Abstract:
A clamp mechanism clamping an electronic device and connecting an object to the electronic device is disclosed. The mechanism includes a first clamping element, a second clamping element slidably joined to the first clamping element in a joint position to adjust the second clamping element apart from the first clamping element to a clamp distance, a latching element inserted into the joint position to maintain the first clamping element apart from the second clamping element at the clamp distance, and a connecting element joined to the second clamping element and connected to the object.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a clamp mechanism, and more particularly to a clamp mechanism clamping an electronic device and connecting an object to the electronic device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In general, an object, such as protective glass, is attached to a display device via adhesive. The adhesive, however, when used to attach heavy objects is susceptible to failure after a period of use, causing the object fall. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Clamp mechanisms are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a clamp mechanism capable of clamping an electronic device and connecting an object to the electronic device comprises a first clamping element, a second clamping element slidably joined to the first clamping element in a joint position to adjust the second clamping element apart from the first clamping element to a clamp distance, a latching element inserted into the joint position to maintain the first clamping element apart from the second clamping element at the clamp distance, and a connecting element joined to the second clamping element and connected to the object. 
         [0006]    The first clamping element comprises a first joining portion slidably joined to the second clamping element, and a first clamping portion connected to the first joining portion. The electronic device is clamped between the first clamping portion and the second clamping element. 
         [0007]    The second clamping element comprises a second joining portion slidably joined to the first joining portion, and a second clamping portion connected to the second joining portion. The distance between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion is adjusted to the clamp distance by moving the first and second joining portions to clamp the electronic device. 
         [0008]    The first joining portion is connected to the first clamping portion to be an L-shape. The second joining portion is connected to the second clamping portion to be an L-shape. 
         [0009]    The first joining portion has a first flange. The second joining portion has a first channel with which the first flange slidably engages, whereby the first clamping element is slidably joined to the second clamping element. 
         [0010]    The first joining portion comprises an arm having a protrusion on one side and a notch on another side. The second joining portion comprises a groove having a plurality of concave portions on lateral walls thereof. When the arm slides in the groove, the protrusion engages one of the concave portions and the latching element is inserted into the notch to fix the protrusion in the concave portion, whereby the first joining portion is fixed to the second joining portion to maintain the clamp distance. 
         [0011]    The latching element comprises a connecting body rotatably connected to the first joining portion and a latch connected to the connecting body. When the connecting body is parallel to the first joining portion, the latch is inserted into the notch to fix the protrusion in the concave portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a clamp mechanism of the invention for a display device; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the clamp mechanism of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the clamp mechanism of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the clamp mechanism of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the first clamping element of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the second clamping element of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the connecting element of the invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is another perspective view of the clamp mechanism of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a clamp mechanism  100  clamps the top of a display device  5 , and an object  7  is connected to the clamp mechanism  100 , thus the object  7  can be hung on the display device  5 . The object  7  can be a computer or digital TV broadcast box. Although the clamp mechanism is applied to a display device in this embodiment, the invention is not limited thereto; the clamp mechanism can also applied to other electronic devices. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the clamp mechanism  100  comprises a first clamping element  120 , a second clamping element  140 , a latching element  160  and a connecting element  180 . The display device  5  is clamped between the first element  120  and the second element  140 . The object  7  is joined to a connecting portion  181  or  183  of the connecting element  180  and held between the second clamping element  140  and the connecting element  180 . The first clamping element  120  is slidably joined to the second clamping element  140 . The latching element  160  constrains sliding between the first and second clamping elements  120  and  140 , whereby a clamp distance is maintained therebetween to clamp the display device  5 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the latching element  160  is rotatably connected to the first clamping element  120  and rotates about an axis L. When the latching element  160  is lifted in direction A, the first clamping element  120  and the second clamping element  140  can move in directions B and C respectively, whereby the clamp distance between the first and second clamping element  120  and  140  is changed according to the width or thickness of the display device  5 . When the latching element  160  is closed (the latching element  160  parallel to a first joining portion  122  of the first clamping element  120 ), the latching element  160  constrains the slide between the first clamping element  120  and the second clamping element  140 . 
         [0024]    The first clamping element  120  comprises a first joining portion  122  and a first clamping portion  124 . The second clamping element  140  comprises a second joining portion  142 , a second clamping portion  144  and an extension portion  146 . The first joining portion  122  is slidably joined to the second joining portion  142 . The first clamping portion  124  is connected to the first joining portion  122  to be an L shape. Similarly, the second clamping portion  144  is connected to the second joining portion  142  to be an L shape, whereby the first clamping element  120  is joined to the second clamping element  140  to be an U shape which can clamp the display device  5 . The latching element  160  comprises a connecting body  162  and a latch  164 . The latch  164  has a post-shape, and the connecting element  180  is rotatably connected to the extension portion  146  and can rotate about an axis  182 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the first clamping element  120  comprises the first joining portion  122  and the first clamping portion  124 . The first joining portion  122  comprises a top  121  and two lateral walls  123  extending from the top  121  to the first clamping portion  124 . Two first flanges  126  extend inward from one side of the lateral walls  123  respectively in opposite directions and configure to be an L shape with the lateral wall  123 . Two arms  125  extend from the first clamping portion  124  and near the first flanges  126 . Each arm  125  has a protrusion  127  on the outer side thereof and a notch  129  on the inner side thereof. Two second flanges  128  extend forward from the lateral wall  123 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the second clamping element  140  comprises the second joining portion  142 , the second clamping portion  144  and the extension portion  146 . The second joining portion  144  comprises a top  1442 . Two ribs  141  are disposed on the top  1442 . A groove  143  is formed by the ribs  141 . A plurality of concave portions  1412  is formed on the rib  141 . Two wings  145  extend from the outer side of the ribs  141 , whereby a first channel  149  corresponding to the first flange  126  is formed between the wing  145  and the top  1442 . Two second channels  147  corresponding to the second flange  128  are formed on the extension portion  146 . A finger  148  is disposed on the central portion of the extension portion  146 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the connecting element  180  is rotatably connected to the extension portion  146  and can rotate about the shaft  182 . A block  184  corresponding to the finger  148  of the second clamping element  140  is disposed on the shaft  182 . 
         [0028]    Referring again to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the first clamping element  120  is joined to the second clamping element  140 , the first flange  126  enters the first channel  149  and the second flange  128  enters the second channel  147 , whereby the first joining portion  122  is slidably joined to the second joining portion  142  and the distance between the first clamping portion  124  and the second clamping portion  144  is adjusted to the clamp distance. Referring to  FIG. 8 , the arms  125  enters the groove  143  with the protrusion  127  engaging one of the concave portions  1412 . As the arm  125  can deform slightly, the protrusion  127  can enter and leave the concave portions  1412 . When the first clamping element  120  moves to an appropriate position, the latching element  160  is rotated to engage the latch  164  with the notch  129 , whereby the arm  125  cannot deform and fixed in the concave portion  1412 , whereby the slide between the first and second joining portions  122  and  142  are constrained and a clamp distance is maintained between the first and second clamping portions  124  and  144 . 
         [0029]    The block  184  abuts the finger  148  to limit the connecting element  180  to a first position. When the connecting element  180  rotates, the block  184  pushes the finger  148  and moves across a limit position, whereby the connecting element  180  can rotate freely. When the clamp mechanism  100  clamps a display device with a convex portion on the back, the object  7  connected to the connecting element  180  can rotate according to the convex shape and maintain the connection. 
         [0030]    While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.