Abstract:
A PDA includes a housing and a detachable panel. An exterior surface of the housing has an engaging sink and a dimple. The detachable panel has a hook for locking onto the engaging sink and a cylindrical shaft protruding from the detachable panel for engaging with the dimple so as to prevent lateral movement of the detachable panel with respect to the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a PDA (Personal Data Assistant). More specifically, a PDA has a detachable panel is disclosed. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The demands of modern society often require constant availability of electronic devices such as a PDA. As the name Personal Data Assistant implies, a PDA can provide invaluable technical benefits to a user. 
     In addition to technical requirements placed upon the user, modern society also encourages individuality expressed through personally selected colors and designs of nearly every object manufactured, including PDAs. Users demand a choice of colors and designs and preferably a choice that can be quickly and easily changed according to the current preference of the user. 
     To better accommodate demands of users for choice and fashion, PDAs with detachable decorative side panels were introduced. When the user wishes to change the color or design of his or her PDA, the user can detach the decorative side panel and replace the decorative side panel with one more in line with his or her needs at the time. 
     Please refer to FIG. 1 of a side view of an attachment mechanism for attaching a detachable panel  15  to a housing  32  of a PDA  10  according to prior art. The PDA of FIG. 1 was owned by the same assignee as that of the prevent invention at the time of the present invention. 
     The detachable panel  15  comprises a fixing hook  25  and at least one L-shaped engaging hook  20 . The lower portion of the engaging hook  20  is parallel to the detachable panel  15 . The fixing hook  25  is of a horizontally rectangular shape and protrudes from the same side of the detachable panel  15  as the engaging hook  20 . Additionally, the fixing hook  25 , if viewed from the side, has a trapezoidal shape with an increasing width toward the end of the fixing hook  25  that is away from the detachable panel  15 . 
     The housing  32  comprises a recess  34  disposed on an exterior surface of the housing  32  and the recess  34  extends to one end of the housing  32 . The recess  34  is formed in the shape and size of the detachable panel  15  and comprises at least one engaging sink  22  and a fixing sink  27 . 
     The engaging sink  22  is a depression or hole within the recess  34  of a size and shape such that the L-shaped engaging hook  20  can fully be contained within the engaging sink  22 . A portion of the recess  34  surrounding the engaging sink  22  is formed to fit between the extended lower portion of the engaging hook  20  and the detachable panel  15 , holding the detachable panel  15  against a bottom of the recess  34 . The fixing sink  27  is a depression or hole of a shape and size allowing entry of the fixing hook  25 . 
     The detachable panel  15  is attached to the PDA  10  by sliding the detachable panel  15  along the recess  34  in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG.  1 . During the sliding process, the engaging hook  20  enters the engaging sink  22  and grips a portion of the recess surface adjacent to the engaging sink  22 . When the engaging hook  20  engages fully with the engaging sink  22 , the flexible detachable panel  15  is deformed upward over the fixing hook  25  because the lower, protruding portion of the fixing hook  25  is not yet lined up with the fixing sink  27  and cannot enter the fixing sink  27 . Therefore, the user needs to push down on a top surface of the detachable panel  15  in a direction shown by the arrow B, further deforming the detachable panel  15  until the protruding lower portion of the fixing hook  25  tilts enough to allow the fixing hook  25  to snap into the fixing sink  27 . It should be noted that because the detachable panel  15  and the recess  34  both extend to the end of the housing  32 , that the edges of the recess  34  are unable to prevent the detachable panel from moving laterally and the engaging hook  20  from becoming detached from the engaging sink  22 . Instead, the engagement of the fixing hook  25  and the fixing sink  27  prevent the engaging hook  20  from becoming detached from the engaging sink  22 . 
     The housing  32  of the PDA  10  also comprises an open hole  35  in the end of the housing  32  and touching the recess  34 . The open hole  35  is a depression in the housing  32  provided to allow detachment of the detachable panel  15  from the PDA  10 . A tip of an appropriate instrument, such as a stylus of a pen, can be inserted into the open hole  35  between the housing  32  and the detachable panel  15 . By pushing the detachable panel  15  further into the recess  34  with the stylus, the flexibility of the detachable panel  15  allows the stylus to deform the detachable panel  15  enough to pull either the engaging hook  20  out of the engaging sink  22  or the fixing hook  25  out of the fixing sink  27 , allowing the detachable panel  15  to be removed from the housing  32  of the PDA  10 . 
