TWI714288B - Holder for a tablet electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a holder for a tablet electronic device that comprises: a base member having a slot formed on the base member; and a main clamp including a stand mounted to the base member and extending upwardly and an arm arranged at one end of the stand and extending substantially perpendicularly from the stand. The arm comprises at least one flexible fastener protruding from a bottom of the arm. Further, a position of the at least one flexible fastener corresponds to a position of the slot.

Description

Carrier for tablet electronic device

The invention relates to a carrier for a tablet electronic device, especially for holding a tablet computer.

In recent years, tablet electronic devices (such as tablet computers) have become increasingly popular in the consumer and commercial markets. How to stably and safely hold these flat electronic devices (for example, in a vehicle) is an important practical matter for users. An ordinary tablet electronic device carrier usually includes a base member for supporting a tablet electronic device and a clamp for clamping and supporting the tablet electronic device on the base member. The clamp is usually made of flexible material (such as plastic), and therefore has flexibility to clamp the tablet electronic device. However, this flexible clamp usually cannot provide sufficient clamping force to firmly clamp the tablet electronic device. Once the carrier is moved or shaken, the tablet electronic device may loosen from the clamp and slide out of the carrier. In addition, since the clamp must be made of a flexible material to be able to clamp the tablet electronic device, the clamp is susceptible to fatigue fracture after long-term use.

The invention relates to a carrier for a tablet electronic device, which can stably and safely hold the tablet electronic device.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a carrier for a tablet electronic device includes: a base member having a slot formed on the base member; and a main clamp including mounting A bracket extending upward to the base member and an arm arranged at one end of the bracket and extending substantially perpendicularly from the bracket. The arm includes at least one flexible fastener protruding from the bottom of one of the arms. In addition, a position of the at least one flexible fastener corresponds to a position of the slot of the base member.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a carrier for a tablet electronic device includes: a base member having a base member formed on the base member and extending along a longitudinal direction of the base member A slot; and a main clamp, which includes: a bracket mounted to the base member and extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base member; an arm disposed at one end of the bracket and at Extending above the slot; and at least one flexible fastener protruding from the bottom of one of the arms. In addition, a position of the at least one flexible fastener corresponds to a position of the slot of the base member.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a clamp for a carrier of a tablet electronic device includes: a bracket; an arm disposed at one end of the bracket and extending substantially perpendicularly from the bracket; And at least one flexible fastener protruding from the bottom of one of the arms.

In order to further understand the present invention, the following examples are provided together with illustrations to promote the understanding of the present invention; however, without any intention to limit the scope of the present invention, the accompanying drawings are only provided for reference and illustration.

For the purpose of further explaining the scope of the present invention, the above illustration and the following detailed description are exemplary. The other objectives and advantages of the present invention will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions and accompanying drawings.

The detailed description set forth below is intended as one of the various configurations of the present invention, and is not intended to represent the only configuration in which the present invention can be practiced. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific details set forth herein, and can be practiced without such specific details.

The embodiments will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like element symbols designate corresponding or identical elements throughout the various drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a carrier 1 for a tablet electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the carrier 1 can include a substantially elongated base member 10. A slot 11 may be formed on the base member 10 and extend along a longitudinal direction of the base member 10. When the tablet electronic device is held by the carrier 1, the slot 11 can be used to receive the tablet electronic device. In addition, a plurality of connection ports 111 can be arranged in the slot 11, and these connection ports 111 can be used to connect a tablet electronic device.

The base part 10 may include a rear wall 13. The rear wall 13 may be arranged adjacent to the slot 11 and extend along the longitudinal direction of the slot 11. In other words, the rear wall 13 may extend parallel to the slot 11.

Referring to FIG. 1, the carrier 1 may include a main clamp 20. The main clamp 20 may include a bracket 21 and an arm 22. The bracket 21 can be attached to the rear wall 13 of the base member 10 and is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base member 10 and the longitudinal direction of the slot 11. The arm 22 can be hollow and arranged at a top end of the bracket 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the arm 22 may extend vertically from the bracket 21 and above the slot 11.

