Abstract:
A stand for an electronic device includes a front plate having a channel at a bottom edge thereof for accepting an edge of an electronic device therein, a back plate hingedly connected to the front plate, and a pair of arms extending from opposed sides of the front plate. The arms are adjustable so as to vary a distance between distal ends of the arms to accommodate the electronic device therebetween.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to stands, holders and supports designed to display electronic devices for easy viewing and, more particularly, to a desktop-integrated stand for a tablet computer. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Stands and supports that allow readers of conventional books to place their reading material at a comfortable reading level and prevent eyestrain and fatigue of the neck, arms and hands are known. With the increasing availability and widespread use of electronic books, smart phones and tablet computers, however, stands for these devices are in demand. In particular, many schools throughout the country are now utilizing tablet computers as teaching devices in the classroom. Tablet computers in the classroom can be cumbersome to use, are prone to sliding off of desks resulting in damage, and can be difficult to hold and maintain at proper viewing angles during use. 
         [0003]    In view of the above, there is a need for a stand for a tablet computer and other electronic devices that can be integrated with a desk, which is easy to use, and which allows a user to maintain such tablet computer or electronic device in a comfortable and convenient viewing position. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a stand for an electronic device. 
         [0005]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a stand for an electronic device that is integrated with a desk. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a stand for an electronic device that prevents such device from sliding off of a desk. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a stand for an electronic device that is moveable between a stowed position off of the surface of a desk and an extended, ‘use’ position. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a stand for an electronic device that supports such electronic device in either a horizontal or vertical position. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention provide a stand for an electronic device that can accommodate electronic devices of various sizes. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a stand for an electronic device that is ergonomic. 
         [0011]    A stand for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a front plate having a channel at a bottom edge thereof for accepting an edge of an electronic device therein, a back plate hingedly connected to the front plate, and a pair of arms extending from opposed sides of the front plate. The arms are adjustable so as to vary a distance between distal ends of the arms to accommodate the electronic device therebetween. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The present invention will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a desk and integrated stand for an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 2-12  are various views of the desk and integrated stand of  FIG. 1  showing the stand in various positions. 
           [0015]      FIG. 13  is a partially exploded view of the stand according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of guide members of the desk and integrated stand of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a desk and integrated stand supporting an electronic device in a stowed position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a desk and integrated stand supporting an electronic device in a vertical orientation and in an extended, ‘use’ position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a desk and integrated stand supporting an electronic device in a horizontal orientation and in an extended, ‘use’ position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged view of the integrated stand supporting an electronic device in a vertical orientation and in an extended, ‘use’ position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged view of the integrated stand supporting an electronic device in a horizontal orientation and in an extended, ‘use’ position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0022]    With reference to the drawings, a desk  10  having an integrated stand  12  for an electronic device is shown. As best shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the stand  12  includes a front plate  14  and a back plate  16  that are connected to one another via a living hinge  18 . The front plate  14  and back plate  16  are generally rectangular in shape. The back plate  16  is longer, however, than the front plate  14 , and has flared or outstanding projections  19  at the bottom thereof that aid in coupling the stand to the desk  10 . The front plate also includes a pair of feet  20  that contact a support surface, such as desk  10 , and that generally define a pair of channels  22  for receiving the bottom edge of, and retaining, an electronic device, as discussed in detail hereinafter. 
         [0023]    Turning now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the front plate  14  also includes a pair of adjustable retaining arms  24  that extend from the sides of the front plate  14 . The arms  24  are slidably connected to the front plate  24  and extendable generally horizontally therefrom, by means known in the art. For example the retaining arms may be housed in a guide channel (not shown) in or attached to the back of the front plate  14 . The arms  24  are manually extendable from a narrow position, as shown in  FIG. 6 , in which the distance between the distal ends of the arms  24  is generally the same width as the front plate  14 , to an extended position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , in which the distance between the distal ends of the arms  24  is much greater than the width of the front plate  14 . The distal ends of the retaining arms  24  define a channel similar to channel  22  of feet  20  for receiving and retaining the edges of an electronic device, as discussed in detail hereinafter. Importantly, the adjustable arms  24  allow the stand to be customized to support electronic devices of various sizes, and in multiple orientations. 
         [0024]    As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the front plate  14  and back plate  16  may be connected at their respective centers by a tether  26 . As will be readily appreciated, the tether  26  prevents the ‘opening’ biasing action of the living hinge  18  from separating the front and back plates  14 ,  16  to an excessive degree. In particular, the tether  26  maintains an optimum angle at the hinge  18  between the front plate  14  and back plate  16  so that an electronic device supported by the stand  12  is maintained in a comfortable and convenient viewing position. 
