Patent Publication Number: US-2013248676-A1

Title: Supporting component

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 101109757 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Mar. 21, 2012, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to a supporting component, and more particularly, to a supporting component of a mobile device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, portable electronic devices have become more and more popular. For example, designs for portable electronic devices, such as notebooks, tablet computers or smart phones connecting with external keyboards, have been well developed. When using a portable electronic device including an input device, such as a keyboard, a user usually lifts up the screen of the portable electronic device, and then gives the portable electronic device commands by the input device on the base of the portable electronic device, such as a keyboard. Usually, the screen is pivotabbly connected to the base around the edge. However, for visual considerations (i.e. convenience), the screen is lifted up from the base by an angle greater than 90 degrees. Therefore, the orthographic projection of the center of gravity of the screen is beyond the base. As the notebooks have become lighter, the notebooks are more likely to topple over because the screens of the notebooks have not been lightened. When the user uses a tablet computer with a base including a keyboard, the tablet computer is more likely to topple over because the tablet computer is usually heavier than the base including a keyboard. Therefore, it is not user-friendly and safety considerations have derived. 
     According to the above problems, some portable electronic devices further include a bracket, and the bracket supports the screen, so that the center of gravity is on the base. Therefore, the problem that the portable electronic devices topple over because the center of gravity is beyond the base is avoided. However, the center of gravity is usually at the central section of a matter. When the user considers keeping the orthographic projection of the center of gravity of the screen in the base, then part of the screen covers the base, so that the part of the base covered by the screen can not be used. Also, when lifting the screen, the user usually needs to spend extra time to adjust the bracket so as to keep the center of gravity in the base. Therefore, how to avoid the screen from toppling over and to support the screen immediately, have become the problems needed to be solved in the filed of the corresponding electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an embodiment, a supporting component comprising a bottom base, a top base, a supporting plate, and a supporting unit is disclosed. A lateral surface of the bottom base includes an accommodating groove. The top base is pivotabbly connected to the lateral surface of the bottom base around a first pivot. The supporting plate is movably disposed at the accommodating groove. The supporting unit is pivotabbly connected to the top base around a second pivot, and the supporting unit is pivotabbly connected to the supporting plate around a third pivot. The top base is at a closing position when the top base approaches the bottom base. The top base is at an opening position when the top base deviates from the bottom base. When the top base pivots around the first pivot from the closing position to the opening position, the top base pushes the supporting unit so as to push the supporting plate, so that the supporting plate sticks out from the accommodating groove. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus does not limit the present disclosure, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic perspective view of a supporting component clamping a mobile device when a top base is at a closing position according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic perspective view of a supporting component separating from a mobile device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 1C  is an exploded perspective view of a supporting component according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 1D  is a sectional view of the supporting component in  FIG. 1A  when the top base is at an opening position; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of a supporting component clamping a mobile device when a top base is at a closing position according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic perspective view of a supporting component clamping a mobile device when a top base is at a closing position according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3B  is a sectional view of the supporting component in  FIG. 3A  when the top base is at an opening position; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic perspective view of a supporting component clamping a mobile device when a top base is at a closing position according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 4B  is an exploded perspective view of a supporting component according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 4C  is a sectional view of the supporting component in  FIG. 4A  when the top base is at the closing position; 
         FIGS. 4D to 4F  are sectional views of the supporting component in  FIG. 4C  during the process of the supporting component moving from the closing position to opening position; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of a supporting component clamping a mobile device when a top base is at a closing position according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 1A  is a schematic perspective view of a supporting component  10  clamping a mobile device  20  when a top base is at a closing position according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The mobile device  20  is, for example, a tablet computer or a smart phone. Please refer to  FIG. 1B .  FIG. 1B  is a schematic perspective view of a supporting component  10  separating from a mobile device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The supporting component  10  comprises a bottom base  110 , a top base  120 , a supporting plate  130 , and a supporting unit  140 . Please refer to  FIG. 1C .  FIG. 1C  is an exploded perspective view of a supporting component  10  according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The bottom base  110  includes a lateral surface  111 . The lateral surface  111  includes an accommodating groove  112 . The top base  120  is pivottably connected to the lateral surface  111  of the bottom base  110  by a first pivot  161 . The supporting plate  130  is movably disposed at the accommodating groove  112 . Therefore, the supporting plate  130  sticks out from the accommodating groove  112  along a drawing direction Dl or the supporting plate  130  embeds into the accommodating groove  112  along an inserting direction D 2 . The drawing direction Dl is opposite to the inserting direction D 2 . The supporting unit  140  is pivottably connected to the top base  120  by a second pivot  162 . The first pivot  161  and the second pivot  162  are kept apart by a distance, so that the first pivot  161  and the second pivot  162  are not coaxial. The supporting unit  140  is pivottably connected to the supporting plate  130  by a third pivot  163 . 
