Device with slidable retractable stand

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9873284-B2
Application number	US-201414455469-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2014
Priority date	Aug 8, 2013
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

A device with a retractable stand including a device body and a stand panel slidably coupled to the device body. The stand panel is slidably movable between a retracted configuration, wherein the stand panel is generally flat and planar, and an extended configuration wherein the stand panel is not generally flat and planar. When said stand panel is in the extended configuration the stand panel forms a stand to support the device body in an upright position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device with a retractable stand for propping the device upon a surface, the device comprising:
a device body having a pair of outer panels that are substantially parallel with respect to one another, wherein the panels are connected each other by a bottom panel, each panel including a pair of slots formed therein; and
a pair of stand panels that are each slidably coupled to the device body at one of said pair of outer panels to position said device into an upright position that is substantially perpendicular with respect to the surface, wherein each slot of each of said pair of outer panels of said device body receives at least part of the corresponding stand panel therethrough to slidably couple said corresponding stand panel to said device body, wherein the corresponding stand panel is constructed of a single, unitary piece of material that is a separate component from the device body and is slidably movable between a retracted configuration, wherein said corresponding stand panel is generally flat and planar, and an extended configuration wherein said corresponding stand panel is not generally flat and planar, wherein when said corresponding stand panel is in said extended configuration said corresponding stand panel positions said device into the upright position, and at least one of said device body or said corresponding stand panel includes a slit or opening, wherein at least part of the other one of said device body or said corresponding stand panel is received through said slit or opening to slidably couple said corresponding stand panel to said device body.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least part of the other one of said device body or said corresponding stand panel moves within said slit or opening when said corresponding stand panel moves between said extended configuration and said retracted configuration.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said at least part of the other one of said device body or said corresponding stand panel remains within said slit or opening for an entire range of motion when said corresponding stand panel moves between said extended configuration and said retracted configuration.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein when said corresponding stand panel is in said extended configuration said corresponding stand panel has a lower edge in a generally “V” shaped configuration, and wherein said generally “V” shaped edge is configured to engage a support surface along its perimeter thereof.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein at least part of said corresponding stand panel extends generally perpendicular to a corresponding outer panel when said corresponding stand panel is in said extended configuration.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said device body has a width that extends generally perpendicular to said corresponding outer panel when said corresponding stand panel is in said retracted configuration, and wherein when said corresponding stand panel is in said extended configuration said corresponding stand panel extends perpendicular to said corresponding outer panel a distance equal to at least about ¼ of said width of said device body.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said corresponding stand panel is slidably movable in a direction parallel to a plane of a corresponding outer panel to cause said corresponding stand panel to move between said retracted configuration and said extended configuration.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said device body includes a lower surface, and wherein said corresponding stand panel includes a lower surface that is generally aligned with said lower surface of said device body when said corresponding stand panel is in said extended configuration.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said lower surface of said corresponding stand panel is positioned above said lower surface of said device body when said corresponding stand panel is in said retracted configuration.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said corresponding stand panel includes a fold line defining a flap portion therein, and wherein said device is configured such that said flap portion is not folded about said fold line when said corresponding stand panel is in said retracted configuration, and wherein said flap portion is folded about said fold line when said corresponding stand panel is in said extended configuration such that said flap portion forms an angle with a main portion of said corresponding stand panel.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said corresponding stand panel is slidably movable in a sliding direction along a straight line, and wherein said fold line forms an angle with said sliding direction.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a retaining feature to retain the corresponding stand panel in the extended configuration.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said device body includes generally parallel and spaced apart side panels and a bottom panel, wherein said said pair of outer panels, said side panels and bottom panel define a storage cavity therebetween.

14. A device with a retractable stand for propping the device upon a surface, the device comprising:
a device body having a pair of outer panels that are substantially parallel with respect to one another, wherein the panels are connected each other by a bottom panel, each panel including a pair of slots formed therein; and
a pair of stand panels that are each slidably coupled to the device body at one of said pair of outer panels to position said device into an upright position that is substantially perpendicular with respect to the surface, wherein each slot of each of said pair of outer panels of said device body receives at least part of said corresponding stand panel therethrough to slidably couple the corresponding stand panel to said device body, wherein the corresponding stand panel is constructed of a single, unitary piece of material that is a separate component from the device body and is slidably movable between a retracted configuration, wherein said corresponding stand panel is generally flat and planar, and an extended configuration wherein said corresponding stand panel is not generally flat and planar, wherein when said corresponding stand panel is in said extended configuration said corresponding stand panel forms a stand to support said device body in an upright position, wherein at least one of said device body or said corresponding stand panel includes a slit or opening formed therein, and wherein the other one of said device body or said corresponding stand panel includes a protrusion received in said slit or opening, and wherein device is configured such that as said corresponding stand panel is slidably moved in a predetermined direction from said retracted configuration said slit or opening and said protrusion cooperate to cause said corresponding stand panel to move to said extended configuration.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said predetermined direction is a straight line in a plane of said device body or corresponding stand panel, and wherein said slit or opening forms an angle with said straight line.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein at least one of said device body or said corresponding stand panel includes a supplemental slit or opening formed therein, and wherein the other one of said device body or said corresponding stand panel includes a supplemental protrusion received in said supplemental slit or opening, and wherein said device is configured such that as said corresponding stand panel is slidably moved in said predetermined direction said supplemental slit or opening and said supplemental protrusion cooperate to cause said correspo

Assignees

• Acco Brands Corp

Inventors

• Rowe Michael D

Classifications

• B42F7/08

  expansible · CPC title

• B42F7/145 Primary

  for vertically storing documents · CPC title

• B42P2241/12

  Means for enabling the device to be positioned upright · CPC title

• Y10T29/49

  Method of mechanical manufacture · CPC title