GB2495933A

GB2495933A - Support Stand

Info

Publication number: GB2495933A
Application number: GB1118423.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Bagnall
Original assignee: Innavisions Ltd
Current assignee: Innavisions Ltd
Priority date: 2011-10-25
Filing date: 2011-10-25
Publication date: 2013-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2031-10-25
Also published as: GB201118423D0; GB2495933B

Abstract

A support stand 10 comprising a support back rest member 20 having a front face 28 and a rear face 29, and a support leg 30, the support back rest member 20 having an aperture 50 therethrough, and the support leg 30 having a first portion 32 dimensioned so as to fit though the aperture 50 and a second portion 34 having cross-sectional dimensions that are greater than those of the aperture 50, wherein the support leg 30 is insertable through the aperture 50 such that the second portion 34 is positioned on the front face 28 side of the support back rest member 20. The support leg 30 is removable from the aperture 50 and is connectable to a projection 52 on the rear face 29 of the support back rest 20.

Description

Support Stand The present invention relates to a support stand, comprising a support rest and at least one leg, which can be manually erected into a support configuration and subsequently dismantled and placed in a transport configuration.

Although the following description refcrs almost cxclusively to a support stand for supporting a mobile phone and method of use thereof it will bc appreciated by persons skillcd in the art that such a support stand could be constructed and configured to support a wide range of objects, electrical or otherwise. Such objects may include, but are not limited to. PDA dcviccs, tablet computing dcviccs, e book reading deviccs and satcllite navigation devices It is known to provide a support stand for supporting an electrical item thereon, and particularly a hand held electrical item such as a mobile phone, this could be for when the phone is not in use, when the phone is charging or in data connection with another device, when the phone is being used for a hands frcc call or performing other ifinctions of the dcvicc which do not require it to bc held. An example of a known support stand is disclosed in GB 2 448 234. The stand comprises a cardboard support strip in at least three foldable parts which, when moved into an erect condition, provides a support means extending outwards, including a recess to locatc for cxample a cable, wire or conncctor.

Making a support stand from folded cardboard inherently has several limitations. Firstly, repeated folding and unfolding of the support weakens the card, and after a limited amount of time this will result in tearing along the join. Furthermore, given that this invention is to be employed for use on a desk, for example, it is not unreasonable to assume that it may be located next to a glass or cup containing a liquid, which in the case of an accidental spill may get the support stand wet. A support stand made of cardboard would obviously suffer adversely from this wetting. Further still, given the flexible nature of cardboard and its ability to slide, if the device supported by the support stand is pressed to operated a certain function, the support stand must be able to resist this force and riot buckle nor slide across the surface it is on.

It is the therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a support stand of a robust nature. It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a support stand that can be assembled, disassembled and re-assembled manually. It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a support stand that is substantially prevented from sliding and resiling when the device it supports is operated.

According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a support stand as described in the claims appended hereto.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a support stand comprising a support back rest member having a front face and a rear face, and a support 1 5 leg, the support back rest member having an aperture therethrough, and the support leg having a first portion dimensioned so as to fit though the aperture and a second portion having cross-sectional dimensions that are greater than those of the aperture, wherein the support leg is insertable through the aperture such that the second portion is positioned on the front face side of the support back rest.

With the support leg fined through the aperture a support arrangement for an electronic device is provided between the front face of the support back rest member and the larger second portion of the support leg. The support stand is able to rest on a flat surface on the lower edge of the support back rest member and the end of the support leg that is distal to the second portion.

In a preferred embodiment the support leg is removable from the aperture and may be connected to the rear face of the support back rest member when not in use. In such an embodiment a projection of one of the support back rest and support leg may be frictionally received in a recess of the other of the support back rest and support leg.

Preferably the support leg is provided w[th the recess and the support back rest with the projection. The projection may preferably at least partially surround the aperture. For example, the projection may be defined by a wall that at least partially surrounds the aperture. The recess may be provided in the second portion of the support leg.

The support leg may be generally "T" shaped when viewed in plan. In such an embodiment the first portion of the support leg defines the stem of the "T" and the second portion of the support leg defines the cross member of the "T". The second portion of the cross member may be provided with a lip.

The support back rest member includes a foot which, in use, rests against a support surface. The foot may be provided along an edge of the support back rest member. The foot may be provided with a high friction covering. The covering may comprise a member that is filled to the edge. Alternatively, the covering may be formed integrally with the support back rest member, for example during moulding thereof. The foot may 1 5 include a recess through which a cable of a device supported by the support stand may pass, in use. The recess may be defined by a cut-out in the edge of the support back rest member.

The support back rest member and support leg may be formed from a thermoplastic material by an injection moulding operation. The support back rest member may include decoration that has been applied by an in mould labelling operation.

