Abstract:
A battery cover latch mechanism is configured for detachably assembling a battery cover on a housing. The battery cover latch mechanism includes a button, an assembly portion including two blocks positioned on the housing, a latching part positioned on the battery cover; and a resilient member secured on the button and latching to the blocks to provide a resilient force to the button. The button releasably latches to the latching part to lock the battery cover to the housing or release the battery cover from the housing. The invention also discloses a portable electronic device using the battery cover latch mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The disclosure relates to battery cover latch mechanisms used in portable electronic devices. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Portable electronic devices usually include latch mechanisms to latch battery covers to housings. The latch mechanisms are required to allow frequent installation and removal of batteries. 
         [0005]    A typical latch mechanism includes a pair of hooks at one end of the battery cover and a locking pin protruding from the other end of the battery cover. The housing defines a pair of grooves and a locking hole. In assembly, the hooks are inserted into the grooves. The battery cover is pressed down to the housing until the locking pin is inserted into the locking hole. However, during disassembly, a large force is needed to remove the battery cover from the housing. Therefore, it is difficult to install or remove a battery. Another typical latch mechanism includes an ejector, a button having a latching portion configured for latching to a cover, and an elastic part latching between the button and a main body of a housing. The ejector is positioned between the main body and the cover and configured for ejecting the cover. However, the elastic part takes up too much space of the housing. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is a room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Many aspects of a battery cover latch mechanism and a portable electronic device using the battery cover latch mechanism can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present battery cover latch mechanism and a portable electronic device using the battery cover latch mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an assembled perspective view of a portable electronic device using a battery cover latching mechanism according to the exemplary embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the portable electronic device using the battery cover latching mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another angle. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a circled portion IV of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a button of the battery cover latching mechanism. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but viewed from another angle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an assembled perspective view of portable electronic device using the battery cover latching mechanism. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line - of  FIG. 1 , showing the battery cover latching mechanism in locking condition. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 1 , showing the battery cover latching mechanism in unlocking condition. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  show a portable electronic device  100  including a battery cover latch mechanism  200 , a housing  11 , and a battery cover  13 . The battery cover latch mechanism  200  includes a button  15 , a resilient member  17 , an assembly portion  112  positioned on the housing  11 , and a latching part  134  positioned on the battery cover  13 . 
         [0018]    The housing  11  includes a main body  110 , a first end wall  111 , a second end wall  113  opposite to the first end wall  111 , a first sidewall  114 , a second sidewall  115  opposite to the first sidewall  114 , a receiving portion  116 , a supporting portion  120 , and a mating portion  121 . The supporting portion  120  is positioned on the second end wall  113  and faces the first end wall  111 . The mating portion  121  is a recessed portion defined on the main body  110 , the first end wall  111 , the first sidewall  114  and the second sidewall  115 , and is configured to receive the battery cover  13 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the assembly portion  112  is defined on the first end wall  111  of the housing  11 . The assembly portion  112  includes a hole  1111 , a first opening  1112 , a first rib  1115 , a second rib  1116 , a first block  1113 , a second block  1114 , and a latching groove  1119 . The hole  1111  is defined in the first end wall  111 . The first opening  1112  is defined in a joint between the main body  110  and the first end wall  111 , and communicates with the hole  1111 . The first rib  1115  is positioned on the first end wall  111 . The second rib  1116  is positioned on a joint between the main body  110  and the first end wall  111 , and adjacent to the first opening  1112 . The first rib  1115  and the second rib  1116  are parallel to each other. The first block  1113  and second block  1114  respectively extend from the first end wall  111  and are disposed at opposite ends of the hole  1111 . The first block  1113  defines a first gap  1117  between the first end wall  111  and the first block  1113 . The second block  1114  defines a second gap  1118  between the first end wall  111  and the second block  1114 . The first gap  1117  and the second gap  1118  are configured for receiving the resilient member  17 . The latching groove  1119  is defined in the first end wall  111  and located between the hole  1111  and the second block  1114 . 
