Abstract:
A cable management arm supporting device is provided to be mounted between first and second slide rail assemblies. The first slide rail assembly includes first and second rails and a third rail movably connected therebetween. The cable management arm supporting device includes: two movably connected arms; first and second mounting members respectively connected with end portions of the arms and respectively mounted to the first and second rails; a supporting base including two supporting portions; two telescopically connected supporting members respectively connected with one supporting portion of the supporting base and the third rail; and a third mounting member movably connected with the other supporting portion of the supporting base and releasably connected with the second slide rail assembly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a cable management arm (CMA) and, more particularly, to a cable management arm supporting device whose supporting members can be rapidly assembled to applicable slide rail assemblies and be easily and rapidly detached from the slide rail assemblies when desired. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,746,667 B1 discloses a telescoping support crossbar for a cable management arm. According to the specification and drawings of this patent, a cable management arm (CMA) ( 24 ) includes two pivotally connected support sections ( 26 ,  28 ) which are respectively connected to a chassis member ( 22 ) and to a cabinet member ( 18 ) of a drawer slide. A telescoping support crossbar ( 42 ), on the other hand, includes a first member ( 46 ) and a second member ( 48 ) slidably extensible from the first member ( 46 ).  FIGS. 3 ˜ 5  of the patent also show that the telescoping support crossbar ( 42 ) has two ends ( 50 ,  52 ) which are respectively mounted to an end of an intermediate member ( 20 ) of a drawer slide and to the cabinet member ( 18 ) of another drawer slide via a pivot fastener ( 60 ). 
     While the patent cited above discloses the technical feature of mounting the telescoping support crossbar ( 42 ) to drawer slides, it is highly desirable to develop a different cable management arm supporting device which realizes the concept of product simplification and takes into account the ease of mounting so as to meet the changeable needs of related industries. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a cable management arm supporting device whose supporting members can be rapidly assembled to and easily and rapidly detached from applicable slide rail assemblies. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a cable management arm supporting device is provided to be mounted to a first slide rail assembly and a second slide rail assembly. The first slide rail assembly includes a first rail, a second rail, and a third rail movably connected between the first rail and the second rail. The cable management aim supporting device includes a first arm, a first mounting member, a second arm, a second mounting member, a plurality of cable supporting features, a supporting base, a first supporting member, a second supporting member, and a third mounting member. The first arm has a first end and a second end. The first mounting member is connected to the first arm at a position adjacent to the first end of the first arm. In addition, the first mounting member is mounted to the first rail of the first slide rail assembly. The second arm is movably connected to the first arm at a position adjacent to the second end of the first arm. The second mounting member is connected with the second arm and is mounted to the second rail of the first slide rail assembly. The cable supporting features are connected with at least one of the first arm and the second arm. The supporting base has a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion generally perpendicularly connected with the first supporting portion. The first supporting member is movably connected with the first supporting portion of the supporting base. The second supporting member is telescopically connected with the first supporting member and is mounted to the third rail of the first slide rail assembly. The third mounting member is pivotally connected with the second supporting portion of the supporting base and is releasably connected with the second slide rail assembly. 
     Preferably, the first slide rail assembly further includes a first connector connected with the first rail, and the first mounting member is releasably mounted to the first connector. 
     Preferably, the first slide rail assembly further includes a second connector connected with the second rail, and the second mounting member is releasably mounted to the second connector. 
     Preferably, the second slide rail assembly further includes a connector, and the third mounting member further includes a mounting wall and an operation arm connected with the mounting wall. The mounting wall includes at least one fixing portion and a first opening. The operation arm includes a connecting portion connected with the at least one fixing portion and further includes a first elastic portion. The first elastic portion is connected with one side of the connecting portion, corresponds to the first opening, and includes at least one engaging portion for blocking the connector. 
     Preferably, the mounting wall of the third mounting member further includes a second opening, the operation arm further includes a second elastic portion connected with another side of the connecting portion and corresponding to the second opening and also includes an engaging section connected with the second elastic portion, and the second supporting portion of the supporting base further includes a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion. The engaging section can be selectively engaged with either of the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion. 
