Supporting device for an electronic device

A supporting device for an electronic device is provided. The supporting device includes a plastic card defining first and second support tabs. The first and second support tabs define a gap therebetween that is sized to hold the electronic device therein when the first support tab is at a second operational position thereof and the second support tab is at a second operational position thereof. The first support tab is adapted to contact a first side of the electronic device when the first support tab is at the second operational position thereof, and the second support tab being adapted to contact a second side of the electronic device when the second support tab is at the second operational position thereof, such that the electronic device is held at a desired operational position between the first and second support tabs.

BACKGROUND

The inventor herein has recognized a need for an improved supporting device for an electronic device.

SUMMARY

A supporting device for an electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The supporting device includes a plastic card defining first and second support tabs. The first support tab is adapted to be rotated about a first bend line from a first operational position to a second operational position thereof. The second support tab is adapted to be rotated about a second bend line from a first operational position to a second operational position thereof. The first bend line is substantially perpendicular to the second bend line. The first and second support tabs define a gap therebetween that is sized to hold the electronic device therein when the first support tab is at the second operational position thereof and the second support tab is at the second operational position thereof. The first support tab is adapted to contact a first side of the electronic device when the first support tab is at the second operational position thereof, and the second support tab being adapted to contact a second side of the electronic device when the second support tab is at the second operational position thereof, such that the electronic device is held at a desired operational position between the first and second support tabs.

A method of supporting an electronic device utilizing a supporting device in accordance with another exemplary embodiment is provided. The method includes providing the supporting device comprising a plastic card that defines first, second support tabs. The method further includes moving the first support tab from a first operational position to a second operational position thereof. The method further includes moving the second support tab from a first operational position to a second operational position thereof, such that a first gap is formed between the first support tab and the second support tab when the first support tab is at the second operational position thereof, and the second support tab is at the second operational position thereof. The method further includes disposing the electronic device within the first gap such that the first support tab contacts a first side of the electronic device when the first support tab is at the second operational position thereof, and the second support tab contacts a second side of the electronic device when the second support tab is at the second operational position thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, an electronic device10is illustrated that is supported by the supporting device20in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. An advantage of the supporting device20is that the supporting device20comprises a plastic card70having tabs that can be easily positioned for supporting the electronic device10for taking photographs (e.g., selfies) with the electronic device10. Further, the plastic card70can be easily transported and stored in a wallet or a purse.

The term “substantially perpendicular” means being within 20 degrees of a perpendicular orientation relative to one another. The term “substantially parallel” means being within 20 degrees of a parallel orientation relative to one another.

In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device10is a smart phone. However, in an alternative embodiment, the electronic device10could be an electronic camera, a tablet computer equipped with a camera, or an electronic video recording device. The electronic device10includes a housing30, a touchscreen32, a camera lens34, a camera lens36(shown inFIG. 2), and internal camera (not shown) operably coupled to the camera lenses34,36. The touchscreen32and the camera lens34are disposed on and coupled to a first side50of the housing30. The camera lens36is disposed on and coupled to a second side52of the housing30. During operation, the electronic device10is adapted to take photographs of objects in front of the camera lens34or the camera lens36. Further, during operation the internal camera is configured to take delayed photographs of objects in front of the camera lens34or the camera lens36.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the supporting device20includes a plastic card70having a first axis72and the second axis74. The second axis74is disposed substantially perpendicular to the first axis72. The plastic card70is centered about the first axis72. In an alternative embodiment, the plastic card70could be replaced with an alternative card having an identical structure and size as the plastic card70except that the alternative card could be constructed of another material such as a paper material, or a cardboard material, or a metal for example.

The plastic card70includes a first side80, a second side82, a first edge84, a second edge86, a third edge87, and a fourth edge88. The first and second edges84,86extend substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the axis74. The third and fourth edges87,88extend substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first and second edges84,86and substantially parallel to the axis72. Further, the third and fourth edges87,88are connected to and extend between the first and second edges84,86. In an exemplary embodiment, the plastic card70is substantially rectangular shaped. Further, in an exemplary embodiment, a distance between the first and second edges84,86is in a range of 3-3.5 inches, and a distance between the third and fourth edges87,88is in a range of 2-2.5 inches. In an alternative embodiment, the plastic card70could have another shape, such as a square shape for example.

