Locking assembly and electronic device using the same

A locking assembly includes a guiding post and a hollow locking member. The guiding post includes a locking portion. A clamp hook is formed on a flange of the locking portion. The locking member includes an opening end. The locking member sleeves on the locking portion of the locking member, in which at least one clamping depression is formed on an inner wall of the locking member corresponding to the clamp hook, and the clamp hook is clamped in one clamping depression.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to locking assemblies, and particularly to a locking assembly for locking the circuit board in an electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

Circuit boards are usually locked within the housing via screws in the electronic devices. During assembly or disassembly of the circuit boards, the screws are fastened or disassembled by means of screwdrivers. The screws and the circuit boards are easily be damaged if the amount of power or force used when controlling or turning the screwdrivers is not adjustable during the assembly or disassembly of the circuit board.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of an electronic device100including a housing10, a circuit board40and, a plurality of locking assemblies60is shown. The circuit board40is detachably positioned in the housing via the locking assemblies60. The electronic device100also includes various other functional modules for performing specific functions. However, for simplicity, it is not described here.

The housing10includes a bottom housing11and a top cover13mounted on the bottom housing11. A bottom wall111is formed in the bottom of the bottom housing11. Four mounting holes113are separately defined in the bottom wall111.

The circuit board40is detachably mounted on the bottom wall111via the four locking assemblies60. Four installation holes42are defined through the circuit board40corresponding to the four mounting holes113.

Each locking assembly60includes a guiding post62and a locking member64. The guiding post62is fixed in the corresponding mounting hole113. The locking member64sleeves on the guiding post62for locking the circuit board40on the guiding post62.

Referring to theFIGS. 3 through 5, the guiding post62is detachably positioned in one mounting hole113for supporting the circuit board40. In an alternative embodiment, the guiding posts62and the bottom wall111can be integrally formed. The guiding post62includes a support portion622, a guiding portion624, and a locking portion628. The support portion622, the guiding portion624, and the locking portion628are configured and aligned in a same axis. The support portion622connects with the guiding portion624at on end thereof, and forms several external threads on the opposite end thereof away from the support portion622to be detachably positioned in one mounting hole113of the housing10.

The guiding portion624is substantially a cylinder, located between the support portion622and the locking portion628. A diameter of the guiding portion624is smaller than a diameter of the support portion622. A guiding surface6222is formed on an end surface of the support portion622connecting with the guiding portion624. The guiding surface6222is used for guiding the circuit board40to move along in the direction substantially perpendicularly to the circuit board40during the electronic device100assembly. The diameter of the guiding portion624is equal to that of the installation hole42for guiding the level or planar direction of the circuit board40during the assembly. The locking portion628is connected with the guiding portion624away from the support portion622for engaging with the locking member64. The locking portion628is substantially a cylinder. The diameter of the locking portion628is smaller than that of the guiding portion624. A clamp hook6282is formed on a flange of an end of the locking portion628away from the guiding portion624.

The locking member64sleeves on the locking portion628. The locking member64is engaging with the locking portion628for fixing the circuit board40on the guiding post62. The locking member64is made of plastic or elastic materials. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking member64is made of plastic materials. The locking member64is a substantially hollow cylinder, and includes a main body642, a capped end644, and an opening end646. The capped end644and the opening end646are formed at the opposite ends of the main body642.

The main body642includes an inner wall6422and an outer wall6424. Four buffer grooves648are further separately formed on the main body642. The buffer groove648extends along the central axis of the locking member64from an end surface of the opening end646toward and adjacent to the capped end644. Each pair of the four buffer grooves648are aligned in a same plane, such that two clamping portions6425are symmetrically formed on the inner wall6422between the two planes defined by the buffer grooves648for engaging with the locking portion628. Several clamping depressions6428are recessed on the inner wall6422. The width of the clamping depression6428is corresponding to the height of the clamping hook6282.

In assembly, the circuit board40sleeves on the guiding portions624via the installation holes42, such that one side of the circuit board40facing the bottom wall111resists against the guiding surfaces6222. Each locking member64sleeves on each guiding post62. A pressure perpendicularly to the capped end644is applied and the locking member64then deforms. The locking member64moves towards the circuit board40until the end surface of the opening end646resists against the circuit board40. The clamping hook6282is clamped in one clamping depression6428. Finally, the top cover13is mounted on the bottom housing11.

The locking member64of the electronic device100can be made of plastic or elastic materials. The circuit board40will not be damaged because the circuit board40is clamped on the guiding post62by the locking member64without using other tools. In addition, the electronic or electrical signals will not be disturbed because the locking member64is not made of metal.