Abstract:
A locking device is described. The locking device is utilized to lock and unlock a removable device and especially to be suitable for locking and unlocking the removable device of a notebook computer. The locking device has a latch, an elastic member and a sliding switch. The latch engages a fixing indention of the removable device to fix the removable device. The elastic member provides a force to push the latch forward and a recess for retracting the latch backward. The sliding switch utilizes a stud to glidingly couple to a sliding surface of the latch so that the movements of the sliding switch and the latch form a predetermined included angle, preferably of about 90 degrees.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a locking device, and more particularly, to a locking device for locking a peripheral device in a notebook computer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Information technology and the computer industry are highly developed now. Portable electronic devices, such as notebook computers, are widely used. Due to weight and practicality requirements, portable devices tend to be lighter, thinner and smaller. The notebook computer is a successful product because, in spite of its small size, it is capable of doing powerful calculations with a great deal of digital data. 
     A computer operates centrally via a motherboard, and during operation, besides using a central processing unit (CPU) for calculations, peripheral devices are employed to provide greater functionality, devices such as a floppy disk (FD) drive, a hard disk drive (HDD), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, a rewritable CD (CD-RW) drive, a digital video disc (DVD) drive and a card reader. 
     Currently, notebook computers are popular in the market because their key components have become gradually less expensive, and therefore, notebook computers have become more and more affordable to the user. Notebook computer usage is rivaling that of desktop computers. Furthermore, the functionality and performance of notebook computers are coming near those of desktop computers. Due to requirements for office mobility and the electronic-enterprise trend caused by the popular use of the Internet all over the world, notebook computer usage is getting more popular. 
     Different users of notebook computers need different peripheral devices for their business activities. However, a common problem of the notebook computer is that the internal space is too small to install all desired peripheral devices therein. Hence, a removable device module for a notebook computer has been developed to enable external peripheral devices to be easily swapped in and out of the notebook computer. The removable device module, then, effectively enhances the performance and functionality of the notebook computer. 
     A conventional notebook computer with a removable device module utilizes a locking device to lock the removable device within the notebook computer for safe operation. When a user needs to withdraw or exchange the removable device, the locking device is manipulated to release the removable device from the removable device module. A latch of the locking device is usually disengaged from an indentation on the removable device that is perpendicular to the withdrawal direction of the removable device. In the perpendicular direction, the locking device and the latch have to be employed over a large length to lock effectively and release the removable device safely. However, the internal space of a notebook computer gets tighter every day. Thus, so the traditional locking device with the large length in the perpendicular direction may interfere with other devices. Therefore, there is a need to lock and release the removable device for the notebook computer with limited space safely. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One objective of the present invention is to provide a locking device that occupies less volume than traditional locking devices. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a locking device that effectively fixes a removable device within a removable device module. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide a locking device with a sliding switch that moves parallel to the withdrawal direction of the removable device in order to reduce a required length in the direction perpendicular to the withdrawal direction and provide an effective and safe fixing method for the removable device. 
     The present invention provides a locking device suitable to fix or remove a removable device, and especially to fix or remove the removable device for a notebook computer. The locking device has a latch with a sliding inclined surface, an elastic member and a sliding switch. 
     The latch engages into a fixing indentation of the removable device to fix the removable device within a fixing container. The elastic member forces the latch forward to engage into the fixing indentation. The latch can be forced backward, compressing the elastic member, by a shell of the removable device such that installation or removal of the removable device is not interfered with. 
     The sliding switch glidingly couples to the latch, and the movements of the latch and the sliding switch form a predetermined included angle, preferably of about 90 degrees. The sliding switch further has a stud that couples to the sliding inclined surface. When the sliding switch is pushed to release the removable device, the stud can press on the sliding inclined surface to withdraw the latch from the fixing indentation of the removable device. 
     The locking device further has a sliding holder with a first sliding guider and a second sliding guider. The latch couples to the first sliding guider and the sliding switch couples to the second sliding guider. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides a removable device module with a locking device. The removable device module with the foregoing locking device is configured beside the fixing container of the removable device module so as to safely fix and easily remove the removable device. 
     A further aspect of the present invention provides a notebook computer having a removable device module with a locking device. The notebook computer utilizes the foregoing locking device to safely fix a peripheral device, e.g. a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, a card reader or an optical disk drive, therein and conveniently remove the peripheral device from the notebook computer. Due to the movements of the latch and the sliding switch forming an included angle, the included angle, especially when the angle is about 90 degrees, can effect the absorption and dissipation of inertial forces of the latch and the sliding switch caused by an impact force acting on the notebook computer. Accordingly, the notebook computer is effectively protected from losing the peripheral device even under the impact force. 
     The locking device can effectively lock an electrical apparatus in the fixing container and provide a capability for quickly exchanging electrical apparatuses. The locking device according to the present invention can also effectively reduce the protrusion length of the removable device module so as to reduce the space occupied by the locking device. Hence, the locking device can provide a quick fixing and removal mechanism for a removable device in a notebook computer. Furthermore, the locking device can effectively reduce the space occupied within the notebook computer and thereby avoid interfering with other devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a locking device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the locking device according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined by referencing the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a locking device according to the present invention. A locking device  100  is configured in a notebook computer, and the locking device  100  utilizes a latch  110  to fix a first removable device  200  or a second removable device  300  in a fixing container  400 . The first removable device  200  is a peripheral device, e.g. a removable hard disk drive, a removable floppy disk drive, a spare battery module, a card reader or an optical disk drive, for a notebook computer. The second removable device  300  is another peripheral device for a notebook computer. The card reader is a card reader for a compact flash (CF) card, a micro drive (MD) card, a secure digital (SD) card, a multi-media card (MMC), a memory stick (MS), an extreme digital (xD) card, a smart media (SM) card or the like. The optical disk drive is a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a CD-RW or the like. The locking device  100  can fix various peripheral devices of the notebook computer in the fixing container  400  effectively. 
