Electronic device with latching assembly

An electronic device includes a first cover, a second cover, and a latching assembly. The first cover includes a first surface and a second surface including a baffle. The latching assembly includes a sliding member mounted on the first surface, a hook member mounted on the second surface and secured to the sliding member, a bracket secured to the hook member, an elastic member resisting the bracket and the baffle, and a latching member protruding from the second cover. The latching member defines a latching hole. The latching member resists the latching block to cause the bracket to move towards the baffle and the elastic member to be contracted. When the bracket moves until the latching block aligns with the latching hole, the elastic member rebounds to push the latching block to be received in the latching hole, thus the second cover is secured to the first cover.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices and, particularly, to an electronic device having a latching assembly.

2. Description of Related Art

A latching structure is generally used to engage a battery cover with a housing of a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone. The latching assembly usually includes a pair of hooks formed at one end of the battery cover and a locking pin protruding from the opposite end of the battery cover. Accordingly, a pair of grooves is defined in one end portion of a backside of the housing of the mobile phone, and a locking hole is defined in the opposite end of the backside of the housing. In assembly, the hooks of the battery cover are firstly inserted into the grooves of the housing, respectively. Then, the battery cover is pressed to the housing until the locking pin of the battery cover is inserted into the locking hole of the housing. The latching assembly is simple in structure, and the engagement between the battery cover and the mobile phone is firm. However, during disassembly, great effort is needed to remove the battery cover from the housing, which makes the battery cover susceptible to damage and is inconvenient for a user to replace the battery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, an electronic device99includes a first cover100, a second cover200, and a latching assembly300. The latching assembly300is configured for releasably latching the second cover200to the first cover100. The first cover100defines an opening130. The shape of the second cover200is adapted to the opening130. The second cover200is latched to the first cover100via the opening130. In the embodiment, the first cover100is a bottom cover of the electronic device99, and the second cover200is a battery cover of the electronic device99.

Referring also toFIG. 4, the first cover100includes a first surface110and a second surface120opposite to the first surface110. A recessed portion112adjacent to the opening130is formed on the first surface110. The bottom of the recessed portion112defines a through hole180extending through the first cover100. A first baffle140, a second baffle150, a third baffle160, and a fourth baffle170protrude from the second surface120and surround the through hole180.

The first baffle140is adjacent to the opening130and defines a first slot142extending through the first baffle140. The second baffle150is generally parallel with the first baffle140. The third baffle160is perpendicularly secured to the first baffle140and the second baffle150. The third baffle160defines a second slot162extending downwards from the top of the third baffle160. The fourth baffle170is generally parallel with the third baffle160. The fourth baffle170is perpendicularly secured to the first baffle140. The fourth baffle170and the second baffle150are spaced apart. The first slot142is between the third baffle160and the fourth baffle170.

The latching assembly300includes a sliding member310, a hook member320, a bracket330, an elastic member340, and a latching member350. In the embodiment, the elastic member340is a spring.

The sliding member310includes an operation portion312and a fixing projection314protruding from the bottom of the operation portion312. The height of the fixing projection314is greater than the depth of the through hole180.

The hook member320includes a main body322. The top of the main body322defines a fixing hole324adapted to the fixing projection314. A pair of first hook portions326and a second hook portion328protrude from the bottom of the main body322. The second hook portion328is between the first hook portions326, and is parallel with the first hook portions326. The hook of the second hook portion328faces one direction and the hooks of each of the first hook portions326face an opposite direction.

The bracket330includes a frame332. The frame332is generally rectangular. The frame332defines three hook holes3320extending through the frame332. The hook holes3320are adapted to the first hook portions326and the second hook portion328. A positioning projection334protrudes from one sidewall of the frame332. The elastic member340is placed over the positioning projection334. A latching block336and a third hook portion338protrude from an opposite sidewall of the frame332. The latching block336includes a first inclined surface3360on a side facing the third hook portion338. The hook of the third hook portion338faces the latching block336.

The latching member350protrudes from one sidewall of the second cover200. The latching member350can pass through the first slot142of the first baffle140. The latching member350includes a second inclined surface352and a third inclined surface354. The second inclined surface352is inclined opposite to the first inclined surface3360, so that they can match up with and resist each other. A notch356is formed on the latching member350. The notch356is adjacent to the third inclined surface354. The shape of the notch356is adapted to the third hook portion338. The latching member350further defines a latching hole358adapted to the latching block336. The latching hole358is adjacent to the third inclined surface354.

The following description is employed for illustrating the procedure of assembling the latching assembly300. The hook member320is placed on the second surface120of the first cover100to cause the fixing hole324to be aligned with the through hole180. The sliding member310is placed in the recessed portion112to cause the fixing projection314to pass through the through hole180and be received in the fixing hole324, thus causing the sliding member310to be secured to the hook member320. The elastic member340is placed over the positioning portion334. The bracket330is placed on the second surface120of the first cover100, causing the positioning portion334to be received in the second slot162, and the first hook portions326and the second hook portion328to hook the hook holes3320, respectively. After mounting the bracket330, one end of the elastic member340resists the bracket330, and an opposite end resists the third baffle160.

FIG. 5is employed for illustrating the procedure of securing the second cover200to the first cover100. After passing the latching member350through the first slot142, the second cover200is pushed to cause the second inclined surface352to contact with the first inclined surface3360, and the third inclined surface354to contact with the third hook portion338. The second cover200is further pushed to cause the second inclined surface352to slide along the first inclined surface3360, and the third hook portion338to slide along the third inclined surface354. As the second inclined surface352slides along the first inclined surface3360, the latching member350resists the latching block336, causing the bracket330to slide towards the third baffle160. As the bracket330slides towards the third baffle160, the elastic member340is contracted. The second cover200is further pushed until the latching block336is aligned with the latching hole358. Once the latching block336aligns with the latching hole358, the elastic member340rebounds, causing the latching block336to be received in the latching hole358, and the third hook portion338to hook the third inclined surface354. Thus, the second cover200is secured to the first cover100.

Referring also toFIG. 6, when removing the second cover200from the first cover100, the operation portion312is pushed to slide towards the third baffle160, causing the hook member320and the bracket330to slide towards the third baffle160, and the elastic member340to be contracted. The operation portion312is further pushed until the latching block336moves out of the latching hole358, and the third hook portion338is received in the notch356. When the third hook portion338is received in the notch356, the latching block336and the latching hole358are kept apart without exerting external force on the operation portion312, thus the second cover200can be removed from the first cover100. Once the second cover200is removed from the first cover100, the elastic member340rebounds.