Computer

The present invention relates to computers, and particularly relates to desktop type computers integrated or combined with a liquid crystal display (LCD).

Personal computer systems are, by now, well known in the art and have been supplied in a number of different configurations, including desktop systems with CPU housings separate from monitors, notebook systems, and unitary systems. A conventional personal computer includes multiple components (main computer case, keyboard, monitor, speakers, etc.,). Traditionally, these components were typically separate from one another, the separate components being connected by electronic cables. There have been efforts to integrate the components of computers, and to make the computers as compact as possible. For example, systems have been developed wherein multiple computer components (e.g., motherboard, hard drives, removable media drives, speakers, etc.) have been integrated with a display component (e.g., flat panel display, cathode ray tube, etc.) to form an integrated computer system. In one example of an integrated desktop computer, the computer components are mounted within the same housing that houses the display. It is inconvenient to upgrade and repair such an integrated computer with so many components filling the display housing limiting the space therein. Furthermore, it is difficult to adequately dissipate heat produced from such a computer.

What is needed is to provide an integrated computer which has a structure for convenient use and good heat dissipation.

An exemplary computer includes a host machine, and a display device. The host machine defines a recessed portion in a side panel thereof to receive the display device therein. The display device includes a frame, and an LCD panel installed in the frame. The recessed portion includes a pair of elongated grooves defined in one pair of sidewalls thereof, and a plurality of vents defined in a base wall thereof. The frame includes a pair of posts extending from side portions thereof to engage in the elongated grooves. The posts are surrounded with resilient materials and tightly received in the elongated groove in an interferential fit. The display device is pivotable about more than one axis relative to the host machine.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a computer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the computer includes a host machine, and a display device; and

FIGS. 2 to 4 are assembled views of FIG. 1 , respectively showing the display in different states.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 2 , a computer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a host machine 10 , and a display device 20 movably attached to the host machine 10 .

The host machine 10 has conventional configurations and is equipped with traditional components, such as motherboards, hard disks, power supplies, optical drives, and so on. The host machine 10 includes a side panel 12 . A recessed portion 110 is defined in the side panel 12 . The recessed portion 110 includes a base wall 120 , and a plurality of sidewalls 140 perpendicularly formed around the base wall 120 , cooperatively defining a space to receive the display device 20 therein. A plurality of vents 122 is defined in the base wall 120 of the recessed portion 110 . A pair of elongated grooves 142 is symmetrically defined in one pair of vertical sidewalls 140 of the recessed portion 110 respectively.

The display device 20 includes a frame 22 , and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel 23 installed in the frame 22 . A pair of posts 210 extends perpendicularly from middles of vertical side portions of the frame 22 , corresponding to the elongated grooves 142 of the host machine 10 . Each of the posts 210 is surrounded with some resilient materials, such as rubber. Each of the posts 210 includes a threaded portion formed at a distal portion thereof. A pair of tabs 240 extends perpendicularly from outside surface portions of the frame 22 beside the posts 210 , for manual operations. In this preferred embodiment, a through hole is defined in the left post 210 . Power lines and signal lines of the LCD panel 23 are integrated into cables. The cables extend through the through hole of the left post 210 to communicate with relating components of the host machine 10 .

In assembly, the display device 20 is movably located in the recessed portion 110 of the host machine 10 , with the posts 210 extending through the elongated grooves 142 , and screws after extending through the elongated grooves 142 engage with the threaded portions 220 of the posts 210 . On one hand, the posts 210 are tightly held in the elongated grooves 142 to position the display device 20 . On the other hand, resilient materials surrounding the posts 210 are deformable so that the posts 210 may slide and pivot in the elongated grooves 142 to selectively position the display device 20 .

When one of the tabs 240 is pushed and the other one of the tabs 240 is drawn, one of the posts 210 slides inward in the elongated grooves 142 , while the other one of the posts 210 slides outward in the elongated grooves 142 , which result in the display device 20 pivoting slightly about a vertical axis, as shown in FIG. 3 as a double arrow path thereof. When the tabs 240 are drawn outward or pushed inward at the same time, the posts 210 slightly pivot in the elongated grooves 142 about a horizontal axis, which result in the display device 20 pivoting slightly about the horizontal axis, as shown in FIG. 4 as a double path thereof. Friction between the elongated grooves 142 and the resilient materials surrounding the posts 210 , keep the display device 20 located in a certain position until outside force is applied thereto. Heat produced by the LCD panel 23 easily transfers to the host machine 10 to be dissipated via the vents 122 of the host machine 10 .

Alternatively, the elongated grooves 142 can be defined in one pair of horizontal sidewalls 140 of the recessed portion 110 of the host machine 10 . The posts 210 can extend perpendicularly from horizontal edge portions of the frame 22 of the display device 20 . Tabs 240 can extend from horizontal edge portions of the frame 22 .

Further, an additional pair of elongated grooves can be defined in the pair of horizontal sidewalls 140 of the side panel 12 of the host machine 10 . An additional pair of posts can extend from horizontal side portions of the frame 22 , to engage in the corresponding elongated grooves of the host machine 10 . An additional pair of tabs can extend from horizontal side portions of the frame 22 , for manual operations.

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 invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.