Abstract:
A portable computer ( 20 ) includes a main body ( 21 ), a retention portion ( 23 ) being arranged on the main body with a part thereof spaced apart from the main body, a fastener ( 30 ) detachably attaching a handle ( 10 ) between the main body and the retention portion, and means for retaining the fastener to the retention portion when the fastener is not in use for attaching the handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a portable computer, and more particularly to a portable computer incorporates a handle.  
         [0003]     2. General Background  
         [0004]     Portable computers, such as laptop computers and notebook computers, have become increasingly popular for general use. To facilitate carrying portable computers, a handle is attached to a portable computer with screws. However, the screws are often lost by accident resulting in uselessness of the handle.  
         [0005]     What is desired, therefore, is a portable computer which has an improved fixing mechanism to attach the handle thereto.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     In one preferred embodiment, a portable computer includes a main body, a retention portion being arranged on the main body with a part thereof spaced apart from the main body, a fastener for detachably attaching a handle between the main body and the retention portion, and means for retaining the fastener to the retention portion when the fastener is not in use for attaching the handle.  
         [0007]     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  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a portable computer and a handle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the portable computer including a main body, a pair of fasteners and a pair of fixing mechanisms;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged isometric view of one fastener and one fixing mechanism of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 , showing a part thereof cut out;  
         [0011]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are enlarged views of a circled portion IV of  FIG. 3 , respectively showing the fastener and the fixing mechanism in different positions;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is an exploded, isometric view of a portable computer and a handle in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, the portable computer including a main body, and a pair of fixing mechanisms;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged isometric view of one fastener and one fixing mechanism of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is an assembled view of  FIG. 6 , showing a part thereof cut out; and  
         [0015]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are enlarged views of a circled portion IX of  FIG. 8 , respectively showing the fastener and the fixing mechanism in different positions. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a handle  10  is provided to be used with a portable electronic device like a portable computer  20 . The handle is a functional part of the portable computer  20  and capable of being used as a carrying handle in one of its positions and a stand of the computer  20  in another of its positions. The handle  10  includes a crossbar  11 , and a pair of arms  12  protruding from opposite ends of the crossbar  11  respectively. A through hole  121  is defined in a free end of each arm  12 . The portable computer  20  includes a main body  21 . A pair of retention portions  23  protrudes rearward along lateral sides of the main body  21  respectively. The retention portions  23  are spaced from the main body  21 . A through hole  231  is defined in a free end of each retention portion  23 . A pair of threaded holes  211  (see  FIG. 5 ) is defined in the main body  20  corresponding to the through holes  231 .  
         [0017]     Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , a pair fasteners  30  and a pair of fixing mechanisms each including a bushing  40  and a clasping piece  50  are provided to attach the handle  10  to the main body  21  of the portable computer  20 . The fastener  30  can be, for example, a bolt which includes a shaft portion  31  and a threaded portion  33 . A diameter of the threaded portion  33  is larger than a diameter of the shaft portion  33 . The bushing  40  includes a collar portion  45 , and a pair of opposite notches  41  is defined at edge portion of an end thereof distal from the collar portion  45 . An annular wall  43  is formed in the bushing  40  from internal surface thereof. The fastener  30  can be extended through the bushing  40  with a head portion of the fastener  30  blocked by the annular wall  43  of the bushing  40 . The clasping piece  50  includes an annular base  51 , and two opposite resilient clips  53  extending generally perpendicularly from an external perimeter of the annular base  51 . Each clip  53  is generally L-shaped. A plurality of teeth  511  is formed from an internal perimeter of the annular main body  51  and generally locates in a same plane of the annular main body  51 .  
         [0018]     In assembly, the clasping piece  50  is inserted in the bushing  40 , and the clips  53  engage the bushing  40  at the notches  41  respectively, with free ends of the clips  53  extending out of external surface of the bushing  40 . The fastener  30  is extended through the bushing  40  and the clasping piece  50 . The annular base  51  of the clasping piece  50  is dimensioned to allow the threaded portion  33  of the fastener  30  to be rotatably driven therethrough. The teeth  511  of the annular base  51  prevent the fastener  30  from exiting from the bushing  40 , and the annular wall  43  of the bushing  40  engages the head portion of the fastener  30  to prevent the fastener  30  from being fully extended therethrough.  
         [0019]     The arms  12  of the handle  10  are inserted between the main body  20  and the retention portions  23  respectively, with the through holes  121  of the arms  12  aligning with corresponding through holes  231  of the retention portions  23  and threaded holes  211  of the main body  20 . The fastener  30  is pulled outwardly to drive the annular base  51  of the clasping piece  50  toward the annular wall  43  of the bushing  40 , and the clips  53  retract toward each other. The free ends of the clips  53  are withdrawn in the bushing  40 . The assembled fastener  30 , bushing  40  and clasping piece  50  is then smoothly inserted through the through hole  231  of the retention portion  23  and the through hole  121  of the arm  12  of the handle  10 .  
         [0020]     The fastener  30  is released, and the clips  53  of the clasping piece  50  are restored to extend the free ends thereof out of the external surface of the bushing  40 . The fastener  30  is then screwed in the threaded hole  211  of the main body  20 . The collar potion  45  of the bushing  40  engages external surface of the retention portion  23 .  FIGS. 3 and 4  show the handle  10  is attached to the main body  20 , and the handle  10  is rotatable along the bushing  40  and facilitates carrying the portable computer  20 .  
         [0021]     When it is desired to detach the handle  10  from the main body  20 , the fastener  30  is disengaged from the threaded hole  211  of the main body  20 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the assembled fastener  30 , bushing  40  and clasping piece  50  is pulled outwardly to withdraw from the arm  12  of the handle  10 , until the free ends of the clips  53  of the clasping piece  50  contact the retention portion  23  of the main body  20 , and the clasping piece  50  is prevented from further movement. The handle  20  is ready to be detached, and the assembled fastener  30 , bushing  40  and clasping piece  50  is retained at the retention portion  23  of the main body  20 .  
         [0022]     FIGS.  6  to  9  show an alternative embodiment of the fixing mechanism which includes a bushing  60 . The bushing  60  includes a collar portion  65  and a pair of opposed resilient catches  61  formed at an end thereof. An annular wall  63  is formed in the bushing  60  from internal surface thereof. A plurality of teeth  631  is formed at the annular wall  63 , corresponding to the threaded portion  33  of the fastener  30 .  
         [0023]     In use, the fastener  30  is assembled to the bushing  60  by rotatably extending the threaded portion  33  of the fastener  30  through the annular wall  63  of the bushing  60 . The assembled fastener  30  and bushing  60  is inserted through the retention portion  23  of the main body  20 . The catches  61  of the bushing  60  are urged by the through hole  231  of the retention portion  23  to retract toward each other thereby allowing the bushing  60  to pass through.  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  shows the handle  10  is attached to the main body  20 , the fastener  30  is engaged in the threaded hole  211  of the main body  20 , the catches  61  of the bushing  60  are restored, and the collar portion  65  of the bushing  60  engages external surface of the retention portion  23  of the main body  20 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  shows the handle  10  is ready to be detached from the main body  20 , and the assembled fastener  10  and bushing  60  is retained to the main body  20  with the catches  61  of the bushing  60  engaging internal surface off the retention portion  23 .  
         [0026]     It is believed that the present embodiments and their 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 examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments.