Portable electronic device stand with adjustable support arrangement, and adjustable support arrangement thereof

Abstract

An adjustable support arrangement including a frame with an opening; a support member having a base portion and an abutment portion, wherein the abutment portion extends through the opening; and an adjustable mechanism including a lock and release sub-arrangement. The lock and release sub-arrangement including a first interlocking part disposed at the support member, a second interlocking part fixedly disposed with respect to the frame, and a biasing member operatively disposed to urge the first interlocking part to interlock with the second interlocking part. The first interlocking part and the second interlocking part are disengageable from each other when a force is applied on the support member against a biasing force of the biasing member. The support member is slidable relative to the frame when the first interlocking part and the second interlocking part are disengaged from each other.

Description

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE STAND WITH ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTARRANGEMENT, AND AD USTABLE SUPPORT ARRANGEMENT THEREOFTechnical Field

[0001] Embodiments generally relate to a portable electronic device stand having an adjustable support arrangement. Embodiments generally also relate to the adjustable support arrangement for the portable electronic device stand.Background

[0002] Heat dissipation is one of the main issues affecting the performance of portable electronic devices, such as laptop, notebook, tablet, or smartphone. Accordingly, user tends to prefer to use the portable electronic device together with a portable electronic device stand so as to help cool down the portable electronic device. However, the portable electronic devices generally come in various sizes. Accordingly, a portable electronic device stand configured for a portable electronic device of a certain size may not be optimum in cooling another portable electronic device of a different size because of the different disposition when supported on the portable electronic device stand. Thus, the user may need to have different portable electronic device stands for different portable electronic devices.

[0003] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved portable electronic device stand for using with a range of sizes of portable electronic devices.Summary

[0004] According to various embodiments, there is provided an adjustable support arrangement for a holder. The adjustable support arrangement including a frame of the holder, wherein the frame comprises an opening; a support member having a base portion and an abutment portion extending from the base portion, wherein the support member is assembled to the frame with the abutment portion extending through the opening of the frame; and an adjustable mechanism operatively connecting the support member to the frame. The adjustable mechanism including a lock and release sub-arrangement. The lock and release subarrangement including a first interlocking part disposed at the support member, a second interlocking part fixedly disposed with respect to the frame, and a biasing member operativelydisposed to bias the support member to urge the first interlocking part of the support member into an interlocking engagement with the second interlocking part. The first interlocking part of the support member and the second interlocking part are disengageable from each other when a force is applied on the support member against a biasing force of the biasing member. The support member is slidable relative to the frame for adjusting a position of the abutment portion of the support member with respect to the opening of the frame when the first interlocking part of the support member and the second interlocking part are disengaged from each other.|0005| According to various embodiments, there is provided a portable electronic device stand including a holder for supporting the portable electronic device stand; and the adjustable support arrangement as described herein.Brief description of the drawings

[0006] In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:FIG. 1 shows a PED-stand according to various embodiments;FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D show a sequence of operation of an adjustable support arrangement of a holder of the PED-stand of FIG. 1 according to various embodiments;FIG. 3 A and FIG. 3B show a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view of an example of a support member for the adjustable support arrangement of FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D according to various embodiments;FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D show a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view of an attachment for the adjustable support arrangement of FIG. 2A to FIG 2D according to various embodiments;FIG. 3E shows an example of an underneath of a frame for the adjustable support arrangement of FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D according to various embodiments; andFIG. 3F shows the underneath of the frame of FIG. 3E with the attachment of FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D and the support member of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B assembled to the frame of FIG. 3E according to various embodiments.Detailed description[0007J Embodiments described below in the context of the apparatus are analogously valid for the respective methods, and vice versa Furthermore, it will be understood that the embodiments described below may be combined, for example, a part of one embodiment may be combined with a part of another embodiment

[0008] It should be understood that the terms “on”, “over”, “top”, “bottom”, “down”, “side”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “lateral”, “side”, “up”, “down” etc., when used in the following description are used for convenience and to aid understanding of relative positions or directions, and not intended to limit the orientation of any device, or structure or any part of any device or structure. In addition, the singular terms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0009] Various embodiments generally relate to a portable electronic device stand (PED- stand) for supporting a portable electronic device (PED) thereon. In particular, various embodiments generally relate to a PED-stand with an adjustable support arrangement to support a range of sizes of portable electronic devices. Various embodiments also relate to the adjustable support arrangement for the PED-stand. According to various embodiments, the PED may include a laptop, a notebook, a tablet, or a smartphone. According to various embodiments, the PED-stand may include a riser-type PED-stand, a vertical-holder-type PED- stand, or an angled-type PED-stand.

