US20100095488A1

US20100095488A1 - Cover latching mechanism

Info

Publication number: US20100095488A1
Application number: US12/499,866
Authority: US
Inventors: Chih-Chiang Chang; Zhi Li; Zhi-Yun Shen
Original assignee: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co Ltd; FIH Hong Kong Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co Ltd; FIH Hong Kong Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-20
Filing date: 2009-07-09
Publication date: 2010-04-22
Also published as: CN101728495A; CN101728495B

Abstract

A cover latching mechanism is provided including a base member, a cover member, and a button assembly. The cover member includes a latching hook. The button assembly includes a latching jaw and two elastic resisting arms. The latching hook and the latching jaw interlatch with each other when the cover member latches to the housing member. The elastic resisting arms are secured to the housing member and restore the button assembly back to its original position when releasing the latching of the latching hook and the latching jaw.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to cover latching mechanisms, and particularly to a cover latching mechanism of portable electronic devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Portable electronic devices often include latches for securing battery covers thereof. The latch mechanisms must withstand numerous installations and removals of batteries.
A typical cover latch mechanism includes at least one spring to facilitate its operation. However, the spring can wear out with repeated operation and, thus the cover latch mechanism may eventually fail.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the new cover latching mechanism can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the new cover latching mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a cover latching mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment, including a housing member, a cover member and a button assembly.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing another aspect.

FIG. 3 is a cut-away assembled view of the cover latching mechanism shown in FIG. 1, the cover latching mechanism in a latched position.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but showing the cover member in a state of removal from the housing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an exemplary cover latching mechanism 10 for portable electronic devices including a housing member 11, a cover member 12, and a button assembly 13. The cover member 12 can be detachably assembled to the housing member 11 by the button assembly 13.
The housing member 11 includes a first wall 111, an opposite second wall 112, a third wall 113, and a bottom wall 114. The first wall 111, second wall 112, third wall 113, and bottom wall 114 cooperatively enclose an accommodating space 115. The third wall 113 defines a first notch 116 adjacent to the second wall 112. The first notch 116 is used to receive part of the button assembly 13. The bottom wall 114 has two positioning columns 117 protruding inside the accommodating space 115 near the first notch 116. The first wall 111 and the second wall 112 have two opposite latching blocks 118 arranged inside the accommodating space 115. The latching blocks 118 define two through latching holes 1181, respectively.
The cover member 12 can be used to cover the accommodating space 115. The cover member 12 includes a first cover wall 121, an opposite second cover wall 122, a third cover wall 123, and a top cover wall 128. The third cover wall 123 defines a second notch 124 adjacent to the second cover wall 122. The second notch 124 can align above the first notch 116 and receive part of the button assembly 13.
An L-shaped latching hook 125 projects from the top cover wall 128 adjacent to the second notch 124. The latching hook 125 has a wave-shaped elastic sheet 126 attached towards the second notch 124. The first cover wall 121 and the second cover wall 122 have two opposite L-shaped latching protrusions 127 formed for latching into the latching holes 1181.
The button assembly 13 includes a stepped button member 131 having an exterior surface 1311, an interior surface 1312, and two stepped resisting ribs 1314 connecting the exterior surface 1311 to the interior surface 1312. The interior surface 1312 has a deformable L-shaped latching jaw 1315 for latching to the latching hook 125 of the cover member 12. The interior surface 1312 further has two elastic resisting arms 132 below the latching jaw 1315, which extend outwardly from the interior surface 1312 and away from each other. Each of the resisting arms 132 includes an arm portion 1321 and a annular portion 1322 extending from a distal end of the arm portion 1321. Each annular portion 1322 defines a positioning hole 1323.
Referring further to FIG. 3, after assembly of the button assembly 13 to the housing member 11, the button assembly 13 is partially received in the first notch 116 and the second notch 124 with its resisting rib 1314 resisting the third wall 113, its exterior surface 1311 exposed to the outside, and its latching jaw 1315 and resisting arms 132 received inside the accommodating space 115. The resisting arms 132 are secured to the bottom wall 114 by, for example, hot-melting the positioning columns 117 into the corresponding positioning holes 1323.
Referring again to FIG. 3, to latch the cover member 12 to the housing member 11, the latching protrusions 127 are extended through and engaged in the latching holes 1181. The cover member 12 is pressed towards the housing member 11. Meanwhile, the elastic sheet 126 is compressed by the interior surface 1312 and the latching hook 125 is latched by the latching jaw 1315. At this time, the elastic sheet 126 and the latching hook 125 are positioned between the latching jaw 1315 and the interior surface 1315.
Referring to FIG. 4, to release the cover member, when the exterior surface 1311 is pressed inwardly, the button assembly 13 overcomes the elastic force of the elastic sheet 126 and the resisting arms 132 and moves further into the accommodating space 115. Meanwhile, the latching hook 125 gradually separates from the latching jaw 1315. When the latching hook 125 is completely separated from the latching jaw 1315, the cover member 12 can be lifted up and removed from the housing member 11. When the pressing is ceased, the resisting arms 132 return to their original positions and thus the button assembly 13 restores to its assembled position. Also upon cessation of the pressing, the restoring member 33 and the arm portion 317 return to their original positions and thus the button assembly 30 restores to its assembled position.
It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of exemplary embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A cover latching mechanism, comprising:

a housing member;

a cover member comprising a latching hook; and

a button assembly comprising a latching jaw and two elastic resisting arms, the latching hook and the latching jaw interlatching with each other when the cover member latches to the housing member, the elastic resisting arms secured to the housing member and restoring the button assembly back to its original position after releasing the latching of the latching hook and the latching jaw.

2. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the button assembly comprises a button member, and the resisting arms and the latching jaw extend at the same side of the button member.

3. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two resisting arms comprises an arm portion and two annular portions, the two annular portions secured to the housing member.

4. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the button member comprises a resisting rib resisting the housing member.

5. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing member comprises a latching block, the cover member comprises a latching protrusion, the latching protrusion latching to the latching block.

6. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latching hook has an elastic sheet attached thereto for restoring the button assembly to its original position.

7. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the elastic sheet is wave-shaped.

8. A cover latching mechanism, comprising:

a housing member;

a cover member comprising a latching hook; and

a button assembly comprising a latching jaw and an elastic resisting arm, the latching hook detachably latched to the latching jaw for attaching or detaching the cover member to the housing member, the elastic resisting arm secured to the housing member and compressed by the surface of button assembly, and the latching hook and the resisting arm latched between the surface of the button assembly and the latching jaw.

9. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein the button assembly comprises a button member, and the resisting arm and the latching jaw extend at the same side of the button member.

10. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein the resisting arm comprises an arm portion and two annular portions, the two annular portions secured to the housing member.

11. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein the button member comprises a resisting rib resisting the housing member.

12. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein the housing member comprises a latching block, the cover member comprises a latching protrusion, the latching protrusion latching to the latching block.

13. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein the latching hook has an elastic sheet attached thereto for restoring the button assembly to its original position.

14. The cover latching mechanism as claimed in claim 13, wherein the elastic sheet is wave-shaped.