Abstract:
A mounting apparatus is provided for fixing a computer case to a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor. The mounting apparatus includes a supporting bracket attached to a backside of the LCD monitor, and a latch mechanism movably mounted to the supporting bracket. The latch mechanism includes a locking member slidably engaging with the supporting bracket, and a driving member slidably engaging with the supporting bracket. The locking member may slides to a locking position to hold the computer case to the supporting bracket. The driving member is capable of being slid in a direction to push the locking member to an unlocking position, where the computer case is ready for being released from the supporting bracket.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to mounting apparatuses and, more particularly, to a mounting apparatus for mounting a computer case to a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor or the like. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A desktop computer generally includes a monitor and a computer case. Nowadays, most people choose an LCD monitor over a conventional cathode ray tube monitor for their computer. The computer case typically arranges beside a computer desk or on the ground under the computer desk. However, a significant space is occupied by the computer case. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a mounting apparatus for a computer case. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of one of the two latch mechanisms of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of a front cover, the latch mechanisms, and a fixing plate of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a front plan view of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of an encircled portion V of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  shows the mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1  in an assembled state, and a computer case released from the mounting apparatus. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is an assembled, isometric view of the mounting apparatus of  FIG. 6  and a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  shows the computer case of  FIG. 6  mounted to the LCD monitor of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 8 , an embodiment of a mounting apparatus is provided to mount a computer case  200  to a backside of a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor  300 . The LCD monitor  300  defines a plurality of wall-mount holes in compliance with the standard of the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). The mounting apparatus includes a fixing plate  10 , a supporting bracket  30 , two locating members  60 , and two latch mechanisms  70 . The computer case  200  is generally rectangular, with two retaining grooves  201  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) respectively defined in two neighboring sides. 
         [0014]    The fixing plate  10  is rectangular. The fixing plate  10  defines a sliding slot  11  and two alignment slots  13 , and forms two rectangular protruding portions  15 . The sliding slot  11  is parallel to two opposite sides of the fixing plate  10  and along a central line between the opposite sides. A plurality of teeth  112  is formed on opposite side walls bounding the sliding slot  1 . The two alignment slots  13  are parallel to the sliding slot  11 , and symmetrically arranged at opposite sides of the sliding slot  11 . The two protruding portions  15  are symmetrically arranged at opposite sides of the alignment slots  13 . A plurality of fixing holes  153  in compliance with the VESA standard is defined in the protruding portions  15 . 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 , and  4 - 7 , the supporting bracket  30  includes a front cover  40  and a rear cover  50 . In one embodiment, the front cover  40  includes a pentagonal front wall  41 , a plurality of locating flanges  42  perpendicularly extending frontwards from a conjunction of adjacent sides of the front wall  41 , and an enclosing wall  43  perpendicularly extending rearwards from corresponding sides of the front wall  41 . A plurality of through holes  411  is defined in the front wall  41 . A plurality of axially threaded mounting posts  44 , and two locating tabs  45  extend from a rear side of the front wall  41 . The front wall  41  includes a top side  403 , two opposite upper lateral sides  404 , and two opposite lower lateral sides  405 . The plurality of locating flanges  42  correspondingly extends from a conjunction between the lower lateral sides  405 , and each lower lateral side  405  and a corresponding upper lateral side  404 . The enclosing wall  43  extends from the top side  403 , lower portions of the upper lateral sides  404 , and upper portions of the lower lateral sides  405  of the front wall  41 . Two receiving areas  46  are defined in the front cover  40 , correspondingly adjacent to the two upper lateral sides  404  of the front wall  41 . Each of the receiving areas  46  is bounded by blocking portions  461 ,  462 ,  463  and  464  extending from the front wall  41  adjacent to an upper portion of each upper lateral side  404 , and the enclosing wall  43 . A first engagement tab  465  and a second engagement tab  466  are arranged at each of the receiving areas  46 . The enclosing wall  43  defines a first opening  432  at the upper portion of each upper lateral side  404 , and a second opening  434  at the lower portion of each upper lateral side  404 . The rear cover  50  is substantially pentagonal, and defines two parallel rectangular guiding slots  51 , and a plurality of securing holes  53 . 
         [0016]    The locating members  60  are made of material with high friction coefficient. In one embodiment, the locating members  60  are rubber wheels. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 , each of the latch mechanisms  70  includes a locking member  71 , a driving member  72 , a first resilient member  73 , and a second resilient member  74 . The locking member  71  includes a retaining portion  711 , two spaced abutment portions  712  extending from an inner surface of the retaining portion  711 , an engagement portion  713  extending from the inner surface of the retaining portion  711  between the two abutment portions  712  (Shown in  FIG. 5 ). A locking tongue  7113  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) protrudes from a side of the retaining portion  711 . Each abutment portions  712  forms a resilient arm  714  on a side of the abutment portion  712  opposite to the other abutment portion  712 . A distal end of each of the abutment portions  712  forms a slanted surface  7121 . Each of the resilient arms  714  forms a shoulder  7141  adjacent to the retaining portion  711 , and an anti-release hook  7142  at a distal end of the resilient arm  714 . The driving member  72  includes an elongated first arm  721 , and an elongated second arm  723  perpendicularly extending from a first end of the first arm  721 . A manipulating portion  7211  forms at a second end of the first arm  721  opposite to the second arm  723 . An engagement portion  7213  forms on the first arm  721  adjacent to the second arm  723 . Two driving portions  7231  perpendicularly extend from the middle and distal end of the second arm  723 , respectively. A distal end of each of the driving portions  7231  forms a slanted surface  7233 . In one embodiment, the first resilient member  73  and the second resilient member  74  are coil springs, each including two hooks at opposite ends. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 ,  5 , and  6 , in assembly, each of the latch mechanisms  70  is installed to the front cover  40 , in one of the receiving areas  46  in a way described as below. The locking member  71  is placed in one of the receiving areas  46 , with the retaining portion  711  extending out of a corresponding first opening  432  of the enclosing wall  43 . The blocking portions  461  and  462  are engaged with the shoulders  7141  of the corresponding resilient arms  714 . Opposite hooks of the first resilient member  73  are respectively engaged with the engagement portion  713  of the locking member  71  and the first engagement tab  465  of the front cover  40  respectively. The driving member  72  is placed in one of the receiving areas  46 , with the second arm  723  extending through a corresponding second opening  434  of the enclosing wall  43  exposing the manipulating portion  7211 . The blocking portions  463  and  464  of the front cover  40  abut against a side of the second arm  723  opposite to the driving portions  7231 . The slanted surfaces  7233  of the two driving portions  7231  abut against the slanted surfaces  7121  of corresponding abutment portions  712  of the locking member  71 . Opposite hooks of the second resilient member  74  are respectively engaged with the engagement portion  7213  of the driving member  72  and the second engagement tab  466  of front cover  40  respectively. 