The two auxiliary clamps 30 and 50 may be arranged adjacent to two opposite ends of the base member 10. Each of the auxiliary clamps 30 and 50 may include a bracket 31, 51 and a flexible arm 32, 52. The brackets 31 and 51 can be installed to the base member 10 and are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base member 10 and the longitudinal direction of the slot 11. The flexible arms 32 and 52 can be arranged at the top ends of the brackets 31 and 51 and extend vertically from the brackets 31 and 51 and above the slot 11. In addition, the auxiliary clamps 30 and 50 may be integrated with the base member 10.

2A and 2B show the main fixture 20 of the carrier 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A and 2B, the arm 22 may include two flexible fasteners 23, 24. The two flexible fasteners 23 and 24 can protrude from the bottom surface of one of the arms 22 and correspond to the position of the slot 11 of the base member 10. When the flexible fasteners 23 and 24 are compressed by a force, the flexible fasteners 23 and 24 will contract toward the arm 22. In addition, after the force is released, the flexible fasteners 23, 24 will recover to protrude from the bottom surface of the arm 22.

The arm 22 may further include a locking mechanism, which includes a switch 25 and a movable stopper 27. The switch 25 can be disposed at a front surface of the arm 22, and the movable stopper 27 can movably protrude from the bottom of the arm 22. The switch 25 controls the movable stopper 27. When a user uses a key to turn the switch 25, the movable stopper 27 will move accordingly. Specifically, referring to FIG. 2C (which is an exploded view of the main clamp 20 of the carrier 1 as disclosed in FIGS. 2A and 2B), in the current embodiment, the switch 25 has a cylindrical body and a lock And the movable stopper 27 extends orthogonally from one end of the main body, so that when the user uses a key to turn the lock 25 (for example, in a clockwise direction), the movable stopper 27 will be correspondingly Rotate and protrude from the bottom of the arm 22.

In addition, referring to FIG. 2B, a distance between the movable stopper 27 and the bracket 21 may be greater than or equal to a distance between the fasteners 23, 24 and the bracket 21, that is, the fasteners 23, 24 are configured to be movable Between the stopper 27 and the bracket 21.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the bracket 21 may further include a flexible block 211 disposed on a front surface of the bracket 21. When the flexible block 211 is compressed by a force, the flexible block 211 will shrink toward the support 21, and when the force is released, the flexible block 211 will return to its original state. In addition, referring to FIG. 2C, the flexible block 211 may be hollow and enclose a spring plate 213. When the flexible block 211 is compressed by a force, the flexible block 211 will move toward the bracket 21 and the spring plate 213 will be compressed accordingly. When the force is released, the spring plate 213 will push the flexible block 211 to restore its original state.

Referring to FIG. 2C, each of the flexible fasteners 23, 24 may include a clamp 231, 241 and two elastic members or springs 232 and 233, 242 and 243. The clamps 231 and 241 may be disposed on an inner bottom surface of the arm 22 and include protrusions extending through the openings 221 and 223 respectively and thus protruding from the bottom surface of the arm 22. In addition, the springs 232 and 233 can be arranged between the clamp 231 and the top inner surface of the arm 22, wherein one end of each spring 232 and 233 can abut the clamp 231 and the other end of each spring 232 and 233 can be adjacent The top inner surface of the arm 22. Similarly, the springs 242 and 243 can be arranged between the clamp 241 and the top inner surface of the arm 22, wherein one end of each spring 242 and 243 can abut the clamp 241 and the other end of each spring 242 and 243 can be adjacent The top inner surface of the arm 22. Based on the above structure, when the flexible fasteners 23 and 24 are compressed by a force, the clamps 231 and 241 will move toward the inside of the arm 22 and the springs 232, 233, 242, and 243 will be compressed accordingly. When the force is released, the springs 232, 233, 242, 243 will push the clamps 231, 241 so that the protrusions of the clamps 231, 241 extend through the apertures 221, 223 and protrude from the bottom of the arm 22.

