Two-way latch mechanism and related electronic device

A two-way latch mechanism includes a hook disposed inside a host for engaging with a first hole on a panel and for engaging with a second hole on the panel after the panel rotates relative to the host at 180 degrees. The two-way latch mechanism further includes an actuating component. Two pushing portions are respectively disposed on two sides of the actuating component. One of the pushing portions slides at a first direction for separating the hook from the first hole, and the other slides at the first direction for separating the hook from the second hole. The two-way latch mechanism further includes two elastic components for respectively providing elastic forces on the actuating component, so as to hold the actuating component at a predetermined position stably.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a latch mechanism for latching a panel and a host of a portable computer, and more particularly, to a two-way latch mechanism for latching a panel and a host of a portable computer and a related electronic device.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Generally speaking, when a notebook computer is close, a latch mechanism is used for latching a monitor and a host in order to fix the monitor and the host. For example, a conventional latch mechanism often utilizes a link set with a pin to latch the monitor and the host. However, a movable component in the prior art is often disposed on the host, and a fixing component, such as the pin, is disposed on the monitor, so as to perform locking and releasing function by means of cooperation of the movable component and the fixing component. In such a manner, the conventional latching mechanism is more complicated, and needs more mechanical space occupied by other mechanical components of the host, such as a speaker. Unfortunately, there are more components disposed in the host, so the mechanical space in the host is more valuable than that in the monitor. Moreover, a monitor of a convertible computer designed for handwriting function can be rotated by 180 degrees. When presenting to customers, the monitor can be rotated to an adequate orientation for the customers to watch contents of the presentation. Or when discussing with colleagues, it achieves two-way communication. Furthermore, the convertible computer simultaneously has a notebook computer mode and a tablet computer mode. That is, when the monitor is rotated by 180 degrees and combined with the host, the convertible computer can be used as a tablet computer. However, the conventional latch mechanism for the convertible computer has not been developed to be capable of two-way latching the host, that is, a design for latch mechanism of the convertible computer based on two modes has not been developed. Thus, the conventional portable computer has important issues of the latch mechanism for two-way latching.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a two-way latch mechanism for latching a panel and a host of a portable computer and a related electronic device for solving above drawbacks.

According to the claimed disclosure, a two-way latch mechanism includes a hook pivotally disposed inside a host for engaging with a first hole on a panel when the panel is located at a first position relative to the host and for engaging with a second hole on the panel after the panel rotates at 180 degrees from the first portion to a second position relative to the host. The two-way latch mechanism further includes an actuating component slidably disposed inside the panel. Two pushing portions are respectively formed on two sides of the actuating component. One of the pushing portions slides at a first direction for separating the hook from the first hole when the panel is located at the first position relative to the host, and the other pushing portion slides at the first direction for separating the hook from the second hole when the panel is located at the second position relative to the host. The two-way latch mechanism further includes two resilient components respectively disposed on two ends of the actuating component and installed inside the panel for providing resilient recovering force to the actuating component, so as to hold the actuating component at a predetermined position.

According to the claimed disclosure, the two-way latch mechanism further includes two positioning components respectively slidably disposed on two ends of the actuating component and inside the panel. A sliding slot and a constraining slot are formed on each positioning component, and the constraining slot being connected to the sliding slot. The two-way latch mechanism further includes a constraining component slidably disposed inside the panel. Two misaligning protrusions are formed on two ends of the constraining component. One of the protrusions is disposed inside the sliding slot on one of the positioning components, and the other protrusion is disposed inside the constraining slot on the other positioning component.

According to the claimed disclosure, the two-way latch mechanism further includes at least one protruding rib, the constraining component slidably sheathing on the protruding rib.

According to the claimed disclosure, the two-way latch mechanism further includes a magnetic component disposed inside the host for sliding the protrusions on the constraining component between the sliding slot and the constraining slot on the positioning component.

According to the claimed disclosure, the two-way latch mechanism further includes two buffers respectively disposed between the corresponding positioning component and the actuating component.

According to the claimed disclosure, the two-way latch mechanism further includes a plurality of ribs, and the positioning component slides relative to the plurality of ribs.

According to the claimed disclosure, the two-way latch mechanism further includes a first driving component connected to the hook for driving the hook into the host.

According to the claimed disclosure, the two-way latch mechanism further includes a second driving component disposed on the actuating component and located at a position corresponding to the hook for protruding the hook from the host when the panel is located at the first position and the second position relative to the host, so as to engage with the panel.

According to the claimed disclosure, the first driving component is a torsional spring, and the second driving component is a magnet.

According to the claimed disclosure, the two-way latch mechanism further includes a button connected to the actuating component.

