Supporting mechanism for electronic device

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to supporting mechanisms and, more particularly, to a supporting mechanism for an electronic device.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] An electronic device such as a display is generally connected to a base via a typical supporting mechanism capable of adjusting an angle of the display. A typical supporting mechanism usually includes a locating member that requires many screws to selectively position the display. The locating member has a complex structure, which increases the cost of the supporting mechanism, and makes it difficult and time consuming to adjust the angle of the display.

[0005] What is needed, therefore, is a supporting mechanism for an electronic device capable of allowing convenient adjustment of the electronic device.

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting bracket 10 includes a first connecting member 11, an operating member 12, a mounting member 13, and a second connecting member 14. The first connecting member 11 includes a side plate 113, and two bent pieces 111 extending substantially perpendicularly from the side plate 113. A pivot hole 1111 is defined in each bent piece 111. A mounting piece 112 extends substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the side plate 113. A rectangular mounting slot 1121 is defined in the mounting piece 112. Two pairs of assembly holes 114, 115 are defined in the first connecting member 11. The operating member 12 includes two opposite tabs 121 and an operating portion 122. A pivot hole 1211 is defined in each tab 121. The mounting member 13 includes a first bent portion 131, a second bent portion 132 connected to the first bent portion 131, a first fixing piece 133 extending from an edge of the first bent portion 131, and a second fixing piece 134 extending from an edge of the second bent portion 132. A screw hole 1311 is defined in the first bent portion 131, and two grooves 1312 are defined in the bent portion 131 adjacent to the screw hole 1311 for receiving the two tabs 121. A first opening 1321 is defined in the second bent portion 132 for the operating portion 122 extending through and moving therein. Two fixing holes 1331 are defined in the first fixing piece 133 corresponding to the assembly holes 114 of the first connecting member 11. Two fixing holes 1341 are defined in the second fixing piece 134 corresponding to the assembly holes 115 of the first connecting member 11. The second connecting member 14 includes a bottom wall 141, and a bent sidewall 142 extending substantially perpendicularly from an edge of the bottom wall 141. A receiving space (not labeled) is formed in the second connecting member 14 adjacent to the sidewall 142 for receiving the first connecting member 11. A positioning block 1411 protrudes from the bottom wall 141 for engaging in the mounting slot 1121 of the first connecting member 11. A receiving hole 1421 is defined in the sidewall 142 for securing the supporting bracket 20. A second opening 1422 is defined in the sidewall 142 corresponding to the first opening 1321 of the second bent portion 132.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 3, the supporting bracket 20 includes a first enclosure 21 secured on the second connecting member 14, an adjustable component 22, a second enclosure 23, and a supporting member 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustable component 22 is a gas spring. The gas spring uses a compressed gas contained in a cylinder, and is variably compressed by a piston, to exert a force.

[0014] The first enclosure 21 includes two opposite resilient hooks 211, and an accommodating space 212 formed in the first enclosure 21 for accommodating the adjustable component 22. The adjustable component 22 includes a substantially cylindrical body 222 containing a compressed gas therein and a shaft 221 connected to one side of the substantially cylindrical body 222. A screw portion 223 is formed on the other side of the substantially cylindrical body 222. A threaded portion 2212 is formed on one side of the shaft 221 corresponding to the screw hole 1311 of the mounting member 13. A pressing portion 2211 is positioned on one end of the shaft 221. When the pressing portion 2211 is pressed, the shaft 221 will move relative to the substantially cylindrical body 222 and compress the gas in the substantially cylindrical body 222 to change a length of the adjustable component 22. When the pressing portion 2211 is released, the shaft 221 will unmovable relative to the substantially cylindrical body 222. The second enclosure 23 includes a stopper portion 231, and a first receiving portion 232 and a second receiving portion 233 are respectively formed at two sides of the stopper portion 231. The first receiving portion 232 is capable of receiving the adjustable component 22 and the first enclosure 21, and the second receiving portion 233 is capable of receiving the supporting member 24. A through hole 2311 is defined in the stopper portion 231 corresponding to the screw portion 223 of the adjustable component 22. The screw portion 223 engages in a nut 25 through the through hole 2311 to secure the adjustable component 22 in the second enclosure 23. The supporting member 24 includes an inserting portion 241 and a supporting portion 242. A notch 2411 is defined in the inserting portion 241 for receiving the nut 25.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the screw portion 223 of the adjustable component 22 passes through the first receiving portion 232 and the through hole 2311 of the second enclosure 23. The nut 25 is placed in the second receiving portion 233 and screwed on the screw portion 223, thereby securing the adjustable component 22 in the second enclosure 23. The inserting portion 241 of the supporting member 24 is inserted in the second receiving portion 233, and the nut 25 is located in the notch 2411 of the inserting portion 241. The first enclosure 21 is placed around the adjustable component 22, and sandwiched between the adjustable component 22 and the second enclosure 23. Thus, assembly of the supporting bracket 20 is completed.

[0016] The pivot holes 1211 of the tab 121 of the operating member 12 are aligned with the corresponding pivot holes 1111 of the first connecting member 11. A screw pole 15 passes through the pivot holes 1211, 1111, and a nut 16 engages with the screw pole 15 to pivotally secure the operating member 12 on the first connecting member 11. The mounting member 13 is pushed toward the operating portion 122 of the operating member 12, and the operating portion 122 passes through the first opening 1321 of the mounting member 13. The fixing holes 1331 of the first fixing piece 133 and the fixing holes 1341 of the second fixing piece 134 are correspondingly aligned with the two pairs of assembly holes 114, 115, and the screws 30, 40 are correspondingly screwed into the assembly holes 114, 115 and the fixing holes 1311, 1341, thereby securing the mounting member 13 on the first connecting member 11. The first connecting member 11 is pushed toward the receiving space of the second connecting member 14. The operating portion 122 passes through the second opening 1422 of the second connecting member 14, and the positioning block 1411 engages in the mounting slot 1121 of the first connecting member 11. Thus, assembly of the connecting bracket 10 is completed.

[0017] The supporting bracket 20 is pushed toward the second connecting member 14 and rotated to align the threaded portion 2212 thereof with and engage in the screw hole 1311 of the mounting member 13. When the two resilient hooks 211 abut on two opposite edges of the receiving hole 1421, the two resilient hooks 211 will deform elastically, and return back to their initial states until the two resilient hooks 211 are correspondingly secured on the two edges of the receiving hole 1421. Thus, assembly of the supporting mechanism is completed (see FIG. 4).

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in use, the supporting mechanism is installed on the display 70, and the supporting portion 242 of the supporting bracket 20 abuts a supporting surface 80, such that the display 70 is supported on the supporting surface 80 by the supporting mechanism.

[0019] To adjust an angle of the display 70, the operating portion 122 of the connecting bracket 10 is pressed to press the pressing portion 2211 of the adjustable component 22 to adjust the length of the adjustable component 22. When the pressing portion 2211 is pressed by the operating portion 122, the gas in the cylindrical body 222 of the adjustable component 22 will be compressed, and the adjustable component 22 will be elongated or shortened to change a length of the supporting bracket 20 depending on the adjustment of the angle between the display 70 and the supporting surface 80. When the desired angle is obtained, the operating portion 122 is released from the pressing portion 2211, the adjustable component 22 will be unmovable to maintain the display 90 at the desired angle.

[0020] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, 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 embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.