[0010] According to various embodiments, the PED-stand may include a holder for retaining or supporting the PED. The holder of the PED-stand may include an adjustable support arrangement including a frame of the holder and a support member movable relative to the frame. Further, the support member may be locked in different positions relative to the frame. Accordingly, depending on the size of the PED to be placed on the PED-stand, the support member may be moved and locked in a corresponding position relative to the frame such that the support member may support the PED in a disposition, whereby cooling for the PED may be optimized. Hence, the adjustable support arrangement may allow adjustment of the disposition of the PED relative to a cooling arrangement of the PED-stand so as to optimize cooling of the PED.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a PED-stand 100 according to various embodiments. According to various embodiments, the PED-stand 100 may include a holder 110. The holder 110 may be configured to retain or support the PED. As shown, according to various embodiments, the holder 110 of the PED-stand 100 may be in the form of a platform or a deck on which the PEDmay be placed or rested. Accordingly, the holder 110 may include a device resting surface 112 on which the PED may be placed or rested. According to various embodiments, the PED-stand may include one or more legs 114 coupled to the holder 110. The one or more legs 114 may hold up or prop the holder 110. Accordingly, when the holder 110 is in the form of the platform or the deck, the holder 110 may be held up or propped up by the one or more legs 114 so as to be inclined relative to a ground (or a horizontal plane). According to various embodiments, the PED-stand 100 may include a cooling arrangement 116. The cooling arrangement 116 may include an airflow based cooling arrangement or a direct contact cooling arrangement. According to various embodiments, the cooling arrangement 116 may be integrated with the holder 110. For example, the cooling arrangement 116 may be integrated with the device resting surface 112 of the holder 110 such that an airflow of the airflow based cooling arrangement may exit from the device resting surface 112 or a contact pad of the direct contact cooling arrangement may be part of the device resting surface 112.

[0012] According to various embodiments, the holder 1 10 of the PED-stand 100 may include a support member 130. The support member 130 may be configured to bear against a side of the PED supported on the holder 110. Accordingly, the support member 130 may serve to support or keep the PED on the holder 110, i.e. to prevent the PED from falling off the holder 110. In particular, when the holder 110 is in the form of the platform or the deck that is oriented in an inclined manner, the support member 130 may serve as a stopper to block or obstruct or hold or keep the PED on the holder 110 such that the PED may not slide off or fall off the device resting surface 1 12 of the holder 1 10. According to various embodiments, the support member 130 of the holder 110 of the PED-stand 100 may be adjustable or movable relative to the cooling arrangement 116 of the PED-stand 100. Accordingly, the support member 130 may be adjusted or moved towards (i.e. closer to) or away from (i.e. further from) the cooling arrangement 116. Hence, when the PED is smaller in size, the support member 130 may be adjusted or moved towards the cooling arrangement 1 16 so as to optimize the disposition of the PED for cooling by the cooling arrangement 116 of the PED-stand 100. On the other hand, when the PED is larger in size, the support member 130 may be adjusted or moved away from the cooling arrangement 116 so as to optimize the disposition of the PED for cooling by the cooling arrangement 116 of the PED-stand 100.

[0013] According to various embodiments, the holder 110 may include a frame 120. The frame 120 may give a concrete physical form to the holder 110. Accordingly, the frame 120 may provide the device resting surface 112 of the holder 110 when the holder 110 is in the form of the platform or deck. Further, the cooling arrangement 116 may be assembled to theframe 120. According to various embodiments, the support member 130 may also be assembled to the frame 120. Further, the support member 130 may be assembled to the frame 120 in a manner so as to be adjustable or movable relative to the frame 120 Accordingly, the support member 130 and the frame 120, together, may form an adjustable support arrangement 118 for the holder 110. Hence, the adjustable support arrangement 118, including the frame 120 and the support member 130, may enable the PED-stand 100 to allow adjustment of the support member 130 to support the PED in various disposition relative to the cooling arrangement 116 of the PED-stand 100.|00014| According to various embodiments, the frame 120 of the holder 110 may include an opening 122. The opening 122 may be a through-hole or aperture in the frame 120 of the holder 110. According to various embodiments, the support member 130 may include an abutment portion 132. The support member 130 may be assembled to the frame 120 such that the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 may extend through the opening 122 of the frame 120. Accordingly, the support member 130 may be fitted to the frame 120 with the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 inserted through the opening 122 of the frame 120. According to various embodiments, the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 may serve to abut or contact the PED so as to bear against the PED for supporting the PED on the holder 110. Accordingly, the abutment portion 132 may include an abutment surface or a contact surface

[0015] FIG. 2 A to FIG. 2D show a sequence of operation of the adjustable support arrangement 1 18 for the holder 1 10 so as to adjust or move the support member 130 relative to the frame 120 according to various embodiments.|00016| As shown, the adjustable support arrangement 118 for the holder 110 may include the frame 120 of the holder 110. Further, the frame 120 may include the opening 122. The adjustable support arrangement 118 may also include the support member 130. The support member 130 may include the abutment portion 132 and a base portion 134 The abutment portion 132 may extend from the base portion 134. Accordingly, the abutment portion 132 may protrude from the base portion 134 According to various embodiments, the base portion 134 may be a panel structure and the abutment portion 132 may be a raised ridge or rib or wall protruding therefrom. According to various embodiments, the abutment portion 132 may be substantially perpendicular to the base portion 134.

