WO2007147176A2

WO2007147176A2 - Stand

Info

Publication number: WO2007147176A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2007/000016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Herbert Ostroff
Original assignee: Herbert Ostroff
Priority date: 2006-02-22
Filing date: 2007-02-20
Publication date: 2007-12-21
Also published as: WO2007147176A3

Abstract

A stand (110) for a lap top computer comprises a carrier plate (112) on which the computer is to be carried and means (128) at one end (118) thereof to raise that end relative to the other (116). The arrangement is such that when the lap top computer rests on the carrier plate it will be inclined to the horizontal at an appropriate angle for operation. There are slots (144) through the carrier plate so that air can pass therethrough to cool the computer.

Description

STANDS

[0001] This invention relates to stands.

[0002] According to this invention, there is provided a stand for a lap-top computer which comprises a carrier plate on which the laptop computer may rest during use, and propped means capable of being connected to the carrier plate in both a propped position in which it props one end of the carrier plate (hereinafter called "the upper end") so that when the stand is placed on a horizontal work surface the said upper end is raised relative to the other end (hereinafter called "the lower end"), and a storage position in which the propped means lies flat under the carrier plate.

[0003] In this way, when in the propped position, a lap top computer carried on the carrier plate with the screen nearer the upper end of the carrier plate will be at an appropriate angle for use. This "appropriate angle" may vary widely, depending upon the requirements of the user but is preferably of the order of between 10 and 18°, more preferably between 10 and 15°, and most preferably at about 13° to the horizontal.

[0004] Preferably stop means are provided at the lower end of the carrier plate to retain a laptop computer against movement past the lower end. The stop means preferably comprises a low rim extending transversely across the carrier plate.

[0005] Hinge means are preferably provided to connect the propped means to the plate to pivot between the propped and storage positions. The propped means preferably comprises leg means at or near the upper end of the plate, the leg means preferably being a transverse member which extends substantially across the width of the plate. Preferably a pair of legs depend from the outer positions of the transverse member to engage a working surface. There are conveniently at least two hinges and preferably an elongated hinge attaching the transverse leg to the plate.

[0006] In an alternative arrangement, the propped means comprise a pair of side legs hinged to the side edges of the plate. These side legs are preferably triangular or frusto triangular in shape. The hinge may in this case conveniently comprise a piano hinge.

[0007] Preferably the carrier plate is perforated to permit air to pass therethrough to cool a lap top when carried thereon. The perforations preferably include elongated slots extending over a substantial part of the of the length of the carrier plate (i.e. the distance between the ends of the carrier plate). Other and enlarged openings may be provided to serve as perforations through which air can pass. The slots are conveniently arcuate being concave from the nearer edge of the carrier plate. In addition to providing air passages such openings may provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance for the carrier plate.

[0008] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a stand for a laptop computer as discussed in the said application wherein the propped means comprises a pair of legs at the said upper end of the carrier plate. The legs are preferably connected together at their upper edges by a connector means and the propped means is connected to the said other end of the carrier plate by cylindrical members rotatably mounted on a pivot member [00093 Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stand of the invention in the propped position, the view being taken from above and one side, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the stand in the storage position, Figure 3 is a side view of the stand in the propped position, and Figure 4 is a view in the direction of arrow 4 in Figure 2.

[0011] Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 there is shown a stand 110 for a laptop computer 100 (which is shown in Figure 3) in the propped position. The stand 110 comprises a large carrier plate 112 formed as injection moulded plastics material. The area of carrier plate 112 is substantially identical to or larger than the "footprint" of the laptop computer. The carrier plate 112 has side edges 114, an edge 116 at one end (hereinafter called the "lower end"), and an opposite edge 118 at the other end (hereinafter called the "upper end"). The surface of the carrier plate is sandblasted to be slightly roughened for the purpose which will be discussed below.

