Abstract:
A supporting apparatus is disclosed. The supporting apparatus has a supporting device comprising a plurality of connected planar panels with a first panel, a second panel, an optional third panel, a fourth panel, and a fifth panel, and a locking component coupled to an edge region of at least one of the planar panels. The supporting apparatus further comprises a restraining unit configured to engage the series of connected panels such that the such that an edge of each of the first panel, the second panel, the fourth panel, and the fifth panel is restricted to movement within a base plane, the base plane being aligned with an orientation of the restraining unit, while another edge of each of the first panel, the second panel, the fourth panel, and the fifth panel is capable of moving out of the base plane. The electronic device can be a keyboard, a tablet computer, etc.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/587,313, filed on Jan. 25, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Traditionally, desktop computers were provided with keyboards that could be placed on a flat surface. While a user could reposition the keyboard to other locations on the surface, other movement flexibilities were limited. For example, a tilt of the keyboard would remain fixed. A manufacturer may attempt to identify an optimal keyboard tilt, though the optimum may in fact depend on a specific user&#39;s precise computer set up. Thus, while a tilt may be optimal for a first user, inter-user variation in factors such as desk height may mean that the tilt is sub-optimal for another user. Sub-optimal tilts may lead to reduced user comfort and even pain and injuries. 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the invention address these and other problems, individually and collectively. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Embodiments of the invention relate to keyboard-supporting devices and systems, as well as methods for making and using security apparatuses. 
         [0005]    One embodiment of the invention is directed to a supporting apparatus for an electronic device. The supporting apparatus includes a supporting device comprising a plurality of connected planar panels comprising a first panel, a second panel, an optional third panel, a fourth panel, and a fifth panel, and a locking component coupled to an edge region of the first panel within the plurality of panels. The supporting apparatus further comprises a restraining unit configured to engage the series of connected panels, such that at least one edge of each of the first panel, the second panel, the fourth panel, and the fifth panel is restricted to movement within a base plane that is aligned with an orientation of the restraining unit. At least one other edge of each of the first panel, the second panel, the fourth panel, and the fifth panel may be capable of moving out of the base plane. The optional third panel, when included, is restricted to movement within the base plane. The electronic device can be a keyboard, a tablet computer, laptop, etc. 
         [0006]    Other embodiments of the invention can be directed systems including the above-described supporting apparatus, and an electronic device that is supported by the supporting apparatus. 
         [0007]    Another embodiments of the invention is directed to a method for supporting an electronic device. A supporting apparatus is accessed. The supporting apparatus includes a series of connected planar panels comprising a first panel, a second panel, an optional third panel, a fourth panel, and a fifth panel. The supporting apparatus further includes a locking component coupled to an edge region of at least one of the planar panels. A panel of the series of connected planar panels is moved such that an apex is formed via two adjacent panels of the connected planar panels. The series of connected planar panels is locked such that the apex is fixed. A tilt of the electronic device supported by the supporting device depends on a height of the apex. 
         [0008]    These and other embodiments of the invention are described in further detail below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIGS. 1A-1C  show rear perspective views of a keyboard-supporting device arranged in various configurations. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  shows an exploded rear perspective view of a keyboard-supporting device coupled to a keyboard. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  shows a rear perspective of a supporting apparatus coupled to a keyboard. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2C  shows a front perspective view of a keyboard-supporting device coupled to a keyboard. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a position-locking component. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional, perspective of a frame. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Embodiments of the invention relate to a supporting apparatus with a supporting device that may be easily adjusted to allow for variation in a position of a supported keyboard (or other type of electronic device). Specifically, the supporting device may include multiple pairs of panels—one pair being provided near a front of the supporting device, and another pair being provided near a back of the supporting device. With regard to each pair, the panels of the pair may be coupled to each other at a pivot line (e.g., via a hinge). A front edge of one panel and a back edge of an adjacent panel may be configured to slide along rails along a length of the supporting device. As then one panel&#39;s front edge is slid close to the adjacent panel&#39;s back edge, the pivot line may move further from the rails, thereby affecting a height of the supporting device at the pivot line. A keyboard positioned on the supporting apparatus may thus be tilted forwards when the back pair of panels are compressed (raising a back portion of the supporting device) or tilted backwards when the front pair of panels are compressed (raising a front portion of the supporting device). 