     Preferably, the cable management arm supporting device further includes an elastic element connected between the third mounting member and the second supporting portion of the supporting base, and the second supporting portion of the supporting base further includes a first stop portion and a second stop portion. When pivoted to a first direction, the third mounting member is pressed against the first stop portion due to the elastic element; when pivoted to a second direction opposite the first direction, the third mounting member is pressed against the second stop portion due to the elastic element. 
     Preferably, the first slide rail assembly further includes an auxiliary element connected with the third rail of the first slide rail assembly and a positioning element connected with the second supporting member. The auxiliary element includes a mounting opening and an elastic arm. The elastic arm has a blocking edge for forming a blockage at the mounting opening. The positioning element is mounted in the mounting opening and can be blocked by the blocking edge of the elastic arm. 
     Preferably, the cable management arm supporting device further includes a hinge member, and the first arm and the second arm are pivotally connected by the hinge member. 
     Preferably, the first mounting member is pivotally connected with the first end of the first arm. 
     Preferably, the second mounting member is pivotally connected with the second arm. 
     Preferably, the first supporting member is pivotally connected with the first supporting portion of the supporting base. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a mounting assembly applicable to a supporting member includes a supporting base and a mounting member. The supporting base has a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion generally perpendicularly connected with the first supporting portion. The supporting member is movably connected with the first supporting portion. The mounting member is pivotally connected with the second supporting portion of the supporting base. 
     Preferably, the mounting member further includes a mounting wall and an operation arm connected with the mounting wall. The mounting wall includes at least one fixing portion and a first opening. The operation arm includes a connecting portion connected with the at least one fixing portion and further includes a first elastic portion. The first elastic portion is connected with one side of the connecting portion, corresponds to the first opening, and includes at least one engaging portion for blocking an object. 
     Preferably, the mounting wall of the mounting member further includes a second opening, the operation arm further includes a second elastic portion connected with another side of the connecting portion and corresponding to the second opening and also includes an engaging section connected with the second elastic portion, and the second supporting portion of the supporting base further includes a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion. The engaging section can be selectively engaged with either of the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion. 
     Preferably, the mounting assembly further includes an elastic element connected between the mounting member and the second supporting portion of the supporting base, and the second supporting portion of the supporting base further includes a first stop portion and a second stop portion. The mounting member is pressed against the first stop portion due to the elastic element when pivoted to a first direction and is pressed against the second stop portion due to the elastic element when pivoted to a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     One advantageous feature of implementing the present invention is that the supporting members can be rapidly assembled to applicable slide rail assemblies and be easily and rapidly detached from the slide rail assemblies when desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention as well as a preferred mode of use and the advantages thereof will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view in which the cable management arm supporting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted to a first slide rail assembly and a second slide rail assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic exploded view in which the cable management arm supporting device of  FIG. 1  is separated from the first slide rail assembly and the second slide rail assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view in which the first mounting member, the second mounting member, and the second supporting member of the cable management arm supporting device in an embodiment of the present invention are mounted to the first rail, the second rail, and the third rail of the first slide rail assembly respectively; 
         FIG. 3A  is an exploded view of the second supporting member and an auxiliary element of the third rail of the first slide rail assembly in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic drawing showing how the second supporting member of the cable management arm supporting device in an embodiment of the present invention is mounted to the auxiliary element via a positioning element, which has entered the mounting opening of the auxiliary element and is blocked by the blocking edge; 
         FIG. 4B  is another schematic drawing showing how the second supporting member of the cable management arm supporting device in an embodiment of the present invention is mounted to the auxiliary element via the positioning element, in which the free end of the elastic arm of the auxiliary element has been lifted such that the blocking edge no longer forms a blockage at the mounting opening of the auxiliary element; 
         FIG. 4C  is yet another schematic drawing showing how the second supporting member of the cable management arm supporting device in an embodiment of the present invention is mounted to the auxiliary element via the positioning element, in which the free end of the elastic arm of the auxiliary element has been lifted, allowing the positioning element to be removed from the mounting opening of the auxiliary element; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view showing how the third mounting member of the cable management arm supporting device in an embodiment of the present invention is pivotally connected with the second supporting portion of the supporting base and mounted to a connector of the second slide rail assembly; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic exploded view of the third mounting member, the supporting base, and the first supporting member of the cable management arm supporting device in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  schematically shows how the third mounting member of the cable management arm supporting device in an embodiment of the present invention can be operated to point to a first direction or a second direction; 
