Abstract:
A notebook computer expansion base with a slidable cover structure is provided, which is applicable for the expansion of various types of notebook computers. Each notebook computer has an expansion joint and a plug specification, and the expansion base includes a base and a slidable cover. The base has an expansion component and an expansion slot electrically connected to each other, and the expansion slot is connected with the expansion joint directly, such that the expansion component is electrically connected with the notebook computer, so as to expand the expansion component to the notebook computer. The slidable cover is disposed on the base and being sildable, corresponding to a plugging reference, and the distance between the slidable cover and the expansion slot is adjusted through sliding the slidable cover, so as to be applicable for different plug specifications.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to a notebook computer expansion base with a slidable cover structure, and more particularly to an expansion base suitable for notebook computers having different plug specifications by way of adjusting the distance between the slidable cover and an expansion slot through sliding the slidable cover. 
   2. Related Art 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , it shows an expansion base of a conventional notebook computer. Generally, this type of expansion base includes an expansion portion  110  and a plug portion  120 . The expansion portion  110  is used to accommodate at least one expansion unit  111 , and the expansion unit  111  is an additionally disposed expansion component, such as a floppy drive, an optical disc drive, or a battery. The plug portion  120  is a portion for the expansion base to be plugged into the notebook computer, and it generally has a plug slot  121  electrically connected with the expansion unit  111 , so as to form an electrical connection between the notebook computer and the expansion unit  111 . Furthermore, a fixed plug gap  122  is reserved between the space between the plug portion  120  and the expansion portion  110  and the plug slot  121  for the notebook computer to be configured for plugging. In addition, in order to fix the expansion base on the notebook computer more firmly, a positioning element  123  and a buckling element  124  corresponding to each other are respectively disposed on the plug portion  120  and the notebook computer, such that the expansion base is firmly plugged to the notebook computer. 
   However, this method has an unavoidable defect, that is, the length of the fixed plug gap is definitely a fixed value, and thus, after being designed and formed, the expansion base only can be disposed on the notebook computer with a specific plug specification. If it is used to the notebook computer with a different plug specification, the expansion base cannot be mounted due to an insufficient fixed plug gap, or even through the expansion portion is mounted on the notebook computer, the expansion portion and the notebook computer do not press against each other and a redundant space is formed due to an excessive large length of the fixed plug gap, and thus, the expansion base tends to shake or fall off due to the unstable center of gravity and being crashed by an external force. Moreover, the positioning structure, the buckling structure, and the plug slot are easy to be damaged. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, in order to solve the above problems, to maintain the original functions of a common expansion base, and to enlarge the adaptability of the expansion base such that expansion base can be plugged to notebook computers with different plug specifications, the present invention provides a notebook computer expansion base with a slidable cover structure. A slidable cover is additionally disposed on the expansion base, such that when the expansion base is plugged to the notebook computer, the area of a plug portion for the expansion base and the length of the plugging distance can be changed by sliding and positioning the slidable cover, so as to make the expansion base be firmly plugged on the notebook computers, matching with the plug specifications of the notebook computers. 
   The present invention provides a notebook computer expansion base with a slidable cover structure, applicable for the expansion of one of a plurality of notebook computers in different types. Each notebook computer has an expansion joint, a plugging reference, and a plugging distance (generally, the plugging reference and the plugging distance are known as a plug specification), and the plugging distance is a distance between the expansion joint and the plugging reference. The notebook computer expansion base includes a base and a slidable cover, wherein the base is used to accommodate at least one expansion component and has an expansion slot. The expansion component is electrically connected with the expansion slot, and the expansion slot is used to connect with the expansion joint, such that an electrical connection is formed between the expansion component and the connected notebook computer, thereby extending the expansion component to the notebook computer. The slidable cover is disposed on the base and being sildable corresponding to the plugging reference, and the slidable cover slides between at least a first position and a second position, such that different plugging distances are formed between the slidable cover and the expansion slot, so as to cater to different plug specifications, and thus the expansion base can be plugged to the notebook computers in different specifications. 
   The structure for the slidable cover to slide on the base includes a guiding element disposed on the base, which can be a guiding rail. The slidable cover includes at least one guiding block, the position of the guiding block is corresponding to the position of the guiding rail, and the guiding rail is used to accommodate the guiding block for the guiding block to slide therein, thereby guiding the slidable cover to slide between the first position and the second position. Secondly, the guiding rail can be provided with a plurality of positioning cavities disposed corresponding to the first position and the second position. The guiding block includes at least one positioning flange, such that when the slidable cover shifts to the first position and the second position, the slidable cover is positioned at the first position and the second position by engaging the positioning flanges in the positioning cavities. The slidable cover can further move to a third position between the first position and the second position, and similarly, the slidable cover is positioned at the third position by engaging the positioning flanges in the positioning cavities. Thirdly, the base includes at least one assisting rail, and the slidable cover includes at least one assisting rib. The position of the assisting rib is corresponding to the position of the assisting rail, and the assisting rail is used to accommodate the assisting rib for the assisting rib to slide therein, thereby guiding the slidable cover to slide between the first position and the second position. Fourth, the base includes a plurality of positioning blocks corresponding to the first position and the second position, the slidable cover includes a platen and a catch element, and the platen drives the catch element to move between a catch position and a release position upon being applied with a force, wherein when the catch element is at the catch position, the slide block is limited to moving between the first position and the second position, and when the catch element is at the release position, the slide block is able to move between the first position and the second position. Fifth, the expansion component can be a serial port hole, a battery, an optical disc drive, a floppy drive, or an expanded hard disk drive. 
