1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to component support assemblies and, more particularly, to a support assembly used for a digital photo frame.
2. Description of Related Art
Digital photo frames are devices for displaying electronic image files and usually include a stand to support the digital photo frame. One common type of stand usually includes a leg which is pivotally hinged about a horizontal axis. When in use, the leg can be angularly displaced between a first position in which it lies generally flush with the rear face of the back cover of the digital photo frame and a second or extended limiting position in which it lies at an angle to the rear face. With the leg in its extended position, the digital photo frame can stand stably on a horizontal surface in an upright or slightly leaning back attitude, being supported in this state by the leg.
This type of stand usually also includes a fixing structure to keep the leg in the first position and/or the second position. One fixing structure is simply achieved via the frictional force between the leg and the hinge to which the leg is attached. Other fixing structures are also used.
Although this type of stand with these fixing structure works up to the expectations, a stand with a new and better fixing structure is still needed.
Referring to
A bearing hole 321 is formed on the first wall 320 and a bearing hole 331 is formed on the second wall 330. The bearing hole 321 is formed larger than the bearing hole 331. The two bearing holes 321, 331 are substantially coaxially formed about an axis that is perpendicular to the first and second walls 320, 330.
A projection portion 332 is formed on an inner side surface of the second wall 330. Specifically, the projection portion 332 extends from the inner surface and towards the first wall 320. The projection portion 332 is positioned adjacent the bearing hole 331. In one embodiment, the projection portion 332 includes an upper cylindrical surface 333, a first lower inclined surface 334, and a second lower inclined surface 335.
In one embodiment, the surface 333 has an axis generally aligned coaxially with the axis of the bearing holes 321, 331. The surfaces 333, 334, and 335 join together to form a tip portion 336.
Referring back to
Referring to
The first concave portion 621 and the second concave portion 622 are of the same configuration and positioned adjacent the through hole 630. The first concave portion 621 includes a cylindrical side surface 623, a first inclined surface 624, and a second inclined surface 625. The first concave portion 621 and the second concave portion 622 join together to form an edge 626.
After construction, the leg 600 is rotatably attached to the base member 300 via the pivot member 500. The coil spring 500 is retained at a first end to the head 410 of the pivot member 400, and at a second end to the second side 630 of the leg 600. The leg 600 can be retained in a first position and a second position, as shown in
In the first position, the projection 332 on the base member 330 is received in the first concave portion 621 on the leg 600. When in use, the leg 600 is rotated from the first position to the second position in which the projection 332 is received in the second concave portion 622 on the leg 600.
In the process of rotating the leg 600 from the first position to the second position, a relative movement occurs between the tip portion 336 on the projection portion 332 and the inclined surfaces of the first and second concave portions 621 and 622. Specifically, as the leg 600 is rotated, the edge 626 moves angularly with respect to the inclined surface of the first concave portion 621 toward the tip portion 336, and the connection end 610 thus moves away from the first wall 320 and towards the second wall 330, which compress the elastic member 500.
After the edge 626 moves pass the tip portion 336, the connection end 610 is urged to move back by the spring force of the elastic member 500 until the projection portion 332 is received in the second concave portion. The leg can be retained in the second position by the spring force of the elastic member 500. The process of rotating the leg 600 from the second position back to the first position is similar to the rotating process described above.
While one embodiment has been described and illustrated, the disclosure is not to be constructed as being limited thereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200810304738.1 | Oct 2008 | CN | national |