Handheld electronic apparatus with kickstand

• US 8,922,996 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2012
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Yeh, Han-Wen, Lin, Jeng-Wen, Yeh, Jih-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/627,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20140085777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.3, 361/679.56, 361/679.59
• US Class Current: 361/679.59
• 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 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A kickstand includes a holder, a bar, a shaft assembly, a cam assembly, and at least one spring washer. The bar is pivotally connected to the holder by the shaft assembly. The cam assembly is engaged with the holder and the bar and pivotally connected to the shaft assembly, so as to allow the bar to rotate relative to the holder to a closing position or an opening position selectively. The spring washer is engaged with the shaft assembly and abuts against the cam assembly.

Claims

1. A kickstand comprising:

a holder having an opening;

a bar;

a shaft assembly, wherein the bar is pivotally connected to the holder by the shaft assembly;

a cam assembly comprising a first cam unit engaged with the opening of the holder and a second cam unit engaged with the bar and pivotally connected to the shaft assembly, so as to allow the bar to rotate relative to the holder to a closing position or an opening position selectively; and

a plurality of spring washers engaged with the shaft assembly and abutting against the cam assembly, wherein each of the spring washers has an uneven surface.

2. The kickstand of claim 1, wherein the first cam unit has a first contacting surface, the first contacting surface at least has a first trough and a second trough, the second cam unit has a second contacting surface contacting the first contacting surface, the second contacting surface at least has a crest, and the bar rotates relative to the holder to the closing position when the crest is meshed with the first trough and rotates relative to the holder to the opening position when the crest is meshed with the second trough.

3. The kickstand of claim 2, wherein the holder has a first accommodating recess, the opening is communicated with the first accommodating recess, the bar comprises a pivotal portion having a second accommodating recess, the second cam unit is disposed in the second accommodating recess, and the pivotal portion is accommodated in the first accommodating recess.

4. The kickstand of claim 3, wherein the second cam unit further comprises an engaging portion, and the engaging portion is engaged with the inner wall of the second accommodating recess.

5. The kickstand of claim 3, wherein the holder further has a first pivotal hole, the first pivotal hole and the opening are respectively located at two opposite inner walls of the first accommodating recess, the pivotal portion further has a second pivotal hole communicated with the second accommodating recess, and the shaft assembly is pivotally connected to the first pivotal hole and the second pivotal hole.

6. The kickstand of claim 5, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:

a shaft unit sequentially passing through the first pivotal hole, the second pivotal hole, the second cam unit, the first cam unit, and the spring washers, the shaft unit having a head portion and a threaded portion respectively located at two ends of the shaft unit, wherein the head portion abuts against the holder, and the threaded portion protrudes out from the first cam unit; and

a nut fastened to the threaded portion, wherein the spring washers are compressed between the first cam unit and the nut.

7. The kickstand of claim 6, wherein the first cam unit has a third pivotal hole, the second cam unit has a fourth pivotal hole, and the shaft unit sequentially passes through the first pivotal hole, the second pivotal hole, the fourth pivotal hole, the third pivotal hole, and the spring washers.

8. The kickstand of claim 3, wherein the holder further has a third accommodating recess, an end of the third accommodating recess is communicated with the first accommodating recess, and the bar is accommodated in the third accommodating recess when the bar rotates relative to the holder to the closing position.

9. The kickstand of claim 3, wherein the bar further has an abutting end adjacent to the pivotal portion, and the abutting end abuts against the holder when the bar rotates relative to the holder to the opening position.

10. A handheld electronic apparatus comprising:

a main body;

a housing assembled to the main body; and

a kickstand comprising;

a holder fixed to the housing and having an opening;

a bar;

a shaft assembly, wherein the bar is pivotally connected to the holder by the shaft assembly;

a cam assembly comprising a first cam unit engaged with the opening of the holder and a second cam unit engaged with the bar and pivotally connected to the shaft assembly, so as to allow the bar to rotate relative to the holder to a closing position or an opening position selectively; and

a plurality of spring washers engaged with the shaft assembly and abutting against the cam assembly, wherein each of the spring washers has an uneven surface.

11. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first cam unit has a first contacting surface, the first contacting surface at least has a first trough and a second trough, the second cam unit has a second contacting surface contacting the first contacting surface, the second contacting surface at least has a crest, and the bar rotates relative to the holder to the closing position when the crest is meshed with the first trough and rotates relative to the holder to the opening position when the crest is meshed with the second trough.

12. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the holder has a first accommodating recess, the opening is communicated with the first accommodating recess, the bar comprises a pivotal portion having a second accommodating recess, the second cam unit is disposed in the second accommodating recess, and the pivotal portion is accommodated in the first accommodating recess.

13. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second cam unit further comprises an engaging portion, and the engaging portion is engaged with the inner wall of the second accommodating recess.

14. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the holder further has a first pivotal hole, the first pivotal hole and the opening are respectively located at two opposite inner walls of the first accommodating recess, the pivotal portion further has a second pivotal hole communicated with the second accommodating recess, and the shaft assembly is pivotally connected to the first pivotal hole and the second pivotal hole.

15. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 14, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:

a shaft unit sequentially passing through the first pivotal hole, the second pivotal hole, the second cam unit, the first cam unit, and the spring washers, the shaft unit having a head portion and a threaded portion respectively located at two ends of the shaft unit, wherein the head portion abuts against the holder, and the threaded portion protrudes out from the first cam unit; and

a nut fastened to the threaded portion, wherein the spring washers are compressed between the first cam unit and the nut.

16. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first cam unit has a third pivotal hole, the second cam unit has a fourth pivotal hole, and the shaft unit sequentially passes through the first pivotal hole, the second pivotal hole, the fourth pivotal hole, the third pivotal hole, and the spring washers.

17. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the holder further has a third accommodating recess, an end of the third accommodating recess is communicated with the first accommodating recess, and the bar is accommodated in the third accommodating recess when the bar rotates relative to the holder to the closing position.

18. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the bar further has an abutting end adjacent to the pivotal portion, and the abutting end abuts against the holder when the bar rotates relative to the holder to the opening position.

19. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 18, wherein the housing has a first edge and a second edge opposite to the first edge, the main body has a power receptacle located at the first edge, the pivotal portion is adjacent to the second edge, the bar further has a standing end, and the standing end is adjacent to the first edge when the bar rotates relative to the holder to the closing position.

20. The handheld electronic apparatus of claim 10, wherein the housing and the holder are integrally formed.