[0017] According to various embodiments, the support member 130 may be assembled or fitted to the frame 120 with the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 extending through the opening 122 of the frame 120. Accordingly, the abutment portion 132 may beinserted through the opening 122 of the frame 120 while the base portion 134 remain at an interior side (i.e. non-exposed side) of the frame 120. The frame 120 may include a top surface 126 (or exterior surface or exposed surface) serving as the device resting surface 112 of the holder 110. The frame 120 may further include an underneath surface 124 (or interior surface or non-exposed surface) opposite the top surface 126 Accordingly, the base portion 134 of the support member 130 may be on the side of the underneath surface 124 of the frame 120 and the abutment portion 132 may be inserted through the opening 122 of the frame 120 in a direction from the underneath surface 124 of the frame 120 to the top surface 126 of the frame 120. Further, the abutment portion 132 may then protrude and extend away from the top surface 126 of the frame 120. With the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 protruding outward and extending away from the top surface 126 of the frame 120, the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 may bear against a side of the PED placed or rested on the top surface 126 of the frame 120 (i.e. the device resting surface 112 of the holder 110).

[0018] According to various embodiments, the support member 130 may be movable relative to the frame 120. Accordingly, a position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 may be moved or adjusted with respect to the opening 122 of the frame 120. Accordingly, by moving or adjusting the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130, the disposition of the PED, which is supported on the holder 110, may be varied or adjusted or moved relative to the cooling arrangement 116 of the PED-stand 100.

[0019] According to various embodiments, the adjustable support arrangement 118 may include an adjustable mechanism 140. The adjustable mechanism 140 may operatively connect the support member 130 to the frame 120. Accordingly, the adjustable mechanism 140 may be operatively disposed between the support member 130 and the frame 120 such that the support member 130 may be operated relative to the frame 120. Hence, the adjustable mechanism 140 may define the operation of the support member 130 relative to the frame 120.

[0020] According to various embodiments, the adjustable mechanism 140 of the adjustable support arrangement 118 may include a lock and release sub -arrangement 150. The lock and release sub-arrangement 150 may normally lock the support member 130 with respect to the frame 120 such that the support member 130 may not be movable or adjustable. Hence, the lock and release sub-arrangement 150 may maintain or fix the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 relative to the opening 122 of the frame 120. However, when it is desired to change the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 relative to the opening 122 of the frame 120, the lock and release sub -arrangement 150 may be operated to allow the support member 130 to be movable or adjustable relative to the frame120. Therefore, once the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 is set to the desired position, the lock and release sub-arrangement 150 may again lock the support member 130 in place relative to the frame 120. This may fix the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 relative to the cooling arrangement 116. Hence, the placement of the PED thereon relative to the cooling arrangement 116 may be fixed. Subsequently, when the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 is desired to be changed, the lock and release sub -arrangement 150 may unlock the support member 130 such that the support member 130 may be movable relative to the frame 120. The position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 relative to the cooling arrangement 116 may then be changed or varied or adjusted. Hence, when differently sized PEDs are to be used with the PED-stand 100, the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 relative to the cooling arrangement 116 may be changed or varied or adjusted according to each PED so as to optimize a disposition / placement of the PED relative to the cooling arrangement 1 16.

[0021] According to various embodiments, the lock and release sub-arrangement 150 of the adjustable mechanism 140 may include a first interlocking part 152 disposed at the support member 130. Accordingly, the support member 130 may include the first interlocking part 152, or the interlocking part 152 may be a portion of the support member 130 (e.g. integrally formed or molded or printed with the support member 130). According to various embodiments, the lock and release sub-arrangement 150 of the adjustable mechanisml40 may include a second interlocking part 154 fixedly disposed with respect to the frame 120. Accordingly, the second interlocking part 154 may be disposed in a manner so as to be non -movable relative to the frame 120. For example, the second interlocking part 154 may be directly / indirectly fixedly coupled or attached to the frame 120, or the second interlocking part 154 may be integral with the frame 120 (e.g. integrally formed or molded or printed with the frame 120).

[0022] According to various embodiments, the lock and release sub-arrangement 150 of the adjustable mechanism 140 may include a biasing member 156. The biasing member 156 may be operatively disposed to bias the support member 130 to urge the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 into an interlocking engagement with the second interlocking part 154. Hence, the biasing member 156 may bias the support member 130 towards the second interlocking part 154 and / or the frame 120 such that the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 may be in engagement with the second interlocking part 154. Accordingly, the biasing member 156 may exert a biasing force on the support member 130 so as to cause the first interlocking part 152 to engage and interlock with the second interlocking part 154. Thus,the biasing member 156 may cause the first interlocking part 152 and the second interlocking part 154 to be normally in the interlocking engagement. With the first interlocking part 152 and the second interlocking part 154 engaged and interlocked to each other, the support member 130 may be fixed or locked to the frame 120 such that the support member 130 may be non-movable relative to the frame 120. Thus, the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 with respect to the opening 122 of the frame 120 may be fixed. According to various embodiments, the biasing member 156 may be pre-loaded so as to provide the biasing force to keep or maintain the first interlocking part 152 and the second interlocking part 154 in the interlocking engagement. Hence, the biasing member 156 may be loaded beforehand, prior to being operatively disposed between the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 and the second interlocking part 154.

