Patent Publication Number: US-2011050606-A1

Title: Portable electronic device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to portable electronic devices, particularly to a portable electronic device with a table-top support structure. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Portable electronic devices, such as cell phones, multimedia players, cameras, personal digital assistants and so on, play a very important role in most people&#39;s lives. Most portable electronic devices are equipped with a touch panel on the back surface thereof for convenience in using the electronic device. The surface of the touch panel is usually a planar smooth surface. However, in use, the surface of the touch panel of the electronic devices are prone to scratch and abrasion when contacting rough surfaces. The scratched and abraded touch panel surface degrades the smooth surface and response performance of the portable electronic devices. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a portable electronic device with a table-top support structure protecting the portable electronic device from scratch and abrasion when the portable electronic device is placed on a table or a support. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a portable electronic device in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the portable electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is another isometric view of the portable electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a portable electronic device in accordance with another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a portable electronic device  100  includes a main body  10  and a table-top support structure  20  pivoted on a back surface of the main body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the main body  10  includes a front shell  11  and a back shell  12  cooperatively forming a compartment for receiving electronic elements (not shown) of the portable electronic device  100  therein. The front shell  11  can have a display, control buttons, access interference, and other necessary elements (all not shown) installed for actualizing the necessary functions of the portable electronic device  100  formed thereon. The back shell  12  includes a surface  120  on which a frame  121  and a touch panel  122  are mounted. The touch panel  122  is surrounded by the frame  121 . The surface of the touch panel  122  is below the top surface of the frame  121  such that the frame  121  appears protruding above the surface of the touch panel  122 . The touch panel  122  is electrically connected to the electronic elements in the portable electronic device  100  to provide a touch control interface for users to use the device  100 . A recess  124  is defined in the frame  121  surrounding portions of the touch panel  122  to form a space for receiving the table-top support structure  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the recess  123  is U-shaped, and two shaft holes  123  are symmetrically defined in opposite side walls of the recess  124  adjacent to the opening end of the U-shape recess for a shaft of the table-top support structure  20  to pivot. 
     The table-top support structure  20  corresponds to the shape of the recess  124  of the frame  121  and is capable of being wholly accommodated in the recess  124 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the table-top support structure  20  is U-shaped and includes two legs  21 , a connecting arm  22  interconnecting the legs  21 , and a pair of shafts  23  symmetrically protruding outwards from the outer sides of the legs  21 . The connecting arm  22  is substantially perpendicular to the legs  21 . The shafts  23  are symmetrically formed on the legs  21  far away from the connecting arm  22 , and can be received in the corresponding shaft holes  123  for rotatably connecting the table-top support structure  20  to the frame  121 . The legs  21  and the connecting arm  22  can be made of elastic material that provides some flexibility for the legs  21 . 
     In assembly, the legs  21  are pressed inwards until the shafts  23  are inserted into the shaft holes  123  of the frame  121 . The pressed legs  21  are then released to restore automatically to its original shape due to the flexibility thereof. As such, the table-top support structure  20  is pivoted to the frame  121  of the main body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the table-top support structure  20  can be received in the recess  121  for the convenience of carrying and transporting. The frame  122  protects the surface  120  of the back shell  12  and touch panel  122  from scratch and abrasion when the portable electrical device  100  is laid on a rough surface. 
     In addition, when standing the portable electrical device  100  on a table, the table-top support structure  20  is rotated out from the recess  124  until the table-top support structure  20  and the main body  10  of the portable electrical device  100  cooperatively form a stable triangular structure that will firmly support the portable electrical device  100  on the table. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the frame  121  of the main body  10  can be eliminated by directly forming a recess  134  in the back shell surrounding the touch panel  122 . Similarly, the top surface of the table-top support structure  20  extends beyond the surface of the touch panel  122  when the table-top support structure  20  is received in the recess  124 . 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being embodiments of the disclosure.