         FIG. 8A  schematically shows how the engaging section of the third mounting member of the cable management arm supporting device in an embodiment of the present invention is engaged with the first positioning portion of the supporting base; 
         FIG. 8B  schematically shows how the third mounting member of the cable management arm supporting device in an embodiment of the present invention is operated to disengage the engaging section from the first positioning portion; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic drawing in which the second arm of the cable management arm supporting device in an embodiment of the present invention is close to the first arm and the second supporting member is retracted with respect to the first supporting member; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic drawing in which the second mounting member of the cable management arm supporting device in an embodiment of the present invention has been displaced a certain distance from the first mounting member, causing the second arm to extend relative to the first arm, and the second supporting member to displace relative to the first supporting member; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic drawing in which the second mounting member of the cable management arm supporting device in an embodiment of the present invention has been displaced further from the first mounting member, causing the second arm to extend further relative to the first ann, and the second supporting member to displace further relative to the first supporting member; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic drawing in which the third mounting member of the cable management arm supporting device in another embodiment of the present invention is mounted to the first connector of the first slide rail assembly; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing in particular the elastic element connected between the third mounting member and the second supporting portion of the supporting base of the cable management arm supporting device in the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  schematically shows how the third mounting member of the cable management arm supporting device in the second embodiment of the present invention can be limited in position by the stop portions of the second supporting portion of the supporting base when pivoting. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the cable management arm supporting device  20  in an embodiment of the present invention is mounted to a first slide rail assembly  22  and a second slide rail assembly  24 . Each of the slide rail assemblies  22  and  24  is mounted to a corresponding pair of posts  26 . 
     Each of the slide rail assemblies  22  and  24  includes a first rail  28 , a second rail  30 , and a third rail  32  movably connected between the first rail  28  and the second rail  30  so as to increase the distance by which the second rail  30  can be longitudinally displaced relative to the first rail  28 . The chassis  34  of a server can have its two opposite lateral sides mounted to the second rail  30  of the first slide rail assembly  22  and the second rail of the second slide rail assembly  24  respectively in order for the two slide rail assemblies  22  and  24  to support the chassis  34 . (The second rail and the third rail of the second slide rail assembly  24  are not shown in the drawings due to limitations of the viewing angle.) 
     The cable management arm supporting device  20  includes a first arm  36 , a first mounting member  38 , a second arm  40 , a second mounting member  42 , a plurality of cable supporting features  44 , a supporting base  46 , a first supporting member  48 , a second supporting member  50 , and a third mounting member  52 . 
     The first arm  36  has a first end  54   a  and a second end  54   b . The first mounting member  38  is connected to the first arm  36  at a position adjacent to the first end  54   a . For example, the first mounting member  38  is pivotally connected to the first arm  36  at a position adjacent to the first end  54   a . In use, the first mounting member  38  is mounted to the first rail  28  of the first slide rail assembly  22 . Preferably, the first slide rail assembly  22  includes a first connector  56  connected with the first rail  28  of the first slide rail assembly  22  (e.g., the first connector  56  being connected to the first rail  28  at a position adjacent to an end portion thereof), and the first mounting member  38  is mounted to the first connector  56 . For example, the first mounting member  38  is releasably mounted to the first connector  56 . 
     The second arm  40  is movably connected to the first arm  36  at a position adjacent to the second end  54   b . In a preferred embodiment, the second arm  40  is pivotally connected with the first arm  36  via a hinge member  58  (or a hinge structure) in order to be extended (see  FIG. 11 ) or retracted relative to the first arm  36 . 
     The second mounting member  42  is connected with the second arm  40 . For example, the second mounting member  42  is pivotally connected to the second arm  40  at a position adjacent to an end portion thereof. In use, the second mounting member  42  is mounted to the second rail  30  of the first slide rail assembly  22 . Preferably, the first slide rail assembly  22  includes a second connector  60  connected with the second rail  30  of the first slide rail assembly  22  (e.g., the second connector  60  being connected to the second rail  30  at a position adjacent to an end portion thereof), and the second mounting member  42  is mounted to the second connector  60 . For example, the second mounting member  42  is releasably mounted to the second connector  60 . 