[0023] According to various embodiments, the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 and the second interlocking part 154 may be disengageable from each other when a force is applied on the support member 130 against the biasing force of the biasing member 156. Thus, when the force is applied to counteract the biasing force of the biasing member 156 whereby the force is larger than the biasing force, the support member 130 may be moved in a direction substantially opposite a direction of the biasing force so as to disengage and / or unlock the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 from the second interlocking part 154. Accordingly, the support member 130 may be moved, upon receiving the force in the direction substantially opposite the biasing force of the biasing member 156, in a manner to separate the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 and the second interlocking part 154 from the interlocking engagement so as to be disengaged and / or unlocked from each other. As a result of the support member 154 moving against the biasing force of the biasing member 156 under the application of the force, the biasing force of the biasing member 156 may increase. Subsequently, upon the removal of the force, the support member 130 may spring back and urge the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 back into the interlocking engagement with the second interlocking part 154.

[0024] According to various embodiments, when the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 and the second interlocking part 154 are disengaged from each other, the support member 130 may be slidable relative to the frame 120. By disengaging the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 and the second interlocking part 154 from each other, the support member 130 may be unlocked from the frame 120, i.e. no longer fixed or locked together. Accordingly, the support member 130 may become movable relative to the frame 120. For example, the support member 130 may glide or slide along the frame 120. Withthe support member 130 being movable or slidable relative to the frame 120, the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 with respect to the opening 122 of the frame 120 may be changed or adjusted or varied. Hence, the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 relative to the cooling arrangement 116 of the PED-stand 100 may be varied or adjusted or moved to support differently sized PED on the holder 110 of the PED- stand 100.

[0025] According to various embodiments, the interlocking engagement between the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 and the second interlocking part 154 may include a pin and hole engagement. According to various embodiments, the pin and hole engagement may be in the form of, including but not limited to, a tongue and groove engagement, a blind and stud engagement, a mortise and tenon engagement, or any suitable interlockable engagement. For example, the pin may be in the form of a tongue, a stud or a tenon, and the hole may be in the form of a groove, a blind or a mortise.

[0026] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D show an example of the operation of the pin and hole engagement (i.e. interlocking engagement) between the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 and the second interlocking part 154. According to various embodiments, the first interlocking part 152 and the second interlocking part 154 may be a set of a pin 164 and a plurality of holes 162. The pin 164 may be engageable and / or interlockable with each of the plurality of holes 162. Accordingly, the pin 164 may be capable of being fitted or inserted in each of the plurality of holes 162 in order to interlock with the respective hole. The pin 164 may be a protrusion and the hole 162 may be a recessed portion According to various embodiments, each hole of the plurality of holes 162 may be associated with a corresponding position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 relative to the opening 122 of the frame 120. Accordingly, when the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 is moved relative to the opening 122 of the frame 120 to a desired position, the pin 164 may be aligned with a corresponding hole of the plurality of holes 162 whereby said hole may be associated with said desired position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member with respect to the opening 122 of the frame 120. The biasing member 156 may bias the support member 130 such that the pin 164 and the corresponding hole of the plurality of holes 162 may interlock and engage with each other so as to lock the support member 130 in place relative to the frame 120. To change a position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 with respect to the opening 122 of the frame 120, the force may be applied on the support member 130 against the biasing force of the biasing member 156 to separate the pin 164 from the corresponding hole of the plurality of holes 162 so as to unlock the support member 130from the frame 120. The support member 130 may then be moved relative to the frame 120 so as to adjust or vary or change the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130. In adjusting or varying or changing the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130, the pin 164 may be aligned with one other hole of the plurality of holes 162. Accordingly, when the force is removed from the support member 130, the biasing member 156 may bias the support member 130 such that the pin 164 and the one other hole of the plurality of holes 162 may interlock and engage with each other so as to lock the support member 130 in the new position relative to the frame 120.|00027| As shown in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D, the first interlocking part 152 may be the plurality of holes 162. Accordingly, the plurality of holes 162 (i.e. the first interlocking part 152) may be disposed at the supportmember 130. In particular, the plurality ofholes 162 maybe disposed at the base portion 134 of the support member 130. Hence, the plurality of holes 162 may be recessed into the base portion 134 of the support member 130. The plurality of holes 162 may be blind holes or through holes. As also shown, the second interlocking part 154 may be the pin 164. The pin 164 (i.e. the second interlocking part 154) may be disposed at the frame 120. For example, the pin 164 may be disposed at the underneath surface 124 of the frame 120. Hence, the pin 164 may protrude from the underneath surface 124 of the frame 120. According to various embodiments, the plurality of holes 162 of the support member 130 may be at a surface of the base portion 134 of the support member 130 that is facing the underneath surface 124 of the frame 120. Accordingly, the pin 164 and the hole 162 may engage and interlock when the base portion 134 of the support member 130 is moved towards the frame 120 such that one of the plurality of holes 162 may mesh with the pin 164 of the frame 120.|00028| Referring to FIG. 2A, the pin 164 at the underneath surface 124 of the frame 120 may be in interlocking engagement with a first hole 162a of the plurality of holes 162 at the base portion 134 of the support member 130 for locking the support member 130 to the frame 120. The first hole 162a of the plurality of holes may be proximal to the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130. The biasing member 156 may urge the support member 130 towards the frame 120 so as to keep or maintain the pin 164 of the frame 120 and the first hole 162a of the support member 130 in the interlocking engagement. In FIG. 2B, the force may be applied to the support member 130 against the biasing force of the biasing member 156. Accordingly, the support member 130 may move away from the frame 120 such that the pin 164 may be separated from the first hole 162a. With the pin 164 separated from the first hole 162a, the support member 130 may be movable relative to the frame 120. Hence, the support member 130 may be moved relative to the frame 120 to change the position of the abutmentportion 132 of the support member 130 relative to the opening 122 of the frame 120. For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, the support member 130 may be moved so as to align a second hole 162b of the plurality of holes 162 at the base portion 134 of the support member 130 with the pin 164 at the underneath surface 124 of the frame 120. Subsequently, when the force is removed, the biasing member 156 may urge the support member 130 towards the frame 120 such that the pin 164 of the frame 120 may be fitted or inserted into the second hole 162b of the support member 130 to form the interlocking engagement that locks the support member 130 to the frame 120 with the abutment portion 132 of the support member in another position with respect to the opening 122 of the frame 120 (for example, see FIG. 2D).

