Patent Publication Number: US-2020296849-A1

Title: Stand

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-046981, filed Mar. 14, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relates generally to a stand. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, stands for attachment to the housing of an electronic device are known. Such a stand includes a base attached to a first wall of the housing of an electronic device and two supports located on opposite ends of the base in a first direction and facing a second wall pair on both sides of the housing in the first direction. 
     It is beneficial to provide a stand of a novel structure that can save an installation space, for example. 
     It is thus preferable to provide a stand of a novel structure that can save an installation space. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect of this disclosure, a stand includes a base that is attached to a first wall of a housing of an electronic device and extends between a mounting surface and the first wall; and a first support that is located at one of opposite ends of the base in a first direction along the mounting surface, and faces one of a second wall pair standing on both sides of the housing in the first direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary perspective view of a stand according to one or more embodiments attached to a housing of an electronic device in a first posture and in a first state, with a first component separated from a second component; 
         FIG. 2  is another exemplary perspective view of the stand in one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary exploded perspective view of the stand in one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary perspective view of the housing of the electronic device to which the stand of one or more embodiments is attached, as viewed from an angle different from that in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exemplary side view of the stand of one or more embodiments attached to the housing of the electronic device in a second posture and in the first state, with the first component separated from the second component; 
         FIG. 6  is another exemplary side view of the stand of one or more embodiments attached to the housing of the electronic device in a second state, with the first component united with the second component; 
         FIG. 7  is an exemplary side view of the stand in  FIG. 1 , with the housing tilting oppositely to a wall surface; and 
         FIG. 8  is another exemplary side view of the stand in  FIG. 1  with the housing tilting toward the wall surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The features according to one or more embodiments described below and functions and effects attained by the features are presented for illustrative purposes only. One or more embodiments can be implemented by features other than the ones disclosed herein. One or more embodiments can implement at least one of the effects including derivative effects attained by the features. 
     Throughout this disclosure, ordinal numbers are used to distinguish parts, components, members, portions, positions, directions, and else, and are not intended to indicate order or priority. 
     Embodiments 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a stand  10  according to one or more embodiments. The stand  10  is attached to a housing  2  of an electronic device  1  in a first posture P 1  and in a first state S 1 , with a first component  11  separated from a second component  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the stand  30  is attached to the housing  2  of the electronic device  1  such as a computer tower of a desktop computer, for example. The stand  30  stands between the housing  2  and a mounting surface  100  of, for example, a desk, a counter, or a rack to support the housing  2  upright. 
     In the following, three orthogonal directions, X-direction, Y-direction, and Z-direction are defined for easier understanding. X-direction is along the depth or in anteroposterior direction of the housing  2  and along the width or transverse length of the stand  30 . Y-direction is along the width (horizontal length) of the housing  2  and along the length of the stand  30 . Z-direction is along the height (vertical length) of the housing  2  and along the height (thickness or vertical length) of the stand  30 . 
     The Y-direction is an exemplary first direction along the mounting surface  100 . The Z-direction is an exemplary second direction crossing the first direction. The X-direction is an exemplary third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction. In the following description, the X-direction may be referred to as a frontward direction. The opposite direction of the X-direction may be referred to as a rearward direction. The Y-direction may be referred to as a leftward direction. The opposite direction of the Y-direction may be referred to as a rightward direction. The Z-direction may be referred to as an upward direction. The opposite direction of the Z-direction may be referred to as a downward direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the housing  2  has, for example, a flat, rectangular-cuboid shape in the Y-direction. The housing  2  includes a plurality of walls such as a bottom wall  2   a,  a top wall  2   b,  a front wall  2   c,  a left wall  2   d,  a rear wall  2   e,  and a right wall  2   f.  The bottom wall  2   a  may be referred to as a lower wall, and the top wall  2   b  may be referred to as an upper wall. The front wall  2   c,  the left wall  2   d,  the rear wall  2   e,  and the right wall  2   f  may be referred to as sidewalls or peripheral walls. 
     The bottom wall  2   a  and the top wall  2   b  extend in a direction orthogonal to the Z-direction, or extend along an XY plane, and are spaced apart in parallel from each other in the Z-direction. The bottom wall  2   a  serves as the bottom end of the housing  2  and the top wall  2   b  serves as the top end of the housing  2 . The stand  10  includes a base  13 , as described later, which is fastened to the bottom wall  2   a  with fasteners  18  (see  FIG. 2 ) such as screws or bolts. The bottom wall  2   a  is an exemplary first wall. 