     The cable supporting features  44  are connected with one of the first arm  36  and the second arm  40 . In a preferred embodiment, the cable supporting features  44  are connected with both the first arm  36  and the second arm  40 . The cable supporting features  44  serve to hold the cables (not shown) of a server. 
     The supporting base  46  has a first supporting portion  62  and a second supporting portion  64  generally perpendicularly connected with the first supporting portion  62 . 
     The first supporting member  48  is movably connected with the first supporting portion  62  of the supporting base  46 . The second supporting member  50  is telescopically connected with the first supporting member  48 . The first supporting member  48  and the second supporting member  50  are below one of the first arm  36  and the second arm  40  in order to serve supporting purposes, preventing the first arm  36  and the second arm  40  from falling because of the weight of the cables they carry. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 3A , the second supporting member  50  is mounted to the third rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22 . In a preferred embodiment, the first slide rail assembly  22  further includes an auxiliary element  66  connected with the third rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22  (e.g., at a position adjacent to an end portion of the third rail  32 ) and also includes a positioning element  68  connected with the second supporting member  50 . 
     More specifically, referring to  FIG. 3A  and  FIGS. 4A ˜ 4 C, the auxiliary element  66  includes a mounting opening  70  and an elastic arm  72 . The elastic arm  72  has one end fixed at an appropriate position and has a blocking edge  74  for forming a blockage at the mounting opening  70 . The positioning element  68  can be mounted in the mounting opening  70  and be blocked by the blocking edge  74  of the elastic arm  72 . 
     For example, once the positioning element  68  connected with the second supporting member  50  enters the mounting opening  70  of the auxiliary element  66 , the blocking edge  74  of the elastic arm  72  can block the positioning element  68  such that the positioning element  68  is mounted in the mounting opening  70  of the auxiliary element  66  (see  FIG. 4A ). Preferably, either of the positioning element  68  and the elastic arm  72  has a guiding feature (e.g., an inclined surface), such that the elastic arm  72  of the auxiliary element  66  can be directly pushed up by the positioning element  68  upon connection between the second supporting member  50  and the auxiliary element  66  and then return to its original position to keep the positioning element  68  in place. In that case, manual operation of the elastic arm  72  will be unnecessary. On the other hand, when it is desired to release the positioning element  68  from the mounted state, the free end of the elastic arm  72  of the auxiliary element  66  can be lifted up to rid the mounting opening  70  of the blockage of the blocking edge  74  of the elastic arm  72  (see  FIG. 4B ). The positioning element  68  can now be removed from the mounting opening  70  of the auxiliary element  66  (see  FIG. 4C ), allowing the second supporting member  50  to be rapidly detached from the third rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22 . According to the above, the second supporting member  50  is configured to be mounted to the third rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22  in a releasable manner. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the first supporting member  48  is pivotally connected with the first supporting portion  62  of the supporting base  46  via a pivotal connector  49  so as to pivot with respect to the first supporting portion  62  of the supporting base  46 . The third mounting member  52  is pivotally connected with the second supporting portion  64  of the supporting base  46  via a pivotal connector  53  so as to pivot with respect to the second supporting portion  64  of the supporting base  46 . In addition, the third mounting member  52  is connected with the second slide rail assembly  24  in a releasable manner, as detailed further below. 
     It is worth mentioning that the supporting base  46  and the third mounting member  52  can be viewed as a mounting assembly applicable to a supporting member (e.g., the first supporting member  48 ). The mounting assembly enables the supporting member to pivot to different directions via the third mounting member  52  so that the supporting member can be mounted to different objects. For instance, the supporting member can be mounted to the second slide rail assembly  24  via the third mounting member  52 , or the supporting member can be mounted to the first slide rail assembly  22  via the third mounting member  52  (see  FIG. 12 ). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the second slide rail assembly  24  further includes a connector  76  connected with the first rail  28  of the second slide rail assembly  24 , and the third mounting member  52  further includes a mounting wall  78  and an operation arm  80  corresponding to and connected with the mounting wall  78 . The mounting wall  78  includes at least one fixing portion  82  and a first opening  84 . The operation arm  80  includes a connecting portion  86  corresponding to and fixedly connected with the at least one fixing portion  82 . The operation arm  80  also includes a first elastic portion  88  connected with one side of the connecting portion  86  and corresponding to the first opening  84 . 
