Supports – Brackets – Specially mounted or attached
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-22
2003-12-16
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Specially mounted or attached
C396S421000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06663066
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stand or support for supporting computer accessories, and in particular, to a support which can be folded and opened such that the support can be easily to be stored and portable.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Brackets and various supporting stands have become popular in the booming computer market for supporting accessory devices. For example, one kind of bracket is installed over the top of a computer monitor, so as to same the user more space on top of a desk-top. However, most conventional supports suffer from one or more of the following drawbacks. First, most of these conventional supports are large or heavy, or occupy a large amount space, so that they are not suitable for use with notebook computers. Second, many of these conventional supports are difficult and time-consuming to install.
Generally, a notebook computer or a LCD monitor might integrate a microphone, a speaker and other accessories as part of the same system. However, a PC camera or a PC video camera typically still requires a support or stand in order to attach the camera to the notebook computer or LCD monitor. A conventional support for PC cameras is typically designed to be placed on a desk-top or to be installed on the frame of a monitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,507 illustrates one known support mechanism. Referring to
FIGS. 1-4
, the support mechanism comprises a neck
12
for holding a camera
10
, a main arm
14
to which the neck
12
is connected, and a left arm
20
′ and a right arm
20
that are pivotably coupled to the main arm
14
along each side of the main arm
14
. When the main arm
14
, left arm
20
′ and right arm
20
are unfolded or pivoted, their respective ends
21
,
29
′,
29
will form a three-point support as shown in
FIGS. 2-4
. In addition, as shown in
FIG. 4
, the main arm
14
, left arm
20
′ and right arm
20
can clamp a frame
76
or
76
′ of a monitor of a notebook computer between a varying angles. Unfortunately, the support mechanism shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,507 suffers from several drawbacks. First, the support mechanism is designed to support only a camera, and cannot be used to support other accessories. Second, the camera
10
is supposed to be heavier than the support mechanism, so the overall structure has a higher center-of-gravity position that may cause the camera
10
to topple easily if the user were to inadvertently touch the camera
10
. Third, the ends
29
′ and
29
(with or without stain or dust) will tend to wear the surface of the frame that they attach to.
Thus, there still remains a need for a support mechanism for supporting a computer accessory which overcomes the drawbacks described above.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
It is an object of the present invention to provide a stable, compact and simple support for a computer accessory that can be placed on a working surface.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a support for a computer accessory that can also be clamped on to a fringe of any object.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a support for a computer accessory that is portable, and which can be folded and stored easily.
In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, there is provided a multi-function support having a main body having a gripping surface, and at least one arm that is pivotably connected to the main body, with each arm having a resilient element and a gripping surface. A gripping space is defined between the gripping surface of the main body and the gripping surface of each arm, and each resilient element exerts a natural bias that normally pushes the gripping surface of the corresponding arm towards the gripping surface of the main body.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4648698 (1987-03-01), Iwasaki
patent: 5855343 (1999-01-01), Krekelberg
patent: D411220 (1999-06-01), Surabian
patent: 6431507 (2002-08-01), Prather et al.
KYE Systems Corp.
Ramirez Ramon O.
Sun Raymond
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