KR100642296B1 - A latch device for portable computer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a latch device of a portable computer. The present invention relates to a portable computer in which the display unit 30 is overlapped and unfolded with respect to the hinge unit 28 with respect to the main body unit 20, and includes a latch body 61 having a predetermined length. Movement guides having protruding end portions of the display unit 30 at both ends of the 31, and having a hook 64 that is selectively walked on one side of the main body 20, and having a guide slot 68 formed therein. 66 is provided, the latch 60 is installed in a linear motion in the display unit 30, one side is detachably coupled to the latch body 61 and the handle portion to the outside of the display unit 30 An operating knob 90 which is installed to expose 97 and a restoring member 80 that provides a force for moving the latch body 61 in the direction in which the hook 64 is fastened to the main body 20. It is configured to include. According to the present invention, a latch of the latch for fastening between the display unit and the main body unit in a large portable computer can be installed relatively adjacent to both ends of the display unit, so that the coupling between the display unit and the main body unit by the latch is secured. In addition, there is an advantage that the space required for installing the latch inside the display unit is minimized.

Portable Computers, Latches, Manipulation Knobs

Description

A latch device for portable computer

1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a portable computer according to the prior art.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the main configuration of a portable computer employing a latch device according to the present invention.

Figure 3a is a front view showing the configuration of a latch constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3b is a side view showing the configuration of a latch constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

3C is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of a latch forming the embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing the main portion of the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5a is an assembled state showing a state in which the latch is assembled to the rear case in the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5b is an assembled state showing the operation knob assembled to the latch in the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5c is an operating state showing a state in which the latch is released from the engagement with the main body portion in the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

20: main body 22: keyboard

26: hanger groove 28: hinge part                 

30: display unit 31: rear case

32: front case 33: liquid crystal panel

40: side wall 42: protrusion

44; Knob Guide Slot 46: Knob Seating Groove

50: fastening boss 52: guide hook

53: Jam Jaw 56: Guide Stopper

58: support knob 60: latch

61: latch body 62: bulkhead

64: hook 65: restoring member hanger

66: movement guide 68: guide slot

70: knob fixing slot 72: stepped portion

74: hook ball 76: guide ball

80: restoring member 82: ring portion

90: operation knob 91: knob body

93: hook hook 95: cooking guide pin

The present invention relates to a portable computer, and more particularly, to a latch device for coupling the body portion and the display portion to each other in a state in which the display portion overlaps the body portion.

1 is a perspective view of a portable computer according to the prior art. As shown in the drawing, the portable computer is installed such that the display unit 3 is rotated around the hinge unit 5 at the rear end of the main body unit 1 having a substantially flat rectangular shape.

The display unit 3 is configured in a plate shape corresponding to the main body unit 1, and is mounted to overlap the upper surface of the main body unit 1 during storage or carrying. In use, the display 3 is unfolded at a predetermined angle with respect to the main body 1 as shown in FIG. 1.

The main board and the like constituting the portable computer are provided inside the main body 1, and a keyboard 7 is provided on the upper surface thereof. The keyboard 7 is a part for inputting desired information by the user pressing a key. The display unit 3 includes a liquid crystal panel 9. The liquid crystal panel 9 is a portion for displaying various kinds of information.

A latch device 10 is provided to allow the display unit 3 and the main body unit 1 to be coupled to each other when the display unit 3 overlaps the main body unit 1 and is stored or carried. The latch device 10 is provided at a portion corresponding to the front end of the rear case 11 and the front case 12 constituting the appearance of the display unit 3. The latch device 10 is provided with an appropriate number according to the width of the display unit (3).

Here, the rear case 11 is a portion forming the rear surface of the display unit 3, and the front case 12 forms a front edge of the display unit 3. The front case 12 serves to shield and support the edge of the liquid crystal panel 9 of the display unit 3 in a quadrangular shape.

In the space formed between the rear case 11 and the front case 12, components such as a latch constituting the latch device 10 are provided. That is, a latch (not shown) is provided in the space between the rear case 11 and the front case 12 so that the hook 14 protrudes toward the front end of the front case 12. The hook 14 is selectively hooked to a hook groove 1 'formed at the top end of the main body 1. The manipulation knob 13 for operating the hook 14 is exposed to a portion corresponding to the tip of the display unit 3.

However, the prior art as described above has the following problems.

That is, the latch device 10 is generally provided separately in two places. As the latch device 10 is separately provided as described above, when the user unfolds the display unit 3 from the main body unit 1, the operation knobs 13 provided on the latch device 10 on both sides using both hands are respectively provided. Must be operated. Therefore, when unfolding the display portion 3 from the main body portion 1, it is difficult to fix the main body portion 1. In general, there is an inconvenience in that the thumb of the main body 1 is fixed by manipulating the manipulation knob 13 with each thumb and using some of the other fingers.