   The present invention has efficacies that cannot be achieved by the prior art, that is, the plugging distance of the expansion base itself is changed by sliding the slidable cover, such that the expansion slot is corresponding to the expansion joint, and the slidable cover is corresponding to the plugging reference and presses against the plugging reference, and thus the expansion base can be closely engaged to different types of notebook computers in different expansion plug specifications, so as to avoid the circumstances that it cannot be plugged or an unstable center of gravity occurs due to an excessive long plugging distance, and to enhance the tightness of the plugging by additionally disposing a positioning structure and a buckling structure. 
   Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, which thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic structural view of the prior art; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic structural view of an expansion base according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3A  is a schematic view of catching the first catch point according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3B  is a diagram of the pressing action for the stopping element according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3C  is a schematic view of catching the second catch point according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3D  is a schematic view of catching the third catch point according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4A  is a schematic view of the slidable cover at the first position according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4B  is a schematic view of the expansion base positioned at the first position according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4C  is a plugging view of the first notebook computer according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5A  is a schematic view of the slidable cover at the second position according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5B  is a schematic view of the expansion base positioned at the second position according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5C  is a plugging view of the second notebook computer according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 6A  is a schematic view of the slidable cover at the third position according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 6B  is a schematic view of the expansion base positioned at the third position according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6C  is a plugging view of the third notebook computer according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In order to further understand the objectives, construction features, and functions of the present invention, the present invention is illustrated below in detail through relevant embodiments and accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , it is a schematic structural view of an expansion base according to the present invention. The expansion base mainly includes a base  210  and a slidable cover  220 . The slidable cover  220  is disposed above the base  210  and slides between a first position  231  and a second position  232 . The base  210  itself is used to accommodate an expansion component  211 , and is provided with an expansion slot  212  at the portion where it is plugged with the notebook computer, in which the expansion slot  212  is electrically connected to the expansion component  211 . The base  210  is further provided with a guiding element, and in this embodiment, the guiding element is, for example, a guiding rail  213 . The slidable cover  220  is disposed with a guiding block  221  with a position corresponding to the position of the guiding rail. The guiding rail  213  is used to accommodate the guiding block  221  for the guiding block  221  to slide therein, so as to guide the slidable cover  220  to slide between the first position  231  and the second position  232 . 
   Moreover, in order to make the slidable cover  220  be well positioned when moving to the target position, a positioning element can be disposed on the guiding element, for example, a plurality of positioning cavities  214  is disposed on the guiding rail  213 . The positioning cavities  214  are corresponding to the first position  231  and the second position  232 , and the guiding block  221  is provided with at least one positioning flange  222 , such that when the slidable cover  220  moves to the first position  231  and the second position  232 , the positioning cavity  214  can be used to accommodate the positioning flange  222 , thereby positioning the slidable cover  220 . However, besides the first position  231  and the second position  232 , the slidable cover  220  also can be positioned at a third position  233  between the first position  231  and the second position  232  during the shifting process of the slidable cover  220 , through the same manner of engaging the positioning flange in the positioning cavity. 
   However, in addition to the guiding element, an assisting rail  216  is further disposed on the base  210 , and an assisting rib  225  with a position corresponding to the position of the assisting rail  216  is further disposed on the slidable cover  220 . When the slidable cover  220  is covered on the base  210 , the assisting rib  225  is accommodated within the assisting rail  216 , so as to utilize the sliding of the assisting rib to assist the slidable cover  220  to slide between the first position  231  and the second position  232 . 
   Next, in addition to disposing the positioning element on the guiding element, stopping elements can be further disposed on the base  210  and the slidable cover  220  respectively. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3D , they are a view of the pressing action of the stopping elements and schematic views of catching a first catch point  227 , a second catch point  228 , and a third catch point  229  respectively. 
   In this embodiment, a plurality of positioning blocks  215  is disposed on the base  210  corresponding to the first position  231  and the second position  232 , and a positioning key  226  is disposed on the slidable cover  220  and has a platen  223 , a catch element  224 , and a resilient element  230 . 
   When no force is applied to the platen  223 , the catch element  224  is caught on the positioning block  215 , so as to limit the shift of the slidable cover  220 . When a force is applied to the platen  223 , the platen  223  drives the catch element  224  to move, so as to release the catch state, and at this time, the slidable cover  220  can slide between the first position  231  (as shown in  FIG. 3A ) and the second position  232  (as shown in  FIG. 3C ). 
