Cable management bracket and electronic device

A cable management bracket includes a frame and a buckle member. The frame includes a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein the first side portion is opposite to the second side portion. The first side portion has a pivot hole, a first restraining portion and a second restraining portion, wherein the first restraining portion is located between the pivot hole and the second restraining portion. The second side portion has a first engaging portion. The buckle member includes a pivot portion and a second engaging portion. The pivot portion is inserted into the pivot hole and sandwiched in between the first restraining portion and the second restraining portion. The second engaging portion is rotatably engaged with the first engaging portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a cable management bracket and an electronic device and, more particularly, to a cable management bracket capable of improving the space utilization above a circuit board and an electronic device equipped with the cable management bracket.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As technology advances and develops, various electronic devices (e.g. computer, server, etc.) are considered a necessity by a lot of people in their daily lives. In general, there are various electronic components disposed in the electronic device to provide various functions for the electronic device. Lots of electronic components are connected to a circuit board by cables. To avoid the cables being too cluttered, a cable management bracket is usually installed in the electronic device to fix and protect the cables. At present, the cable management bracket is integrally formed by plastic, such that the cable management bracket has a specific wall thickness. Thus, when a usable inside space of the cable management bracket is fixed, an overall height of the cable management bracket will increase to occupy large space above the circuit board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a cable management bracket capable of effectively improving the space utilization above a circuit board and an electronic device equipped with the cable management bracket, so as to solve the aforesaid problems.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a cable management bracket comprises a frame and a buckle member. The frame comprises a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein the first side portion is opposite to the second side portion. The first side portion has a pivot hole, a first restraining portion and a second restraining portion, wherein the first restraining portion is located between the pivot hole and the second restraining portion. The second side portion has a first engaging portion. The buckle member comprises a pivot portion and a second engaging portion. The pivot portion is inserted into the pivot hole and sandwiched in between the first restraining portion and the second restraining portion. The second engaging portion is rotatably engaged with the first engaging portion.

According to another embodiment of the invention, an electronic device comprises a casing and a cable management bracket. The cable management bracket is disposed in the casing. The cable management bracket comprises a frame and a buckle member. The frame comprises a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein the first side portion is opposite to the second side portion. The first side portion has a pivot hole, a first restraining portion and a second restraining portion, wherein the first restraining portion is located between the pivot hole and the second restraining portion. The second side portion has a first engaging portion. The buckle member comprises a pivot portion and a second engaging portion. The pivot portion is inserted into the pivot hole and sandwiched in between the first restraining portion and the second restraining portion. The second engaging portion is rotatably engaged with the first engaging portion.

As mentioned in the above, the cable management bracket of the invention essentially consists of the frame and the buckle member, wherein the buckle member is rotatably engaged with the frame, such that the buckle member can rotate to be opened or closed with respect to the frame. When a usable inside space of the cable management bracket is fixed, an overall height of the cable management bracket can be effectively reduced by means of the cooperation between the frame and the buckle member, so as to avoid occupying too much space above the circuit board. Accordingly, the space utilization above the circuit board can be effectively improved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS.1to5,FIG.1is a perspective view illustrating an electronic device1according to an embodiment of the invention,FIG.2is a perspective view illustrating a cable management bracket12shown inFIG.1,FIG.3is a perspective view illustrating the cable management bracket12shown inFIG.2from another viewing angle,FIG.4is an exploded view illustrating the cable management bracket12shown inFIG.2, andFIG.5is a perspective view illustrating a buckle member122shown inFIG.2being opened with respect to a frame120.

As shown inFIGS.1to5, the electronic device1comprises a casing10, a cable management bracket12and a plurality of layers of cables14. The electronic device1may be a computer, a server, or other electronic devices equipped with the cable management bracket12and the cables14according to practical applications. In general, the electronic device1may be further equipped with some necessary hardware and/or software components for specific purposes, such as circuit board, processor, memory, power supply, applications, communication module, etc., and it depends on practical applications. Furthermore, the casing10shown inFIG.1is illustrated by dotted line and the appearance of the casing10may be designed according to practical applications. The cable management bracket12and the cables14are disposed in the casing10. The cables14are configured to connect electronic components (not shown) to the circuit board (not shown), and the cable management bracket12is configured to fix and protect the cables14. It should be noted that the number of the cables14may be determined according to practical applications, so the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the figure.

The cable management bracket12comprises a frame120and a buckle member122. The frame120comprises a first side portion1200and a second side portion1202, wherein the first side portion1200is opposite to the second side portion1202. The first side portion1200having a pivot hole12000, a first restraining portion12002and a second restraining portion12004, wherein the first restraining portion12002is located between the pivot hole12000and the second restraining portion12004. In this embodiment, the first restraining portion12002may be a U-shaped structure formed by bending the first side portion1200, and the second restraining portion12004may be a platform protruding outward from the first side portion1200. The second side portion1202has a first engaging portion12020. In this embodiment, the first engaging portion12020may be an engaging hole.

