The subject of this patent application relates generally to stands, pads, and other bases for supporting and/or charging electronic devices or other objects set thereupon.
By way of background, existing stands, bases, and/or pads for supporting objects, such as electronic devices, can be folded to transition the bed region (region upon which the object rests) from a horizontal orientation to an inclined orientation. Once inclined, the device can slide off the bed region, unless there is a shelf or other support to prevent this. However, it is undesirable to have a protruding shelf when in the horizontal orientation, which may hinder the user from easily sliding the device off the bed region without lifting the device initially. What is needed, is a support that enables the transition between the inclined orientation and the horizontal orientation without substantial protrusion of a shelf or other support when in the horizontal orientation.
Aspects of the present invention fulfill these needs and provide further related advantages as described in the following summary.
Aspects of the present invention teach certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the exemplary advantages described below.
The present specification discloses a folding base including a first body having an object support surface opposite a back surface, a second body pivoted to the first body to permit rotation between a folded configuration with the second body folded adjacent to the back surface of the first body and a deployed configuration with the second body extending from the first body, a retractable object support that is extendable from the object support surface of the first body and moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, an outwardly biasing mechanism producing an extending force and configured to push the retractable object support to the extended position when in the deployed configuration. In some embodiments, a folding base disclosed herein optionally comprises an inwardly biasing mechanism producing a retracting force and configured to hold the retractable object support in the retracted position when in the folded configuration, where the retracting force is greater than the extending force when in the folded configuration and the retractable object support is in the retracted position, and the retracting force is less than the extending force when in the deployed configuration.
Other features and advantages of aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of aspects of the invention.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects of the disclosed subject matter in at least one of its exemplary embodiments, which are further defined in detail in the following description. Features, elements, and aspects of the disclosure are referenced by numerals with like numerals in different drawings representing the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects, in accordance with one or more embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles herein described and provided by exemplary embodiments of the invention. In such drawings:
The detailed descriptions set forth below in connection with the appended drawings are intended as a description of embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The descriptions set forth the structure and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent structures and steps may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present specification discloses a folding base for supporting and optionally charging an object (such as electronic device, art object, etc.) positioned thereon. The folding base transitions from a folded configuration, where a flap hinged to a main body is folded flat against the main body, so that an object support surface of the main body is in a substantially horizontal orientation, to a deployed configuration, where the flap remains horizontal or protrudes from the main body and supports the main body in a tilted or upright orientation. The object can be supported in both configurations due to the retractable object support that is retracted when in the folded configuration so that the object can lay flat on the object support surface and automatically extended in the deployed configuration so that the object can lean on the object support surface with object resting on the retractable object support. Advantageously, when the retractable object support is retracted in the folded configuration, it does not unduly interfere with the object being positioned or removed from the object support surface, yet it supports the object and prevents it from sliding off the object support surface when in the deployed configuration.
Referring first to
Flap 24 is selectively locked in either the folded configuration or the deployed configuration by a hinge catch assembly 76 (as further described below in the discussion of
As shown in
In one or more embodiments, retractable object support 26 is an elongated, shelf-like structure, which integrates with at least a portion of both the outwardly biasing mechanism and an inwardly biasing mechanism, when present. Retractable object support 26 includes an elongated guide slot 90, two spring bores 64, two first magnetic components 72, and a limiter protrusion 98 on each end. A retractable support guide 68 is a wall-like or shelf-like protrusion that extends upward from bottom housing 42 toward top housing 40 within interior space 44, and is shaped to slide within elongated guide slot 90 to permit smooth extension and retraction of retractable object support 26 thereon. Although retractable support guide 68 is illustrated as a wall-like structure, other structures that provide guidance to the movement of retractable object support 26 are possible, such as protruding rods or the like. An elongated slot 88 is formed through object support surface 28 of top housing 40. Elongated slot 88 is configured to receive therethrough retractable object support 26 and to provide clearance to permit extension and retraction of retractable object support 26.
Still referring to
Referring to
As shown in
Retractable object support 26 may need be manually pushed inward to the retracted position to position first and second magnetic components 72, 74 in sufficiently close proximity to overcome the spring force. Alternatively, first and second magnetic components 72, 74 can be designed to produce sufficient magnetic force, such that retractable object support 26 is automatically drawn in to the retracted position due to the magnetic force overcoming the spring force even over the gap between first and second magnetic components 72, 74 when at the initial protruded position.
Referring now to
The action of hinge catch assembly 76 in the transition between the folded configuration to the deployed configuration can also be seen in
Present folding base 20 provides a versatile support that transitions from a horizontal support pad to a tilted or vertical stand. And with that transition, folding base 20 automatically, mechanically transforms the means of supporting the object placed thereon from a horizontal pad to a tilted or vertical shelf. In the embodiment with wireless charging capabilities, retractable device support 26 maintains the position of device D in alignment with inductive charger circuitry 58. While in the horizontal configuration, retractable device support 26 retracts to permit the user to place electronic device D in any desired position or orientation, while allowing charging.
Aspects of the present specification can also be described by the following embodiments:
In closing, foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is to be understood that, although aspects of the present invention are highlighted by referring to specific embodiments, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that these described embodiments are only illustrative of the principles comprising the present invention. As such, the specific embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Therefore, it should be understood that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are in no way limited to a particular element, compound, composition, component, article, apparatus, methodology, use, protocol, step, and/or limitation described herein, unless expressly stated as such.
