Tablet support apparatus

• US 9,069,527 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uinta Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brydge LLC
• Inventors: Leong, Bradley Train, Vromen, Edward Guillaume Helene
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Timothy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morrison, Rashen E
• Application Number:
  US13/657,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20140029185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.08, 361/679.57
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting a tablet type computer includes a keyboard, a frame and clamps pivotally connected to the frame by hinges. Each clamp has first and second clamping fingers. The apparatus can further include inserts configured to cover at least a portion of the clamping fingers. The inserts releasably grip portions of the tablet-type computer when the portions of the tablet-type computer are inserted between the clamping fingers.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a device comprising:

a keyboard;

a frame; and

a first device receiving member pivotally connected to the frame,

wherein the first device receiving member includes first and second clamp surfaces defining a generally “

U”

-shaped recess, the first clamp surface configured to receive a front portion of the device, and the second clamp surface configured to receive a back portion of the device opposite the front portion of the device,

wherein the first device receiving member includes a rounded base portion connecting the first clamp surface to the second clamp surface, the device receiving member being capable of rotation between a closed position and an open position, and

wherein the rounded base portion of the first device receiving member protrudes beyond a bottom portion of the frame when in the open position but does not protrude beyond the bottom portion of the frame when in the closed position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an insert, the insert configured to mate with the first device receiving member, wherein a portion of the insert, when mated to the first device receiving member, resides within the “

U”

-shaped recess between the first and second clamp surfaces.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second device receiving member pivotally connected to the frame, wherein the second device receiving member includes first and second clamp surfaces defining a generally “

U”

-shaped recess, the first clamp surface configured to receive a front portion of the device, and the second clamp surface configured to receive a back portion of the device opposite the front portion of the device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a first insert and a second insert, the first insert configured to mate with the first device receiving member and the second insert configured to mate with the second device receiving member, wherein a portion of the first insert, when mated to the first device receiving member, resides within the “

U”

-shaped recess between the first and second clamp surfaces of the first device receiving member, and further wherein a portion of the second insert, when mated to the second device receiving member, resides within the “

U”

-shaped recess between the first and second clamp surfaces of the second device receiving member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each insert has a textured surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a bottom surface of the frame includes a first depression for mounting the first device receiving member to the frame and a second depression for mounting the second device receiving member to the frame.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a top surface of the frame includes a first depression shaped to receive a portion of the first device receiving member and a second depression shaped to receive a portion of the second device receiving member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first device receiving member includes a hinge comprising a support plate, a shaft, and a female host, wherein the female host is configured to receive a shaft.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the shaft is generally cylindrical and has a first flattened portion, and wherein the female host is generally cylindrical and has a first flattened portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the shaft further has a second flattened portion, the first and second flattened portions of the shaft being positioned approximately 90°

from each other, and wherein the female host has a second flattened portion, the first and second flattened portions of the female host being positioned approximately 90°

from each other.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first clamp surface extends a first distance from the rounded base portion and the second clamp surface extends a second distance from the rounded base portion, the first distance being smaller than the second distance.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the open position of the device receiving member includes a range of about 180 degrees of rotation.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the device receiving member is in the open position, the keyboard is configured to be inclined relative to a flat surface supporting the apparatus.

11. An apparatus for supporting a tablet type computer comprising:

a keyboard;

a frame; and

a first tablet receiving member pivotally connected to the frame by a first hinge,

wherein the first tablet receiving member includes a first clamp surface having a first height and a second clamp surface having a second height, the first and second clamp surfaces defining a first generally “

U”

-shaped recess therebetween, wherein the first “

U”

-shaped recess is configured to receive a portion of the tablet such that the first clamp surface covers a portion of a front surface of the tablet and the second clamp surface covers a portion of a back surface of the tablet opposite the first surface of the tablet

wherein the first height is smaller than the second height, and

wherein the first tablet receiving member includes a rounded base portion and further wherein the first tablet receiving member is capable of rotation between a closed position and an open position, the rounded base portion of the first tablet receiving member protruding beyond a bottom portion of the frame when in the open position but not protruding beyond the bottom portion of the frame when in the closed position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first hinge includes a locking mechanism having an engaged state and a disengaged state, wherein upon rotation of the first tablet receiving member about the frame, the first hinge provides a first amount of friction when the locking mechanism is in the disengaged state and the first hinge provides a second amount of friction when the locking mechanism is in the engaged state, the second amount of friction being greater than the first amount of friction.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an insert being configured to slip over the first tablet receiving member and to provide a compression fit with the tablet when the tablet is received within the first tablet receiving member.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a wireless module within the frame, the wireless module being configured to transmit information between the keyboard and the tablet.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a bottom surface of the frame includes a first depression for mounting the first tablet receiving member to the frame.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a top surface of the frame includes a first depression shaped to receive a portion of the first tablet receiving.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising

a second tablet receiving member pivotally connected to the frame by a second hinge, wherein the second tablet receiving member includes a third clamp surface having a third height and a fourth clamp surface having a fourth height, the third and fourth clamp surfaces defining a second generally “

U”

-shaped recess therebetween, wherein the second “

U”

-shaped recess is configured to receive a portion of the tablet such that the third clamp surface covers a portion of the front surface of the tablet and the fourth clamp surface covers a portion of the back surface of the tablet, and

wherein the third height is smaller than the fourth height.

22. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the open position of the device receiving member includes a range of about 180 degrees of rotation.

24. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein, when the device receiving member is in the open position, the keyboard is configured to be inclined relative to a flat surface supporting the apparatus.

17. A tablet type computer system comprising:

a tablet;

a keyboard;

a frame;

a first tablet receiving member pivotally connected to the frame by a first hinge, the first tablet receiving member having first and second clamping fingers extending substantially parallel to one another and coupled to one another by a first rounded base, the first clamping finger, second clamping finger, and first rounded base defining a first generally “

U”

-shaped recess configured to receive the tablet so that the first finger covers a portion of a front surface of the tablet and the second finger covers a portion of a back surface of the tablet opposite the first surface of the tablet,

wherein the first clamping finger has a height that is smaller than a height of the front surface of the tablet, the second clamping finger has a height that is smaller than a height of the back surface of the tablet, and the height of the front clamping finger is smaller than the height of the second clamping finger, and

wherein the first tablet receiving member is capable of rotation between a closed position and an open position, the first rounded base of the first tablet receiving member protruding beyond a bottom portion of the frame when in the open position but not protruding beyond the bottom portion of the frame when in the closed position.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first hinge includes a locking mechanism having an engaged state and a disengaged state, wherein upon rotation of the first tablet receiving member about the frame, the first hinge provides a first amount of friction when the locking mechanism is in the disengaged state and the first hinge provides a second amount of friction when the locking mechanism is in the engaged state, the second amount of friction being greater than the first amount of friction.