Electronic device with hinged cover

• US 7,990,692 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wang, Wei-Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, INGRID D
• Application Number:
  US12/508,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20100165558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/724, 361/679.02, 361/679.26, 361/679.09, 361/679.21, 163/26, 163/27, 163/35, 163/42, 162/28, 248917-924
• US Class Current: 361/679.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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

An electronic device includes a main body, a cover, and two supports. The main body defines two receiving slots. The cover is hinged on the main body. The supports are slidably connected to the main body, capable of being entirely received in the receiving slots or protruding out of the main body, in response to positions of the cover.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a main body defining at least one receiving slot;

a cover hinged on the main body;

at least one driving member; and

at least one support slidably connected to the main body, each configured for being entirely received in one of the at least one receiving slot or protruding out of the main body, in response to positions of the cover, wherein the main body comprises a bottom surface to contact a supporting member on which the electronic device rests, the at least one support protruding out of the bottom surface of the main body, the cover comprises at least one resisting portion to drive the at least one support to slide, the at least one driving member is configured for sliding in a first direction driven by the cover, the at least one support is configured for sliding in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction in response to the sliding of the at least one driving member; and

the at least one resisting portion prevents the at least one driving member from sliding.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the main body forms a first guide rail substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface and a second guide rail extending substantially perpendicular to the first guide rail in each of the at least one receiving slot;

the each of the at least one driving member defines a second sliding groove to engage the second guide rail, and the at least one support defines a first sliding groove to engage the first guide rail;

wherein the support and the at least one driving member comprises inclined surfaces with which to engage each other.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the main body comprises a bottom wall, two opposite first sidewalls, a second sidewall connecting the first sidewalls, and a connecting beam opposite to the second sidewall cooperatively defining the receiving slot, wherein the first guide rail and the second guide rail are formed on at least one of the first sidewalls;

each of the at least one support further comprises a supporting surface opposite to the inclined surface, two opposite side surfaces, and two opposite end surfaces;

each of the at least one driving member further comprises a resisting surface opposite to the inclined surface, two opposite side surfaces, and two opposite end surfaces, wherein the first sliding groove is defined in at least one of the side surfaces of the support, and the second sliding groove is defined in at least of one of the side surfaces of the driving member.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the bottom wall of the main body defines an opening out of which each of the at least one support can protrude out of the receiving slot.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the at least one receiving slot comprises two receiving slots defined on opposite ends of a side of the main body, respectively;

wherein the number of the at least one support is two.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one resisting portion of the cover prevents the at least one support from sliding on an incline relative to the bottom surface.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one elastic member disposed between each of the at least one support and the main body to force the at least one support to return to the corresponding receiving slot.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein at least one of the end surfaces of each of the at least one support forms a contact protrusion including a positioning post and a receiving portion to position and resist the at least one elastic member.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one pivot shaft to hinge the cover on the main body.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a base and housing coupled to the base, the at least one receiving slot is defined in the base.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a main body defining at least one receiving slot;

a cover hinged on the main body and comprising at least one resisting portion;

at least one driving member; and

at least one support slidably connected to the main body, wherein when the cover is rotated relative to the main body, the at least one resisting portion causes the at least one support to slide, so that the main body is supported by the at least one support, the main body comprises a bottom surface to contact a supporting member on which the electronic device is held, the at least one support protrudes out of the bottom surface of the main body, the at least one resisting portion is configured to prevent the at least one support from sliding, the at least one driving member is capable of sliding in a first direction, the at least one support is capable of sliding along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction driven by the at least one driving member; and

the at least one resisting portion prevents the at least one driving member from sliding.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one resisting portion of the cover prevents each of the at least one support from sliding on an inclined surface relative to the bottom surface.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising at least one elastic member disposed between each of the at least one support and the main body to return the at least one support to the at least one receiving slot.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the electronic device is a notebook computer.