Electronic device having battery holder

An electronic device includes a main body, a control switch, and a sliding block. The main body defines a cavity for receiving a battery. The main body includes a sidewall defining an opening communicating with the cavity. The sidewall further defines a through hole adjacent to the opening. The control switch is engaged in the through hole and rotatable with respect to the sidewall. The control switch includes a protruding portion. The sliding block is movable in the main body. The protruding portion presses against the sliding block and pushes a part of the sliding block into the cavity to block the battery therein when the control switch is rotated to a first position.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to electronic devices, and particularly to an electronic device having a battery holder.

2. Description of Related Art

Most electronic devices, such as portable computers, cameras, media players, can be powered by batteries and by mains power. In almost all of these devices, the batteries are housed in a compartment within the electronic devices. When the batteries are being replaced, the battery cover is snapped off and the old batteries are removed. The new batteries are inserted and the cover replaced to hold the new batteries in place. However, replacing batteries in this manner is an inconvenience because the battery cover must be removed first, then a force is applied against the battery to remove the battery from the battery holder.

Therefore, an electronic device having an improved battery holder with facility of battery extraction is needed in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiency.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-2, an electronic device10in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is illustrated. In the embodiment, the electronic device10is a portable computer (notebook computer). In other embodiments, the electronic device10may be a camera, a media player, a mobile phone, etc. The electronic device10includes a main body100and a cover200pivotally mounted to the main body100. The cover200includes a liquid crystal display (LCD, not labeled) for displaying images.

The main body100includes an upper portion102and a lower portion104. The upper portion102includes a plurality of keys for inputting instructions or information. The upper portion102is attached to the lower portion104to form a space for receiving a processing module (not shown), and a battery150therein. The battery150is used for powering the processing module and the LCD. Two recesses154are defined in a front side of the battery150. Two electrodes (not shown) are respectively disposed in the two recesses154. A cutout152(seeFIG. 5) is further defined in a corner of the battery150. The corner is defined by a rear side and a right side of the battery150.

The lower portion104includes a sidewall142defining an opening144for the battery150passing therethrough, and a through hole146adjacent to the opening144. A battery cover400is pivotally attached to the sidewall142via two torsion springs402. In normal states, the battery cover400covers the opening144. When the battery cover400is opened, the two torsion springs402deform storing elastic energy, and the battery150can be inserted into or removed from the main body100. The battery cover400regains its original position to cover the opening144when it is released and the two torsion springs402then release their stored elastic energy.

A U-shaped shelf300is fixed to a base plate148of the lower portion104. Two extreme edges of the U-shaped shelf300are substantially attached to the sidewall142, so that a hatch of the U-shaped shelf300faces the opening144. Two posts702, corresponding to the two recesses154of the battery150, protrude inwardly from the inner surface of a middle part304of the U-shaped shelf300(seeFIG. 5). The two posts702are configured for electrically connecting to the two electrodes of the battery150. Two springs700are respectively sleeved on the two posts702. The base plate148and the sidewall142of the lower portion104, the battery cover400, the U-shaped shelf300, and the upper portion102together define a cavity160and form a battery holder for receiving the battery150.

Referring also toFIG. 3, one of the extreme edges, adjacent to the through hole146, of the U-shaped shelf300defines a T-shaped groove302for receiving a sliding block600. The sliding block600includes a T-shaped portion604capable of sliding/moving in the groove302, and a wedged portion606formed at an angle to the sidewall142. The wedged portion606facilitates the entrance of the sliding block600into the cavity160. In the embodiment, the sliding block600is made of magnetic material. In other embodiments, only a portion, such as the wedged portion606, of the sliding block600is made of magnetic material.

The electronic device10further includes a control switch500rotatably engaged in the through hole146, and a clamping block800protruding inwardly from an inner surface of the sidewall142. The clamping block800is adjacent to the through hole146, and is configured for limiting rotation of the control switch500.

The control switch500includes a column502, an operation portion504, and an acting portion506. The operation portion504includes a tray having a handle disposed thereon. The column502connects the operation portion504and the acting portion506. A diameter of the column502is equal to or slightly smaller than that of the through hole146, thus, the column502is capable of being received in the through hole146. The tray of the operation portion504has a diameter larger than that of the through hole146. The acting portion506has a substantially round shape, and has a diameter larger than that of the through hole146.

The acting portion506includes a magnetic portion508, an arced protruding portion510, and a substantially rectangular projection512. The protruding portion510and the projection512protrude from opposite sides of the acting portion506. The magnetic portion508is disposed between the protruding portion510and the projection512, along the edge of the acting portion506. When the control switch500is rotated to a first position (may be labeled as “LOCK”), at which point the protruding portion510faces the groove302and presses against the sliding block600, a part of the sliding block600is pushed into the cavity160. When the control switch500is rotated to a second position (may be labeled as “UNLOCK”), at which point the magnetic portion508faces the groove302, the sliding block600is attracted to slide out of the cavity160by the magnetic force between the sliding block600and the magnetic portion508.

Referring also toFIG. 6, the electronic device10further includes a pole802protruding inwardly from the inner surface of the sidewall142, and a torsion spring804with an end connected to the pole802. The other end of the torsion spring804is connected to the projection512of the control switch500. The torsion spring804is configured for limiting the control switch500at the first position. When the control switch500is rotated away from the first position, the torsion spring804is elastically deformed to generate a pulling force on the control switch500. Thus, the control switch500is capable of returning to the first position once the control switch500is released.

Referring also toFIGS. 4-5, to install the battery150, the battery cover400is opened firstly, then the battery150is inserted into the cavity160through the opening144. The battery150is then pressed against the springs700, thus the springs700become elastically deformed and store elastic energy. Next, the control switch500is rotated to the first position, at which point the protruding portion510faces the groove302and presses against the sliding block600. As a result, a part of the sliding block600is pushed into the cavity160, and received in the cutout152of the battery150. Accordingly, the battery150is immovably placed in the cavity160. The projection512is then pressing against the clamping block800, thus further rotation of the control switch500is limited. The installation of the battery150ends when the battery cover400is closed. Thus, it is very convenient to install the battery150into the electronic device10.

To remove the battery150, the control switch500is rotated to the second position, at which point the magnetic portion508faces the sliding block600. The sliding block600is attracted by the magnetic force between the sliding block600and the magnetic portion508to slide out of the cavity160and the cutout152. As a result, the battery150is pushed out of the cavity160by the stored elastic energy of the springs700. Finally, the control switch500may be released to return to the first position, and the battery cover400is closed automatically. Thus, it is very convenient to remove the battery150out of the electronic device10.