The present invention generally relates to accessories for portable electronic devices, and more particularly to a combination support stand and speaker system for displaying and transmitting multimedia content from portable electronic devices, such as tablet computing devices, smart phones, portable music players, and the like.
Portable electronic devices, such as tablet computing devices, smart phones, media players, and the like, have become familiar conveniences due to ease of use, portability, and increased functionality and connectivity for a variety of uses, including making phone calls, sending text messages and emails, video conferencing, listening to music, watching videos, social networking, and connecting to the Internet. Yet in many situations, handheld use of such devices can render the device inconvenient when the device must be held for long periods of time. For example, tablet computing devices are increasingly being used to watch movies and videos, or to communicate with others through video conferencing technology. During such uses, it is often tiresome to hold the device in one's hands for long stretches. However, setting the device flat on a table or other surface makes it difficult to see the screen. Propping the device up on other objects increase the risk of damaging the device if it or its makeshift support slips or collapses. More pragmatically, it is exceedingly difficult to perform other tasks, or carry other objects while also holding and using a portable electronic device—for example, watching a movie on a tablet device while trying to prepare dinner.
Support stands have been developed to hold and support certain portable electronic devices in an upright position for convenient use. For example, carrying cases or protective sleeves have been designed for certain tablet computing devices, where the case or sleeve can be transformed into a support stand. However, such support stands are often usable only with a specific electronic device design, and cannot be adapted for use with other devices having different shapes and sizes. Moreover, such prior art support stands typically do not provide added capabilities that improve the use of portable electronic devices to display and transmit multimedia content, such as, for example, speakers that can project audio signals from an electronic device when watching a movie, listening to music, or videoconferencing.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a support stand for supporting portable electronic devices, such as tablet computing devices, smart phones, portable music players, and the like, to facilitate the display and transmission of multimedia content from such devices. Additionally, there is a need for such a support stand that is provided in a compact size for transport or storage, and further, for a support stand that can be easily converted from a compact size to a set-up condition for holding and supporting an electronic device in a position that is advantageous for intended use of the device for display and transmission of multimedia content, and further be adjusted to a variety of set-up conditions for holding and supporting electronic devices of different shapes and sizes. Still further, there is a need for a support stand that also includes a wireless speaker system for displaying and transmitting multimedia content when a portable electronic device is supported by the stand, including audio signals transmitted through the speaker system. Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a combination support stand and speaker system for use with portable electronic devices that improves upon support stands currently on the market and that overcomes the problems and drawbacks associated with such prior art stands.
In accordance with the present invention, a combination support stand and speaker system is provided for supporting a portable electronic device, such as a tablet computing device, a smart phone, or a portable music player, to facilitate the display and transmission of multimedia content from the electronic device. In general, a support stand is provided for holding an electronic device, where the support stand has a set-up condition for supporting an electronic device in a desired orientation and a folded condition for easy transport and/or storage of the stand. Additionally, the support stand includes a speaker system that is operatively connected to an electronic device supported by the stand to transmit audio signals through at least one speaker.
In a first aspect of the present invention, a support stand for displaying and transmitting multimedia content from a portable electronic device comprises a first support member for supporting a lower portion of the electronic device and a second support member pivotally connected to the first support member and adjustable to a plurality of positions relative to the first support member for supporting an upper portion of the electronic device. The support stand also includes at least one speaker disposed in the support stand that is wirelessly connectable to the electronic device via a wireless interface.
In another aspect of the present invention, a combination support stand and speaker system for displaying and transmitting multimedia content from a portable electronic device comprises a stand having a base portion adapted to support the lower portion of an electronic device and an arm portion pivotally connected to the base portion adapted to support an upper portion of the electronic device when the arm is pivoted away from the base portion to a generally upwardly extending position relative to the base portion. At least one speaker is provided in the base portion for operative connection with the electronic device that is supported by the stand, preferably via a wireless interface, for projection of audio signals transmitted from the electronic device through the at least one speaker.
In preferred embodiments of the support stand, the base portion comprises first and second sections that are pivotally connected to one another at a common pivot point and moveable between a first position where the first and second sections are generally parallelly disposed and a second position where respective distal ends of the first and second sections are transversely spaced apart from one another. Each of the first and second sections may include a speaker.
The arm portion of the support stand may comprise first and second sections connected by an intermediate pivot that allows the arm portion to be bent in order to accommodate electronic devices of varying shapes and sizes.
Preferably, the speaker system is wirelessly connected to electronic devices for wireless transmission of audio signals from the electronic devices to the support stand, such as through a Bluetooth® or similar network. In this regard, the combination support stand and speaker system includes a wireless interface that can be paired with several different devices for use as desired.
