Abstract:
An exemplary latching mechanism ( 20 ) includes a base ( 22 ) having two resilient claps ( 224 ), a detachable portion ( 24 ) having two resilient clasps ( 244 ) for engaging with the hooking portions of the base, and an unlatching element ( 25 ). The unlatching element defines two engaging slots ( 258 ) and is disposed between the base and the detachable portion. The resilient clasps of the detachable portion engage with the hooking portions of the base when the detachable portion is pressed to be latched to the base. The resilient clasps engage in the engaging slots of the unlatching element when the detachable portion is pressed to be detached from the base. Then the detachable portion and the unlatching element together move away from the base. The engagement of the detachable portion and unlatching element makes the at least one resilient clasp deforms and thus disengages from the at least one hooking portion of the base.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to latching mechanisms, more particularly to a latching mechanism that is convenient to operate. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Various types of consumer products such as toys, portable electronic devices, and most other devices with a mechanical feature usually includes two connected members. The connected members are usually designed to be latch to and/or unlatch from each other. 
     Typical connected members includes a main body and a cover. An end of each of the main body and the cover may be pivotably connected by a pivot shaft. A hook and a catch may be formed at another end of each of the main body and the cover, respectively. By pressing the cover downwards, the hook and the catch of the main body and the cover engages with each other, respectively, such that the cover is latched to the main body. By moving the hook or the catch in a predetermined direction, the hook detaches from the catch such that the cover becomes unlatched from the main body. 
     However, when opening the cover, a relative large force may need to be applied to move the hook or the catch. Therefore, it is inconvenient to operate. In addition, actions of opening and closing the cover, of different products may not be similar, thus users may need to change the action of his/her hand(s) frequently when opening or closing the cover of different products. That further increases the inconvenience of operation. 
     Therefore, a latching mechanism which is convenient to be operated is desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary latching mechanism includes a base, a detachable portion and an unlatching element. The base has two hooking portions. The detachable portion has two resilient clasps for engaging with the hooking portions of the base. The unlatching element defines two engaging slots and is disposed between the base and the detachable portion and above the base. The resilient clasps of the detachable portion engage with the hooking portions of the base when the detachable portion is pressed to be connected to the base. The resilient clasps engage in the engaging slots of the unlatching element when the detachable portion is pressed to be detached from the base. Then the detachable portion and the unlatching element together move away from the base. The engagement of the detachable portion and unlatching element makes the at least one resilient clasp deforms and thus disengages from the at least one hooking portion of the base. 
     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present latching mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and all the views are schematic. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a latching mechanism of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an assembled, isometric view of the latching mechanism of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the latching mechanism of  FIG. 1  at a first state. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the latching mechanism of  FIG. 1  at a second state. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the latching mechanism of  FIG. 1  at a third state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention provides a latching mechanism usually employed in products such as electronic devices and toys. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a latching mechanism  20  of an embodiment of the present invention includes a base  22 , a detachable portion  24 , an unlatching element  25 , a pushing shaft  26 , a washer  27 , a resilient member  28 , and a fixing member  29 . 
     The base  22  includes a main sheet  222  and two hook portions  224  extending from a top surface main sheet  222 . The main sheet  222  is substantially a flat sheet defining a through hole  2222 . The hooking portions  224  includes a supporting sheet  2242  extending perpendicularly from the main sheet  222 , a support extension  2244  extending from the main sheet  222  and being perpendicular to the main sheet  222  and the supporting sheet  2242 , and an extending sheet  2246  extending from a top end of the supporting sheet  2242 . The extending sheet  2246  includes a hook  2248  formed at an end thereof. The two hooking portions  224  are aligned as mirror image of each other, with the support extensions  2244  of the hooking portions  224  pointing away from each other and the hooks  2248  of the hooking portions  224  pointing toward each other. 
     The detachable portion  24  includes a press receiving portion  242 , two resilient clasps  244 , and two restricting portions  246 . The press receiving portion  242  is substantially a flat sheet. The resilient clasps  244  and the restricting portions  246  extend perpendicularly from the press receiving portion  242 . Each exposing end of resilient clasps  244  includes a clasp end  2442 . The resilient clasps  244  are aligned as mirror image of each other, with the clasp ends  2442  of the resilient clasp  244  pointing toward each other. The restricting portions  246  have a height taller than a length of each of the resilient clasps  244  excluding the clasp end  2442 . The two restricting portions  246  are offset from each other, with one restricting portion  246  disposed in the front of the resilient clasps  244  and another restricting portion  246  disposed in the back of the resilient clasps  244 . A longest distance between the clasp ends  2442  of the resilient clasps  244  is slightly larger than a shortest distance between the hooks  2248  of the hooking portions  224 , such that the clasp ends  2442  can engage with the hooks  2248  when the hooking portion  224  and the resilient clasps  244  are pushed to close to each other. 
     The unlatching element  25  is a flat sheet defines two spaced engaging slots  258  therein. The unlatching element  25  includes two parallel elongated beams  252 , a first connecting portion  254 , and two second connecting portions  256 . The first and second connecting portions  254 ,  256  are perpendicularly connected to the elongated beams  252  and disposed between the elongated beams  252 . The first connecting portion  254  is disposed between the second connecting portions  256 , and is spaced from the second connecting portions  256 . An outer-sidewall each of the engaging slots  258  forms a slanted surface (not labeled, see broken lines in  FIG. 3 ). The slanted surfaces extend away from the engaging slots  258 , from a portion of the outer-sidewall to a bottom surface of the unlatching element. A distance between the second connecting portions  256  defining the engaging slots  258  is less than a longest distance between the two extending sheets  2246  of the base  22 . 