         [0016]      FIGS. 1A-1C  show a supporting apparatus comprising a frame  250 , and supporting device  100  engaged and exposed by the frame  250 . As shown, the keyboard-supporting device  100  includes a plurality (e.g., five) of interconnected panels  105 ,  110 ,  115 ,  120  and  125 . Panels  105 ,  110 ,  115 ,  120  and  125  can each be substantially flat and substantially rectangular in shape. They can be made of any suitable material including a plastic material. In this embodiment, panel  125  is a central third panel and is larger (e.g., twice as wide) than outer panels  105 ,  110 ,  115 ,  120 . In some instances, a width (i.e., characterizing a dimension of the panel along the axis  150 ) of each of one or more of panels  105 ,  110 ,  115  and  120  is between ¼ inch and 2 inches. In some instances, a width of panel  125  is between 1 inch and 6 inches. Adjacent panels in the plurality of panels can be coupled together via a rotation-enabling component, such as a hinge. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1A  shows an instance in which all five panels are flat along a base plane. However, the panels may be compressed in an accordion style along a length-wise axis  150 . Specifically, part or all of one or more panels may engage with a rail system associated with frame  250 , to thereby prevent one or more vertically fixed edges from changing in heights relative to the base plane. For example, engagement of the first panel  125  with a rail system may prevent edge  110   b  from moving perpendicular to the base plane. These rail-locked edges may then move along axis  150  (e.g., via movement along the rails). Further, one or more panels may each include a vertically non-fixed edge. Heights of these vertically non-fixed edges may depend on locations of the vertically fixed edges along axis  150  relative to positions of other vertically fixed edges. 
         [0018]    Each panel may be coupled to one or more adjacent panels, e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C . The panel may be able to pivot relative to one or more adjacent panels, such that, e.g., a surface of the panel is not in a same plane (and/or, in some instances, parallel to) a surface of the one or more adjacent panels. A panel may be coupled to an adjacent panel using a hinge or another pivoting component. For example, each of the panel and the adjacent panel may include or be coupled to a rigid edge. The rigid edges may be coupled by a flexible coupling component, such as a piece of fabric. 
         [0019]    In  FIG. 1A , supporting device  100  includes a first pair of panels: front first panel  105  and back second panel  110 . Front first panel  105  includes a front edge  105   a  and a back edge  105   b.  Back second panel  110  includes a front edge  110   a  and a parallel back edge  110   b.  Front edge  105   a  and back edge  110   b  are vertically fixed (due to direct or indirect engagement with an underlying rail system). Back edge  105   b  and front edge  110   a  are also vertically fixed. Back edge  110   b  may be moved close to front edge  105   a , thereby causing the front pair of panels to move from the flat positions shown in  FIG. 1A  to a pointed position shown in  FIG. 1B , away from the underlying keyboard  200 . Conversely, a second pair of fourth and fifth panels  115  and  120  may be compressed to cause these back panels to move from the flat positions shown in  FIG. 1A  to a pointed position shown in  FIG. 1C , away from underlying keyboard  200 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  1 C, supporting device  100  can be completely flat within frame  150 , one end of the supporting device  100  can form a V-shaped protrusion, and the other end of the supporting device  100  can form a V-shaped protrusion. 
         [0020]    As described in further detail below, a default state of supporting device  100  may be to lock a length-wise position of the rail-locked edges. However, a user may be able to temporarily unlock the edges (e.g., by pressing buttons  160 ) to move the edges to a desired position. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 2A-2C  show the supporting apparatus coupled to a keyboard  200 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , keyboard  200  may include a cavity  205  sized to receive supporting device  100 . For example, the cavity may have a length and width approximately the same as or slightly larger than a respective length and width of supporting device  100 . In some instances, a depth of cavity  205  is approximately the same as a depth of supporting device  100 . 
         [0022]    As noted above, the supporting apparatus may comprise a restraining unit configured to engage the series of connected panels such that at least one edge of each of four or more panels of the series of connected panels is restricted to movement within a base plane  265 . The base plane  265  may be the plane along which the panels lie while the supporting device is completely flat (e.g., as in  FIG. 1A ). The restraining unit may take the form of a frame  250  in some embodiments. Frame  250  may lock supporting device  100  to keyboard  200 . For example, after supporting device  100  is positioned within cavity  205  of keyboard  200 , frame  250  may be positioned over supporting device  100 . Screws or tabs  260  may then be inserted through apertures of frame  250  to engage keyboard  200 . 