     The front wall  2   c  and the rear wall  2   e  extend in a direction orthogonal to the X-direction, or extend along an YZ plane, and are spaced apart in parallel from each other in the X-direction. The front wall  2   c  extends between the X-directional ends of the bottom wall  2   a  and the top wall  2   b.  The rear wall  2   e  extends between the opposite ends of the bottom wall  2   a  and the top wall  2   b  in the X-direction. The front wall  2   c  serves as the front end of the housing  2  and the rear wall  2   e  serves as the rear end of the housing  2 . The front wall  2   c  (see  FIG. 1 ) is equipped with, for example, an optical disc drive  3 , a power button  4 , and connectors  5 . 
     The left wall  2   d  and the right wall  2   f  extend in a direction orthogonal to the Y-direction, or extend along an XZ plane, and are spaced apart in parallel from each other in the Y-direction. The left wall  2   d  extends between the Y-directional ends of the bottom wall  2   a  and the top wall  2   b.  The right wall  2   f  extends between the opposite ends of the bottom wall  2   a  and the top wall  2   b  in the Y-direction. The left wall  2   d  serves as the left end of the housing  2  and the right wall  2   f  serves as the right end of the housing  2 . One of the left wall  2   d  and the right wall  2   f  faces a support  14  of the stand  10 , as described later, and is supported by the support  14 . The left wall  2   d  and the right wall  2   f  are an exemplary second wall. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the stand  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the stand  10  includes the base  13  and a pair of supports  14  and  15 , for example. The base  13  has a rectangular plate shape extending along the bottom wall  2   a.  The base  13  has an upper surface  13   d  in the Z direction and a lower surface  13   e  in the opposite direction of the Z direction. The upper surface  13   d  faces the bottom wall  2   a  while the lower surface  13   e  faces the mounting surface  100 . 
     Elastic members  17  are provided at the four corners of the upper surface  13   d,  to elastically support the bottom wall  2   a.  The elastic members  17  are made of elastomer or rubber, for example. The elastic members  17  at least partially protrude from the upper surface  13   d  in the Z direction to be accommodated in respective recesses  13   i  in the base  13 . The elastic members  17  are also referred to as buffers or cushions, for example. 
     The support  14  is located at one end  13   c   1  of opposite ends  13   c  of the base  13  in the Y direction. The support  15  is located at the other end  13   c   2  of the opposite ends  13   c  opposite the support  14 . The supports  14  and  15  protrude from the base  13  to both sides (outside) of the housing  2  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) in the Y direction and in the Z direction, to support the left wall  2   d  and the right wall  2   f,  respectively. The support  14  is an exemplary first support, and the support  15  is an exemplary second support. The supports  14  and  15  may be referred to as protrusions or overhangs, for example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the supports  14  and  15  has a substantially triangular prism shape as a whole, extending in the X direction, for example. In one or more embodiments, the supports  14  and  15  are plane-symmetric with respect to a virtual symmetry plane passing the Y-directional center of the base  13  and orthogonal to the Y direction. The supports  14  and  15  are in mirror-image relationship. The support  14  includes a side surface  14   a,  a lower surface  14   b,  and a tilted surface  14   c.  The support  15  includes a side surface  15   a,  a lower surface  15   b,  and a tilted surface  15   c.    
     The side surface  14   a  of the support  14  is on the housing  2  side (refer to  FIG. 6 ) and faces the lower end of the left wall  2   d.  The side surface  15   a  of the support  15  is on the housing  2  side and faces the lower end of the right wall  2   f.  The tilted surface  14   c  of the support  14  is on the opposite side of the housing  2 , and extends in a tilted manner from the Z-directional end of the side surface  14   a  to the opposite end of the lower surface  14   b  relative to the base  13 . The tilted surface  15   c  of the support  15  is on the opposite side of the housing  2 , and extends in a tilted manner from the Z-directional end of the side surface  15   a  to the opposite end of the lower surface  15   b  relative to the base  13 . The side surfaces  14   a  and  15   a  may be referred to as support surfaces, for example. 
