Abstract:
An electronic apparatus includes a cover, a latch fixable to the cover and a base pivotally connectable with the cover. The latch includes a hook having a shank portion and a hook portion extending from the shank portion, and the shank portion defines a slanted surface thereon. The base includes a retaining portion engagable with the hook portion of the latch for fixing the cover to the base, and a stopper portion along which the slanted surface of the shank portion is slid thereby causing the cover to lift away from the base.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, and more particularly to an electronic apparatus having a latch mechanism. 
   DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
   An electronic apparatus such as a notebook computer or laptop computer usually includes a base and a cover fixable to the base. Taiwan Patent No. 482309 discloses such an electronic apparatus, in which a cover is fixed to a base with a latch. To open the cover, the latch is operated to unlatch the cover from the base then a user must grasp a side of the cover and pivotally open the electronic apparatus. It is difficult to lift the cover in this manner because there is nothing to help the user get a grasp on the cover to lift it. 
   What is desired, therefore, is an electronic apparatus having a latch mechanism which better facilitates opening a cover thereof. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An electronic apparatus includes a cover, a latch fixable to the cover, and a base pivotally connectable with the cover. The latch includes a hook having a shank portion and a hook portion extendable from the shank portion, and the shank portion defines a slanted surface thereon. The base includes a retaining portion engagable with the hook portion of the latch for fixing the cover to the base, and a stopper portion along which the slanted surface of the shank portion is movable thereby causing the cover to lift away from the base. 
   Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, inverted, isometric view of a cover and a latch of an electronic apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the latch of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a circled portion III of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a circled portion IV of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged assembled view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational view showing the cover fixed to a base; 
       FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 6 , but showing the cover lifted from the base; 
       FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of the electronic apparatus in accordance with a second preferred embodiment, showing the cover fixed to a base; and 
       FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 8 , showing the cover lifted from the base. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , an electronic apparatus includes a cover, and a base  50  pivotally attached to the cover. The cover includes a frame  10  and a shell  40 . A latch mechanism is provided to attach the cover to the base  50 . The latch mechanism includes a pair of latches  20  fixed in the cover, and a pair of elastic members  30  corresponding to the latches  20 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , each latch  20  includes a main body  21 , a switch  22 , and a pair of connecting members  28  integrally connecting the main body  21  and the switch  22 . A hook  23  depends from a bottom surface of the main body  21 . A first post  24  extends from a first end  213  of the main body  21 , for extending through a corresponding elastic member  30 . A second post  25  extends from a second end of the main body  21 . A tab  27  protrudes from a lateral side of the main body  21 . The hook  23  includes a shank portion  233  integrated with the main body  21 , and a hook portion  231  formed at a distal end thereof parallel to the main body  21  and extending toward the second end of the main body  21 . A slanted surface  2331  is defined on a part of a side of the shank portion  233  of the hook  23  facing the first end of the main body  21 . An upper point of the slanted surface  2331  is nearest the first end of the main body  21  and a lower point of the slanted surface  2331  is nearest the second end of the main body  21 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the shell  40  includes a first wall  412  and a second wall  41  extending up from an edge of the first wall  412 . A pair of receptacles  43  are formed in the shell  41 , corresponding to the latches  20  and the elastic members  30 . Each receptacle  43  includes a sidewall  431 , first and second end walls  432 ,  433  respectively connecting with opposite ends of the sidewall  431 , a spacing wall  42  arranged between the sidewall  431  and the second wall  41 , and two connecting portions  416  connecting opposite ends of the spacing wall  42  with the second wall  41 . The sidewall  431 , the first and second end walls  432 ,  433 , and the spacing wall  42  cooperatively define a space for receiving the main body  21  of the corresponding latch  20 . The spacing wall  431  and the connecting portions  416  cooperatively define a space for receiving the switch  22  of the corresponding latch  20 . 
