IP Library Granted Patent US 9,482,382
Granted Patent B2
US 9,482,382 · App. 14/420,034 · Granted Nov 1, 2016

Holding device for a tablet computer

Inventors: Arild Olsen (Leonberg, DE); Kurt Leute (Blumberg, DE); Ulrich Schneider (Stuttgart, DE)
Assignee: Esselte Leitz GmbH & Co KG
F16M11/08E05B73/0082F16M11/04F16M11/10F16M11/2014F16M13/00G06F1/1626G06F1/1632H05K5/0204
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,482,382
App. No.
14/420,034
Granted
Nov 1, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A holding device for a tablet computer has a lower part spanning a setting-up surface for setting it up on a tabletop and an upper part which can be rotated with respect to the lower part about a rotation axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the setting-up surface, which upper part has a first and a second bearing surface for the tablet computer, wherein each of the bearing surfaces defines a position of the tablet computer in which it is inclined at an acute angle to the setting-up surface, and wherein the tablet computer in the position defined by the first bearing surface is inclined at a greater angle to the setting-up surface than in the position defined by the second bearing surface.

Claims (9)

1. Holding apparatus for a tablet computer ( 100 ), having a lower part ( 14 ) that spans a setup surface ( 12 ) for setting the apparatus up on a table surface and having an upper part ( 18 ), which part has a first and a second contact surface ( 40 , 52 ) for the tablet computer ( 100 ), wherein each of the contact surfaces ( 40 , 52 ) defines a position of the tablet computer ( 100 ) in which it is inclined at an acute angle (α, β) relative to the setup surface ( 12 ), wherein the first contact surface ( 40 ) has two portions ( 42 , 48 ) disposed at a distance from one another, of which a first portion ( 42 ) is the inner surface of a channel ( 44 ), and the second portion ( 48 ) is disposed at a greater height above the setup surface ( 12 ) than the first portion ( 42 ), and wherein the tablet computer ( 100 ) is inclined at a greater angle (α) relative to the setup surface ( 12 ) in the position defined by the first contact surface ( 40 ) than in the position defined by the second contact surface ( 52 ), wherein the upper part can rotate relative to the lower part ( 14 ), about an axis of rotation ( 16 ) that runs essentially perpendicular to the setup surface ( 12 ), and wherein the holding apparatus further comprises a locking device by means of which the upper part ( 18 ) can be locked, relative to the lower part ( 14 ), in at least one preferred position.

2. Holding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion ( 48 ) is disposed at a distance of at least 45 mm and at most 60 mm from the first portion ( 42 ).

3. Holding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second contact surface ( 52 ) is formed by an upper delimitation surface of the upper part ( 18 ).

4. Holding apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the second contact surface ( 52 ) has a length of 50 mm to 80 mm and a width of 60 mm to 100 mm.

5. Holding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second contact surface ( 52 ) has a slip-preventing rubber element ( 54 ).

6. Holding apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a ball bearing ( 26 ) that has a ring ( 34 ) provided with balls ( 28 ), between the upper part ( 18 ) and the lower part ( 14 ), disposed at a distance from the upper part ( 18 ) and the lower part ( 14 ), wherein the balls ( 28 ) lie on the lower part ( 14 ) and wherein the upper part ( 18 ) lies on the balls ( 28 ).

7. Holding apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the lower part ( 14 ) and the upper part ( 18 ) each have a circumferential depression ( 36 , 38 ) in which the balls ( 28 ) are accommodated.

8. Holding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the locking device has at least one ferromagnetic element ( 58 ) in the lower part ( 14 ) and at least one ferromagnetic element ( 60 ) in the upper part ( 18 ), wherein at least one of the ferromagnetic elements ( 58 , 60 ) is a permanent magnet, and wherein in the at least one preferred position, a ferromagnetic element ( 60 ) in the upper part ( 18 ) is directly disposed above a ferromagnetic element ( 58 ) in the lower part ( 14 ), forming a magnetic attraction force.

9. Holding apparatus for a tablet computer ( 100 ), having a lower part ( 14 ) that spans a setup surface ( 12 ) for setting the apparatus up on a table surface and having an upper part ( 18 ), which part has a first and a second contact surface ( 40 , 52 ) for the tablet computer ( 100 ), wherein each of the contact surfaces ( 40 , 52 ) defines a position of the tablet computer ( 100 ) in which it is inclined at an acute angle (α, β) relative to the setup surface ( 12 ), and wherein the tablet computer ( 100 ) is inclined at a greater angle (α) relative to the setup surface ( 12 ) in the position defined by the first contact surface ( 40 ) than in the position defined by the second contact surface ( 52 ), wherein the upper part can rotate relative to the lower part ( 14 ), about an axis of rotation ( 16 ) that runs essentially perpendicular to the setup surface ( 12 ), wherein the holding apparatus further comprises a locking device by means of which the upper part ( 18 ) can be locked, relative to the lower part ( 14 ), in at least one preferred position, and wherein the locking device has at least one ferromagnetic element ( 58 ) in the lower part ( 14 ) and at least one ferromagnetic element ( 60 ) in the upper part ( 18 ), wherein at least one of the ferromagnetic elements ( 58 , 60 ) is a permanent magnet, and wherein in the at least one preferred position, a ferromagnetic element ( 60 ) in the upper part ( 18 ) is directly disposed above a ferromagnetic element ( 58 ) in the lower part ( 14 ), forming a magnetic attraction force.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 28, 2018
From: ESSELTE LEITZ GMBH & CO KG
To: LEITZ ACCO BRANDS GMBH & CO KG
Reel/Frame 047163/0417 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2015
From: OLSEN, ARILD; LEUTE, KURT; SCHNEIDER, ULRICH
To: ESSELTE LEITZ GMBH & CO KG
Reel/Frame 035081/0859 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2012 015 484 · Aug 7, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150223354A1 · Aug 6, 2015