Patent Application
20160286954
(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a support structure for a tablet device, and more particularly to a flap support structure capable of forming a three-dimensional support seat by folding a plate body.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
With the increasingly fierce competition in the relevant products, most of the frequently seen handheld electronic devices have the miniaturized features. In order to facilitate the watching and operating, the display screen of the tablet device (e.g., tablet computer, smart mobile phone) having the flat panel display screen (or touch screen) tends to become larger and larger. Consequently, the display screen inevitably occupies the extremely large portion of the surface area of the tablet device. In addition, when being used or browsed, a corresponding support structure is usually utilized to make the tablet device stand slantingly on the desktop to decrease the loading of holding the tablet device for a long time, and to enhance the convenience.
Each of most of the conventional support structures is combined with a protective shell, wherein the cover plate or attached retracting structure of the protective shell is folded to the backside to form the support. In each of these structures, however, one of the sides of the tablet device serves as the fulcrum, and the backside support structure is used to make the tablet device stand slantingly. Although the slantingly standing effect can be obtained, no positioning effect relative to the desktop is formed, and the slip problem upon operation tends to occur. In addition, one side of the tablet device needs to be attached to the desktop. When being used in conjunction with other objects (e.g., a keyboard), the height requirement cannot be satisfied. In addition, when the environment is relatively dirty (desktop dust or other filth) or the placement location with the higher security risk (e.g., many beverage containers are placed on the desktop) is encountered, the tablet device tends to be contaminated by the filth and tends to be damaged. In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional support structure of the tablet device, the present inventor has paid attention to the research and development for improving the drawbacks, and thus developed this invention.
A main object of the invention is to provide a flap support structure, which can form a three-dimensional support seat for supporting a tablet device by folding the flap to achieve the firm supporting effect.
Another object of the invention is to provide a flap support structure for supporting a tablet device tilted at a proper height and assisting the user in operating, reading or using in conjunction with peripheral objects.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a flap support structure, which has the simple overall structure and the low cost, can be combined with the backside of the protective shell, does not occupy the space after being retracted, or can function as a storage kit for storing the tablet device, and has the wide applicability.
To achieve the above-identified effects, the flap support structure of the invention is applied to a tablet device. The mainly adopted technological means comprises a first plate body and a second plate body. The first plate body has a first left side, a first right side opposite to the first left side, and a first left fold line and a first right fold line disposed between the first left side and the first right side. The second plate body corresponds to the first plate body and has a second left side and a second right side opposite to the second left side. A second left fold line and a second right fold line are disposed between the second left side and the second right side. The first plate body comprises a baseplate, a left supporting plate and a right supporting plate. The baseplate is defined between the first left fold line and the first right fold line. The left supporting plate is defined between the first left side and the first left fold line, and pivotally connected to the baseplate by the first left fold line. The right supporting plate is defined between the first right side and the first right fold line, and pivotally connected to the baseplate by the first right fold line. The second plate body comprises a carrying-plate, a left folding plate and a right folding plate. The carrying-plate is disposed between the second left fold line and the second right fold line and for carrying the tablet device. The left folding plate is disposed between the second left side and the second left fold line and pivotally connected to the carrying-plate by the second left fold line. The right folding plate is disposed between the second right side and the second right fold line and pivotally connected to the carrying-plate by the second right fold line. In addition, the second left side and the first left side are connected together to form a left fold line, so that the left supporting plate and the left folding plate are pivotally connected together by the left fold line, and the second right side and the first right side are connected together to form a right fold line, so that the right supporting plate and the right folding plate are pivotally connected together by the right fold line. When the left supporting plate, the left folding plate, the right supporting plate and the right folding plate are inwardly folded to rest against one another, a three-dimensional support seat for supporting the tablet device is constituted.
According to the above-mentioned structure, the first left fold line and the first right fold line both of the first plate body are symmetrical, and the second left fold line and the second right fold line both of the second plate body may be symmetrical.
According to the above-mentioned structure, the left supporting plate, the left folding plate, the right supporting plate and the right folding plate may be trapezoidal.
According to the above-mentioned structure, the baseplate and the carrying-plate may be trapezoidal or triangular.
