Latch mechanism for foldable electronic device

A latch mechanism for fixing a cover unit to a base unit of a foldable electronic device in a closed position is provided. The latch mechanism includes a locking member, an operating member, and at least one resilient member. The base unit includes a pair of recessed portions. The locking member is adapted for be pivotably received in the cover unit. The locking member includes a pair of locking portions for engaging with the corresponding recessed portions of the base unit. The operating member is adapted for be slidably mounted to the cover unit. The operating member includes at least one latch slidable toward the locking member to drive the locking member to pivot. The resilient member is connectable with the operating member and adapted for engage with the cover unit of the foldable electronic device, for urging the operating member away from the locking member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to latch mechanisms, and particularly to a latch mechanism which readily allows opening or closing a cover unit of a foldable electronic device.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A typical foldable electronic device, such as a notebook computer, includes a base unit, and a cover unit with a rear end pivotably mounted to a rear end of the base unit by hinges. Generally, the notebook computer includes a latch mechanism mounted to a front side of the cover unit for fixing the cover unit to the base unit in a closed position.

As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,239, a latch mechanism for locking a cover unit to a base unit, includes a latch frame movably installed inside the cover unit, a plurality of latches are formed on the latch frame at predetermined intervals and one end portion thereof protrudes from a front surface of the cover unit, and a slide knob is operatively connected to the latch frame for concurrently operating the latches. The latches are inserted into and locked by latch grooves formed at positions corresponding to the latches on an upper surface of the base unit. The latches are urged against the base unit by elastic forces applied by double springs mounted on two ends of the latch frame. However, to open the cover unit, the slide knob is slid to overcome the elastic forces of the springs to move the latch mechanism for disengaging from the base unit. The slide force depends on friction between the slide knob and fingers of an operator. It is laborious for an operator to provide enough force to move a slide knob.

What is desired, therefore, is a latch mechanism which readily allows opening or closing a cover unit of a foldable electronic device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary latch mechanism for fixing a cover unit to a base unit of a foldable electronic device in a closed position is provided. The latch mechanism includes a locking member, an operating member, and at least one resilient member. The base unit includes a pair of recessed portions. The locking member is adapted for be pivotably received in the cover unit. The locking member includes a pair of locking portions for engaging with the corresponding recessed portions of the base unit. The operating member is adapted for be slidably mounted to the cover unit. The operating member includes at least one latch slidable toward the locking member to drive the locking member to pivot. The resilient member is connectable with the operating member and adapted for engage with the cover unit of the foldable electronic device, for urging the operating member away from the locking member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 5, a foldable electronic device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The foldable electronic device of this embodiment is a notebook computer. The notebook computer includes a base unit4, a cover unit2pivotably mounted to the base unit4, and a latch mechanism. The cover unit2includes a cover20, and a bezel40. The cover20and the bezel40are for mounting a liquid crystal display panel (not shown) therebetween. The latch mechanism includes a locking member60, an operating member80, and a pair of resilient members88.

Referring also toFIG. 2, a flange22depends from a front edge of the cover20. The flange22defines a cutout24in a middle portion thereof. A pair of locating portions26is formed adjacent the flange22on an internal side of the cover20. Each locating portion26defines a receiving cutout28therein. A plurality of mounting tabs30depends from the internal side of the cover20, between the locating portions26. Each mounting tab30defines a receiving slot32therein. A pair of projections34depends from the internal side of the cover20, adjacent the cutout24. Each projection34forms a post36toward the flange22therefrom. A pair of L-shaped receiving tabs38is formed adjacent each projection34on the internal side of the cover20, cooperatively defining a receiving space. Four positioning posts39depend from four corners of the internal side of the cover20. Each positioning post39defines a threaded hole390in a distal end thereof.

The locking member60includes a long body61. Two mounting posts62extend out from opposite distal ends of the body61, respectively. A pair of locking portions64extends vertically from a circumferential surface adjacent the distal ends of the body61, corresponding to the through-holes50of the bezel40. Each locking portion64defines a locking hole70therein. The body61includes a plurality of recessed portions66, corresponding to the mounting tabs30,46of the cover20and the bezel40. A plurality of hooks68extends horizontally from the body61. A plurality of recesses72is defined in the body61, adjoining the corresponding hooks68. The recessed portions66and the hooks68are alternately arranged on the body61.

The operating member80forms an operating portion82protruding out from a middle portion of a front side thereof. A plurality of latches84extends from a rear side of the operating member80toward the corresponding hooks68of the locking member60. The operating member80forms a pair of sliding tabs86extending from the rear side thereof. A pair of posts (not shown) extends from the rear side of the operating member80to the locking member60, adjacent the sliding tabs86, corresponding to the posts36of the cover20.

Referring also toFIG. 6, the base unit4includes a top wall90. A pair of recessed portions92is defined in the top wall90at a front side of the top wall90. Each recessed portion92forms a protrusion94protruding from a front side thereof. The protrusion94has a slanting guiding surface96at a top thereof.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 5, in assembling the latch mechanism to the cover unit2, the mounting posts62of the locking member60are received in the corresponding receiving cutouts28of the cover20. The receiving slots32of the mounting tabs30of the cover20receive parts of the corresponding recessed portions66of the body61of the locking member60. Thus, the locking member60is pivotably mounted to the cover20. The sliding tabs86of the operating member80are inserted into the receiving spaces formed by the receiving tabs38of the cover20. Thus, the operating member80is slidably assembled to the cover20. The resilient members88are disposed between the operating member80and the corresponding projections34of the cover20. The resilient members88are coil springs in this embodiment, and free ends of the resilient members88coil around the posts36of the cover20and the posts of the operating member80, respectively. The operating portion82is received in the cutout24of the cover20, and the latches84catch the corresponding hooks68of the locking member60. Four screws (not shown) are inserted into the through holes52of the bezel40to engage in the threaded holes390of the corresponding positioning posts39of the cover20. Thus, the bezel40is assembled to the cover20. The receiving slots48of the mounting tabs46of the bezel40and the receiving slots32of the mounting tabs30of the cover20cooperatively enclose the corresponding recessed portions66of the body61of the locking member60. The operating portion82of the operating member80is received in the cutout44of the bezel40. The locking portions64protrude out from the corresponding through-holes50of the bezel40. Thus, the latch mechanism is pivotably mounted to the cover20.

The cover unit2is pivotably mounted to the base unit4. In closing the cover unit2of the notebook computer, the cover unit2is pivoted toward the base unit4. The locking member60is pivoted rearward when the locking portions64touch the corresponding protrusions94of the base unit4and move along the guiding surfaces96of the corresponding protrusions94. The hooks68of the locking member60pull the corresponding latches84of the operating member80, thus the operating member80moves rearward, and the resilient members88are compressed. When the protrusions94of the base unit4align with the corresponding locking holes70of the locking member60, the resilient members88are restored to drive the operating member80to move back. The latches84of the operating member80pull the corresponding hooks68of the locking member60, thereby the locking member60is pivoted back. The protrusions94of the base unit4are engaged in the corresponding locking holes70of the locking member60. Thus, the cover unit2is closed.

In opening the cover unit2, the operating portion82is pressed rearward to move the operating member80rearward. The resilient members88are compressed. The latches84extend into the corresponding recesses72and abut against the body61of the locking member60. Thus, the locking member60is driven to pivot rearward. The protrusions94of the base unit4are disengaged from the corresponding locking holes70of the locking member60. Thus, the cover unit2is easily opened.

Additionally, the latch mechanism of the embodiment can be used in other foldable electronic devices, such as a digital video disk (DVD) player.