The support stand may comprise a support stand main body, with two holes located at the same height, separated laterally, two identical T-shaped legs and a foot, similar in shape to the bottom edge of the support stand main body, whereby the support stand has two assembled configurations. In the first assembled configuration, referred to as the transport configuration, the legs are located on the back of the support stand main body, frictionally attached to the flanges surrounding the holes of the support stand niain body. In the second assembled configuration, referred to as the support configuration, the legs are removed from the back of the support stand main body and are inserted through the holes of the support stand main body, from the front, extending out of the back, so as to provide both a platform for a suitable device to rest upon, and a stable base for the support stand to remain in a free standing upright position. The platform is defined by the cross beam ends of the two T-shapcd legs, separated laterally according to the separation of the holes and the lateral dimensions of the T-shaped legs.

The support legs may be square in cross section as may be the holes in the support back rest, although it is perfectly conceivable that thc cross section of the support legs could take another form, likewise the holes in the support back rest.

The support stand main body and T-shaped legs may be formed from plastic and produced by injection moulding.

The bottom of the support stand main body may be fitted with a foot. The foot and bottom of the support stand main body having a similar form, which includes a recessed portion.

Advantageously the use of injection moulding allows for high volume manufacture at relativ&y low cost and frirther aflows surfaces of the support stand to have in-mould branding.

Advantageously the transport configuration allows the unit to be distributed and stored in a more compact arrangement. The materials choice allows the cycle between transport mode and support mode to be performed numerous times without perceivable damage to the device.

Advantageously having a clear separation between the two support legs means that the platform they provide has room for units to affix to the bottom of the article, for example a charged connector unit as in the ease for most mobile telephones.

Advantageously, having a recess at the bottom of the support stand main body and foot allows the cable a charger unit or the like to be passed under the support stand.

Preferably the foot is made of a rubber moulding or such like. The foot may be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer or a TPS Styrenic Block Copolymer.

Advantageously the foot can be made from a material that is slip-resistant.

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of the support stand partially in a transport configuration; Figure 2 shows a partial view of the support stand of figure 1 indicating how the T-shaped legs are inserted through the support back rest; Figure 3 shows the support stand of figure 1 indicating how the foot is assembled to the support back rest; Figure 4 shows the support stand of figure 1 in a support configuration; Figure 5 shows a side elevation of the support stand of figure 1 when in the support configuration; Figure 6 shows the support stand with a mobile phone located thereon; and Figure 7 shows a front elevation of the support stand of figure 1.

Referring to the figures, in figure 1 there is shown a support stand, generally designated 10, which comprises a support back rest 20 and two identical T-shaped legs 30. The support back rest 20 is further provided with a foot 60 which is described in greater detail below.

The support back rest 20 is substantially rectangular in shape, described by two dimensions, its height h and width w, and has rounded upper corners 22. The lower edge 23 of the support back rest 20 is provided with a centrally located recess 24. The support back rest 20 has a rear face 29 and is surrounded on three sides by a flange 21 which emanates substantially orthogonally away from the rear face 29.

Two identical holes 50 are provided in the rear face 29 substantially towards the lower edge 23 of the support back rest 20, and are arranged to be at the same distance from the lower edge 23. These holes 50 are substantially square and feature a continuous flange 52 around their periphery, emanating orthogonally from the rear face 29 in a manner similar to the flange 21.

As shown on figure 1 the support stand 10 further comprises two identical T-shaped legs 30 which have a cross beam 34 and a main beam 32. The cross beam 34 being the cross member of the T-shape.

The cross beam 34 of the T-shaped leg 30 has a cross section greater than that of both the hole 50 in the support back rest 20 and the cross section of the main beam 32 of the T-shaped leg 30. The separation of the holes 50 in the support back rest 20 is sufficient such that when the T-shaped legs 30 are inserted through the respective holes 50 as shown in figure 2, there is a resultant gap S between the inside edges of the T-shaped legs 30 shown on figure 7.

The crossbeam 34 of the T-shaped leg 30 also includes alip 36, which aids location and retention of the device to be supported, when the support stand 10 is in support configuration.

The cross beam 34 of each T-shaped leg 30 also includes a recess 33, as shown on figure 4, sized to frictionally engage with the continuous flange 52 of the support back rest 20 as shown in figure 1.

The end of the main beam 32 distal to the cross beam 34 of the T-shaped leg 30 is tapered 38.

Referring to figure 2 it can be seen that the support back rest 20 presents a substantially flat forward face 28. The holes 50 are flush with this forward face 28. Figure 2 shows how the T-shaped legs 30 are attached to the support back rest 20 by insertion through the holes 50 along the direction of arrow P. Figure 3 shows how the foot 60 is fitted over the lower edge 23 of the support back rest 20. The foot 60 has a similar shape as the lower edge 23 of the support back rest such that the recess 24 is maintained. Figure 7 shows this recess 24 having a height d.

Figure 4 shows the support stand 10 ifihly assembled in the support configuration. Figures 5 and 6 show a side elevation of the support stand 10 fully assembled in its support configuration resting on surface 80 which may be a table or the like. Figure 5 shows the taper 38 of the T-shaped leg 30 has an angle a which is between 5 and 30 degrees. Figure 6 shows the support stand 10 in use, supporting a device 70 which has a attachment 71 and cable 72. As shown the attachment 71 fits between the gap S between the inside edges of the T-shaped legs 30 and the cable 72 fits through the recess 24 of the foot 60.

