Universal Tablet Holder

A tablet holder includes a holding frame and fasteners at corner regions of the holding frame by which a variety of tablets of differing size can be secured to the holding frame. The fasteners include straps for passing over the corner regions of the tablet. A number of selectable anchor points are provided at the holding frame corner regions from which the straps can extend, each being selectable depending on the dimensions of the tablet.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a holder for personal computing devices such as the various Apple iPad™ and Samsung Galaxy™ tablets or other devices such as mobile telephones. The disclosure more particularly, although not exclusively, relates to a holder by which such devices (and those of other brands) of different sizes can be held and supported in various display configurations ranging from portrait to landscape.

Various tablet holders are known, but each is limited by certain Features—some more useful than others. For example some support the tablet in a single fixed position which may not be suitable for some users, and others are specifically dimensioned for particular tablet models, or various models of the same standardised size.

SUMMARY

There is disclosed herein a tablet holder including:

a holding frame;

fasteners at corner regions of the holding frame by which a variety of tablets of differing size can be secured to the holding frame,

characterised in that the fasteners include:

straps for passing over said corner regions of the tablet; and

a plurality of selectable anchor points at the holding frame corner regions from which the straps can extend, each being selectable depending on the dimensions of the tablet.

Preferably the straps each include a T-piece at an end thereof and the anchor points comprise apertures through which the T-piece can pass.

Preferably each strap includes a T-piece at both of its ends.

Preferably each strap is elastic.

Preferably the apertures are in arrays.

Preferably the holding frame includes sound reflectors to reflect sound emanating from speakers in the tablet, the reflectors being sufficiently large to reflect said sound from tablets of various size.

Preferably the holding frame is pivotally attached to a backing board.

The tablet holder will advantageously provide convenient means for holding tablets of various size and shape.

DEFINITION

As used herein the term “tablet” is intended to encompass any hand-held computing device with a display panel and/or touch screen, touch pad or keyboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a tablet holder10typically formed of moulded plastics material. The tablet holder includes a backing board11which might be part of a desk stand (not shown) or form part of the cover of a tablet-holding booklet as illustrated inFIG. 1for example.

The holding frame12includes a circular array of resilient claws24. Radially outboard of the claws24is an arc of indentations23. Extending also from the holding frame12is a pair of swivel stoppers18. These parts enable the holding frame12to pivot within a range of 90° with respect to the backing board11so that a mounted tablet can be oriented between portrait and landscape orientations.

At each corner region the holding frame includes anchor points including parallel arrays of apertures30. These could be individual apertures along the bottom of parallel (or non-parallel) troughs33. Alternatively a single elongate and narrow aperture might comprise a plurality of discrete widenings.

Elastic straps31have at each end a T-piece32. As an alternative to T-pieces, the straps might simply have knotted ends or beads for example. Each T-piece is dimensioned to pass lengthwise through any selected one of the apertures (or widenings)30. Once through, the T-piece is allowed to revert to its transverse orientation whereat it is too wide to pull back through the chosen aperture or widening30. The diameter of each T-piece is typically chosen to coincide with the internal curvature of the trough33from which the apertures30extend. The T-pieces can therefore sit in the trough and elastic tension of the strap31will maintain the location of the T-pieces partly within the trough33.

The strap31passes over a respective corner region of the tablet20. Which particular apertures are chosen depends on the size of the tablet20. For example different apertures30could suit a variety of seven inch tablets, or a variety of ten inch tablets.

The holding frame12includes large sound reflectors34which would reside under and around the perimeter of a mounted tablet20. Such speakers in popular tablets are generally side-firing or rear-firing and do not provide good sound quality to the area directly in front of the screen. The sound reflectors34have a concave surface formed integrally with the holding frame12and are shaped somewhat like ears to reflect the sound from the speakers forward to the viewing area.

Small stands17extend from two edges of the holding frame. These enable the holding frame to be set upon a desk top for example in either landscape or portrait orientation.