Abstract:
An electronic device using a cover mechanism to cover a hole is described. The cover mechanism includes a locking member slidably mounted on a base member and a cover member. The cover member can be locked to the base member by locking of the cover member to the locking member in a locked position, can rotate around the locking member in a released position, and can expose the hole and physically attach to the locking member in an opened position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to co-pending U.S. Patent Application (Attorney Docket Nos. US19493), entitled “COVER MECHANISM AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING SAME”, by Mu-Wen Yang et al. Such applications have the same assignee as the present application and have been concurrently filed herewith. The above-identified applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The exemplary embodiment relates to cover mechanisms used in electronic devices. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Electronic devices usually have external interfaces (e.g., universal serial bus (USB)) for electrically connecting peripheral devices (e.g., printers), accessories (e.g., USB flash drives) or other electronic devices. Such external interfaces should be protected by cover mechanisms from e.g., dust or water, to maintain proper functioning. 
         [0006]    The cover mechanisms usually include covers with locks. The covers are typically locked to the electronic devices by latches to cover the area through which the interfaces of electronic devices are exposed. However, the covers are often not permanently attached to the electronic device. Thus, the covers may easily be misplaced or lost when not locked to the electronic devices. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Many aspects of the exemplary cover mechanism and electronic device using the cover mechanism can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary cover mechanism and the electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an electronic device including an exemplary cover mechanism. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded and isometric view of the cover mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the cover mechanism shown in  FIG. 1  in a locked position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but in a released position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but in an opened position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary electronic device  200  (such as a mobile phone) including an enclosed housing  300 , a keypad  17 , a display  18 , and a cover mechanism  100 . 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the cover mechanism  100  includes a base member  20 , a locking member  30 , and a cover member  50 . The base member  20  may be portions of the housing  300  and includes a bottom wall  21  and a sidewall  23  perpendicular to the bottom wall  21 . The cover member  50  may be locked by the locking member  30  to the base member  20  and cover a hole  801  (e.g., a connector interface hole) defined in the sidewall  23 . 
         [0016]    A portion of the sidewall  23  defines a rectangular cutout  803 , a rectangular gap  808 , a rectangular first notch  805 , and a rectangular second notch  807 . The gap  808  is located between and communicates with the cutout  803  and the hole  801 . Since the cutout  803  is larger than the gap  808 , two opposite first blocks  804  that face each other are formed in the portion of the sidewall  23  defining the cutout  803  and the gap  808 . 
         [0017]    The first notch  805  is located outside and communicates with the second notch  807 . The first notch  805  and the second notch  807  are defined in a portion of the sidewall  23  near the hole  801 . Since the first notch  805  is larger than the second notch  807 , two opposite second blocks  806  that face each other are formed in the portion of the sidewall  23  defining the first notch  805  and the second notch  807 . 
         [0018]    The locking member  30  is frame-shaped including two parallel locking arms  301  and a connecting body  302 . As will now be described, the locking arms  301  are configured to partially move through the gap  808  and the second notch  807 . 
         [0019]    Each locking arm  301  includes two first blocking portions  3011 , a second blocking portion  3013 , and a pivoting portion  3017 . The second blocking portion  3013  protrudes from the locking arm  301  towards bottom wall  21 , and adjacent to the connecting body  302 . The pivoting portion  3017  protrudes from a distal end of the locking arm  301 . The two first blocking portions  3011  protrude from the locking arm  301 , both towards and away from the bottom wall  21 , and adjacent to the pivoting portion  3017 . The first blocking portions  3011  are configured to abut the first blocks  804  and the second blocks  806 . 
         [0020]    The bottom wall  21  supports a frame-shaped limiting member  70  defining a receiving space  705  configured for slidably receiving the locking member  30 . The limiting member  70  may include two L-shaped first limiting portions  701  and a straight second limiting portion  703 . The second limiting portion  703  is located between and connects the first limiting portions  701 . Each first limiting portion  701  may have a third block  7011  extending towards a center of the limiting member  70 . The third block  7011  can be secured (e.g., by hot-melting) to the surface of the bottom wall  21 . 
         [0021]    The cover member  50  includes a cover portion  501  and two elastic positioning arms  503 . The cover portion  501  is configured to cover the hole  801  when the cover member  50  locks to the base member  20 . 
         [0022]    The positioning arms  503  may be made of rubber, soft plastic or other elastic materials. The positioning arms  503  protrude parallelly outward from an inner surface of the cover portion  501 . Each positioning arm  503  defines a positioning groove  5031 , and the two positioning grooves  5031  face towards each other. The positioning groove  5031  extends along the length of the positioning arm  503 . The positioning groove  5031  corresponds to the pivoting portion  3017 , i.e., the pivoting portion  3017  can be received and slide within the positioning groove  5031 . The positioning groove  5031  defines a rectangular positioning section  5032  and a pivoting section  5033 . The positioning section  5032  extends along the length of the positioning arm  503 , and the pivoting section  5033  communicates with the positioning section  5032  distal to the cover portion  501 . The width of the positioning section  5032  is slightly smaller than the diameter of the pivoting portion  3017  The pivoting portion  3017  has the substantially same size and shape as the pivoting section  5033 , and thus can pivot within the pivoting section  5033 . 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 3 , the cover mechanism  100  is in a locked position and the cover portion  501  covers the hole  801 . The cover member  50  locks to the locking member  30  and the base member  20 . To achieve this locking, the pivoting portion  3017  can be inserted into the positioning section  5032 . At this time, because the width of the positioning section  5032  is slightly smaller than the diameter of the pivoting portion  3017 , the pivoting portion  3017  slightly spreads interior walls of the positioning portion  3017 . In such case, a slight resilient deformation exists in the positioning section  5032 . Therefore, the pivoting portion  3017  can be frictionally secured within the positioning section  5032 . In this position, the first blocking portions  3011  are spaced from the sidewall  23 . The second blocking portions  3013  position between the sidewall  23  and the third blocks  7011 , and abut the third blocks  7011 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show a process of releasing the locking of the cover member  50  and the base member  20 , from the locked position to a released position, and further to an opened position. In  FIG. 4 , the cover member  50  is pulled outwardly along the longitudinal axis of the locking member  30  to the released position. During this stage, the positioning arms  503  and the pivoting portion  3017  move until the first blocking portions  3011  abut the first blocks  804  and the second blocks  806 . This movement exposes the pivoting portions  3017  out of the cutout  803  and the first notch  805 . By the abutting of the first blocking portions  3011  with the first blocks  804  and the second blocks  806 , the pivoting portions  3017  cannot move any further. Therefore, further pulling of the cover member  50  causes the positioning arms  503  to move relative to the pivoting portions  3017 . That is, the pivoting portions  3017  slide within the positioning section  5032  into the pivoting section  5033 . At this time, the locking of the cover member  50  and the base member  20  is released. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows the cover member  50  pivoting into the opened position to expose the hole  801 . During this stage, the positioning arms  503  can pivot around the pivoting portions  3017 . In other words, the pivoting portions  3017  can pivot freely within the pivoting sections  5033 . 
         [0026]    In addition, the engaging of the pivoting portions  3017  into the pivoting sections  5033  prevents the cover member  50  from separating from the locking member  30  and the base member  20 . 
         [0027]    To close the cover mechanism  100 , the above process is reversed and the cover member  50  moved from the open position to the released position and then to the locked position. The closing process ends when the third blocks  7011  abut the second blocking portions  3013  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
         [0028]    It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary invention 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.