         [0025]    In an embodiment, the stand  12  may be manufactured from plastic, although other materials known in the art may also be utilized. 
         [0026]    The manner in which the stand  12  is secured to a desk  10  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  7 ,  8  and  10 - 14 . As shown therein, the desk  10  includes a cut-away portion  40  at the front edge thereof (opposite where a user sits). In other embodiments, the cut-away portion may be omitted. A generally rectangular pocket  42  is secured to the desk  10  in the area of the cut-away portion  40  by means known in the art, such as through the use of screws, rivets and the like. In the preferred embodiment, the pocket  42  is open at both ends to prevent the accumulation of dust and debris therein. 
         [0027]    Movement of the stand  12  in an out of the pocket  42  is regulated by rail slides  44 . These rail slides are best shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the rail slides  44  are secured to the rear wall of the pocket  42 . The projections  19  of the back plate  16  are engaged with the rail slides  44  such that the back plate  16  may translate upwards or downwards within the rail slides  44 . The rail slides  44  also include position stops  46  at the top thereof that limit the upwards travel of the back plate  16 , thereby preventing the stand  12  from being separated from the desk  10 . In particular, as the stand  12  is drawn upwards from the pocket  42 , the projections  19  travel within the rail slides  44  until the projections  19  contact the position stops  46 . 
         [0028]    By traveling within the rail slides  44 , the stand  12  may be transitioned from a stowed position within the pocket  42 , as shown in  FIGS. 10-12 , and a ‘use’ or extended position, as shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , in which the front plate  14  is at an optimum viewing angle for a user. 
         [0029]    In operation, the stand  12  may be in a stowed position within the pocket  42  of the desk. A user may grasp the stand  12  in the area of the living hinge  18  and pull the stand  12  from the pocket  42 . When the feet  20  of the front plate  14  clear the top surface of the desk  10 , the biasing force of the living hinge  18  causes the front plate to automatically rotate forward, towards a user, about hinge  18 . As discussed above, this rotation is limited by tether  26 . Moreover, as discussed above, upwards travel of the stand  12  from the pocket is limited by position stops  46  in the rail slides  44 . As will be readily appreciated, in use, a user must simply pull upwards on the stand  12  until the feet  20  of the front plate clear the edge of the desk  10 , and the stand  12  will automatically position itself in proper position (i.e., such that an optimum angle of the front plate  14  in relation to a user is realized). 
         [0030]    Once in this position, a user may place an electronic device, such as a tablet computer  50  on the stand  12  such that the bottom edge of the table computer is engaged with channels  22  of feet  20 . A user may then adjust the retaining arms  24  such that the channels in the retaining arms engage the respective sides of the electronic device  50 . Importantly, by adjusting the retaining arms  24 , the electronic device may be retained in either a vertical orientation on the stand  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 16 and 18 , or in a horizontal /landscape orientation, as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 19 . In addition, as discussed above, the adjustable retaining arms  24  permit electronic devices of varying sizes to be accommodated on the stand  12 . Notably, the position of the feet  20  and retaining arms  24  does not inhibit access to functional buttons, such as the power button and ‘home’ button of the electronic device  50 . 
         [0031]    After the electronic device  50  has been properly oriented on the stand  12 , such that it is held in place by the channels in the feet  20  and retaining arms  42 , the electronic device  50  is at an optimum viewing angle and key striking position for a user. After use, a user may remove the electronic device  50  from the stand  12  and push the bottom of the front plate  14  such that the front plate  14  folds against the back plate  16  and the feet  20  clear the edge of the desk  10 . Once the feet  20  clear the edge of the desk  10  the  12  stand can freely drop into its stowed position within the pocket  42 . Alternatively, the electronic device  50  can be left in position on the stand  12  and both the stand  12  and the electronic device  50  stowed in the pocket  42  in the same manner, as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, the electronic device  50  is a tablet computer, such as an iPad®, etc., although the stand of the present invention may be utilized with other electronic devices without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. 
         [0033]    As will be readily appreciated, the desk  10  and stand  12  for an electronic device of the present invention is user friendly and can be used by a wide range of students from pre-school to college, as well as in other training or instructional environments. Importantly, the stand  12  secures the electronic device thereto in a manner such that it cannot tumble out and be damaged, and is designed to be ergonomic. The stand  12  is also designed such that a user may quickly and easily change the orientation of the electronic device, as desired. 
         [0034]    Notably, the desk and stand combination reduces the use of paper products by making electronic devices easier to use in the classroom, and provides technology to a student&#39;s fingertips in the classroom, thus eliminating the need for dedicated computer labs or workstations. 
         [0035]    Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.