Anti-slip support structure of a webpad

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed toward a webpad and more particularly, to an anti-slip support structure of a webpad.

2. Description of Related Art

Comparing to a laptop, tablet PC, or PDA, a webpad is a product of new technology. A laptop or tablet PC has a high-level data processing capability, and is superior to a conventional desktop computer in mobility. Further, a tablet PC has a touch screen for handwritten input. These two products are designed for use by the general public. A PDA emphasizes low-level word processing such as, for example, address book, notebook, and other electronicalized word works. It is also designed for use by the general public.

The so-called webpad according to the present invention is a device oriented between a laptop and a PDA. It has a weight lighter than a laptop, and provides a touch-control input function as a tablet PC does. More important, a webpad has a wireless Internet connection function. When installed with an 802.11b wireless network card, a webpad can accurately and rapidly fetch data from a remote place connected with the Internet while having the complex data processing handled by the remote mainframe. Unlike the laptop, tablet PC or PDA designed for the public, a webpad is particularly designed for specific purposes in certain fields such as hospitals, sales centers, distributors and netlibraries.

Structurally, a webpad is a laptop computer without a top cover. It combines a display panel and a base member into a tablet PC, and relies on touch screen for user input. While sitting at a desk to use a webpad to process data, the user may feel it more convenient to have the display screen set in the upright mode. However, a conventional webpad either provides no support or cannot stand on a flat surface stably. Further, a webpad user may need to change the standing angle of the webpad from time to time subject to the change of the sitting posture. However, a conventional webpad having a back support does not allow the user to adjust the standing angle of the webpad as precisely as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art discussed above. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an anti-slip support structure of a webpad, which enables the user to put the webpad on a flat surface firmly in a standing position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an anti-slip support structure of a webpad, which enables the user to adjust the standing angle of the webpad on a flat surface.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the anti-slip support structure of a webpad comprises a front cover; a locating block fixedly provided at an outer side of a back panel of said webpad, said locating block further comprising a pin fixedly fastened to and partially extended out of said locating block; and a stand pivoted to said pin and rotatable relative to said back panel; wherein said stand comprises at least one anti-slip rubber foot at a bottom side thereof; said front cover comprises at least one anti-slip stub at the bottom side thereof; and said back panel comprises at least one anti-slip block at a bottom side thereof; said anti-slip stub and block adapted to work with said at least one anti-slip rubber foot for increasing the friction between said webpad and a surface on which the webpad is mounted.

Furthermore, the friction-type connection between the pin and the stand of the present invention enables the user to adjust the view angle according to different conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a webpad constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing the webpad supported on the back support on a flat surface in a tilted position.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the webpad shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the body of a webpad is shown comprising a front panel 31 and a back panel 3. The back panel 3 is provided with a locating block 2 around the central area at a relatively lower side. A pin 21 is fixedly fastened to the locating block 2 to hold a back support 1. The back support 1 has two coupling portions 11 respectively pivotally coupled to the two distal ends of the pin 21 outside the locating block 2. Therefore, the back support 1 can be turned about the pin 21 to an extended position.

Referring to FIG. 2, the back support 1 has the bottom side mounted with two anti-slip rubber feet 13. The back panel 3 has the bottom corners respectively mounted with respective anti-slip blocks 4. When the back support 1 is extended out to support the webpad on a flat surface in an inclined position, the anti-slip rubber feet 13 and the anti-slip blocks 4 are in contact with the flat surface. By means of the friction resistance between the anti-slip rubber feet 13 and anti-slip blocks 4 and the flat surface, the webpad firmly stands on the flat surface.

As indicated above, the pivot connection between the back support 1 and the locating block 2 is stepless. When turning the back support 1 outwards from the back panel 3 to a relatively bigger extended angle, a relatively bigger horizontal component of force is employed to the flat surface by the back support 1. If the back support 1 does not have the aforesaid anti-slip rubber feet 13, it tends to slip on the flat surface, resulting in falling of the webpad to the flat surface. The friction force between the anti-slip rubber feet 13, the anti-slip blocks 4 and the flat surface work with the friction force between the coupling portions 11 of the back support 1 and the pin 21, preventing slipping of the back support 1 on the flat surface, and therefore the back support 1 supports the webpad on the flat surface positively in a standing position.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 2 again, in addition to the anti-slip blocks 4 in the two bottom corners of the back panel 3, the front panel 31 of the webpad has the two bottom corners respectively provided with a respective anti-slip block 41. The anti-slip blocks 41 of the front panel 31 are disposed in flush with the bottom side of the front panel 31. By means of the anti-slip blocks 41 of the front panel 31 and the anti-slip blocks 4 of the back panel 3, the webpad can stand on a flat surface in an upright position positively after the back support 1 has been turned inwards and closely received to the back panel 3.

According to the present preferred embodiment, the pin 21 extends out of the two opposite lateral sides of the locating block 2 in a horizontal direction, and the back support 1 has two coupling portions 11 respectively pivoted to the two distal ends of the pin 21. Alternatively, the pin 21 can be affixed to the locating block 2 in vertical or at a specific angle, and the back support 1 be made to match with the pin 21. The connection between the pin 21 and the back support 1 may be variously embodied and a friction connection is a choice. Multi-step tongue and groove engagement or gear engagement arrangement may be employed to substitute for friction connection. However, a stepless friction connection is the best choice to enable the optimum inclination to be achieved. The anti-slip rubber feet 13 may be fastened to the back support 1 by a hook joint, plug joint, screw joint, adhesive, or any of a variety of mounting methods. Most preferably, the anti-slip rubber feet 13 are formed integral with the bottom side of the back support 1. The anti-slip blocks 4 can be made of any of a variety of materials having a high friction coefficient. Preferably, the anti-slip blocks 4 are molded from rubber. The quantity of the anti-slip blocks 41 at the front panel 31 is not limited to two. However, the arrangement of the anti-slip blocks 41 must enable the webpad to stand upright on a flat surface. The anti-slip blocks 41 can be made of any of a variety of materials having a high friction coefficient. Preferably, the anti-slip blocks 41 are molded from rubber.

Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.