TWI624209B - Supporting assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A support assembly is disposed on a housing of an electronic device. The support assembly includes a mount, a support, and an elastic member. The fixing base is fixed to the housing and has a first guiding portion. The support member is rotatably disposed on the fixing base, wherein the support member has a body portion and a support portion. The body portion is pivotally connected to the fixed seat and includes a second guiding portion. The second guiding portion has a first limiting slot and a rotating slot, and the first guiding portion is coupled to the second guiding portion, so that the first guiding portion can move back and forth between the first limiting slot and the rotating slot . Both ends of the elastic member are respectively fixed to the fixing seat and the body portion. The first guiding portion enters the rotating slot away from the first limiting slot or exits the rotating slot to enter the first limiting slot by pressing the supporting portion, so that the supporting portion is in an unfolded state or a folded state.

Description

Support assembly

The present invention relates to a support assembly, and more particularly to a support assembly that is integrated into a housing of an electronic device.

Because electronic devices such as notebook computers, smart phones or tablet computers have the advantages of convenient carrying and instant messaging and processing information, they are widely favored by consumers. In the case of a tablet computer, the size of the display screen is larger than that of the smart phone, and its weight is lighter than that of the notebook computer. It has become one of the main options for consumers to purchase electronic products. In order to improve the comfort of consumers operating tablet computers, related manufacturers have introduced external support components for consumers to purchase. When the consumer wants to stand the tablet on the work plane without operating the tablet in a hand-held manner, the external support assembly can be assembled to the back cover of the tablet, and the side edge of the back cover and the support assembly constitute at least Two points of support to make the tablet stand on the work plane. However, the external support assembly has disadvantages such as being inconvenient to carry or forgotten to carry.

In response, manufacturers have developed a support assembly integrated into the back cover of the tablet, which connects the support assembly to the back cover through a hinge and controls the support assembly through the hinge's auto-lock function. The opening and closing, but the hinge with automatic locking function is larger in size, which will increase the thickness of the tablet and does not meet the requirements of thinness and thinning. If the hinge without automatic locking function is used, although the size is small, the support assembly and the back cover of the tablet should be provided with a corresponding hook structure to prevent the support assembly from accidentally unfolding from the back cover of the tablet. Therefore, when the consumer wants to deploy the support assembly from the back cover of the tablet, it is necessary to apply a force to release the engagement relationship between the support assembly and the back cover of the tablet, which is inconvenient in operation.

The present invention provides a support assembly that improves operational convenience.

The present invention provides a support assembly that is disposed on a housing of an electronic device. The support assembly includes a mount, a support, and an elastic member. The fixing base is fixed to the housing and has a first guiding portion. The support member is rotatably disposed on the fixing base, wherein the support member has a body portion and a support portion connecting the body portions. The body portion is pivotally connected to the fixed seat and includes a second guiding portion. The second guiding portion has a first limiting slot and a rotating slot, and the first guiding portion is coupled to the second guiding portion, so that the first guiding portion can be between the first limiting slot and the rotating slot Move back and forth. The resilient member has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end portion is pre-stressed and fixed to the fixing seat, and the second end portion is pre-stressed and fixed to the body portion. When the first guiding portion is located in the first limiting slot, the supporting portion can be pressed to move the main guiding portion to move relative to the first guiding portion, and the first guiding portion can leave the first limiting position The groove enters the rotation groove, and the pre-compressed second end portion provides a restoring force to drive the body portion to rotate in the direction of the rotation groove to rotate the support portion relative to the fixed seat to be in an unfolded state. When the first guiding portion is located in the rotating groove, the supporting portion can be pressed to rotate the opposite direction of the second guiding portion in the track direction relative to the first guiding portion to pre-stress the second end portion to generate elastic deformation, The first guiding portion is separated from the rotating slot into the first limiting slot, so that the supporting portion is in a folded state.

In an embodiment of the invention, the fixing base further has a first pivoting portion, and the first guiding portion is located above the first pivoting portion. The body portion further has a second pivoting portion, wherein the second pivoting portion is located at a side of the second guiding portion, and the second pivoting portion is pivotally connected to the first pivoting portion.

In an embodiment of the invention, the elastic member further has a socket portion. The socket portion connects the first end portion and the second end portion, and is sleeved on the second pivot portion.

In an embodiment of the invention, the second pivoting portion passes through the first pivoting portion, and the second pivoting portion has a second limiting slot. At least a portion of the first pivoting portion is coupled to the second limiting slot.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first pivoting portion has an assembly hole, the second pivoting portion passes through the assembly hole, and a gap is maintained between the second pivoting portion and the assembly hole.