         [0019]    The two locating members  60  are correspondingly fitted about two of the plurality of mounting posts  44  arranged along a central line of the front cover  40 . The fixing plate  10  is attached to the rear side of the front cover  40 . The locating members  60  are received in the sliding slot  11  of the fixing plate  10 , and the locating tabs  45  are retained in the corresponding alignment slots  13  of the fixing plate  10 . 
         [0020]    The rear cover  50  is attached to the front cover  40 , with the protruding portions  15  of the fixing plate  10  engaged in the corresponding guiding slots  51  of the rear cover  50 , and the plurality of mounting posts  44  of the front cover  40  correspondingly aligned with the plurality of securing holes  53  of the rear cover  50 . The rear cover  50  is secured to the front cover  40  with a plurality of screws correspondingly extending through the plurality of securing holes  53  and engaged in the plurality of mounting posts  44 . Therefore, the fixing plate  10  is sandwiched between the front cover  40  and the rear cover  50 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , before mounting the computer case  200  to the backside of the LCD monitor  300 . The fixing plate  10  slides relative to the supporting bracket  30 , with the locating members  60  sliding in the sliding slot  11  of the fixing plate  10 . The locating tabs  45  of the front cover  40  slide in the corresponding alignment slots  13  of the fixing plate  10 , until the plurality of fixing holes  153  of the fixing plate  10  align with the plurality of through holes  411  of the front cover  40  correspondingly. A plurality of screws correspondingly passes through the plurality of through holes  411 , extends through the plurality of fixing holes  153 , and engage in the plurality of wall-mount holes of the LCD monitor  300 . Therefore, the mounting apparatus is fixed to the backside of the LCD monitor  300 , ready for mounting to the computer case  200 . 
         [0022]    To mount the computer case  200  to the LCD monitor  300 , a lower corner of the computer case  200  is supported on the locating flange  42  between the lower lateral sides  405  of the front cover  40 . The upper portion of the computer case  200  is moved towards the LCD monitor  300  urging the retaining portions  711  of the locking members  71  of the latch mechanisms  70 , and pushes the locking members  71  to slide outwards via corresponding first openings  432  of the enclosing wall  43  of the front cover  40 . With the sliding of the locking members  71 , the resilient arms  714  of the locking members  70  deform to release the blocking portions  461  and  462  from the shoulders  7141  of the resilient arms  714 . The first resilient members  73  also deform. When a front side of the computer case  200  abuts against the front wall  41  of the front cover  40 , the locking tongues  7113  of the locking members  71  align with the corresponding retaining grooves  201  of the computer case  200 . Therefore, the first resilient members  73  restore to drive the corresponding locking members  71  to slide back, until the locking tongues  7113  engage in the corresponding retaining grooves  201  of the computer case  200 . Therefore, the computer case  200  is mounted to the LCD monitor  300  via the mounting apparatus, with opposite side corners of the computer case  200  supported by the corresponding locating flanges  42  between the upper and lower lateral sides  404  and  405 . Since the supporting bracket  30  is slidable up and down relative to the fixing plate  10 , and positioned at a predetermined height with the locating members  60  meshing with the teeth  112  of the sliding slot  11  The computer case  200  can be adjusted to make sure a button  203  adjacent to a top of the computer case  200  is accessible to a user at the front of the LCD monitor  300 . 
         [0023]    To detach the computer case  200  from the LCD monitor  300 , the manipulating portions  7211  of the driving members  72  are operated to make the driving members  72  slide along the enclosing wall  43  of the front cover  40  away from the corresponding locking members  71 . With the sliding of the driving members  72 , the slanted surfaces  7233  of the driving portions  7231  of the driving members  72  slide on the slanted surfaces  7121  of the corresponding abutment portions  712  of the locking members  71 . Therefore, the locking members  71  are urged away from the supporting bracket  30  to make the locking tongues  7113  of the locking members  71  disengage from the corresponding retaining grooves  201  of the computer case  200 . Therefore, the computer case  200  is ready to be detached from the mounting apparatus. When the anti-release hooks  7142  of the resilient arms  714  abut against the corresponding blocking portions  461  and  462 , the locking members  71  are prevented from sliding outwards and disengaging from the supporting bracket  30 . 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, the fixing plate  10  is unnecessary, and the supporting bracket  30  may be directly fixed to a wall or other flat surface of an object. Therefore, the computer case  200  is mounted to the wall or an object, with the computer case  200  received in the supporting bracket  30  and held by one or more latch mechanism  70  installed to the supporting bracket  30 . 
         [0025]    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 description or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being exemplary embodiments.