Abstract:
A fixing mechanism includes a receptacle for receiving a component. A pair of spaced rails is formed in the receptacle and defining a slideway therebetween. A latch member is movable along the slideway. A resilient member is installed adjacent the slideway and engagable with the latch member to urge the latch member forward for fixing the component and to assist in urging the latch member backward when the latch member is operated to unfix the component.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fixing mechanism, and more particularly to a fixing mechanism for fixing a component in an electronic apparatus. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     A portable electronic apparatus such as a notebook computer or a laptop computer, usually includes optional components, such as hard disk drives, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drives, digital video disc (DVD) drives, floppy disk drives, and the like. These storage devices are typically added to increase the functionality of the electronic apparatus as desired by a user. 
     Components are typically attached in the electronic apparatus by screws. However, attachment with screws is unduly complicated and time consuming. In addition, a tool is usually required for installation and removal of the screws. 
     What is desired, therefore, is an electronic apparatus having a component fixing mechanism which facilitates removal and attachment of a component thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An exemplary fixing mechanism is provided to fix a component. The fixing mechanism includes a receptacle for receiving the component. A pair of spaced rails is installable in the receptacle and defines a slideway therebetween. A latch member is movable along the slideway. A resilient member is installable adjacent the slideway and engagable with the latch member to urge the latch member forward for fixing the component and also to assists in urging the latch member backward when the latch member is operated to unfix the component. 
     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a fixing mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention together with a component to be fixed in place; 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 , showing the component in a fixed position; and 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but showing the component in an unfixed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a fixing mechanism of an electronic device like a laptop in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided to attach a component  90  to a receptacle  70 . The fixing mechanism includes a latch member  10 , a resilient member  30 , and a switch  50 . 
     The receptacle  70  includes a first wall  701  and a second wall  703  extending up from an edge of the first wall  701 . An opening  705  is defined in the second wall  703  allowing extension of the component  90  therethrough. 
     A pair of parallel rails  73  is arranged on the first wall  701  generally parallel to the second wall  703 . Both rails  73  cooperatively define a slideway therebetween. The rails  73  include one short rail and one long rail. The long rail  73  is proximal to the second wall  703 . Two spaced posts  75  protrude up from the first wall  701 . One post  75  is arranged adjacent the short rail  73 . A switch hole  71  is defined in the first wall  701  parallel to the long rail  73  and generally between the long rail  73  and the posts  75 . 
     The latch member  10  includes a body  11  and a protrusion  15  extending out from an end of the body  11 . The body  11  defines a lateral surface  110  adjacent the protrusion  15 , and an end surface  112  at an opposite end thereof. An aperture  111  is defined in the body  11 . The body  11  defines a first slanting surface  113 , a second slanting surface  115 , and a vertical surface  117  in that order by cutting out a portion of a side where the lateral surface  110  is defined. The first slanting surface  113  communicates with the end surface  112 . The first and second slanting surfaces  113 ,  115  share a common edge and cooperatively define a generally V-shaped portion, and an acme of the V-shaped portion protrudes outward. The vertical surface  117  adjoins the lateral surface  110  and the second slanting surface  113 . 
     The resilient member  30  is a generally U-shaped plate. The resilient member  30  includes a base portion  31  and an elastic portion  33 . The base portion  31  includes two curved sections  35  formed by bending opposite ends thereof in opposite directions, for receiving the posts  75  of the receptacle  70  respectively. The elastic portion  33  integrally connects with one proximal curved section  35  and extends generally parallel to the base portion  31 . The elastic portion  33  includes an arcuate section  331  at a free end thereof, corresponding to the latch member  10 . 
     The switch  50  includes a base  51 , and two spaced resilient hooks  53  extending up from the base  51  for engaging in the aperture  111  of the latch member  10 . 
     The component  90  can be an electronic device, for example an optical drive or a hard disc drive. A retainer  91  is detachably attached to a rear end of the component  90 , corresponding to the latch member  10 . The retainer  91  includes a vertical tab defining a cutout  911  at a lower end thereof. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in assembly and use, the latch member  10  is placed generally between the rails  73 ,  75 , with the aperture  111  thereof in alignment with the switch hole  71  of the first wall  701  of the receptacle  70 . The resilient member  30  is placed on the first wall  701 , with the posts  75  fitting in the curved portions  35  of the resilient member  30  respectively. The hooks  53  of the switch  50  extend up from under the first wall  701  through the switch hole  71  of the first wall  701  and the aperture  111  of the body  11  in sequence to catch at the latch member  10 . The base  51  of the switch  50  engages with a lower surface of the first wall  701  and is accessible from outside the receptacle  70 . The switch hole  71  of the first wall  701  allows the hooks  75  to move therein in a front-to-back direction. 
     In assembling the component  90  to the receptacle  70 , the component  90  is pushed into the receptacle  70  via the opening  705 . The cutout  911  of the retainer  91  is aligned with the protrusion  15  of the latch member  10 . The switch  50  is activated to move the latch member  10  toward the retainer  91 . The second slanting surface  115  of the latch member  10  moves along and urges against the arcuate section  331  of the elastic portion  33  toward the base portion  31 . The elastic portion  33  is thus compressed. When the second slanting surface  115  rides over the arcuate section  331  of the elastic portion  33 , the first slanting surface  113  adjoining the second slanting surface  115  of the latch member  10  engages with the arcuate section  331  of the elastic portion  33  due to elastic restoration of the elastic portion  33 . The restoration of the elastic portion  33  facilitates moving the latch member  10  on by urging against the first slanting surface  113  of the latch member  10 . The protrusion  15  of the latch member  10  is inserted through the cutout  911  of the retainer  91  thereby attaching the component  90  to the receptacle  70 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 2 , the component  90  is fixed in the receptacle  70 . The protrusion  15  of the latch member  10  is extended out from between the rails  73  and through the cutout  911  of the retainer  91 . The arcuate section  331  of the resilient member  30  abuts against the first slanting surface  113  of the latch member  10  to prevent the protrusion  15  of the latch member  10  from disengaging from the retainer  91 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 3 , to detach the component  90  from the receptacle  70 , the switch  50  is slid to move the latch member  10  away from the retainer  91  along the slideway defined by the rails  73 . The first slanting surface  113  of the latch member  10  moves along and urges the arcuate section  331  of the elastic portion  33  toward the base portion  31 . The elastic portion  33  is thus compressed. When the first slanting surface  113  rides over the arcuate section  331  of the elastic portion  33 , the second slanting surface  115  adjoining the first slanting surface  113  of the latch member  10  engages with the arcuate section  331  of the elastic portion  33  due to elastic restoration of the elastic portion  33 . The restoration of the elastic portion  33  facilitates moving the latch member  10  on by urging against the second slanting surface  115  of the latch member  10 . The switch  10  is slid along until the vertical surface  117  of the latch member  10  abuts against the arcuate section  331  of the elastic portion  33 , and the protrusion  15  of the latch member  10  is fully withdrawn from the cutout  911  of the retainer  91 . The component  90  is then ready to be detached from the receptacle  70  via the opening  705 . 
     It is believed that the present embodiment 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 embodiment and examples hereinbefore described merely being one preferred or exemplary embodiment with exemplary detail.