Electronic device and base positioning mechanism thereof

An electronic device. The electronic device comprises a main body, a bracket supporting the main body, a shaft rotatably joined with the bracket and comprising a flange, a base joined with the shaft, and a block slidably joined with the shaft and comprising a notch corresponding to the flange. The base is folded by rotation of the shaft. When the shaft rotates to a predetermined angle, the block slides to a first position in which the notch engages the flange to latch the shaft, thereby positioning the base.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to an electronic device, and in particular to an electronic device, wherein the base thereof can be folded and positioned by a base positioning mechanism.

Electronic devices are typically provided with a base for support. The base is typically fixed thereto and has a wide area. As compact electronic devices are highly required, the wide base can be problematic in storage or shipping.

SUMMARY

An electronic device of the invention comprises a main body, a bracket for supporting the main body, a shaft rotatably joined with the bracket and comprising a flange, a base joined with the shaft, and a block slidably joined with the shaft and comprising a notch corresponding to the flange. The base is folded by rotation of the shaft. When the shaft rotates to a predetermined angle, the block slides to a first position so that the notch is engaged with the flange to latch the shaft, thereby positioning the base.

The electronic device further comprises a push element joined with the block. The push element is pushed to move the block so as to separate the notch from the flange, whereby the shaft is rotatable.

The bracket comprises a bottom cover disposed under the block. The bottom cover comprises a positioning hole, and the block comprises a positioning module. When the block is pushed to a second position by the push element, the positioning module engages the positioning hole to maintain the block in the second position.

The block further comprises a through hole. The positioning module comprises a positioning element disposed in the through hole, a second elastic element disposed in the through hole and biasing the positioning element, and a cover positioning the second elastic element in the through hole.

The bottom cover comprises a groove. The positioning element comprises a guide portion slidably disposed in the groove, a coupler biased by the second elastic element, and a positioning portion joined with the guide portion via the coupler. When the block is pushed to the second position, due to the bias force of the second elastic element on the coupler, the positioning portion is engaged with the positioning hole.

The electronic device further comprises a first elastic element disposed on the shaft and biasing the block to maintain the engagement of the notch and the flange. The first elastic element can be a spring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an electronic device1000comprises a main body100, a positioning mechanism200and a base300. The base300supports the main body100via the positioning mechanism200. InFIGS. 2 and 3, the positioning mechanism200comprises a support module220, two brackets240, four shafts260, four first elastic elements (compression springs270), two blocks280and two bottom covers290.

Referring toFIG. 2, the support module220comprises a support element221, two connecting elements223and a top cover225. The support element221is joined with the main body100. Each connecting element223is connected to the support element221via bolts2231and connected to the top cover225via bolts2232. Thus the support element221is jointed with the top cover225via the connecting element223.

For the sake of clarity, the support module220is omitted inFIG. 3. Each bracket240comprises a body241and a connecting portion242. Each body241has three screw holes2412corresponding to the screw holes2252of the top cover225, whereby the bracket240is secured to the top cover225via bolts (not shown).

One end of the shaft260is connected to the base300, and bracket240, block280and compression spring270are all joined with the other end of the shaft260.FIG. 5shows the aforementioned elements joined with the shaft260.

Referring toFIG. 5, the shaft260comprises a first portion261, a second portion262, a flange263and a third portion264. The first portion261is inserted into a joining portion302of the base300. The first portion261has screw holes2612corresponding to screw holes3022of the joining portion302shown inFIG. 3, whereby the shaft260is secured to the base300via bolts (not shown). When the base300is rotated, the shaft260is rotated as well. The connecting portion242is joined with the second portion262and positioned between the bolts230and the flange263. The block280is slidably joined with the third portion264, and the compression spring270is also joined with the third portion264. A C-clamp250is engaged with the end of the third portion264, whereby the compression spring270is disposed between C-clamp250and the block280and biases the block280. A notch282is formed on the block280, and the flange263is tapered and corresponds to the notch282. When the flange263is rotated to a predetermined angle, the notch282is engaged with the flange263due to the bias force of the compression spring270to latch the shaft260. A push element285is disposed on one side of the block280. By pushing the push element285against the bias force of the compression spring270, the block280can be separated from the flange263. At this time, the shaft is rotatable again.

Accordingly, as the base300is joined with the shaft260, when the block280is engaged with the flange263to latch the shaft260, the base300is positioned. When the block280is separated from the flange263, the base300can be folded by rotation of the shaft260.

FIGS. 6ato6gare bottom views of the electronic device1000depicting steps of folding the base300. InFIG. 6a, when the block280is engaged with the flange263, the block280is in a first position, and the base300is positioned. Hence, the electronic device1000can be placed on a table. InFIGS. 6bto6d, when the block280is separated from the flange263and moved to a second position, the base300can be folded. The folded base300can serve as a handle to easily carry the electronic device1000. Further, because the flange263is so rotated when the shaft260is rotated that the flange263is no longer engaged with the notch282, the shaft260remains rotatable. InFIGS. 6eto6g, when the folded base300is stretched gradually, the flange263is finally rotated to the predetermined angle, and the block280moves from the second position to the first position so as to be engaged with the flange263. At this time, the shaft260cannot rotate, and the base300is positioned.

In addition, when the block280is moved to the second position, it is required to keep pushing the block280against the compression spring270and to fold the base300simultaneously. Thus it would be better that a positioning module400is disposed in the block280as shown inFIGS. 7ato7d. When the block280is moved to the second position, the positioning module400maintains the block280in the second position, and thereby the base300is easily folded.

FIG. 7adepicts the positioning module400.FIGS. 7band7care cross sections along line B-B ofFIG. 7a, whereinFIG. 7bdepicts the block280in the first position andFIG. 7cdepicts the block280in the second position.FIG. 7dis a cross section along line C-C ofFIG. 7a. The positioning module400comprises a positioning element410, a second elastic element (compression spring420) and a cover430. A through hole284is formed in the block280, and the positioning element410has a flat guide portion412, a cylindrical positioning portion414with curved front and a coupler416. The guide portion412is connected to the positioning portion414via the coupler416. The positioning portion414is slidably disposed in the through hole284via the coupler416. The compression spring420disposed in the through hole284biases the coupler416. Guide portion412, positioning portion414and coupler416can be formed integrally. The cover430maintains the compression spring420in the through hole284. The bottom cover290comprises a groove291and a positioning hole292. InFIG. 7b, when the block280is in the first position, the guide portion412is inserted into the groove291and the positioning portion414abuts the bottom cover290. InFIG. 7c, when the block280is moved to the second position, the positioning portion414falls into the positioning hole292. At this time, the positioning portion414is positioned in the positioning hole292due to the bias force of the compression spring420on the positioning portion414. Further because of the bias force of the compression spring270on the block280, the block280is accordingly positioned in the second position, whereby the base300is easily folded. When one intends to move the block280back to the first position, he only needs to push the guide portion412of the positioning element410against the compression spring420and enable the positioning portion414to separate from the positioning hole292. The block280is moved to the first position by the bias force of the compression spring270.

In this embodiment, although two positioning mechanisms200are disposed on opposite sides of the base300, one positioning mechanism200disposed on one side of the base300is also applicable.