Abstract:
A tilting portable electronic device includes a housing, a cover forming two spaced stopping blocks, at least one connecting member rotatably connecting the housing and the cover, a rotating member rotatably connecting the housing and the cover, and an elastic member securing with the rotating member and having a resisting section slidably resisting against the cover. When the cover is opened relative to the housing, the connecting member and the rotating member rotates to support an end of the cover slanted relative to the housing, after the cover slides a predetermined distance, the elastic member causing the cover to slide automatically until the resisting section slides to the other stopping block.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is one of the eight related co-pending U.S. patent applications listed below. All listed applications have the same assignee and were concurrently filed herewith. The disclosure of each of the listed applications is incorporated by reference into all the other listed applications. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Attorney Docket No. 
                 Title 
                 Inventors 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 US31622 
                 TILTING PORTABLE 
                 Kun-Tsan Wu et al. 
               
               
                   
                 ELECTRONIC DEVICE 
               
               
                 US31623 
                 TILTING PORTABLE 
                 Kun-Tsan Wu et al. 
               
               
                   
                 ELECTRONIC DEVICE 
               
               
                 US31625 
                 TILTING PORTABLE 
                 Kun-Tsan Wu et al. 
               
               
                   
                 ELECTRONIC DEVICE 
               
               
                 US31630 
                 TILTING PORTABLE 
                 Kun-Tsan Wu et al. 
               
               
                   
                 ELECTRONIC DEVICE 
               
               
                 US31631 
                 TILTING PORTABLE 
                 Kun-Tsan Wu et al. 
               
               
                   
                 ELECTRONIC DEVICE 
               
               
                 US31809 
                 TILTING PORTABLE 
                 Kun-Tsan Wu et al. 
               
               
                   
                 ELECTRONIC DEVICE 
               
               
                 US32117 
                 TILTING PORTABLE 
                 Kun-Tsan Wu et al. 
               
               
                   
                 ELECTRONIC DEVICE 
               
               
                 US32128 
                 TILTING PORTABLE 
                 Kun-Tsan Wu et al. 
               
               
                   