     In this embodiment, the shape of the supporting unit  140  is plane-like, but the shape of the supporting unit  140  is not to limit to the invention. In this and some other embodiments, the supporting component  10  further comprises two wheels  170 , but the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the supporting component  10  comprises a single wheel or the supporting component  10  comprises multiple wheels. In this embodiment, the two wheels  170  are disposed at the supporting plate  130 . The axial direction of the two wheels  170  are perpendicular to the drawing direction Dl and the inserting direction D 2 , so that the movement of the two wheels  170  in the accommodating groove  112  along the drawing direction D 1  and the inserting direction D 2  is satisfied. In this embodiment, the bottom base  110  includes an input device  113 . The input device  113  is, for instance, a keyboard. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1D .  FIG. 1D  is a sectional view of the supporting component  10  in  FIG. 1A  when the top base  120  is at an opening position. In this embodiment, the top base  120  includes a clamping space  121  so that the mobile device  20  is able to be disposed at the supporting component  10 . The top base  120  includes a connecting port  122  in the clamping space  121 . Therefore, when the supporting component  10  connects to the mobile device  20 , the input device  113  of the supporting component  10  is able to transmit the signals to the mobile device  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1D , when the mobile device  20  is lifted up, the top base  120  pivots around the first pivot  161  clockwise from the closing position approaching the bottom base  110  so as to deviate from the bottom base  110 . The top base  120  pushes the supporting unit  140  toward a right direction by the second pivot  162 . The supporting unit  140  pushes the supporting plate  130  toward a right direction by the third pivot  163 , so that the supporting plate  130  sticks out from the accommodating groove  112  along the drawing direction Dl. When the distance that the supporting plate  130  sticking out from the accommodating groove  112  reaches a maximum, the supporting plate  130  can not move toward a right direction anymore. Therefore, the supporting plate  130  of the supporting component  10  restricts the movement of the supporting unit  140  by the third pivot  163 , so that the supporting unit  140  supports the top base  120 , and the top base  120  does not further rotate clockwise. In other embodiments, the top base  120  restricts the rotation of the second pivot  162 , so that the supporting unit  140  can not rotate counterclockwise, as well as the supporting unit  140  supports the top base  120  and the top base  120  does not further rotate clockwise. 
     Therefore, as a user lifts up the top base  120 , the top base  120  moves from the closing position to the opening position being supported by the supporting unit  140  automatically. Also, the orthographic projection of the top base  120  is not on the bottom base  110 , so that there is more space in the bottom base  110  for the user&#39;s usage. Therefore, it becomes more convenient. 