3A and 3B show a state of use of the carrier 1. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in the current embodiment, the tablet electronic device is a tablet computer 9 and is held by the carrier 1. A bottom of the tablet computer 9 is inserted into the slot 11 of the base member 10 of the carrier 1, and the port 111 in the slot 11 is connected to the port (not shown) of the tablet computer 9. In addition, the top of one of the tablet computers 9 substantially abuts the bottom of the arm 22, and therefore the main clamp 20 clamps the top of the tablet computer 9. When the bottom of the tablet computer 9 is received in the slot 11 and the top of the tablet computer 9 is clamped by the main clamp 20, the top of the tablet computer 9 pushes the clamps 231 and 241 of the fasteners 23 and 24 (refer to FIG. 3B). The clamps 231 and 241 move toward the inside of the arm 22 and compress the springs 232 and 233, 242 and 243. That is, the springs 232 and 233, 242 and 243 apply an elastic force to the clamps 231 and 241, and therefore the clamps 231 and 241 will be closely engaged with the top of the tablet computer 9. In addition, the top of the tablet computer 9 is also clamped by auxiliary clamps 30 and 50. As shown in FIG. 3A, the top of the tablet computer 9 substantially abuts the flexible arms 32 and 52 of the auxiliary clamps 30 and 50. That is, the flexibility of the flexible arms 32 and 52 allows them to engage with the top of the tablet computer 9.

Depending on the elastic member or spring used, the elastic force applied to the clamps 231 and 241 is therefore adjustable. In addition, other mechanisms (for example, an electromagnetic device or a hydraulic device) can be substituted for the spring.

In addition, when the tablet computer 9 is held by the carrier 1, a back surface of the tablet computer 9 substantially abuts the rear wall 13 of the base member 10 and the flexible block 211 (refer to the figure) placed at the bracket 21 of the main fixture 20 3B). At the same time, the flexible block 211 moves toward the bracket 21 and compresses the spring plate 213. That is, the spring plate 213 will apply an elastic force to push the flexible block 211 to move toward the back surface of the tablet computer 9. Therefore, the back surface of the tablet computer 9 closely abuts the flexible block 211.

Based on the above content, the tablet computer 9 will be tightly fixed to the carrier 1. In addition, after the tablet computer 9 is fixed to the carrier 1, the user can turn the switch 25 to rotate the movable stopper 27 so that the movable stopper 27 protrudes from the bottom of the arm 22 and in front of the tablet computer 9. That is, the movable stopper 27 blocks the tablet computer 9 so as to prevent the tablet computer 9 from falling forward.

It should be understood that the aspects of the embodiments herein may generally be interchanged in whole or in part. The invention further includes individual parts and/or combinations/sub-assemblies, methods of manufacturing parts, methods of assembling parts, and methods of using the invention.

It should be understood that certain features of the present invention described in the context of individual embodiments for clarity can also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. On the contrary, the various features of the present invention described in the context of a single embodiment can also be provided individually or in any suitable sub-combination form for the sake of simplicity.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments of the present invention, it is obvious that those skilled in the art will understand many alternatives, modifications, and variations. Therefore, it is intended to cover all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the broad scope of the attached patent application. Those skilled in the art will understand other embodiments of the present invention after considering this specification and practicing the present invention disclosed herein. This specification and each example are intended to be regarded as illustrative only, and one of the true scope and spirit of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the attached patent application.

1: Carrier 9: Tablet 10: Substantially elongated base part/base part 11: Slot 13: back wall 20: Main fixture 21: Bracket 22: arm 23: Flexible fasteners/fasteners 24: Flexible fasteners/fasteners 25: switch/lock 27: Movable stop 30: auxiliary fixture 31: Bracket 32: Flexible arm 50: auxiliary fixture 51: bracket 52: Flexible arm 111: Port/Port 211: Flexible Block 213: Spring plate 221: Orifice 223: Orifice 231: Clamp 232: Elastic part/spring 233: elastic part/spring 241: Clamp 242: Elastic part/spring 243: Elastic part/spring

Since the following detailed description is referred to in conjunction with the accompanying drawings during consideration, the present invention and its many accompanying advantages will be better understood, so it will be easy to obtain a more complete understanding of the present invention and one of its many accompanying advantages. In each scheme: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier for a tablet electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a front view of one of the main fixtures of the carrier shown in FIG. 1. FIG. Figure 2B is a side view of the main fixture of the carrier as shown in Figure 2A. Figure 2C is an exploded view of one of the main fixtures of the carrier shown in Figure 2A and Figure 2B. FIG. 3A shows the usage state of one of the carriers as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3B is a schematic side view showing a usage state of the carrier as shown in FIG. 1.