         [0023]    In some instances, supporting device  100  and/or frame  250  are provided separately from an electronic device. A user may then lock supporting device  100  to an electronic device (e.g., keyboard  200 ). Such embodiments may allow a user freedom to enjoy tilt flexibility provided by supporting device  100  while simultaneously enjoying the freedom of choosing his preferred electronic device. In some instances, supporting device  100  is provided with an electronic device. For example, supporting device may be fixedly attached to the electronic device and/or attached to the electronic device at a time of sale. Frame  260  may be (e.g., permanently) contiguous with and/or adhered to the electronic device. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 2B , panel edges of supporting device  100  may remain free to move along the length-wise axis of the supporting device (so long as the supporting device is not in a locked state). In this instance, movement of third panel  125  towards a back of the supporting device may cause fourth and fifth panels  115  and  120  to compress and form an apex or point. As shown in  FIG. 2C , the apex formed by fourth and fifth panels  115  and  120  may cause a back of keyboard  200  to be raised relative to a front of keyboard  200 . 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the described movement of the panels may be performed even while a keyboard is positioned over the supporting device—without requiring that the combined device-keyboard system be turned upside down. For example, a user may be able to easily (e.g., and blindly) locate buttons  160  (see  FIG. 3 ) to unlock the supporting device and then slide the panels along axis  150 . Pushing buttons  160  may cause supporting device  100  to switch from a locked state (where length-wise position of the rail-locked edges are fixed) to an unlocked state (where the rail-locked edges can move along the length-wise axis  150 ). In some instances, supporting device  100  remains in the unlocked state while, and only while, button  160  are pushed. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 2B , panels may be configured to have contact-improving or stability-improving features. For example, a hole  280  may be formed between panels  115  and  120 . Thus, two feet  285   a  and  285   b  will contact an underlying surface rather than an extended edge. 
         [0027]    In this embodiment, a height of a front or back apex may be finely controlled merely by moving third panel  125  towards a front or back of supporting device  100 . A component of the supporting device or the frame may fix or restrain length-wise motion of an extreme edge (e.g., edge  105   a ). Thus, a movement of a single piece along a single axis allows the user to have a large degree of control over a tilt of a keyboard supported by the supporting device. 
         [0028]    Though not shown, other variations are contemplated. In one embodiment, fewer panels (e.g., three) may be included (e.g., panels  115 ,  120  and  125 ). Movement of third panel  125  would then allow a height of a single back apex to be adjusted. Flipping supporting device  100  prior to attachment of frame  250  may allow a user the ability to still achieve a positive or negative flip. In one embodiment, no third panel  125  is included. In one embodiment, more than five panels are included. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows a position-locking component  300  according to embodiments of the invention. Position-locking component  300  may include a spring arm that may be positioned on and/or coupled to a panel, such as third panel  125 . Position-locking component  300  may include a user-operating feature such as a button  160 . Upon activation of the feature (e.g., pressing of the button), position-locking component  300  may move from a default locked state to an unlocked state. In the unlocked state, an associated panel (e.g., third panel  125 ) may be free to move lengthwise. 
         [0030]    When the feature is activated, teeth  310  may move inwards towards button  160 . The teeth may then be free to move through a rail guide. When the feature is released from activation, teeth  310  may move outwards away from the button and engage complementary mating teeth present along an outer edge of a rail guide. Close spacing of the teeth  310  may allow a user to finely control a position of panel  125  and thus, a tilt of a keyboard supported by supporting device  100 . In one embodiment, teeth  310  are sized and spaced to allow for a user to control a tilt of a supported keyboard with precision of greater than about 5° or 1°. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows a cross section of frame  250 . Frame  250  may include a keyboard-receiving feature  405 . For example, keyboard receiving feature  405  may include a track configured to wrap around a portion or edge of the keyboard  100 . 
         [0032]    Frame  250  may further include a rail guide  410 . Rail guide  410  may be configured to allow underlying panels to move in a length-wise direction and may be configured to restrain vertical movement of engaged panel edges. Rail guide  410  may further include a locking feature, such as mating teeth that only allows length-wise movement of panels when the locking feature is disengaged. For example, rail guide  410  may include mating teeth along an outer edge  410   a  of the guide. 
         [0033]    The above description is illustrative and is not restrictive. Many variations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the disclosure. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the pending claims along with their full scope or equivalents. 
         [0034]    One or more features from any embodiment may be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. Where approximate or “about” is described for measurements, embodiments herein also contemplate the exact measurement. Where a shape is disclosed, such as a cylinder, embodiments herein contemplate other suitable shapes, such as multi-sided blocks (octagonal structures, decagonal structures, etc.), other rectangular structures, etc. In certain implementations, structures with multiple sides approaching the shape of cylinders, as well as substantially cylindrical shapes (e.g., a cylinder with a flat sidewall portion) may be considered cylinders as described herein, unless otherwise specified.