1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a supporting structure, and in particular to a supporting structure to assist in opening and closing the cover of a business machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
When exchanging ink cartridges in a conventional business machine, a cover thereof must be opened, exposing the ink cartridges therein. A basic requirement for users when replacing ink cartridges is that the cover can be lifted easily and held in a predetermined open position.
A conventional business machine 10 is shown in
The present invention provides a supporting structure comprising a sleeve and a connecting rod. The sleeve has a guiding groove with a lug portion. The connecting rod, movably disposed in the sleeve, has a cantilever with a hook portion confined in the guiding groove. The guiding groove has a predetermined profile, such that the cantilever deforms in a first direction when the hook portion passes the lug portion.
The present invention further provides a business machine comprising a main body, cover and supporting structure therebetween. The sleeve connected to the main body has a guiding groove with a lug portion. The connecting rod is connected to the cover and is movably disposed in the sleeve. The connecting rod has a cantilever with a hook portion confined in the guiding groove. The guiding groove has a predetermined profile, such that the cantilever deforms in a first direction when the hook portion passes the lug portion.
Accordingly, when the cover of the business machine is opened, the hook portion of the connecting rod moves along the guiding groove, and the lug portion of the sleeve engages the hook portion, providing sufficient support for the cover, such that the position thereof is temporarily locked. When the cover is closed, the cover should be lifted first, allowing the hook portion to temporarily leave the guiding groove without interfering with the lug portion, and is then pushed downward, directing the hook portion to the bottom of the sleeve. The cover is lifted before being pressed down, protecting the main body from accidental collisions with the cover.
Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitation of the present invention, and wherein:
a˜1b are schematic views of a supporting structure of a conventional business machine;
a˜2b are schematic views of a business machine of the invention;
a˜3b are exploded views of a supported structure in a preferred embodiment; and
a˜4f show the supporting structure functioning in the preferred embodiment.
A business machine of the invention is shown in
The supporting structure 30 has a specific profile to support the opened cover 22 of the business machine 20. The restriction on lifting before the cover is closed, thus, protects the main body 21 from accidental collision with the cover 22 when replacing ink cartridges.
a˜3b show a preferred supporting structure 30 with a sleeve 32 and a connecting rod 31. The sleeve 32 has a guiding groove 321 and a lug portion 322. The guiding groove 321 is separated into a first slot 3211 and a second slot 3212 by the lug portion 322, and the first and second slot 3211, 3212 are not arranged in the same line. The connecting rod 31 has a plurality of ribs 311, a cantilever 312 and a guiding plate 314. The ribs 311 strengthen the structure thereof. The guiding plate 314 faces the cantilever 312, restricting deformation of the cantilever 312. The cantilever 312 has a hook portion 313 confined in the guiding groove 321 when the connecting rod 31 is disposed in the sleeve 32 as shown in
a˜4f show the supporting structure 30 functioning in this preferred embodiment. In order to simplify the drawings, the. main body and the cover of the business machine are not shown. Furthermore, the first slot 321 and the second slot 322 are parallel, but not in the same line. The left surface of the first and second slot 3211, 3212 have a interval P therebetween.
In
As the cover is opened in
When closing, the cover 22 is first slightly lifted, and the connecting rod 31 moved to a third position in the sleeve 32 as shown in
Accordingly, when the cover 22 of the business machine 20 is opened, the hook portion 313 of the connecting rod 31 moves along the guiding groove 321 and the lug portion 322 of the sleeve 32 engages the hook portion 313, providing sufficient support for the cover 22 and fixing the position thereof. When the cover 22 is closed, the cover 22 is lifted first, allowing the hook portion 313 to temporarily leave the guiding groove 321, and is then pushed downward, directing the hook portion 313 back to the guiding groove 321 without interfering with the lug portion 322. Because the cover 22 is lifted before closing to release the hook portion 313, the cover 22 will not close and collide with the main body 21 when under unexpected force.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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TW92212326 | Jul 2003 | TW | national |