[0029] While FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D depict the first interlocking part 152 as the plurality of holes 162 and the second interlocking part 154 as the pin 164, it is understood that they are interchangeable. For example, in some embodiments, the first interlocking part 152 may be the pin and the second interlocking part 154 may be the plurality of holes.

[0030] According to various embodiments, the biasing member 156 may be fixedly coupled to the frame 120. For example, the biasing member 156 may be directly / indirectly fixedly coupled or attached to the frame 120. As shown in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D, the biasing member 156 may be part of an attachment 160 fixedly coupled or attached to the frame 120 Further, the attachment 160 may be fixed to the underneath surface 124 of the frame 120. Hence, the biasing member 156 may extend from the attachment 160 towards the support member 130. According to some embodiments, the biasing member 156 may be integral (e.g. integrally formed, integrally molded, integrally printed, etc.) with the attachment 160. Thus, the biasing member 156 may be jutting out from the attachment 160, e.g. to form an integrated lever spring. According to some embodiments, the biasing member 156 may be a separate piece from the attachment 160, wherein the biasing member 156 may be coupled or attached to the attachment 160 to form a single unit. For example, the biasing member 156 may be an independent spring (e.g. metal spring) including, but not limited to a spring leaf, a lever spring, a coil spring, a tension spring, a compression spring, a torsion spring, or a spiral spring, capable of being coupled or attached to the attachment 160 According to various embodiments, a biasing end 158 of the biasing member 156 may bear against the support member 130 to bias the support member 130 for urging the first interlocking part 152 (e.g. hole 162) of the support member 130 to engage with the second interlocking part 154 (e.g. pin 164). The biasing end 158 of the biasing member 156 may be a free end thereof. For example, the biasing end 158 may be a distal end of the biasing member 156 that is away from an end 159 of the biasing member 156 joined to the attachment 160. The biasing end 158 of the biasing member 156 may abut orcontact or touch the support member 130 so as to impart the biasing force of the biasing member 156 to the support member 130 for urging (e.g. pushing) the support member 130 towards to frame 120 to maintain or keep the first interlocking part 152 (e g. hole 162) of the support member 130 and the second interlocking part 154 (e.g. pin 164) in the interlocking engagement. As shown, the biasing end 158 of the biasing member 156 may abut or contact or touch the base portion 134 of the support member 130. According to various embodiments, the biasing member 156 may include a lever spring.

[0031] According to various embodiments, the adjustable mechanism 140 of the adjustable support arrangement 118 may include a sliding sub -arrangement 170. When the support member 130 is unlocked from the frame 120, the support member 130 may be slidable relative to the frame 120 via the sliding sub-arrangement 170. Accordingly, when it is desired to move the support member 130 relative to the frame 120 to change or vary or adjust the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130, the force may be applied to the support member 130 against the biasing member 156 such that the lock and release sub-arrangement 150 may unlock the support member 130 from the frame 120 in order for the support member 130 to be slidable relative to the frame 120 along the sliding sub-arrangement 170.