In an embodiment of the invention, the fixing base further has a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, and the second engaging portion is located between the first pivoting portion and the first engaging portion. The first end portion is engaged with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion.

In an embodiment of the invention, the elastic member includes a torsion spring.

In an embodiment of the invention, the support assembly further includes a locking member attached to the body portion and the support portion and fixing the second end portion to the body portion.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first limiting slot is a linear slot, and the rotating slot is an arc slot.

In an embodiment of the invention, the body portion further has a card groove, and the second end portion is disposed through the card groove.

Based on the above, the support assembly of the present invention is integrated on the housing of the electronic device, and the support portion can be unfolded outside the housing or folded into the housing only by repeatedly applying a force to the support portion, which not only improves the operation. The convenience is also able to maintain the integrity of the appearance of the electronic device.

The above described features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

1 is a schematic exploded view of a support assembly and a housing of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A is another perspective view of the support assembly of FIG. 1 disposed on the housing, wherein the support portion is in a collapsed state. 2B is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 2A from another perspective. 2C is a partially enlarged schematic view of a region A in FIG. 2B. For the sake of clarity and convenience of explanation, FIGS. 1 to 2B illustrate a part of the housing 11, omitting the display screen provided on the housing 11 and the electronic components or other disposed between the housing 11 and the display screen. The components 11, structures, and the housing 11 of Figures 2B and 2C are shown in dashed lines. On the other hand, FIGS. 1 to 2B illustrate an example of a support assembly 100. In fact, the housing 11 not shown in other portions of FIGS. 1 to 2B may be added to the support assembly 100 of the present embodiment. Another support assembly, the same or similar, and the support assembly 100 is symmetrically disposed on the housing 11 with another support assembly.

Referring to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B , in the embodiment, the support assembly 100 can be disposed on the housing 11 of the electronic device 10 , wherein the electronic device 10 can be a tablet computer, a smart phone, a display, or an integrated computer. (AIO) or other applicable person. The support assembly 100 includes a fixing base 110, a support member 120, and an elastic member 130. The housing 11 has a first slot 11a configured to receive the fixing base 110, the support member 120, and the elastic member 130. Therefore, when the support member 120 is housed in the housing 11, the electronic device 10 can maintain the integrity of the appearance.

Referring to FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C, the fixing base 110 is fixed to the housing 11 and spans above the first slot 11a. On the other hand, the fixing base 110 can have a second slot 111 and a first guiding portion 112 protruding in the second slot 111, wherein the first slot 11a is in communication with the second slot 111. Therefore, when the support member 120 is folded into the housing 11 , the support member 120 can be received in the first slot 11 a and the second slot 111 . The support member 120 is rotatably disposed on the fixing base 110. The support member 120 has a body portion 121 and a support portion 122 connecting the body portion 121, and the body portion 121 includes a second guiding portion 123. In detail, the support member 120 is pivotally connected to the fixed seat 110 through the main body portion 121 , wherein the fixed seat 110 further has a first pivoting portion 113 , and the first guiding portion 112 can be located inside the first pivoting portion 113 . Bullet pin.

The main body portion 121 further has a second pivoting portion 124 , wherein the second pivoting portion 124 is located on the side of the second guiding portion 123 , and the second pivoting portion 124 is pivotally connected to the first pivoting portion 113 . In other words, the main body portion 121 and the fixing base 110 are pivotally connected to each other through the second pivoting portion 124 and the first pivoting portion 113 . Further, the first pivoting portion 113 can have an assembly hole 113a, wherein the second pivoting portion 124 passes through the assembly hole 113a, and the second pivoting portion 124 and the assembly hole 113a are perpendicular to the second pivoting portion 124. A gap is maintained in the direction D2 of the extending direction D1. For example, the assembly hole 113a may be an elliptical hole, the second pivot portion 124 may be a circular shaft, and the size of the aforementioned elliptical hole is larger than the size of the aforementioned circular shaft. In other embodiments, the assembly hole may be a circular hole or other suitable curved hole, and the second pivot portion may be an elliptical axis, which is not limited in the present invention. On the other hand, the second pivoting portion 124 has a second limiting slot 124a, wherein the second limiting slot 124a is substantially seated in the assembly hole 113a, and at least a portion of the first pivoting portion 113 and the second limiting slot The 124a is coupled to each other, so that the support member 120 can be prevented from moving relative to the first pivoting portion 113 along the extending direction D1 of the second pivoting portion 124 during the rotation of the second pivoting portion 124 relative to the first pivoting portion 113. However, the degree of freedom of the support member 120 moving in the direction D2 perpendicular to the extending direction D1 is maintained, thereby improving the stability of the support member 120 when it is rotated relative to the fixed seat 110 and the housing 11.

