KR100523161B1 - Locking mechanism of functional expansion unit for electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

When the function expansion unit 30 is inserted into the main body 1 from the opening portion 2 in a state where the surface on which the connector portion 31 is installed is opposed to the opening portion 2, the function of the connector portion (3) 31 is guided to a position opposite the connector 4. Moreover, when the function expansion unit 30 is inserted into the main body 1, the connector portion 31 engages with the connector 4. As a result, the function expansion unit 30 is electrically connected to the main body 1. In addition, the connector portion 31 engages with the connector 4, and the locking portion 12 of the arm 6 is caught by the lock portion 32. As a result, the function expansion unit 30 is physically fixed to the main body 1.

Description

Locking mechanism of functional expansion unit for electronic device

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly, to a fixing mechanism and an anti-theft mechanism of a function expansion unit.

Background Art Conventionally, for example, in an electronic device such as a personal computer, it is proposed to mount a function expansion unit to expand the function. Since such a function expansion unit is used depending on the use, detachment from an electronic device must be possible.

If the function expansion unit is dropped from the electronic device during operation, the electronic device or the function expansion unit may be electrically damaged. Therefore, it is important that the electrical connection and physical fixing to the electronic device are securely made during mounting.

In addition, since the function expansion unit is easily stolen because detachment from the electronic device is possible, it is necessary to take anti-theft measures. As a conventional technique for the purpose of anti-theft, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-267762 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11-6889 disclose a fixing mechanism of a function expansion unit having an anti-theft mechanism.

However, in the invention disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-267762, in order to attach and detach the function expansion unit from the electronic device, it is inconvenient to use because a plurality of working steps are required such as removing the electronic device cover.

In addition, in the invention disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-6889, since the anti-theft mechanism has a configuration in which a part of the front surface of the function expansion unit is closed, restrictions are placed on the appearance of the device, and the optimum device appearance is designed. It was an obstacle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been conceived to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a fixing mechanism of a function expansion unit for an electronic device that is convenient to use and that can realize a degree of freedom in designing the appearance of the device.

In order to solve the above problems, the fixing mechanism of the functional expansion unit for an electronic device according to the present invention includes an main body having a case, an opening formed in the case and inserted into the functional expansion unit in the electronic device in which the function expansion unit is mounted. An arm inserted from the opening and rotatably supported in the same plane as the function expansion unit mounted inside the main body, and having a locking portion on the side of the function expansion unit, the locking portion being pressed in the direction of the function expansion unit by the pressing means. And a connector that is electrically connected to the function expansion unit at a mounting position of the function expansion unit. When the function expansion unit is inserted into the main body from the opening, the function expansion unit is electrically connected to the connector and the engaging portion is fastened to the side so that the function expansion unit is inside the main body. It is characterized by being caught.

According to the fixing mechanism of the functional expansion unit for an electronic device, the electronic device is electrically connected to the electronic device and physically fixed only by inserting the functional expansion unit into the main body of the electronic device.

In addition, the fixing mechanism of the function expansion unit for an electronic device according to the present invention includes a shaft which is supported to move and move in an axial direction parallel to the detachment direction of the function expansion unit behind the mounting position of the function expansion unit, and to one of the shaft or the arm. It may be provided, and the groove | channel which inclined with respect to the axis line of a shaft, and the connecting pin which slides the inside of a groove | channel by connecting a shaft and an arm through this groove | channel may be provided.

In the fixing mechanism of the function expansion unit for such an electronic device, when the function expansion unit is mounted inside the main body, when the shaft moves in the direction of the function expansion unit, the arm rotates in association with the shaft by the groove and the connecting pin, While the locking portion is removed from the function expansion unit, one end of the shaft is pushed out of the opening to the outside of the main body by pressing a part of the function expansion unit in the opening direction.

In the fixing mechanism of the function expansion unit for electronic devices, a fastening means for fixing the shaft to the electronic device may be further provided.

According to the fixing mechanism of the function expansion unit for electronic devices, when the shaft is fixed to the electronic device, the function expansion unit cannot be extracted outside the electronic device.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, with reference to drawings, embodiment of the fixing mechanism of the function expansion unit for electronic devices which concerns on this invention is described in detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a schematic diagram of the electronic device which shows one Embodiment of the fixing mechanism of the function expansion unit for electronic devices which concerns on this invention. In FIG. 1, the state in which the function expansion unit 30 is accommodated in the main body 1 of the electronic device is shown. Moreover, the fixing mechanism of the function expansion unit for electronic devices which concerns on this invention is applicable to the electronic device which can mount a function expansion unit, for example, various electronic devices, such as a personal computer.

