Stand fixing structure

Abstract

To provide a fixing structure of a stand capable of reliably supporting an electronic device on a top plate of a device and capable of being easily detached when not in use.SOLUTION: The fixing structure of a stand includes a top plate and a stand. One of the top plate and the stand includes an engagement hole, and the other one includes an engagement protrusion insertable into the engagement hole. By the engagement protrusion being inserted into the engagement hole, the stand is detachably fixed to the top plate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fixing structure of a stand for installing an electronic device on a top plate of an apparatus. [[Background Art]]

[0002] As electronic device stands for installing electronic devices such as smartphones and tablet terminals in an inclined posture with their displays, the technologies described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are disclosed.

[0003] In the technology described in Patent Document 3, it is disclosed that a tablet PC for operating an air conditioning unit in an conditioned air supply device is fixed to the device by a vertically expandable holding arm. [[Prior Art Documents]] [[Patent Documents]]

[0004] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-70622 [[Patent Document 2]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-92495 [[Patent Document 3]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-159645 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0005] An apparatus such as a measuring apparatus is sometimes operated by an electronic device separate from the apparatus. In this case, although it is possible to hold the electronic device with one hand and operate it with the other hand, if the electronic device can be placed on the top plate, both hands are free, which is convenient for work. Furthermore, if the display can be installed in an inclined posture, it is easier for an operator to view the display, which improves work efficiency. For this purpose, electronic device stands as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 can also be used.

[0006] However, electronic device stands like those shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are portable and can be used anywhere as desired. Therefore, if one places it on the top of a device and operates the electronic device on it with one hand, the stand may slide backward, requiring the user to move it back to its original position or hold the stand in place with one hand, which could actually decrease work efficiency. Furthermore, fixing the stand to the top of the device with adhesive tape or the like can be cumbersome and may damage the top of the device.

[0007] The embodiments of this disclosure aim to provide a stand fixing structure that can reliably support electronic equipment on the top plate of a device while being easily removable when not in use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure is a stand fixing structure comprising a top plate and a stand, wherein one of the top plate and the stand is provided with an engagement hole, and the other is provided with an engagement projection that can be inserted into the engagement hole, and the stand is detachably fixed to the top plate by insertion of the engagement projection into the engagement hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to embodiments of this disclosure, a stand fixing structure is provided that can reliably support electronic equipment on the top plate of a device while being easily removable when not in use. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] An assembly drawing of the stand fixing structure of the first embodiment is shown in an upward perspective view. [Figure 2] This is an overhead perspective view of the area near the engagement hole on the top panel. [Figure 3] This is a downward perspective view of the area near the engagement hole on the top panel. [Figure 4] This is an upward perspective view of the connecting component. [Figure 5]It is a top perspective view showing a state where a relay member is inserted into a top plate. [Figure 6] It is a top perspective view showing a state where a relay member is fixed to a top plate. [Figure 7] It is a bottom perspective view showing a state where a relay member is fixed to a top plate. [Figure 8] It is a top perspective view of a support member. [Figure 9] It is a top perspective view of the support member viewed from the opposite side of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is a bottom view of the support member. [Figure 11] It is a top perspective view showing a state where a support member is fixed to a relay member. [Figure 12] It is a top perspective view viewed from the opposite side of FIG. 11. [Figure 13] It is a top perspective view showing a state where an electronic device is placed on a stand. [Figure 14] It is a bottom perspective view of the lower surface of a stand in the stand fixing structure according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] It is a top perspective view of a top surface in the stand fixing structure according to the third embodiment. [Figure 16] A cross-sectional view schematically shows the stand fixing structure according to the fourth embodiment. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Common reference numerals in each drawing indicate the same parts unless otherwise specified. In addition, each member and each part shown in each drawing is merely schematically illustrated, and the size and positional relationship of actual products are not necessarily accurately represented.

