Abstract:
A closing mechanism applicable to an electronic device, computer device or docking device comprises a housing, a closing member, a base, an elastomer and a support. Sliding portion and the corresponding chutes are disposed at the bottom portions of the closing member and the base, respectively. Both ends of the elastomer are fastened to the hooks of the closing member and base; thus, via elasticity, the elastomer automatically closes the opening of the I/O port of the closing mechanism.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Application Serial Number 95210473, filed Jun. 15, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a closing mechanism. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automatic closing mechanism. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Desktop computers, laptop computers and docking devices normally have more than one I/O port (input/output port) to connect to various external devices. I/O ports may include USB (universal serial bus) ports, IEEE1394 ports, D-sub ports, print ports or internet ports. These I/O ports are used to connect to external devices. These external devices may include a mouse, a keyboard, a cell-phone, a DSC (digital still camera) and so on.  FIG. 1  is a schematic of a traditional computer device. The computer device  1  includes a display unit  10 , a base  20  and a hinge unit  30 , wherein the side back of the base  20  contains multiple I/O ports such as USB port  40   a,  USB port  40   b  and internet port  50 . The USB port  40   b  and the internet port  50  are respectively connected to a USB device  41  and an internet line  51 . The internal electronic wire of the USB port  40   a  is exposed to the outside directly because no USB device is connected to it. Thus, foreign particles (such as rain, snow or sand) may get into the USB port  40   a.  These foreign particles may cause damage to the USB port and decrease the aesthetic value of both the USB port and the computer rear panel. This is especially true for computers that are often outside for commercial affairs. The I/O ports of an electronic device have a higher probability to get particles inside, thus the device has a higher probability to get damaged or become deformed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide a closing mechanism applicable to an electronic device, computer device or docking for protection. The closing mechanism would automatically close the opening of I/O ports those are not connected to any external device. 
         [0007]    The closing mechanism comprises a housing, a closing member, a base an elastomer and a support. Both sides of the bottom portion of the closing member have a sliding portion and the base has corresponding chutes for sliding (i.e. opening and closing of I/O port) more smoothly. Besides, the sliding portion has a ramp section to prevent interference between the closing member and the housing during the opening or closing operation. The support is disposed inside the closing member used to get aligned with the appearance of the closing mechanism and eliminate the sinking feeling during closing operation. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an I/O port of a conventional computer device; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of a closing mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is rear view of a closing mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the base of a closing mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the closing member of a closing mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an insertion diagram of a closing member in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show an elevation view and a rear view of a closing mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively. The closing mechanism  100  comprises a base  200  ( FIG. 4  shows more detail), a closing member  300  ( FIG. 5  shows more detail) and a housing  400 , wherein the housing  400  has a main surface  420 , a first side  430  and a second side  440  whose location is opposite to that of the first side  430  and each side of the main surface  420  is connected with the fist side  430  and the second side  440  respectively. The housing  400  also has a first I/O port  410  (input/output port), such as a USB port IEEE1394 port internet port, telephone port, monitor port (D-sub), DVI (Digital Visual Interface) or printer port, on the main surface  420 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic diagram of the base  200  of the closing mechanism  100 . The rectangle-shaped base  200  has a base hole  220  (a hollow area) at the center, a second I/O port  210  set by the side of the base hole  220  and a bottom portion  250  set by the other side of the base hole  220 . The second I/O port  210  would be just beneath the first I/O port  410  while combine the base  200  with the housing  400  (see  FIG. 2 ). In fact, the first I/O port  410  and the second VO port  210  serve the same external device but are set on different member. Both sides of the bottom portion  250  dispose a chute  230  which comprises a bottom section  231 , a ramp section  232  and a top section  233  whereby the interference between the closing member  300  (see  FIG. 5 ) and the base  200  could be avoided. 
         [0017]      FIG. 5  shows the closing member  300  in more detail. One end of the closing member  300  sets a closing portion  350  with a first surface  351  (see  FIG. 2 ) and a second surface  352 . The closing portion  350  is the physical member for closing and opening an I/O port, for example, the first I/O port  410  and the second I/O port  210  in this case, wherein the first surface  351  is the surface to be viewed when the first I/O port  410  is not connected with any external device. The first side  351  further comprises a convex portion  340  ( FIG. 5 ) for added convenience a user can easily push and then insert an external device into the first I/O port  410 . While combining the housing  400 , the closing member  300  and the base  200 , the first I/O port  410 , the second I/O port  210  and the first surface  351  (as well as the second surface  352 ) would overlap with one another (superimpose). 
         [0018]    The other end of the closing member  300  sets a sliding portion  310  with a first sliding portion  311  and a second sliding portion  312  that could be fit into the chute  230  of the base  200 , thus, the closing member  300  could be moveable relative to the base  200 . When a user pushes the convex portion  340  for inserting an external device into the first I/O port  410 , meanwhile, the first sliding portion  311  and the second sliding portion  312  would be pushed from the bottom section  231  through the ramp section  232  toward the top section  233  and then stopped. Because the first surface  351  is beneath the first I/O port  410  of the housing  400  (as well as the second I/O port  210  of the base  200 ), during the sliding operation above, the first surface  351  would be pushed away from the first I/O port  410  making the first I/O port  410  (as well as the second I/O port  210 ) exposed to the outside directly allowing the connection of an external device, for example, a dongle, mouse, keyboard, cell phone or DV as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0019]    For providing automatic closing function (i.e. the closing portion  350  would return back to close the fist I/O port  410  and the second I/O port  210 ) when a user pulls out the external device, the base  200  and the closing member  300  further disposes a first hook  240  ( FIG. 4 ) and a second hook  300  ( FIG. 5 ), respectively. The closing mechanism  100  further comprises an elastomer  600  such as a spring ( FIG. 3 ). The first hook  240  of the base  200  is located by the side of the base hole  220  and the second hook  330  of the closing member  300  is located by the rear side of the sliding portion  310  and the second hook  330  crosses through the base hole  220  and faces the first hook  240 . Both ends of the elastomer  600  are fastened by the first hook  240  and the second hook  330  respectively, thus, during the opening operation (i.e. opening the I/O port  210  and  410  in the case), the elastomer  600  would spread and generate elasticity at the same time; once a user pulls the external device out, the elasticity brings the sliding portion  310  from the top section  233  to the bottom section  231 , in other words, the closing portion  350  would close the I/O port. Therefore, the closing mechanism  100  would close the I/O ports ( 210  and  410  in the case) automatically to prevent foreign particles getting into the I/O ports. 
         [0020]    Finally, referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , in order to let the closing portion  350  align with the appearance of the closing mechanism  100  and eliminate the sinking feeling when the user pushes the closing member  300 , the mechanism  100  further comprises a support  500  (such as a gasket) and the second surface  352  of the closing member  300  comprises a corresponding attachment portion  320  including at least one column  321  to secure the support  500  with. 
         [0021]    From the forgoing description, the invention provides the advantages: 1. protects I/O ports against foreign particles; 2. automatic closing and 3. increases the overall aesthetic. 
         [0022]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.