The fixing mechanism of the function expansion unit for electronic devices of this embodiment includes a main body 1 of an electronic device made of a case, an opening 2 formed in one side wall of the main body 1, and the main body 1 from the opening 2. It has a plate-shaped guide (3) provided in the inner direction of and a connector (4) disposed substantially parallel to the opening portion (2) away from the opening portion (2) by a predetermined distance in the inner direction of the main body (1).

In addition, the fixing mechanism of the function expansion unit for electronic devices has a sidewall of which the axis is perpendicular to the sidewall of the main body 1 on which the opening 2 is formed, and one end thereof faces the side wall on which the opening 2 of the main body 1 is formed. From the main body 1 to the outside, and the other end is arranged next to the connector 4, and is supported so that it can be moved to the axial direction by the spring 8 caught by the installation part 16 provided in the main body 1 The shaft 5 and the shaft 5 and the axis line are substantially parallel, one end of which is caught by a part of the shaft 5, and the other end on which the catching part 12 is provided is an opening 2 inside the main body 1. Arm 6, which is disposed in the vicinity of the arm and supported by a pin 23 for driving the center of the body to the main body 1, and a spring 9 caught in the mounting portion 17 provided in the main body 1; , Having a plate shape bent in an approximately L shape, one end of which is installed on the shaft 5, and one plane including the other end of the opening 2. Has a fixed plate (7) disposed in contact to the side wall opposite the side wall formed.

The function expansion unit 30 has a case shape, for example, and the connector part 31 which is electrically connected with the connector 4 arrange | positioned at the main body 1 in the surface inserted in the main body 1 as a head. Is provided, and on one side surface parallel to the direction to be inserted into the main body 1, the lock part 32 dug in concave shape is formed.

The guide 3 is composed of a pair of plate-shaped members 3a and 3b having different shapes, and the member 3a extends the function expansion unit 30 from one end of the opening 2 to the inside of the main body 1. It is arrange | positioned along the direction to insert, and the member 3b is arrange | positioned apart by the predetermined distance substantially parallel to the member 3a.

The connector 4 is disposed at a position where the function expansion unit 30 separated from the opening 2 by a predetermined distance is accommodated at a predetermined position inside the main body 1 and engages with the connector portion 31. The connector 4 is connected with the connector part 31 of the function expansion unit 30, and electrically connects the electric circuit installed in the main body 1 which is not shown in figure with the function expansion unit 30. FIG.

The shaft 5 has a rod shape, and at one end, a protrusion 11 for pushing the function expansion unit 30 out of the main body 1, and at the other end of the button portion 18, is led out of the main body 1. Is provided, and is supported by the fixing plate 7 bent in substantially L shape in the vicinity of the center so as to be movable in the axial direction. The connection part 20 which protruded in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft 5 is formed in the vicinity of the root of the projection part 11, The hole which is not shown in this connection part 20 is formed, The groove 22 of the arm 6 is fastened by the pin 19 so that the shaft 5 and the arm 6 are connected. In addition, a hole 21 is formed near the center of the shaft 5, and one end of the spring 8 is caught by the hole 21.

The arm 6 has a rod shape and at one end thereof engages the lock portion 32 and the engaging portion 12 by entering the lock portion 32 of the function expansion unit 30 bent in a direction orthogonal to the axis. ) Is formed and a groove 22 is formed at the other end. As the hole formed in the groove 22 and the connecting portion 20 of the shaft 5 is fastened by the pin 19, the arm 6 is connected to the shaft 5. The arm 6 is fixed to the main body 1 by the pin 23 near the center thereof, so that the arm 6 is fixed to the main body 1 so as to be rotatable. In addition, a hole 24 is formed in the arm 6 between the pin 23 and the groove 22, and one end of the spring 9 is caught in the hole 24.

The stationary plate 7 has a plate shape bent in an approximately L shape, one end of which is mounted to the shaft 5, and the other end thereof has an approximately oval long hole 13 formed on a surface including the end thereof. . When the surface on which the long hole 13 of the fixing plate 7 is provided contacts the side wall of the main body 1 on the side wall of the main body 1 to which the surface on which the said long hole 13 is provided contacts the long side hole, An elongated hole 15 having an equivalent shape of (13) and opened continuously with the elongated hole 13 is formed.

