Abstract:
The invention provides an electronic device including a user operable device and a foldable cover flexibly connected to the user operable device and capable to cover a whole top of the user operable device. The foldable cover includes a plurality of sections and a plurality of foldable lines, so that the foldable cover can be folded along the plurality of foldable lines formed between different sections. The sections are connected through the flexible foldable lines to allow the adjacent sections foldable with respective to one another to make the foldable cover in a supporting state, so that a first fastening section and a second fastening section are releasably fastened together so as to fasten a first supporting section and a second supporting section, and a first attachment section and a second attachment section are placed flatly on a plane.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 13/792,188, filed Mar. 10, 2013, which claims the benefit of Taiwan Application No. 101207228, filed on Apr. 19, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more specifically, to an electronic device with a foldable cover capable of covering a top of a user operable device and capable of supporting a portable device at a supporting state by rotation alternatively. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Since modern technology trends to small size and light weight, a portable computer has been more and more popular in computer industry. Accordingly, a keyboard as an input interface equipped for the portable computer also trends to a thin size. A keyboard cover is designed for preventing careless touch of the keyboard when the keyboard is not used. Furthermore, a supporting frame is designed for supporting the portable computer when the portable computer is used. However, there is no peripheral device cooperating with the keyboard as combination of the keyboard cover and the supporting frame in the market. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an electronic device with a foldable cover capable of covering a top of a user operable device and capable of supporting a portable device at a supporting state by rotation alternatively. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device with a supporting function includes a user operable device placed on a plane. The electronic device further includes a foldable cover flexibly connected to the user operable device and capable to cover a whole top of the user operable device. The foldable cover includes a plurality of sections and a plurality of foldable lines formed between different sections, so that the foldable cover can be folded along the plurality of foldable lines. The plurality of foldable lines are formed by following way: (a) forming a left longitudinal foldable line; (b) a left lower foldable line joining the left longitudinal foldable line at a first point which is located at a bottom side of a left half foldable cover; (c) forming a right longitudinal foldable line; (d) a right lower foldable line joining the right longitudinal foldable line at a second point which is located at the bottom side of a right half foldable cover; (e) a left upper foldable line extending from a left side to an upper side of the foldable cover; and (f) a right upper foldable line extending from a right side to the upper side of the foldable cover. The left longitudinal foldable line and the right longitudinal foldable line extend from the bottom side to the upper side of the foldable cover, the left lower foldable line extends from the bottom side to the left side of the support cove, and the right lower foldable line extends from the bottom side to the right side of the foldable cover. The six foldable lines divide the foldable cover into at least following sections: (a′) a main section; (b′) a first supporting section pivoted to a first lateral side of the main section; (c′) a second supporting section pivoted to a second lateral side of the main section; (d′) a first fastening section pivoted to a lateral side of the first supporting section; (e′) a second fastening section pivoted to a lateral side of the second supporting section; (f′) a first attachment section pivoted to a bottom side of the first supporting section; and (g′) a second attachment section pivoted to a bottom side of the second supporting section. These sections are connected through the six flexible foldable lines to allow the adjacent sections foldable with respective to one another to make the foldable cover in a supporting state, so that (i) the first fastening section and the second fastening section are releasably fastened together so as to fasten the first supporting section and the second supporting section, and (ii) the first attachment section and the second attachment section are placed flatly on the plane. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the first fastening section includes a first magnetic component, the second fastening section includes a first magnetic induction component, and the first magnetic component and the first magnetic induction component are for releasably attracting each other so as to releasably fasten the first fastening section and the second fastening section. The foldable cover further includes a second magnetic component and a second magnetic induction component. The second magnetic component is disposed on the user operable device and corresponding to the first magnetic induction component, and the second magnetic induction component is disposed on the user operable device and corresponding to the first magnetic component. The first magnetic component and the second magnetic induction component are for releasably attracting each other and the first magnetic induction component and the second magnetic component are for releasably attracting each other, as the main section, the first supporting section, the second supporting section, the first fastening section and the second fastening section are for rotating in a direction close to the user operable device, so as to cover a top of the user operable device. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the first fastening section comprises a third magnetic component, the second fastening section comprises a fourth magnetic component, and the third magnetic component and the fourth magnetic component are for releasably attracting each other due to being opposite magnetic poles so as to releasably fasten the first fastening section and the second fastening section. The foldable cover further includes a fifth magnetic component and a sixth magnetic component. The fifth magnetic component is disposed on the user operable device and corresponding to the third magnetic component. The fifth magnetic component and the third magnetic component are for releasably attracting each other due to being opposite magnetic poles. The sixth magnetic component is disposed on the user operable device and corresponding to the fourth magnetic component, and the sixth magnetic component and the fourth magnetic component are for releasably attracting each other due to being opposite magnetic poles. The fifth magnetic component and the third magnetic component are for releasably attracting each other and the sixth magnetic component and the fourth magnetic component are for releasably attracting each other, as the main section, the first supporting section, the second supporting section, the first fastening section and the second fastening section are for rotating in a direction close to the user operable device, so as to cover a top of the user operable device. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the first fastening section includes a first velcro tape, the second fastening section includes a second velcro tape, and the first velcro tape and the second velcro tape are for releasably attaching each other so as to releasably fasten the first fastening section and the second fastening section. The foldable cover further includes a third velcro tape disposed on the user operable device and corresponding to the first velcro tape, and a fourth velcro tape disposed on the user operable device and corresponding to the second velcro tape. The third velcro tape and the first velcro tape are for releasably attaching each other and the fourth velcro tape and the second velcro tape are for releasably attaching each other, as the main section, the first supporting section, the second supporting section, the first fastening section and the second fastening section are for rotating in a direction close to the user operable device, so as to cover a top of the user operable device. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device further includes a flexible connecting portion, one end of the flexible connecting portion is connected to a bottom side of the main section and no connection is with other sections. The other end of the flexible connecting portion is connected to the user operable device, so the main section is connected with the user operable device through the flexible connecting portion. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the main section substantially has a shape of a trapezoid, a rectangle, or a triangle. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, when the foldable cover is in the supporting state, a receiving space is formed between the main section and the user operable device for receiving a bottom end of a portable device. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device includes a user operable device placed on a plane, and a foldable cover flexibly connected to the electronic device. The foldable cover includes a plurality of sections and a plurality of foldable lines formed between different sections, so that the foldable cover can be folded along the plurality of foldable lines. The plurality of foldable lines are formed by following way: (a) a left longitudinal foldable line extending from a bottom side to an upper side of the foldable cover; (b) a left lower foldable line forming at a left side of the left longitudinal foldable line and extending from the bottom side to a left side of the foldable cover; (c) a right longitudinal foldable line forming at a right side of the left longitudinal foldable line and extending from the bottom side to the upper side of the foldable cover; (d) a right lower foldable line forming at a right side of the right longitudinal foldable line and extending from the bottom side to a right side of the foldable cover; (e) a left upper foldable line forming at the left side of the left longitudinal foldable line and extending from the left side to the upper side of the foldable cover; and (f) a right upper foldable line forming at the right side of the right longitudinal foldable line and extending from the right side to the upper side of the foldable cover. The plurality of foldable lines divide the foldable cover into at least following sections: (a′) a main section; (b′) a left supporting section pivoted to the main section through the left longitudinal foldable line; (c′) a right supporting section pivoted the main section through the right longitudinal foldable line; (d′) a left upper section pivoted to the left supporting section through the left upper foldable line; (e′) a right upper section pivoted to the right supporting section through the right upper foldable line; (f′) a left lower section pivoted to the left supporting section through the left lower foldable line; and (g′) a right lower section pivoted the right supporting section through the right lower foldable line. When the foldable cover is in a supporting state, (i) the left upper section and the right upper section are releasably fastened together so as to fasten the left supporting section and the right supporting section, and (ii) the left lower section and the right lower section are placed flatly on the plane. When the foldable cover is in a non-supporting state, the plurality of sections are substantially extending in a same plane to cover the user operable device. 