According to the above-mentioned structure, a back shell for accommodating the tablet device is combined with the carrying-plate.
According to the above-mentioned structure, the carrying-plate further has at least one slip-resistant strip.
According to the above-mentioned structure, a chamber for storing the tablet device is formed between the first plate body and the second plate body, and openings are formed at front and rear sides of the chamber.
According to the above-mentioned structure, a connector and a fastening assembly may be disposed at the openings at the front and rear sides of the chamber to close the openings, respectively.
According to the above-mentioned structure, the connector may be a zipper.
Further aspects, objects, and desirable features of the invention will be better understood from the detailed description and drawings that follow in which various embodiments of the disclosed invention are illustrated by way of examples.
Referring to
Also, the first plate body 1 has a first left fold line L11 and a first right fold line L12, which are symmetrical and inclined and formed between the first left side E11 and the first right side E12, so that the first plate body 1 is divided into a baseplate 10, a left supporting plate 11 and a right supporting plate 12, which are pivotally rotatable relatively to one another. The baseplate 10 is defined between the first left fold line L11 and the first right fold line L12. The left supporting plate 11 is defined between the first left side E11 and the first left fold line L11 and pivotally connected to the baseplate 10 by the first left fold line L11. The right supporting plate 12 is defined between the first right side E12 and the first right fold line L12, and pivotally connected to the baseplate 10 by the first right fold line L12.
The second plate body 2 has a second left fold line L21 and a second right fold line L22, which are symmetrical and inclined and disposed between the second left side E21 and the second right side E22, so that the second plate body 2 is divided into a carrying-plate 20, a left folding plate 21 and a right folding plate 22, which are pivotally rotatable relatively to each other. The carrying-plate 20 is disposed between the second left fold line L21 and the second right fold line L22. The left folding plate 21 is disposed between the second left side E21 and the second left fold line L21, and is pivotally connected to the carrying-plate 20 by the second left fold line L21. The right folding plate 22 is disposed between the second right side E22 and the second right fold line L22, and is pivotally connected to the carrying-plate 20 by the second right fold line L22.
In addition, by the left fold line L3 and the right fold line L4 for connecting the first plate body 1 and the second plate body 2 together, the left supporting plate 11 and the left folding plate 21 can be pivotally rotated relatively to each other through the left fold line L3, and the right supporting plate 12 and the right folding plate 22 can be pivotally rotated relatively to each other through the right fold line L4.
Referring to
In a feasible embodiment, the baseplate 10 and the carrying-plate 20 can rest against a plane and carry the tablet device 40, respectively, or can carry the tablet device 40 and rest against a plane, respectively, according to the requirements. In this embodiment, the carrying-plate 20 carries the tablet device 40.
In addition, in feasible embodiments, the slopes of the first left fold line L11, the first right fold line L12, the second left fold line L21 and the second right fold line L22 can be designed according to the requirements. When the slope of each fold line is much more inclined inwardly toward the inside, the relative inclination angle between the baseplate 10 and the carrying-plate 20 in the support structure constituted after folding gets larger. That is, when the first left fold line L11, the first right fold line L12, the second left fold line L21 and the second right fold line L22 get much more inclined, the length differences between the parallel long and short sides of the divided trapezoidal left supporting plate 11, right supporting plate 12, left folding plate 21 and right folding plate 22 get larger. In general, in order to make the folded support structure become firm, the extension lines of the first left fold line L11, the second left fold line L21 and the left fold line L3 substantially intersect at one point, and the extension lines of the first right fold line L12, the second right fold line L22 and the right fold line L4 similarly intersect at another symmetrical point.
Referring to
Referring to
In a feasible embodiment, one side of the carrying-plate 20 for carrying the tablet device 40 may further have a slip-resistant strip 33 for increasing the relative friction and enhancing the convenience of use.
In summary, the invention can indeed achieve the convenient operation effect and the firm supporting effect, can satisfy the novelty and inventive step, and can be widely applied.
New characteristics and advantages of the invention covered by this document have been set forth in the foregoing description. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Changes in methods, shapes, structures or devices may be made in details without exceeding the scope of the invention by those who are skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is, of course, defined in the language in which the appended claims are expressed.