[0032] According to various embodiments, the sliding sub-arrangement 170 of the adjustable mechanism 140 may include a first engagement element 172. The first engagement element 172 may be disposed at the support member 130. Accordingly, the support member 130 may include the first engagement element 172, or the first engagement element 172 may be a portion of the support member 130 (e g. integrally formed or molded or printed with the support member 130. According to various embodiments, the sliding sub-arrangement 170 of the adjustable mechanism 140 may include a second engagement element 174. The second engagement element 174 may be fixedly disposed with respect to the frame 120. Accordingly, the second engagement element 174 may be disposed in a manner so as to be non-movable relative to the frame 120. For example, the second engagement element 174 may be directly / indirectly fixedly coupled or attached to the frame 120, or the second engagement element 174 may be integral with the frame 120 (e g. integrally formed or molded or printed with the frame 120).

[0033] According to various embodiments, the first engagement element 172 and the second engagement element 174 of the sliding sub-arrangement 170 may be in a sliding engagement. Accordingly, the first engagement element 172 and the second engagement element 174 may be engaged to each other in a manner so as to be slidable relative to each other. With the first engagement element 172 and the second engagement element 174 being slidable relative toeach other, the support member 130 and the frame 120 may be slidable relative to each other when the support member 130 is unlocked from the frame 120. Therefore, the support member 130 may be slidable relative to the frame 120, via the sliding sub-arrangement 170, for adjusting the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 relative to the opening 122 of the frame 120 when the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 and the second interlocking part 154 are disengaged from each other (i.e. the support member 130 is unlocked from the frame 120). Accordingly, unlocking the support member 130 from the frame 120, by applying the force against the biasing force of the biasing member 156 to disengage the first interlocking part 152 and the second interlocking part 154 from each other, allows the support member 130 to be slidable relative to the frame 120 based on the sliding engagement between the first engagement element 172 and the second engagement 174 such that the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 may be adjusted, changed or varied for accommodating the PED that is to be placed on the PED-stand 100.

[0034] According to various embodiments, the lock and release sub-arrangement 150 and the sliding sub-arrangement 170 of the adjustable mechanism 140 may be operable cooperatively to enable the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 to be moved or adjusted with respect to the opening 122 of the frame 120 Elence, the disposition of the PED to be supported on the holder 110 of the PED-stand 100 may be varied or adjusted or moved relative to the cooling arrangement 116 of the PED-stand 100 by adjusting or varying or changing the position of the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 with respect to the opening 122 of the frame 120.

[0035] According to various embodiments, the sliding engagement between the first engagement element 172 and the second engagement element 174 may be a guide and slider engagement. Accordingly, the first engagement element 172 and the second engagement element 174 may be a pair of a slider 182 and a guide 184. The slider 182 may be slidable along the guide 184 Hence, the support member 130 may be movable relative to the frame 120 by sliding the slider 182 along the guide 184 when the support member 130 is unlocked from the frame 120 According to various embodiments, the guide 184 may include a groove, a slot, a rail, a track, a guide rod, or any suitable guiding element. Further, the slider 182 may include a pin, a finger, a bracket or any suitable element capable of engaging the corresponding guide 184 so as to be slidable along the guide 184.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D, according to various embodiments, the first engagement element 172 of the support member 130 may be disposed at the base portion 134 of the support member 130. Further, the second engagement element 174 may be disposedunderneath the frame 120. As an example, the first engagement element 172 of the support member 130 may be a pin element protruding from the base portion 134 of the support member 130, and the second engagement element 174 may be a slot in the attachment 160 coupled to the underneath surface 124 of the frame 120. In some embodiments, the second engagement element 174 may be a slot formed between the attachment 160 and the underneath surface 124 of the frame 120. The pin element (serving as the first engagement element 172) may be fitted or inserted into the slot (serving as the second engagement element 174) in a manner so as to be slidable relative to each other. In this manner, the support member 130 may be slidable relative to the frame 120 along the sliding engagement between the pin (i.e. the first engagement element 172) and slot (i.e. the second engagement element 174).

[0037] According to various embodiments, the first engagement element 172 of the support member 130 and the second engagement element 174 may be pivotable relative to each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D, since the pin element (i.e. the first engagement element 172) is fitted or inserted into the slot (i.e. the second engagement element 174), the pin element (i.e. the first engagement element 172) may also be pivotable relative to the slot (i.e. the second engagement element 174) in addition to being slidable along the slot. With the pin element (i.e. the first engagement element 172) also being pivotable relative to the slot (i.e. the second engagement element 174), the support member 130 may be pivotable relative to the frame 120. Accordingly, the support member 130 and the frame 120 may be pivotable relative to each other about the pin element (i.e. the first engagement element 172) fitted or inserted in the slot (i.e. the second engagement element 174). Hence, the support member 130 may be pivotable relative to the frame 120 about the sliding engagement between the first engagement element 172 and the second engagement element 174.

