초록

An apparatus for supporting and cooling an electronic device and methods of using the apparatus. The apparatus can include a housing for a cooling system and a support cradle for receiving the electronic device and engaging the electronic device with the cooling system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for supporting and cooling an electronic device with at least one air vent on a vent area of the electronic device, the apparatus comprising: a housing with side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, and an internal area between the side walls, the front and rear walls, the rear wall hav

1. An apparatus for supporting and cooling an electronic device with at least one air vent on a vent area of the electronic device, the apparatus comprising: a housing with side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, and an internal area between the side walls, the front and rear walls, the rear wall having one or more openings to permit air to pass through the rear wall;a fan member positioned in the internal area and configured to cause air to pass through the one or more openings in the rear wall; anda support cradle extending beyond the front wall of the housing to receive an edge of the electronic device on a top surface of the support cradle, the top surface of the support cradle comprising at least one air exchange opening to allow air to pass through the top surface of the cradle,wherein the top surface of the support cradle rises above a bottom surface of the apparatus,wherein the top surface of the support cradle comprises a lower support pad with one or more openings aligned with the at least one air exchange opening,wherein the lower pad comprises one or more air seals that extend outward from the top surface of the lower pad to engage with the electronic device in the vicinity of the at least one air vent and restrict air movement between the support cradle and the electronic device at the location of the one or more air seals,wherein the one or more air seal extends substantially along width of the lower pad and support cradle to restrict air flow from passing between the electronic device and support cradle so that all of the air from the fan is delivered through the air exchange opening to the electronic device, andwherein one or more front pads extending vertically from a front portion of support cradle, the one or more front pads being configured to adjust position to engage with the electronic device to restrict movement of the electronic device away from the one or more air seals. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more air seals are formed of a material that is capable of conforming to the external shape of the electronic device at the area of contact to create a seal at the area of contact. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan member is arranged substantially vertically within the internal area, such that the operation of the fan will cause air to move in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the rear wall. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fan member is mounted in the internal area adjacent the rear wall. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front pad is readily configured with adjustable sliding position or removable from the support cradle. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front wall extends upwards from the support cradle to support a side of the electronic device when the electronic device is positioned on the support cradle. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the front wall extends upwards at an angle greater than 90 degrees and less than 135 degrees relative to the bottom surface of the apparatus to cause an electronic device positioned on the support cradle to be received in a non-vertical and non-horizontal manner, and wherein the angled front wall causes the housing's internal wall to direct and concentrate airflow towards the cradle's at least one air exchange opening. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the front wall comprises one or more upper support pads at or adjacent to a top edge of the front wall member. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic device vent area is located along the bottom edge with at least one air intake vent centrally located in the vent area and at least one air exhaust vent located at one or both ends of the vent area. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein one or more air seals extends substantially along width of the lower pad and support cradle to restrict air flow from passing between the support cradle and the device in the vicinity of the centrally located air intake, and wherein airflows into the device's centrally located air intake vent and exhausts out the device's exhaust vents at one or both ends raised and extended beyond the apparatus side walls. 11. An apparatus for supporting and cooling an electronic device with at least one air vent on a vent area of the electronic device, the apparatus comprising: a housing with side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, and an internal area between the side walls, the front and rear walls, the rear wall having one or more openings to permit air to pass through the rear wall;a fan member positioned in the internal area and configured to cause air to pass through the one or more openings in the rear wall; anda support cradle extending beyond the front wall of the housing to receive an edge of the electronic device on a top surface of the support cradle, the support cradle having first and second opposing wall members extending along the width of the support cradle that define a u-shaped structure with open sides at the ends of the first and second opposing walls, the support cradle having a top surface that comprising at least one air exchange opening to allow air to pass through the top surface of the cradle,wherein the top surface of the support cradle rises above a bottom surface of the apparatus,wherein the top surface of the support cradle comprises a lower support pad with one or more openings aligned with the at least one air exchange opening,wherein the lower pad comprises one or more air seals that extend outward from the top surface of the lower pad to engage with the device in the vicinity of the as least one air vent and restrict air movement between the support cradle and the electronic device at the location of the one or more air seals,wherein the one or more air seal extends substantially along width of the lower pad and support cradle to restrict air flow from passing between the electronic device and support cradle so that all of the air from the fan is delivered through the air exchange opening to the electronic device, andwherein the second opposing wall member comprises one or more front pads extending vertically from a front portion of support cradle, the one or more front pads are configured to engage with the electronic device to restrict movement of the device away from the one or more air seals, and the one or more front pads are readily configured with adjustable sliding position or removable from the support cradle. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more air seals are formed of a material that is capable of conforming to the external shape of the electronic device at the area of contact to create a seal at the area of contact. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fan member is arranged substantially vertically within the internal area, such that the operation of the fan will cause air to move in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the rear wall. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fan member is mounted in the internal area adjacent the rear wall. 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the front wall extends upwards from the support cradle to support a side of the electronic device when the electronic device is positioned on the support cradle. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the front wall extends upwards at an angle greater than 90 degrees and less than 135 degrees relative to the bottom surface of the apparatus to cause an electronic device positioned on the support cradle to be received in a non-vertical and non-horizontal manner, and wherein the angled front wall causes the housing's internal wall to direct and concentrate airflow towards the cradle's at least one air exchange opening. 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the front wall comprises one or more upper support pads at or adjacent to a top edge of the front wall member. 18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic device vent area is located along the bottom edge with at least one air intake vent centrally located in the vent area and at least one air exhaust vent located at one or both ends of the vent area. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein one or more air seals extends substantially along width of the lower pad and support cradle to restrict air flow from passing between the support cradle and the device in the vicinity of the centrally located air intake, and wherein airflows into the device's centrally located air intake vent and exhausts out the device's exhaust vents at one or both ends raised and extended beyond the apparatus side walls.