[0012] (1) First Embodiment (1-1) Overall Configuration FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view showing an assembly drawing of members constituting a stand fixing structure 1 according to a first embodiment. The stand fixing structure 1 of the present embodiment has a structure in which a stand 30 composed of a support member 40 and a relay member 60 is fixed to a top plate 10 of an apparatus. The top plate 10 is a ceiling portion that is a part of the housing of the apparatus, but is not limited thereto. Two rectangular engagement holes having a depth in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the top plate 10 are formed in the top plate 10. Further, the relay member 60 constituting the stand 30 is provided with two engagement protrusions 61a and 61b that can be inserted into the two engagement holes 20. The engagement holes 20 are bottomed, and the engagement protrusions 61a and 61b have a length that allows contact with the bottom of the engagement holes 20. Accordingly, when the engagement protrusions 61a and 61b are inserted into the engagement holes 20, they come into contact with the bottom of the engagement holes 20. As a result, the engagement protrusions 61a and 61b of the relay member 60 are inserted into the engagement holes 20 of the top plate 10, and further, the support member 40 is fixed to the relay member 60 as described later.

[0013] That is, the stand fixing structure 1 of the present disclosure includes the top plate 10 and the stand 30. One of the top plate 10 and the stand 30 includes the engagement hole 20, and the other includes engagement protrusions 61a and 61b that can be inserted into the engagement hole 20. The stand 30 is fixed to the top plate 10 by inserting the engagement protrusions 61a and 61b into the engagement holes 20. In addition, when the stand 30 is not in use, the stand 30 can be easily removed from the top plate 10 by pulling the engagement protrusions 61a and 61b out of the engagement holes 20. That is, the stand 30 can be removed from the apparatus. In the first embodiment, the top plate 10 includes the engagement holes 20 and the stand 30 includes the engagement protrusions 61a and 61b. However, as shown in a third embodiment described later (see FIG. 15), the configuration may be such that the stand 30 includes the engagement holes 20 and the top plate 10 includes the engagement protrusions 61a and 61b. In the stand fixing structure 1 of the present disclosure, the engagement hole 20 is composed of two holes, and the engagement protrusions 61a and 61b are composed of two protrusions, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of engagement holes and the number of engagement protrusions may each be one or three or more.

[0014] (1-2) Top plate 10 Figures 2 and 3 show a portion of the top plate 10, with the vicinity of the engagement holes 20 on the top plate 10 shown as an upper and lower perspective view, respectively. The top plate 10 has a guide groove 21 that communicates with the engagement holes 20, is bottomed (see Figure 3), and has an elongated rectangular shape in plan view. In other words, the engagement holes 20 are formed so as to protrude perpendicularly to the top surface from two locations near one end and the other end of the guide groove 21 (see Figure 2). This guide groove 21 is configured to allow the engagement projections 61a and 61b inserted into the engagement holes 20 to slide in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (i.e., the vertical direction) (i.e., the horizontal direction). That is, the intermediate member 60 slides horizontally relative to the top plate 10. In this disclosure, the direction in which the engagement projections 61a and 61b slide along the guide groove 21 is sometimes referred to as the longitudinal direction. This longitudinal direction can be rephrased as the direction in which the guide groove 21 is formed when viewed from above. The engaging protrusions 61a and 61b, which are slid longitudinally by the guide groove 21, are positioned in the retractable portion 22 connected to the guide groove 21. The top plate 10 constitutes the top surface as part of the housing of the device on which the stand 30 is installed, and is formed from a metal plate, synthetic resin plate, wood, etc., depending on the material of the housing, to include the aforementioned engaging holes 20, guide groove 21, and retractable portion 22.

