Electronic device with lighting apparatus

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to an electronic device with a lighting apparatus.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Electronic devices, such as a portable computer, usually include data input units such as a keyboard. Typically, such data input units are not readily visible when used in the dark.

[0005] What is needed is to provide an electronic device with a lighting apparatus for overcoming the above disadvantage.

[0006] In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a base with a through hole defined therein, and a lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus includes a bracket mounted to the base, a pivoting member pivotably attached to the bracket, a light fixed to the pivoting member, at least a resilient member arranged between the bracket and the pivoting member to restore the pivoting member, and a sliding member mounted to the bracket with a first end. A latch slot is defined in the pivoting member for receiving a second end of the sliding member, the pivoting member is driven by the at least a resilient member to pivot and the second end of the sliding member to slide in the latch slot for achieving the pivoting member pivoting out of or pivoting back through the hole of the base.

[0007] Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a base 10, a lighting apparatus mounted to the base 10, and a plurality of fasteners 100. The base 10 is an LCD monitor of a portable computer or a desktop computer. In this embodiment, the fasteners 100 are screws.

[0013] The base 10 includes a first panel 12 and a second panel 14 mounted to the first panel 12, for sandwiching a liquid crystal display therebetween. Two mounting rods 122 extend toward the second panel 14 from an upper portion of the first panel 12. A mounting hole 123 is defined in each mounting rod 122. A locating rod 124 extends from the first panel 12 in the vicinity of each mounting rod 122. A rectangular through hole 142 is defined in an upper portion of the second panel 14.

[0014] Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lighting apparatus includes a bracket 20, a pivoting member 30, a baffle member 40, a sliding member 50, a resilient piece 60, a mounting member 70, a light 79, two resilient members 80, and a locking member 90.

[0015] The bracket 20 is generally n-shaped, and includes a top wall 21, a first sidewall 22 and a second sidewall 23 extending down from opposite ends of the top wall 21 respectively. Two ears 24 extend from outer surfaces of the first and second sidewalls 22, 23 respectively. A through hole 242 and a locating hole 244 are defined in each ear 24. Two pivoting poles 25 extend from inner surfaces of the first and second sidewalls 22, 23 in the vicinity of the top wall 21, respectively. Two poles 26 extend respectively from the inner surfaces of the first and second sidewalls 22, 23 in the vicinity of the corresponding pivoting poles 25. Two blocks 27 extend from a lower portion of the inner surfaces of the first and second sidewalls 22, 23, respectively. A receiving slot 28 is defined in the inner surface of the second sidewall 23. A locking slot 29 is defined in a lower portion of the outer surface of each of the first and second sidewalls 22, 23, respectively. A depressed portion 232 is defined in the outer surface of the second sidewall 23 in the vicinity of the locking slot 29.

[0016] The pivoting member 30 includes a base board 31, a first board 32 and a second board 33 extending from opposites sides of the base board 31. The first and second boards 32, 33 are fan-shaped each with a narrow top and a wide bottom. Two opposite slots 322, 332 are defined respectively in inner surfaces of the first and second boards 32, 33. Two through holes 324, 334 are defined respectively in the first and second boards 32, 33 in the vicinity of the base board 31, communicating with the slots 322, 332 respectively. Two arc-shaped sliding slots 326, 336 are defined in upper portions of the first and second boards 32, 33, respectively. A latch slot is defined in a lower portion of an outer surface of the second board 33. The latch slot includes an unbent first sliding rail 337, an L-shaped second sliding rail 338, and a V-shaped third sliding rail 339. The first, second and third sliding rails 337, 338, 339 are communicated end to end. Two protrusions 323, 333 are formed at bottom portions of the first and second boards 32, 33, away from the base board 31.

[0017] The baffle member 40 is generally rectangular shaped. A through hole 42 is defined in an upper portion of the baffle member 40.

[0018] The sliding member 50 is a step-shaped column, and includes a large end and a small end.

[0019] The resilient piece 60 is made by bending a resilient metal piece, and includes a U-shaped main body. The main body includes a short sidewall 61 and a long sidewall 62 parallel to the short sidewall 61. A blocking portion 612 protrudes from the short sidewall 61 toward the long sidewall 62. A pressing portion 63 slantingly extends from a distal end of the long sidewall 62, away from the short sidewall 61.

[0020] The mounting member 70 is generally plate-shaped. Two latch portions 72 protrude from opposite ends of the mounting member 70. A plurality of mounting holes is defined in the mounting member 70.

[0021] The light 79 includes a main body and an illuminant arranged at one end of the main body. The illuminant can be an LED (light-emitting diode). The light 79 can be mounted to the mounting member 70 via a plurality of screws extending through the main body of the light 79 to be engaged in the mounting holes of the mounting member 70. Obviously, the light 79 can also be mounted to the mounting member 70 via adhesive such as glue.

