Patent Application
20160192774
The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a tablet computing device and, more particularly, to an apparatus for supporting a tablet computing device having an arm, a support base, and a receiving plate. The apparatus is configured to receive and support a tablet computing device, which faces downward, for allowing a user to see the screen of the tablet computing device from below the apparatus in supine position.
Portable electronic devices, such as tablet computing devices, smart phones, e-book readers and the like, have become popular and are being widely used. The portable electronic devices perform a lot of functions, which used to be only possible with a powerful desktop or laptop computer, allowing users to further free themselves from typical office environment. However, a user needs to hold a portable electronic device in his hand for using it and this is rather inconvenient and may lead to health problems. For example, if a user wishes to use a portable electronic device in supine position, there is no convenient way to hold the electronic device in his hand to use it. Even though he manages to use it while holding the device, holding a device for an extended period of time puts great pressures on the user's neck and arm muscles and this may cause damages to his health. Moreover, there is risk that a user drops the device and the device falls right onto his face or body. This may cause an injury to him.
Some portable electronic supporting apparatuses have been introduced, but these are not very functional, not allow users to use the apparatus in a wide variety of positions or ways. In addition, such supporting apparatuses do not enable users to use the supporting apparatuses in various positions and it is not convenient for a user to change his positions while using a portable electronic device. Moreover, conventional supporting apparatuses do not have a simple structure or construction for easy assembling or dissembling of the apparatus to allow users to carry the apparatus around for using it in a variety of ways or positions.
Accordingly, there has been a need for an apparatus for supporting a tablet computing device having a simple structure and allowing a user to use it hands-free in a number of different ways or positions.
The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art. The present invention provides an apparatus for supporting a tablet computing device and, more particularly, to a supporting apparatus having an arm, a support base, and a receiving plate.
The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for supporting a tablet computing device which includes an arm, a support base, and a receiving plate. The arm includes a first end securely mounted onto the receiving plate and a second end detachably fastened to the support base.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for supporting a tablet computing device which includes an arm, a support base, and a receiving plate. The support base, detachably fastened to the second end of the arm, includes a recess formed on the bottom surface of the support base and a through hole formed on the recess. The through hole and the recess receive the attachment member therein for mounting the second end of the arm to the support base.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for supporting a tablet computing device which includes an arm, a support base, and a receiving plate. The receiving plate mounted on the arm to receive the tablet computing device includes a receiving portion. The receiving portion includes an outer rim wall and annular mounting portion having an inner rim and outer rim. The inner and outer rims are concentric such that the tablet computing device can mount on the annular mounting portion such that the tablet computing device is facing downward allowing the user to see the screen of the tablet computing device from below the receiving portion.
The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the apparatus for supporting a tablet computing device of the present invention supports a tablet computing device for allowing a user to see the screen of the device in supine position; (2) the apparatus of the present invention allow users to view a tablet computing device hands-free in various positions including supine position through easy transition between positions; and (3) the apparatus of the present invention having a simple construction or structure allows users to conveniently disassemble and reassemble the apparatus.
Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Reference will now be made in details to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention.
Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about”, it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.
The apparatus of the present invention includes an arm 200; a support base 300 connected to the arm 200 for supporting the apparatus; and a receiving plate 100 mounted on the arm 200.
The receiving plate 100, mounted on the arm 200, includes a receiving portion 120 and the receiving portion 120 includes an annular mounting portion 121 having an inner rim 124 and an outer rim 123. The receiving portion 120 further includes an outer rim wall 122 extending upwardly from the outer rim 123 such that the outer rim wall 123 is substantially cylindrical. The inner rim 124 and the outer rim 123 are concentric such that the tablet computing device can mount on the annular mounting portion 121 such that the tablet computing device is facing downward for allowing a user to see the screen of the mobile electronic device such as tablet computing device from below the receiving portion 120. The user may rotate the receiving plate 100 and then, he can rotate the mobile electronic device mounted on the annular mounting portion 121 because the mobile electronic device is generally rectangular. In this way, the user can find the most convenient position to see the screen of the mobile electronic device in his supine position.
The annular mounting portion 121 may be sloped upwards towards the arm 200 as shown in
The outer rim wall 122 is substantially cylindrical 122. However, if the annular mounting portion 121 is sloped upwards towards the arm 200, the angle between the outer rim wall 122 and the annular mounting portion 121 may not be always a right angle. In the point near the arm 200, the angle may be greater than 90 degrees whereas in the point farther from the arm 200, the angle may be smaller than 90 degrees.
The receiving plate 100 further includes an upper through, opening 110 through which the arm 200 passes. The arm 200 has a first end 210 and the receiving plate is mounted through the first end 210. The receiving plate 100 is mounted onto the arm 200 and a sliding stop 201 is adjustably mounted on the arm 200 for preventing the receiving plate 100 from sliding down the arm 200. The arm 200 may be cylindrical and the sliding stop 201 may be an annular ring made of rubber or synthetic plastic fastened to the arm 200 by a friction fit.
The second end 220 of the arm 200 is detachably fastened to the support base 300 by an attachment mean 400. The support base 300, detachably fastened to the second end 220 of the arm 200, includes a recess 320 formed on the bottom surface of the support base and a through hole 310 formed on the recess. Alternatively, the support base 300 may be integrated with the arm 200 to form one continuous body, instead of being two separate members fastened to each other.
The receiving place 100 further includes the upper through opening 110 through which the arm 200 passes and the lower through opening 111 formed on a lower end of the upper through opening 110. The arm 200 passes through the upper through opening 110 and lower through opening 111, and the sliding stop 201 is received in the lower through opening 111 to prevent the receiving plate 100 from sliding down the arm 200. The receiving plate 100, therefore, is rotatable with respect to the arm 200, and height adjustable along the arm 200.
The receiving plate 100 may further include a circular complementary plate 140 having a sighting aperture 130 as shown in
The circular complementary plate 140 has its own sighting aperture 130 as in
The circular complementary plate 140 may further include a plurality of cutouts for various sizes of sighting apertures as in
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.