[0015] In other words, the stand fixing structure 1 of the present disclosure further includes a guide groove 21 which communicates with the engagement hole 20 and allows the engagement projections 61a and 61b inserted into the engagement hole 20 to slide in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (i.e., the longitudinal direction). As a result, the stand 30 is fixed to the top plate 10 by sliding the engagement projections 61a and 61b inserted into the engagement hole 20 along the guide groove 21. Note that, as shown in the third embodiment described later (see Figure 15), if the stand 30 is configured to have an engagement hole 20 and the top plate 10 is configured to have engagement projections 61a and 61b, the guide groove 21 will also be formed in the stand 30.

[0016] In addition to the above-described embodiment, an embodiment in which the engagement hole 20 does not have a bottom is also possible. Such an embodiment can be made, for example, by providing a locking structure such as another projection or claw on the intermediate member 60 above the engagement projections 61a and 61b, and at a different planar position from the engagement projections 61a and 61b. That is, when the engagement projections 61a and 61b are inserted into the engagement hole 20, the locking structure engages with the upper surface of the top plate 10, preventing further insertion.

[0017] Another method for fixing the stand 30 to the top plate 10 is to use a configuration in which the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b are press-fitted into the engaging hole 20, and the friction between the engaging hole 20 and the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b during contact holds the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b in the engaging hole 20. Alternatively, magnets can be provided on both the engaging hole 20 and the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b, and the stand 30 can be fixed to the top plate 10 by magnetic attraction. In the same way, the stand 30 can be fixed to the top plate 10 using hook-and-loop fasteners instead of magnets.

[0018] (1-3) Relay member 60 Figure 4 is an upward perspective view of the intermediate member 60 that constitutes part of the stand 30, showing the intermediate member 60 shown in Figure 1 from the opposite angle. The intermediate member 60 is made of a rigid synthetic resin and has a rectangular plate shape overall. Two engaging protrusions 61a and 61b protrude from the lower edge of one side, and two second engaging protrusions 62a and 62b protrude from the upper edge. The two engaging protrusions 61a and 61b each protrude from the vertex of the rectangle, which is the end on the lower edge side. One of the two second engaging protrusions 62a, 62b, protrudes from the vertex of the rectangle, which is the end on the upper edge side, and the other second engaging protrusion 62b protrudes from a position at a predetermined distance from another end on the upper edge side. The engaging protrusions 61a and 62a are located on the same straight line in the insertion direction. The distance between the two engaging protrusions 61a and 61b is the same as the distance between the two engaging holes 20 (see Figure 2) in the top plate 10. On the other hand, the distance between the two second engaging protrusions 62a and 62b is shorter than the distance between the two engaging protrusions 61a and 61b.

[0019] Next, the method for fixing the intermediate member 60 to the top plate 10 will be described. First, the two engaging protrusions 61a and 61b are positioned in the two engaging holes 20 so that they align in a plan view, and the intermediate member 60 is inserted into the guide groove 21 of the top plate 10. At this time, the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b move along the insertion direction within the engaging holes 20 and finally contact the bottom of the engaging holes 20. The state after insertion is complete is shown in the upper perspective view of Figure 5. Next, the intermediate member 60 is slid longitudinally along the guide groove 21 to the end of the guide groove 21. The state after sliding is complete is shown in the upper perspective view of Figure 6. Also, in the state after sliding is complete, as shown in the lower perspective view of Figure 7, the two engaging protrusions 61a and 61b are positioned in the retracted portion 22 as a result of sliding along the guide groove 21. In this state, the area above the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b is closed off by the top plate 10. In other words, a structural top plate 10 exists above the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b (i.e., in the upward direction of insertion), and since the intermediate member 60 is locked to the top plate 10, it is impossible to pull it out upward. In this state, the intermediate member 60 is fixed to the top plate 10 so as to resist forces in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the guide groove 21 (i.e., the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) and in the vertical direction.