[0022] The resilient members 80 are torsion springs. Each resilient member 80 includes a blocking end 82.

[0023] The locking member 90 is generally C-shaped, and includes a main body 91, and two L-shaped hooks 92 formed at opposite ends of the main body 91. Two protrusions 93 protrude from the main body 91 adjacent to the hooks 92 respectively.

[0024] Referring also to FIG. 4, in assembly, the light 79 is mounted to the mounting member 70. The mounting member 70 is locked to the pivoting member 30 via the ends thereof being received in the slots 322, 332 of the first and second boards 32, 33 respectively. The latch portions 72 of the mounting member 70 are engaged in the through holes 324, 334 of the pivoting member 30 respectively. The small end of the sliding member 50 extends through the through hole 42 of the baffle member 40 to engage in the latch slot of the pivoting member 30. The main body of the resilient piece 60 clamps a bottom of the second sidewall 23 of the bracket 20, therefore the short sidewall 61 of the resilient piece 60 tightly contacts the outer surface of the second sidewall 23, and the long sidewall 62 of the resilient piece 60 is received in the receiving slot 28 of the bracket 20.

[0025] The combined assembly of the pivoting member 30, the baffle member 40, the sliding member 50, the mounting member 70, and the light 79 is received in the bracket 20. The pivoting member 30 is pivotably attached to the bracket 20 via the pivoting poles 25 of the bracket 20 being slidably received in the arc-shaped sliding slots 326, 336 of the pivoting member 30 respectively. The resilient members 80 fit about the poles 26 of the bracket 20 respectively. The blocking ends 82 of the resilient members 80 are propped on the first and second boards 32, 33 of the pivoting member 30 respectively. The other ends of the resilient members 80 are propped on the top wall 21 of the bracket 20. The protrusions 323, 333 of the first and second boards 32, 33 of the pivoting member 30 are capable of engaging with the blocks 27 of the bracket 20 to avoid the pivoting member 30 moving away from the bracket 20 against the resilient members 80. The pressing portion 63 of the resilient member 60 resiliently presses the large end of the sliding member 50 to avoid the small end of the sliding member 50 disengaging from the latch slot of the pivoting member 30. The blocking portion 612 of the resilient piece 60 is engaged in the depressed portion 232 of the second sidewall 23.

[0026] The hooks 92 of the locking member 90 are engaged in the locking slots 29 of the first and second sidewalls 22, 23 respectively to cover an opening of the bracket 20 between the first and second sidewalls 22, 23. The protrusions 93 of the locking member 90 are engaged with the inner surfaces of the first and second sidewalls 22, 23 respectively.

[0027] The lighting apparatus is mounted to the first panel 12 via the locating rods 124 of the first panel 12 engaging in the locating holes 244 of the bracket 20 respectively, and the fasteners 100 extending through the through holes 242 of the bracket 20 to screw into the mounting holes 123 of the first panel 12. The second panel 14 is mounted to the first panel 12. The through hole 142 of the second panel 14 aligns with the pivoting member 30 of the lighting apparatus.

[0028] Referring also to FIG. 5, when not using the lighting apparatus, the base board 31 of the pivoting member 30 is substantially coplanar with the second panel 14 against the resilient members 80.

[0029] Referring also to FIG. 6, when using the electronic device in the dark, the base board 31 is pressed, the pivoting member 30 is pivoted out driven by the resilient members 80, therefore the light 79 shines through the through hole 142 of the second panel 14. The light 79 is capable of illuminating an operating area of the electronic device. When not using the lighting apparatus, the base board 31 of the pivoting member 30 is pressed again, the pivoting member 30 is pivoted to retract into the bracket 20 through the through hole 142 of the second panel 14.

[0030] The sliding member 50 slides in the latch slot of the pivoting member 30 to achieve the pivoting member 30 pivoting out and pivoting back. When using the lighting apparatus, the base board 31 of the pivoting member 30 is pressed, the small end of the sliding member 50 slides in the third sliding rail 339 toward the second sliding rail 338, and the resilient members 80 are distorted by the pivoting member 30. The resilient members 80 rebound to pivot the pivoting member 30 until the small end of the sliding member 50 is slid out of the third sliding rail 339. The small end of the sliding member 50 slides in the second slide rail 338, and then slides in the first sliding rail 337. Thus the pivoting member 30 is pivoted out of the through hole 142 of the second panel 14 to show up the light 79.

[0031] To retract the lighting apparatus, the base board 31 of the pivoting member 30 is pressed again, the small end of the sliding member 50 is slid in the first sliding rail 337 and then slid in the third rail 339. The pivoting member 30 drives the resilient members 80 to rebound, until the small end of the sliding member 50 slides to and engages in a bottom of the V-shaped third sliding rail 339. Then the pivoting member 30 is latched by the sliding member 50. Thereby the pivoting member 30 is received in the bracket 20.

[0032] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.