The spring 8 consists of a well-known spring, and by putting one end to the hole 21 formed in the shaft 5 and the other end to the hole 25 formed in the installation part 16, The shaft 5 is kept operable in its longitudinal direction. As a result, the shaft 5 is pushed by the user to push the button portion 18 into the main body 1, so that a predetermined position (the surface on which the elongated hole 13 of the fixing plate 7 is provided) is long. Predetermined position by the elastic force of the spring 8 even if it moves to the direction in which the protrusion part 11 in the long side direction of the shaft 5 is installed from the state which abuts on the side wall where the hole 15 is provided. You can go back to In addition, the position in which the mounting portion 16 is disposed can be changed freely as long as it is a position where the shaft 5 can be quickly returned to the predetermined position by the elastic force of the spring 8 even when the shaft 5 moves from the predetermined position.

The spring 9 consists of a well-known spring, and one end is hung on the hole 24 formed in the arm 6 and the other end is hung on the hole 26 formed in the mounting portion 17, The arm 6 is held to be rotatable with the pin 23 as a point. Thus, the arm 6 is centered around the pin 23 from a predetermined position (a state in which the locking portion 12 is engaged with the lock portion 32 when the function expansion unit 30 is attached to the main body 1). Even if it rotates in the counterclockwise direction, it can return to a predetermined position by the elastic force of the spring 9. Moreover, the position which arrange | positions the installation part 17 is a position surface which can be quickly returned to a predetermined position by the elastic force of the spring 9, even if the arm 6 rotates about the pin 23 from a predetermined position, You can change it freely.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

First, with reference to FIG. 1, the operation | movement in the case of attaching the function expansion unit 30 to the main body 1 is demonstrated.

When the function expansion unit 30 is inserted into the main body 1 from the opening portion 2 in a state where the surface on which the connector portion 31 is installed is opposed to the opening portion 2, the function of the connector portion (3) is achieved by the guide 3. 31 is guided to a position opposite the connector 4. Furthermore, when the function expansion unit 30 is inserted into the main body 1, the connector portion 31 engages with the connector 4. As a result, the function expansion unit 30 is electrically connected to the main body 1.

In addition, the arm 6 includes the main body 1 so that the locking portion 12 is caught by the lock portion 32 when the function expansion unit 30 is inserted to the position where the connector portion 31 engages with the connector 4. ) Is placed inside. Therefore, while the connector part 31 engages with the connector 4, the engaging part 12 of the arm 6 enters into the connector part 31. As shown in FIG. As a result, the function expansion unit 30 is moved by the locking portion 12 that enters the lock portion 32 even when an external force in the direction in which the connector portion 31 is released from the connector 4 is applied. Since it is restricted to do so, it is physically fixed to the main body 1.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the function expansion unit 30 is only electrically inserted into the main body 1, electrically connected to the main body 1, and physically fixed to the main body 1.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the operation in the case of separating the function expansion unit 30 from the main body 1 will be described.

2 is a plan view of the connecting portion of the shaft 5 and the arm 6, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the arm 6 is interlocked with the operation of the shaft 5 at the connecting portion of the shaft 5 and the arm 6. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the function expansion unit 30 is separated from the main body 1 in the present embodiment.

In order to separate the function expansion unit 30 from the main body 1, the button part 18 of the shaft 5 is pushed in the main body 1 direction. Then, according to the operation of the shaft 5, the pin 19 has an end portion in which the engaging portion 12 is not provided in the groove 22 of the arm 6 along the long side direction of the arm 6. Moves along the circumferential edge of the groove 22 in the direction of the end where the locking portion 12 is installed. The shape of the grooves 22 is not simply straight, as shown well in FIGS. 2 to 4, but is approximately N-shaped inclined with respect to the axis of the arm 6 near the center. As a result, when the arm 6 slides the circumferential edge of the groove 22 as the shaft 5 moves, the pin 23 is operated by the action of the pin 19 and the groove 22. Rotate around the counterclockwise. In doing so, the locking portion 12 is separated from the locking portion 32. At the same time, since the projection part 11 pushes the surface in which the connector part 31 of the function expansion unit 30 is installed in the direction of the opening portion 2 as the button part 18 is pushed in, the function expansion unit 30 ) Is pushed out of the main body 1 from the opening 2.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the function expansion unit 30 can be separated from the main body 1 only by pushing the button portion 18 in the main body 1 direction.

In addition, in this embodiment, although the groove | channel 22 is formed in the arm 6, if it can convert the translational movement of the shaft 5 into the rotational movement of the arm 6, it will be formed in the shaft 5, and so on. You may also do it.

Next, an operation in the case of preventing theft of the function expansion unit 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the main part in the state before fixing the shaft 5, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the main part in the fixing state of the shaft 5, and FIG. Is a VV line cross section in FIG.