[0020] (1-4) Support member 40 Figure 8 is an upper perspective view of a support member 40 that constitutes part of the stand 30. Figure 9 is an upper perspective view of the support member 40 seen from the opposite side of Figure 8. Furthermore, Figure 10 is a bottom view of the support member 40. The support member 40 is a rigid synthetic resin member that has a roughly inverted T-shape when viewed from the side. A long, narrow rectangular support plate 41 is erected above a rectangular plate-shaped mounting plate 42, slightly off-center from the middle. On the mounting plate 42, on two sides facing each other with the support plate 41 in between, there are upward-projecting stopper plates 44a and 44b. Furthermore, on the upper surface of the mounting plate 42, a pair of rectangular support pieces 43 are projecting upward at approximately midway between the support plate 41 and the stopper plate 44a. The height of the support pieces 43 is approximately the same as the height of the stopper plates 44a and 44b.

[0021] At the boundary portion of the mounting plate 42 with the support plate 41, a pair of rectangular second engagement holes 50a are opened at the same interval as the spacing between the pair of second engagement protrusions 62a and 62b described above. Connected to these second engagement holes 50a, a pair of rectangular second retractable portions 52a are opened at the part of the support plate 41 that separates it from the mounting plate 42. Similarly, on the opposite side of the support plate 41 from the side shown in Figure 8, another pair of second engagement holes 50b and a pair of second retractable portions 52b are opened, as shown in Figure 9. These two pairs of second engagement holes 50a and 50b and the two pairs of second retractable portions 52a and 52b are in communication with a second guide groove 51, which is a single elongated rectangular groove provided on the bottom surface of the mounting plate 42 and directly below the support plate 41, as shown in the bottom view of Figure 10.

[0022] Next, the method for fixing the support member 40 to the intermediate member 60 will be described. First, one of the two pairs of second engagement holes 50a and 50b of the support member 40 (second engagement hole 50b in Figure 11) is positioned so that the two second engagement protrusions 62a and 62b (see Figure 6) of the intermediate member 60, which is fixed to the top plate 10, coincide in a plan view, and the upper half of the intermediate member 60 is inserted into the second guide groove 51 of the support member 40. At this time, the second engagement protrusions 62a and 62b move along the insertion direction within the second engagement hole 50b and finally come into contact with the upper edge of the second engagement hole 50b (the edge facing the mounting plate 42). The second guide groove 51 is configured to allow the second engagement protrusions 62a and 62b inserted into the second engagement hole 50b to slide in the longitudinal direction, which is perpendicular to the insertion direction, thereby allowing the support member 40 to slide longitudinally along the intermediate member 60. When the support member 40 is slid longitudinally along the second guide groove 51 of the intermediate member 60 until the second engagement projections 62a and 62b contact the end of the second retraction portion 52b, the support member 40 becomes fixed to the intermediate member 60 against forces in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the guide groove 21 (horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) and the vertical direction, as shown in the upper perspective view of Figure 11. In other words, the stand 30 becomes fixed to the top plate 10. Once this state is reached, the upper ends of the second engagement projections 62a and 62b are locked to the mounting plate 42 of the support member 40, making it impossible to pull the support member 40 upward. In this embodiment, the second engagement holes 50a and 50b consist of two holes, but are not limited to this, and may consist of one or three or more holes. Also, the second engagement projections 62a and 62b consist of two projections, but are not limited to this, and may consist of one or three or more projections.

[0023] As shown in Figure 12, which is an overhead perspective view of the state in Figure 11 from the opposite side, the other pair of second engagement holes 50a is not in use. By turning this side to the opposite side and inserting the second engagement projections 62a and 62b into this pair of second engagement holes 50a, the stand 30 can be fixed to the top plate 10 so that this side faces forward. In this way, the angle of the electronic device 100 supported by the support plate 41 can be changed, as will be described later, depending on which of the two pairs of second engagement holes 50a and 50b the second engagement projections 62a and 62b are inserted into.