     The first elastic portion  88  includes at least one engaging portion  90  for blocking an object. For example, when the third mounting member  52  is connected with the connector  76  of the second slide rail assembly  24 , the at least one engaging portion  90  corresponds to and blocks a portion of the connector  76  to keep the third mounting member  52  and the connector  76  in a mounted state. An operator can operate (e.g., press) the first elastic portion  88  through the first opening  84  to displace the at least one engaging portion  90  with respect to the portion of the connector  76 , thus releasing the third mounting member  52  and the connector  76  from the mounted state, allowing the third mounting member  52  to be detached from the connector  76 . 
     Preferably, the mounting wall  78  of the third mounting member  52  further includes a second opening  92  and a through hole  93 , and the operation arm  80  further includes a second elastic portion  94  connected with another side of the connecting portion  86  (for example, but without limitation, the second elastic portion  94  and the first elastic portion  88  are located on two opposite sides of the connecting portion  86  respectively and use the connecting portion  86  as a common fulcrum) and corresponding to the second opening  92 . In addition, an engaging section  96  is connected with the second elastic portion  94 . The engaging section  96  corresponds to and can pass through the through hole  93  of the mounting wall  78 . On the other hand, the second supporting portion  64  of the supporting base  46  further includes a first positioning portion  97   a  and a second positioning portion  97   b . The engaging section  96  can engage with the first positioning portion  97   a  or the second positioning portion  97   b  after passing through the through hole  93  of the mounting wall  78 . 
     More specifically, referring to  FIG. 7 , the third mounting member  52 , which is pivotally connected with the second supporting portion  64  of the supporting base  46 , can be pivoted to a first direction D 1  or a second direction D 2 . Preferably, the first direction D 1  and the second direction D 2  are opposite directions. The third mounting member  52 , therefore, can be mounted to the connector  76  of the second slide rail assembly  24  when pivoted to the first direction D 1  and can be mounted to a connector of the first slide rail assembly  22  when pivoted to the second direction D 2  (as explained further below with reference to  FIGS. 9 ˜ 12 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8A ˜ 8 B in conjunction with  FIG. 7 , once the third mounting member  52  is pivoted to the first direction D 1 , the engaging section  96  sequentially passes through the through hole  93  of the mounting wall  78  and the first positioning portion  97   a  of the supporting base  46  and becomes engaged with the first positioning portion  97   a  to limit and fix the third mounting member  52  in position. Thus, the stability of the third mounting member  52  is increased, which is advantageous to the mounting process. 
     When it is desired to pivot the third mounting member  52  from the first direction D 1  to the second direction D 2 , the operator can apply a force F to (i.e., press) the second elastic portion  94  of the operation arm  80  through the second opening  92  to disengage the engaging section  96  from the through hole  93  and the first positioning portion  97   a  of the supporting base  46 . Then, the third mounting member  52  can be pivoted from the first direction D 1  to the second direction D 2 , allowing the engaging section  96  to engage with the second positioning portion  97   b  of the supporting base  46  and thereby limit and fix the third mounting member  52  in position. Consequently, the stability of the third mounting member  52  is increased, which facilitates mounting. It can be known from the above that the engaging section  96  can selectively engage with either of the first positioning portion  97   a  and the second positioning portion  97   b.    