In order to solve the above problem, a latch device having two hooks is provided so that the latch can be operated by one operation knob. However, as the display unit 3 increases in size, the length of the latch becomes relatively long, so that the hook does not catch the hook groove accurately while bending occurs, thereby causing a gap between the main body 1 and the display unit 3. There is a problem.                         

In addition, as the latch becomes relatively long, it occupies a lot of space in the display unit 3, and thus there is a problem in that the utilization of the internal space of the display unit 3 is relatively inferior.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and the coupling between the main body portion and the display portion is more robust and reliable while the latch device is relatively easy to operate in a relatively large portable computer. To make it happen.

Another object of the present invention is to minimize the space required for the installation of the latch in a configuration for operating a latch provided with a plurality of hooks with one operation knob.

According to a feature of the present invention for achieving the object as described above, the present invention is a portable computer which is operated to overlap and unfold the display portion centering on the hinge portion relative to the main body portion, having a latch body having a predetermined length A latch protruding to the front end of the display body on both ends of the latch body and having a hook to be selectively walked on one side of the main body, and having a movement guide formed therein to form a guide slot therein; An operation knob detachably coupled to the latch body and installed to expose a handle portion to the outside of the display portion, and a restoring member providing a force for moving the latch body in a direction in which the hook body is fastened to the main body portion. It is configured by.                     

At least two movement guide parts are provided on the latch body.

A guide boss for coupling the rear case and the front case constituting the exterior of the display unit is seated in the guide slot of the movement guide unit to guide the movement of the latch and set an installation position.

The latch is installed in the rear case forming the exterior of the display unit, the inner surface of the rear case at least two guide hooks to guide one side of the latch body to guide the movement of the latch, and the latch body guided by the guide hook At least two guide pieces for guiding the opposite side of are provided.

A hooking jaw is formed at the tip of the guide hook to prevent movement of the latch body in a direction in which the latch body is separated from the inner surface of the rear case. It is formed so as to be low.

A guide stopper is formed at one end of the latch body connected to the restoring member to guide one side of the latch body and a surface perpendicular to the latch body to guide the movement of the latch body and set an installation position.

The manipulation knob includes a knob body having a hook hook for coupling to the latch body, a handle portion provided at one side of the knob body and exposed to the outside of the display unit, and guiding the insertion direction of the knob body. It is configured to include a guide pin.

A plurality of support knobs on which the latch body is seated is formed in the rear case constituting the exterior of the display unit. The support knobs allow the latch body to be positioned at a constant height regardless of the shape of the rear case.

According to the present invention having such a configuration, the latch of the latch for fastening between the display unit and the main unit in a large portable computer can be installed relatively adjacent to both ends of the display unit, the coupling between the display unit and the main unit by the latch This has the advantage of minimizing the space required for installation of the latch inside the display unit.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a portable computer employing a preferred embodiment of the latch device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the latch constituting the embodiment of the present invention. The principal components of an embodiment of the present invention are shown in cross section.

As shown in these figures, the main body 20 of the portable computer is flat in a substantially rectangular plate shape, and various components are provided therein. The keyboard 22 is provided on an upper surface of the main body 20. The touch pad 24, which is a pointing device, is provided at the central front end of the main body 20.

Hanging grooves 26 are provided at both ends of the upper surface of the main body 20. The hook groove 26 is a hook portion 64 to which the main body 20 and the display unit 30 are fastened.

The rear end of the main body 20 is connected to the display unit 30 by a hinge portion 28 to be rotatable. The display unit 30 overlaps the main body unit 20 around the hinge portion 28 or unfolds at a predetermined angle.

In the display unit 30, the rear case 31 and the front case 32 form an appearance. The rear case 31 forms a rear surface of the display unit 30, and the front case 32 forms a front edge of the display unit 30 in a quadrangular frame shape. The rear case 31 is preferably formed of a synthetic resin material rather than a metal material in the present embodiment, the inner surface is provided with a metal plate in the remaining portion except for a part of the tip.

 The liquid crystal panel 33 is provided inside the display unit 30 so that the edge is shielded by the front case 32. The liquid crystal panel 33 is a portion for displaying image information. Various display panels may be used instead of the liquid crystal panel 33.

The front case 32 is formed to be recessed in the front end of the cover portion 34 that forms one side of the knob seating groove 46 provided in the rear case 31. The front case 32 may also be made of a synthetic resin material, which is temporarily assembled to the rear case 31 by a hook shape.

