Abstract:
A suspending apparatus is used for suspending an electronic device on a surface. The suspending apparatus includes a base fixed on the surface, a suspending assembly assembled to the electronic device and detachably suspended on the base and having a limiting unit, and a locking assembly configured on the suspending assembly and including a locking unit and a moving unit connected to an end of the locking unit. The locking unit leans upon the limiting unit. In an unlocking process, the moving unit is forced to move along a first path and drives the locking unit. The locking unit unlocks the base with rotating along a second path and moving along a third path while being restricted by the limiting unit, wherein the first and the third paths have an included angle. In a locking process, the locking unit rotates along the second path to lock the base.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 101209672, filed on May 22, 2012. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a suspending apparatus, particularly to a suspending apparatus that suspends an electronic device on a surface. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     For thin monitors such as LCD monitors and plasma monitors, they are usually fixed to walls by a lot of screws or other securing structures to prevent from falling if knocked or bumped. The procedure for assembling or disassembling is without exception complicated and inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a suspending apparatus with a structure that is easy and convenient to operate. 
     The invention provides a suspending apparatus that suspends an electronic device on a surface. The suspending apparatus includes a base, a suspending assembly, and a locking assembly. The base is fixed onto the surface. The suspending assembly is assembled to the electronic device and detachably suspended on the base. The suspending assembly includes a limiting unit. The locking assembly is disposed on the suspending assembly. The locking assembly includes a locking unit and a moving unit. The locking unit leans against the limiting unit. When the suspending assembly is suspended on the base, the locking unit is locked to the base. When the locking unit is unlocked from the base, the suspending assembly is suited to be removed from the base. The moving unit is connected to one end of the locking unit. In an unlocking process, the moving unit is subject to an applied force to move along a first path and drive the locking unit. When the locking unit moves, the locking unit is restricted by the limiting unit and rotates along a second path and moves along a third path so as to be unlocked from the base. The first path and the third path have an included angle. In a locking process, the suspending assembly moves relative to the base such that the locking unit is pressed and released by the base and rotates back along the second path to be locked to the base. 
     The invention provides a suspending apparatus that suspends an electronic device on a surface. The suspending apparatus includes a base, a suspending assembly, a locking unit and an elastic unit. The base is fixed onto the surface. The suspending assembly is assembled to the electronic device and detachably suspended on the base. The suspending assembly has a first guiding surface and an accommodating space. The locking unit is movably and partially installed in the accommodating space. The locking unit has a locking surface and a second guiding surface adjacent to each other. The second guiding surface is parallel to the first guiding surface. The elastic unit is situated inside the accommodating space and is pressed between the suspending assembly and the locking unit. The elastic unit constantly drives the locking surface to be pressed against the base. When the suspending assembly is removed from the base by an external force, the locking unit moves relative to the suspending assembly and the base by the coordination of the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface, thereby allowing the locking surface to be detached from the base. When the suspending assembly is assembled onto the base by an external force, the base presses against the locking unit, such that, after the locking unit is partially deformed and subsequently restored, the locking surface is pressed against the base. 
     Based on the above embodiments, the electronic device is suspended on the base via the suspending assembly, and the suspending apparatus has the locking unit that is easily dismantled, wherein a relative motion with a particular movement produced between the limiting unit, the locking unit and the moving unit allows the locking assembly to conveniently and promptly lock or unlock the suspending assembly from the base. Accordingly, the user can conveniently assemble or dismantle the electronic device from the surface via the easy-to-dismantle structure mentioned above. 
     To clarify and elucidate the above-mentioned features and advantages of the invention, embodiments and their corresponding figures are detailed below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a suspending apparatus applied on an electronic device in an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a partial exploded view of the suspending apparatus of  FIG. 1  at a place of suspension. 
         FIG. 2B  is a partial exploded view of the suspending apparatus of  FIG. 2A  from another angle. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the suspending apparatus of  FIG. 1  along line I-I. 
         FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4F  show the suspending apparatus of  FIG. 1  in different steps of operation. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a suspending apparatus applied on an electronic device in an embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 1  in this embodiment, an electronic device  10 , for example an LCD monitor, is suspended on a wall surface  20 , for example but not limited thereto, by a suspending apparatus  100 . The suspending apparatus  100  includes a base  110  and two suspending assemblies  120 . The base  110  is to be fixed onto the wall surface  20 . The suspending assemblies  120  are assembled to the electronic device  10  (for example attaching the electronic device  10  to the suspending assemblies  120  with screws). Furthermore, the suspending assemblies  120  are detachably suspended on the base  110  as shown in  FIG. 1 . A hanger  121  allows the suspending assemblies  120  to be suspended on or dismantled from the base  110 . It must be mentioned that even though  FIG. 1  depicts two suspending assemblies  120 , the invention is not limited thereto. A user can adjust the number of the suspending assemblies  120  according to the shape, weight, and conditions of use of the electronic device  10 . 
