Electronic device with support mechanism

An electronic device includes a main body and a support mechanism assembled within the main body. The main body includes a bottom plate and a hinged portion adjacent to an edge of the main body, the bottom plate defines an ejecting hole. The support mechanism includes a rotating assembly rotatably hinged to the hinged portion, and a support assembly movably assembled with the rotating assembly, a distal end of the support assembly aligns with the ejecting hole of the bottom plate. The support assembly is capable of being partially ejected out by the rotating assembly to pass through the ejecting hole of the bottom plate, and exposed to the outside of the main body to support the whole electronic device in a use mode. The support assembly is also capable of being retracted back into the main body in an unused state.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to electronic devices, and more particularly, to an electronic device with a support mechanism.

2. Description of Related Art

Electronic devices such as notebook computers, tablet PCs and electronic books readers are popular due to their portability and a multiple entertainment functions. In use, such an electronic device may be handheld or set on a desk or a lap. This may not achieve an optimum display angle and is also often inconvenient. In order to solve the problem, a plurality of support mechanisms is provided to support the electronic device. However, these existing support mechanisms are generally complicated and relatively large, thus it is inconvenient to carry such support mechanisms.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrate an embodiment of an electronic device100. The electronic device100includes a main body10, two support mechanisms30, and a cover body70. The two support mechanisms30are assembled opposite to each other within the main body10, and are capable of being ejected out from the main body10to support the main body10, if in use. The cover body70is rotatably and adjustably assembled with the main body10by the two support mechanisms30. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic device100is a foldable notebook computer.

The main body10includes a base shell11and a top shell103detachably mounted on the base shell11. In the illustrated embodiment, the top shell103is a keyboard shell defining a keyboard area105.

Also referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, the base shell11includes a substantially rectangular bottom plate112and a peripheral wall113extending and bending from a peripheral edge of the bottom plate112. Two hinged portions115are oppositely formed on the bottom plate112and positioned adjacent to a same edge of the base shell11, for hinging with the cover body70. In the illustrated embodiment, the two hinged portions115are both substantially U-shaped and recessed from an outer surface of an edge of the peripheral wall113. Each hinged portion115includes a positioning post120protruding from a first sidewall of the hinged portion115. The positioning post120is positioned parallel to the bottom plate112. The hinged portion115further includes a hinged block117and a fixing block118. The hinged block117is formed on the bottom plate112and positioned adjacent to the first sidewall of the hinged portion115and opposite to the positioning post120. The fixing block118is also formed on the bottom plate112and positioned adjacent to a second sidewall of the hinged portion115, away from the corresponding positioning post120. Two ejecting holes119are defined through the bottom plate112and respectively located adjacent to the corresponding two hinged portions115.

Also referring toFIG. 4, the two support mechanisms30are respectively mounted to the two hinged portions115of the base shell11. Each support mechanism30includes a rotating assembly32, a support assembly35, and a pushing member36. The rotating assembly32is rotatably hinged to the hinged portion115, with two ends of the rotating assembly32respectively connected to the hinged block117and the fixing block118. The support assembly35is movably assembled to the bottom plate112, located adjacent to the ejecting hole119, and is further connected with the rotating assembly32. In use, the support assembly35is capable of being partially ejected out by passing through the corresponding ejecting hole119of the bottom plate112, and exposed to the outside of the bottom of the main body10, to support the whole electronic device100. The pushing member36is movably assembled within the main body10, and assembled with the rotating assembly32for driving the support assembly35to return back to its original position, and received within the main body10of the electronic device100, in an unused state. The support assembly35is also capable of being retracted and received within the main body10by manually rotating the cover body70to overlap on the main body10.

The rotating assembly32includes a positioning bracket322, a hinged shaft324, a transmission shaft326, an elastic member328, and a sleeve329. The positioning bracket322is fixed with the fixing block118, and includes a positioning portion3221facing toward the second sidewall of the hinged portion115. In the illustrated embodiment, the positioning portion3221is a hexagonal post for facilitating positioning the cover body70at different preset viewing angle relative to the main body10, when rotating the cover body70relative to the main body10.

The hinged shaft324is rotatably hinged to the hinged portion115. A first end of the hinged shaft324is connected to the positioning portion3221of the positioning bracket322. A second end of the hinged shaft324defines a latching slot3244. A releasing arm3248is formed on a substantially middle portion of the hinged shaft324. The releasing arm3248is exposed outside of the main body10.

The transmission shaft326includes a cylindrical main shaft3262, a latching portion3264formed on a first end of the main shaft3262, and a substantially cylindrical sleeving portion3266coaxially formed on an opposite second end of the main shaft3262. A cam portion3268is formed on the main shaft3262and positioned adjacent to the latching portion3264. The latching portion3264is substantially T-shaped and latches with the corresponding latching slot3244of the hinged shaft324. The sleeving portion3266is sleeved with the corresponding sleeve329.

The elastic member328is sleeved on the latching portion3264of the transmission shaft326, and elastically sandwiched between the cam portion3268and the hinged shaft324, such that, the transmission shaft326is capable of being elastically and retractably moved relative to the hinged shaft324, during use.

