Patent Abstract:
A supporting apparatus for an electronic device includes a mounting mechanism, and a supporting assembly. The mounting mechanism includes a fixing bracket fixed to the electronic device, and a latching member mounted to the fixing bracket. The supporting assembly includes a mount, and a locking member fixed to the mount. The locking member includes a locking tab and a locking tongue opposite to the locking tab. The latch member is slidable between a locking position, where the latch member abuts the locking tongue to preventing the fixing bracket from moving away from the locking member, and an unlocking position, where the latch member disengages from the locking tongue to enable the fixing bracket to move away from the locking member.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Relevant subject matter is disclosed in three pending U.S. patent applications, all titled “ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH SUPPORTING APPARATUS”, with the application Ser. Nos. 13/198,730, 13/211,275, and 13/213,101, respectively filed on Aug. 5, 2011, Aug. 16, 2011, and Aug. 19, 2011, and another pending U.S. patent application, titled “ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH MOUNTING APPARATUS”, with the application Ser. No. 13/209,458, filed on Aug. 15, 2011, which are all assigned to the same assignee as this patent application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to supporting apparatus, and particularly, to a supporting apparatus for an electronic device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    An electronic device, such as an all-in-one computer or a liquid crystal display, is secured to a supporting mechanism by a plurality of fasteners. However, it is time-consuming and often difficult to disassemble the supporting mechanism from the electronic device when the electronic device is to be hung on a wall. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an assembled supporting apparatus and an electronic device, wherein the supporting apparatus includes a mounting mechanism, and a supporting assembly. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are exploded, isometric views of the mounting mechanism of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from different perspectives. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric view of the supporting assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the assembled mounting mechanism and the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is another isometric view of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the assembled mounting mechanism and the supporting assembly of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another perspective. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are enlarged views of the encircled portion VIII of  FIG. 7 , showing different states of the mounting mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. 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. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a supporting apparatus for mounting to an electronic device  10  is provided. The supporting apparatus includes a mounting mechanism  20 , and a supporting assembly  30 . In one embodiment, the electronic device  10  is an all-in-one computer with a recess  12  defined in the rear side. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the mounting mechanism  20  includes a fixing bracket  21 , a mounting bracket  23 , a latch member  25 , a manipulation member  27 , a resilient member  29 , two first sliding members  22 , and two second sliding members  24 . 
         [0017]    The fixing bracket  21  includes a fixing plate  212 , two wing plates  214  respectively extending from opposite sides of the fixing plate  212 , a flange  216  extending rearwards form the top side of the fixing plate  212 , and a locating plate  218  extending forwards from the bottom side of the fixing plate  212 . The substantially L-shaped wing plates  213  extend from opposite ends of the fixing plate  212 . Each wing plate  213  includes a first portion perpendicularly extending from the fixing plate  212 , and a second portion perpendicularly extending from the distal end of the first portion opposite to the fixing plate  212 . The second portions of the wing plates  213  extend away from each other. Two through holes  2121  are defined in the fixing plate  212 . A positioning portion  2123  perpendicularly extends from each of the bottom walls which form the lower boundary of the through hole  2121 . A plurality of bulges  2125  is formed on the rear side of the fixing plate  212 , opposite the positioning portions  2123 . Each of the bulges  2125  defines a fixing hole  2126 . A plurality of positioning portions  2143  is formed on the first portion of each of the wing plates  2125 . Two locking holes  2161  are defined at the joint of the fixing plate  212  and the flange  216 . The locating plate  218  forms two positioning portions  2183  and an engagement tab  2185 . The locating plate  218  defines two slide slots  2187 . 
         [0018]    The mounting bracket  23  includes a first shielding plate  231 , a second shielding plate  233  parallel to and arranged below and ahead of the first shielding plate  231 , and a connecting portion  235  connected between the bottom side of the first shielding plate  231  and the top side of the second shielding plate  233 . The first shielding plate  231  defines a plurality of alignment holes  2312 . A plurality of hooks  2314  extends forwards from the first shielding plate  231 , arranged adjacent to the sides of the first shielding plate  231 . An interference-avoiding slot  2315  is defined in the first shielding plate  231 , adjacent to the connecting portion  235 . The second shielding plate  233  defines a plurality of adapting holes  2331  for exposing the connectors of the electronic device  10 . The connecting portion  235  defines an opening  2352 . Two posts  2354 , each axially defining a threaded hole  2555 , are formed on the top of the connecting portion  235 . 
         [0019]    The latch member  25  includes a base plate  251 , two blocking tabs  252  extending up from the rear side of the base plate  251 , and an engagement tab  253  extending from one of the sides at the front of the base plate  251 . Two posts  2512 , each axially defining a threaded hole  2513 , are formed on the top of the base plate  251 . A securing block  2516  extends from the bottom of the base plate  251 , opposite to the posts  2512 . 
         [0020]    The manipulation member  27  includes a base plate  271 , a handle portion  272  protruding from the bottom of the base plate  271 , and two opposite holding tabs  273  protruding from the top of the base plate  271 . The base plate  271  defines two parallel slide slots  2711 . 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the resilient member  29  is a coil spring, with a hook  292  formed at each end. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the first and second sliding members  22  and  24  are screws with large diameter flat heads. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the supporting assembly  30  includes a mount  32 , a locking member  34 , and a cover  36 . 