   A slot  436  is defined in the sidewall  431  of each receptacle  43 , for receiving the tab  27  of the main body  21  of the corresponding latch  20 . A hole  434  is defined in the first end wall  432  for allowing extension of the first post  24  of the main body  21  therethrough, and a cutout  435  is defined in the second end wall  433  for receiving the second post  25  of the main body  21 . An aperture  423  is defined by cutting out a middle upper portion of the spacing wall  42 , for receiving the connecting members  28  of the corresponding latch  20  therein. A pair of ribs  421  is formed adjacent opposite edges of the aperture  423  respectively, for ensuring smooth movement of the switch  22  relative to the spacing wall  42 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , two holes  11  are defined in the frame  10  corresponding to the hooks  23  of the latches  20  respectively. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , a pair of latch holes  51  are defined in the base  50  corresponding to the latches  20  respectively. A pair of retaining portions  55  is formed communicating with each latch hole  51  respectively, corresponding to the hook portions  231  of each latch  20 . A pair of stopper portions  53  is respectively formed communicating with each latch hole  51  opposite to the retaining portions  55 . In this embodiment, the stopper portions  53  are generally L-shaped in construction. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , each latch  20  is assembled in a same way so only one is described herein, the first post  24  of the latch  20  is extended through the elastic member  30 . A free end of the first post  24  is extended through the hole  434  of the first end wall  432  of the receptacle  43 . The tab  27  of the main body  21  of the latch  20  is received in the slot  436  of the sidewall  431  of the receptacle  43 . The second post  25  of the latch  20  is pressed in the cutout  435  of the second end wall  433  of the receptacle  43  and sandwiched therein. The main body  21  and the switch  22  are received in respective spaces defined in the receptacle  43 , and the connecting members  28  are supported in the aperture  423  of the spacing wall  42  of the receptacle  43 . After both latches  20  have been assembled, the frame  10  is fixed to the shell  40 , with the hooks  23  of the latches  20  extending out through the holes  11  of the frame  10  respectively.  FIG. 5  shows the assembled cover, with the switches  22  exposed for facilitating manipulation. In this embodiment, the latches  20  are mirror images of each other and assembled in the cover with the hooks  23  facing each other, it can be understood the latches  20  can be identical to each other and assembled with the hooks  23  facing a same direction. The latches  20  can also be arranged in other portions of the cover other than a front portion thereof as required. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the cover is pivotally attached to the base  50 . The hook portion  231  of the hook  23  of each latch  20  is extended into the respective latch hole  51  of the base  50 , and clasps the respective retaining portion  55  of the base  50 . The slanted surface  2331  of the hook  23  of each latch  20  faces the respective stopper portion  53  of the base  50 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , to open the cover, the switches  22  of the latches  20  are urged laterally to unlatch the hook portions  231  of the hooks  23  from the retaining portions  55  of the base  50  respectively and the slanted surfaces  2331  of the hooks  23  contact with and ride up the stopper portions  53  of the base  50  causing the cover to lift away from the base  50  enough to facilitate grasping the cover and opening it. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  show an alternative embodiment of the electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus is similar to the first embodiment except for a base  60 . A pair of latch holes  61  is defined in the base  60  corresponding to the latches  20 . A retaining portion  65  is formed communicating with each latch hole  61 , corresponding to the hook portion  231  of each latch  20 . A stopper portion  63  is formed communicating with each latch hole  61  opposite to the retaining portion  65 . The stopper portion  63  defines a slanted surface. 
   To open the cover, the switches  22  of the latches  20  are urged laterally to unlatch the hook portions  231  of the hooks  23  from the retaining portions  65  of the base  60  respectively, and cause the hooks  23  to ride up along the slanted surface of the stopper portions  63  thereby causing the cover to lift away from the base  60  enough to facilitate grasping the cover and opening it. 
   Alternatively, the latches  20  is installed in the base  50  instead of the cover. Movement of the latches  20  is able to push the cover away from the base  50  in order to conveniently lift the cover. 
   It is believed that the present embodiments and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the embodiments and examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments with exemplary detail.