SUPPORT ASSEMBLY AND COMPUTER DEVICE HAVING THE SAME

• US 20110310548A1
• Filed: 04/12/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: AHN, Jin-hyuk, Yeom, Yun pil
• Granted Patent: US 8,767,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.21
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683

Abstract

A support assembly which supports a computer device body having a display unit. The support assembly includes a base member which is supported on an installation plane, a shaft which extends in parallel to a plane of the base member, a first support member having one end portion joined to the base member and the other end portion which supports the support, at least one pinion gear which is concentrically joined to the shaft, a second support member including a first support part which supports the computer device body having the display unit, a second support part which extends from the first support part to have a predetermined curvature, and a rack gear which is formed on a plane of the second support part facing the shaft along the extension direction of the second support part and moves according to rotation of the computer device body supported to the first support part.

Claims

1. A support assembly to support a computer device body having a display unit, comprising:

a base member supported on an installation plane;

a shaft to extend in parallel to a plane of the base member;

a first support member having one end portion joined to the base member and the other end portion to support the shaft;

at least one pinion gear concentrically joined to the shaft;

a second support member comprising;

a first support part to support the computer device body having the display unit,

a second support part to extend from the first support part to have a predetermined curvature, and

a rack gear formed on a plane of the second support part facing the shaft along the extension direction of the second support part and to move according to rotation of the computer device body supported to the first support part, the rack gear to engage the at least one pinion gear in order to hold a position of the second support part; and

a third support member joined to the base member and to movably support the second support member.

2. The support assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

an elastic member placed on the shaft to elastically bias the shaft in a direction in which the weight of the computer device body supported to the first support part is overcome.

3. The support assembly according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member comprises a coil spring or a leaf spring, with both end portions of the elastic member joined to the shaft and the first support member, respectively.

4. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the center of the curvature of the second support part is different from the rotation center of the shaft.

5. The support assembly according to claim 4, wherein the curvature of the second curvature is smaller than the curvature of the pinion gear.

6. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first support member has one end portion joined to the base member, the one end portion being in parallel to the installation plane, and the other end portion which is erectly bent from the one end portion joined to the base member and to support the shaft.

7. The support assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first support member is fastened to the base member by means of screws, rivets, or pins.

8. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second support member further comprises:

a projection projecting from the second support part, and

wherein the third support member comprises a projection support member having one end portion interposed between the first support member and the base member and the other end portion formed therein with a guide part to guide and accommodate the projection moving along the second support part.

9. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the third support member further comprises:

a second support part support member joined to the base member and to support a plane opposite to a plane of the second support part where the rack gear is placed.

10. The support assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base member comprises:

a first base part to extend in parallel to the lengthwise direction of the shaft; and

a second base part which has a step lower than the first base part, the first support member being joined to a plane of the second base part.

11. The support assembly according to claim 10, wherein the computer device body has a rectangular plate shape where the display unit is placed in the front side, and

where a step between the first base part and the second base part is provided such that planes of the first base part and the display unit have substantially the same height when the computer device body is rotated in parallel to the installation plane.

12. A computer device, comprising:

a computer device body having a display unit placed in the front side; and

a support assembly according to claim 1, which rotatably supports the computer device body with respect to an installation plane.

13. A rack and pinion computer support device, comprising:

a first support member to support a computer device;

a second support member extending from the first support member comprising a curved rack to rotate the first support member;

a shaft member comprising a pinion gear to engage with the rack;

a plurality of shaft support members to support the shaft member; and

at least one fixed projection support member attached to the plurality of shaft support members to limit rotation of the first support member,

wherein as the shaft member rotates, the engagement of the pinion gear along the curved rack rotates the first support member.

14. The rack and pinion computer support device of claim 13, wherein the second support member further comprises:

a projection extending toward the first support member.

15. The rack and pinion computer support device of claim 14, wherein the at least one fixed projection support member comprises:

a guide path to accommodate the projection to limit rotation of the first support member.

16. The rack and pinion computer support device of claim 13, further comprising:

an elastic member placed on the shaft member to elastically bias rotation of the shaft member.

17. The rack and pinion computer support device of claim 13, wherein the axis of rotation of the shaft member is located between a curvature center of the rack and the projection support member.

18. The rack and pinion computer support device of claim 13, wherein the first support member comprises:

a first region to fasten to the computer device.

19. The rack and pinion computer support device of claim 18, wherein the first support member further comprises:

a second region substantially perpendicular to the first region to support the computer device.

20. The rack and pinion computer support device of claim 13, wherein the first support member is capable of rotating within a range of about 0 to 90 degrees.