Abstract:
A supporting mechanism for supporting a device includes a rotating member rotatably coupled to the device, and a supporting member rotatably coupled to the rotating member and being foldable on the device. The rotating member is capable of being rotated from a first position to a second position. When the rotating member is rotated to a first position, the unfolded supporting member supports the device in a first orientation; when the rotating member is rotated to a second position, the supporting member supports the device in a second orientation different from the first orientation. A device having the supporting mechanism is also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to devices, and particularly to a device using a supporting mechanism. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Hand-held electronic devices, such as PDAs, MP3s, and mobile phones, for example, are widely used. However, most of these hand-held electronic devices do not have a supporting mechanism. When a hand-held electronic devices are used to watch movies or read e-books, the users need to physically hold the device, which is inconvenient. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a device having a supporting mechanism in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a partially enlarged view of the portion II of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the device of  FIG. 3  after the supporting mechanism has been turned through a quarter of a circle. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the device of  FIG. 1  supported in another orientation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a device  100  in accordance with an embodiment is shown. The device  100  includes a main body  10  and a supporting mechanism  20  mounted to the main body  10 . The main body  10  may be an electronic device or may be the shell of an electronic device. In the embodiment, the main body  10  is the shell of an electronic device  200  (see  FIG. 4 ). The electronic device  200  may be a mobile-phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), PSP and other hand-held electronic devices. The supporting mechanism  20  operates to support the main body  10  in a number of different orientations such as sideways or vertically. 
         [0013]    The main body  10  is substantially rectangular, and includes a back wall  110 , a front wall  120 , and first sidewalls  130  and second sidewalls  140 . The front wall  120  defines a receiving space  122  (see  FIG. 3 ) for receiving the electronic device  200 . The back wall  110  recesses to form a receiving portion  150  (see  FIG. 3 ), and further defines a U-shaped slot  160  communicating with the receiving portion  150 . 
         [0014]    Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the supporting mechanism  20  is mounted to the back wall  110  of the main body  10 , and includes a rotating member  23  rotatably coupled to the back wall  110 , a supporting member  25  rotatably coupled to the rotating member  23 , a post  27  and a stopping member  29 . 
         [0015]    The supporting member  25  is substantially U-shaped and matches the U-shaped slot  160 . The supporting member  25  is made of metal, and is capable of being elastically deformed. The supporting member  25  includes a cylindrical supporting portion  250  and two arms  251  extending from the supporting portion  250 . The proximate ends of the arms  251  are cranked away from each other to form two axially-aligned pivoting rods  252  (see  FIG. 3 ). The two pivoting rods  252  are substantially parallel to the supporting portion  250 . 
         [0016]    The rotating member  23  is substantially U-shaped, and is rotatably received in the receiving portion  150 . The rotating member  23  includes a base  232  and two extending portions  234  respectively extending from two opposite ends of the base  232 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the middle of the base  232  defines a substantially round recess  2327 . The bottom of the recess  2327  further defines a through hole  2323  extending through the base  232 . The ends of the extending portions  234  adjacent to the base  232  respectively define a round hole  2342 . The two round holes  2342  receive and hold captive the pivoting rods  252 , such that the supporting member  25  is rotatably coupled to the rotating member  23 . The internal sides of the extending portions  234  define a plurality of limiting grooves  2341 . The limiting grooves  2341  extend in several radial directions. When the supporting member  25  is rotated relative to the rotating member  23 , the limiting grooves  2341  operate to position the supporting member  25  in different positions. 
         [0017]    The post  27  is fixed to the bottom of the receiving portion  150 , and includes a head portion  272  and a cylindrical portion  274  (see  FIG. 3 ). The diameter of the head portion  272  is substantially less than the size of the recess  2327 , but is greater than the size of the through hole  2323 . The diameter of the cylindrical portion  274  is almost the same as the size of the through hole  2323 , such that friction is present to hinder the smooth and free rotation of the rotating member  23 . The cylindrical portion  274  extends through the recess  2327  and the through hole  2323  and is fixed to the bottom of the receiving portion  150 , whereby the rotating member  23  is rotatably coupled to the back wall  110 . The distance between the head portion  272  and the bottom of the receiving portion  150  is greater than the distance between the bottom of the recess  2327  and the bottom of the receiving portion  150 , thus, a clearance  2328  is defined between the head portion  272  and the bottom of the recess  2327  to allow the rotating member  23  to move a certain distance along the cylindrical portion  274 . 
         [0018]    The stopping member  29  is fixed to the back wall  110 , and is arranged adjacent to the receiving portion  150 . A portion of the stopping member  29  forms a cutout  292 . The cutout  292  includes a first wall  294  perpendicular to the first sidewalls  130  and a second wall  296  perpendicular to the first wall  294 . When the rotating member  23  rotates around the post  27 , the first wall  294  stops the rotating member  23  in a first position with the extending portion  234  parallel to the second sidewalls  140 , and the second sidewall  296  stops the rotating member in a second position perpendicular to the first position. 
         [0019]    The supporting mechanism  20  further includes a limiting member  31  (see  FIG. 3 ). The limiting member  31  is integral with or secured to the bottom of the receiving portion  150 , and is used to provide a barrier to prevent the rotating member  23  from moving when the rotating member  23  is located in one of the first or second positions. 
         [0020]    In assembly, first, the post  27  is inserted through the recess  2327  and the through hole  2323 , and is fixed to the bottom of the receiving portion  150 , thus, the rotating member  23  is rotatably coupled to the main body  20 . Second, the pivoting rods  252  are manipulated into the round holes  2342 , such that the supporting member  25  is rotatably coupled to the rotating member  23 . Third, the stopping member  29  is fixed to the back wall  110  with the first wall  294  perpendicular to the first sidewalls  130  and the second sidewall  296  perpendicular to the second sidewalls  140 . Finally, the limiting member  31  is secured to the bottom of the receiving portion  150  if not integrally manufactured with it. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , to support the device  100  on a flat surface: the supporting member  25  is pulled out from the slot  160 , to be positioned in a desired position and held in place by means of the limiting grooves  2341 . As a result, the supporting member  25  keeps an angle with the back wall  110 , and cooperates with one of the first sidewalls  130  to support the device  100  in a longitudinal or sideways orientation. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , when the supporting member  25  is lifted further away from the back wall  110 , to slide the rotating member  23  toward the head portion  272 , whereupon the rotating member  23  may overcome the limiting member  31  and be rotated from the first position to the second position. Referring also to  FIG. 5 , after the rotating member  23  has been rotated to the second position, the rotating member  23  is pressed against the bottom of the receiving portion  150  and is again limited to the second position by the limiting member  31 , and the supporting member  25  is adjusted to achieve the desired angle with the back wall  110  by being limited in one of the limiting grooves  2341 . As a result, the supporting member  25  cooperates with one of the second sidewalls  140  to support the device  100  in an upright or vertical orientation. 
         [0023]    When the device  100  is not being used, the rotating member  23  may be rotated to the first position, and the supporting member  25  retracted in the slot  160 . 
         [0024]    With the assistance of the supporting mechanism  20 , the device  100  may be supported in different orientations. 
         [0025]    Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the exemplary embodiment thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.