초록 ▼

The present invention provides a portable support stand for various devices such as laptop computes, tablet PCs and other electronic equipment. The stand has a tripod configuration which promotes stability of the user device. The front legs of the tripod may be adjusted between compact and extended

The present invention provides a portable support stand for various devices such as laptop computes, tablet PCs and other electronic equipment. The stand has a tripod configuration which promotes stability of the user device. The front legs of the tripod may be adjusted between compact and extended positions, and may be placed in a position relative to the rear leg anywhere from 0° in a fully closed position to approximately 180° in a fully open position. Audible indicators are used with overall stand adjustment and with adjustment of stoppers at the ends of the front legs. Adjustment of the front legs relative to the rear leg employs a pivot section, including a finger disc spring, an adjustment actuator and an engagement member between the spring and the actuator. The engagement member includes projections or dimples which engage receptacles on an engagement member to secure the stand in a desired arrangement.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A portable support stand for supporting an electronic device, the stand comprising: a first support leg having an elongated body and a pivot member, the elongated body including a first end for contacting a support surface and a second end remote from the first end, and

The invention claimed is: 1. A portable support stand for supporting an electronic device, the stand comprising: a first support leg having an elongated body and a pivot member, the elongated body including a first end for contacting a support surface and a second end remote from the first end, and the pivot member being disposed adjacent the second end of the elongated body; an adjustment member rotatably coupled to the pivot member of the first support leg; and a pair of adjustable support legs each having a respective first leg member and a respective second leg member slideably attached to the respective first leg member thereof: each first leg member having a first end pivotally coupled to the adjustment member, a second end remote from the first end and a receptacle disposed between the first and second ends, and each second leg member having first and second ends thereof, the second leg members being operable to move between a compact position in which the respective second leg member is substantially received within the receptacle of the respective first leg and an extended position in which the second leg member is substantially removed from the receptacle of the respective first leg member; wherein the pair of adjustable support legs is operable to jointly rotate between a closed position adjacent to the first support leg and an open position with the second ends of the first and second leg members spaced apart from the first end of the first support leg. 2. The portable support stand of claim 1, further comprising a pair of stopper members each having first and second ends, the first end of each stopper member being coupled to the second end of a respective one of the second leg members, each stopper member being operable to move between a closed position with the second end of the stopper member adjacent the second end of the respective second leg member and an open position with the second end of the stopper member not adjacent the second end of the respective second leg member. 3. The portable support stand of claim 2, wherein the stopper members are rotatably coupled to the second ends of the respective second leg members, and the open position is substantially perpendicular to the closed position. 4. The portable support stand of claim 1, wherein in the open position the first ends of the first support leg and the adjustable support legs are in contact with the support surface, and the pivot section is elevated above the support surface. 5. The portable support stand of claim 1, wherein the pivot member includes a first engagement member and the adjustment member includes a second engagement member adjustably coupled to the first engagement member to lock the adjustable support legs in the closed position and in the open position, and to permit movement of the adjustable support legs between the closed and open positions. 6. The portable support stand of claim 5, wherein the first engagement member includes a plurality of connectors and the second engagement member includes at least one connection member operable to couple with a first one of the plurality of connectors in the closed position and with a second one of the plurality of connectors in the open position. 7. The portable support stand of claim 5, further comprising a spring device substantially disposed between the pivot member and the second engagement member. 8. The portable support stand of claim 1, wherein each of the adjustable support legs includes means for producing an audible indicator to identify when the respective adjustable support leg is in the compact or extended position. 9. A portable support stand for supporting an electronic device, the stand comprising: a first support leg having an elongated body including a first end for contacting a support surface and a second end remote from the first end; a pair of adjustable support legs; and an adjustment member rotatably coupling the pair of adjustable support legs to the second end of the first support leg, the adjustment member including: a first engagement member coupled to the first support leg, the engagement member having a first surface including plurality of first connection members distributed about a central rotation point and at least one second connection member disposed in the first surface; a pivot device including a first section adjustably coupled to the engagement member and a second section adjustably coupled to both first leg members; a second engagement member including at least one connection member operable to releasably engage at least one of the first connection members of the first engagement member; a spring device substantially disposed between the pivot device and the second engagement member; and an adjustment actuator coupled to the second engagement member, wherein when the adjustment actuator is in a first state the at least one connection member of the second engagement member is securely coupled to at least one of the first connection members of the first engagement member and when the adjustment actuator is in a second state the at least connection member of the second engagement member is decoupled from the at least one first connection member so that the pair of adjustable support legs is moveable between a closed position adjacent to the first support leg and an open position with the second ends of the first and second leg members spaced apart from the first end of the first support leg; wherein the spring device is adapted to bias the adjustment actuator in the first state. 10. The portable support stand of claim 9, wherein the pair of adjustable support legs each includes a first leg member and a second leg member slideably coupled to the respective first leg member thereof. 11. The portable support stand of claim 10, wherein the first support leg has a fixed length. 12. The portable support stand of claim 9, wherein the plurality of first connection members are distributed in a circular arrangement about the central rotation point. 13. The portable support stand of claim 12, wherein the plurality of first connection members are receptacles, and the at least one connection member comprises at least one projection operable to releasably engage at least one respective connection members. 14. The portable support stand of claim 9, further comprising at least one magnet received in the first support leg for magnetically securing the pair of adjustable support legs to the first support leg in the closed position. 15. The portable support stand of claim 9, further comprising a pair of stopper members, a first one of the stopper members being coupled to a first one of the adjustable support legs and a second one of the stopper members being coupled to a second one of the adjustable support legs, the pair of stopper members being moveable between a compact position when the support stand is in the closed position and an extended position when the support stand is in the open position. 16. The portable support stand of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is operable to rest on the support stand at three points when the support stand is in the open position, the pair of stopper members each providing a first point of contact for the electronic device and the first support leg provides a second point of contact for the electronic device in a tripod arrangement. 17. The portable support stand of claim 15, wherein in the open position the support stand has a double tripod configuration for supporting the electronic device and for contacting the support surface. 18. The portable support stand of claim 17, wherein in the double tripod configuration the first end of the first support leg providing a first point of contact with the support surface and the pair of stopper members each providing separate second points of contact with the support surface, and the second end of the first support leg providing a first point of contact for the user device and the pair of stopper members each provide separate second points of contact for the user device. 19. A portable support stand for supporting an electronic device, the stand comprising: a first support leg having an elongated body, the elongated body including a first end for contacting a support surface and a second end remote from the first end, the second end comprising a pivot member that is an integral part of the elongated body and is rigidly attached thereto; an adjustment member coupled to the pivot member of the first support leg, the adjustment member being rotatable relative to the pivot member about a first axis of rotation; and a pair of adjustable support legs each having a respective first leg member and a respective second leg member slideably attached to the respective first leg member thereof, each first leg member having a first end that is pivotally coupled to the adjustment member, is rotatable about a second axis of rotation that is non-parallel to the first axis of rotation and is otherwise rotationally-fixed relative to the adjustment member, each first leg member having a second end remote from the first end and a receptacle disposed between the first and second ends, and each second leg member having first and second ends thereof, the second leg members being operable to move between a compact position in which the respective second leg member is substantially received within the receptacle of the respective first leg and an extended position in which the second leg member is at least partially removed from the receptacle of the respective first leg member; wherein the pair of adjustable support legs is operable to jointly rotate between a closed position adjacent to the first support leg and an open position with the second ends of the pair of adjustable support legs and second leg members spaced apart from the first end of the first support leg.