Abstract:
A support for an LCD monitor is composed of two seats, a pivoting member, a positioning member, and a leg. The seats are mounted on a back of the LCD monitor. The pivoting member is pivotally mounted between the seats. The positioning member is mounted on one of the seats. The leg is secured on the pivoting member. The leg can be pivoted to extend for supporting the LCD monitor or fold up for packing and storing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related to an LCD monitor, and more particularly to a support for an LCD monitor. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Because of high displaying quality and small size, LCD monitors have been selected by lots of customers as displaying devices for computers. A conventional LCD monitor generally has a seat for supporting a screen. The screen is pivotally mounted on the seat. However, the seat cannot be pivoted to abut the screen, and an overall size of the LCD monitor cannot be reduced. Thus, the LCD monitor will occupy a large packing space, which is inconvenient and uneconomical to store and transport. 
     Therefore, the invention provides a folding support for an LCD monitor to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main objective of the invention is to provide a support for an LCD monitor that can be folded to reduce an overall size of the monitor for packing or storing. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support in accordance with the invention folded up at a back of an LCD monitor; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the support in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the support along the line “ 3 — 3 ” in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the support in FIG. 1 showing a rod of a positioning member engaged in a positioning disk; 
     FIG. 5 is another partial top view of the support in FIG. 1 showing the rod disengaged from the positioning disk; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the support in FIG. 1 in a using status; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the support in FIG. 1 in the using status along the line “ 3 — 3 ” in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 8 is another cross sectional view of the support in FIG. 1 in the using stature along the line “ 3 — 3 ” in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the support in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial top view of the support in FIG. 9 showing a rod of a positioning member engaged in a positioning disk; and 
     FIG. 11 is another partial top view of the support in FIG. 9 showing the rod disengaged from the positioning disk. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a support in accordance with the present invention is pivotally mounted on a back of an LCD monitor ( 50 ). The support is composed of a positioning member ( 10 ), a pivoting member ( 20 ), a first seat ( 30 ), a second seat ( 32 ), and a leg ( 40 ). The pivoting member ( 20 ) is provided between the first seat ( 30 ) and the second seat ( 32 ). The positioning member ( 10 ) is provided on the second seat ( 32 ). The leg ( 40 ) can be pivoted to receive in a recess ( 52 ) defined at the back of the monitor ( 50 ). 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the pivoting member ( 20 ) is pivotally mounted between the first seat ( 30 ) and the second seat ( 32 ). The first seat ( 30 ) has a first plate ( 301 ) with a plurality of holes (not numbered) defined therethrough, and has a first ear ( 300 ) perpendicular to the first plate ( 301 ). A first aperture ( 302 ) is defined through the first ear ( 300 ). The second seat ( 32 ) has a second plate ( 321 ) with a plurality of holes (not numbered) defined therethrough, and has a second ear ( 320 ) perpendicular to the second plate ( 321 ). A second aperture ( 322 ) is defined through the second ear ( 320 ). A third ear ( 323 ) is formed on a side of the second plate ( 321 ) opposite to the second ear ( 320 ) and parallel to the second ear ( 320 ). A third aperture ( 325 ) is defined through the third ear ( 323 ), and a fourth aperture ( 324 ) is defined through the second ear ( 320 ) and aligned with the third aperture ( 325 ). 
     The first and second seats ( 30 ,  32 ) are mounted on the back of the LCD monitor ( 50 ) by screws (not numbered) through these holes of the plates ( 300 ,  320 ) respectively. 
     The pivoting member ( 20 ) has an axle ( 25 ) with a first end ( 250 ) and a second end ( 252 ). Threads are respectively formed, on the first end ( 250 ) and the second end ( 252 ) of the axle ( 25 ). A flat surface ( 254 ) is formed at a middle part of the pivoting member ( 20 ) and has at least one threading hole (not numbered) radially defined therein. 
     The first end ( 250 ) of the axle ( 25 ) extends through the first aperture ( 302 ) of the first ear ( 300 ) and pivotally mounted on the first seat ( 30 ) by a nut ( 21 ) engaged with the first end ( 250 ). A damper ( 23 ) including a plurality of damping disks (not numbered) is provided on the first end ( 250 ) of the axle ( 25 ) and between the first ear ( 300 ) and the nut ( 21 ). A washer ( 22 ) is provided between the nut ( 21 ) and the damper ( 23 ). Two pairs of gaskets ( 24 ) are respectively provided between the damper ( 23 ) and the first ear ( 300 ) and between the first ear ( 300 ) and the middle part of the axle ( 25 ). 
