portable device markets. In addition, the flexible orientation of the display screen, switching between portrait mode or landscape mode, allows the tablet users more convenience and fun in using the tablet PC.

However, when using a tablet PC, most people tend to hold the tablet in one hand and using the other hand to operate the touch panel. The holding on the tablet PC must be firm and sturdy, otherwise, a slip may cause the tablet PC to fall and render damaged and useless. On the other hand, when placed on desk, the tablet PC tends to lie flat on the desk like a book, which is different from the conventional way of viewing a PC display. Additional problems, such as, light reflection, awkward input position, also increases the inconvenience of use. The inconvenience issue is even more prominent when viewing the video on a tablet PC. The long time holding on the tablet PC in one hand is tiring to the viewer, so that most users may let the table PC lean against another object so that the tablet PC and stand in a tilted angle for bettering viewing. However, the slip of the tablet PC is a potential danger at a leaning angle. Therefore, it is imperative to devise an apparatus to be used with tablet PC to improve the convenience of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary fastening apparatus for using tablet PC. With the auxiliary fastening apparatus of the present invention, the user can hold the tablet PC in a safer and more stable way as well as improve the convenience of using the tablet PC. The tablet PC can also be placed standing up on a flat surface, or hanging on a wall for convenient viewing of the video.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized portable auxiliary fastening apparatus for using the tablet PC. With only a small increase of the thickness to the tablet PC, the user can operate the tablet PC more easily.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an auxiliary fastening apparatus, including a receiving unit, an angle adjustment mechanism, and a support unit. The receiving unit has a large-area disk, with a plurality of protruding clappers on the disk circumference. The rear surface of the disk is the back of the receiving unit, forming the angle adjustment mechanism. The support unit is coupled to the angle adjustment mechanism. The angle adjustment mechanism allows the support unit to adjust angle at the back of the receiving unit, and the support unit can form an angle with the back of the receiving unit after flipped up.

In addition, the auxiliary fastening apparatus further includes an auxiliary belt. The auxiliary belt is connected to either the receiving unit or the angle adjustment mechanism to provide the user for wrapping around the wrist to prevent the tablet PC from slipping from the holding hand. Alternatively, the auxiliary belt can be used to hang the tablet PC on a wall for viewing video.

Furthermore, the support unit can include a support element, a connection element and a buckle element. The connection element is made of a soft material with good connection able to bend for large angle. The buckle element can attach the support unit to the back of the receiving unit. When the receiving unit is engaged to the tablet PC for placing on the desk top, the connection element can be bended so that the buckle element is pressed tightly against the support element. Because the buckle element raises the height, the receiving unit can be placed on the desk top in a tilt angle to allow the convenient viewing for the user sitting at the desk as well as input via the touch screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1andFIG. 2show the front schematic view and the back schematic view of the auxiliary fastening apparatus of the present invention, respectively. Auxiliary fastening apparatus1includes a receiving unit2, an angle adjustment mechanism3and a support unit4. Auxiliary fastening apparatus1can further include an auxiliary belt5.

Receiving unit2forms a large-area disk20. Disk20is curvy inwards near the edge so that receiving unit2can be slightly resilient for pushing open near the edge area. Disk20has a plurality of protruding clappers21along the circumference area. Disk20is for placing the tablet PC and clappers21are for clapping on the circumference of the tablet PC. When table PC is placed on disk20, receiving unit2is slightly pushed open, and the restoration resilient force will make clappers21clap on the side of the tablet PC for fastening. In the present embodiment, clappers21are curvy and distributed around the four corners of receiving unit2. But the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The number of clappers can be as few as three and distributed on three sides of receiving unit2for clapping and fastening.

The opposite surface of disk20is back22of receiving unit2. Angle adjustment mechanism3is formed at the central region of back22and provides coupling to support unit4. Angle adjustment mechanism3can at least allow support unit4to adjust for specific angles, such as, 0° and 90°. In the present embodiment, receiving unit2has a rectangular shape, and is mainly for portrait mode (vertical) or landscape mode (horizontal). When support unit4is adjusted to 0°, the mode is corresponding to the portrait mode (as shown inFIG. 2) of receiving unit2, and when support unit4is adjusted to 90°, the mode is corresponding to the landscape mode of receiving unit2.

Angle adjustment mechanism3can be realized in various embodiments. The present invention uses an exemplary embodiment for explanation, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the exemplary embodiment. As shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, angle adjustment mechanism3includes an axial element31, a rotation element32and a resilient push obstruct element33. Axial element31protrudes from the central region of back22of receiving unit2. The inside of axial element31forms a housing space311near the circumference. Housing space311is to accommodate resilient push obstruct element33. Axial element31has small opening312in circumference, and opening312is connected to housing space311. Resilient push obstruct element33has a protruding tooth331extending via opening312to the outside of axial element31. Resilient push Obstruct element33has a ring shape and can be compressed along the diameter direction so that protruding tooth331can be displaced for a short distance. Rotation element32forms a ring and the inner wall of the ring forms an inner ring tooth321. Inner ring tooth321is sheathed outside of axial element31. Protruding tooth311matches inner ring tooth321. Rotation element32provides coupling to support unit4. In the present embodiment, rotation element32can rotate inside axial element31for 360° , and uses protruding tooth331to engage inner ring tooth321to fasten the position of rotation element3after the rotation, In other words, angle adjust mechanism3provides a 360° angle adjustment so that support unit4can perform different angle adjustment behind the back of receiving unit2.