                 ELECTRONIC DEVICE 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to tilting portable electronic devices. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Conventional portable electronic devices can be classified into three different categories, bar-type devices, rotating-type devices, and sliding-type devices. 
         [0006]    All three types of these electronic devices have the same following problems. When a user wants to watch a display of the electronic device resting on a table, they must use external support to hold it in a tilted position to give the display a better viewing angle. Alternatively, the user may hold the electronic device with his hands to get the proper viewing angle, however, it may become uncomfortable after a long time of viewing. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Many aspects of the present tilting portable electronic device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the various drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present tilting portable electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the diagrams. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a tilting portable electronic device, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view the cover of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 1  in assembling. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a housing of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 1  in assembling. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 1  in a closed state. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 1  in an open state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a tilting portable electronic device  100 , such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital cameras, including a housing  10 , a cover  20 , and a swinging assembly  60  connecting the housing  10  and the cover  20 . 
         [0015]    The housing  10  includes a lower base  12  and an upper base  14 . The lower base  12  has a first upper surface  121 , two spaced latching slots  122  and two engaging slots  124 . The latching slots  122  are located adjacent to a first end wall  123 , and the two engaging slots  124  are oppositely positioned at the two corners of the lower base  12  abutting the first end wall  123 . Each latching slot  122  is substantially cross shaped and has a first slot section  1221  extending substantially along the first end wall  123 , and a second slot section  1222  extending substantially perpendicularly with the first slot section  1221 . Each engaging slot  124  receives a lug  126  from the bottom. The lug  126  defines a first connecting hole  1262  substantially parallel to the first end wall  123 . 
         [0016]    The upper base  14  has a second upper surface  141  and a second end wall  143 . The upper base  14  defines two cutouts  142  and two engaging holes  144 . The cutouts  142  are defined in the second end wall  143  and extend toward the opposite end wall. The cutouts  142  correspond in location to the second slot sections  1222  of the lower bases  12 . The engaging holes  144  are arranged substantially adjacent to the two sides of the upper base  14  and correspond in location to the engaging slots  124 . Two stoppers  146  and two keypads  148  are formed on the second upper surface  141 . The two stoppers  146  are positioned along a central axis of the upper base  14 , substantially parallel with the second end wall  143 . The two keypads  148  are positioned opposite to the second end wall  143 . 
         [0017]    The cover  20  includes a sliding plate  22  and a detachable top plate  24 . The sliding plate  22  has a first surface  221  and an opposite second surface  223 . The sliding plate  22  defines two first connecting grooves  222  oppositely arranged substantially adjacent at two sides of the sliding plate  22 , and also two second connecting grooves  224  oppositely arranged substantially adjacent to two sides of the sliding plate  22 . Each connecting groove  222  and  224  extend along the sliding direction of the sliding plate  22  and run through the first surface  221  to the second surface  223 . Each first groove  222  defines a second connecting hole  2222  in the inner sidewall. Each second groove  224  defines an assembling hole  2242  in the inner sidewall. Referring further to the  FIG. 2 , the second surface  223  has two substantially parallel stopping blocks  226  formed at the middle, substantially perpendicular to the connecting grooves  222  and  224 . A resisting area  2262  is defined between the two stopping blocks  226 . The top plate  24  has an outer surface  241  having a display  242  and a plurality of function keys  243  formed thereon. 
         [0018]    The swinging assembly  60  includes a rotating member  30 , two connecting members  40  and an elastic member  50 . The rotating member  30  is substantially U-shaped and includes a plate portion  32  and an extending arm  34  oppositely laterally extending from each end of the plate portion  32 . The plate portion  32  forms two latching poles  321  thereon, and two opposite first hinge portions  322  laterally extending from one end wall. The two latching poles  321  secure the elastic member  50  to the plate portion  32 . Each hinge portion  322  defines a first hinge hole  3222 . The hinge portion  322  can pass through the cutout  142  of the upper base  14  and match with the second slot section  1222  of the latching slot  122 . A first pin  36  passes through the first hinge hole  3222  and latches into the second slot section  1222 , rotatably connecting the rotating member  30  with the lower base  12 . The extending arm  34  forms a branch  342  at the distal end, and the branch  342  defines a second hinge hole  3422 . The branch  342  passes through the first connecting groove  222  of the sliding plate  22 , with the second hinge hole  3422  aligning with the second connecting hole  2222 . A second pin  38  passes through the second hinge hole  3422  and the second connecting hole  2222  to rotatably connect the rotating member  30  with the sliding plate  22 . 