[0012] At or slightly below the level of the plate 112 near the upper edge 118 there is an elongated transverse pivot shaft 120. A series (of conveniently seven) substantially equi-spaced intermediary carrier lugs or barrels 124, which have through eyes, and two end lugs 122, which have the outer ends of the eyes closed, are formed integrally with the plate 112. The pivot shaft 120 is swingably received within the eyes of the lugs 122 and 124. The pivot shaft 120 comprises an upper transverse connector part 126 from the ends of which depend a pair of legs 128 with a large gap therebetween. At the bottome end of each leg 128 is a nose part 131 of reduced thickness. The upper edge of the connector part 128 has a series of cylinders 130 which fit between the lugs 122 and 124 and in which the shaft 120 is rotatably contained. The hinge arrangement comprising the shaft 120, lugs 122 and 124 and cylinders 130 permit the leg device 126 to pivot between a storage position (as shown in Figure 4), in which it lies flat against the underside of the carrier plate 112 and a propped position (as best shown in Figure 3) in which it lies at approximately right angles to the carrier plate 112. A set of four stops 132 are connected to the upper end of the outside of the connector part 126. These stops 132 are arranged to engage the underside of the plate 112 to locate the connector part 128 in the propped position and to prevent it pivoting further relative to the carrier plate 112. A small clip 134 is located centrally of the inner side of the connector for the purpose which will be described.

[0013] At the lower edge 116, there is a transverse lower rim 136 extending across the upper side of the plate 112 and forming a channel 138 in the underside of the plate 112. Two hollow cylindrical feet 140 project from the base of the channel 138. Each foot 140 has a soft PVC projection 142 to rest on a working surface (not shown).

[0014] A low peripheral ridge 113 is provided on the underside of the plate 112.

At the side edges this ridge is of somewhat enlarged height to give rigidity to the plate 112. There are in addition an oval ridge 166 on the periphery of the underside of the land 146, two arcuate ridges 164 respectively adjacent the inner arcuate members 140 and a transverse ridge 168 extending across the underside of the land to give rigidity to the plate 112. The ridges 164, 166 and 168 are not shown on Figure 2.

[0015] The plate 112 is perforated to permit air to pass therethrough bto cool a lap top computer 100 when carried thereon. The perforations include a pair of elongated slots 144 on either side of a central substantially oval land 146. The slots 144 are arcuate and concave each when viewed from each nearer edge of the carrier plate 112 and extend from close to the lower end edge to close to the upper end edge. A set of smaller arcuate slots 148 are generally parallel to the adjacent parts of the elongated slots 144 but interrupted by the land 146. In addition there are some generally triangular openings 148 with rounded apices at the central vertical axis of the plate 112 and there are two generally trapezoidal openings 150 on either side of each triangular opening 148.

[0016] The location of the upper triangular opening 148 is such that the clip 136 will pass therethrough when the plate 112 is in storage position and engages the material around the upper corner to provide a firm but releasable clip to hold the plate 112 in its storage position.

[0017] When the transverse connector part 126 is in the propped position, the plate 112 will be carried by the legs 120 and the projections 142 resting on a horizontal work surface 152. The dimensions of the various parts of the stand 110 is such that when the carrier plate 112 will be at about 13° to the horizontal (best shown in Figure 3). Furthermore the transverse connector part 126 when in the propped position, extends at about 90° to the plate. It will thus be in an overcentre position, i.e. downward pressure on the plate 112 will tend to cause the leg to move away from the storage position, i.e into a more splayed position. As is apparent from the above, such movement into a more splayed position is prevented by the stops 132 engaging the underside of the plate 112. A moulded channel of soft PVC (not shown) fits on the nose part 131 to improve frictional contact with the work surface 152.

[0018] The stand 110 is intended for use with a lap top computer 100 of any conventional type (indicated generally in Figure 3) and -comprising a base member 154 which embodies the keyboard. A screen 156 is pivoted to one end of the base member 154. The screen 156 is pivoted into a substantially vertical position for use. The base member 154 has near its corners cylindrical feet 158 in which are received soft rubber or rubber like stops 160. The construction of the lap top computer 100 is well known and therefore requires no more detailed description or illustration in the drawings. It will be noted that the height of the rim 134 is slightly less than the height of the feet 158.

[0019] In use the base member 154 of a laptop computer 100 is placed on the carrier plate 112 of the stand 110 when in the propped position on the work surface 152. The base member will also be at about 13° to the horizontal which I have found is an appropriate angle for use. This will make it easier and more comfortable to operate the keyboard. Furthermore the screen 156 when opened will be raised relative to the work surface 152 to be at a more convenient height for user of the laptop computer.