Figure 2D is a side elevational view corresponding to Figure 2C. For clarity and convenience of explanation, FIG. 2D omits the housing 11 and the fixing base 110 is shown in broken lines. Referring to FIG. 2B to FIG. 2D , in the embodiment, the first guiding portion 112 is coupled to the second guiding portion 123 , and the second guiding portion 123 has a first limiting slot 123 a and a rotating slot 123 b. The first guiding portion 112 can be moved back and forth between the first limiting slot 123a and the rotating slot 123b. The first limiting slot 123a can be a linear slot, and the rotating slot 123b can be an arc slot. When the support portion 122 is in the collapsed state, the first guiding portion 112 is sandwiched in the first limiting slot 123a to avoid the support portion 122 being easily turned out of the housing 12, as shown in FIG. 2D. In another aspect, the resilient member 130 can be a torsion spring and has a first end 131 and a second end 132 opposite the first end 131. The first end portion 131 is pre-stressed and fixed to the fixing base 110 , and the second end portion 132 is pre-stressed and fixed to the body portion 121 . In detail, when the support portion 122 is in the collapsed state, the elastic member 130 is in a compressed state.

Referring to FIG. 2C and FIG. 2D , the fixing base 110 further has a first engaging portion 114 and a second engaging portion 115 , and the second engaging portion 115 is located between the first pivoting portion 113 and the first engaging portion 114 . . The first end portion 131 can have a hook structure 131a and a linear structure 131b. The first engaging portion 114 can be a hook, and the hook structure 131a can be engaged with the first engaging portion 114. On the other hand, the second engaging portion 115 can include a card slot. When the supporting portion 122 is in the folded state, the elastic member 130 is in a compressed state, and the linear structure 131b of the first end portion 131 is engaged with the second portion. The portion 115 is engaged so that the elastic position of the elastic member 130 in the compressed state can not be temporarily released, so that the support portion 122 can be easily rotated and ejected outside the housing 12 by being driven by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member 130.

In this embodiment, the elastic member 130 further has a sleeve portion 134 , wherein the sleeve portion 134 connects the first end portion 131 and the second end portion 132 , and is sleeved on the second pivot portion 124 . On the other hand, the support assembly 100 further includes a locking member 140 for locking to the body portion 121 and the support portion 122. In other words, the fastener 140 can secure the body portion 121 and the support portion 122 together. The main body portion 121 further has a latching groove 125, wherein the second end portion 132 is disposed through the latching groove 125, and the locking member 140 for fixing the main body portion 121 and the supporting portion 122 presses against the second end portion 132, so that the second end portion 132 is fixed in the card groove 125.

2E is a partially enlarged schematic view showing the first guiding portion entering the rotating slot away from the first limiting slot. 2F is a partial enlarged view of the first guiding portion of FIG. 2E entering the rotating slot away from the first limiting slot. 3A is another perspective view of the support assembly disposed on the housing, wherein the support portion is in an unfolded state. . Figure 3B is a partial enlarged view of Figure 3A in another perspective. Fig. 3C is a partially enlarged schematic view of a region B in Fig. 3B. Figure 3D is a side elevational view corresponding to Figure 3C. For the sake of clarity and convenience of explanation, the housing 11 of FIG. 3B is shown in broken lines, and the housing 11 is omitted from FIG. 3D, and the fixing base 110 is shown in broken lines. Referring to FIG. 2B to FIG. 2F, the housing 11 is provided with a fulcrum structure 11b in the first slot 11a, and the support portion 122 bears against the fulcrum structure 11b. When the first guiding portion 112 is sandwiched by the first limiting slot 123a, the pressing pressing support portion 122 is relatively close to the end portion of the body portion 121, and the supporting member 120 can be opposite to the fixing base 110 and the housing 11 according to the fulcrum structure 11b. Rotation causes the main body portion 121 to be lifted, thereby driving the second guiding portion 123 to move relative to the first guiding portion 112. The second pivoting portion 124 and the assembly hole 113a maintain a gap in a direction D2 perpendicular to the extending direction D1 of the second pivoting portion 124, and at least a portion of the first pivoting portion 113 is opposite to the second limiting slot 124a. Coupling, so that the support member 120 can be prevented from moving relative to the first pivoting portion 113 along the extending direction D1 of the second pivoting portion 124 during the rotation of the second pivoting portion 124 relative to the first pivoting portion 113, but The degree of freedom of the support member 120 to move in the direction D2 perpendicular to the extending direction D1 is still retained. In other words, the gap is reserved to provide a displacement space of the second pivoting portion 124 when the pressing portion of the supporting portion 122 causes the main portion 121 to move the second guiding portion 123 relative to the first guiding portion 112.