     The lower surfaces  14   b  and  15   b  of the support  14  and the support  15  are both in the opposite direction of the Z direction and face a mounting surface  100 . In one or more embodiments, the lower surfaces  14   b  and  15   b  are tilted such that the further away from the base  13  outward in the Y direction and the opposite direction the lower surfaces  14   b  and  15   b  are, the further away from the mounting surface  100  they are. The lower surfaces  14   b  and  15   b  each include a contact part or region with the mounting surface  100  and a non-contact part or region apart from the mounting surface  100 . The lower surfaces  14   b  and  15   b  are an exemplary first surface. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the stand  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the stand  10  includes the first component  11  and the second component  12 , for example. The first component  11  includes at least the support  14  and a first part  13   a  serving as part of the base  13 . The second component  12  includes at least the support  15  and a second part  13   b  serving as part of the rest of the base  13 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the stand  10  is usable in the first state S 1  that the first component  11  is separated from the second component  12  and in a second state S 2  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) that the first component  11  is united with the second component  12 . This improves the degrees of freedom in usage form or mode of the stand  10 . The first component  11  may be referred to as a main component or a base component, for example. The second component  12  may be referred to as a sub-component, for example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the second part  13   b  is to be placed on the first part  13   a  in the Z direction. The second part  13   b  is provided with hooks  16  that protrude in the opposite direction of the Z direction. The first part  13   a  is provided with openings  13   g  through which the hooks  16  pass. The first component  11  and the second component  12  are detachably coupled to each other by snap fit, that is, fitting between tabs  16   b  of the hooks  16  and the periphery of the openings  13   g.    
     The hooks  16  are located at four corners of the second part  13   b,  for example. The hooks  16  each include a protrusion  16   a  and the tab  16   b.  The protrusion  16   a  passes through the opening  13   g  in the Z direction and the tab  16   b  is fitted into a lower surface  13   e  side of the opening  13   g.  Each tab  16   b  protrudes outwardly (outside the protrusion  16   a ) in the X direction away from the second part  13   b  of the protrusion  16   a.    
     The second part  13   b  is provided with a recess  13   k.  The recess  13   k  has a substantially U-shape opening in the Z direction, as viewed in the X direction. The recess  13   k  is offset from the center of the second part  13   b  in the Y direction (on the support  15  side), and extends in the X direction. The recess  13   k  bends in a convex shape from the wall of the second part  13   b  in the opposite direction of the Z direction. The recess  13   k  is an exemplary second passage, and may be referred to as a bend, for example. 
     The second part  13   b  is provided with through holes  13   m  and  13   n  passing in the Z direction. The through holes  13   m  and  13   n  are aligned with spacing in the X direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the fastener  18  is inserted into the through hole  13   m  to couple the base  13  and the bottom wall  2   a  together while a protrusion  19 , as described later, of the first part  13   a  is inserted into the through hole  13   n.  The through holes  13   m  and  13   n  may be referred to as clearance holes, for example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first part  13   a  is provided with recesses  13   f  and  13   h  that are dented from the upper surface  13   d  in the opposite direction of the Z direction. The recess  13   f  is located at substantially the center of the first part  13   a  in the X direction and extends in the Y direction. The recess  13   f  can accommodate the second part  13   b.  In one or more embodiments, while the second part  13   b  is accommodated in the recess  13   f,  i.e., in the second state S 2  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) that the first component  11  and the second component  12  are united together, the upper surface  13   d  of the first part  13   a  and the upper surface  13   d  of the second part  13   b  are flush with each other in the X direction. 
     The recess  13   h  is offset from the center of the first part  13   a  in the Y direction (toward the support  15  of the first part  13   a ) and corresponds to the recess  13   k.  The recess  13   h  can contain the recess  13   k.  The recess  13   h  extends between both X-directional ends of the first part  13   a  across the recess  13   f  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) and the bottom of the recess  13   f,  and passes through the first part  13   a  in the X direction. In the Z-direction, the recess  13   h  has a deeper depth at an X-directional center (the part accommodating the recess  13   k ) than the X directional, opposite ends. The recess  13   h  is an exemplary first passage. 
