Abstract:
A power-assisted supporting apparatus includes a base, a supporting member, and a drive mechanism connected between the base and the supporting member. The drive mechanism includes a motor, a gear assembly, and a controller controlling the motor. The motor includes a drive gear driving the gear assembly. The gear assembly includes a connecting shaft connected to the supporting member. The user presses buttons to instruct the controller to activate the motor, and the drive gear drives the gear assembly to rotate an electronic device which is held by the supporting member.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an supporting apparatus for supporting a display of an electronic device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    An electronic device, such as an all-in-one computer, can include a display and a supporting apparatus supporting the display. The supporting apparatus usually includes a base and a supporting member. The supporting member includes a first end supporting the display and a second end connected to the base. A shaft is rotatably connected between the second end of the supporting member and the base. However, the supporting member often needs to be rotated manually relative to the base, which is inconvenient in use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an embodiment of a supporting apparatus, wherein the supporting apparatus includes a drive mechanism. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but the supporting apparatus is viewed from another perspective. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged, exploded view of the drive mechanism of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but the drive mechanism is viewed from another perspective. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an assembled view of the supporting apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show an embodiment of a supporting apparatus  100  including a base  20 , a drive mechanism  40 , and a supporting member  60 . The supporting member  60  supports an electronic device (not shown), such as a display. 
         [0013]    The base  20  includes a shell  22 . The shell  22  includes a bottom plate  221  and a front plate  223  perpendicularly extending up from a front side of the bottom plate  221 . A middle of a rear side of the bottom plate  221  defines a plurality of mounting holes  224 . An end of the front plate  223  defines a plurality of through holes  226 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  show the drive mechanism  40  including a first bracket  41 , a second bracket  42 , a gear assembly  43 , a motor  45 , and a controller  46 . 
         [0015]    The first bracket  41  includes a mounting plate  411 , a first supporting plate  412  perpendicularly extending up from a side of the mounting plate  411 , a second supporting plate  413  on the inside of a lower portion of the first supporting plate  412  and connected to the mounting plate  411 , a third supporting plate  414  on the inside of a lower portion of the second supporting plate  413  and opposite to the first supporting plate  412 , three bearings  415 , and two bearing covers  416 . A top of the first supporting plate  412  defines a cutout  4121 . A top of the second plate  413  defines a cutout  4131 . An upper portion of the third supporting plate  414  defines a position hole  4141 . The bearings  415  are mounted in the cutouts  4121  and  4131  and the position hole  4141 . The bearing covers  416  are mounted on tops of the first and second supporting plates  412  and  413 , and secure in place two of the bearings  415 . The mounting plate  411  defines a plurality of through holes  4112 . 
         [0016]    The second bracket  42  includes a mounting plate  421 , a fourth supporting plate  423  perpendicularly extending up from a middle of the mounting plate  421 , a T-shaped fifth supporting plate  424  protruding from a lower portion of the fourth supporting plate  423  and connected to the mounting plate  421 , three bearings  425 , and two bearing covers  426 . A top of the fourth supporting plate  423  defines a cutout  4231 , and a lower portion of the fourth supporting plate  423  defines a position hole  4232 . A top of the fifth supporting plate  424  defines a cutout  4241 . The bearings  425  are mounted in the cutouts  4231  and  4241 , and in the position holes  4232 . The bearing covers  426  are mounted on tops of the fourth and fifth supporting plates  423  and  424 , for fixing two of the bearings  425 . The mounting plate  421  defines a plurality of through holes  4212 . 
         [0017]    The gear assembly  43  includes a first gear set  431 , a second gear set  433 , and a third gear set  435 . The first gear set  431  includes a connecting shaft  4312  and a bull gear  4314  mounted to a middle of the connecting shaft  4312 . Two latching sleeves  4315  are mounted to the two ends of the connecting shaft  4312 . The latching sleeves  4315  are located adjacent to the bull gear  4314 . The second gear set  433  includes a rotation shaft  4331 , a bull gear  4335  mounted to a first end of the rotation shaft  4331 , and a pinion  4333  mounted to a second end of the rotation shaft  4331  opposite to the bull gear  4335 . The pinion  4333  engages with the bull gear  4314  of the first gear set  431 . The third gear set  435  includes a pivot  4351 , a pinion  4353  mounted to a first end of the pivot  4351 , and a bull gear  4355  mounted to a second end of the pivot  4351  opposite to the pinion  4353 . The pinion  4353  of the third gear set  435  engages with the bull gear  4335  of the second gear set  433 . 
         [0018]    The motor  45  includes a support  451 , a main body  452  mounted on the support  451 , a drive shaft  453  extending out from an end of the main body  452 , and a drive gear  455  mounted a distal end of the drive shaft  453 . 
         [0019]    The controller  46  includes a plurality of buttons  462  and cables  463  electrically connected between the controller  46  and the motor  45 . 
         [0020]    The supporting member  60  is substantially H-shaped, and includes a rectangular connecting plate  62 , two opposite first connecting blocks  64  protruding out from opposite ends of a first side of the connecting plate  62 , and two opposite second connecting blocks  66  protruding out from opposite ends of a second side of the connecting plate  62 . The first connecting blocks  64  are opposite to the second connecting blocks  66 . Distal ends of the first connecting blocks  64  opposite to the connecting plate  62  define two opposite mounting holes  67 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows that in assembling the supporting apparatus  100 , the gear assembly  43  is placed between the first bracket  41  and the second bracket  42 , to allow the second supporting plate  413  of the first bracket  41  to face the fifth supporting plate  424  of the second bracket  42 . Two distal ends of the connecting shaft  4312  extend through the bearing  415  mounted in the first supporting plate  412  and the bearing  425  mounted in the top of the fourth supporting plate  423 . The latching sleeves  4315  are engaged in the bearing  415  mounted in the first supporting plate  412  and the bearing  425  mounted in the fourth supporting plate  423 . Two distal ends of the rotation shaft  4331  are latched in the bearing  415  mounted in the second supporting plate  413  and the bearing  425  mounted in the fifth supporting plate  424 . Two distal ends of the pivot  4351  are latched in the bearing  415  mounted in the third supporting plate  414  and the bearing  425  mounted in the position hole  4232  of the fourth supporting plate  423 . 
         [0022]    The first bracket  41 , the second bracket  42 , and the gear assembly  43  are placed on the bottom plate  221 , and the bull gear  4355  of the third gear set  435  is adjacent to the front plate  223 . Screws extend through the through holes  4112  and  4212  of the mounting plates  411  and  421 , to be screwed in the mounting holes  224  of the shell  22 . The motor  45  is placed on the bottom plate  221 , to allow the drive gear  455  to engage with the bull gear  4355  of the third gear set  435 . A plurality of fasteners extends through the support  451 , to be mounted to the bottom plate  221 . The buttons  462  are inserted in the through holes  226  from an inside of the shell  22 . The controller  46  is mounted in the shell  22 , and the buttons  462  are exposed out of the front plate  223  through the through holes  226 . The connecting shaft  4312  is placed between the first connecting blocks  64 . The distal ends of the connecting shaft  4312  are latched in the mounting holes  67  of the first connecting blocks  64 . The electronic device is held between the second connecting blocks  66 . 
         [0023]    In use, by means of operating the buttons  462 , the controller  46  controls the motor  45  to operate. The drive shaft  453  rotates. Thus, the drive gear  455  of the motor  45  drives the gear assembly  43  to rotate. The gear assembly  43  drives the connecting shaft  4312  to rotate, which rotates the supporting member  60 . 
         [0024]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiment have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiment, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.