Kickstand for foldable computing device
A kickstand assembly comprises a backplate including a backplate deploy magnet having a first magnetic pole orientation. An upper kickstand plate is slidably connected to the backplate, and a lower kickstand plate is rotatably coupled to the upper kickstand plate. The lower kickstand plate includes a closing magnet having a second magnetic pole orientation that attracts the backplate deploy magnet, and an opening magnet laterally spaced from the closing magnet and having the first magnetic pole orientation that repels the backplate deploy magnet to cause the lower kickstand plate to rotate about the upper kickstand plate when the upper kickstand plate is laterally translated relative to the backplate.
1. A kickstand assembly for a foldable computing device, the kickstand assembly comprising:
a backplate comprising a backplate deploy magnet having a first magnetic pole orientation;
an upper kickstand plate slidably connected to the backplate; and
a lower kickstand plate rotatably coupled to the upper kickstand plate and comprising:
a closing magnet having a second magnetic pole orientation that attracts the first magnetic pole orientation of the backplate deploy magnet; and
an opening magnet laterally spaced from the closing magnet and having the first magnetic pole orientation that repels the backplate deploy magnet to cause the lower kickstand plate to rotate about the upper kickstand plate when the upper kickstand plate is laterally translated relative to the backplate.
2. The kickstand assembly of claim 1 , wherein the backplate is a separate structure that is removably attached to the foldable computing device.
3. The kickstand assembly of claim 2 , wherein the backplate comprises a backplate accessory magnet configured to attract a frame accessory magnet in a frame of the foldable computing device to removably attach the kickstand assembly to the frame.
4. The kickstand assembly of claim 1 , wherein the backplate is also a rear face of a frame of the foldable computing device.
5. The kickstand assembly of claim 1 , wherein the closing magnet of the lower kickstand plate overlies the backplate deploy magnet and releasably secures the lower kickstand plate to the backplate when the lower kickstand plate is in a home position relative to the backplate.
6. The kickstand assembly of claim 1 , wherein the foldable computing device comprises a first frame rotatably coupled to a second frame, and wherein the upper kickstand plate further comprises a kickstand retention magnet having a kickstand magnetic pole orientation, and the kickstand retention magnet overlies a frame retention magnet in the second frame of the foldable computing device when the upper kickstand plate is in a home position and the first frame and the second frame are in a closed orientation, wherein the frame retention magnet has a frame magnetic pole orientation that attracts the kickstand magnetic pole orientation of the kickstand retention magnet to removably retain the second frame against the first frame in the closed orientation.
7. The kickstand assembly of claim 6 , wherein the foldable computing device comprises a biaser that biases the first frame and the second frame to rotate open from the closed orientation, and wherein the biaser opens the first frame and the second frame from the closed orientation when the upper kickstand plate is laterally translated relative to the backplate to move the kickstand retention magnet away from overlying the frame retention magnet.
8. The kickstand assembly of claim 1 , wherein the backplate comprises a plurality of slots, and the upper kickstand plate comprises a plurality of sliders that are each slidably received in one slot of the plurality of slots in the backplate.
9. The kickstand assembly of claim 8 , wherein the sliders are integrally fabricated with the upper kickstand plate.
10. The kickstand assembly of claim 8 , wherein the sliders are separate components that are affixed to the upper kickstand plate.
11. The kickstand assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the sliders comprises an elongated member that comprises:
a first end comprising a first slider upper bearing surface and a first slider lower bearing surface; and
a second end comprising a second slider upper bearing surface and a second slider lower bearing surface.
12. The kickstand assembly of claim 11 , wherein each of the sliders further comprises a recessed relief surface between the first end and the second end.
13. The kickstand assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of capture members, wherein each of the capture members is affixed to one of the sliders to retain the slider within the corresponding slot.
14. The kickstand assembly of claim 1 , wherein the backplate comprises a plurality of sliders and the upper kickstand plate comprises a plurality of slots, wherein each of the sliders is slidably received in one slot of the plurality of slots.
15. The kickstand assembly of claim 14 , wherein the sliders are integrally fabricated with the backplate.
16. The kickstand assembly of claim 14 , wherein the sliders are separate components that are affixed to the backplate.
17. The kickstand assembly of claim 14 , wherein the backplate is a separate structure that is removably attached to the foldable computing device.
18. The kickstand assembly of claim 14 , wherein each of the sliders comprises an elongated member that comprises:
a first end comprising a first slider upper bearing surface and a first slider lower bearing surface; and
a second end comprising a second slider upper bearing surface and a second slider lower bearing surface.
19. A kickstand assembly for a foldable computing device, the kickstand assembly comprising:
a backplate comprising:
a plurality of slots;
a backplate deploy magnet having a first magnetic pole orientation; and
a backplate accessory magnet configured to attract a frame accessory magnet in a frame of the foldable computing device to removably attach the kickstand assembly to the frame;
an upper kickstand plate comprising a plurality of sliders that are each slidably received in one slot of the plurality of slots in the backplate; and
a lower kickstand plate rotatably coupled to the upper kickstand plate and comprising:
a closing magnet having a second magnetic pole orientation that attracts the first magnetic pole orientation of the backplate deploy magnet; and
an opening magnet laterally spaced from the closing magnet and having the first magnetic pole orientation that repels the backplate deploy magnet to cause the lower kickstand plate to rotate about the upper kickstand plate when the upper kickstand plate is laterally translated relative to the backplate.
20. A method of deploying a lower kickstand plate of a kickstand assembly that is attached to a foldable computing, the method comprising:
sliding an upper kickstand plate of the kickstand assembly in a lateral direction relative to the backplate to cause a backplate deploy magnet in the backplate to repel an opening magnet in the lower kickstand plate and cause the lower kickstand plate to rotate about a connection with the upper kickstand plate.