DE20216685U1 - Carrier for mounting of a digital camera onto a laptop computer - Google Patents

Abstract

The carrier [100] has a main body in which the digital camera sits and projecting from this are mountings [200] to allow use on top of a laptop computer [800]. The mountings provide hinge points for legs that sit on both sides of the monitor and are spring loaded by a torsion spring [700].

Description

ZEITLER ■ DICKEL'KÄNDLBINDER PATENT ATTORNEYS · EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS

PO BOX 26 02 51 TELEPHONE: +49-89-22 18 06 HERRNSTRASSE

D-80059 MUNICH FAX: +49-89-22 26 27 D-80539 MUNICH

EMAIL: masterpat@t-online.de

KYE SYSTEMS CORP.

No. 492, lake. 5, Chung-Hsin Rd.

San-Chung City

Taipei County

Taiwan

R.O.C.

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Carrying device

The present invention relates to a carrying device, in particular one which serves to accommodate a web camera, digital camera or liquid crystal display.

Conventional web cameras can be attached to a base that then rests against a surface. Due to the ever-shrinking living space, the support surface is rather

limited. Previously, the web camera could be placed stably on top of the CRT display. If the CRT display is replaced by a TFT-LCD display, then it can only be placed on the table, so that the images cannot be taken at an optimal angle. If the

Technology of notebook and wireless access to Internet
increasingly popular, it often happens that the notebook is placed on the thigh so that there is no place to rest the webcam.

The invention is based on the object of

to eliminate the deficiencies mentioned and to provide a support device comprising a stand and a base, the base serving to accommodate a web camera, digital camera or liquid crystal display, etc., while the

Stand is attached to an object or in

Combination with the basic seat can be placed on a surface.

These objects are achieved according to the invention by a
Carrying device comprising the features defined in claims 1 to 9
has the specified characteristics.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description
preferred embodiments, which refer to the attached
drawings refer to/show it;

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a

first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 shows an application example of the first embodiment of the present invention, which is clamped to the screen of a notebook; 10

Fig. 4 is another side view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows another example of application of the first embodiment of the present invention standing on a surface; and

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the present invention to achieve its angle adjustable effect for web camera.

1 and 2, the support device 100 according to the invention has a stand 200 and a base 300. The stand 200 consists of a first and second main part 400, 500, both of which are designed as a rod. The first main part 400 is provided at the top with an inverted, unshaped first receiving part 410, in the middle with two first connecting pieces 420 each having a bore 421, 422, and at the bottom with an inverted U-shaped first support part 430, wherein the first support part 430 has two feet. The second main part 500 has at the top an inverted U-shaped second receiving part 510, in the middle two second connecting pieces 520 provided with a bore 521 and a screw hole 522, and at the bottom a T-shaped second support part 530, wherein the second support part 530 also has two feet.

When connecting the first and second main parts 400, first, the two holes 421, 422 of the first connecting pieces 420 are aligned with the hole 521 and the screw hole 522 of the connecting pieces 520, respectively. Then, a pivot pin 600 passes through the hole 421, the hole 521, a torsion spring 700 and the hole 422, and finally it is screwed into the screw hole. When assembling, the torsion spring is rotated so that both ends thereof abut against the first receiving part 410 and the second receiving part 510 to form a V-shaped smaller apex angle. The restoring force is applied upon completion of the assembly so that the first and second receiving parts 410, 510 are pulled apart while the first and second supporting parts 430, 530 are brought together under normal condition. In other words, a clamping force of the stand 200 is formed by the torsion spring 700. Under the application of force, the first and second support parts 430, 530 are brought apart.

The base seat 300 is provided at the top with a connecting part for accommodating a web camera and at the bottom with a first and second fastening groove 310, 320 for fixed connection to the first and second receiving part 410. In addition, the base seat 300 rests on one of the two receiving parts 410, 510.

In the above-mentioned first embodiment of the present invention, the assembly of all components is described. Reference is also made to Figs. 3 and 4. The carrying device 100 according to the invention is clamped by the two support parts 430, 530 by means of the torsion spring 700 to the display 810 of a notebook computer 800 or alternatively to a TFT-LCD display.

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Alternatively, the base seat 300 can be attached to both main parts 400, 500 at the same time so that the tip angle of the two main parts 400, 500 is fixed. Thus, the stand 200 can be placed on a surface such as a table by its support parts 430, 530 (see Fig. 5). In contrast to the conventional need to attach the web camera to a base seat in order to place it on a surface, the present invention allows the web camera to be easily clamped to an object or placed flat on a surface. This makes using the web camera more fun and creative.

The rotatable connection of the two main parts 400, 500 of the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention can be carried out in many ways. For example, the rotatable connecting part of the first and second receiving part 410, 510 is designed as a telescopic socket in order to achieve the rotatable connection effect. Instead of the single torsion spring 700, two smaller torsion springs can be provided between the first and second receiving part 410, 510 in order to provide clamping forces. Alternatively, a normal spring can be used which is located between the first and second receiving part 410, 510 in order to provide clamping forces in which the force pulls the first and second receiving part 410, 510 apart. Even a U-spring used in clothespins can be used. In fact, a wide variety of variations and modifications are possible for the person skilled in the art within the scope of the invention.