As shown inFIG. 3, in the present embodiment, receiving unit2further includes a lid24and a plurality of screws25to hide and fix the positions of each component of angle adjustment mechanism3. When assembled, lid24covers the top surface of axial element31, and screws25engage with and fasten lid24from the direction of disk20via receiving unit2. The locations of the screw holes are not visible inFIG. 1because the central region of disk20is glued with a soft pad26to enhance esthetics as well as to prevent from scratching the surface of tablet PC. Lid24further forms at least a penetrate-through engaging trench241. Engaging trench241provides engagement to other connection device so that receiving unit2can be connected in various manners, such as, hanging on a wall or fastened to the inside of a car. The shape of engaging trench241in the above embodiment is only exemplary, not restrictive to the scope of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 2, auxiliary belt5is for wrapping around the user's wrist to prevent receiving unit2from accidentally slipping from the holding hand and falling on the ground when operating the tablet PC. Auxiliary belt5can be attached to at least a component of either receiving unit2or angle adjustment mechanism3. In the present embodiment, auxiliary belt5is attached to rotation element32of angle adjustment mechanism3. Auxiliary belt5is preferably a ring-shaped belt, easy for wrapping around the wrist. Additional fastening element or elastic band can be added to enhance the effect. Auxiliary belt5can also be used to hang on a wall, for example, a user can watch a cooking video while learning to cook.

Support unit4is coupled to angle adjustment mechanism3. After flipped up, support unit4forms an angle with receiving unit2to allow receiving unit2stay in a standing position.FIG. 5andFIG. 6show a schematic view of receiving unit2in a standing position in vertical and horizontal modes, respectively. Support unit4can be monolithic or constructed with a plurality of components. The present embodiment uses a plurality of components. As shown inFIG. 3, support unit4includes a support element41, a connection element42and a buckle element43. Support element41is connected to buckle element43via connection element42. Connection element42is made of soft material, such as, textile band, rubber band, rubber hinge, and so on, so that connection element42can be bended for a large angle. One end of support element41is coupled to rotation element32of angle adjustment mechanism3as the support frame of support unit4. In this manner, as shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 6, when receiving unit2is in standing position, connection element42is bended so that buckle element43is behind support element41, where support element41withstands most of the weight and some friction exists between buckle element43and the desk surface to achieve anti-slip purpose.

Buckle element43serves two purposes. The first is to make support element41tightly press against and fixed to back22of receiving unit2when support unit4is not in use. The second is for buckle element43to raise the height of one side of receiving unit2so that receiving unit2forms a small tilt angle when receiving unit2is placed on a desk top surface. Therefore, the side of buckle element43away from the connection to connection element42forms at least a buckle plate431. Buckle plate431has a bended shape, and is bended towards facing receiving unit2. The present embodiment includes two buckle plates431, and the corresponding side on receiving unit2forms at least a protruding block28. Protruding block28provides buckle anchor for buckle plate431. As shown inFIG. 2, support unit4uses buckle element43for fastening to back22of receiving unit2. As shown inFIG. 7, the bending of connection element42allows buckle plate431to get closer to or even press tightly against support unit4. Bended buckle plate431raises receiving unit2so that when receiving unit2is placed on a desk top, receiving unit2forms a small angle tilting, and tablet PC8engaged to receiving unit2also forms a small angle tilting. In this manner, the user can easily operate the tablet PC.

In addition, the present invention also includes a restrictive element6between support unit4and angle adjustment mechanism3. Restrictive element6is for (1) preventing support unit4from over-flipping to form too large an angle with receiving unit2; (2) avoiding the breaking of the coupling joint between angle adjustment mechanism3and support unit4when support unit4withstands the force and weight; and (3) maintaining and fastening the relative position between support unit4and receiving unit2after flipping. As shown inFIG. 3, restrictive element6is made of metal, and shaped as an Ω. Lateral segment61in the middle region is coupled to coupling block322of rotation element32. Coupling block322is located away from the coupling location of rotation element32and support element41. The two ends of restrictive element6form two protruding segments62outwards. The surface of support element41facing receiving unit2forms corresponding guiding trench411in the central region. When assembled, lateral segment61of restrictive element6is coupled to coupling block322, and protruding segment62slides inside guiding trench411. As shown inFIG. 8, because of restrictive element6, the angle between receiving unit2and support element41is restricted and the relative position between support element41and receiving unit2is fixed so that receiving unit2can be more stable in standing mode.

In summary, the auxiliary fastening apparatus of the present invention is engaged to a tablet PC. When placed on a desk top, the tablet PC tilts a small angle to enable convenient operation of the tablet PC. When held in hand, the auxiliary belt wraps around the wrist to prevent the tablet PC from slipping and falling to the ground. To view video, the support unit is used to stand on the desk top in either portrait or landscape modes. In this manner, the auxiliary fastening apparatus of the present invention provides convenience to the different scenarios of using tablet PC.