A plurality of fastening holes 36 for fastening the front case 32 to the rear case 31 are drilled in the front case 32. Hook slot 38 is perforated at the front end of front case 32. Through the hook slot 38, the hook 64 of the latch 60 to be described below protrudes. The hook slot 38 is preferably formed at a position relatively adjacent to both ends of the front case (32).

The front end inner surface of the rear case 31 is provided with a configuration for guiding the installation and movement of the latch 60 to be described below. First, the side wall 40 surrounding the edge of the rear case 31 is provided to a predetermined height, the protruding piece 42 is formed to relatively protrude in the center of the front end of the rear case 31. The protruding piece 42 is also formed stepped in the inward direction of the rear case 31 relative to other portions of the side wall 40. A knob guide slot 44 is formed long in the protruding piece 42. The protrusion part 42 of the front case 32 is coupled to the protruding piece 42 to complete the knob seating groove 46.

A plurality of fastening bosses 50 are provided on the inner surface of the front end of the rear case 31. The fastening boss 50 is formed at a position corresponding to the fastening hole 36 of the front case 32. When passing through the center of the fastening boss 50 up and down is provided with a fastening hole formed with a screw portion therein.

A guide hook 52 is provided on an inner surface of the front end of the rear case 31. The guide hook 52 is formed to protrude vertically from the inner surface of the rear case 31, the locking jaw 53 is formed at the front end extending in a perpendicular direction. The locking jaw 53 is seated on one side of the latch 60 to be described below to limit the installation position of the latch 60 and to guide the movement. The guide hook 52 is provided so as not to interfere with the latch 60 along the movement trajectory of the latch 60.

A guide stopper 56 is provided on the inner surface of the front end of the rear case 31 so as not to interfere with the latch 60 on the movement trajectory of the latch 60. The guide stopper 56 extends vertically at the inner surface of the rear case 31 and extends a predetermined length in parallel with the inner surface at the front end thereof to define the installation position of the latch 60 and to guide the movement.

On the other hand, a plurality of support knobs 58 are provided on the inner surface of the rear case 31 along the movement trajectory of the latch 60. The support knob 58 is a portion in which one surface of the latch 60 directly touches and is supported. The support knob 58 is formed long in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the latch 60, and the degree of protruding from the inner surface of the rear case 31 is different. This is for correcting the front end of the rear case 31 is formed as a curved surface having a slight curvature. Therefore, the support knob 61 may not be provided if the shape of the corresponding part of the rear case 31 is flat.

The guide piece 59 is formed to guide the surface opposite to the surface of the latch 60 guided by the guide hook 52 or the guide stopper 56. The guide piece 59 is provided at a position corresponding between the fastening boss 50 and the guide hook 52. The guide piece 59 is formed to protrude perpendicularly to the inner surface of the rear case 31.

The latch body 61 constituting the latch 60 has a bar shape having a long length. The latch body 61 has at least a length corresponding to the distance between the hook slots 38 of the front case 32. The latch body 61 has a quadrangular cross section, but is formed to be hollow and open on one surface thereof. A plurality of partitions 62 are provided inside the latch body 61 to maintain the strength of the latch body 61.

Hooks 64 are formed at both ends of the latch body 61. The front end of the hook 64 is protruded a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the latch body 61 is selectively hooked to the hook groove 26 of the body portion 20. The hook 64 is preferably formed at a position adjacent to both ends of the latch body 61.

One end of the latch body 61 has a restoring member hanger 65 is formed. One end of the restoring member 80, which will be described below, is hooked to the restoring member hanger 65, thereby causing the elastic force to act on the latch body 61.

At least two movement guide parts 66 are formed in the latch body 61. The movement guide portion 66 is formed in the middle of the latch body 61, the guide slot 68 is formed through the inside up and down. The fastening boss 50 is positioned inside the guide slot 68. Therefore, the movement of the latch 60 is guided by the guide slot 68 and the fastening boss 50. To this end, the guide slot 68 is formed to be relatively longer than the diameter of the fastening boss 50, so that the hook 64 can generate the stroke required to be hooked and released to the hook groove (26).

A knob fixing slot 70 is formed through the surface corresponding to the center of the latch body 61. The knob fixing slot 70 is formed on a surface perpendicular to the surface on which the hook 64 is formed. That is, the knob fixing slot 70 is formed to correspond to the knob guide slot 44 of the knob seating groove 46.

