EXPANDING DEVICE FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

• US 20130175909A1
• Filed: 01/03/2013
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: TSAI, TSUNG-YING, WANG, WEI-CHENG, CHEN, HSIN-HAO, WANG, TZU-WEI
• Granted Patent: US 8,947,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/223.1
• 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 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03

Abstract

An expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus is disclosed. The expanding device includes a main body for placing the portable electronic apparatus and a sliding assembly disposed in the main body. The sliding assembly includes a slide track element disposed in the main body, a sliding element, and a cover. The sliding element is slidably coupled to the slide track element and slides between a receiving position and an extending position relative to the main body. The cover is pivotally connected to the sliding element and includes a fixing portion. When the sliding element is moved towards outside of the main body to the extending position, the cover can be rotated relative to the sliding element, and the portable electronic apparatus can be fixed on the main body via the fixing portion of the cover.

Claims

1. An expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus, comprising:

a main body for placing a portable electronic apparatus; and

a sliding assembly disposed in the main body, the sliding assembly comprising;

a slide track element fixed to the main body;

a sliding element slidably coupled to the slide track element, the sliding element sliding between a receiving position and an extending position relative to the main body; and

a cover pivotally connected to the sliding element, the cover comprising a fixing portion,

wherein the cover rotates relative to the sliding element when the sliding element slides to the extending position, such that the portable electronic apparatus is fixed to the main body by the fixing portion of the cover.

2. The expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide track element comprises at least one stop portion for providing a sliding limit of the sliding element.

3. The expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding assembly further comprises a lever element and an operation element connected to the lever element, and the cover further comprises a receiving slot, the lever element being slidably coupled to the cover;

the operation element moves along the receiving slot to drive the lever element to a fastened position, thereby allowing the main body to be fixed to the cover by the lever element.

4. The expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lever element comprises a first fastening portion;

the first fastening portion stops at the main body when the lever element reaches the fastened position while the portable electronic apparatus is fixed to the cover.

5. The expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sliding assembly further comprises a link structure, the link structure comprising a second fastening portion, a pivot portion, and a link portion, the pivot portion being disposed between the second fastening portion and the link portion, the link structure being rotatably connected to the cover by the pivot portion, the link portion being slidably connected to the lever element;

when the portable electronic apparatus is fixed to the cover, the lever element slides to the fastened position and drive the link portion, such that the second fastening portion stops at the main body.

6. The expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lever element further comprises a curved slot;

the link portion moves along the curved slot when the lever element moves, such that the link structure rotates.

7. The expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sliding assembly further comprises a link structure, the link structure comprising a second fastening portion, a pivot portion, and a link portion, the pivot portion being disposed between the second fastening portion and the link portion, the link structure being rotatably connected to the cover by the pivot portion, the link portion being slidably connected to the lever element;

once the portable electronic apparatus is fixed to the cover, the lever element slides to the fastened position and drives the link portion to move, such that the second fastening portion stops at the main body.

8. The expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lever element further comprises a curved slot;

the link portion moves along the curved slot when the lever element moves, such that the link structure rotates.

9. The expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein a length of the lever element is less than or equal to a length of the cover.

10. The expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding assembly is accommodated in the main body when the sliding element reaches the receiving position.

11. The expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one axial rotation element fixed to the cover, and the cover is pivotally connected to the sliding element by the at least one axial rotation element.

12. The expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein a distance from a pivot point of the cover and the sliding element to the fixing portion is larger than or equal to a distance from the pivot point of the cover and the sliding element to a top side of the portable electronic apparatus.

13. The expanding device for a portable electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a distance from a pivot point of the cover and the sliding element to the fixing portion is larger than or equal to a distance from the pivot point of the cover and the sliding element to a top side of the portable electronic apparatus.