     When the user considers moving the top base  120  from the opening position (as shown in  FIG. 1D ) to the closing position, the user closes the mobile device  20 , so that the top base  120  pivots around the first pivot  161 . The top base  120  drives the supporting unit  140  moving by the second pivot  162 , and the top base  120  drives the supporting plate  130  moving along the inserting direction D 2  by the third pivot  163 , so that the supporting plate  130  embeds into the accommodating groove  112  gradually. When the top base  120  approaches the bottom base  110  (as shown in  FIG. 1A ), the supporting plate  130  substantially and fully embeds into the accommodating groove  112 , as well as the top base  120  is at the closing position. Therefore, when the user closes the top base  120 , the top base  120  moves from the opening position to the closing position automatically, so that further manipulations are not required. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of a supporting component  10   a  clamping a mobile device  20  when a top base is at a closing position according to another embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the supporting component  10   a  is similar to the supporting component  10  in  FIG. 1A . In this embodiment, the shape of a supporting unit  140   a  is pillar-like, and the number of the supporting units  140   a  is two, but the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the number of the supporting units  140   a  is one or greater than two. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 3A and 3B .  FIG. 3A  is a schematic perspective view of a supporting component  10 ′ clamping a mobile device  20  when a top base  120  is at a closing position according to another embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 3B  is a sectional view of the supporting component  10 ′ in  FIG. 3A  when the top base  120  is at an opening position. In this embodiment, the supporting component  10 ′ comprises a bottom base  110 , a top base  120 , a supporting plate  130 , and a supporting unit  140 ′. In this embodiment, the supporting plate  130  further includes an extending portion  130   a.  When the top base  120  is at the closing position, part of the bottom base  110  and the top base  120  are between the extending portion  130   a  and the supporting plate  130 . The supporting unit  140 ′ is pivottably connected to the extending portion  130   a  by the third pivot  163 ′. The shape of the supporting unit  140 ′ is, for example, plane-like, but the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the shape of the supporting unit  140 ′ is pillar-like. 
     As shown  FIG. 3B , when the mobile device  20  is lifted up, the top base  120  pivots around the first pivot  161  clockwise from the closing position approaching the bottom base  120  so as to deviate from the bottom base  110 . The top base  120  pushes the supporting unit  140 ′ toward a right direction by the second pivot  162 . The supporting unit  140 ′ pushes the extending portion  130   a  of the supporting plate  130  toward a right direction by the third pivot  163 ′, so that the supporting plate  130  sticks out from the accommodating groove  112  along the drawing direction Dl. When the distance that the supporting plate  130  sticking out from the accommodating groove  112  reaches a maximum, the supporting plate  130  can not further move toward a right direction. Therefore, the supporting plate  130  of the supporting component  10 ′ restricts the movement of the supporting unit  140 ′ by the extending portion  130   a  and the third pivot  163 ′, so that the supporting unit  140 ′ supports the top base  120 , and the top base  120  does not further rotate clockwise. In other embodiments, the top base  120  restricts the rotation of the second pivot  162 , so that the supporting unit  140 ′ does not further rotate counterclockwise, as well as the supporting unit  140 ′ supports the top base  120  and the top base  120  does not further rotate clockwise. 
     Therefore, as a user lifts up the top base  120 , the top base  120  moves from the closing position to the opening position being supported by the supporting unit  140 ′ automatically. Also, the orthographic projection of the top base  120  is not on the bottom base  110 , so that there is more space in the bottom base  110  for the user&#39;s usage. Therefore, it becomes more convenient. 
     When the user consider to move the top base  120  from the opening position (as shown in  FIG. 3B ) to the closing position, the user closes the mobile device  20 , so that the top base  120  pivots around the first pivot  161  counterclockwise. The top base  120  drives the supporting unit  140 ′ moving by the second pivot  162 , and the top base  120  drives the extending portion  130   a  moving by the third pivot  163 , so that the supporting plate  130  moves along the inserting direction D 2  and the supporting plate  130  embeds into the accommodating groove  112  gradually. When the top base  120  approaches the bottom base  110  (as shown in  FIG. 3A ), the supporting plate  130  substantially and fully embeds into the accommodating groove  112 , as well as the top base  120  is at the closing position. Therefore, when the user closes the top base  120 , the top base  120  moves from the opening position to the closing position automatically, so that further manipulations are not required. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 4A  is a schematic perspective view of a supporting component  10   b  clamping a mobile device  20  when a top base is at a closing position according to another embodiment of the disclosure. The supporting component  10   b  comprises a bottom base  110 , a top base  120 , a supporting plate  130 , a first supporting unit  140   b,  and a second supporting unit  150   b.  Please refer to  FIG. 4B .  FIG. 4B  is an exploded perspective view of a supporting component  10   b  according to another embodiment of the disclosure. The bottom base  110  includes a lateral surface  111 . The lateral surface  111  includes an accommodating groove  112 . The top base  120  is pivottably connected to the lateral surface  111  of the bottom base  110  by a first pivot  161 . The supporting plate  130  is movably disposed at the accommodating groove  112 . Therefore, the supporting plate  130  sticks out from the accommodating groove  112  along a drawing direction Dl or the supporting plate  130  embeds into the accommodating groove  112  along an inserting direction D 2 . The drawing direction Dl is opposite to the inserting direction D 2 . The first supporting unit  140   b  is pivottably connected to the top base  120  by a second pivot  162 . The first pivot  161  and the second pivot  162  are kept apart by a distance, so that the first pivot  161  and the second pivot  162  are not coaxial. The second supporting unit  150   b  is pivottably connected to the supporting plate  130  by a third pivot  163 . Also, the second supporting unit  150   b  is pivottably connected to the first supporting unit  140   b  by a fourth pivot  164 . 