The latch body 61 has a stepped portion 72 formed at a position corresponding to the guide hook 52. The step portion 72 is a portion that is formed relatively lower than the other portions of the latch body 61. Accordingly, the locking jaw 53 of the guide hook 52 is seated on the step portion 72 to guide the movement of the latch body 61. At least one side of the step portion 72 is preferably formed over an area corresponding to the movement trajectory of the latch body 61.

As shown in FIG. 4, the latch body 61 has a hook hole 74 and a guide hole 76 at positions corresponding to the knob fixing slots 70. The hook hole 74 and the guide hole 76 are portions into which the hook hook 93 and the assembly guide pin 93 of the operation knob 90 to be described below are inserted. The guide hole 76 is formed at a position closer to any one of the hook hole (74).

Restoration member 80 serves to pull the latch 60 in one direction. The restoration member 80 is a tension coil spring is used. The restoration member 80 exerts an elastic force in a direction in which the hook 64 of the latch 60 is engaged with the hook groove 26 of the main body 20.

One side of the rear case 31 has a ring portion 82 is formed. The ring portion 82 is a portion where one end of the restoring member 80 is hooked. The ring portion 82 is formed at a position separated by a predetermined distance from one end of the movement trajectory of the latch 60.

The operation knob 90 is a portion that receives a force for moving the latch 60. The knob body 91 of the manipulation knob 90 is located inside the rear case 31 corresponding to the lower portion of the protruding piece 42. Both ends of the knob body 91 are provided with hook hooks 93 which pass through the knob fixing slot 70 and are hooked to the hook hole 74. The hook hook 93 is provided with a hooking jaw 94 at the tip, and is hooked to the hook hole 74 while a slight elastic deformation is made.

An assembly guide pin 95 is formed at one side of the knob body 91. The assembly guide pin 95 extends by a predetermined length in the same direction as the extension direction of the hook hook 93 and is formed to be biased toward the hook hook 93 on one side. The assembly guide pin 95 serves to guide the direction in which the manipulation knob 90 is assembled to the latch 60.

One side of the knob body 91 is provided with a handle 97. The handle portion 97 is to be seated in the knob seating groove 46, the surface is preferably provided with a configuration for preventing the slip. The handle part 97 is a part for allowing a user to manipulate the manipulation knob 90 by hand.

The operation of the latch device of the portable computer according to the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described in detail.

First, the assembly of the latch 60 and the operation knob 90 in the present invention will be described. The latch 60 is seated at the tip of the inner surface of the rear case 31. That is, the movement is guided by the fastening boss 50, the guide hook 52, the guide stopper 56, and the guide piece 59.

The fastening boss 50 is seated in the guide slot 68 of the movement guide 66 of the latch 60, the guide hook 52 is a surface perpendicular to the surface of the latch body 61, respectively Is in contact with. In particular, the locking jaw 53 of the guide hook 52 is seated on the step portion (72). The guide stopper 56 guides one surface of the latch body 61 at one end of the latch body 61 and prevents the latch body 61 from moving toward the opposite side of the inner surface of the rear case 31. It serves as a guide. The guide piece 59 is in contact with the surface of the latch body 61 opposite to the guide hook 52 and the guide stopper 56. This state is shown in FIG. 5A.

One end of the restoring member 80 is hooked to the restoring member hanger 65 at one end of the latch body 61. The other end of the restoring member 80 is hooked on the hook portion 82 of the rear case 31, so that the restoring member 80 always pulls the latch body 61 to the left side based on FIG. 5A. .

Next, the operation knob 90 is mounted to the latch body 61. The knob 90 is inserted through the knob guide slot 44 of the knob seating groove 46. At this time, the handle 97 is seated on the upper surface of the protruding piece (42). The knob body 91 of the operation knob 90 passing through the knob guide slot 44 is inserted into the knob fixing slot 70 formed in the latch body 61.

The hook hooks 93 formed on the knob bodies 91 are hooked to the hook holes 74, respectively. At this time, the assembly guide pin 95 is inserted into the guide hole (76). The assembly guide pin 95 is not inserted into the guide hole 76 when the assembling direction of the manipulation knob 90 is reversed. This is because the assembly guide pin 95 is formed relatively closer to the one hook hook 93, the guide hole 76 is also formed closer to the one hook hole 74. The state in which the operation knob 90 is assembled is shown in FIG. 5B.

After all necessary components are installed in the display unit 30 such as the liquid crystal panel 33, the front case 32 is assembled. The front case 32 is preassembled to the rear case 31 by a hook shape, the screw is coupled to the fastening boss 50 through the fastening hole 36.

Next, the latch device of the present invention is operated. In the process of overlapping the display unit 30 with the main body 20, the tip of the hook 64 is guided along one side of the hook groove 26, so that the latch body 61 is the restoration member 80 It is moved to the right side with reference to the drawing while overcoming the elastic force of).