     The present invention provides the user operable device with the foldable cover not only capable of covering the top of the user operable device for protecting the user operable device or preventing careless touch of the user operable device when the user operable device is not used, but also capable of supporting the portable device at the supporting state by rotation when the portable device is used, alternatively. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6  are diagrams of a keyboard device with a support cooperating with a keyboard at different states according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  to  FIG. 9  are diagrams of the support according to other embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6  are diagrams of a keyboard device with a support  1  cooperating with a keyboard  2  at different states according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the support  1  includes a main body  10 , a connecting portion  11 , a first supporting portion  12  and a second supporting portion  13 . One end  112  of the connecting portion  11  is pivoted to a bottom side  102  of the main body  10 , and the other end  114  of the connecting portion  11  is connected to the keyboard  2 . The other end  114  of the connecting portion  11  can be connected to a bottom  21  of the keyboard  2 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the other end  114  of the connecting portion  11  can be inserted to a socket  23  on the bottom  21  of the keyboard  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6 , the first supporting portion  12  is pivoted to a first lateral side  104  of the main body  10 . The second supporting portion  13  is pivoted to a second lateral side  106  of the main body  10 . The main body  10  can rotate in a first direction L 1  away from the keyboard  2 , the first supporting portion  12  and the second supporting portion  13  also can rotate in the first direction L 1  away from the keyboard  2  so that a lateral side  122  of the first supporting portion  12  and a lateral side  132  of the second supporting portion  13  contact against each other, and a bottom side  124  of the first supporting portion  12  and a bottom side  134  of the second supporting portion  13  stand on a plane P, so as to support the support  1  on the plane P at a supporting state as the keyboard  2  is placed on the plane P. 
     The support  1  further includes a first fastening portion  14  and a second fastening portion  15 . The first fastening portion  14  is pivoted to the lateral side  122  of the first supporting portion  12 , and the second fastening portion  15  is pivoted to the lateral side  132  of the second supporting portion  13 . The first fastening portion  14  and the second fastening portion  15  are for releasably being fastened together so as to fasten the lateral side  122  of the first supporting portion  12  and the lateral side  132  of the second supporting portion  13  as the support  1  is at the supporting state. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the support  1  further includes a first attachment portion  16  and a second attachment portion  17 . The first attachment portion  16  is pivoted to the bottom side  124  of the first supporting portion  12 . The second attachment portion  17  is pivoted to the bottom side  134  of the second supporting portion  13 . The first attachment portion  16  and the second attachment portion  17  are placed flatly on the plane P as the support  1  is at the supporting state. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the main body  10 , the first supporting portion  12 , the second supporting portion  13 , the first fastening portion  14 , the second fastening portion  15 , the first attachment portion  16  and the second attachment portion  17  can rotate in a second direction L 2  opposite to the first direction L 1  and close to the keyboard  2 , so as to cover a whole top  22  of the keyboard  2 . 
     The main body  10 , the connecting portion  11 , the first supporting portion  12 , the second supporting portion  13 , the first fastening portion  14 , the second fastening portion  15 , the first attachment portion  16  and the second attachment portion  17  can be sheet structures, respectively. The main body  10  can substantially have a shape of a trapezoid, a rectangle, a triangle, and so on. In practical application, the first supporting portion  12 , the second supporting portion  13 , the first fastening portion  14 , the second fastening portion  15 , the first attachment portion  16  and the second attachment portion  17  can be made of stiff or half-stiff material, such as high polymer material, leather, metal material, and so on. The adjacent portions can be connected foldably or pivotably. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a slot is formed between the main body  10 , the connecting portion  11  and the keyboard  2  for accommodating a portable information processing device  3 , such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, and so on, as the support  1  is at the supporting state. The support  1  can support the portable information processing device  3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first fastening portion  14  includes a first magnetic component  142 , and the second fastening portion  15  includes a first magnetic induction component  152 . The first magnetic component  142  and the first magnetic induction component  152  are for releasably attracting each other so as to releasably fasten the first fastening portion  14  and the second fastening portion  15 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the support  1  further includes a second magnetic induction component  24  disposed on the keyboard  2  and corresponding to the first magnetic component  142 , and a second magnetic component  25  disposed on the keyboard  2  and corresponding to the first magnetic induction component  152 . The first magnetic component  142  and the second magnetic induction component  24  can releasably attract each other by magnetic induction and the first magnetic induction component  152  and the second magnetic component  25  can releasably attract each other by magnetic induction, as the main body  10 , the first supporting portion  12 , the second supporting portion  13 , the first fastening portion  14  and the second fastening portion  15  rotate in a second direction L 2  opposite to the first direction L 1  and close to the keyboard  2 , so as to cover the top  22  of the keyboard  2 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is a diagram of the support  1  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The first fastening portion  14  includes a third magnetic component  144 , and the second fastening portion  15  includes a fourth magnetic component  154 . The third magnetic component  144  and the fourth magnetic component  154  can releasably attract each other due to being opposite magnetic poles, so as to releasably fasten the first fastening portion  14  and the second fastening portion  15 . Further, the support  1  further includes a fifth magnetic component  26  disposed on the keyboard  2  and corresponding to the third magnetic component  144 , and a sixth magnetic component  27  disposed on the keyboard  2  and corresponding to the fourth magnetic component  154 . The fifth magnetic component  26  and the third magnetic component  144  can releasably attract each other due to being opposite magnetic poles. The sixth magnetic component  27  and the fourth magnetic component  154  can releasably attract each other due to being opposite magnetic poles. The fifth magnetic component  26  and the third magnetic component  144  can releasably attract each other and the sixth magnetic component  27  and the fourth magnetic component  154  can releasably attract each other, as the main body  10 , the first supporting portion  12 , the second supporting portion  13 , the first fastening portion  14  and the second fastening portion  15  rotate in the second direction L 2  opposite to the first direction L 1  and close to the keyboard  2 , so as to cover the top  22  of the keyboard  2 . In  FIG. 7 , the same components as those shown in  FIG. 6  are denoted by the same reference numerals and a description thereof will not be repeated. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is a diagram of the support  1  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The first fastening portion  14  includes a first velcro tape  146 , and the second fastening portion  15  includes a second velcro tape  156 . The first velcro tape  146  and the second velcro tape  156  can releasably attach each other so as to releasably fasten the first fastening portion  14  and the second fastening portion  15 . The supporting  1  further includes a third velcro tape  28  disposed on the keyboard  2  and corresponding to the first velcro tape  146 , and a fourth velcro tape  29  disposed on the keyboard  2  and corresponding to the second velcro tape  156 . The third velcro tape  28  and the first velcro tape  146  can releasably attach each other and the fourth velcro tape  29  and the second velcro tape  156  can releasably attach each other, as the main body  10 , the first supporting portion  12 , the second supporting portion  13 , the first fastening portion  14  and the second fastening portion  15  rotate in the second direction L 2  opposite to the first direction L 1  and close to the keyboard  2 , so as to cover the top  22  of the keyboard  2 . In  FIG. 8 , the same components as those shown in  FIG. 6  are denoted by the same reference numerals and a description thereof will not be repeated. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a diagram of the support  1  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The first fastening portion  14  includes a reusable adhesive layers  148 , and the second fastening portion  15  includes a reusable adhesive layers  158 . The first fastening portion  14  and the second fastening portion  15  can be releasably fastened by affixing the reusable adhesive layer  148  and the reusable adhesive layers  158 . The reusable adhesive layer  148  and the reusable adhesive layer  158  can be affixed to the top  22  of the keyboard  2  repeatedly, as the main body  10 , the first supporting portion  12 , the second supporting portion  13 , the first fastening portion  14  and the second fastening portion  15  rotate in the second direction L 2  opposite to the first direction L 1  and close to the keyboard  2 , so as to cover the top  22  of the keyboard  2 . In  FIG. 9 , the same components as those shown in  FIG. 6  are denoted by the same reference numerals and a description thereof will not be repeated. 
     In contrast with the prior art, the present invention provides the keyboard device with the support not only capable of covering the top of the keyboard for protecting the keyboard or preventing careless touch of the keyboard when the keyboard is not used, but also capable of supporting the portable information processing device at the supporting state by rotation when the portable information processing device is used, alternatively. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.