Abstract:
A container assembly for accommodating an electronic device in a panel, includes: a retainer attached to the panel; a cover with the electronic device attached thereto pivotably attached to the retainer, and pivotable between an open position and a closed position; a lock for locking the cover at the closed position; a gear damper; a rotating shelf attached to the cover and sandwiching the electronic device with the cover, a rack formed on the rotating shelf configured for engaging with the gear damper; and an elastic support sandwiched between the retainer and the rotating shelf for biasing the cover to the open position via restoring force of the elastic support; wherein the gear damper depresses the restoring force of the elastic support.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The disclosure relates to container assemblies for electronic devices and, particularly, to a container assembly which can be smoothly opened to expose an electronic device contained therein. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Memory cards are increasingly used as information recording media, and even may progressively replace floppy disks and compact disks. For example, portable devices such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, MP3 players, personal digital assistants (PDA) and cell phones use memory cards for storing information or image data. The information stored in the memory card is usually accessed by a memory card reader, and is then transmitted to a host such as a personal computer. 
         [0005]    Typically, a card reader is located in a container installed in a computer chassis. When the container is opened, a spring is restored to quickly eject the card reader. Therefore, the relative moving parts of the container may generate noise, and the relative movement is not smooth. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view showing an exemplary embodiment of a container assembly, with a card reader and a computer panel; the container assembly includes retainer, a cover, a rotating shelf, an elastic support, two gear dampers, and a lock. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an inverted view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an inverted view of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the lock of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the elastic support of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the gear damper of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged, inverted view of the cover of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged, inverted view of the rotating shelf of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is an inverted view of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a partly assembled view of  FIG. 1 , showing the elastic support, the gear dampers, and the lock assembled in the retainer. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is an inverted view of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a partly assembled, inverted view of  FIG. 1 , showing the card reader and the rotating shelf assembled to the cover. 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a fully assembled view of  FIG. 1 , showing a closed position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is an inverted view of  FIG. 14 , with the retainer removed. 
           [0021]      FIG. 16  is similar to  FIG. 14 , but showing an open position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 17  is an inverted view of  FIG. 16 , with the retainer removed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of a container assembly  1  is provided for containing an electronic device to a computer panel  100 . The container assembly  1  includes a retainer  10  attached to the panel  100 , a cover  40  pivotably attached to the retainer  10 , a lock  60  attached to the retainer  10 , an elastic support  70 , two gear dampers  80 , and a rotating shelf  90  attached to the electronic device. In this embodiment, the electronic device includes a card reader  50  and an interface module  58 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the retainer  10  includes a substantially square bottom wall  11 , and two opposite sidewalls  12   a,    12   b  and another two opposite sidewalls  12   c,    12   d  extending from four side edges of the bottom wall  11 . A recessed portion  13  is defined in the bottom wall  11  adjacent to the sidewall  12   a  for mounting the lock  60  therein. The recessed portion  13  defines an accommodating hole  14 , and two through holes  18  therein. A block plate  19  is bent outward from an edge of each through hole  18 . Two mounting portions  20  are formed on an inner surface of the bottom wall  11  for mounting the elastic support  70 . Each mounting portion  20  includes an L-shaped retaining plate  22 , two limiting plates  24 ,  26  at two opposite sides of the retaining plate  22 , and a mounting plate  27  with a locking hole  272 . The mounting plate  27  is formed at the same side with the limiting plate  26 . Two through slots  36  are defined in the bottom wall  11  adjacent to the sidewalls  12   c,    12   d.  A pivot hole  39  is defined in each of the sidewalls  12   c,    12   d  adjacent to the sidewall  12   b.    
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the lock  60  includes a substrate  61 , and a push-push button  64  attached to the substrate  61 . The substrate  61  forms two hooks  63  corresponding to the two block plates  19  of the retainer  10 . The push-push button  64  includes two actuated retaining pieces  65 , and a trigger  66  set between the retaining pieces  65 . When the trigger  66  is triggered, the retaining pieces  65  are actuated to move to or toward each other; when the trigger  66  is triggered again, the retaining pieces  65  are actuated to move away from each other. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the elastic support  70  is made from a bent resilient steel wire. The elastic support  70  includes a substantially U-shaped pushing portion  72 , and two substantially L-shaped fixing portions  74  extending from two distal ends of the pushing portion  72  towards each other. The pushing portion  72  includes a pushing segment  722 , and two legs  724  extending from two opposite ends of the pushing segment  722 . The pushing segment  722  and the two legs  724  are coplanar. Each fixing portion  74  includes a retaining segment  742  and an extending segment  744  forming the L shape. A locking segment  746  is formed from a distal end of the extending segment  744 . The retaining segment  742 , the extending segment  744 , and the locking segment  746  defining a plane which has an adjustable angle with the plane of the pushing portion  72 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , each gear damper  80  includes an installing portion  81 , and a pinion gear  89  mounted to the back surface of the bottom wall  11  of the retainer  10  via the installing portion  81 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the cover  40  includes a base plate  41 , and a front plate  42  and two side plates  43  extending from three edges of the base plate  41 . An anchor  47  extends down from a bottom edge of the front plate  42  corresponding to the push-push button  64  of the lock  60 . Two locking holes  46  are defined in the front plate  42  at opposite sides of the anchor  47 . A through slot  45  is defined in the front plate  42  for a memory card extending therethrough to access the card reader  50 . A through hole  48  is defined in each side plate  43  adjacent to the front plate  42 . A plurality of bent tabs  44  is formed on the base plate  41 . A pivot  49  extends out from an end of each side plate  43  which is away from the front plate  42 . 