     In this embodiment, the supporting component  10   b  further comprises two wheels  170 , but the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the supporting component  10   b  comprises a single wheel or the supporting component  10   b  comprises multiple wheels. In this embodiment, the two wheels  170  are disposed at the supporting plate  130 . The axial of the two wheels  170  are perpendicular to the drawing direction Dl and the inserting direction D 2 , so that the movement of the two wheels  170  in the accommodating groove  112  along the drawing direction D 1  and the inserting direction D 2  is satisfied. In this embodiment, the bottom base  110  includes an input device  113 . The input device  113  is, but not limited to, a keyboard. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4C .  FIG. 4C  is a sectional view of the supporting component  10   b  in  FIG. 4A  when the top base is at the closing position. In this embodiment, the second supporting unit  150   b  includes a concave surface  151 . The concave surface  151  of the second supporting unit  150   b  faces the first pivot  161  when the top base  120  is at the closing position. The top base  120  includes a clamping space  121  so that the supporting component  10   b  is able to clamp the mobile device  20 . The top base  120  includes a connecting port  122  in the clamping space  121 . Therefore, when the supporting component  10   b  connects to the mobile device  20 , the input device  113  of the supporting component  10   b  is able to transmit the signals to the mobile device  20 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4D to 4F .  FIGS. 4D to 4F  are sectional views of the supporting component  10   b  in  FIG. 4C  during the process of the supporting component  10   b  moving from the closing position to opening position. As shown in  FIG. 4D , when the mobile device  20  is lifted up, the top base  120  pivots around the first pivot  161  clockwise from the closing position approaching the bottom base  110  so as to deviate from the bottom base  110 . At this moment, the included angle between the top base  120  and the bottom base  110  is roughly  90  degrees. The top base  120  pushes the first supporting unit  140   b  toward a right direction by the second pivot  162 . The first supporting unit  140   b  drives the second supporting unit  150   b  moving by the fourth pivot  164 , and the first supporting unit  140   b  pushes the supporting plate  130  toward a right direction by the third pivot  163 , so that the supporting plate  130  sticks out from the accommodating groove  112  along the drawing direction D 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4E , when the top base  120  further pivots around the first pivot  161  clockwise (as shown in  FIG. 4E ) deviating from the bottom base  110 , the included angle between the top base  120  and the bottom base  110  is roughly  120  degrees. The top base  120  pushes the first supporting unit  140   b  toward a right direction by the second pivot  162 . Also, the fourth pivot  164  moves toward the supporting plate  130  so as to bend the included angle between the first supporting unit  140   b  and the second supporting unit  150   b,  so that the first supporting unit  140   b  rotates clockwise, and the second supporting unit  150   b  rotates counterclockwise. Therefore, the second supporting unit  150   b  pushes the supporting plate  130  toward a right direction by the third pivot  163 , so that the supporting plate  130  moves along the drawing direction D 1  and the supporting plate  130  sticks out from the accommodating groove  112 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4F , when the top base  120  further pivots around the first pivot  161  clockwise deviating from the bottom base  110 , the included angle between the top base  120  and the bottom base is roughly  140  degrees. The top base  120  pushes the first supporting unit  140   b  toward a lower right direction by the second pivot  162 , and the top base  120  pushes the fourth pivot  164  toward a down direction, so that the fourth pivot  164  further moves toward the supporting plate  130  until the fourth pivot  164  leans against the supporting plate  130 . At this moment, the top base  120  is at the opening position. The concave surface  151  of the second supporting unit  150   b  faces the supporting plate  130  when the top base  120  is at the opening position. When the distance that the supporting plate  130  sticking out from the accommodating groove  112  reaches a maximum, the supporting plate  130  cannot move toward a right direction anymore. Therefore, the first supporting unit  140   b  of the supporting component  10   b  supports the top base  120  by the fourth pivot  164  leaning against the supporting plate  130 , so that the top base  120  does not further rotate clockwise. In other embodiments, the top base  120  restricts the rotation of the second pivot  162 , so that the first supporting unit  140   b  does not rotate counterclockwise. Moreover, the first supporting unit  140   b  supports the top base  120 , so that the top base  120  does not further rotate clockwise. 