Then, when the hook 64 is fully engaged with the hook groove 26, the latch body 61 is moved to its original position by the restoring force of the restoring member 80, and the main body 20 and The display unit 30 is fastened.

In such a state, in order to release the coupling between the main body 20 and the display 30, the user may operate the manipulation knob 90. That is, the knob 97 of the operation knob 90 is moved in the knob seating groove 46. When the operation knob 90 is moved, the latch 60 is moved together. Accordingly, the latch body 61 is moved while being guided by the fastening boss 50, the guide hook 52, the guide stopper 56, and the guide piece 59. At this time, the latch body 61 is moved while overcoming the elastic force of the restoration member (80).

As the latch body 61 moves, the hook 64 is released from the hook groove 26. Of course, the movement of the latch body 61 is simply the fastened state is not released, the hook 64 from the hook groove 26 is not out. That is, as the user rotates the display unit 30 about the hinge portion 28 with respect to the main body 20, the hook 64 is released from the hook groove 26.

Then, when the user removes the force applied to the operation knob 90, the latch body 61 is moved to the original position, that is, the position shown in Figure 5b by the restoring force of the restoring member 80.

The rights of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described above, but are defined by the claims, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the claims. It is self-evident.

For example, the arrangement of the fastening boss 50, the guide hook 52, the guide stopper 56, and the guide piece 59 may be used as long as it can guide the movement of the latch body 61.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the latch 60 is described as being installed in the rear case 31, but a part in which the latch 60 is installed is provided at the front end of the rear case 31 so that a part of the rear case 31 is provided. It may be an antenna cover (not shown) constituting the.

In the latch device of the portable computer according to the present invention as described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.

In the present invention, the latch device is configured to operate the latch body having two hooks with one operation knob. Therefore, the user can release the fastening state of the main body portion and the display portion with one hand, so that the operation is relatively convenient.

In the present invention, at least two movement guides are formed in the middle of the latch body, and the fastening boss of the rear case is seated on the guide slot formed in the movement guide to guide the movement of the latch body and at the same time the latch body is the rear case. In order to be firmly located in the Therefore, the length of the latch body can be made relatively long, so that hooks are placed at both ends of the relatively large display unit, thereby making it possible to more firmly fasten the main body unit and the display unit.

On the other hand, the fastening boss located in the guide slot of the latch body also serves to fasten the rear case and the front case, it is also possible to obtain the effect that can use the space inside the display more efficiently. In particular, as the fastening boss is fastened to the front case there is an effect that the installation position of the latch body can be set reliably.

Claims (8)

A portable computer in which a display unit is overlapped and spread out around a hinge unit with respect to a main body unit, A latch body having a predetermined length is provided, and both ends of the latch body protrude toward the front end of the display unit, and the hook is selectively walked on one side of the main body unit, and a movement guide unit is formed therein. A latch installed in a linear motion inside, An operation knob one side of which is detachably coupled to the latch body and installed to expose a handle portion to the outside of the display portion; And a restoring member for providing a force for moving the latch body in a direction in which the hook is fastened to the main body. The latch device of claim 1, wherein at least two movement guide parts are provided on the latch body. The portable computer according to claim 2, wherein the guide slot of the movement guide part is mounted with a fastening boss for coupling the rear case and the front case constituting the exterior of the display unit to guide the movement of the latch and set an installation position. Latch device. According to claim 1, wherein the latch is installed in the rear case which forms the exterior of the display unit, the inner surface of the rear case at least two guide hooks for guiding one side of the latch body to guide the movement of the latch, and the guide At least two guide pieces for guiding opposite sides of the latch body guided by the hook are provided. The method of claim 4, wherein a locking jaw is formed at the tip of the guide hook to prevent movement of the latch body in a direction in which the latch body is separated from the inner surface of the rear case. The latch device of a portable computer, characterized in that the portion is formed to be relatively low compared to other parts. The method of claim 5, wherein one end of the latch body connected to the restoring member is formed in the rear case to guide the guide stopper on one side of the latch body and the surface perpendicular to it to guide the movement of the latch body and the installation position The latch device of a portable computer, characterized in that for setting. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation knob, A knob body provided with a hook hook for coupling to the latch body; A handle part provided at one side of the knob body and exposed to the outside of the display part; And a assembly guide pin for guiding the insertion direction of the knob body. The rear case constituting the exterior of the display unit includes a plurality of support knobs on which the latch body is seated, wherein the latch body is formed in the shape of the rear case. A latching device for a portable computer, characterized in that the entirety is located at a constant height regardless.

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