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Electronic device with positioning unitRelated Patent Categories: Supports, Brackets, AdjustableElectronic device with positioning unit description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060278787, Electronic device with positioning unit. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 091218068, filed on Nov. 11, 2002. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates to a portable electronic device with a positioning unit. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional notebook computer 1 including a main board module 11, a display module 12 with a screen, and a pivot-and-positioning assembly 13 coupled to rear ends of the main board and display modules 11, 12 so as to permit rotation of the display module 12 relative to the main board module 11 about a first axis (X) and about a second axis (Z) that is perpendicular to the first axis (X). [0006] A pair of spring-biased auxiliary positioning members 14 (only one is shown) are respectively provided to interconnect the main board and display modules 11, 12 to enhance positioning of the display module 11. Each of the auxiliary positioning members 14 is mounted movably on a respective side of the main board module 11, and engages releasably a respective side of the display module 12. A releasing member 142 is provided to disengage each auxiliary positioning member 14 from the display module 12. [0007] The conventional notebook computer is disadvantageous in that the display module 12 tends to rub undesirably against the auxiliary positioning members 14 during rotation about the second axis (Z). Moreover, if the display module 12 is misaligned with the main board module 11 during closing of the notebook computer, the screen of the display module 12 may undesirably strike against one of the auxiliary positioning members 14 and be damaged. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device with a positioning unit that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art. [0009] According to this invention, there is provided an electronic device that comprises: a first housing having an upper wall and a rear end, the upper wall being formed with a pivot-mounting hole adjacent to the rear end of the first housing; a pivot unit being rotatably mounted in the first housing and including a rotatable part that projects upwardly through the pivot-mounting hole and that is rotatable relative to the first housing about a first axis which extends in a transverse direction relative to the upper wall of the first housing; a second housing having a rear end that is pivoted to the rotatable part so as to be rotatable relative to the first housing about a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis and so as to be rotatable together with the rotatable part about the first axis relative to the first housing between opposite first and second angular positions; a positioning unit mounted in the first housing and including a spring-biased stopper that is disposed adjacent to the rotatable part, and that is movable in the transverse direction relative to the first housing between an engaging position, in which, the stopper moves upwardly to engage one of the rotatable part and the rear end of the second housing when the second housing is positioned at one of the first and second angular positions, thereby preventing rotation of the rotatable part and the second housing about the first axis, and a disengaging position, in which the stopper moves downwardly to disengage from the one of the rotatable part and the rear end of the second housing, thereby permitting rotation of the second housing and the rotatable part about the first axis; and an urging member for urging the stopper to move to the engaging position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, [0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional notebook personal computer with a pivot-and-positioning assembly; [0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a notebook computer with a pivot-and-positioning assembly according to this invention; [0013] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating how a stopper engages a rotatable part of the pivot-and-positioning assembly shown in FIG. 2; [0014] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the engagement between the stopper and the rotatable part shown in FIG. 3; [0015] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating how the stopper disengages from the rotatable part of the pivot-and-positioning assembly shown in FIG. 2; [0016] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the stopper shown in FIG. 3; [0017] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the electronic device according to this invention, which includes a catch unit with a latch projecting from the stopper shown in FIG. 3 to position the stopper at an engaging position; [0018] FIG. 8 is an exploded side view of the catch unit shown in FIG. 7; [0019] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating how a pair of clamping arms of the catch unit engage the latch shown in FIG. 7; [0020] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating how the clamping arms of the catch unit disengage from the latch shown in FIG. 9; Continue reading about Electronic device with positioning unit... Full patent description for Electronic device with positioning unit Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Electronic device with positioning unit patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Electronic device with positioning unit or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Roller shade mounting system Next Patent Application: Fixing seat Industry Class: Supports ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Electronic device with positioning unit patent info. 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