In addition, the base seat 300 for supporting the web camera is designed in various ways. Furthermore, the number of feet of the first and second support parts 430, 530 is not specifically determined or limited.

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As shown in Fig. 6, the present invention has an angle-adjustable effect after the web camera is installed. The base seat 300 consists of a receiving part 910 and a connecting part 920. The upper end of the receiving part 910 is designed like the upper half of the base seat 300 in the first embodiment and has a groove 911 for receiving a web camera (not shown). The groove 911 has an axially horizontal, cylindrical lower surface at the bottom and an opening that becomes larger towards the top, so that a connecting end of the web camera can be pivoted slightly after it has been locked in place. A rotating part 912 is rotatably mounted under the receiving part 910. The connecting piece 920 is designed like the lower part of the base seat 300 and is used to connect to the stand. In addition, the connecting part 920 is provided with a receptacle 921 which corresponds in shape to the rotating part 912 located at the lower end of the receiving part 910. After the rotating part 912 of the receiving part 910 is inserted into the receptacle 921 of the connecting part 920, the rotating part 912 can be rotated by 360°. In combination with the connecting end of the web camera, the rotating part 912 can be pivoted slightly. This achieves the angle-adjustable effect. In order to achieve the angle-adjustable effect of the base seat 300, the above-mentioned embodiment is not limited. Rather, a wide variety of possible variations and modifications arise for the person skilled in the art within the scope of the invention.

Referring again to Fig. 3, the carrying device 100 according to the invention is clamped by the two support parts 430, 530 by means of the torsion spring 700 to the display 810 of a notebook computer 800 or alternatively to a TFT-LCD display, wherein a pin-groove arrangement is provided between the base seat 300 and the first receiving part 410.

to achieve a pivoting mechanism. This makes it much easier to adjust the angle of the webcam and digital camera.

In addition to holding the web camera, PC camera and PC video camera, the present invention can serve as a support for LCD display when placed on a surface. If the base seat 300 is recessed, it can be used to hold smaller stationery.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments; rather, a wide variety of variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art within the scope of the invention. In particular, the scope of protection of the invention is defined by the claims.

A support device comprising a stand (200) and a base seat (300), the base seat (300) serving to accommodate a web camera, digital camera or liquid crystal display, etc., while the stand (200) is attached to an object or can be placed on a surface in combination with the base seat (300).

Claims (9)

1. A carrying device comprising:
a stand ( 200 ) consisting of first and second main parts ( 400 , 500 ), both of which are rotatably connected by a pivot mechanism;
a torsion spring ( 700 ) provided between a first and second main part ( 400 , 500 ); and
a base seat ( 300 ) resting on top of the stand ( 200 );
characterized ,
that the first and second main parts ( 400 , 500 ) clamp an object therebetween by means of the tensioning force of a spring element, and that the first and second main parts ( 400 , 500 ) can be placed on a surface when they are both pulled apart and fastened to the base seat ( 300 ). 2. Carrying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second main parts ( 400 , 500 ) each have a first and second connecting piece ( 420 , 520 ), both of which are rotatably connected by the pivotally mounted mechanism, and that the first and second connecting pieces ( 420 , 520 ) each have a first and second receiving part ( 410 , 510 ) at the top and a first and second supporting part ( 430 , 530 ) at the bottom, and that the first and second supporting parts ( 430 , 530 ) come together by the tensioning force of the spring element, and that the first and second receiving parts ( 410 , 510 ) can be positioned on the surface when they come together when force is applied and thus the base seat ( 300 ) is fastened to both receiving parts ( 410 , 510 ). 3. Support device according to claim 2, characterized in that the base seat ( 300 ) has a first and a second fastening groove ( 310 , 320 ) into which the first and second receiving parts ( 410 , 510 ) are respectively inserted. 4. Support device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first support part ( 430 ) has at least two tubular feet, while the second support part ( 530 ) has at least one tubular foot. 5. Support device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pivotally mounted mechanism is designed as a pivot pin ( 600 ). 6. Support device according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring element is designed as a torsion spring ( 700 ) which is plugged onto the pivot pins ( 600 ). 7. Carrying device according to claim 2, characterized in that the base seat ( 300 ) consists of a receiving part ( 910 ) and a connecting part ( 920 ), wherein the receiving part ( 910 ) serves to receive an object, while the connecting part ( 920 ) is used for connection to a stand ( 200 ). 8. Support device according to claim 7, characterized in that the receiving part ( 910 ) rests on top of the connecting part ( 920 ) and is rotatably connected thereto in order to achieve an angle-adjustable effect of the web camera. 9. Support device according to claim 3, characterized in that the first receiving part ( 410 ) is rotatably mounted in the first fastening groove ( 310 ).