In the state in which the function expansion unit 30 is mounted inside the main body 1, the fixing plate 7 has a surface on which the long hole 13 is formed, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In contact with the side wall of the substrate. At this time, the long hole 13 formed in the fixed plate 7 is opened continuously with the long hole 15 formed in the main body 1. As shown in FIG. 7 in this opening, it is derived from the base part 14c which consists of well-known fastening means, such as Kensington lock, for example, and has a substantially elliptical shape in cross section, 14a) is eccentric in the long side direction of the cross section, and the front end portion 14b rotates the front end portion 14b by inserting a fixed shaft 14 that rotates about the rotation axis 14a. Then, the fixed plate 7 is inserted by the tip portion 14b and the base portion 14c together with the main body 1, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and in the axial direction in the shaft 5. Movement is restricted. As a result, since the button portion 18 cannot be pressed toward the main body 1 side, the function expansion unit 30 cannot be separated from the inside of the main body 1.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, theft of the function expansion unit 30 can be prevented only by inserting the fixed plate 7 by the main body 1 and the fixed shaft 14.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, the main body 1 inserts the opening 2 into which the function expansion unit 30 is inserted, the hole 10 in which one end of the shaft 5 is led out, and the fixed shaft. Since the long hole 15 is formed and the button part 18 should just be led out from the hole 10, there are few restrictions and influences on external appearance design of the main body 1.

Function expansion unit 30 by connecting one end of the lock with a known lock locking means such as a Kensington lock having a fixed shaft 14 as described above or a metal fitting, and fixing the other end of the chain to another place. As well as the body 1 can also prevent theft.

In addition, the structure and shape of the shaft 5 and the arm 6 are not limited to the structure and shape shown in this embodiment, The main body (only by inserting the function expansion unit 30 inside the main body 1) 1) It is fixed inside, and the shaft 5 and the arm 6 interlock and the translational linkage of the shaft 5 converts into the rotational movement of the arm 6, thereby functioning only by pressing the button part 18. When the expansion unit 30 can be separated from the main body 1, the expansion unit 30 can be freely deformed and changed as appropriate.

In addition, the structure and shape of the fixed plate 7 and the fixed shaft 14 are not limited to the structure and shape shown in this embodiment, If it can fix the shaft 5, it can deform and change suitably freely. .

As described above, according to the present invention, the functional expansion unit is electrically connected to the electronic device and physically fixed only by inserting the functional expansion unit into the electronic device.

Further, according to the present invention, it is easy to use because the function expansion unit can be separated from the electronic device only by pressing a part of the shaft in the direction of the function expansion unit.

Moreover, according to the present invention, theft of the function expansion unit can be prevented by simply plugging in the fixed shaft, and thus it is easy to use.

In addition, according to the present invention, since the opening for inserting the function expansion unit, the button portion drawn from the inside of the electronic device, and the hole for inserting the fixed shaft are provided in the electronic device, the restrictions and influences on the external design of the electronic device are limited. little.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The top view of the electronic device which shows one Embodiment of the fixing mechanism of the function expansion unit for electronic devices which concerns on this invention.

2 is a plan view of the connecting portion of the shaft 5 and the arm 6;

3 is a plan view showing a state in which the arm 6 is interlocked with the operation of the shaft 5 at the connection portion between the shaft 5 and the arm 6;

4 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the function expansion unit 30 is separated from the main body 1 in the present embodiment.

5 is an essential part plan view in a state before the shaft 5 is fixed.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 5.

7 is an essential part cross sectional view in a state in which the shaft 5 is fixed.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 7.

Claims (3)

In the electronic device in which the function expansion unit is mounted, A main body having a case; An opening formed in the case and into which a function expansion unit is inserted; It is inserted from the opening, is supported rotatably in the same plane as the function expansion unit mounted inside the main body, has a locking portion caught on the side of the functional expansion unit, the locking portion is pressed in the direction of the functional expansion unit by the pressing means Having an arm; When the function expansion unit is inserted into the main body from the opening, the function expansion unit is electrically connected to the connector and is engaged in the main body by engaging the engaging portion on a side surface thereof; A shaft supported to be movable in an axial direction parallel to the detachment direction of the function expansion unit; A connecting portion for movably connecting the shaft and the arm; And a fixing plate to which the fastening means for fixing the shaft to the main body is coupled. The method of claim 1, The connecting portion is provided on one side of the shaft or the arm, and connects the shaft and the arm through a groove inclined with respect to the axis of the shaft to slide in the groove. Fixing unit of the unit. The method of claim 2, And the fastening means for fixing the shaft to the main body.