Abstract:
An interlocking device for locking a case includes first and second interlocking members. The first interlocking member is formed with a notch. The second interlocking member is formed with a button that is operable to rotate the second interlocking member from a first position, in which the first and second interlocking members engage each other and in which the button is received in the notch, to a second position, in which the first and second interlocking members disengage from each other and in which the button moves out of the notch.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an interlocking device, more particularly to an interlocking device adapted to be mounted on an electronic apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an electronic apparatus, such as a notebook computer, an electronic translation machine and a personal digital assistant, includes a case  9  that has a lower case portion  91  and an upper case portion  92  pivoted to the lower case portion  91 , and an interlocking device  93  for interlocking the lower and upper case portions  91 ,  92 . The upper case portion  92  is rotatable about an axis (X) relative to the lower case portion  91  between a position of use and a closed position. The interlocking device  93  includes a first interlocking member  94  mounted slidably on a front end  921  of the upper case portion  92 , and a second interlocking member  95  mounted on a front end of the lower case portion  91 . The first interlocking member  94  includes a spring-biased button  942  protruding outwardly from the front end  921  of the upper case portion  92 , and a hook  941  extending downwardly from the button  942 . The second interlocking member  95  is formed with a retaining groove formed in the front end of the lower case portion  91 .  
     The first interlocking member  94  is slidable in a direction (Y) parallel to the axis (X) between a locked position and an unlocked position. When in the locked position, the hook  941  engages the retaining groove, thereby preventing rotation of the upper case portion  92  from the closed position to the position of use. When in the unlocked position, the hook  941  disengages from the retaining groove, thereby permitting rotation of the upper case portion  92  from the closed position to the position of use. 
     Since the button  942  is slid against an urging member (not shown) in the aforesaid direction (Y) to the unlocked position, the force exerted to offset the urging force of the urging member still has to be maintained before another direction of force is exerted to rotate the upper case portion  92  about the axis (X) to the position of use. That means, to complete the opening operation, the user needs to conduct the unlocking and opening operations with both hands. Moreover, with the rapid advancement in technology, the case  9  of the electronic apparatus is getting smaller and lighter. As such, when the user opens the upper case portion  92  with both hands without stabilizing the lower case portion  91  simultaneously, there is a chance that the lower case portion  91  will be undesirably moved upwardly together with the upper case portion  92 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide an interlocking device that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks associated with the prior art. 
     Accordingly, the interlocking device for an electronic apparatus of this invention is adapted to be mounted on a case that includes a lower case portion and an upper case portion pivoted to and rotatable relative to the lower case portion about a first axis between opened and closed positions. The interlocking device comprises: a first interlocking member adapted to be mounted on a front end of the upper case portion, and having a bottom side formed with a notch; a second interlocking member adapted to be mounted pivotally on a front end of the lower case portion, and disposed rearwardly of the first interlocking member, the second interlocking member being rotatable about a second axis that is adapted to be parallel to the first axis, and being formed with a button that is operable to rotate the second interlocking member about the second axis from a first position, in which the button is received in the notch, and in which the first and second interlocking members engage each other, to a second position, in which the first and second interlocking members disengage from each other, and in which the button moves out of the notch, thereby permitting access into the notch; and a biasing member for urging the second interlocking member to move to the first  position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a case with a conventional interlocking device for locking the case; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an interlocking device according to the present invention for locking a case of an electronic apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the interlocking device in a first position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the interlocking device in a second position; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the interlocking device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective rear view of the preferred embodiment of the second interlocking member of the interlocking device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the interlocking device in a first position; and  
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the interlocking device in a second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the preferred embodiment of an interlocking device  1  according to the present invention is shown to be mounted on a notebook computer. The notebook computer includes a case  2  that has a lower case portion  21  and an upper case portion  22  pivoted to the lower case portion  21 . The upper case portion  22  has a rear end  221  pivotally connected to the lower case portion  21 . The upper case portion  22  is rotatable relative the lower case portion  21  about a first axis (X) between opened and closed positions. When the upper case portion  22  is in the opened position, the upper case portion  22  forms an angle relative to the lower case portion  21 . When the upper case portion  22  is in the closed position, the upper case portion  22  abuts against the lower case portion  21 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6 , the interlocking device  1  includes a first interlocking member  3  mounted on a front end  222  of the upper case portion  22 , a second interlocking member  4  mounted on a front end of the lower case portion  21 , and a biasing member  44  mounted on the second interlocking member  4 . 