According to the claimed disclosure, an electronic device includes a host, and a panel pivoted to the host. A first hole and a second hole are formed on the panel. The electronic device further includes a two-way latch mechanism for constraining relative movement between the host and the panel. The two-way latch mechanism includes a hook pivotally disposed inside a host for engaging with a first hole on a panel when the panel is located at a first position relative to the host and for engaging with a second hole on the panel after the panel rotates at 180 degrees from the first portion to a second position relative to the host. The two-way latch mechanism further includes an actuating component slidably disposed inside the panel. Two pushing portions are respectively formed on two sides of the actuating component. One of the pushing portions slides at a first direction for separating the hook from the first hole when the panel is located at the first position relative to the host, and the other pushing portion slides at the first direction for separating the hook from the second hole when the panel is located at the second position relative to the host. The two-way latch mechanism further includes two resilient components respectively disposed on two ends of the actuating component and installed inside the panel for providing resilient recovering force to the actuating component, so as to hold the actuating component at a predetermined position.

The button of the two-way latch mechanism of the present disclosure is disposed on the panel. The two-way latch mechanism of the present disclosure has functions of dual directional lock, so that the panel can cover the host in two opposite directions. The two-way latch mechanism of the present disclosure can constrain relative pivot of the panel relative to the host. In addition, the button of the two-way latch mechanism of the present disclosure can keep at the middle position and is unable to move at an unexpected direction, so as to increase operational convenience.

These and other objectives of the present disclosure will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIG. 1,FIG. 2andFIG. 3.FIG. 1toFIG. 3are diagrams of an electronic device10in different modes according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device10can be a notebook computer, such as a notebook computer with a reversible display panel. The electronic device10can be switched between the notebook computer mode and the tablet computer mode according to user demand. The electronic device10includes a host12, and a panel14pivoted to the host12. The panel14can be rotated relative to the host12at 180 degrees, so as to adjust a view angle of the panel14. The panel14includes a first hole141and the second hole143, which are respectively formed on two surfaces of the panel14. The electronic device10further includes a two-way latch mechanism16for buckling into the first hole141or the second hole143according to a rotary angle of the panel14relative to the host12, so as to constrain relative movement between the host12and the panel14.

Please refer toFIG. 4,FIG. 5andFIG. 6.FIG. 4is an exploded diagram of the two-way latch mechanism16according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 5andFIG. 6are diagrams presenting different views of the two-way latch mechanism16according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The two-way latch mechanism16includes a hook18pivotally disposed on the host12for buckling into the first hole141or the second hole143. The two-way latch mechanism16further includes an actuating component20slidably disposed on the panel14. Two pushing portions201are respectively formed on two surfaces of the actuating component20for separating the hook18from the first hole141or the second hole143. The two-way latch mechanism16further includes two resilient components22respectively disposed on two ends of the actuating component20and installed inside the panel14for providing resilient recovering force to the actuating component20, so as to stably fix the actuating component20at a predetermined position, such as an initial middle position. The two-way latch mechanism16can further include a button24connected to the actuating component20. The button24can be pushed for driving the actuating component20to move the hook18.

In addition, the two-way latch mechanism16can further include two positioning components26slidably disposed on two ends of the actuating component20and installed inside the panel14, respectively. A sliding slot261and a constraining slot263are respectively formed on each positioning component26, and the constraining slot263is communicated with the sliding slot261. The two-way latch mechanism16can further include a constraining component28slidably disposed inside the panel14. Two misaligning protrusions281are respectively formed on two ends of the constraining component28. One of the protrusions281is disposed inside the sliding slot261on one of the positioning components26, and the other protrusion281is disposed inside the constraining slot263on the other positioning component26. The two-way latch mechanism16can further include at least one protruding rib30, and the constraining component28can be slidably disposed on the protruding rib30, so that the protrusion281on the constraining component28can slide between the sliding slot261and the constraining slot263on the positioning component26by moving the constraining component28relative to the protruding rib30.

Furthermore, the two-way latch mechanism16can further include a magnetic component32disposed inside the host12for sliding the constraining component28relative to the protruding rib30, which means that the magnetic component32can slide the protrusion281between the sliding slot261and the constraining slot263. The two-way latch mechanism16can further include two buffers34respectively disposed between the corresponding positioning component26and the actuating component20for absorbing vibration of the actuating component20as contacting the positioning component26. The two-way latch mechanism16can further include a first driving component36connected to the hook18, and a second driving component38disposed on the actuating component20and located at a position corresponding to the hook18. The first driving component36is for driving the hook18into the host12. For example, the first driving component36can be a torsional spring, and is designed according to actual demand. The second driving component38is for protruding the hook18from the host12when the panel14is located at a first position as shown inFIG. 1or at a second position as shown inFIG. 3relative to the host12, so that the hook18can be buckled into the panel14. For example, the hook18and the second driving component38can be made of magnetic material. Material and structures of the first driving component36and the second driving component38are not limited to the above embodiment, and depend on design demand.