1: Carrier

10: Substantially elongated base part/base part

11: Slot

13: back wall

20: Main fixture

21: Bracket

22: arm

25: switch/lock

30: auxiliary fixture

31: Bracket

32: Flexible arm

50: auxiliary fixture

51: bracket

52: Flexible arm

111: Port/Port

Claims (20)

A carrier for a tablet electronic device, which includes: a base member having a slot formed on the base member; and a main clamp, which includes a base member mounted on the base member and upward Extending a bracket, and an arm arranged at one end of the bracket and extending perpendicularly from the bracket; wherein the arm includes at least one flexible fastener protruding from the bottom of one of the arms, and the at least one flexible A position of the fastener corresponds to a position of the slot of the base member, wherein the at least one flexible fastener is configured to expand and contract relative to the bottom of the arm. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the arm of the clamp further includes a locking mechanism, and the locking mechanism has a movable stopper protruding from the bottom of the arm, and the movable stopper and the bracket A distance between is greater than or equal to a distance between the flexible fastener and the bracket. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the flexible fastener includes: at least one clamp arranged in the arm, having a protrusion extending through an opening formed in the bottom of the arm ; And at least one elastic component disposed in the arm, which is disposed between the at least one clamp and the inner surface of a top of the arm. Such as the carrier of claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism further has a switch that is connected to the movable stopper and controls the movable stopper. For example, the carrier of claim 1, further comprising at least one auxiliary clamp, the at least one auxiliary clamp includes: a bracket which is mounted to the base member and extends upward; and a flexible arm which is arranged on the auxiliary clamp One end of the bracket extends perpendicular to the bracket. Such as the carrier of claim 1, wherein the bracket of the main clamp includes a flexible block protruding from a front surface of the bracket. Such as the carrier of claim 3, wherein the elastic member is a spring. A carrier for a tablet electronic device, comprising: a base member having a slot formed on the base member and extending along a longitudinal direction of the base member; and a main clamp , Which comprises: a bracket which is mounted to the base member and extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base member; an arm which is arranged at one end of the bracket and extends above the slot; and at least A flexible fastener protruding from the bottom of one of the arms, wherein a position of the at least one flexible fastener corresponds to a position of the slot of the base member, and the at least one flexible fastener is tied through The configuration is telescopic relative to the bottom of the arm. Such as the carrier of claim 8, wherein the arm of the clamp further includes a locking mechanism having a movable stopper protruding from the bottom of the arm, and the movable stopper and the bracket A distance between is greater than or equal to a distance between the flexible fastener and the bracket. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the flexible fastener includes: at least one clamp arranged in the arm, having an opening extending through an opening formed on the bottom of the arm and extending from the arm A protrusion of the bottom protruding; and at least one elastic member disposed in the arm, wherein one end of the elastic member abuts the clamp, and the other end of the elastic member abuts the inner surface of a top of the arm . Such as the carrier of claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism further has a switch that is connected to the movable stopper and controls the movable stopper. For example, the carrier of claim 8, further comprising at least one auxiliary clamp, the at least one auxiliary clamp comprising: a bracket which is mounted to the base member and extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base member; and a flexure The sex arm is arranged at one end of the bracket of the auxiliary clamp and extends above the slot. Such as the carrier of claim 8, wherein the bracket of the main clamp includes a flexible block protruding from a front surface of the bracket. A clamp for a carrier of a tablet electronic device, comprising: a bracket; an arm configured at one end of the bracket and extending perpendicularly from the bracket; and at least one flexible fastener, which Protruding from the bottom of one of the arms, wherein the at least one flexible fastener is configured to extend and retract relative to the bottom of the arm. The clamp of claim 14, wherein the arm further includes a locking mechanism, and the locking mechanism has a movable stopper protruding from the bottom of the arm, and one between the movable stopper and the bracket The distance is greater than or equal to a distance between the flexible fastener and the bracket. The clamp of claim 14, wherein the flexible fastener comprises: at least one clamp disposed in the arm, having a protrusion extending through an opening formed in the bottom of the arm; And at least one elastic component arranged in the arm, which is arranged between the at least one clamp and a top inner surface of the arm. Such as the clamp of claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism further has a switch that is connected to the movable stopper and controls the movable stopper. Such as the clamp of claim 14, wherein the bracket includes a flexible block protruding from a front surface of the bracket. Such as the clamp of claim 16, wherein the elastic member is a spring. Such as the clamp of claim 18, wherein the flexible block has a spring plate.

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