     In this embodiment, each of the suspending assemblies  120  includes a first supporting frame  122  and a second supporting frame  123 , which are joined by hinges with the hanger  121  to form a three-bar linkage, wherein the first supporting frame  122  is assembled to the electronic device  10 . Moreover, when the electronic device  10  is suspended on the wall surface  20  by the suspending apparatus  100 , the three-bar linkage is driven to adjust the position of the first supporting frame  122  relative to the hanger  121 , in order to adjust the angle of inclination of the electronic device  10  relative to the wall surface  20 , thereby allowing a proper viewing angle for the user. 
       FIG. 2A  is a partial exploded view of the suspending apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2B  is a partial exploded view of the suspending apparatus of  FIG. 2A  from another angle.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the suspending apparatus of  FIG. 1  along line I-I. Referring to  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B , and  FIG. 3  in this embodiment, the base  110  has a bearing plate  112 , a pair of first slabs  114 , a pair of arc-shaped slabs  115  and a pair of second slabs  116 . Since the first slabs  114 , the arc-shaped slabs  115  and the second slabs  116  are disposed in pairs symmetrically on opposing sides of the bearing plate  112  and have the same structures, and in this embodiment the locking assembly (see below) interacts with the first slab  114 , the arc-shaped slab  115  and the second slab  116  shown at the bottom of  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 3 , the following description describes only one set of the first slab  114 , arc-shaped slab  115  and second slab  116  shown at the bottom of the figures. 
     The bearing plate  112  is fixed onto the wall surface  20  (as labeled in  FIG. 1 ). The first slab  114  on the bearing plate  112  extends away from the wall surface  20 . The arc-shaped slab  115  is connected to the first slab  114 . The second slab  116  extends from the arc-shaped slab  115  in a direction parallel to the wall surface  20 . In other words, the part of the first slab  114  furthest away from the second slab  116  is connected to the bearing plate  112 . Moreover, the first slab  114  and the second slab  116  belong to different geometrical planes, such that the bearing plate  112 , the first slab  114 , the arc-shaped slab  115  and the second slab  116  form a slot structure. Furthermore, the hanger  121  includes a pair of hooks  121   a  and  121   b  disposed parallel to each other, and a connecting board  121   c  connected between the hooks  121   a  and  121   b . Based on this configuration, the connecting board  121   c  of the hanger  121  suspends on the base  110  by means of the hooks  121   a  and  121   b  latching onto the slot structure in the direction of gravity G. 
     Additionally, the suspending assembly  120  also has a limiting unit  125  situated on the connecting board  121   c . The limiting unit  125  has a first guiding surface U 1 . The suspending apparatus  100  also includes a locking assembly  130  disposed on the hanger  121  of the suspending assembly  120 . The locking assembly  130  includes a locking unit  134  and a moving unit  136 . The locking unit  134  has a second guiding surface U 2  movably and selectively coupled to the first guiding surface U 1  such that the locking unit  134  selectively leans against the limiting unit  125 . For driving the locking unit  134 , the moving unit  136  is connected to one end thereof. The motion of the locking unit  134  is restricted by the limiting unit  125  and includes movement and rotation, in order to separate or couple the first guiding surface U 1  with the second guiding surface U 2 . The state of motion of the related structures is described below. 
     When the electronic device  10  is suspended on the wall surface  20  by the suspending apparatus  100  (as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 ), the locking unit  134  is locked onto the base  110 , that is, a locking surface C 1  of the locking unit  134  is pressed against the first slab  114 , the locking surface C 1  is adjacent to the second guiding surface U 2 , and the first guiding surface U 1  is coupled with the second guiding surface U 2 . Therefore, not only can the electronic device  10  be suspended on the wall surface  20  by the suspending apparatus  100 , but the electronic device  10  and the suspending assembly  120  attached thereon can also maintain a fixed state relative to the base  100  (and the wall  20 ) by the interference between the locking unit  134  and the base  110 , thereby preventing the electronic device  10  from unexpected moving, for example upwardly relative to the base  110  (and the wall  20 ), and from accidentally falling off the wall  20  because of impact from an external force. 
     More importantly, when the electronic device  10  is to be dismounted from the wall surface  20 , the locking assembly  130  also serves for fast dismantling. 