     When the first removable device  200  is inserted into the fixing container  400  and a fixing indentation  210  of the first removable device  200  arrives at a position of a latch  110  of the locking device  100 , the latch  110  engages into the fixing indentation  210  to stably fix the first removable device  200  within the fixing container  400 . When the first removable device  200  is withdrawn from the fixing container  400 , the latch  110  is disengaged from the fixing indentation  210 , and the first removable device  200  is then released from the fixing container  400  easily. 
     After the first removable device  200  is removed, the second removable device  300  can then be installed into the fixing container  400 . Therefore, a notebook computer user can exchange the peripheral devices according to the working requirements at that time very easily. The locking device consequently provides a good extended capability for a notebook computer. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 . The locking device according to the present invention includes an elastic member  120 , the latch  110 , a sliding switch  130  and a sliding holder  140 . The elastic member  120  provides a spring force to push the latch  110  forward along a predetermined direction to lock the removable device effectively. The sliding switch  130  provides a withdrawal force to the latch  110  such that the latch  110  can be withdrawn from the fixing indentation of the removable device effectively, and the removable device can then be removed from the fixing container. 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the locking device according to the present invention describing the detailed operation mechanism thereof. The latch  110  has a sliding inclined surface  112  to couple to a stud  134  on the sliding switch  130 . The sliding switch  130  is configured below a base  500  of the notebook computer. Sliding clamps  132  of the sliding switch  130  are disposed upwardly and within the second sliding guiders  144  of the sliding holder  140  through the base  500 . Therefore, the sliding clamp  132  can slide within the second sliding guider  144 . 
     The sliding holder  140  further has a first sliding guider  142  that forms a predetermined included angle θ with the second sliding guider  144  on the base  500 . A preferably predetermined included angle is substantially a 90° right angle. The latch  110  is disposed within the first sliding guider  142 , and therefore the latch  110  can slide within the first sliding guider  142 . Accordingly, the movement directions of the latch  110  and the sliding switch  130  are preferably perpendicular to each other. The elastic member  120  is attached to one end of the latch  110  to enable the latch  110  to move forward along the predetermined direction. The latch  110  can therefore effectively engage into the fixing indentation of the removable device  200  or  300  to fix the removable device  200  or  300  in the fixing container  400 . The elastic member  120  also provides a recess for the latch  110  to retract so as to avoid interfering with installation and removal of the removable device. 
     When a removable device is installed in a notebook computer, the first step is to push the removable device  200  into the fixing container  400 . The latch  110  is automatically forced backward along the predetermined direction due to being contacted by the shell of the removable device. Once the fixing indentation  210  arrives at the position of the latch  110 , the spring force of the elastic member  120  pushes the latch  110  forward along the predetermined direction to insert into the fixing indentation  210 , and the removable device is fixed by the latch  110  effectively. 
     When the removable device is withdrawn from the notebook computer, the sliding switch  130  (referring to a dashed line portion of  FIG. 3 , under the base  500 ) is moved in a direction A toward the right side of the drawing, and the stud  134  of the sliding switch  130  presses against the sliding inclined surface  112  of the latch  110 . As the stud  134  is moved along the direction A toward the right side of the drawing, the sliding inclined surface  112  is forced to retract along the predetermined direction B. Therefore, the latch  110  is withdrawn from the fixing indentation  210  of the removable device, allowing the removable device to be easily withdrawn from the fixing container. 
     The locking device according to the present invention utilizes the sliding inclined surface  112  of the latch  110  for moving the latch  110 , and there is a predetermined included angle formed between the sliding switch  130  and the latch  110  when movement, e.g. a right angle. Accordingly, the protrusion length of the locking device on the fixing container can be effectively reduced, thereby reducing the space occupied by the locking device. A conventional locking device may occupy a larger space in the notebook computer because both the movements of the latch and of the sliding switch are perpendicular to the withdrawal direction of the removable device and protrude from the fixing container. Furthermore, because the conventional locking device may interfere with the other devices in the notebook computer, the conventional locking device makes the configuration of devices in the notebook computer more complicated. 
     The present latch  110  and the sliding switch  130  are perpendicular to each other when movement so that inertial forces of the latch  110  and the sliding switch  130  caused by an impact force acting upon the notebook computer are also perpendicular to each other. Therefore, the latch  110  is more difficultly disengaged from the fixing indentation and the impact force is less likely to dislodge the removable device from the fixing container as compared with the conventional locking device. 
     Because the inertial forces of the latch  110  and the sliding switch  130  are preferably perpendicular to each other, the inertial forces can be partly absorbed and dissipated by the first sliding guider  142  and the second sliding guider  144 . Accordingly, the inertial forces do not simultaneously act upon the elastic member  120 , and the locking device according to the present invention can thereby effectively and safely fix the removable device to enhance the mobility and portability of the notebook computer. 
     The locking device according to the present invention can effectively reduce the space occupied thereby and provides a safe and reliable fixing method for the removable device of the notebook computer. Furthermore, the locking device according to the present invention is suitable to fix and remove the removable device not only in the notebook computer but also in any apparatus having a removable device. 
     As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended that various modifications and similar arrangements be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.