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , when the second rail  30  of the first slide rail assembly  22  and the second rail  30  of the second slide rail assembly  24  are in a retracted position relative to their respective first rails  28 , the second arm  40  is close to the first arm  36 , and the second supporting member  50  is retracted relative to the first supporting member  48 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , when the second rail  30  of the first slide rail assembly  22  and the second rail  30  of the second slide rail assembly  24  are longitudinally displaced a distance L 1  in a direction D from the retracted position toward an extended position relative to their respective first rails  28 , the chassis  34  is also displaced in the direction D. Meanwhile, the second mounting member  42  of the cable management arm supporting device  20  is displaced relative to the first mounting member  38  in the direction D, and the second arm  40  is extended relative to the first arm  36 . Since the third rail  32  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the first slide rail assembly  22  is also driven to displace longitudinally in the direction D by the second rail  30  of the first slide rail assembly  22 , the second supporting member  50 , which is connected with the third rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22  via the positioning element  68 , is displaced relative to the first supporting member  48  in response to extension of the second arm  40  relative to the first arm  36 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , when the second rail  30  of the first slide rail assembly  22  and the second rail  30  of the second slide rail assembly  24  are longitudinally displaced further in the direction D so as to be a distance L 2  from the retracted position relative to their respective first rails  28 , the chassis  34  is also displaced in the direction D. In the meantime, the second mounting member  42  of the cable management arm supporting device  20  is further displaced relative to the first mounting member  38  in the direction D, and the second arm  40  is further extended relative to the first arm  36 . Since the third rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22  is also driven by the second rail  30  of the first slide rail assembly  22  to displace longitudinally further in the direction D, the second supporting member  50 , which is connected with the third rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22  via the positioning element  68 , is further displaced relative to the first supporting member  48  in response to further extension of the second arm  40  relative to the first arm  36 . 
     It can be known from  FIGS. 9 ˜ 11  that the second arm  40  is extended (or folded) relative to the first arm  36  in response to displacement of the second rail  30  of the first slide rail assembly  22 , and that the second supporting member  50  is displaced relative to the first supporting member  48  in response to displacement of the third rail  32  of the first slide rail assembly  22 . Therefore, in the course in which the chassis  34  is pulled out or pushed back in place, the first arm  36  and the second arm  40  jointly provide cable management (e.g., to keep the cables behind the server chassis  34  in neat arrangement) while the first supporting member  48  and the second supporting member  50  cooperate in providing support (e.g., to support the first arm  36 ). 
       FIG. 12  shows how the cable management arm supporting device  20  in another embodiment of the present invention is applied to and works with the first slide rail assembly  22  and the second slide rail assembly  24 . 
     When the third mounting member  52  is pivoted to the second direction D 2  (see  FIG. 7 ), it can be mounted in a different way from that illustrated in the foregoing embodiment (as shown in  FIGS. 9 ˜ 11 ), or more particularly be mounted to the first connector  56  on the first rail  28  of the first slide rail assembly  22 . Meanwhile, the first mounting member  38  and the second mounting member  42 , which are respectively pivotally connected with the first arm  36  and the second arm  40 , can also be pivoted to the second direction D 2  in order to be mounted to the connector  76  and another connector  76  of the second slide rail assembly  24  respectively. The connecters  76  are connected with the first rail  28  and the second rail  30  of the second slide rail assembly  24 , respectively. In use, therefore, the arrangement of the cable management arm supporting device  20  with respect to the first slide rail assembly  22  and the second slide rail assembly  24  can be inverted to suit practical needs. 
       FIG. 13  shows how the third mounting member  300  of the cable management arm supporting device in the second embodiment of the present invention is arranged in relation to the supporting base  302 . As in the previous embodiment, the third mounting member  300  is pivotally connected with the second supporting portion  304  of the supporting base  302 . However, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment (see  FIG. 7 ) in that the cable management arm supporting device further includes an elastic element  306  connected between the third mounting member  300  and the second supporting portion  304  of the supporting base  302 , and that the second supporting portion  304  of the supporting base  302  further includes a first stop portion  308  and a second stop portion  310 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , when the third mounting member  300  is pivoted to a first direction D 1 , it is pressed against the first stop portion  308  due to the elastic element  306  and is thus limited in position. Once the third mounting member  300  is pivoted from the first direction D 1  to a second direction D 2  opposite the first direction D 1 , it is pressed against the second stop portion  310  due to the elastic element  306  and hence limited in position. 
     While the present invention has been disclosed through the foregoing preferred embodiments, it is understood that the embodiments are not intended to be restrictive of the present invention. The scope of patent protection sought is defined by the appended claims.