The plastic card70defines a first support tab90, a second support tab92, a third support tab94, a fourth support tab96, and an elevation adjustment tab98. The plastic card70further includes an aperture100extending therethrough that is centered on the first axis72for receiving a mounting bolt therethrough from a camera stand.

Referring toFIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the first support tab90is adapted to be rotated about a first bend line124from a first operational position (shown inFIG. 5) to a second operational position (shown inFIG. 2) thereof. The second support tab92is adapted to be rotated about a second bend line144from a first operational position (shown inFIG. 5) to a second operational position (shown inFIG. 1) thereof. The first bend line124is substantially perpendicular to the second bend line144. The first and second support tabs90,92define a gap therebetween that is sized to hold the electronic device10therein when the first support tab90is at the second operational position thereof and the second support tab92is at the second operational position thereof. The first support tab90is adapted to contact a first side50of the electronic device10when the first support tab90is at the second operational position thereof, and the second support tab92is adapted to contact a second side52of the electronic device10when the second support tab92is at the second operational position thereof, such that the electronic device10is held at a desired operational position between the first and second support tabs90,92.

The third support tab94is adapted to be rotated about a third bend line164from a first operational position (shown inFIG. 5) to a second operational position (shown inFIG. 2) thereof. The fourth support tab96is adapted to be rotated about a fourth bend line184from a first operational position (shown inFIG. 5) to a second operational position (shown inFIG. 1) thereof. The third bend line164is substantially perpendicular to the fourth bend line184. The third and fourth support tabs94,96define a gap therebetween that is sized to hold the electronic device10therein when the third support tab94is at the second operational position thereof and the fourth support tab96is at the second operational position thereof. The third support tab94is adapted to contact the first side50of the electronic device10when the third support tab94is at the second operational position thereof, and the fourth support tab96is adapted to contact the second side52of the electronic device10when the fourth support tab96is at the second operational position thereof, such that the electronic device10is held at a desired operational position between the third and fourth support tabs94,96.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the first support tab90includes a first end120and a second end122. The first support tab90is formed by first, second, and third cut lines126,128,130extending through the plastic card70. The first end120defines the first bend line124that is substantially parallel to the first axis72and is disposed proximate to the first axis72. The second end122is disposed proximate to the third edge87. The first support tab90is rotatable relative to the first bend line124, or rotatable about the first bend line124. The first cut line126extends substantially parallel to the first edge84from the first bend line124toward the third edge87. The second cut line128extends substantially parallel to the third edge87from the first cut line126toward the second edge86. The third cut line130extends from the second cut line128toward the fourth edge88. Further, the third cut line130extends from the first bend line124to the second cut line128at an acute angle relative to the second axis74.

The second support tab92has a first end140and a second end142. The second support tab92is defined by the first, second, and third cut lines146,148,150extending through the plastic card70. The first end140defines the second bend line144that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis72. The second support tab92is disposed between the second edge86and the first support tab90. The second end142is disposed proximate to the first support tab90. The second support tab92is rotatable relative to the second bend line144, or rotatable about the second bend line144. The first cut line146extends substantially parallel to the first edge84from the second bend line144toward the first edge84. The second cut line148extends substantially parallel to the first edge84from the second bend line144toward the first edge84. The second cut line148is disposed a predetermined distance away from the first cut line146. The third cut line150extends from the first cut line146to the second cut line148at the second end142of the second support tab92. The third cut line150extends at an acute angle relative to the second axis74. In an exemplary embodiment, the third cut line150is coincident with the cut line130of the first support tab90.