     Furthermore, the suspending assembly  120  of this embodiment further includes a cover  124 , which is assembled on the connecting body  121   c , for example by screws, and defines an accommodating space R 1  therein. The moving unit  136  is movably disposed inside the accommodating space R 1 . In this embodiment, the direction of motion of the moving unit  136  inside the accommodating space R 1  is parallel to the direction of gravity G. 
     Moreover, the moving unit  136  is attached to the locking unit  134 , thereby driving the locking unit  134  to move relative to the limiting unit  125 , such that the first guiding surface U 1  is separated from the second guiding surface U 2 , so as to unlock the locking surface C 1  of the locking unit  134  from the first slab  114 , thereby achieving the effect of removing the electronic device  10  (and the suspending assembly  120  assembled on the electronic device  10 ) from the base  110 . Based on this, the locking assembly  130  of this embodiment takes advantage of the mechanism for fast dismantling between the locking assembly  130  with the suspending assembly  120  and the base  110  to allow the user to rapidly and conveniently dismantle the electronic device  10  from the wall surface  20 . The following describes the mechanical procedure of the relevant structures in motion in more detail. 
       FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4F  show the suspending apparatus of  FIG. 1  in different steps of operation, wherein only one of the hooks  121   a  is illustrated here. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , the limiting unit  125  and the connecting board  121   c  of this embodiment are an integral structure. Additionally, the locking unit  134  has a first end E 1  and a second end E 2  opposite to each other. The first end E 1  is connected to the moving unit  136  and is situated inside the accommodating space R 1 , and makes the locking unit  134  and the moving unit  136  form a single integrated structure. Additionally, the locking unit  134  made of nylon of this embodiment is flexible and elastic, but the material is not limited therein. The locking unit  134  can also be made of other flexible and elastic plastics. The second end E 2  protrudes upwards from the accommodating space R 1  and presses against the first slab  114  of the base  110 . The second end E 2  is locked to the first slab  114  of the base  110  by the locking surface C 1 . The second guiding surface U 2  is situated between the first end E 1  and the second end E 2 . 
     Next, please refer to  FIG. 4B  to  FIG. 4D , and the figures define the direction of gravity G to be downwards, the direction opposite to the gravity G to be upwards, a movement parallel to the gravity G to be a vertical movement, a movement perpendicular to the gravity G to be a transverse movement, and draw the movement route of the locking assembly  130  on the side in order to clearly describe the motion of the relevant parts. 
     In an unlocking process as shown in  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4C , the moving unit  136  moves along a first path L 1 . Since the locking unit  134  and the moving unit  136  are integral structure, and the first guiding surface U 1  and the second guiding surface U 2  have coincident slopes with respect to the first path L 1 , the moving unit  136  drives the locking unit  134  to rotate along the second path L 2  and move along the third path L 3  within the restriction of the limiting unit  125 . 
     In practice, when the suspending assembly  120  and the electronic device  10  thereon are to be dismantled from the base  110 , the user first applies a force F 1  (in a direction opposite the gravity G) on the electronic device  10  (labeled in  FIG. 1 ), to drive the suspending assembly  120  locked onto the electronic device  10  to move in its entirety upwards relative to the base  110 , causing the first slab  114  of the base  110  to press against the locking unit  134  with a reaction force F 2 , which in turn drives the moving unit  136 . At the same time, the second end E 2  of the locking unit  134  is acted by the reaction force F 2 , but due to the slanting of the slopes of the first guiding surface U 1  and the second guiding surface U 2  with respect to the first path L 1  (also the direction of the gravity G), even though the locking unit  134  is subject to the reaction force F 2  which is parallel to the gravity G, the structure of the limiting unit  125  restricts the movement of the locking unit  134  to the third path L 3 , wherein the first path L 1  and the third path L 3  are straight line segments with an angle therebetween. 
     It is worth mentioning here that the locking unit  134  of this embodiment is flexible, and the moving unit  136  is restricted by the accommodating space R 1  and only moves parallel to the gravity G. Therefore, the moving unit  136  is subject to pushing by the locking unit  134  and moves along the first path L 1 , and the locking unit  134  rotates along the second path L 2  as moving along the third path L 3 , that is, the first end E 1  of the locking unit  134  moves into the accommodating space R 1  along with the moving unit  136 , and the second end (E 2 ), as moving along the third path L 3  towards the accommodating space R 1 , also rotates along the second path L 2  with respect to the first end E 1 . As shown in  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4C , the angle between the direction of the gravity G and the geometric straight line formed by the first end E 1  and the second end E 2  of the locking unit  134  increases as the locking unit  134  and the moving unit  136  move downward in the direction of the gravity (G). 