In detail, the first guiding portion 112 shown in FIG. 2C and FIG. 2D is sandwiched in the first limiting groove 123a. When the supporting portion 122 is pressed to lift the main body portion 121, the main body portion 121 drives the first portion. The limiting groove 123a and the rotating groove 123b move relative to the first guiding portion 112. At this time, the first guiding portion 112 is separated from the first limiting groove 123a and enters the rotating groove 123b. As shown in FIG. 2E and FIG. 2F, the first guiding portion 112 is located at the junction of the first limiting slot 123 and the rotating slot 123b. On the other hand, after the main body portion 121 is lifted up, the linear structure 131b of the first end portion 131 and the second engaging portion 115 are separated from each other, so that the elastic restoring force of the elastic member 130 is released, and the pre-stressed portion is transmitted. The two end portions 132 provide an elastic restoring force to drive the main body portion 121 to rotate the support portion 122 relative to the fixed seat 110 along a track direction R of the rotating groove 123b, so that the supporting portion 122 is in an unfolded state.

Referring to FIG. 2E, FIG. 2F and FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D, the body portion 121 is driven by the elastic restoring force provided by the second end portion 132 of the elastic member 130 along the track direction R of the rotation groove 123b with respect to the fixing seat 110. During the rotation, the first guiding portion 112 originally located at the junction of the first limiting slot 123 and the rotating slot 123b is further moved into the rotating slot 123b, or moved out of the rotating slot 123b through the rotating slot 123b (as shown in the figure) 3C and Figure 3D). At the same time, the support portion 122 driven by the main body portion 121 can be removed from the first slot 11a to switch the support portion 122 from the collapsed state shown in FIG. 2A to the unfolded state shown in FIG. 3A, so that the electronic device 10 can borrow Standing on the work plane 20 by the supporting function of the support portion 122 in the unfolded state.

When the first guiding portion 112 is located in the rotating slot 123b, if the supporting portion 122 in the unfolded state is to be folded into the first slot 11a, the supporting portion 122 can be biased relatively far from the end of the body portion 121, The main body portion 121 is driven by the support portion 122 to rotate the second guiding portion 123 relative to the first guiding portion 112 in the opposite direction of the track direction R to pre-stress the second end portion 132 of the elastic member 130 to be elastically deformed. The first guiding portion 112 can enter the first limiting slot 123a away from the rotating slot 123b (or enter the rotating slot 123 from the outside of the rotating slot 123, and then enter through the rotating slot 123 as shown in FIG. 2F and FIG. 2D. The first limiting groove 123a) is pressed by the supporting portion 122 until the supporting portion 122 is received in the first slot 11a to return the supporting portion 122 to the collapsed state as shown in FIG. 2B. After the support portion 122 is received in the first slot 11a, the first guiding portion 112 is sandwiched in the first limiting slot 123a, and the linear structure 131b of the first end portion 131 can be engaged with the second slot again. The portion 115 is engaged to prevent the support member 120 from being easily rotated out of the housing 12 by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member 130, as shown in Figs. 2C and 2D.

Since the support assembly 100 of the present example is integrated on the housing 11 and the support portion 122 can be pressed by repeated application of force, the support portion 122 can be deployed outside the housing 11 or folded into the housing 11 . Not only the operational convenience but also the integrity of the appearance of the electronic device 10 can be maintained. On the other hand, referring to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2B and FIG. 3B , the housing 11 further has at least one limiting portion 11 c and is located beside the first slot 11 a. Therefore, during the rotation of the second pivoting portion 124 relative to the first pivoting portion 113, the support member 120 can be prevented from moving relative to the first pivoting portion 113 along the extending direction D1 of the second pivoting portion 124.

