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The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for holding small electronic device, and more specifically to a foldable apparatus for holding mobile phones.
The size of the mobile phone continues to decrease as the functions increase, such as audiovisual playing and recording. As the unit price of the mobile phone is still high and the design of the mobile phone is more fashionable, the user tends to handle the mobile phone with more care. For example, it is usually for the user to place the mobile phone in a bag or pocket made of soft cloth to prevent abrasion. When staying indoors, more users will place the mobile phone on the table to improve reception. However, it is possible that the mobile phone will be scratched by small metal office supplies, such as clip or staple. Some users will use a soft pad as a temporary pad for placing the mobile phone to prevent from scratches. However, as the modern office work becomes more mobile, people move from office to office, it will be more convenient to have a mobile phone holder that can be easily carried from place to place. For portability, this mobile phone holder should be small in size, light in weight, simple in structure, and inexpensive to manufacture.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a portable and easy-to-use card-shaped apparatus for holding small electronic device. The card-shaped apparatus has the size similar to a business card, and is light in weight for easy carrying. When in use, the card-shaped apparatus can be folded into a standing holder to hold a small electronic device, such as mobile phone, to prevent from scratch caused by direct contact with other sharp office supplies.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-functional card-shaped holder with at least a storage space. The storage space is for storing flash memories cards, such as SD, Mini SD, Reduced Size MMC, T-flash, commonly used by mobile phones. The storage space can be used by international business traveler to store different SIM cards used in different countries. This design not only provides temporary holding for mobile phones, but also additional space for memory cards for various purposes.
To achieve the aforementioned objects, the present invention includes a main plate, at least a rear stop plate, and at least a front stop plate. The rear stop plate is coupled with the main plate at one end. The coupling point is located at the upper part of the main plate. The front stop plate is also coupled with the main plate at the lower part. When not in use, the main plate, the front stop plate and the rear stop plate are aligned side by side with each other to form a card-shaped plate. When in use, the front stop plate is turned forward and the rear stop plate is turned backward so as to form a three-dimensional holder for placing a mobile phone. The present invention stands on the bottom of the rear stop plate and the bottom of the main plate. The main plate is tilted so that the surface and the front stop plate from a space for placing a mobile phone.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from a careful reading of a detailed description provided herein below with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention can be understood in more detail by reading the subsequent detailed description in conjunction with the examples and references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of the present invention when not in use;
FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of the present invention when in use;
FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of the present invention from a different angle;
FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the present invention in actual application;
FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of the second embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of the second embodiment of the present invention from a different angle showing only one rear stop plate.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show the three-dimensional views of the folded and unfolded view of the card-shaped apparatus of the present invention, respectively. A card-shaped apparatus A for holding small electronic device of the present invention includes a main plate 1, at least a front stop plate 2 and at least a rear stop plate 3. Main plate 1 is a large-area rectangular plate. Front stop plate 2 and rear stop plate 3 are coupled with main plate 1 respectively at different locations. The present embodiment includes two rear stop plates 3 coupled with main plate 1 on the right side and the left side respectively. Rear stop plates 3 are coupled with main plate 1 at the upper part of main plate 1. When in use, rear stop plates 3 are bended backward to form an angle with main plate 1. The present embodiment also includes two front stop plates 2, coupled with main plate 1 at the lower part of main plate 1. When in use, front stop plates 2 are bended forward to form an angle with main plate 1. When not in used, main plate 1, fronts stop plates 2 and rear stop plates 3 are all aligned side by side to form a rectangular plate. When in use, front stop plates 2 are bended forward and rear stop plates 3 bended backward to form a three-dimensional holder with main plate 1.
The following describes the components of the present invention in details. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present embodiment includes two front stop plates 2. The lower part of main plate 1 forms a long rectangular gap 11 along the bottom edge. Gap 11 has the shape corresponding to the shape of front stop plates 2. Two front stop plates 2 are coupled with main plate 1 respectively with front stop plates 2 on the right and left sides of gap 11. When in use, front stop plates 2 are bended forward to form an angle with main plate 1. Front stop plates 2 protrude in front of main plate 1 in order to accommodate more weight. To prevent front stop plates 2 from bended backward accidentally, front stop plates 2 include a small groove 21 located on the side near main plate 1. Small groove 21 is concave behind front stop plate 2. Main plate 1 includes two small protruding pieces 12 (only one is shone in FIG. 2). Small protruding pieces 12 have the shape matching small grooves 21. Small protruding pieces 12 are located on the side of main plate 1 next to front stop plate 2. Front stop plates 2 include an anti-slippery piece 22 formed on the other side of front stop plate facing away from main plate 1. Anti-slippery piece 22 is for prevent the bottom of the held mobile phone from slipping.
Two rear stop plates are coupled with the left and right sides of main plate respectively. When not in use, two rear stop plates are aligned next to main plate 1 on the left and right sides so that main plate 1 is rectangular. As shown in FIG. 3, to prevent rear stop plates 3 from being bended forward accidentally, each rear stop plate 3 includes a small protruding piece 31, located on the side of rear stop plate 3 next to main plate 1. The corresponding side of main plate 1 forms a small groove 13 with the shape matching small protruding piece 31. Small groove 13 is located on the side of main plate 1 next to rear stop plate 3, concave behind main plate 1.
FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of the present invention in actual application. When in use, two rear stop plates 3 are bended backward. The present invention stands on the bottoms of two rear stop plates 3 and the bottom of main plate 1. Main plate 1 is tilted. The front surface of main plate 1 and two front stop plates 2 form the place for placing the mobile phone 4 above front stop plates 2. Anti-slippery pieces 22 of front stop plates 2 prevent mobile phone 4 from slipping. Therefore, card-shaped apparatus A of the present invention can be used to hold mobile phone 4 for convenient access and prevent mobile phone from scratching.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show a schematic view of the second embodiment of the present invention from different angles. FIG. 6 only shows a rear stop plate 3 for clear viewing of the back of main plate 1. The present embodiment further includes two storage spaces 14, 15 inside main plate 1. The openings of storage spaces 14, 15 are on the side of main plate 1 next to rear stop plates 3. When not in use, two rear stop plates 3 block the openings of storage spaces 14, 15 so that the flash memory card stored inside storage spaces 14, 15 will not fall off.
The shapes of storage spaces 14, 15 can be designed to match the items stored inside, for example, storage space 15 can be slightly bigger for storing flash memory cards, such as SD, mini SD, reduced size MMC, T-flash card, while storage space 14 can be smaller for storing SIM card. The additional storage spaces allow the users to expand the memory capacity of the mobile phone as well as international business traveler to use different SIM card when in different countries.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details described thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.