In operation, the support stand is used to prop up and support an electronic device for display and transmission of multimedia content from the electronic device, for example, from the device's screen, when the device is positioned on the support stand. The support stand includes at least one set-up condition designed for holding an electronic device, regardless of the device's size or shape. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a first set-up position comprises the arm portion being pivoted away from the base portion to a generally upwardly extending position relative to the base portion, whereby the base portion supports the bottom of an electronic device held by the support stand and the arm portion supports the back of the electronic device. In accordance with additional embodiments of the present invention, a second set-up position comprises the first and second sections of the base portion being transversely pivoted away from one another, whereby the base portion supports the bottom of an electronic device held by the support stand and the arm portion supports the back of the electronic device.
When the support stand is not needed, it can be collapsed to a folded condition for easy transport and/or storage. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the folded condition of the support stand comprises the arm portion being pivoted to a position adjacent to and generally parallel to the base portion, preferably nested on top of the base portion. Where the base portion comprises first and second sections, the sections are pivoted together when the support stand is in its folded condition.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the detailed description of embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
The respective positions of the first and second sections 22 and 24 of the base portion 20 are suited to holding electronic devices of different shapes and sizes. For example, when the first and second sections 22 and 24 are pivotally spaced apart from one another, they provide a wider footprint for the support stand 10 that can accommodate large devices, such as the tablet computing device 100 shown being supported on the support stand 10 in
Alternatively, another set-up condition, where the first and second sections 22 and 24 of the base portion 20 are separated—though not as far apart as shown in
The arm portion 30 of the support stand 10 may also comprise first and second sections 32 and 34, interconnected by an intermediate pivot 36, that allow the arm portion 30 to be bent in order to accommodate electronic devices of varying shapes and sizes. As illustrated in
The support stand 10 also includes a speaker system that is operatively connected to an electronic device supported by the stand 10 to transmit audio signals through at least one speaker, such as is schematically illustrated in
Referring to
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the support stand 10 creates a compact theater whereby a portable electronic device, such as a tablet computing device, a smart phone, or a portable music player, can be propped up on the support stand 10 for a user to view multimedia content on the device's screen, as desired, whereby the audio signals from the electronic device are transmitted, and indeed amplified in some regards, by a speaker system provided on the support stand 10. In intended uses, a user can watch a movie or video, listen to music, or videoconference with family and friends without needing to hold the electronic device.
As noted above, the support stand 10 includes at least one set-up condition designed for holding an electronic device, regardless of the device's size or shape. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, one set-up position comprises the arm portion 30 of the support stand 10 being pivoted away from the base portion 20 to a generally upwardly extending position relative to the base portion 20, whereby the base portion 20 supports the bottom of an electronic device held by the support stand 10 and the arm portion 30 supports the back of the electronic device. In this regard, the arm portion 30 can be bent at the intermediate pivot 36 as desired so that the arm portion 30 can adequately support the back, or alternately the top, of the electronic device. For example, the first section 32 of the arm portion 30 can be pivoted down towards the base portion 20 at the rear pivot point and the second section 34 can be pivoted back at the intermediate pivot 36, such as shown in
In accordance with additional embodiments of the present invention, another set-up position comprises the first and second sections 22 and 24 of the base portion 20 being transversely pivoted away from one another, as shown in
When the support stand 10 is not needed, it can be collapsed to a folded condition for easy transport and/or storage as shown in
Referring to
As also shown in
In alternate designs of the present invention, the base portion 20 can be a single piece that is not separable. In operation, the set-up condition of such a support stand mirrors that illustrated in
In additional alternate designs of the present invention, the speaker system of the support stand can be used with an electronic device to transmit audio signals transmitted therefrom via the speaker system without placing the electronic device on the support stand. In general, so long as the speaker system is paired with the electronic device, audio signals can be projected via the speaker system. In this regard, the speaker system in any embodiments described herein can continue to transmit audio signals from the electronic device even if the electronic device is removed from, or even placed on the support stand, during use of the electronic device.
Referring to
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the support stand 10 allows a portable electronic device to operate as a hands-free entertainment device that enables a user to display and transmit multimedia content via the device and a speaker system included in the support stand 10 without requiring the user to hold the electronic device during use. The support stand 10 operatively communicates with electronic devices using the wireless communications interface 60, such as a Bluetooth® or other short-range wireless network. Operational electronic components and circuitry for using the support stand 10 are maintained within the stand 10, and generally include a microprocessor or controller (e.g., CPU) for controlling the speaker system's electronics, a power supply (e.g., the rechargeable internal battery unit), requisite memory (e.g., ROM, RAM, flash memory), components for receiving audio signals from the electronic device (e.g., antenna, receiver, transmitter, transceiver, etc.), and a circuit board and an appropriate audio circuit for handling audio signals received by the support stand 10.
The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. The embodiments described were chosen to best illustrate the principles of the invention and practical applications thereof to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to the particular use contemplated.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140140557 A1 | May 2014 | US |