The third support tab94has a first end160and a second end162. The third support tab94is formed by first, second, and third cut lines166,168,170extending through the plastic card70. The first end160defines the third bend line164that is substantially parallel to the first axis72and is disposed proximate to the first axis72. The second end162is disposed proximate to the fourth edge88. The third support tab94is rotatable relative to the third bend line164. The first cut line166extends substantially parallel to the first edge84from the third bend line164toward the fourth edge88. The second cut line168extends substantially parallel to the fourth edge88from the first cut line166toward the second edge86. The third cut line170extends from the second cut line168toward the third edge87. Further, the third cut line170extends from the third bend line164to the second cut line168at an acute angle relative to the second axis74.

The fourth support tab96has a first end180and a second end182. The fourth support tab96is defined by the first, second, and third cut lines186,188,190extending through the plastic card70. The first end180defines the fourth bend line184that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis72. The fourth support tab96is disposed between the second edge86and the third support tab94. The second end182is disposed proximate to the third support tab94. The fourth support tab96is rotatable relative to the fourth bend line184, or rotatable about the fourth bend line184. The first cut line186extends substantially parallel to the first edge84from the fourth bend line184toward the first edge84. The second cut line188extends substantially parallel to the first edge84from the fourth bend line184toward the first edge84. The second cut line188is disposed a predetermined distance away from the first cut line186. The third cut line190extends from the first cut line186to the second cut line188at the second end182of the fourth support tab96. The third cut line190extends at an acute angle relative to the second axis74. In an exemplary embodiment, the third cut line190is coincident with the cut line170of the third support tab94.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3-5, the elevation adjustment tab98has a first operational position (shown inFIG. 5) and a second operational position (shown in FIG.3). At the second operational position, the elevation adjustment tab98contacts a support surface250and holds a portion of the plastic card70a predetermined distance from the support surface250. The elevation adjustment tab98has a first end200and a second end202. The first end200defines a fifth bend line204that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis72. The second end202is coincident with the second edge86. The elevation adjustment tab98is disposed between the second and fourth support tabs92,96. The elevation adjustment tab98is rotatable relative to the fifth bend line204, or rotatable about the fifth bend line204. At the second operational position, the elevation adjustment tab98contacts the support surface250and holds the second edge86of the plastic card70the predetermined distance from the support surface250.

Referring toFIGS. 1, 2, 9 and 10, a method for supporting the electronic device10utilizing the supporting device20in accordance with another exemplary embodiment will now be explained.

At step300, the user provides the supporting device20having the plastic card70that defines first, second, third, and fourth support tabs90,92,94,96and an elevation adjustment tab98.

At step302, the user moves the first support tab90from a first operational position to a second operational position thereof.

At step304, the user moves the second support tab92from a first operational position to a second operational position thereof, such that a first gap is formed between the first and second support tabs90,92when the first support tab90is at the second operational position thereof, and the second support tab92is at the second operational position thereof.

At step306, the user moves the third support tab94from a first operational position to a second operational position thereof.

At step308, the user moves the fourth support tab96from a first operational position to a second operational position thereof, such that a second gap is formed between the third and fourth support tabs94,96when the third support tab94is at the second operational position thereof, and the fourth support tab96is at the second operational position thereof.

At step310, the user disposes the electronic device10within the first and second gaps such that the first support tab90contacts a first side50of the electronic device10when the first support tab90is at the second operational position thereof, the second support tab92contacts the second side52of the electronic device10when the second support tab92is at the second operational position thereof, the third support tab94contacts the first side50of the electronic device10when the third support tab94is at the second operational position thereof, and the fourth support tab96contacts the second side52of the electronic device10when the fourth support tab96is at the second operational position thereof.

At step312, the user moves the elevation adjustment tab98from a first operational position to a second operational position thereof in which the elevation adjustment tab98contacts a support surface250and holds a portion of the plastic card70a predetermined distance from the support surface250.

The supporting device described herein provides a substantial advantage over other devices. In particular, the supporting device has a technical effect of utilizing a plastic card70having tabs that can be easily positioned for supporting an electronic device for taking photographs (e.g., selfies) with the electronic device. Further, plastic card can be easily transported and stored in a wallet or a purse.