     In one or more embodiments, the recesses  13   h  and  13   k  communicate with each other in the X direction in the second state S 2  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) that the first component  11  and the second component  12  are united. The recesses  13   h  and  13   k  can accommodate a cable that connects the housing  2  of the electronic device  1  and a keyboard or a mouse, for example. The recesses  13   h  and  13   k  may be referred to as wiring passages, gaps, or openings, for example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the bottom of the recess  13   f  is provided with the openings  13   g.  The openings  13   g  are located at four corners of the recess  13   f  and corresponds to the hooks  16 , passing the first part  13   a  in the Z direction, for example. The lower surface  13   e  side of the opening  13   g  is fitted with the tab  16   b  of the hook  16 . An operator can easily release the engagement between the hook  16  and the opening  13   g  by pressing the tab  16   b  from the lower surface  13   e  of the base  13 . 
     The bottom of the recess  13   f  is provided with the protrusion  19  that corresponds to the through hole  13   n.  The protrusion  19  is offset in the opposite direction of the X direction from the fastener  18 , which is located at the X-directional center of the first part  13   a.  The protrusion  19  has a cylindrical shape along the periphery of an opening  2   h  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) in the bottom wall  2   a,  for example. The protrusion  19  may be referred to as a first positioner or an engaging pin, for example. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the housing  2  of the electronic device  1 , as viewed from an angle different from that in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5  is a side view of the stand  10 . In  FIG. 5 , the stand  10  is attached to the housing  2  in a second posture P 2  and in the first state S 1  that the first component  11  is separated from the second component  12 .  FIG. 6  is another side view of the stand  10 . In  FIG. 6 , the stand  10  is attached to the housing  2  in the second state S 2  that the first component  11  is united with the second component  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the bottom wall  2   a  is provided with central holes  2   g  and two pairs of openings  2   h.  The central holes  2   g  are provided to opposite ends of the bottom wall  2   a  in the X direction, for example. The inner surface of the central hole  2   g  is provided with a female screw that engages with a male screw of the fastener  18  to connect the bottom wall  2   a  and the base  13 . In one or more embodiments, two stands  10  (refer to  FIG. 1 ) are attachable to the bottom wall  2   a  corresponding to the central holes  2   g.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the openings  2   h  are located at both ends of the bottom wall  2   a  across the central holes  2   g  in the X direction. In other words, the openings  2   h  are arranged around the axis of the central holes  2   g  with 180-degree intervals. The openings  2   h  are recesses opening in the opposite direction of the Z direction, i.e., toward the stand  10 . The protrusion  19  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) is inserted into the openings  2   h.  The openings  2   h  may be referred to as a second positioner, for example. 
     In one or more embodiments, the protrusion  19  and one of the openings  2   h  are fitted together to position the first component  11  on the bottom wall  2   a  in the first state S 1  and in the first posture P 1  (refer to  FIGS. 1 and 7 ). The protrusion  19  and the other of the openings  2   h  are fitted together to position the first component  11  on the bottom wall  2   a  in the first state S 1  and in the second posture P 2  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). In the first posture P 1 , the support  14  of the first component  11  faces the left wall  2   d.  In the second posture P 2 , the support  14  faces the right wall  2   f.    
     In one or more embodiments, by fitting between one of the openings  2   h  and the protrusion  19 , the stand  10  can be positioned on the bottom wall  2   a  in the second state S 2  (refer to  FIG. 6 ). Thus, the stand  10  of one or more embodiments is usable in multiple modes including the first posture P 1  (refer to  FIGS. 1 and 7 ) in which the support  14  supports the left wall  2   d,  the second posture P 2  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) in which the support  14  supports the right wall  2   f,  and the second state S 2  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) in which the support  14  supports the right wall  2   f  and the support  15  supports the left wall  2   d.    
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the stand  10  in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 7 , the housing  2  is tilted oppositely to a wall surface  101 .  FIG. 8  is another side view of the stand  10  in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 8 , the housing  2  is tilted toward the wall surface  101 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in one or more embodiments, the housing  2  of the electronic device  1  is installed near the wall surface  101  intersecting the mounting surface  100  through the stand  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in one or more embodiments, when the housing  2  is tilted with respect to the mounting surface  100  oppositely to the wall surface  101  due to an event such as an earthquake, for example, the lower surface  14   b  (tilted surface) of the support  14  becomes parallel to the mounting surface  100  and substantially entirely contacts the mounting surface  100 . This prevents the housing  2  from further tilting oppositely to the wall surface  101  after the contact between the lower surface  14   b  and the mounting surface  100 . The support  14  may be referred to as an inclination preventer, for example. 
