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A convertible stand/table may be converted for use alternately as a table or a stand, and in particular, a stand suitable for use in mounting, securing, holding, or otherwise retaining or mounting one or more items for viewing and/or use by an individual, including, for example, a tablet or other po

A convertible stand/table may be converted for use alternately as a table or a stand, and in particular, a stand suitable for use in mounting, securing, holding, or otherwise retaining or mounting one or more items for viewing and/or use by an individual, including, for example, a tablet or other portable computing device. Further, in some configurations, a magnetic mounting pad, including a suction cup surface and at least one permanent magnet, may be used to mount a portable electronic device such as a tablet on an inclined and magnetically-attractive surface, with the suction cup surface, e.g., provided by a microsuction layer, adhered to the back of the portable electronic device, and with the permanent magnet attracted to the magnetically-attractive surface.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A convertible stand and table, comprising: a base;an arm supported by the base and comprising a plurality of arm segments coupled to one another by at least one hinge, wherein the hinge comprises a locking hinge that is biased to a locked configuration in which relative rotation between first and

1. A convertible stand and table, comprising: a base;an arm supported by the base and comprising a plurality of arm segments coupled to one another by at least one hinge, wherein the hinge comprises a locking hinge that is biased to a locked configuration in which relative rotation between first and second members of the locking hinge is restricted, and that is selectively releasable to an unlocked configuration to allow for relative rotation between the first and second members, and wherein the locking hinge includes a mechanically-actuated magnetic clutch; anda head including a top surface, the head pivotably mounted to the arm at an opposite end from the base, the head being pivotable between a first position in which the top surface is substantially horizontal to provide a table configuration and a second position in which the top surface is inclined relative to horizontal to provide a stand configuration to support a portable electronic device in an ergonomically-suitable viewing position. 2. The convertible stand and table of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable arm mount coupled to the base and the arm and configured to rotate the arm about a substantially vertical axis relative to a ground surface. 3. The convertible stand and table of claim 2, wherein the arm is coupled to the rotatable arm mount with a first arm segment thereof fixed at an angle of about 20 degrees relative to the substantially vertical axis. 4. The convertible stand and table of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arm segments includes first, second and third arm segments, wherein the at least one hinge includes a first hinge joining the first and second arm segments and a second hinge jointing the second and third arm segments, wherein the first and second hinges are configured to rotate about substantially parallel axes that are substantially parallel to a ground surface. 5. The convertible stand and table of claim 1, wherein the head includes a handle mechanically coupled to the mechanically-actuated magnetic clutch to enable the locking hinge to be released in response to actuation of the handle. 6. The convertible stand and table of claim 5, wherein the handle is mechanically coupled to the mechanically-actuated magnetic clutch by a Bowden cable. 7. The convertible stand and table of claim 1, further comprising a ball joint coupling the head to the arm, the head pivotable between the first and second positions using the ball joint, wherein the ball joint comprises a ball coupled to the arm and a plurality of magnets coupled to the head and arranged in a Halbach array. 8. The convertible stand and table of claim 1, wherein the top surface comprises a magnetically-attractive surface, and wherein the top surface is configured to retain the portable electronic device through magnetic attraction between the top surface and the portable electronic device. 9. The convertible stand and table of claim 8, wherein the top surface is configured to retrain the portable electronic device through magnetic attraction between the top surface and a magnetic mounting pad mounted to the portable electronic device. 10. The convertible stand and table of claim 9, wherein the magnetic mounting pad includes a suction cup surface configured to adhere to the portable electronic device and at least one permanent magnet. 11. The convertible stand and table of claim 10, wherein the magnetic mounting pad includes a magnetic layer formed of a rubber/iron compound and a microsuction layer formed from a flexible microsuction material. 12. The convertible stand and table of claim 1, wherein the head includes at least one ledge configured to support the portable electronic device when the head is in the second position. 13. The convertible stand and table of claim 12, further comprising a magnetic stopper configured to be magnetically-retained on the top surface to assist with supporting the portable electronic device on the top surface. 14. The convertible stand and table of claim 13, wherein the head includes a recessed holder on a rear surface thereof configured to store the magnetic stopper when not in use. 15. The convertible stand and table of claim 1, wherein the head includes at least one power port configured to supply power to the portable electronic device. 16. The convertible stand and table of claim 15, wherein the head includes a recessed holder on a rear surface thereof configured to store a reading light when not in use, wherein the reading light is configured to electrically couple to the power port when removed from the storage recess to illuminate the top surface. 17. The convertible stand and table of claim 1, wherein the head further comprises: first and second retaining bands configured to selectively extend over the top surface of the head; andfirst and second recessed channels on a rear surface of the head and configured to store the first and second retaining bands, respectively, when not in use. 18. The convertible stand and table of claim 17, wherein the first and second retaining bands are respectively secured to the head proximate first ends of the first and second recessed channels, and wherein the head further comprises first and second sets of notches respectively disposed proximate second ends of the first and second recessed channels and respectively configured to anchor the first and second retaining bands at one of a plurality of positions along a top edge of the head. 19. The convertible stand and table of claim 1, wherein the head further comprises a monitor mount. 20. A method of holding a portable electronic device, the method comprising: adhering a magnetic mounting pad to a back of the portable electronic device, the mounting pad including a suction cup surface configured to adhere to the portable electronic device and at least one permanent magnet; andplacing the portable electronic device on a magnetically-attractive surface such that the magnetic mounting pad magnetically retains the portable electronic on the magnetically-attractive surface;wherein the magnetically-attractive surface comprises a top surface of a head of a convertible stand and table that further comprises a base and an arm supported by the base and comprising a plurality of arm segments coupled to one another by at least one hinge;wherein the head is pivotably mounted to the arm at an opposite end from the base;wherein the method further comprises pivoting the head between a first position in which the top surface is substantially horizontal to provide a table configuration and a second position in which the top surface is inclined relative to horizontal to provide a stand configuration to support the portable electronic device in an ergonomically-suitable viewing position;wherein the at least one hinge comprises a locking hinge that is biased to a locked configuration in which relative rotation between first and second members of the locking hinge is restricted, and that is selectively releasable to an unlocked configuration to allow for relative rotation between the first and second members;wherein the locking hinge includes a mechanically-actuated magnetic clutch; wherein the head includes a handle mechanically coupled to the mechanically-actuated magnetic clutch to enable the locking hinge to be released in response to actuation of the handle; andwherein the method further comprises: actuating the handle to release the locking hinge;moving the head relative to the base while the locking hinge is released; andreleasing the handle to lock the locking hinge.