When the panel14is close to the host12and located at the first position as shown inFIG. 1(or the second position as shown inFIG. 3), magnetic force between the second driving component38and the hook18is substantially greater than driving force of the first driving component36applied on the hook18for accommodating the hook18inside the host12, so that the hook18protrudes from the host12for buckling into the panel14. For increasing operating efficiency of the two-way latch mechanism16, the two-way latch mechanism16can further include a plurality of ribs40, and the positioning component26can slide along the plurality of ribs40, so as to decrease contacting area between the positioning component26and a wall whereon the ribs40are formed for increasing sliding stability of the positioning component26.

Please refer toFIG. 7andFIG. 8.FIG. 7andFIG. 8are diagrams of the two-way latch mechanism16in different operating modes according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 7, the hook18is accommodated inside the host12by the first driving component36when the panel14is not close to the host12. Then, as shown inFIG. 8, when the panel14is close to the host12, which means that the panel14is located at the first position relative to the host12as shown inFIG. 1, the hook18protrudes from the host12and buckles into the first hole141on the panel14by the second driving component38, so as to constrain the relative movement between the host12and the panel14. In addition, when the panel14rotates relative to the host12at 180 degrees, so as to switch from the first position to the second position, which means that the second hole143on the panel14is close to the host12, the hook18can protrude from the host12and buckle into the second hole143on the panel14by the second driving component38, so that the panel14can not rotate relative to the host12.

Please refer toFIG. 7toFIG. 9.FIG. 9is a diagram of the positioning component26and the constraining component28according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 9, when the panel14is located at the first position relative to the host12, the protrusion281on the constraining component28(the left side one) which a first direction D1points is located inside the sliding slot261on the corresponding positioning component26, and the other protrusion281on the constraining component28(the right side one) which a second direction D2, opposite to the first direction D1, points is located inside the constraining slot263on the corresponding positioning component26. Thus the right positioning component26can be for preventing the actuating component20from sliding at the second direction D2, and the left positioning component26can slide along the first direction D1by the actuating component20, which means that the positioning component26only slides relative to the constraining component28along the first direction D1, so that the corresponding pushing portion201of the actuating component20can be for pushing the hook18, so as to separate the hook18from the first hole141. It should be mentioned that the constraining component28can slide relative to the protruding rib30by the magnetic component32when the panel14rotates relative to the host12at 180 degrees and is located at the second position. Because the actuating component20, the positioning component26and the constraining component28are symmetric components, the relative position of the positioning component26and the constraining component28is located as shown inFIG. 9, which means the positioning component26only slides relative to the constraining component28along the first direction D1, so that the corresponding pushing portion201of the actuating component20can push the hook18and separate the hook18from the second hole143.

Please refer toFIG. 10andFIG. 11.FIG. 10andFIG. 11are diagrams of the two-way latch mechanism16in different operating modes with different views according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. As show inFIG. 10, two resilient components22disposed on two ends of the actuating component20are respectively for setting the actuating component20at the initial middle position when the button24is not pushed. As shown inFIG. 11, when the button24drives the actuating component20to slide along the first direction D1for separating the hook18from the first hole141or the second hole143, which corresponds to the rotary angle of the panel14relative to the host12, one of the positioning components26can slide relative to the constraining component28by the actuating component20(the other positioning component26is constrained by the protrusion281on the constraining component28and can not slide relative to the constraining component28). Meanwhile, the resilient component22which the first direction D1points (the one disposed on a left side of the actuating component20) is compressed and stores a resilient recovering force. As a force applied on the button24is released, the resilient recovering force of the resilient component22is for sliding the actuating component20and the positioning component26along the second direction D2, so that the actuating component20can recover to the initial middle position by the two resilient components22. Because the actuating component20, the resilient component22, the button24, the positioning component26and the constraining component28of the two-way latch mechanism16are symmetric components, process of the two-way latch mechanism16for rotating the panel14relative to the host12at 180 degrees from the second portion to the first position are mentioned as above, and detailed description is omitted herein for simplicity.

Comparing to the prior art, the button of the two-way latch mechanism of the present disclosure is disposed on the panel. The two-way latch mechanism of the present disclosure has functions of dual directional lock, so that the panel can cover the host in two opposite directions. The two-way latch mechanism of the present disclosure can constrain relative pivot of the panel relative to the host. In addition, the button of the two-way latch mechanism of the present disclosure can keep at the middle position and is unable to move at an unexpected direction, so as to increase operational convenience.