The buckle member122comprises a pivot portion1220, a second engaging portion1222and a grip portion1224, wherein the pivot portion1220and the second engaging portion1222extend from opposite sides of the grip portion1224respectively. As shown inFIG.2, the pivot portion1220is inserted into the pivot hole12000and sandwiched in between the first restraining portion12002and the second restraining portion12004, so as to assemble the buckle member122to the frame120. The first restraining portion12002and the second restraining portion12004cooperate with each other to restrain the pivot portion1220from moving in X and Y axes. The second engaging portion1222is rotatably engaged with the first engaging portion12020, such that the buckle member122is closed with respect to the frame120. Furthermore, a user may pull an end of the grip portion1224close to the second engaging portion1222toward a direction of an arrow A shown inFIG.2to disengage the second engaging portion1222from the first engaging portion12020. When the second engaging portion1222is disengaged from the first engaging portion12020, the buckle member122is able to rotate around the pivot portion1220to be opened with respect to the frame120, as shown inFIG.5.

In this embodiment, the pivot portion1220of the buckle member122may have a retaining structure1226, wherein the retaining structure1226may be, but not limited to, an arc-shaped bending structure. As shown inFIG.5, when the buckle member122rotates around the pivot portion1220to be opened with respect to the frame120, the first side portion1200of the frame120will retain the retaining structure1226of the buckle member122to limit a maximum open angle of the buckle member122. Accordingly, the invention can prevent nearby components from being damaged by the buckle member122due to too large open angle. In this embodiment, the maximum open angle of the buckle member122may be, but not limited to, 110 degrees. The maximum open angle of the buckle member122may be controlled by a bending angle of the retaining structure1226.

In this embodiment, the second side portion1202of the frame120may be a stepped structure and has a plurality of recesses1204, and the recesses1204are configured to accommodate a plurality of layers of cables14. In this embodiment, the second side portion1202may have two recesses1204for accommodating two layers of cables14, but the invention is not so limited. The number of the recesses1204of the second side portion1202may be determined according to the number of the cables14. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each layer of cables14consists of two cables14stacked with each other, but the invention is not so limited. The number of the cables14in each layer may be determined according to practical applications.

When a user wants to use the cable management bracket12to fix the cables14, the user may disengage the second engaging portion1222from the first engaging portion12020first and then rotate the buckle member122to open the buckle member122with respect to the frame120. Then, the user may dispose the cables14into the recesses1204correspondingly and then rotate the buckle member122to engage the second engaging portion1222with the first engaging portion12020. When the second engaging portion1222is engaged with the first engaging portion12020, the buckle member122is closed with respect to the frame120. At this time, the cables14are restrained on the frame120by the grip portion1224of the buckle member122and the recesses1204of the second side portion1202, as shown inFIG.1.

When a usable inside space of the cable management bracket12is fixed, an overall height of the cable management bracket12can be effectively reduced by means of the cooperation between the frame120and the buckle member122, so as to avoid occupying too much space above the circuit board. Accordingly, the space utilization above the circuit board can be effectively improved. In this embodiment, the frame120may be made of sheet metal and the buckle member122may be formed by bending an iron wire. Accordingly, the wall thickness of the cable management bracket12can be reduced to further reduce the overall height of the cable management bracket12. In another embodiment, the frame120and/or the buckle member122may also be made of plastic according to practical applications.

In this embodiment, the cable management bracket12may further comprise an isolation film124and a positioning member126, wherein the isolation film124may be, but not limited to, a Mylar and the positioning member126may be, but not limited to, a rivet. The isolation film124is attached to a bottom of the frame120and the positioning member126is disposed on the frame120. Furthermore, the frame120may have a through hole1206. When the cable management bracket12is assembled to the circuit board, the positioning member126may be inserted into a positioning hole on the circuit board first. Then, the through hole1206is aligned with a screw hole on the circuit board and then a screw is fixed to the screw hole through the through hole1206, so as to assemble the cable management bracket12to the circuit board. At this time, the isolation film124is located between the bottom of the frame120and the circuit board to provide isolation effect. In another embodiment, the positioning member may also be replaced by another through hole, such that the cable management bracket12may be fixed to two screw holes on the circuit board by two screws.

Referring toFIGS.6to8,FIG.6is a perspective view illustrating a cable management bracket12′ according to another embodiment of the invention,FIG.7is a perspective view illustrating the cable management bracket12′ shown inFIG.6from another viewing angle, andFIG.8is a perspective view illustrating a length of the frame120shown inFIG.6being adjusted.