     In one or more embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , when the housing  2  is tilted with respect to the mounting surface  100  toward the wall surface  101 , the end (right corner) of the housing  2  contacts the wall surface  101 . This prevents the housing  2  from being further tilted toward the wall surface  101  after the contact between the housing  2  and the wall surface  101 . 
     As described above, the stand  10  of one or more embodiments includes the base  13  that is attached to the bottom wall  2   a  (first wall) of the housing  2  of the electronic device  1  and extends between the mounting surface  100  and the bottom wall  2   a,  and the support  14  (first support) located at one end  13   c   1  of opposite ends  13   c  of the base  13  in the Y direction (first direction) along the mounting surface  100  and facing one of the left wall  2   d  and the right wall  2   f  (second walls) on both sides of the housing  2  in the Y direction. 
     Owing to such a structure, to place the housing  2  of the electronic device  1  near the wall surface  101  intersecting the mounting surface  100 , the stand  10  can omit the support on the wall surface  101  side, unlike the conventional structure. Thereby, the base  13  and the housing  2  are placed closer to the wall surface  101 . Consequently, it is made possible to provide the stand  10  of a novel structure that can save an installation space, for example. 
     The stand  10  of one or more embodiments includes the first component  11  and the second component  12 . The first component  11  includes the first part  13   a  serving as part of the base  13  and the support  14 . The second component  12  includes the second part  13   b  and the support  15 , and is detachable from the first component  11 . The second part  13   b  serves as part of the base  13  and is to be placed on the first part  13   a  in the Z direction (second direction) intersecting the mounting surface  100 . The support  15  (second support) is located at the other end  13   c   2  of the base  13  opposite to the support  14 , and faces the other of the left wall  2   d  and the right wall  2   f.    
     Owing to such a structure, the stand  10  is usable in the first state S 1 , with the second component  12  separated from the first component  11 , for example. It is thus possible to provide the stand  10  including the support  14  at one end  13   c   1  of the base  13  alone. Further, it is possible to provide the stand  10  usable both in the first state S 1  that the second component  12  is separated from the first component  11  and in the second state S 2  that the second component  12  is united with the first component  11 , for example. 
     In one or more embodiments, the first part  13   a  is provided with the recess  13   h  (first passage) that extends in the X direction (third direction) while the second part  13   b  is provided with the recess  13   k  (second passage) that communicates with the recess  13   h  in the X direction in the second state S 2  that the second component  12  is united with the first component  11 . 
     Owing to such a structure, it is possible to provide the stand  10  with the recesses  13   h  and  13   k  which allow wiring of a cable to connect the housing  2  of the electronic device  1  and a keyboard or a mouse in the first state S 1  and the second state S 2 , for example. 
     In one or more embodiments, the first component  11  is attachable to the bottom wall  2   a  in two postures, the first posture P 1  in which the support  14  faces the left wall  2   d  (one wall) and the second posture P 2  in which the support  14  faces the right wall  2   f  (the other wall). 
     Owing to such a structure, the stand  10  can be placed irrespective of the position of the wall surface  101  relative to the housing  2 , i.e., on the right wall  2   f  side or the left wall  2   d  side. This can improve the degrees of freedom in layout of the housing  2 , for example. 
     In one or more embodiments, the first component  11  includes the protrusion  19  that protrudes in the Z direction from the first part  13   a  to position the first component  11  in the first posture P 1  and the second posture P 2  on the bottom wall  2   a.    
     Owing to such a structure, the protrusion  19  works to position the first component  11  in both the first posture P 1  and the second posture P 2 , for example, which enables easier, more smooth, and more accurate attachment of the first component  11  to the bottom wall  2   a.    
     In one or more embodiments, the supports  14  and  15  each face the mounting surface  100 . The supports  14  and  15  have the lower surface  14   b  and the lower surface  15   b  (first surfaces), respectively. The lower surface  14   b  and the lower surface  15   b  are tilted in such a manner that the further away from the base  13  they are, the further away from the mounting surface  100  they are. 
     Owing to such a structure, in the case that the housing  2  is tilted due to vibration, the contact between the lower surface  14   b  and the lower surface  15   b,  and the mounting surface  100  can work to prevent the housing  2  from being further tilted, for example. Thus, the housing  2  improves in terms of stability. 
     According to one aspect of this disclosure, it is possible to provide a stand of a novel structure that can save an installation space. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.