[0024] In the stand fixing structure 1 of this embodiment, the stand 30 is composed of a support member 40 and a relay member 60 formed separately from the support member 40. The relay member 60 is equipped with second engaging protrusions 62a and 62b in addition to the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b described above. The support member 40 is equipped with second engaging holes 50a and 50b through which the second engaging protrusions 62a and 62b can be inserted, and a second guide groove 51 connected to the second engaging holes 50a and 50b, which allows the second engaging protrusions 62a and 62b inserted into the second engaging holes 50 to slide in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. The relay member 60 is fixed to the top plate 10 in a direction perpendicular to the guide groove 21 and in the vertical direction by inserting the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b into the engaging holes 20 and sliding the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b inserted into the engaging holes 20 along the guide groove 21. Furthermore, the second engaging protrusions 62a and 62b of the relay member 60 are inserted into either of the second engaging holes 50a or 50b of the support member 40, and the second engaging protrusions 62a and 62b inserted into either of the second engaging holes 50a or 50b are slid along the second guide groove 51, thereby fixing the support member 40 to the relay member 60 so as to resist forces in the direction perpendicular to the second guide groove 51 and in the vertical direction. In other words, the support member 40 is fixed to the top plate 10 via the relay member 60 so as to resist forces in the direction perpendicular to the guide groove 21 (second guide groove 51) and in the vertical direction.

[0025] Figure 13 is an overhead perspective view showing a smartphone, which is an electronic device 100, mounted on a stand 30 fixed to the top plate 10 in the state shown in Figure 12. Specifically, the electronic device 100 is propped up on a support plate 41 (which is hidden in this figure), and the lower edge of the electronic device 100 is locked to a support piece 43 on the mounting plate 42. In this state, the display 110 of the electronic device 100, which is facing forward, can be operated. Furthermore, the lower edge of the electronic device 100 is supported by being locked by the support piece 43, and the support plate 41 is fixed by the engagement projections 61a and 61b being inserted into the engagement holes 20. As a result, the stand 30 can support the electronic device 100 against its own weight and pressure from user operation, thus ensuring reliable support for the electronic device 100. Alternatively, the lower edge of the electronic device 100 can be locked to a stopper plate 44a instead of the support piece 43, allowing the angle at which the electronic device 100 is propped up to be changed. Furthermore, the lower edge of the electronic device 100 can also be leaned against the stopper plate 44b, which is on the opposite side of the mounting plate 42 from the support piece 43. The stand 30 can also be fixed in the reverse direction by inserting the second engagement protrusions 62a and 62b into the other pair of second engagement holes 50a shown in Figure 12. In this embodiment, the distances from the mounting plate 42 to the support piece 43 and the two stopper plates 44a and 44b are different, so the stand fixing structure 1 of this embodiment allows the electronic device 100 to be leaned against the stand 30 at a desired angle from among three different angles.

[0026] In addition to the structure described above, in which the insertion is stopped when the second engaging protrusions 62a and 62b come into contact with the upper edge of the second engaging hole 50 (i.e., the edge facing the mounting plate 42), other structures such as the following are also possible. That is, the insertion of the second engaging protrusions 62a and 62b into the second engaging hole 50 may be stopped when the support member 40 inserted into the second guide groove 51 comes into contact with the top surface provided inside the second guide groove 51.

[0027] (2) Second Embodiment Figure 14 shows a downward perspective view of the lower surface of the stand 30 in the stand fixing structure 1 of the second embodiment. That is, the stand 30 of this embodiment has a shape in which the support member 40 and the intermediate member 60 of the first embodiment are integrally formed. In other words, in the stand 30 of this embodiment, an intermediate piece 45, which has the same shape as the lower half of the intermediate member 60 of the first embodiment (see Figure 4), is provided protruding downward from the bottom surface of the mounting plate 42. Furthermore, two engaging protrusions 61a and 61b, as shown in Figure 4, protrude from the lower edge side of one side of this intermediate piece 45. Then, as shown in Figure 5, the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b of the stand 30 are inserted into the engaging holes 20 provided in the top plate 10, and then, as shown in Figure 6, the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b are slid to fix the stand 30 to the top plate 10.