[0038] According to various embodiments, with first engagement element 172 of the support member 130 and the second engagement element 174 being pivotable relative to each other, the support member 130 may be pivoted relative to the frame 120 to unlock the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 from the second interlocking part 154. Accordingly, the force being applied against the biasing force of the biasing member 156 for unlocking the support member 130 from the frame 120 may pivot the support member 130 about the sliding engagement between the first engagement element 172 and the second engagement element 174 so as to disengage the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 from the second interlocking part 154. When the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 and the second interlocking part 154 are disengaged from each other, the support member 130 may then be slidable relative to the frame 120 via the sliding engagementbetween the first engagement element 172 and the second engagement element 174. According to various embodiments, the pivotability between the first engagement element 172 of the support member 130 and the second engagement element 174 may work together with lock and release sub -arrangement 150 for locking and unlocking the support member 130 with respect to the frame 120

[0039] According to various embodiments, a pivot axis between the first engagement element 172 (e.g. the pin element) and the second engagement element 174 (e.g. the slot) may be substantially perpendicular to a sliding axis of the sliding engagement between the first engagement element 172 (e.g. the pin element) and the second engagement element 174 (e.g. the slot). For example, as shown in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D, the sliding axis may be along a longitudinal axis of the slot (i.e. the second engagement element 174) and the pivot axis may be along an insertion direction of the pin element (i.e. the first engagement element 172) into the slot (i.e. the second engagement element 174). Thus, the pivot axis may be perpendicular to sliding axis.

[0040] While FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D depict the first engagement element 172 as the pin element and the second engagement element 174 as the slot, it is understood that they are interchangeable. For example, in some embodiments, the first engagement element 172 at the support member 130 may be the slot and the second engagement element 174 may be the pin.

[0041] According to various embodiments, a direction of the biasing force of the biasing member 156 may be parallel to a hole-axis of the opening 122 of the frame 120. The hole-axis of the opening 122 of the frame 120 may be a centerline axis passing through a center of the opening 122 of the frame 120, whereby the centerline axis is perpendicular to a plane of the opening 122 of the frame 120. When the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 and the second interlocking part 154 are in the interlocking engagement, the biasing force of the biasing member 156 acting on the support member 130 may be in the direction parallel to the hole-axis of the opening 122 of the frame 120. Therefore, the force applied to the support member to disengage the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 from the second interlocking part 154 may be in an opposite direction with respect to the direction of the biasing force, whereby said opposite direction may also be parallel to the hole-axis of the opening 122 of the frame 120.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D, according to various embodiments, the first interlocking part 152 of the support member 130 and the first engagement element 172 of the support member 130 may be at two opposite sides of the support member 130. For example, the first interlocking part 152 and the first engagement element 172 may be at two oppositesides of the base portion 134 of the support member 130 with respect to the abutment portion 132. Accordingly, the first interlocking part 152 may be at a first side of the base portion 134 of the support member 130 and first engagement element 172 may be at a second side of the base portion 134 of the support member 130 across the abutment portion 132 of the support member 130. Similarly, according to various embodiments, the second interlocking part 154 and the second engagement element 174 may be at two opposite sides of the opening 122 of the frame 120. Accordingly, the second interlocking part 154 may be at a first edge region of the opening 122 of the frame 120 and the second engagement element 174 may be at a second edge region of the opening 122 of the frame 120 across the opening 122 of the frame 120.

[0043] FIG. 3 A and FIG. 3B show a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view of the support member 130 according to various embodiments. As shown, the base portion 134 of the support member 130 may be of a rectangular panel structure. The abutment portion 132 of the support member 130 may be a wall structure protruding upright along a longitudinal centerline of the base portion 134 The abutment portion of the support member 130 may taper towards a tip of the abutment portion 132. Further, the base portion 134 may be longer than the abutment portion such that the base portion 134 has a margin segment 134a extending across its width at each longitudinal end of the abutment portion 132. The first interlocking part 152 in the form of a plurality of holes 162 (or a line of holes or a series of holes or a row of holes) may be along the margin segment 134a of the base portion 134 of the support member 130. The first engagement element 172 may be the pin element extending longitudinally from a longitudinal edge 134b of the base portion 134 of the support member 130.

[0044] FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D show a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view of the attachment 160 according to various embodiments. As shown, the attachment 160 may include a rectangular base 160a with raised edges 160b. Further, the attachment 160 may include the biasing member 156 in the form of a resilient bent flap. The resilient bent flap may be cut out from the rectangular base 160a of the attachment 160. Accordingly, three sides of the resilient bent flap may be cut out from the rectangular base 160a and the remaining side may be bended from the rectangular base 160a. The resilient bent flap may function like a lever spring. Furthermore, the attachment 160 may include two parallel grooves 160c for forming the second engagement element 174 when the attachment 160 is coupled to the frame 120. The two parallel grooves 160c together with the frame 120 may form the slots serving as the second engagement element 174 for accommodating the first engagement element 172 (in the form of the pin element) of the support member 130.

[0045] FIG. 3E shows the underneath of the frame 120 according to various embodiments. FIG. 3F shows the underneath of the frame 120 with the attachment 160 and the support member 130 assembled to the frame 120 according to various embodiments. As shown, the opening 122 of the frame 120 may be rectangular in shape. Further, the second interlocking part 154 may be in the form of a pair of pins 164 protruding perpendicularly from the underneath surface 124 of the frame 120. The pair of pins 164 may be at two opposite short edges 122a of the opening 122 of the frame 120. Accordingly, the pair of pins 164 may engage and / or interlock with the two rows of holes 162 along the two opposite margin segments 134a of the base portion 134 of the support member 130. The support member 130 may be align to the opening 122 of the frame 120 such that the longitudinal axis of the base portion 134 of the support member 130 may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the opening 122 of the frame 120. As shown in FIG 3C and FIG 3D, the attachment 160 may include connection points 160d for coupling to the frame 120.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 3A to FIG. 3F, according to various embodiments, when the support member 130, the attachment 160 and the frame 120 are assembled together, the assembly may be operated in the manner as described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 2D.

[0047] Various embodiments have provided a PED-stand with a holder having an adjustable support arrangement such that a support member thereof may be movable relative to a frame and lockable in different positions relative to the frame for supporting differently sized PED such that a disposition of the differently sized PED, when placed on the holder, may be optimized with respect to a cooling arrangement of the PED-stand for optimize cooling of the PED.|00048| While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modification, variation in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced

Claims

Claims1. An adjustable support arrangement for a holder, the adjustable support arrangement comprising a frame of the holder, wherein the frame comprises an opening; a support member having a base portion and an abutment portion extending from the base portion, wherein the support member is assembled to the frame with the abutment portion extending through the opening of the frame; and an adjustable mechanism operatively connecting the support member to the frame, the adjustable mechanism comprising a lock and release sub-arrangement comprising a first interlocking part disposed at the support member, a second interlocking part fixedly disposed with respect to the frame, and a biasing member operatively disposed to bias the support member to urge the first interlocking part of the support member into an interlocking engagement with the second interlocking part, wherein the first interlocking part of the support member and the second interlocking part are disengageable from each other when a force is applied on the support member against a biasing force of the biasing member, wherein the support member is slidable relative to the frame for adjusting a position of the abutment portion of the support member with respect to the opening of the frame when the first interlocking part of the support member and the second interlocking part are disengaged from each other.

2. The adjustable support arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking engagement between the first interlocking part and the second interlocking part is a pin and hole engagement, the first interlocking part and the second interlocking part being a set of a pin and a plurality of holes, wherein each hole is associated with a corresponding position of the abutment portion of the support member relative to the opening of the frame, wherein the pin is engageable with a corresponding hole when the support member is slidden to the corresponding position relative to the opening of the frame.

3. The adjustable support arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first interlocking part is disposed at the base portion of the support member and the second interlocking part is disposed at an underneath surface of the frame, wherein the underneath surface of the frame is opposite a top surface of the frame from which the abutment portion of the support member protrudes.

4. The adjustable support arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the biasing member is fixedly coupled to the frame and a biasing end of the biasing member bears against the support member to bias the support member for urging the first interlocking part of the support member to engage with the second interlocking part.

5. The adjustable support arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the biasing member comprises a lever spring.

6. The adjustable support arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the adjustable mechanism further comprises a sliding sub-arrangement, the sliding subarrangement comprising a first engagement element disposed at the support member, and a second engagement element fixedly disposed with respect to the frame, wherein the first engagement element of the support member and the second engagement element are in a sliding engagement.

7. The adjustable support arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the support member is slidable relative to the frame, via the sliding sub -arrangement, for adjusting a position of the abutment portion of the support member relative to the opening of the frame when the first interlocking part of the support member and the second interlocking part are disengaged from each other.

8. The adjustable support arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the sliding engagement between the first engagement element and the second engagement element is a guide and slider engagement, the first engagement element and the second engagement element being a pair of a guide and a slider, wherein a position of the abutment portion of the support member relative to the opening of the frame is adjustable via sliding the slider along the guide.

9. The adjustable support arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the first engagement element is disposed at the base portion of the support member and the second engagement element is disposed underneath the frame.

10. The adjustable support arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the guide comprises a groove, a slot, a rail, a track, or a guide rod, and wherein the slider comprises a pin, a finger, or a bracket.

11. The adjustable support arrangement according to anyone of claims 6 to 10, wherein the first engagement element of the support member and the second engagement element are pivotable relative to each other such that the support member is pivotable relative to the frame about the sliding engagement between the first engagement element and the second engagement element.

12. The adjustable support arrangement according to claim 11, wherein a pivot axis between the first engagement element of the support member and the second engagement element is perpendicular to a sliding axis of the sliding engagement between the first engagement element of the support member and the second engagement element.

13. The adjustable support arrangement according to anyone of claims 1 to 1 1 , wherein a direction of the biasing force of the biasing member is parallel to a hole-axis of the opening of the frame, wherein a sliding axis of the support member is perpendicular to the hole-axis of the opening of the frame.

14. A portable electronic device stand comprising a holder for supporting the portable electronic device stand; and the adjustable support arrangement according to anyone of claims 1 to 13.

15. The portable electronic device stand as claimed in claim 14, wherein the holder comprises a device resting surface and the frame is part of the device resting surface such that the abutment portion of the support member protrudes from the device resting surface for supporting a side of a portable electronic device placed on the device resting surface.

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