   For example, when the slidable cover  220  is at the first position  231 , the catch element  224  is pressed against the first catch point  227  of the positioning block. If the slidable cover  220  is required to move to the second position  232  or the third position  233  (as shown in  FIG. 3D ), the platen  223  must be firstly pressed to drive the catch element  224  to move away from the first catch point  227 , so as to release the catch state between the positioning key  226  and the positioning block  215 . Therefore, the slidable cover  220  is pushed to the second position  232  or the third position  233 . 
   When the slidable cover  220  is at the second position  232 , if the platen  223  is released, the catch element  224  is pushed towards the second catch point of the positioning block  215  under the resilience of the resilient element  230 , such that the catch element  224  is pressed against the second catch point  228  of the positioning block  215 , so as to position the slidable cover  220  at the second position  232 . Alternatively, when the slidable cover is at the third position  233 , the platen is released, such that the catch element is pressed against the third catch point  229  of the positioning block, so as to position the slidable cover  220  at the third position  233 . 
   In addition, a buckling structure  217  and a positioning structure  218  can be disposed on the notebook computer and the expansion base, so as to enhance the tightness when plugging the expansion base. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4C , they are a plugging view of a first notebook computer according to the present invention and schematic views of the slidable cover at the first position. The first notebook computer  310  has an expansion joint  300  and a first plugging reference  311 , and the expansion joint  300  and the first plugging reference  311  form a first plugging distance  312 . 
   As for the base  210 , when the slidable cover  220  covers, the slidable cover  220  forms a plugging reference line  301  with the plug portion of the base  210 . In this embodiment, the slidable cover  220  is located at the first position  231 , such that the first plugging distance  312  is formed between the plugging reference line  301  and the expansion slot  212 , and the first plugging distance  312  formed by the base  210  is the same as the first plugging distance  312  formed by the first notebook computer  310 . Therefore, the expansion joint  300  can be connected to the expansion slot  212 , such that the first notebook computer  310  is electrically connected to the expansion component  211 . The first plugging reference  311  is corresponding to and presses against the slidable cover  220 , such that the expansion base can be closely plugged on the first notebook computer  310 . The positioning flange  222  of the guiding block  221  is accommodated within the positioning cavity  214 , and one end of the catch element  224  is used to press against one side edge of the positioning block  215 , so as to assist to position the slidable cover  220  at the first position  231 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C , they are a plugging view of a second notebook computer according to the present invention and schematic views of the slidable cover at the second position. The structure of the second notebook computer  320  is similar to that of the first notebook computer  310 , which also has an expansion joint  300  and a second plugging reference  321 , the expansion slot  212  and the second plugging reference  321  form a second plugging distance  322 . The length of the second plugging distance  322  is less than that of the first plugging distance  312 , so that the plug specification of the second notebook computer  320  is known to be different from that of the first notebook computer  310 . 
   In order to match the plug specification of the second notebook computer  320 , the slidable cover  220  of the expansion base is slid. First, the platen  223  of the positioning key is pressed, such that the catch element  224  is released from the catch state with the positioning block  215 , so as to slide the slidable cover  220 . When the slidable cover  220  shifts, the guiding block  221  slides in the guiding rail  220 , so as to guide the slidable cover  220  to move to the second position  232 , and then, the force applied to the platen  223  is removed, such that the catch element  224  once again catches another side edge of the positioning block  215 . Meanwhile, the positioning flange  222  of the guiding block  221  is accommodated in the positioning cavity  214  of the guiding rail  213  to position the slidable cover  220 . The plugging reference line  301  is apart from the expansion slot  212  by a second plugging distance  322 . The second plugging distance  322  is the same as the second plugging distance  322  formed by the second notebook computer  320 , such that the expansion joint  300  can be connected with the expansion slot  212 , and the second plugging reference  321  can be corresponding to and pressed against the slidable cover  220 , such that the expansion base can be closely plugged on the second notebook computer  320 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6C , they are a plugging view of a third notebook computer according to the present invention and schematic views of the slidable cover located at the third position. The third notebook computer  330  also has an expansion joint  300  and a third plugging reference  331 , however, a third plugging distance  332  formed between the expansion joint  300  and the third plugging reference  331  is between the first plugging distance  312  and the second plugging distance  322 , therefore, the slidable cover  220  is made to slide under the guide of the guiding rail  213  through the abovementioned manner. 
   However, in this embodiment, an accommodation opening is provided between the positioning blocks  215 , when the slidable cover  220  slides to the third position  233 , the catch element  224  is located at the accommodation opening of the positioning blocks  215 . Meanwhile, upon removing the force applied to the platen  223 , the catch element  224  is pressed into the accommodation opening, such that the slidable cover  220  is positioned at the third position  233 . Meanwhile, the positioning flange  222  of the guiding block  221  is accommodated in the positioning cavity  214 , so as to assist the positioning of the slidable cover  220 . At this time, the third plugging distance  332  is formed between the plugging reference line  301  and the expansion slot  212 , which is the same as the third plugging distance  332  of the third notebook computer  330 , therefore, the expansion slot  212  can be connected with the expansion joint directly  300 , and the slidable cover  220  is pressed against the third plugging reference  331 . 
   The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.