[0028] (3) Third Embodiment Figure 15 shows the upper surface of the top plate 10 in the stand fixing structure 1 of the third embodiment in an upward perspective view. That is, the top plate 10 of this embodiment has a shape that appears to be integrally formed with the intermediate member 60, of which only the upper half is visible in Figure 6. In other words, the upper surface of the top plate 10 of this embodiment is provided with an intermediate piece 15, which is a member that protrudes from the intermediate member 60 of the first embodiment, with the upper half of the intermediate member 60 protruding from it. Two engaging protrusions 61a and 61b protrude from the upper edge side of one side of this intermediate piece 15, similar to the two second engaging protrusions 62a and 62b shown in Figure 4. On the other hand, the stand 30 of this embodiment has the same structure as the support member 40 of the first embodiment. However, the second engaging holes 50a and 50b of the first embodiment become the engaging hole 20. Then, the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b of the top plate 10 are inserted into the engaging holes 20 provided in the stand 30, and further, as shown in Figure 11, the engaging protrusions 61a and 61b (second engaging protrusions 62a and 62b in Figure 11) are slid to fix the stand 30 to the top plate 10.

[0029] (4) Fourth Embodiment Figure 16 schematically shows the stand fixing structure 1 in the fourth embodiment in a cross-sectional view. In this embodiment, multiple engagement holes 20 as recesses are formed on the upper surface of the top plate 10. In addition, multiple engagement protrusions 61a and 61b are formed on the bottom surface of the mounting plate 42 of the stand 30, which fit into the engagement holes 20, respectively. By placing the stand 30 on the top plate 10 while fitting the multiple engagement protrusions 61a and 61b into the multiple engagement holes 20, the stand 30 can be fixed to the top plate 10 in a manner that resists horizontal forces. [Industrial applicability]

[0030] This invention can be used as a structure for fixing a stand for mounting electronic equipment on the top plate of a device onto the top plate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0031] 1. Stand fixing structure 10 Top plate 15 Intermediate piece 20 Engagement hole 21 Guide groove 22 Retraction section 30 stands 40 Support member 41 Support plate 42 Mounting plate 43 Support piece 44a, 44b Stopper plate 45 Intermediate piece 50a, 50b Second engagement hole 51 Second guide groove 52a, 52b Second evacuation section 60 Relay member 61a, 61b Engaging projection 62a, 62b Second engagement protrusion 100 Electronic Devices 110 Displays

Claims

1. A stand fixing structure comprising a top plate and a stand, Of the top plate and the stand, one is provided with an engagement hole, and the other is provided with an engagement projection that can be inserted into the engagement hole. The stand is detachably fixed to the top plate by inserting the engaging projection into the engaging hole. Of the top plate and the stand, the one having the engagement hole further comprises a guide groove that communicates with the engagement hole and allows the engagement projection inserted into the engagement hole to slide, A stand fixing structure wherein the stand is fixed to the top plate by sliding the engaging projection, which is inserted into the engaging hole, along the guide groove.

2. The stand fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the top plate is provided with the engagement hole and the stand is provided with the engagement projection.

3. The stand fixing structure according to claim 2, wherein the engagement hole has a bottom and the engagement projection is of a length that allows it to contact the bottom of the engagement hole.

4. The stand is composed of a support member and a relay member formed separately from the support member. The relay member is provided with a second engaging projection along with the engaging projection, The support member comprises a second engagement hole through which the second engagement projection can be inserted, and a second guide groove connected to the second engagement hole, which allows the second engagement projection inserted into the second engagement hole to slide in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. The connecting member is fixed to the top plate by inserting the engaging projection into the engaging hole and sliding the engaging projection inserted into the engaging hole along the guide groove. The stand fixing structure according to claim 3, wherein the support member is fixed to the relay member by inserting the second engaging projection into the second engaging hole and sliding the second engaging projection inserted into the second engaging hole along the second guide groove.

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