US20050103970A1

US20050103970A1 - Rack for tablet PC

Info

Publication number: US20050103970A1
Application number: US10/957,644
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsiao-Ching Kuo
Original assignee: Tatung Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tatung Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-19
Filing date: 2004-10-05
Publication date: 2005-05-19
Also published as: GB2408203A; GB0423135D0; CA2485310A1; TWM240510U

Abstract

A rack is disclosed to include a base frame, a first support device coupled to the base frame, a second support device coupled to the base frame and the first support device for supporting a tablet PC on the first support device in a tilt position for operation, and two wire reels symmetrically provided at the second support device behind the first support device, each wire reel having two reversed hooks for the arrangement of electric lines extended from the loaded tablet PC.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rack and more particularly, to a rack for supporting a tablet PC.
2. Description of Related Art
Following market saturation of desktop computer and fast market growth of notebook computer, tablet PC has been gradually becoming the next generation for the advantages of high mobility and unique functions of touch input and digital ink.
Normally, a tablet PC user holds the tablet PC with one hand and operates the tablet PC with the other hand when walking or standing still. However, when sitting on a chair, the user may have to put the tablet PC on the table in horizontal for operation. However, the user's view angle is limited when operating a tablet PC on a flat surface in horizontal.
Therefore, tablet PC racks are developed for supporting a tablet PC on a flat surface in a tilt position for operation. A tablet PC rack for this purpose generally comprises a base frame, first support means coupled to the base frame, and second support means coupled to the base frame and the first support means for supporting a tablet PC on the first support means in a tilt position. However, it is well known that the battery of a tablet PC is insufficient to support working for a long period of time. At this time, an AC adapter must been used. Further, a tablet PC may be used with peripheral apparatus such as CD/DVD player, hard disk drive, keyboard, etc. The electric wire of the attached AC adapter and peripheral apparatus may be tangled or disorderly extending over the top of the table.
Further, conventional racks for tablet PC have no means to stop the loaded tablet PC on the support means, and the tablet PC may fall from the support means when user moves the angle of the support means to adjust the view angle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a rack for tablet PC, which has wire reel means for receiving electric lines from the loaded tablet PC in a good order. It is another object of the present invention to provide a rack for tablet PC, which keeps the loaded tablet PC firmly in place, preventing falling of the loaded tablet PC during adjustment of view angle.
To achieve the objects, the rack comprises a base member, the base member comprising two side frame bars, both of the two side frame bars provided with a front lug and a rear locating strip, the rear locating strip having at least one locating hole; a first support device, the first support device comprising two vertical arms respectively pivotally coupled to the lugs of the two side frame bars of the base member; and a second support device, the second support device comprising transversely extended middle pivot means pivotally coupled to the middle of vertical arms of the first support device, at least two front bearing portions adapted to bear a tablet PC lying on the vertical arms of the first support device in a tilt position, and two rear coupling portions selectively coupled to two corresponding locating holes of the rear locating strips of the base member; wherein the second support device further comprises at least one wire reel provided between the middle pivot means and the rear coupling portions, the at least one wire reel each having two reversed elements that are spaced from each other at a distance for the winding of electric wires optionally connected to the tablet PC.
In brief, the present invention has been set up a wire reel in the middle of the rack. When a tablet PC lies on the rack, the wire reel will locate behind the tablet PC, and be used to wind the spare electric wire of optional device (such as a power supply adapter, a keyboard, or a mouse). Furthermore, the upwardly expanded end blocks of the two front bearing portions of the second support device can be used to keep the tablet PC firmly in place, preventing falling of the tablet PC during adjustment of view angle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a rack for tablet PC according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of the rack for tablet PC, showing the structure of the wire reels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a rack for tablet PC is shown comprised of a base member 1, a first support device 2, and a second support device 3.
The base member 1 is a rectangular frame comprising a front frame bar 141, two side frame bars 142, 143, a rear frame bar 144, two lugs 121,122 respectively provided at the two side frame bars 142,143 at a front side, two elongated locating strips 131, 132 respectively longitudinally provided at the two side frame bars 142,143 at a rear side. The elongated locating strips 131,132 each have a longitudinal series of locating holes 133. The first support device 2 is a substantially U-shaped support member comprising two vertical arms 21,22 respectively pivotally coupled to the lugs 121,122 of the base member 1, and two axle holders 24,25 respectively provided at the vertical arms 21,22. The second support device 3 comprises a pivot axle 31 and two frame bars 32,33. The pivot axle 31 is pivotally coupled between the axle holders 24,25 at the two vertical arms 21,22 for enabling second support device 3 to be turned about the axis passing through the axle holders 24,25. Each of two frame bars 32,33 has a front bearing portion 321,331 and a rear coupling portion 322,332. The two frame bars 32,33 are respectively fixedly fastened to the pivot axle 31, keeping the front bearing portions 321,331 in front of the first support device 2 to bear a tablet PC 4 (see the imaginary line) and the rear coupling portions 322,332 selectively coupled to the locating holes 133 of the elongated locating strips 131,132 of the base member 1. By means of changing the connection between the rear coupling portions 322,332 and the locating holes 133, the angle of the first support device 2 and the angle of the second support device 3 are relatively adjusted.
Further, the front bearing portions 321,331 of the frame bars 32,33 each has a front end respectively terminating in an expanded end block 323,333 for stopping the loaded tablet PC 4 in place. When in use, the tablet PC 4 is placed on the front bearing portions 321,331 of the frame bars 32,33 and rested with the back side thereof on the vertical arms 21,22 of the first support device 2 in a tilt position, and the expanded end blocks 323,333 of the front bearing portions 321 and 331 of the frame bars 32 and 33 are respectively stopped at the front side of the tablet PC 4, prohibiting the tablet PC 4 from falling out of the second support device 3.
Referring to FIG. 2, two wire reels 324,334 are respectively symmetrically provided at the frame bars 32,33 between the pivot axle 31 and the rear coupling portions 322,332. Each wire reel 324,334 has two reversed hooks 325,326. After loading of the tablet PC 4, the electric wire 41 (power cord, keyboard or mouse wire) of the tablet PC 4 can be wound round the reversed hooks 325,326 of one wire reel 324,334.
Further, the base member, first support device and second support device of the rack are respectively made of rigid material, for example, stainless steel or reinforced plastics. The wire reels may be made in any of a variety forms that can hold the arranged wire member in place.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A rack for supporting a tablet PC, comprising:

a base member, said base member comprising two side frame bars, said two side frame bars each being provided with a front lug and a rear locating strip, said rear locating strip having at least one locating hole;

a first support device, said first support device comprising two vertical arms respectively pivotally coupled to the lugs of the two side frame bars of said base member; and

a second support device, said second support device comprising transversely extended middle pivot means pivotally coupled to the middle of said vertical arms of said first support device, at least two front bearing portions adapted to bear a tablet PC lying on the vertical arms of said first support device in a tilt position, and two rear coupling portions selectively coupled to two corresponding locating holes of the rear locating strips of said base member;

wherein, said second support device further comprises at least one wire reel provided between said middle pivot means and said rear coupling portions, said at least one wire reel each having two reversed elements that are spaced from each other at a distance for the winding of electric wires optionally connected to the tablet PC.

2. The rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two reversed elements of said at least one wire reel each has a hook.

3. The rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least two front bearing portions of said second support device each have a front end terminating in an upwardly expanded end block.