     The pushing shaft  26  includes a shaft portion  262  and a shaft head  264 . The shaft portion  262  and the shaft head  264  are cylindrical, and a diameter of the shaft head  264  is larger than that of the shaft portion  262 . A screw thread (not shown) is formed on the shaft portion  262 . 
     The washer  27  is ring-shaped. The resilient member  28  is a compressed, spiral spring. The fixing member  29  is a nut for engaging with the screw thread of the pushing shaft  26 . 
     In assembling, a hinge (not shown) is assembled to the base  22  and one end of the detachable portion  24  away from the resilient clasps  244  and the restricting portions  246 . Alternatively, the hinge can be omitted and the detachable portion  24  may be connected to the base  22  via the hooking portions  224  and the resilient clasps  244  only. The unlatching element  25  is placed above the supporting sheets  2242  and the support extensions  2244  with the second connecting portions  256  disposed between and kept touching with the extending sheets  2246 . 
     The unlatching element  25  is movable relative to the base  22  between a first position and a second position. In a first position, referring to  FIG. 3 , the unlatching element  25  is positioned on a top surface of the supporting sheets  2242  and the support extensions  2244 . In a second position, referring to  FIG. 5 , the unlatching element  25  is positioned above and away (at a distance) from the supporting sheets  2242  and the support extensions  2244  of the base  22 . 
     The shaft portion  262  of the pushing shaft  26  runs through the washer  27 , the resilient member  28 , and the through hole  2222  of the base  22  in that order, and then the fixing member  29  engages with an end of the pushing shaft  26  opposite to the shaft head  264 . As such, the resilient member  28  is slightly compressed to a first compressed state and the pushing shaft  26  and the resilient member  28  are below the press receiving portion  242  of the detachable portion  24 . 
     In use, referring to  FIG. 3 , when the detachable portion  24  is latched to the base  22 , the unlatching element  25  is in the first position, and the clasp ends  2442  of the detachable portion  24  and the hooks  2248  of the base  22  engage with each other. The detachable portion  24  is at a distance away from the unlatching element  25 . 
     When detaching the detachable portion  24  from the base  22 , referring to  FIG. 4 , the detachable portion  24  is pressed towards the base  22 , the clasp ends  2442  of the detachable portion  24  slide into the engaging slots  258  of the unlatching element  25 . When the resilient clasps  244  are inserted into the engaging slots  258 , because a widest distance between the clasp ends  2442  at rest is smaller than a widest distance between outer-sidewalls of the engaging slots  258 , would cause the resilient clasps  244  to deform towards each other. The claps ends  2442  would then abut (engage) with the slanted sidewalls of the engaging slots  258  correspondingly. In other words, the clasp ends  2442  would partially hook onto the slanted sidewalls. Furthermore, the detachable portion  24  presses the pushing shaft  26 , thus causing the resilient member  28  to be compressed to a second compressed state. After the detachable portion  24  moves at a distance towards the base  22 , the restricting portions  246  hit the top surface of the supporting sheets  2242  and the support extensions  2244 , thereby restring the detachable portion  24  from further moving toward the base  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the detachable portion  24  is then released, (no longer pressed), the resilient member  28 , compressed to the second compressed state would spring back to the first compressed state. Thus pushing the pushing shaft  26  outwards, and in effect pushing the detachable portion  24  away from the base  22  also. Because the clasp ends  2442  are partially hooked into the engaging slots  258 , when the detachable portion  24  is pushed away from the base  22 , the clasp  244  would carry the unlatching element  25  away from also. Furthermore, because the clasp ends  2442  are deformed, the hooks  2248  would not block the clasp  244 , instead the hooks  2248  would block the unlatching element  25  at the top surface. When the unlatching element  25  is carried at this point, because the clasp ends  2442  are only partially hooked in the engaging slots  258 , the clasp ends  2442  would detach from the engaging slots  258 , thus releasing (unlatching) the detachable portion  24  from the base  22 . The unlatching element  25  is in its second position. 
     When the detachable portion  24  is pressed towards the base  22  again, the resilient clasps  244  of the detachable portion  24  moves towards an interior side of the extending sheets  2246  of the base  22  under guiding of slant surfaces of the clasp ends  2442  and the hooks  2248 . Thereby, the clasp ends  2442  of the detachable portion  24  and the hooks  2248  of the base  22  engage with each other again. 
     Alternatively, the restricting portion  246  of the detachable portion  24  may be omitted. With the condition, stop pressing the detachable portion  24  until the detachable portion  24  engages with the base  22  when operating. The washer  27  may be omitted. The fixing member  29  may also be a ring and the pushing shaft  26  defines a ring-shaped groove for engaging with the ring. The fixing member  29  may also be omitted. With the condition, the pushing shaft  26  is riveted after assembling. The resilient member  28  may also be other type of resilient members such as rubber sticks. The pushing shaft  26  may be omitted. In this case, the resilient member  28  is lengthened. Facing directions of the clasp ends  2442  and the hooks  2248  may be exchanged with each other. 
     With the latching mechanism  20 , a same action on the detachable portion  24  of pressing the detachable portion  24  can make the detachable portion  24  to be latched on or detached from the base  22 . In the process of latching or detaching the detachable portion  24 , a user can operate on the latching mechanism  20  without changing the action of his/her hand. Therefore, the latching mechanism  20  is very convenient. Especially when repeatedly latching and detaching the detachable portion  24 , this convenience is much more remarkable. 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.