         [0020]    The battery cover  13  includes a main cover  131 , an end portion  133 , a third sidewall  135 , and an opposite fourth sidewall  137 . The end portion  133  defines a second opening  132 . 
         [0021]    The latching part  134  is positioned on the main cover  131  of the battery cover  13  adjacent to the second opening  132 . The latching part  134  is made of elastic material and has a clasp  1341  extending from an end thereof. The clasp  1341  is configured for latching to the button  15  ( FIG. 8 ). 
         [0022]    Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 6 , the button  15  includes a press portion  151 , a latching board  152 , a protrusion  153 , a first lug  155 , and a second lug  156 . The press portion  151  includes a first press surface  1511  and an opposite second press surface  1513 . 
         [0023]    The latching board  152  is L-shaped including a connecting portion  1522  and an extending portion  1524 . The connecting portion  1522  perpendicularly extends from an edge of the second press surface  1513 . The extending portion  1524  is bent from an end of the connecting portion  1522  and extends away from the press portion  151 . The latching board  152  is configured to latch to the first rib  1115 . 
         [0024]    The protrusion  153  is positioned on the second press surface  1513 , and includes a main portion  1531  oriented away from the second press surface  1513 , a first end portion  1532 , a second end portion  1533  opposite to the first end portion  1532 , a first side portion  1534 , and a second side portion  1535  opposite to the first side portion  1534 . The first end portion  1532 , the second end portion  1533 , the first side portion  1534  and the second side portion  1535  are adjacent to the main portion  1531 . The first end portion  1532  is perpendicularly connected to an end of the extending portion  1524 . The first end portion  1532  defines a recessed portion  1541  therein. The main portion  1531  defines a through hole  1543  passing through the second end portion  1533 . The through hole  1543  is configured to receive the latching part  134 . A latching post  1545  is positioned on a joint between the main portion  1531  and the second end portion  1533 , and is configured to latch to the clasp  1341 . The first side portion  1534  and the second side portion  1535  respectively define a recessed slot  1548 . The recessed slot  1548  defines a receiving hole  1547  in a bottom thereof. The receiving hole  1547  passes through the protrusion  153 . The receiving hole  1547  is configured to receive the resilient member  17 . 
         [0025]    The first lug  155  and the second lug  156  are respectively L-shaped positioned on two opposite ends of the press portion  151 . The first lug  155  and the second lug  156  are respectively positioned near two sides of the protrusion  153  and away from the latching board  152 . The first lug  155  and the second lug  156  are configured to latch to the first block  1113  and the latching groove  1119 . 
         [0026]    The resilient member  17  is an elastic post engagable in the receiving hole  1547 , the first gap  1117  and the second gap  1118 . The resilient member  17  is configured for providing elastic force to the button  13 . 
         [0027]    Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 7  to  FIG. 8 , in assembly, the resilient member  17  passes through the receiving hole  1547 . The button  15  is placed into the hole  1111  of the assembly portion  112 . The first press surface  1511  of the button  15  is exposed from the housing  11 . The second end portion  1533  of the protrusion  153  resists the second rib  1116  of the assembly portion  112 . The through hole  1543  communicates with the first opening  1112  of the assembly portion  112 . The latching board  152  resists the first rib  1115 . Each end of the resilient member  17  latches to the first block  1113  and the second block  1114 . The first lug  155  and the second lug  156  respectively latches to the first block  1113  and the latching groove  1119 . 
         [0028]    The battery cover  13  is assembled on the mating portion  121  of the housing  11 . The latching part  134  of the battery cover  13  passes through the first opening  1112  and the clasp  1341  latches to the latching post  1545  for latching the battery cover  13  to the housing  11 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , when the battery cover  13  is detached from the housing  11 , the press portion  151  of the button  15  is pressed by an external force, the button  15  and the resilient member  17  move to an interior of the housing  11 . Thereby, the clasp  1341  of the battery cover  13  is released from the latching post  1545  of the button  15 . The battery cover  13  is detached from the housing  11 . Meanwhile, the resilient member  17  is resiliently deformed. When the external force is removed, the resilient member  17  restores to drive the button  15  to its original state. 
         [0030]    It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, 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 invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.