[0020] The stops 160 will engage the plate 112 with sufficient friction to hold it firmly in position thereon. However if the computer 100 should tend to move downwardly on the plate 112, the feet 158 will engage the rim 134 which will prevent it, the computer, slipping off the carrier plate 112.

[0021] Because of the provision of the slots 142, 144 and openings 146, 148 air will be permitted to pass therethrough to cool a lap top computer 100 when carried on the plate 112. The shape of the slots and openings will also provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the stand 110.

[00022] It will also be seen that when in the storage position, the leg lies flat on the underside of the plate. This and the fact that the rim is very low means that the overall height of the stand when the leg is in the storage position is small. Thus the stand can be inserted in a conventional carrier bag for a lap top computer together with the computer for storage and transport.

[0023] The invention is not limited to the precise constructional details hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings. For example the height of the stop means may be sufficient to engage the bottom part of the computer. The propped means may comprise a pair of side legs hinged to the side edges of the plate. These side legs are preferably triangular or frusto triangular in shape. As in the embodiment illustrated the side legs will be in over centre positions when in the propped position and stop means are provided to prevent the side legs moving into more splayed positions.

Claims

1 A stand for a lap-top computer which comprises a carrier plate which has two opposite ends and two opposite side edges and on which the laptop computer may rest during use, and propped means capable of being connected to the carrier plate in one of two positions, namely a propped position in which it props one end of the carrier plate (hereinafter called "the upper end") so that when the stand is placed on a horizontal work surface the said upper end is raised relative to the other end (hereinafter called "the lower end"), and a storage position in which the propped means lies flat under the carrier plate.

2 A stand as claimed in claim 1 wherein the parts are arranged such that when the propped means is in the propped position and the stand is placed on a horizontal work surface, the inclination of the carrier plate to the work surface will be such that a lap top computer carried thereon with the screen nearer the upper end will be at an appropriate angle to the horizontal for use.

3 A stand as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said appropriate angle of the order of between 10 and 18° .

4 A stand as claimed in claim 3 wherein the said appropriate angle of the order of between 10 and 15°.

5 A stand as claimed in claim 4 wherein the said appropriate angle of the order of is at about 13 °. 6 A stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein further comprising stop means at the lower end of the carrier plate to retain a laptop computer against movement past the lower end.

7 A stand as claimed in claim 6 wherein stop means comprises a low rim extending transversely across the carrier plate.

8 A stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein comprising hinge means which hingedly connect the propped means to the plate to pivot between the propped and storage positions.

9 A stand as claimed in claim 8 wherein the propped means comprises leg means at or near the upper end of the plate.

10 A stand as claimed in claim 9 wherein the leg means comprises a transverse member which extends substantially across the width of the plate.

11 A stand as claimed in claim 10 wherein two legs depend respectively from the outer positions of the transverse member to engage a working surface.

12 A stand as claimed in claim 8, 9, 10 or 11 wherein the hinge means comprises a shaft extending transversely along the plate at or near the upper end thereof, a series of aligned barrel members carried by the plate, the shaft being received within the barrel members so as to be able to rotate therein, and connector members connecting the transverse member to the shaft. 13 A stand as claimed in claim 8 wherein the propped means comprise a pair of side legs hinged to the side edges of the plate.

14 A stand as claimed in claim 13 wherein the side legs are triangular or frusto triangular in shape.

15 A stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein when in the propped position, the propped means is/are in an overcentre position.

16 A stand as claimed in claim 15 further comprising stop means to prevent the propped means moving from the propped position away the from the storage position.

17 A stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein clip means are provided to hold the propped means to the plate when the former is in the storage position.

18 A stand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the carrier plate has perforations to permit air to pass therethrough to cool a lap top when carried thereon.

19 A stand as claimed in claim 18 wherein the perforations include elongated slots extending over a substantial part of the length of the carrier plate.

20 A stand as claimed in claim 19 wherein the slots are arcuate each being concave from the nearer side edge of the carrier plate. 21 A stand as claimed in claim 19 or 20 wherein one or more additional openings are provided to serve as perforations through which air can pass.

22 A stand for a lap-top computer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

23 The combination of a stand for a lap-top computer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims with a lap-top computer placed on the carrier plate.

24 The combination of a stand for a lap-top computer with a lap-top computer placed on the carrier plate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.