     Therefore, the user only needs to lift up the top base  120 , the top base  120  moves from the closing position to the opening position being supported by the first supporting unit  140   b.  Also, the orthographic projection of the top base  120  is not on the bottom base  110  so that there is more space in the bottom base  110  for the user&#39;s usage. Therefore, it becomes more convenient. 
     When the user consider to move the top base  120  from the opening position (as shown in  FIG. 4F ) to the closing position, the user closes the mobile deice  20 , so that the top base  120  pivots around the first pivot  161  counterclockwise. The top base  120  drives the first supporting unit  140   b  moving by the second pivot  162 , and the top base  120  drives the second supporting unit  150   b  moving by the fourth pivot  164 , so that the fourth pivot  164  deviates from the supporting plate  130  gradually. As shown in  FIG. 4E , while the top base  120  pivots further around the first pivot  161  counterclockwise, the included angle between the first supporting unit  140   b  and the second supporting unit  150  is smaller, so that the second supporting unit  150   b  drives the supporting plate  130  moving along the inserting direction D 2  by the third pivot  163 , and the supporting plate  130  embeds into the accommodating groove  112  gradually. As shown in  FIG. 4D , when the top base  120  further pivots around the first pivot  161  counterclockwise, the top base  120  drives the first supporting unit  140   b  and the second supporting unit  150   b  moving, so that the supporting plate  130  embeds into the accommodating groove  112 . When the top base  120  approaches the bottom base  110  (as shown in  FIG. 4C ), the supporting plate  130  is substantially and fully embeded into the accommodating groove  112 , as well as the top base  120  is at the closing position. 
     Therefore, when the user closes the top base  120 , the top base  120  moves from the opening position to the closing position automatically, so that further manipulations are not required. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of a supporting component  10   c  clamping a mobile device  20  when a top base  120  is at a closing position according to another embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the supporting component  10   c  is similar to the supporting component  10   c  in  FIG. 4A . In this embodiment, the supporting component  10   c  is similar to the supporting component  10   b  in  FIG. 4A . However, in the embodiment, the shapes of the first supporting unit  140   c  and the second supporting unit  150   c  are pillar-like, and the numbers of the first supporting unit  140   c  and the second supporting unit  150   c  are relatively two, but the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the numbers of the first supporting unit  140   c  and the second supporting unit  150   c  are one or greater than two. 
     According to the embodiments of the disclosure, the top base drives the supporting plate moving from the accommodating groove. Therefore, when the top base is at the closing position, the user only needs to lift up the top base, and then the top base moves from the closing position to the opening position being supported by the supporting unit automatically. Also, the top base is pivottably connected to the lateral surface of the bottom base, so that the orthographic projection of the top base is not on the bottom base. Therefore, there is more space in the bottom base for the user&#39;s usage and it becomes more convenient. When the top base is at the opening position, the user only needs to close the top base, and then the supporting component drives the supporting plate embedding into the accommodating groove, so that the top base moves from the opening position to the closing position automatically, as well as further manipulations are not required. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.