         [0029]    Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the card reader  50  defines a plurality of mounting slots  52  in the top surface thereof corresponding to the bent tabs  44  of the cover  40 , and a plurality of mounting slots  56  in the bottom surface thereof. A threaded hole  54  defined in a side surface of the card reader  50 , and a threaded hole  59  defined in a side surface of the interface module  58 , are configured to align with the through holes  48  of the cover  40 , respectively. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the rotating shelf  90  includes a rectangular main board  91 , and two leg portions  95  extending from two opposite sides of the bottom surface of the main board  91 . A plurality of bent tabs  92  is formed on the top surface of the main board  91  for engaging in the mounting slots  56  of the card reader  50 . Two hooks  93  extend forward from a front edge of the main board  91  for engaging in the locking holes  46  of the cover  40 . Two sets of protrusions, each set having a first protrusion  911  and a second protrusion  913 , are formed on the bottom surface of the main board  91 . Each set aligns in a direction perpendicular to the front edge of the main board  91 . A gap  912  is defined between the first and second protrusions  911 ,  913  of each set. The second protrusions  913  are substantially triangular, forming two opposite bevels. Each leg portion  95  has a convex edge forming a rack  96  thereon. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-6  and  11 - 12 , in assembly, the push-push button  64  of the lock  60  is received in the accommodating hole  14  of the retainer  10 , with the hooks  63  extending through the through holes  18  and engaging with the block plates  19 . Thus, the lock  60  is secured in the recessed portion  13  of the retainer  10 . The elastic support  70  is received in the retainer  10 , with the retaining segments  742  engaged in the retaining plates  22 , and the locking segment  746  inserted in the locking hole  272 . The legs  724  abut against the limiting plates  24 , and the extending segments  744  abut against the limiting plates  26 . Thus, the elastic support  70  is mounted on the bottom wall  11  of the retainer  10 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 12 , the pinion gear  89  is mounted to the installing portion  81  via a fastening element  200  (see  FIG. 2 ), and the installing portion  81  is secured to the back surface of the bottom wall  11  of the retainer  10 . Part of the pinion gear  89  enters the retainer  10  through the through slot  36 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 ,  8 - 10 , and  13 , the bent tabs  44  of the cover  40  are inserted into the mounting slots  52  of the card reader, and a screw  202  (see  FIG. 1 ) extends through the through hole  48  of the cover  40  and engages in the threaded hole  54  of the card reader  50 . Thus, the card reader  50  is secured to the cover  40 . A screw  204  (see  FIG. 1 ) extends through another through hole  48  of the cover and engages in the threaded hole  59  of the interface module  58 . Thus, the interface module  58  is secured to the cover  40 . The bent tabs  92  of the main board  91  of the rotating shelf  90  are inserted into the mounting slots  56  of the card reader  50 . The hooks  93  engage in the locking holes  46  of the cover  40 . Thus, the rotating shelf  90  is attached to the card reader  50  and the cover  40 . An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield  97  is attached to the card reader  50 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 11-17 , the pivots  49  of the cover  40  are pivotably engaged in the pivot holes  39  of the retainer  10 . When the cover  40  is pressed towards the panel  100  to shield the retainer  10 , the leg portions  95  of the rotating shelf  90  extend into the through slots  36  of the retainer  10 , and the racks  96  on the leg portions  95  engage with the pinion gears  89  of the gear dampers  80 , such that the pinion gears  89  are driven by the racks  96 . The pushing segment  722  is located in the gaps  912  between the first and second protrusions  911 ,  913 . When continuing to push the cover  40  towards the panel  100 , the rotating shelf  90  presses the pressing segment  722  and deforms the two legs  724 , and pushes the pressing segment  722  to slip out from the gaps  912  along the bevel of the second protrusions  913 . When the anchor  47  of the cover  40  triggers the trigger  66 , the retaining pieces  65  are closed to hold the anchor  47 . Thus, the cover  40  is locked in the retainer  10 , and the EMI shield  97  abuts against the bottom wall  11  of the retainer  10 . 
         [0035]    When being opened to access the card reader  50 , the cover  40  is depressed, so that the anchor  47  triggers the trigger  66 . The retaining pieces  65  release the anchor  47 , and the elastic support  70  is restored to push the card reader  50  and the cover  40  to move relative to the panel  100 . Thus, the card reader  50  and the cover  40  are pivoted out from the opening  102  of the panel  100  and located slantingly (see  FIGS. 16-17 ). During this course, the pushing segment  722  of the elastic support  70  rides over the second protrusions  913  again, and is located in the gaps  912 . Meanwhile, the damping force generated during the rotation of the pinion gear  89  will restrain the restoring force of the elastic support  70 , and gently release the spring energy of the elastic support  70 . Therefore, the card reader  50  can be opened smoothly, gently, and quietly. 
         [0036]    In other embodiments, positions of the racks  96  and the pinion gears  89  can be interchanged, i.e., the racks  96  are attached to the retainer  10  and the gear dampers  80  are attached to the cover  40 . Then, each leg portion  95  has a concave end surface for the rack  96  arranged thereon. 
         [0037]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.