Although one embodiment has been described in detail here, it will be clear to a person skilled in the art that there may exist alternative configurations. In the embodiment described the legs are separate. It will be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment 1 5 the legs may be connected, for example by a transverse member which extends between cross beam of each leg. Decoration may be applied to surfaces of the stand, and particularly to the front face of the support back rest. Where the support rest is formed by an injection moulding operation, decoration may be applied by the use of an in mould labelling operation.

Claims

<claim-text>Ctaims 1. A support stand comprising a support back rest member having a front face and a rear face, and a support leg, the support back rest member having an aperturc therethrough, and the support leg having a first portion dimensioned so as to fit though the aperture and a second portion having cross-sectional dimensions that arc greater than those of the aperture, wherein the support leg is insertable through the apcrture such that the second portion is posit ioncd on the front face side of the support back rest.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A support stand as claimed in claim I wherein the support leg is removable from the aperture and is connectable to the rear face of the support back rest member when not in use.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A support stand as claimed in claim 2 wherein a projection of one of the support 1 5 back rest and support leg is frictionally received in a recess of the other of the support back rest and support leg to connect the support leg to the support back rest member.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A support stand as claimed in claim 3 wherein the support leg is provided with the recess and the support back rest with the projection.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A support stand as claimed in claim 4 wherein the projection at least partially surrounds the aperture.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A support stand as claimed in claim 5 wherein the projection is defined by a wall that at least partially surrounds the aperturc.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A support stand as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 wherein the recess provided in the second portion of the support leg.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A support stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support leg is generally T' shaped when viewed in plan such that the first portion of the support leg defines the stem of the 1" and the second portion of the support leg defines thc cross member of the T'.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A support stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second portion of the cross nicmber is provided with a lip.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A support stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support back rest member includes a foot which, in use, rests against a support surface.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A support stand as claimed in claim 10 wherein the foot is provided along an edge of thc support back rest member.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A support stand as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the foot is provided with a high friction covering.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A support stand as claimed in claim 12 wherein the high friction covering comprises a member that is fitted to the edge.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A support stand as claimed in claim 12 wherein the covering is tbrmed integrally with the support back rest member, for example during moulding thereof.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A support stand as claimed in any of claims 11 to 14 wherein the foot includes a recess through which a cable of a device supported by the support stand may pass, in use.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. Asupportstandasclaimedinclaiml5whereinthettcessisdefinedbyacut-out in the edge of the support back rest member.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A support member as claimed iii any preceding claim wherein the support back rest member and support leg are formed from a thermoplastic material by an injection moulding opcration.</claim-text> <claim-text>1 K A support member as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support back rest member includes decoration that has been applied by an in mould labelling operation.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. A support member as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the stand is provided with two support legs, and the support back rest member is provided with two apertures.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A support stand comprising a support back rest member having a front face and a rear face, and a support leg, the support back rest member having an aperture thcrethrough, and the support leg having a first portion dimensioned so as to fit though the aperture and a second portion having cross-sectional dimensions that are greater than those of the aperture, wherein the support leg is insertablc through the aperture such that the second portion is positioned on the front face side of the support back rest and wherein the support leg is removable from the aperture and is connectable to the rear face of the support back rest member when not in use, said connection comprising a projection of the support back rest being frictionally received in a recess of the support leg, said projcction at least partially surrounding the aperture of thc support back rest.
2. A support stand as claimed in claim 1 wherein the projection is defined by a wall that at least partially surronnds the aperture. ro
3. A support stand as claimed in any of claims I to 2 wherein the recess is provided in the second portion of the support leg.
4. A support stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support leg is generally 1" shaped when viewed in plan such that the first portion of the support leg defines the stem of the "T" and the second portion of the support leg defines the cross member of thc "T".
5. A support stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second portion of the cross member is provided with a lip.
6. A support stand as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support back rest member includes a foot which, in use, rests against a support surface.
7. A support stand as claimed in claim 6 wherein the foot is provided along an edge of the support back rest member.
8. A support stand as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the foot is provided with a high friction covering.
9. A support stand as claimed in claim 8 wherein the high friction covering comprises a member that is fitted to the edge.
10. A support stand as claimed in claim 8 wherein the covering is formed integrally with the support back rest member, for example durthg moulding thereof
11. A support stand as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10 wherein the foot includes a recess through which a cable of a device supported by the support stand may pass, in use. COis12. A support stand as claimed in claim 11 wherein the recess is defined by a cut-out C") in the edge of the support back rest member.13. A support member as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support back rest member and support leg are formed from a thermoplastic material by an injection moulding operation.14. A support member as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support back rest member includes decoration that has been applied by an in mould labelling operation.15. A support member as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the stand is provided with two support legs, and the support back rest member is provided with two apertures.</claim-text>