     Please refer to the unlocking process in  FIG. 4C  to  FIG. 4F . In this embodiment, the locking assembly  130  further includes an elastic unit  138  disposed inside the accommodating space R 1  and is attached between the moving unit  136  and the cover  124 . This elastic unit  138  constantly drives the moving unit  136  to move along a path reverse to the first path L 1  (namely the direction reverse to the gravity G). In this embodiment, when the moving unit  136  moves along the first path L 1 , the second end E 2  of the locking unit  134  moves from the first slab  114  to the arc-shaped slab  115 , and the moving unit  136  causes the elastic unit  138  to deform (the spring being compressed as shown in  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4D ). When the second end E 2  moves to the arc-shaped slab  115 , that is, when the second end E 2  moves away from the first slab  114  and eliminates the interference between the locking surface C  1  and the first slab  114 , the moving unit  136  moves along the reverse path of the first path L 1  due to the elastic restoring force of the elastic unit  138 , so as to drive the second end E 2  to move away from the accommodating space R 1 . In other words, the elastic force of the elastic unit  138  moves the moving unit  136  against the direction of the gravity G, and in conjunction drives the locking unit  134  to move away from the accommodating space R 1 . 
     The second end E 2  of the locking unit  134  moves from the arc-shaped slab  115  to the second slab  116  by the elastic unit  138 . At the same time, since the second end E 2  is restricted by the second slab  116 , the locking unit  134  still presses against the second slab  116  and causes the second end E 2  to continue rotating along the second path L 2  with respect to the first end E 1 , finally resulting in the separation of the first guiding surface U 1  and the second guiding surface U 2 . Accordingly, the user can move the electronic device  10  and the suspending assembly  120  locked thereon away from the base  110  along the fourth path L 4 . 
     On the other hand, please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3  again. The locking assembly  130  further includes a drawstring  131  tied to the moving unit  136  and hanging and extending from the accommodating space R 1  to be exposed outside the electronic device  10 . Therefore, the suspending apparatus  100  of this embodiment provides another operation mode for dismantling, in which the user pulls the drawstring  131  to drive the moving unit  136  to move along the first path L 1 , which has the same effect of applying the force F 1  on the electronic device  10 . 
     Correspondingly, when the user intends to suspend the electronic device  10  and the suspending assembly  120  back on the wall surface  20 , a reversal of operations in the above-mentioned  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4F  and the corresponding descriptions can complete the assembling process. In a locking process, the user needs to move the suspending assembly  120  along the reverse path of the fourth path L 4  towards the base  110 . It must be mentioned that the mode of motion along the fourth path L 4  of this embodiment (as shown in  FIG. 4F ) includes a transverse movement and a vertical movement. Therefore, during assembling, the user first makes the second slab  116  press against the locking unit  134  through a transverse movement in the reverse direction of the fourth path L 4 , causing the second end E 2  to rotate along the second path L 2  relative to the first end E 1 , thereby allowing the hook part of the hook  121   a  to be locked on the slot structure formed by the bearing plate  112 , the first slab  114 , the arc-shaped slab  115  and the second slab  116 . Also, at the same time, the locking unit  134  is in a deformed state due to its elasticity. 
     Next, the user moves the hook  121   a  downward through a vertical movement in the reverse direction of the fourth path L 4  until the second end E 2  of the locking unit  134  moves from the second slab  116  to the arc-shaped slab  115 , and due to the elastic restoring effect of the locking unit  134 , the second end E 2  rotates along the reverse path of the second path L 2  with respect to the first end E 1 , further causing the second end E 2  to move from the arc-shaped slab  115  to the first slab  114 , such that when the hook part of the hook  121   a  is linked onto the slot structure, the locking surface C 1  is also in a state of interference with the first slab  114 . With this, the locking assembly  130  completes the locking process of the suspending assembly  120  with the base  110 . 
     Based on the above, compared to the known dismantling and assembling process which requires a series of repetitive removal of locking parts, the suspending apparatus  100  of the embodiment of the invention dismantles and assembles the electronic device  10  with a faster and more convenient method via the characteristics of the simple structure, relative configuration, and process of motion between the relevant parts of the locking assembly  130 . 
     In summary of the above, in the suspending apparatus of the invention, the path of motion created by the limiting unit, the locking unit and the moving unit, and the mutually corresponding guiding surface structure allow the suspending assembly, before and after the movement process relative to the base, to lock or unlock the suspending assembly and the base. Thereby, the user can assemble or dismantle the electronic device onto or from the wall surface in a convenient and fast manner. 
     Although the invention is disclosed in the embodiments above, they are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Any person skilled in the art can, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, apply modifications and changes to the invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the invention is subject to the appended claims.