     The first interlocking member  3  includes a mounting plate  31  and a pair of tongues  32 . The mounting plate  31  has a rear face  312  connected to the front end  222   of the upper case portion  22 , and an opposite front face  311 . The mounting plate  31  includes a base part  313  adapted to be mounted on the upper case portion  22 , and a pair of arms  314  extending downwardly from a bottom side of the base part  313  toward the lower case portion  21 . A notch  310  is formed in the mounting plate  31 , and is confined by the arms  314  and the base part  313 . In this embodiment, the tongues  32  extend rearwardly and transversely from the arms  314 , respectively, and away from the base part  313 , and are respectively formed with inclined bottom faces  321  that incline upwardly and rearwardly from a bottom end of the mounting plate  31 . 
     The interlocking device  1  further includes a lock-mounting part  41  adapted to be securely attached to the front end of the lower case portion  21 . The second interlocking member  4  includes a pivoting part  42  mounted pivotally on the lock-mounting part  41  so as to permit rotation of the pivoting part  42  about a second axis (Y) that is parallel to the first axis (X). The second interlocking member  4  is rotatable about the second axis (Y) relative to the first interlocking member  3  between engaging and disengaging positions (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). A button  423  projects frontwardly from the pivoting part  42  into the notch  310  when the second interlocking member  4  is positioned at the engaging position. 
     The lock-mounting part  41  includes an elongated  bracket  450  adapted to be mounted on the lower case portion  21 , and a Z-shaped member  45  having a top plate  453  projecting frontwardly from the bracket  450 , and a pair of spaced apart Z-shaped side plates extending downwardly and frontwardly from two opposite sides of the top plate  453 . Each of the Z-shaped side plates includes upper and lower arms  452  and a middle portion  451  interconnecting the upper and lower arms  452 . Each of the lower arms  452  of the Z-shaped side plates  45  is formed with a pivot hole  430 . Each of the middle portions  451  of the Z-shaped side plates  45  has an inclined front face  4511 . 
     The pivoting part  42  is formed with a pair of grooves  420  at two opposite sides of the button  423 , and includes a pair of legs  43  projecting downwardly from a bottom thereof, and a pair of pivot studs  431  projecting respectively from the legs  43 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the pivoting part is further formed with a rear recess  426  defined by a recess-defining wall  427  that has a top edge  428 . The top plate  453  of the Z-shaped member  45  abuts against the top edge  428  of the recess-defining wall  427  when the second engaging member  4  is moved to the disengaging position, thereby preventing further rotation of the second engaging member  4 . The top plate  453  of the Z-shaped member  45  is received in the rear recess  426  when the second interlocking member  4  is positioned at the  engaging position. Each of the grooves  420  is defined by a groove-defining wall that has a base  425  and upper and lower arms  422 ,  424  extending transversely from the base  425 . The upper arm  422  has an inclined top face  4221  extending downwardly and frontwardly from the base  425 . Each of the inclined bottom faces  321  of the tongues  32  of the first interlocking member  3  pushes and slides along the inclined top face  4221  of the upper arm  422  during rotation of the upper case portion  22  to the closed position so as to permit receiving of the tongues  32  into the grooves  420 . In the engaging position, the button  423  is received in the notch  310  and the tongues  32  engage respectively the grooves  420 . In the disengaging position, the button  423  is moved out of the notch  310 , and the tongues  32  disengage from the grooves  420 . A positioning hole  4230  is formed in the bottom of the pivoting part  42 , and is disposed below the lower arm  424 . 
     The legs  43  extend downwardly from the bottom of the pivoting part  42  at two opposite sides of the positioning hole  4230 . The pivot studs  431  project from lower ends of the legs  43  and into the pivot holes  430 , respectively, and cooperatively define the second axis (Y). 
     The biasing member  44  includes a coil spring that is sleeved around a pin  432  which is formed on one of the legs  43 . The coil spring has one end adapted to be  secured to the lower case portion  21 , and the other end passing through the positioning hole  4230  and abutting against an inner wall that defines the positioning hole  4230 . 
     In operation, the case  2  can be easily opened by pushing the button  423  to move rearwardly and outwardly of the notch  310 , which results in disengagement between the tongues  32  and the grooves  420 , and which permits the user to access into the notch  310  to lift the upper case portion  22 . 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.