In addition, groupings of alternative embodiments, elements, steps and/or limitations of the present invention are not to be construed as limitations. Each such grouping may be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other groupings disclosed herein. It is anticipated that one or more alternative embodiments, elements, steps and/or limitations of a grouping may be included in, or deleted from, the grouping for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is deemed to contain the grouping as modified, thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.
Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that certain changes, modifications, permutations, alterations, additions, subtractions and sub-combinations thereof can be made in accordance with the teachings herein without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, it is intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such changes, modifications, permutations, alterations, additions, subtractions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not to be limited to that precisely as shown and described by this specification.
Certain embodiments of the present invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Of course, variations on these described embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the present invention to be practiced otherwise than specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described embodiments in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
The words, language, and terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, elements, steps and/or limitations only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is defined solely by the claims. In addition, such words, language, and terminology are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus, if an element, step or limitation can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.
The definitions and meanings of the elements, steps or limitations recited in a claim set forth below are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements, steps or limitations which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements, steps and/or limitations may be made for any one of the elements, steps or limitations in a claim set forth below or that a single element, step or limitation may be substituted for two or more elements, steps and/or limitations in such a claim. Although elements, steps or limitations may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements, steps and/or limitations from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination. As such, notwithstanding the fact that the elements, steps and/or limitations of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, steps and/or limitations, which are disclosed in above combination even when not initially claimed in such combinations. Furthermore, insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. Accordingly, the claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing a characteristic, item, quantity, parameter, property, term, and so forth used in the present specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” As used herein, the term “about” means that the characteristic, item, quantity, parameter, property, or term so qualified encompasses a range of plus or minus ten percent above and below the value of the stated characteristic, item, quantity, parameter, property, or term. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary. For instance, as mass spectrometry instruments can vary slightly in determining the mass of a given analyte, the term “about” in the context of the mass of an ion or the mass/charge ratio of an ion refers to +/−0.50 atomic mass unit. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical indication should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.
Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and values setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical ranges and values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical range or value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. Recitation of numerical ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate numerical value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value of a numerical range is incorporated into the present specification as if it were individually recited herein.
Use of the terms “may” or “can” in reference to an embodiment or aspect of an embodiment also carries with it the alternative meaning of “may not” or “cannot.” As such, if the present specification discloses that an embodiment or an aspect of an embodiment may be or can be included as part of the inventive subject matter, then the negative limitation or exclusionary proviso is also explicitly meant, meaning that an embodiment or an aspect of an embodiment may not be or cannot be included as part of the inventive subject matter. In a similar manner, use of the term “optionally” in reference to an embodiment or aspect of an embodiment means that such embodiment or aspect of the embodiment may be included as part of the inventive subject matter or may not be included as part of the inventive subject matter. Whether such a negative limitation or exclusionary proviso applies will be based on whether the negative limitation or exclusionary proviso is recited in the claimed subject matter.
The terms “a,” “an,” “the” and similar references used in the context of describing the present invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, ordinal indicators—such as, e.g., “first,” “second,” “third,” etc.—for identified elements are used to distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate or imply a required or limited number of such elements, and do not indicate a particular position or order of such elements unless otherwise specifically stated. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein is intended merely to better illuminate the present invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the present specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
When used in the claims, whether as filed or added per amendment, the open-ended transitional term “comprising”, variations thereof such as, e.g., “comprise” and “comprises”, and equivalent open-ended transitional phrases thereof like “including”, “containing” and “having”, encompass all the expressly recited elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features alone or in combination with unrecited subject matter; the named elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features are essential, but other unnamed elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features may be added and still form a construct within the scope of the claim. Specific embodiments disclosed herein may be further limited in the claims using the closed-ended transitional phrases “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of” (or variations thereof such as, e.g., “consist of”, “consists of”, “consist essentially of”, and “consists essentially of”) in lieu of or as an amendment for “comprising.” When used in the claims, whether as filed or added per amendment, the closed-ended transitional phrase “consisting of” excludes any element, limitation, step, integer, or feature not expressly recited in the claims. The closed-ended transitional phrase “consisting essentially of” limits the scope of a claim to the expressly recited elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features and any other elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed subject matter. Thus, the meaning of the open-ended transitional phrase “comprising” is being defined as encompassing all the specifically recited elements, limitations, steps and/or features as well as any optional, additional unspecified ones. The meaning of the closed-ended transitional phrase “consisting of” is being defined as only including those elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features specifically recited in the claim, whereas the meaning of the closed-ended transitional phrase “consisting essentially of” is being defined as only including those elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features specifically recited in the claim and those elements, limitations, steps, integers, and/or features that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed subject matter. Therefore, the open-ended transitional phrase “comprising” (and equivalent open-ended transitional phrases thereof) includes within its meaning, as a limiting case, claimed subject matter specified by the closed-ended transitional phrases “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of.” As such, the embodiments described herein or so claimed with the phrase “comprising” expressly and unambiguously provide description, enablement, and support for the phrases “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of.”
Lastly, all patents, patent publications, and other references cited and identified in the present specification are individually and expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the compositions and methodologies described in such publications that might be used in connection with the present invention. These publications are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing in this regard is or should be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention or for any other reason. All statements as to the date or representation as to the contents of these documents are based on the information available to the applicant and do not constitute any admission as to the correctness of the dates or contents of these documents.