         [0024]    The mount  32  includes a bottom plate  321 , a curved supporting arm  323  extending up from the bottom plate  321 , and a coupling member  325  rotatably mounted to the top end of the supporting arm  323  opposite to the bottom plate  321 . The coupling member  325  includes a connecting plate  3251 , and a rotating portion  3254  slantingly protruding rearward from the rear side of the connecting plate  3251  and pivotably connected to the supporting arm  323 . The connecting plate  3251  defines a plurality of fastening holes  3253 . 
         [0025]    The locking member  34  includes a base plate  341 , two locking tabs  342  extending from the top side of the base plate  341 , and two locking tongues  344  extending from the bottom side of the base plate  341 . The locking tabs  342  and the locking tongues  344  are slightly offset forwards from the base plate  341 . The base plate  341  defines a plurality of first fixing holes  3412  and a plurality of second fixing holes  3414 . 
         [0026]    The cover  36  defines a through hole  361 . A plurality of mounting poles (not shown), each axially defining a threaded hole, extends from the front side of the cover  36  facing the locking member  34 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , to assemble the mounting mechanism  20  to the electronic device  10 , the manipulation member  27  is disposed on the connecting portion  235  of the mounting bracket  23 . The handle portion  272  is slidably received in the opening  2352  of the connecting portion  235 . The posts  2354  of the connecting portion  235  are slidably received in the corresponding slide slots  2711  of the manipulation member  27 . The second sliding members  24  extend through the slide slots  2711  and are fastened in the corresponding posts  2354 , to slidably mount the manipulation member  27  to the mounting bracket  23 . The securing block  2516  of the latch member  25  is securely sandwiched between the holding tabs  273  of the manipulation member  27 , to fix the latch member  25  to the manipulation member  27 . The fixing bracket  21  is attached to the mounting bracket  23 . The hooks  2314  are engaged with the corresponding positioning portions  2123 ,  2143 , and  2183 . The bulges  2125  of the fixing bracket  21  are received in the corresponding alignment holes  2312  of the mounting bracket  23 . The slide slots  2187  are aligned with the corresponding posts  2512  of the latch member  25 . The first sliding members  22  slidably extend through the slide slots  2187  and are fastened in the corresponding posts  2512 , to slidably connect the latch member  25  to the fixing bracket  21 . The hooks  292  of the resilient member  29  are engaged with the engagement tab  2185  of the fixing bracket  21 , and the engagement tab  253  of the latch member  25 . 
         [0028]    The mounting mechanism  20  is received in the recess  12  of the electronic device  10 . A plurality of screws extends through the corresponding fixing holes  2126  of the fixing bracket  21  and fasten to the electronic device  10 , to secure the mounting mechanism  20  to the rear side of the electronic device  10 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , to assemble the supporting assembly  30 , the connecting plate  3251  of the mount  32  passes through the through hole  361  of the cover  36  to be located in front of the cover  36 . The pivoting portion  3254  is received in the through hole  361 . The locking member  34  abuts the connecting plate  3251  opposite to the supporting arm  323 . The first fixing holes  3412  of the locking member  34  align with the fastening holes  3253  of the connecting plate  3251 . The second fixing holes  3414  of the locking member  34  align with the mounting poles of the cover  36 . A plurality of screws extends through the first and second fixing holes  3412  and  3414 , and by virtue of the fastening holes  3253 , secure the locking member  34  to the coupling member  325  and the cover  36 . The connecting plate  3251  is sandwiched between the cover  36  and the locking member  34 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 to 9 , to mount the electronic device  10  to the supporting assembly  30 , the locking tabs  342  of the locking member  34  are manipulated into the corresponding locking holes  2161  of the fixing bracket  21 . The handle portion  272  of the manipulation member  27  is manipulated to slide the manipulation member  27  and the latch member  25  away from the engagement tab  2185  of the mounting bracket  21 . The resilient member  29  is deformed. The base plate  341  of the locking member  34  abuts the first shielding plate  231  of the mounting bracket  23 , with the locking tongues  344  extending through the interference-avoiding slot  2315 . After the releasing member  27  is released, the resilient member  29  drives the latch member  25  to a locking position (shown in  FIG. 8 ), where the blocking tabs  252  of the latch member  25  abut the front sides of the corresponding locking tongues  344  of the locking member  34 , to prevent the latch member  25  moving forwards away from the locking member  34 . In this way, the electronic device  10  is locked to the supporting assembly  30 . 
         [0031]    To detach the electronic device  10  from the supporting assembly  30 , the handle portion  272  of the manipulation member  27  is manipulated to slide the manipulation member  27  and the latch member  25  away from the engagement tab  2185  of the mounting bracket  21 , to an unlocking position (shown in  FIG. 9 ), where the blocking tabs  252  of the latch member  25  are disengaged from the corresponding locking tongues  344  of the locking member  34 . The electronic device  10  can be tilted relative to the locking member  34 , thereby moving the latch member  25  forwards away from the locking member  34  The electronic device  10  is driven down to disengage the locking tabs  342  of the locking member  34  from the corresponding locking holes  2161  of the fixing bracket  21 . In this way, the electronic device  10  may be detached from the supporting assembly  30 . 
         [0032]    Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiment(s) have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiment(s), the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and the arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5