Electronic device

An electronic device includes a case, a latch, and a detachable member. The case has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The latch is movably configured on the first surface back and forth. The latch has a first pushing portion and a second pushing portion. The first and second pushing portions are located at two moving axes parallel to a moving direction of the latch. The detachable member is assembled to the case from the second surface, and a portion of the detachable member protrudes from the first surface and is locked to the latch. When the latch moves back and forth relatively to the case, the first and second pushing portions sequentially push the detachable member, so as to drive the detachable member to move relatively to the case and be disassembled from the case.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 100109745, filed Mar. 22, 2011. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an electronic device. More particularly, the invention relates to an electronic device in which a detachable member can be disassembled in a stepwise manner.

2. Description of Related Art

A plurality of latch structures are often required to assemble a cover to or disassemble the cover from the back surface of an existing notebook computer. For instance, the latch structures of the notebook computer frequently include a locking module and a pushing module. The locking module locks the cover, and the pushing module pushes the cover out of the case. A user needs to assemble or disassemble the cover by simultaneously controlling the locking module and the pushing module with both hands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to an electronic device in which a detachable member can be moved in a stepwise manner, so as to be disassembled from a case through a latch.

In an embodiment of the invention, an electronic device that includes a case, a latch, and a detachable member is provided. The case has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The latch is movably configured on a first surface back and forth. The latch has a first pushing portion and a second pushing portion. The first and second pushing portions are respectively located at two moving axes which are parallel to a moving direction of the latch. The detachable member is assembled to the case from the second surface, and a portion of the detachable member protrudes from the first surface and is locked to the latch. When the latch moves back and forth relatively to the case, the first and second pushing portions sequentially push the detachable member to drive the detachable member to move relatively to the case and be disassembled from the case.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first and second pushing portions push the detachable member along the same direction.

According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second pushing portions pushes the detachable member along a direction which is perpendicular to the moving direction of the latch.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the detachable member has a first protrusion and a second protrusion which pass through the case from the second surface and protrude from the first surface. When the detachable member is locked to the latch, the first and second protrusions are located between the first pushing portion and the second pushing portion, and the first protrusion and the first pushing portion are located at a first moving axis.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the latch moves back and forth between a first position and a second position relatively to the case. When the latch moves toward the second position from the first position, the first pushing portion pushes the first protrusion along the first moving axis, so as to push the detachable member and move the second protrusion to a second moving axis where the second pushing portion is located. When the latch moves toward the first position from the second position, the second pushing portion pushes the second protrusion along the second moving axis to push the detachable member.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the latch includes a body and a locking hook. The body is movably configured on the first surface back and forth and has the first pushing portion. The locking hook extends toward the second protrusion from the body and has the second pushing portion. The body is locked to the second protrusion of the detachable member through the locking hook.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the latch moves toward the second position from the first position, and the locking hook releases the second protrusion before the first pushing portion comes into contact with the first protrusion.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first pushing portion has a guiding inclined surface corresponding to a guiding inclined surface of the first protrusion, and the second pushing portion has a guiding inclined surface corresponding to a guiding inclined surface of the second protrusion, such that the latch moves back and forth to drive the detachable member to correspondingly move in same directions.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the electronic device further includes an elastic member that is configured on the first surface and connected between the latch and the case. The elastic member drives the latch to move toward the first position from the second position.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the electronic device further includes a pushing handle configured on the second surface. Besides, a portion of the pushing handle passes through the case and is connected to the latch.

Based on the above, the pushing portions of the latch in the electronic device are located at two moving axes according to the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, when the user pushes the latch, the pushing portions of the latch are driven to sequentially push the detachable member of the electronic device. Thereby, the detachable member is disassembled from the case in a stepwise manner. Namely, the user is able to disassemble the detachable member from the case with ease.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be further understood from the further technological features disclosed by the embodiments of the invention wherein there are shown and described embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of best modes to carry out the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a schematic view illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment of the invention.FIG. 2is an enlarged view partially illustrating the electronic device depicted inFIG. 1at an opposite view angle. With reference toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the electronic device100of this embodiment is a notebook computer, for instance. The electronic device100includes a case110, a latch120, a detachable member130, an elastic member140, and a pushing handle150. To better illustrate the invention, not all of the components in the notebook computer are depicted. The case110has a first surface S1and a second surface S2opposite to each other. The latch120is movably configured on the first surface S1, and the latch120has a first pushing portion121and a second pushing portion122. The detachable member130is a back cover configured on the second surface S2, for instance. In addition, the detachable member130is assembled to the case110, so as to protect the electronic parts (not shown) in the case110. In this embodiment, a portion of the detachable member130passes through the case110and protrudes from the first surface S1, and the portion of the detachable member130is locked to the latch120, such that the detachable member130is fixed to the case110. The elastic member140is configured on the first surface S1and connected between the case110and the latch120. The pushing handle150is configured on the second surface S2. A portion of the pushing handle150passes through the case110, protrudes from the first surface S1, and is connected to the latch120.

