Folding support stand for portable electronic devices

Abstract

The present invention provides a portable support stand for various devices such as laptop computers, tablet PCs and other electronic equipment. The stand has a tripod configuration which promotes stability of the user device. The front legs of the tripod may be adjusted between compact and extended positions, and may be placed in a position relative to the rear leg anywhere from 0° in a fully closed position to approximately 180° in a fully open position. Audible indicators are used with overall stand adjustment and with adjustment of stoppers at the ends of the front legs. Adjustment of the front legs relative to the rear leg employs a pivot section, including a finger disc spring, an adjustment actuator and an engagement member between the spring and the actuator. The engagement member includes projections or dimples which engage receptacles on an engagement member to secure the stand in a desired arrangement.

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       21 . A pivot mechanism for connecting two or more members together comprising:
 a first engagement member having at least two connectors spaced from the perimeter thereof, with a first connector corresponding to a first position and a second connector corresponding to a second position;   a second engagement member having at least one connector for mating with either the first connector or the second connector of the first engagement member;   a spring coupled to the first and second engagement members for normally biasing the second engagement member into association with the first engagement member; and   an actuator for depressing the spring to disengage the at least one connector of the second engagement member from the connectors of the first engagement member in order to allow the first engagement member to move relative to the second engagement member from at least the first position to the second position and back, wherein when the actuator is depressed, the first engagement member is disengaged from the second engagement member, and when the actuator is released, the spring acts to bias the second engagement member toward the first engagement member to couple the first and second engagement members together.   
   
   
       22 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two connectors of the first engagement member are openings defined therein and the at least one connector of the second engagement member is a projection. 
   
   
       23 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the first engagement member is substantially circular and the second engagement member is substantially circular, and the at least two openings in the first engagement member comprise a plurality of openings spaced around the center of the first engagement member; and the second engagement member has two projections for mating with a subset of the openings defined in the first engagement member. 
   
   
       24 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the spring is a finger spring washer. 
   
   
       25 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the spring is positioned adjacent the second engagement member and is not in contact with the first engagement member. 
   
   
       26 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a projection for engaging the second engagement member to depress the spring. 
   
   
       27 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the first engagement member includes at least one elongated opening extending therethrough and the actuator includes a projection for extending through the at least one elongated opening and for contacting the second engagement member. 
   
   
       28 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a first member having two arms that define a channel therebetween and a second member configured to seat in the channel, with one of the arms of the first member defining a recess for the first engagement member and the actuator, and the second member defining a recess for accepting the second engagement member and the spring, wherein the first member and the second member align along a center line of axial rotation. 
   
   
       29 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 8 , further comprising a cap for seating on an exterior surface of the one of the arms of the first member on a side that is opposite the actuator, said cap being fixedly coupled to the arm. 
   
   
       30 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator includes a centrally disposed boss and the actuator, first engagement member, second engagement member, spring, and second member are axially coupled together with a fastener that extends therethrough and engages the boss. 
   
   
       31 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the first engagement member is integrally defined within one of the arms of the first member. 
   
   
       32 . A pivot mechanism defining a central pivoting axis comprising:
 a first engagement member axially aligned with the central pivoting axis;   a second engagement member axially aligned with the central pivoting axis and configured to lockingly couple to the first engagement member when in a first position and to disengage from the first engagement member when in a second position; and   a finger spring coupled to the first and second engagement members, wherein when the spring is depressed, the second engagement member is disengaged from the first engagement member to allow movement from the first position to the second position; and   a housing for holding the first engagement member, the second engagement member, and the finger spring,   wherein the housing has a first part and a second part that are rotatable relative to one another about the central pivoting axis.   
   
   
       33 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein the first engagement member is coupled to the first part of the housing and the second engagement member and spring are coupled to the second part of the housing. 
   
   
       34 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein the first engagement member is integral with the first part of the housing and the second engagement member and spring seat in a recess defined in the second part of the housing. 
   
   
       35 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein the second engagement member is rotatable relative to the first engagement member, and the finger spring normally biases the second engagement member into engagement with the first engagement member. 
   
   
       36 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 12 , further comprising an actuator coupled thereto for moving the second engagement member out of engagement with the first engagement member. 
   
   
       37 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 16 , wherein the actuator is positioned adjacent the first engagement member, the second engagement member is positioned adjacent the first engagement member, and the spring is positioned adjacent the second engagement member. 
   
   
       38 . The pivot mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein the first engagement member includes at least one recess defined therethrough and the actuator includes at least one ridge sized to extend through the at least one recess defined in the first engagement member to contact the second engagement member. 
   
   
       39 . An adjustment member for coupling a first leg of a device to a second leg of a device comprising:
 a first engagement member coupled to the first leg, the first engagement member having a first surface including a plurality of first connection members distributed about a central rotation point;   a pivot device associated with the second leg including a first section adjustably coupled to the first engagement member;   a second engagement member including at least one connection member operable to releasably engage at least one of the first connection members of the first engagement member;   a spring device substantially disposed between the pivot device and the second engagement member; and   an adjustment actuator coupled to the second engagement member, wherein when the adjustment actuator is in a first state the at least one connection member of the second engagement member is securely coupled to at least one of the first connection members of the first engagement member, and when the adjustment actuator is in a second state the at least connection member of the second engagement member is decoupled from the at least one first connection member so that the second leg is moveable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the spring device is adapted to bias the adjustment actuator in the first state.   
   
   
       40 . The adjustment member of  claim 19 , wherein the second leg is coupled to at least two adjustable support legs.