     The second end ( 252 ) of the axle ( 25 ) extends through the second aperture ( 322 ) of the second ear ( 320 ) and pivotally mounted on the second seat ( 32 ) by another nut ( 21 ) engaged with the second end ( 252 ). Another damper ( 23 ) is provided on the second end ( 252 ) of the axle ( 25 ) and between the second ear ( 320 ) and the other nut ( 21 ). Another washer ( 22 ) is provided between the other nut ( 21 ) and the other damper ( 23 ). A positioning disk ( 26 ) is provided between the second ear ( 320 ) and the middle part of the axle ( 25 ). A first notch ( 260 ) and a second notch ( 262 ) are defined at the circumference of the positioning disk ( 26 ), wherein a width of the first notch ( 260 ) is smaller than a width of the second notch ( 262 ). Other two pairs of gaskets ( 24 ) are respectively provided between the other damper ( 23 ) and the second ear ( 320 ) and between the second ear ( 320 ) and the positioning disk ( 26 ). 
     The positioning member ( 10 ) has a rod ( 12 ) longitudinally movably mounted between the second ear ( 320 ) and the third ear ( 323 ). The rod ( 12 ) has a positioning end ( 120 ) extending through the fourth aperture ( 324 ) of the second ear ( 320 ), and an installing end ( 122 ) extending through the third aperture ( 325 ). A lug ( 124 ) is formed on the rod ( 12 ), and a resilient member ( 14 ) is provided on the rod ( 12 ) and between the lug ( 124 ) and the third ear ( 323 ). A collar ( 16 ) is mounted on the installing end ( 122 ) outside the third ear ( 323 ) to fasten the rod ( 12 ). The positioning end ( 120 ) is alternatively located in the first notch ( 260 ) or the second notch ( 262 ) of the positioning disk ( 26 ). 
     The leg ( 40 ) has a shank ( 400 ). A tube ( 42 ) and a leg ( 44 ) are respectively formed at two ends of the shank ( 400 ). A passage ( 420 ) is defined through the tube ( 42 ) and the axle ( 25 ) extends through the passage ( 420 ). At least one opening ( 422 ) is radially defined through the tube ( 42 ) and aligned with the threading hole of the axle ( 25 ). At least one screw is inserted through the opening ( 422 ) and engaged in the threading hole to fasten the axle ( 20 ) in the tube ( 42 ). The positioning disk ( 26 ) is located between the tube ( 42 ) and the second seat ( 32 ). 
     With reference to FIGS. 3-4, when the leg ( 40 ) is folded up, the positioning end ( 120 ) of the rod ( 12 ) extending out from the fourth aperture ( 324 ) is located in the first notch ( 260 ) of the positioning disk ( 26 ) to disable the leg ( 40 ) to pivot down. 
     With reference to FIGS. 5-8, when a user holds the lug ( 124 ) to move the rod ( 12 ) towards the third ear ( 323 ), the positioning end ( 120 ) is disengaged from the first notch ( 260 ), and the leg ( 40 ) can be pivoted downwards. When the second notch ( 262 ) is aligned with the fourth aperture ( 324 ), the user releases the rod ( 12 ) and the positioning end ( 120 ) extends in the second notch ( 262 ) under the force of the resilient member ( 14 ). Therefore, the leg ( 40 ) is positioned and the LCD monitor ( 50 ) can be stably supported by the leg ( 40 ). 
     When the user wants to fold the leg ( 40 ), the rod ( 12 ) is moved towards the third ear ( 323 ) again, and the positioning end ( 120 ) is disengaged from the second notch ( 262 ). Therefore, the leg ( 40 ) can be pivoted upwards to receive in the recess ( 52 ) of the LCD monitor ( 50 ), as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 9-11, in a second embodiment of the present invention, the support has a positioning member ( 10   a ) different from that of the embodiment described hereinbefore. The positioning member ( 10   a ) has a rod ( 12   a ) with a positioning end ( 120   a ) formed as a cone and an installing end ( 122   a ). A lug ( 124   a ) is formed on the rod ( 12   a ). 
     The positioning end ( 120   a ) extends through the fourth aperture ( 324 ) of the third ear ( 320 ), and is alternatively located in the first notch ( 260 ) or the second notch ( 262 ) of the positioning disk ( 26 ). When the user pivots the leg ( 40 ), the cone surface of the positioning end ( 120   a ) is pushed by the positioning disk ( 26 ), and the rod ( 12   a ) is gradually moved towards the third ear ( 323 ) and disengaged from the notches ( 260 ,  262 ). Therefore, the user can directly pivot the leg ( 40 ) without holding the lug ( 124   a ) to move the rod ( 12   a ). 
     According to the present invention, the leg of the support can be pivoted to reduce the overall size of the LCD monitor, which is very convenient to pack, store, and transport the LCD monitor. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.