The cable management bracket12′ shown inFIG.6may be disposed in the casing10of the electronic device1to replace the cable management bracket12shown inFIG.1. The main difference between the cable management bracket12′ and the aforesaid cable management bracket12is that the frame120of the cable management bracket12′ comprises a first plate member120aand a second plate member120b, wherein the first side portion1200is located on the first plate member120aand the second side portion1202is located on the second plate member120b, as shown inFIGS.6to8. It should be noted that the same elements inFIGS.6-8andFIGS.1-5are represented by the same numerals, so the repeated explanation will not be depicted herein again.

In this embodiment, the first plate member120ahas a sliding groove1208and a plurality of positioning holes1210, wherein the sliding groove1208may be formed by bending opposite sides of the first plate member120adownward, as shown inFIG.7. Furthermore, the second plate member120bhas a positioning portion1212and an elastic arm1214, wherein the positioning portion1212is located on the elastic arm1214, as shown inFIG.7. The second plate member120bis slidably disposed in the sliding groove1208, such that the second plate member120bcan slide with respect to the first plate member120ato adjust a length of the frame120. Still further, the positioning portion1212of the second plate member120bmay be engaged with one of the positioning holes1210of the first plate member120ato fix the length of the frame120. In this embodiment, the first plate member120ahas three positioning holes1210. Thus, the frame120may be adjusted to one of three lengths according to the required size of inside space. It should be noted that the number of the positioning holes1210of the first plate member120amay be determined according to practical applications, so the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the figures. Since the length of the frame120may be adjusted according to the required size of inside space, the invention is more flexible in use.

When the second plate member120bslides with respect to the first plate member120a, the positioning portion1212may be easily engaged with or disengaged from the positioning hole1210by means of elastic deformation of the elastic arm1214. In this embodiment, the length of the buckle member122cannot be adjusted. Thus, the invention may provide three buckle members122corresponding to three lengths of the frame120. The user may detach the buckle member122from the frame12first and then slide the second plate member120bwith respect to the first plate member120ato adjust the length of the frame120. After adjusting the length of the frame120, the user assembles another buckle member122corresponding to the length of the frame120to the frame120.

In this embodiment, the first plate member120amay have two through holes1206and the second plate member120bmay have three through holes1216. After adjusting the length of the frame120, at least one of the two through holes1206of the first plate member120ais aligned with at least one of the three through holes1216of the second plate member120b. Thus, the user may fix screws to the corresponding screw holes on the circuit board through the through hole1206and/or the through hole1216to assemble the cable management bracket12′ to the circuit board.

Referring toFIGS.9to11,FIG.9is a perspective view illustrating a cable management bracket12″ according to another embodiment of the invention,FIG.10is a perspective illustrating the lengths of the frame120and the buckle member122shown inFIG.9being adjusted, andFIG.11is an exploded view illustrating the buckle member122shown inFIG.9.

The cable management bracket12″ shown inFIG.9may be disposed in the casing10of the electronic device1to replace the cable management bracket12shown inFIG.1. The main difference between the cable management bracket12″ and the aforesaid cable management bracket12′ is that the buckle member122of the cable management bracket12″ comprises a rod122aand a tube122b, wherein the pivot portion1220is located on the rod122aand the second engaging portion1222is located on the tube122b, as shown inFIGS.9to11. It should be noted that the same elements inFIGS.9-11andFIGS.1-8are represented by the same numerals, so the repeated explanation will not be depicted herein again.

In this embodiment, the rod122ais slidably inserted into the tube122b, such that the tube122bis able to slide with respect to the rod122ato adjust the length of the buckle member122. Accordingly, when the second plate member120bslides with respect to the first plate member120ato adjust the length of the frame120, the tube122bcan also slide with respect to the rod122ato adjust the length of the buckle member122corresponding to the length of the frame120. In other words, the lengths of the frame120and the buckle member122may be adjusted synchronously according to the required size of inside space, such that the invention is more convenient in use.

As mentioned in the above, the cable management bracket of the invention essentially consists of the frame and the buckle member, wherein the buckle member is rotatably engaged with the frame, such that the buckle member can rotate to be opened or closed with respect to the frame. When a usable inside space of the cable management bracket is fixed, an overall height of the cable management bracket can be effectively reduced by means of the cooperation between the frame and the buckle member, so as to avoid occupying too much space above the circuit board. Accordingly, the space utilization above the circuit board can be effectively improved. In an embodiment, the frame may be made of sheet metal and the buckle member may be formed by bending an iron wire. Accordingly, the wall thickness of the cable management bracket can be reduced to further reduce the overall height of the cable management bracket. In another embodiment, the length of the frame may be adjusted according to the required size of inside space, such that the invention is more flexible in use. In another embodiment, the lengths of the frame and the buckle member may be adjusted synchronously according to the required size of inside space, such that the invention is more convenient in use.