Abstract:
A connecting mechanism which is adjustable in respect of length and which retains its proper fastening function in various orientations connects a first body with a second body and includes a connecting piece, a bolt, and a nut. The connecting piece includes a circular bowl-shaped receiving groove which is open at a lower opening. The connecting flange is fastened to the first body via a threaded screw. The bolt has a spheroidal connecting head and a threaded connecting pole extending from the connecting head and protruding from the lower opening of the receiving groove to connect to and fasten the second body.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The disclosure generally relates to mechanisms, and more particularly to a connecting mechanism for fastening an electronic device to a holding structure. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0002]    An electronic device may includes a base and a number of working units assembled on/to the base. Each of the working units can held by a number of different holders on the base. The working unit is fastened to each of the holders via a threaded bolt passing through a first assembly hole on the holder and a second assembly hole on the electronic device. However, if one of the holders is inaccurately made, such as an extending direction of the holder deviates from the extending direction of the standard holder or if the holder is shorter than a height of the standard holder, the first assembly hole cannot be aligned with the second assembly hole, and the working unit cannot be fastened to the holder by the threaded bolt. Thus, the holders must be made precisely, which leads to high manufacturing cost of the holders. 
         [0003]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a means which can overcome the above-mentioned problems. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding portions throughout the several views. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 , the electronic device including a holder, a number of working units, and a connecting mechanism connecting the working unit with the holder. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, side view of the electronic device of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is an assembled, top view of the electronic device of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing the holder deviating from a perpendicular direction. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing the holder being shorter than the height of the standard holder. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
         [0012]    In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electronic device  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment includes a base  90  and a number of working units  80 . The base  90  defines a number of receiving through holes  92  to receive the working units  80 . The base  90  includes a number of holders  93  formed at a periphery of each of the receiving through holes  92 . Each of the working units  80  is received in a receiving through hole  92 . A top surface  81  of the working unit  80  is fastened to the holder  93  via a connecting mechanism  10 . The holders  93  are symmetrical about a center of the receiving through hole  92 . Thus, weight of the working unit  80  is equally taken by the holder  93  received in the same receiving through hole  92 . In this embodiment, the receiving through hole  92  is rectangular. There are two holders  93  formed at each of a pair of parallel long sides of the receiving through hole  92 . The working unit  80  can be a solar energy collector. 
         [0013]    Each of the holders  93  includes a connecting part  94  and a holding part  95 . One end of the connecting part  94  is fixed to the periphery of the receiving through hole  92 . The holding part  95  horizontally extends towards an inner side of the receiving through hole  92  from the other end of the connecting part  94  away from the periphery of the receiving through hole  92 . The holding part  95  includes a holding plate  950  which is parallel to an upper surface  91  of the base  90 . The holding part  95  defines a number of fastening through holes  96  in the holding plate  950 . The fastening through holes  96  are located near an end of the holding plate  950  away from the connecting part  94 . Each of the fastening through holes  96  is substantially retangular and includes a pair of opposite round ends. The fastening through holes  96  are radial in shape around a center and are evenly spaced from each other. 
         [0014]    The connecting mechanism  10  includes a connecting piece  30 , a bolt  20 , a pair of nuts  40 , and a washer  60 . The connecting piece  30  includes a receiving groove  31  and a connecting flange  32 . The receiving groove  31  is hollow and bowl-shaped. The receiving groove  31  includes a spherical sidewall  310  and defines an upper opening  312  and a lower opening  314  at opposite ends of the spherical sidewall  310 . Each of the upper opening  312  and the lower opening  314  is circular. Diameter of the upper opening  312  is greater than diameter of the lower opening  314 . Center of the lower opening  314  is concentric with center of the upper opening  312 . The sidewall  310  protrudes outwards from an inside of the receiving groove  31 . The connecting flange  32  extends from a periphery of the upper opening  312 . The connecting piece  30  defines a number of connecting through holes  36  in the connecting flange  32  corresponding to the fastening through holes  96 . Each of the connecting through holes  36  is substantially retangular and includes a pair of opposite round ends. A longitudinal direction of the connecting through hole  36  is substantially parallel to a tangent from the outer circular periphery of the upper opening  312 . The connecting through holes  36  are evenly spaced from each other. In this embodiment, there are four connecting through holes  36  defined in the connecting flange  32 . 
         [0015]    The bolt  20  includes a connecting head  21  and a connecting pole  25  extending from the connecting head  21 . The connecting head  21  is substantially a spheroid. The maximum diameter of the connecting head  21  is less than the diameter of the upper opening  312  but greater than the diameter of the lower opening  314 . The connecting pole  25  extends from a center of a bottom surface of the connecting head  21 . The connecting pole  25  is substantially a cylinder. A diameter of the connecting pole  25  is less than the diameter of the lower opening  314 . The connecting pole  25  includes a screw thread formed on an outer surface of the connecting pole  25 . 
         [0016]    In assembly, referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the connecting pole  25  protrudes out of the receiving groove  31  via the lower opening  314 . The connecting head  21  is cradled by the periphery of the lower opening  314  and securely accommodated in the receiving groove  31 . The connecting flange  32  is in contact with a bottom surface of the holding plate  950 . The connecting through holes  36  are aligned to the fastening through holes  96 . The connecting piece  30  is fastened to the holding plate  950  by a number of threaded screws passing through the connecting through holes  36  and the fastening through holes  96 . The longitudinal direction of each connecting through hole  36  is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each fastening through hole  96 . Thus, the connecting piece  30  can articulate relative to the holding plate  950  through a range of orientations. 
         [0017]    The nuts  40  are screwed on the screw threads of the connecting pole  25 . The washer  60  is sleeved on the connecting pole  25 . An end of the connecting pole  25  is screwed into a threaded hole  82  defined on the top surface  81  of the working unit  80 . The nut  40  close to working unit  80  is screwed towards the working unit  80  to fasten the working unit  80  on the bolt  20 . The washer  60  is positioned between the nut  40  and the top surface  81  of the working unit  80  to avoid abrasion between the nut  40  and the base  90 . The base  90  is thus fastened to the holder  93  via the connecting piece  30  and the bolt  20 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the sidewall  310  of the receiving groove  31  being curved and the connecting head  21  being spherical, the connecting head  21  is capable of swinging in the receiving groove  31 . The longitudinal direction of the connecting pole  25  is capable of being swung around the center of the lower opening  314 . The extending direction of holder  93  may deviate from a perpendicular direction, the longitudinal direction of the connecting pole  25  can be other than vertical and still maintain a securing function with the base  90 . In another situation, referring to  FIG. 6 , if the holder  93  is made shorter than the height of the standard holder  93 , a part of the screwed length of the connecting pole  25  can be screwed into the base  90  to keep the base  90  horizontal. 
         [0019]    It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.