Rotatable housing of a computer peripheral device

Abstract

A rotatable housing of a computer peripheral device includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is pivotally coupled to the second portion. The first portion has a first inclined surface and the second portion has a corresponding second inclined surface. The second inclined surface of the second portion can be rotated relatively to the first inclined surface of the first portion, thereby fundamentally changing the appearance of the housing by changing the angle between the first and second portions of the housing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer peripheral device, and in particular to a computer peripheral device housing having relatively rotatable parts.

2. Description of the Prior Art A computer peripheral device may have different functions depending on different core technologies. For example, a computer peripheral device may include, but is not limited to a web cam, microphone, speaker, card reader . . . etc.

The housing and support design of the computer peripheral device plays an important role in adding more convenient functions and in creating an attractive appearance to lure any potential users. For example, in order to obtain an optimum-viewing angle, a web cam housing is usually provided with a ball-joint-like mechanism between the web cam body and web cam support. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,738,094 and 6,431,507 disclose similar structures in common use. While the use of pivotal supports as disclosed in these patents enables an optimum viewing angle to be obtained, thereby adding a convenient function, the overall appearance of the peripheral is quite rigid because the appearance of the housing itself, as opposed to the support structure, cannot be changed.

Another design can be observed from U.S. Pat. No. 6,856,692, in which two speakers are connected together by a ball joint. Again, even though the speakers are relatively movable, enabling adjustment of speaker angle, the speakers are located on the same axle line, and their appearance still cannot be changed.

None of the prior housing designs discussed above enable the structure of the housing, as opposed to the position of housing supports or connecting structures, to be changed in a way that provides both added functionality and that substantively changes the overall appearance of the peripheral.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a housing of a computer peripheral device that has mutually rotatable portions arranged in a way that fundamentally change the appearance or formation of the housing upon relative rotation of the portions.

To accomplish the advantage mentioned above, the housing of the computer peripheral comprises a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion is pivotally coupled to the second portion. The first portion has a first inclined surface and the second portion has a corresponding second inclined surface. The second inclined surface of the second portion can be rotated relatively to the first inclined surface of the first portion to change the angle between the portions and therefore the appearance of the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another exploded isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 after being rotated.

FIG. 6 is a top view according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 after being rotated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

FIGS. 1˜3 are isometric views of the present invention. The rotatable housing of a computer peripheral device comprises a first portion 11 and a second portion 12. The first portion 11 is pivotally coupled to the second portion 12, and the first portion 11 has, at a first end, a first flat surface 113 and, at a second end, a first inclined surface 114 at a first angle A, and the second portion 12 has, at a first end, a second flat surface 123 and, at a second end, a second inclined surface 124 at a second angle B. Referring to the FIG. 3, because first angle A of portion 11 is the supplement angle of second angle B of the second portion 12, i.e., the sum of the first angle and the second angle equals 180 degrees, the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 may be arranged in a linear configuration.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the first portion 11 has an upper housing 111 and lower housing 112, and the second portion 12 has an upper housing 121 and lower housing 122. Either the first portion 11 or the second portion 12 can receive a peripheral unit such as speaker 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the first portion 11 has an axle 115 and the second portion has a bearing 125 for receiving the axle 115 therein. The axle 115 further has a rib 117 and the bearing 125 correspondingly has a groove 127 such that once the first portion 11 is rotated, the rib 117 can be pivoted within the groove 127. The axle 117 and the bearing 125 have respective holes 116, 126 for facilitating the connection of power and/or signal wires between the speaker 20 and a computer system (not shown).

By the structure mentioned above, once the first portion 11 is rotated, the first inclined surface 114 of the first portion 11 can be rotated relatively to the second inclined surface 124 of the second portion 12. Thus, a non-zero included angle θ may be formed between the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 as shown in FIG. 5. The sound wave generated by the speaker 20 can be projected from a lateral direction to a diagonal direction.

Referring to FIG. 6, the second portion 12 may be configured to couple the first portion 11 at each end. When each of the first portions 11 is rotated, the first inclined surface 114 of the first portion 11 can be rotated relatively to the second inclined surface 124 of the second portion 12. Thus, each of the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 may be rotated to form a non-zero included angle θ as shown in FIG. 7. If each of the portions 11 contains a speaker 20 (or any peripheral units), the sound wave generated by the speaker 20 can be projected from a lateral direction to a front direction.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A rotatable housing of a computer peripheral device, the housing comprising: a first portion and a second portion; wherein the first portion is pivotally coupled to the second portion; wherein the first portion has an first inclined surface at a first angle and a second portion has a corresponding second inclined surface at a second angle; the first angle being a supplement angle of the second angle; whereby the first inclined surface of the first portion can be rotated relatively to the second inclined surface of the second portion to vary an angle between the first portion and the second portion.

2. The rotatable housing of the computer peripheral device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion has an axle and the second portion has a bearing for receiving the axle.

3. The rotatable housing of the computer peripheral device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the axle has a rib and the bearing correspondingly has a groove for receiving the rib.

4. The rotatable housing of the computer peripheral device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the first portion or second portion contains a peripheral unit.

5. A rotatable housing of a computer peripheral device, the housing comprising: a first portion and a second portion; wherein the first portion is pivoted to the second portion, and the first portion and the second portion are arranged in a linear configuration; wherein a first inclined surface of the first portion is rotatable relative to a second inclined surface of the second portion such that, upon rotation, the first portion and the second portion has an included non-zero angle therebetween.

6. The rotatable housing of the computer peripheral device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first portion has an axle and the second portion has a bearing for receiving the axle.

7. The rotatable housing of the computer peripheral device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the axle has a rib and the bearing correspondingly has a groove for receiving the rib.

8. The rotatable housing of the computer peripheral device as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least the first portion or second portion contains a peripheral unit.

9. A rotatable housing of a computer peripheral device, the housing comprising: a first portion, a second portion and a third portion; wherein the first portion and the third portion are respectively pivoted to each end of the second portion, and the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are arranged in a linear configuration; wherein a first inclined surface of the first portion and a third inclined surface of the third portion can be respectively rotated relatively to a second inclined surface at each end of the second portion; whereby a non-zero included angle is formed either between the first portion and the second portion, or between the third portion and the second portion upon rotation of said second portion relative to a respective said third portion or first portion.

10. The rotatable housing of the computer peripheral device as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the first portion and the third portion has an axle, and each end of the second portion has a bearing for receiving the corresponding axle.

11. The rotatable housing of the computer peripheral device as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the axles has a rib, and each of the bearing correspondingly has a groove for receiving the rib 12. The rotatable housing of the computer peripheral device as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least the first portion or third portion contains a peripheral unit.