The sleeve329includes a hollow cylindrical base body3291, and a pushing portion3293formed on an outer periphery of the base body3291. A first end of the sleeve329is rotatably assembled to the hinged block117, and an opposite second end of the sleeve329is movably sleeved on the sleeving portion3266of the transmission shaft326. The pushing portion3293is a hollow rectangular frame in the illustrated embodiment. The pushing portion3293engages with the corresponding pushing member36, thereby pushing the corresponding transmission shaft326axially.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support assembly35is a link mechanism, and includes a connecting rod353, a support rod355, and an elastic member357. The connecting rod353is a substantially rectangular bar. Two ends of the connecting rod353respectively form a resisting portion3532and a pivotal portion3534. The resisting portion3532resists against the corresponding cam portion3268of the transmission shaft326. The pivotal portion3534is hinged with the corresponding support rod355. A sliding slot3536is defined through the connecting rod353corresponding to the positioning post120of the hinged portion115, and positioned adjacent to the resisting portion3532.

The support rod355is a substantially rectangular bar-shaped plate, and is hinged to the pivotal portion3534of the connecting rod353. The support rod355is positioned above and aligns with the corresponding ejecting hole119of the bottom plate112. The support rod355includes a support portion3552and a connecting portion3554protruding from a first end of the support portion3552. The support portion3552is positioned perpendicular to the bottom plate112, with an opposite second end thereof inserted into and partially received within the corresponding ejecting hole119. A resisting arm3556extends from the first end of the support portion3552, perpendicularly, and is positioned parallel to the bottom plate112. The connecting portion3554is hinged to the corresponding pivotal portion3534of the connecting rod353. The elastic member357is elastically sandwiched between the bottom plate112and the resisting arm3556.

The pushing member36is movably mounted upon the pushing portion3293of the sleeve329. The pushing member36includes a substantially cylindrical pressing portion362and a resisting end364. The pressing portion362is movably passing through the top shell103and partially exposed to the outside. The resisting end364is substantially wedge-shaped, and positioned above the pushing portion3293of the sleeve329. The resisting end364has a resisting inclined surface3642movably resisting against an inner side surface of the pushing portion3293, for pushing against the whole transmission shaft326.

FIG. 1also illustrates the cover body70of the illustrated embodiment. The cover body70includes a display screen71and is securely mounted to the releasing arm3248of the hinged shaft324, such that, the cover body70is rotatably hinged to the main body10by the two support mechanisms30.

FIG. 3, illustrates the positioning bracket322is fixed to the fixing block118of the base shell11, when assembling the electronic device100. The hinged shaft324is rotatably hinged to the hinged portion115, the first end of the hinged shaft324is rotatably sleeved with the positioning portion3221of the positioning bracket322. The releasing arm3248is exposed outside of the main body10. The transmission shaft326is coaxially assembled with the hinged shaft324, with the latching portion3264latching into the corresponding latching slot3244of the hinged shaft324. The elastic member is sleeved on the latching portion3264of the transmission shaft326, and elastically sandwiched between the cam portion3268and the hinged shaft324, such that, the transmission shaft326is capable of being elastically and retractably moved relative to the hinged shaft324during usage. The sleeve329is rotatably assembled to the hinged block117, and is movably sleeved with the sleeving portion3266of the transmission shaft326. The support assembly35is movably assembled to the hinged portion115, with the support rod355positioned above and aligning with the corresponding ejecting hole119of the bottom plate112. The resisting portion3532of the connecting rod353resists against the corresponding cam portion3268of the transmission shaft326. The positioning post120passes through the corresponding sliding slot3536of the connecting rod353. The elastic member357is elastically sandwiched between the bottom plate112and the resisting arm3556. The cover body70is fixedly mounted to the releasing arm3248of the hinged shaft324, such that, the cover body71is rotatably hinged to the main body10to finish the assembly of the electronic device100.

FIGS. 5 through 7, illustrate that in use, the cover body70is rotated away from the main body10to make the cover body70stop at a preset viewing angle relative to the main body10. During the rotation process, the cam portion3268together with the hinged shaft324is rotated. The resisting portion3532of the connecting rod353is ejected upward by the cam portion3268, thus, the support rod355is driven to pass through the ejecting hole119and exposed to the outside of the bottom of the main body10, to support the whole electronic device100. When closing the cover body70toward the main body10, the hinged shaft324is rotated together with the cover body70. Meanwhile, the cam portion3268of the transmission shaft326is driven to rotate, the resisting portion3532is released from the cam portion3268, the support rod355is then driven to retract back to its original position and received within the main body10, under an elastic force of the elastic member357.

FIGS. 8 and 9, illustrate that pressing the pushing member36can also retract the support rod355under a using mode. When pressing the pressing portion362of the pushing member36, the resisting end364resists against the pushing portion3293of the sleeve329, thereby pushing the transmission shaft326toward the hinged portion115and the hinged shaft324. Meanwhile, the resisting portion3532is released from the cam portion3268, the support rod355is then driven to retract back to its original position and received within the main body10, under an elastic force of the elastic member357. When releasing the pressing portion362of the pushing member36, the transmission shaft326is driven to move toward the hinged block117and returns to its original position under the elastic force of the elastic member328. The resisting portion3532of the connecting rod353resists against the cam portion3268thereby preventing the transmission shaft326from moving, and keeping the support rod355received within the main body10.

It is to be noted that, the number of the support mechanisms30is not limited to two, it can also be only one, or more than two according to the actual needs. Meanwhile, the number of the hinged portion115is also not limited to two, it can also be only one, or more than two according to the actual needs.

It is to be noted that, the cover body70may be omitted. Namely, the electronic device100may be a panel computer, or an electronic book, for example.