Battery cover latch mechanism and portable electronic device using same

A battery cover latch mechanism (10) used in portable electronic device (100) is described including a cover member (11), a housing member (12), a latching assembly (13), and a return member (16). The latching assembly slides between a released position and a latched position. The return member is secured to the cover member including two elastic sheets (136) elastically resisting a same side of the latching assembly. The elastic sheets connect with each other. The elastic sheet is used to return the latching assembly towards the latched position.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to battery cover latch mechanisms used in portable electronic devices.

2. Description of Related Art

Portable electronic devices usually include latch mechanisms used to latch battery covers to housings. The latch mechanisms must tolerate frequent installation and removal of batteries relative to the housings.

A typical battery cover latch mechanism includes at least one spring to facilitate the operation thereof. However, the spring may easily wear out after repeated operation and, thus the battery cover latch mechanism may fail.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a portable electronic device100including a battery cover latch mechanism including a cover member11, a housing member12, a latching assembly13, and a return member16. The housing member12can be a housing of the portable electronic device100. The cover member11can be a cover of the portable electronic device100. The latching assembly13is configured to be mounted between the housing member11and the cover member12for latching the cover member12to the housing member11. The return member16is used to facilitate the latching of the latching member13.

The cover member11has a first peripheral wall112, a bottom wall113(shown inFIG. 2), and a battery chamber115. The first peripheral wall112surrounds the battery chamber115. The battery chamber115can accommodate a battery (not shown). One end of first peripheral wall112defines a generally rectangular notch116. The bottom wall113has two mounting columns118formed thereon, near the notch116.

The housing member12includes a second peripheral wall122and an upper wall121. The second peripheral wall122is configured to mate with the first peripheral wall112(best shown inFIG. 3). Referring also toFIG. 2, one end of the upper wall121forms a generally L-shaped first claw124near the second peripheral wall122. The first claw124has a first claw portion1244and a first connecting portion1242connecting the first claw portion1244to the upper wall121. The first claw portion1244defines a hole1246.

The latching assembly13includes a stepped pressing portion131with a generally L-shaped protrusion. The L-shaped protrusion is defined by a second claw136protruding from a side of the pressing portion131. The second claw136has a second claw portion134and a second connecting portion132connecting the second claw portion134to the pressing portion131.

Referring also toFIGS. 4 and 5, the pressing portion131is configured to be received in the notch116and slide within the notch116. Two step parts1312of the pressing portion131are used to prevent the pressing portion131from falling out of the notch116. The second claw portion134corresponds to the first claw portion1244and is configured to pass through the hole1246to interlock with the first claw portion1244.

The return member16includes two generally rectangular mounting portions162, two generally L-shaped elastic sheets164, and a straight bridge portion163. The two elastic sheets164connect the two mounting portions162, respectively. The two elastic sheets164are cross-bridged by the bridge portion163. The two mounting portions162define two mounting holes1628corresponding to the two mounting columns118, respectively. The mounting portions162can be secured to the bottom wall113by e.g., hot melting of the mounting columns118within the mounting holes1628. The two elastic sheets164can be elastically deformed relative to the two mounting portions162, respectively. The elastic sheets164include two first resisting portions1642and two second resisting portions1644. The first resisting portions1642connect the second resisting portions1644and the mounting portions162. The first resisting portions1642connect with each other by the bridge portion163.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, the battery cover latch mechanism is in a latched position. The cover member11is latched to the housing member12by the interlocking of the first claw124and the second claw136. The second claw portion134passes through the hole1246of the first claw124to interlock with the first claw portion1244. The elastic sheet164is elastically deformed along with the first resisting portion1642biasing the pressing portion131and the second resisting portion1644biasing against the first claw portion1244. Oppositely, the pressing portion131is secured within the notch116by the biasing of the interior surface of the first peripheral wall112against the step parts1312.

Referring toFIG. 5, when the cover member11needs to be released from the housing member12, the pressing portion131is pressed further into the notch116. During this stage, the second claw portion134is moved away from the first claw portion1244until they are no longer interlocked. The elastic sheet164is continuously deformed. As the interlocking is removed, the second claw portion134can pass through the hole1246. Thus, the cover member11can be simply pulled apart from the housing member12by pulling the second claw portion134through the hole1246.

Concerning the latching the cover member11to the housing member12, the principle is similar to the above releasing process, but in reverse.