ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH MULTI-ORIENTATION

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices with a support, especially to an electronic device with a multi-orientation support.

2. Description of Related Art

Portable electronic devices such as digital photo frames usually include a support to support the digital photo frame on a table. The support can often support the digital photo frame in only one or two orientations. It would be appreciated and useful if a support can provide more orientations for the portable electronic devices.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electronic device 10 according to an exemplary embodiment includes a back shell 20, a support 50, a slide button 80 and an elastic member 90.

The support 50 includes a connection portion 51 that is connected to the back shell 20. The connection portion 51 defines a through hole 52. The connection portion 51 includes a stop portion 56 at its inner side opposite to the back shell 20. The stop portion 56 is substantially perpendicular to the through hole 52 in a transverse direction. The connection portion 51 further includes two guiding protrusions 58 protruding from its inner side. A free end of each guiding portion 58 includes a hook 60.

The slide button 80 includes a button body 82 and a positioning portion 84 protruding from the button body 82. A restriction portion 86 protrudes from the positioning portion 84. Referring to FIG. 3, the positioning portion 84 passes through and can slide along the through hole 52. The elastic member 90 is sleeved on the restriction portion 86. One end of the elastic member 90 abuts against the positioning portion 84, and the other end of the elastic member 90 abuts against the stop portion 56. The elastic member 90 pushes the positioning portion 84 to be received in an end of the through hole 52 away from the stop portion 56. Because of the elastic member 90, the slide button 80 can be retained in the position shown in FIG. 3. In an exemplary embodiment, the elastic member 90 is a coil spring.

The back shell 20 defines a longitudinal sliding slot 26 and three horizontal slots 28 communicating with the sliding slot 26. The three horizontal slots 28 are seated at a same side of the sliding slot 26. The three horizontal slots 28 are all perpendicular to the sliding slot 26. The back shell 20 further defines two guiding grooves 30 parallel to the sliding slot 26, and two installing holes 32 respectively communicating with the two guiding grooves 30. The installing holes 32 allow for the penetration of the hooks 60. After the hook 60 passes through the installing hole 32, the guiding portion 58 is slidable along the guiding groove 30.

The back shell 20 further includes two sets of protrusions 34 adjacent to the guiding grooves 30 on the inner side thereof. Each set of protrusions 34 are arranged in a line parallel to the lengthwise direction of the guiding groove 30. Each hook 60 defines an indentation (not shown).

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the support 50 stays in a first position and supports the body of the electronic device 10 in a first orientation. In this embodiment, the positioning portion 84 passes through the through hole 52 and is located in the upper horizontal slot 28. The guiding portion 58 is located at the top end of the guiding groove 30. Each upper protrusion 34 is received in the indentation of the hook 60.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, when needed, the button body 82 can be pushed toward the stop portion 56 along the through hole 52, until the positioning portion 84 moves to the sliding slot 26. During the sliding of the button 80, the elastic member 90 is compressed. Referring to FIG. 7, the button body 82 is then pushed to slide along the sliding slot 26 until there is a feedback indicating that the middle protrusions 34 have been received in the indentations of the hooks 60. At this time, the positioning portion 84 is aligned with the middle horizontal slot 28.

Referring to FIG. 8, once feeling resistance, a user stops pushing the button body 82, enabling the positioning portion 84 to be urged into the middle horizontal slot 28 under the action of the elastic member 90. Referring to FIG. 9, as a result, the support 50 is retained at a second position and supports the body of the electronic device 10 in a second orientation.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, when needed, the positioning portion 84 can be moved into the lower horizontal slot 28, the support 50 can then support the body of the electronic device 10 in a third orientation.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.