Accordingly, when a user intends to disassemble the detachable member130from the case110, the user can exert a force on the pushing handle150, so as to drive the latch120to move relatively to the case110along a first direction D1. When the user stops exerting the force on the pushing handle150, the latch120moves back to the initial position along a second direction D2due to an elastic force of the elastic member140, such that the latch120can move back and forth on the case110. Here, the second direction D2is opposite to the first direction D1. Moreover, the first and second pushing portions121and122of the latch120are respectively located at two moving axes (e.g., the first and second moving axes L1and L2shown in the drawings) that are parallel to the moving directions D1and D2of the latch120. Therefore, when the latch120moves back and forth relatively to the case110, the first pushing portion121and the second pushing portion122sequentially push the portion of the detachable member130which protrudes from the first surface S1. Hence, the detachable member130is driven to move relatively to the case110in a stepwise manner, and the detachable member130is further disassembled from the case110. The type of the detachable member130is not limited herein. Any structure that is configured on the electronic device100and equipped with a detachable member is applicable to this invention.

FIG. 3toFIG. 5are schematic views respectively illustrating that the electronic device depicted inFIG. 2is in different states. Based on the illustration, the movement correlation between the latch120and the detachable member130relative to the case110is described. With reference toFIG. 2toFIG. 5, specifically, the detachable member130has a first protrusion131and a second protrusion132that pass through the case110from the second surface S2and protrude from the first surface S1. The first protrusion131and the second protrusion132are respectively coupled to a first rail111and a second rail112of the case110. In addition, the latch120includes a body123and a locking hook124. The body123is movably configured on the first surface S1back and forth. The locking hook124extends toward the second protrusion132from the body123. The first pushing portion121is located at one side of the body123, and the second pushing portion122is located on the locking hook124. When the detachable member130is assembled to the case110and locked to the latch120, the first protrusion131and the second protrusion132are both located between the first pushing portion121and the second pushing portion122, and the second protrusion132is locked to the locking hook124.

In this embodiment, when the detachable member130and the latch120are locked, the first pushing portion121of the latch120and the first protrusion131of the detachable member130are both located at the first moving axis L1. That is to say, the first protrusion131is located at the moving path of the first pushing portion121. When a user exerts a force on the pushing handle150to drive the body123of the latch120to move toward the first direction D1, i.e., toward a second position (shown inFIG. 4) from a first position (shown inFIG. 2), the locking hook124moves away from the second protrusion132to release the second protrusion132. The first pushing portion121then pushes the first protrusion131, such that the detachable member130moves toward a third direction D3.

Here, the first pushing portion121has a guiding inclined surface121acorresponding to the moving direction D1of the body123, and the first protrusion131has a guiding inclined surface131acorresponding to the first pushing portion121. In other words, when the latch120moves along the first direction D1to move the locking hook124away from the second protrusion132, the two guiding inclined surfaces121aand131acome into contact with each other and push each other, so as to move the detachable member130toward the third direction D3. Here, the first protrusion131and the second protrusion132are respectively restrained by the first rail111and the second rail121, and thus the moving direction (i.e., the third direction D3) of the detachable member130is perpendicular to the moving direction (i.e., the first direction D1) of the latch120.

Note that when the first pushing portion121of the latch120pushes the first protrusion131to move the detachable member130, the second protrusion132of the detachable member130is moved to the second moving axis L2as well, as indicated inFIG. 5. Accordingly, the second protrusion132can be located at the moving path of the second pushing portion122. When the latch120is affected by the elastic member140and then is moved toward the first position from the second position along the second direction D2, the second pushing portion122and the second protrusion132can push each other to move the detachable member130. Similarly, the second pushing portion122has a guiding inclined surface122acorresponding to the moving direction D2of the body123, and the second protrusion132has a guiding inclined surface132acorresponding to the guiding inclined surface122a. Through the two guiding inclined surfaces122aand132a, the second pushing portion122can push the detachable member130toward the third direction D3. After the detachable member130is pushed in a stepwise manner (i.e., in two steps), the detachable member130can be disassembled from the case110.

In light of the foregoing, the pushing portions of the latch in the electronic device are located at two moving axes according to the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, when the user pushes the latch, the latch is moved back and forth, such that the pushing portions are driven to sequentially push the detachable member of the electronic device toward the direction away from the case stage by stage. Thereby, the detachable member is moved away from the case and is disassembled from the case in a stepwise manner. Namely, the user is able to disassemble the detachable member from the case with ease.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the art that modifications to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention will be defined by the attached claims rather than by the above detailed descriptions.