         [0019]    The connecting member  40  is substantially a bar and includes a first connecting section  41  and a second connecting section  42 , which is slantingly connected with the first connecting section  41 . The first connecting section  41  defines a first rotating hole  412  at one distal end. The first connecting section  41  can be received in the second connecting groove  224  of the sliding plate  22 , with the first rotating hole  412  aligning with the assembling hole  2242  of the sliding plate  22 . A third pin  44  passes through the first rotating hole  412  and the assembling hole  2244 , rotatably connecting the connecting member  40  with the sliding plate  22 . The second connecting section  42  defines a second rotating hole  422  at another distal end thereof. The second connecting section  42  can pass through the engaging hole  144  of the upper base  14  to engage with the lug  126 , with the second rotating hole  422  aligning with the first connecting hole  1262 . A fourth pin  46  passes through the second rotating hole  422  and the first connecting hole  1262 , rotatably connecting the connecting member  40  with the lower base  12 . 
         [0020]    The elastic member  50  is a linear spring and substantially M-shaped including a resisting section  52  and two side sections  54  perpendicularly connecting respectively to two ends of the resisting section  52 . The resisting section  52  is wave shaped and can be deformed. The side section  54  is a strip and can be biased. Each side section  54  forms a ring  542  at the distal end to fix with the latching poles  32  of the rotating member  30 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , to assemble the portable electronic device  100 , the elastic member  50  is secured to the rotating member  30 , with the rings  542  of the elastic member  50  respectively coiling around the latching poles  321  of the plate portion  32  and the elastic member  50  tilts relative to the rotating member  30 . 
         [0022]    The rotating member  30  is assembled in the housing  10 , with the two hinge portions  322  respectively matching with the second slot sections  1222  of the latching slots  122 . The first pin  36  passes through the first hinge hole  3222  and latches with the second slot section  1222 , rotatably connecting the rotating member  30  with the lower base  12 . 
         [0023]    The two connecting members  40  are installed in the lower base  12 , with second connecting section  42  engaging with the lug  126 , and the second rotating hole  422  aligning with the first connecting hole  1262 . The fourth pin  46  passes through the second rotating hole  422  and the first connecting hole  1262 , rotatably connecting the connecting member  40  with the lower base  12 . 
         [0024]    The upper base  14  engages with the lower base  12 , with two hinge portions  322  of the plate portion  32  correspondingly extending from the two cutouts  142  of the upper base  14 , the second connecting section  42  of each connecting member  40  correspondingly extends from the engaging holes  144  of the upper base  14 . 
         [0025]    The rotating member  30  is assembled with the sliding cover  22 . The branch  342  of each extending arm  34  passes through the first connecting groove  222  from the second surface  223  of the sliding plate  22 , and the second hinge hole  3422  aligns with the second connecting hole  2224 . The second pin  38  passes through the second hinge hole  3422  and the second connecting hole  2224 , rotatably connects the rotating member  30  with the sliding plate  22 . 
         [0026]    The two connecting members  40  are assembled into the sliding plate  22 , and the first connecting section  41  of each connecting member  40  passes the second connecting groove  224  of the sliding plate  22 . The first rotating hole  412  aligns with the assembling hole  2244  of the sliding plate  22 . The third pin  44  passes through the first rotating hole  412  and the assembling hole  2244 , rotatably connects the connecting member  40  with the sliding plate  22 . 
         [0027]    The top plate  24  is mounted to the sliding plate  22 . The electronic device  100  is in a closed configuration, where the resisting section  52  of the elastic section  50  is accommodated in the resisting area  2262  of the sliding plate  22  and resists against one of the stopping blocks  226 . The hinge portions  322  of the rotating member  30  are respectively received in the cutouts  142  of the upper base  14 . The branches  342  are received in the first connecting grooves  222 . The second connecting section  42  of each connecting member  40  is received in the engaging hole  144 . The first connecting section  41  of each connecting member  40  is received in the second connecting groove  224 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , to open the cover  20 . The cover  20  can be pushed with an external force, making the distal end slide along the second upper surface  141  of the upper base  14 , enabling the two connecting members  40  and the rotating member  30  to rotate as a unit, tilting the opposite end of the cover  20 . At the same time, the elastic member  50  rotates along with the rotating member  30 . The resisting section  52  of the elastic member  50  resists against and slides in the resisting area  2262 , thus the side section  54  of the elastic member  50  is compressed, and potential energy is accumulated. After the resisting section  52  slides over a predetermined distance in the resisting area  2262 , the elastic member  50  releases potential elastic energy to drive the cover  20  to automatically slide until the resisting section  52  resists against the other stopping block  226 . Meanwhile, the end sliding along the second upper surface  141  of the housing  10  resists against the two stoppers  146  of the housing  10  and stops sliding. The cover  20  is in a slanted position relative to the housing  10 . 
         [0029]    To close the cover  20 , the end of the cover not abutting the second upper surface  141  of the cover  20  is pressed down with an external force, and the other end abutting on the second upper surface  141  of the cover  20  slides until the cover  20  substantially abuts the upper surface  141 . In the process, the resisting section  52  of the elastic member  50  slides and returns back to original position. 
         [0030]    It is noteworthy that, one of the two connecting members  40  can be omitted. The rotating member  30  can be formed into two separated extending arms  34 . Moreover, one of the two extending arms  34  can be omitted, and the other secures with the elastic member  50 . 
         [0031]    It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.