In summary, the support assembly of the present invention is integrated into the housing of the electronic device, and can be unfolded outside the housing or folded into the housing by pressing the support portion, thereby improving the convenience of operation. It is also possible to maintain the integrity of the appearance of the electronic device. In detail, when the support portion is folded into the casing, the elastic member is compressed to be elastically deformed, and the structural interference between the support member and the fixed seat and the structural interference between the elastic member and the fixed seat can avoid the support. The member is driven by the elastic restoring force of the elastic member to allow the support portion to be easily deployed outside the casing. The structural interference between the support member and the fixing seat and the structural interference between the elastic member and the fixing seat can be released by pressing the supporting portion. At this time, the elastic restoring force of the elastic member can be released to drive the supporting member relative to each other. Rotating on the fixed seat and unfolding to the outside of the housing, so that the electronic device can be supported by the support portion to stand on the working plane, and the support portion can be pressed again to make the second guide portion reverse in the track direction relative to the first A guiding portion rotates to pre-stress the second end portion to be elastically deformed, and the first guiding portion is separated from the rotating groove into the first limiting groove, so that the supporting portion is in a folded state.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

10: electronic device 11: housing 11a: first slot 11b: fulcrum structure 11c: limiting portion 20: working plane 100: support assembly 110: fixed seat 111: second slot 112: first guiding portion 113: The first pivoting portion 113a: the assembly hole 114: the first engaging portion 115: the second engaging portion 120: the support member 121: the main body portion 122: the supporting portion 123: the second guiding portion 123a: the first limiting slot 123b Rotating groove 124: second pivoting portion 124a: second limiting groove 125: card groove 130: elastic member 131: first end portion 131a: hook-shaped structure 131b: linear structure 132: second end portion 134: sleeve Connection 140: Locking A, B: Area D1: Extension direction D2: Direction R: Trajectory direction

1 is a schematic exploded view of a support assembly and a housing of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A is another perspective view of the support assembly of FIG. 1 disposed on the housing, wherein the support portion is in a collapsed state. 2B is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 2A from another perspective. 2C is a partially enlarged schematic view of a region A in FIG. 2B. Figure 2D is a side elevational view corresponding to Figure 2C. 2E is a partially enlarged schematic view showing the first guiding portion entering the rotating slot away from the first limiting slot. 2F is a partial enlarged view of the first guiding portion of FIG. 2E entering the rotating slot away from the first limiting slot. 3A is another perspective view of the support assembly disposed on the housing, wherein the support portion is in an unfolded state. Figure 3B is a partial enlarged view of Figure 3A in another perspective. Fig. 3C is a partially enlarged schematic view of a region B in Fig. 3B. Figure 3D is a side elevational view corresponding to Figure 3C.

Claims (10)

A support assembly is disposed on a casing of an electronic device, the support assembly includes: a fixing base fixed to the casing and having a first guiding portion; a supporting member rotatably disposed on the fixing In the seat, the support member has a body portion and a support portion connecting the body portion, the body portion is pivotally connected to the fixed seat, the body portion includes a second guiding portion, and the second guiding portion has a conductive portion a first limiting slot and a rotating slot, and the first guiding portion is coupled to the second guiding portion, so that the first guiding portion can be between the first limiting slot and the rotating slot Moving back and forth; and an elastic member having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein the first end is pre-stressed to the mount and the second end Pre-pressed and fixed to the body portion, when the first guiding portion is located in the first limiting slot, the supporting portion can be pressed to cause the second guiding portion to drive the second guiding portion relative to the first guiding portion Moving, the first guiding portion is separated from the first limiting slot into the rotating slot, and is pre-stressed The second end portion provides a restoring force to drive the main body portion to rotate the support portion relative to the fixing seat in a trajectory direction of the rotating slot, and when the first guiding portion is located in the rotating slot, The support portion can be pressed to rotate the second guiding portion in the opposite direction of the track direction relative to the first guiding portion to pre-stress the second end portion to generate elastic deformation, and the first guiding portion can be The rotating slot is separated from the first limiting slot, so that the supporting portion is in a folded state. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the fixing base further has a first pivoting portion, and the first guiding portion is located above the first pivoting portion, the body portion further having a first The second pivoting portion is located at a side of the second guiding portion, and the second pivoting portion is pivotally connected to the first pivoting portion. The support assembly of claim 2, wherein the elastic member further has a sleeve portion connecting the first end portion and the second end portion, and is sleeved on the second pivot joint unit. The support assembly of claim 2, wherein the second pivoting portion passes through the first pivoting portion, and the second pivoting portion has a second limiting slot, at least part of the first The pivoting portion is coupled to the second limiting slot. The support assembly of claim 2, wherein the first pivoting portion has an assembly hole, the second pivoting portion passes through the assembly hole, and the second pivoting portion and the assembly hole are Keep a gap. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the fixing base further has a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, and the second engaging portion is located at the first pivoting portion and the first The first end portion is engaged with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion between the engaging portions. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member comprises a torsion spring. The support assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a lock body attached to the body portion and the support portion, and fixing the second end portion to the body portion. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the first limiting slot is a linear slot and the rotating slot is an arcuate slot. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the body portion further has a card groove, and the second end portion is disposed in the card groove.