     The prior art mechanism for attaching and detaching the detachable panel  15  to the housing  32  of the PDA  10  functions to firmly retain the detachable panel  15  in place. However, both the attachment and detachment procedures require multiple steps by the user and deformations of and possible damage to the detachable panel  15 . A simpler, one step procedure to attach or detach the detachable panel  15  would reduce possible damage to the detachable panel  15 , would make it more convenient for users to express their choice of colors and designs, and may reduce manufacturing costs because convenience of use may lead to increased sales. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to solve the above-mentioned problems by introducing a simplified attachment mechanism for attaching a detachable panel to a housing of a PDA. 
     The claimed invention includes a housing of a PDA and a detachable panel. The PDA has a recess in the shape of the detachable panel for accommodating the detachable panel. Within the recess is an engaging sink and a dimple. The detachable panel includes an engaging hook and a locating shaft. 
     The detachable panel sides lengthwise into the recess. During the sliding process, the engaging hook enters and grips the engaging sink. When the engaging hook and the engaging sink are fully coupled, elasticity in the detachable panel causes the perpendicular locating shaft to enter the dimple. The dimple effectively prevents lateral movement of the detachable panel relative to the PDA and the engaging hook temporarily fixes the detachable panel to the PDA. 
     The PDA also has an open hole located at an end of the recess nearest the locating shaft. Insertion of a pen stylus into the open hole allows the lifting of the locating shaft out of the dimple and the detachable panel can be slid along the recess to disengage the engaging hook from the engaging sink, detaching the detachable panel from the PDA. 
     It is an advantage that the claimed attachment mechanism allows for quick and easy attachment and detachment of a detachable panel to and from a PDA without excess deformation and possible damage to the detachable panel. The simplified procedures improve convenience for the user and help assure detachable PDAs give the user the choice that is demanded. 
     These and other objectives of the claimed invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of an attachment mechanism for attaching a detachable panel to a housing of a PDA according to a prior art. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of an attachment mechanism for attaching a detachable panel to a housing of a PDA according to the present invention. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic views of an attachment mechanism for attaching a detachable panel to a housing of a PDA according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Please refer to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 a side view of an attachment mechanism according to the present invention. The preferred embodiment of a PDA  40  comprises a housing  62  and a detachable panel  45 . 
     The detachable panel  45  comprises a locating shaft  55  and at least one L-shaped engaging hook  50 . The lower portion of the engaging hook  50  formed approximately parallel to the detachable panel  45  and pointing in a direction away from the locating shaft  55 . The locating shaft  55  is of substantially cylindrical shape and protrudes from the detachable panel  45  approximately perpendicular to the detachable panel  45  and from the same side of the detachable panel  45  as the engaging hook  50 . 
     The detachable panel  45  is of a thickness approximately equal to the depth of the recess  64  and may be made of nearly any material such as metal or plastic as long as the material is hard enough to form a strong connection and yet flexible enough to allow a little bending during a removal process. Of course, being detachable, the detachable panel  45  may be made of any of a variety of colors and patterns and may include a sculptured surface. 
     The housing  62  comprises a recess  64  disposed on an exterior surface of the housing  62 , in this embodiment the exterior surface is a side of the housing  62  but is not limited to being as such. The recess  64  is formed in the shape of the detachable panel  4 S and comprises at least one engaging sink  52  and a dimple  57 . 
     The engaging sink  52  is a depression or hole within the recess  64  of a size such that the L-shaped engaging hook  50  can fully be contained within the engaging sink  52 . An edge of the recess  64  surrounding the engaging sink  52  is formed to snuggly fit between the extended lower portion of the engaging hook  50  and the detachable panel  45 , holding the detachable panel  45  fast against a bottom of the recess  64 . 
     The dimple  57  is a depression or hole of a shape and size closely corresponding to the shape and size of the locating shaft  55 . When the engaging hook  50  fully engages with the engaging sink  52 , the elasticity of the detachable panel  45  causes the locating shaft  55  to enter the dimple  57 . The engagement of the locating shaft  55  and the dimple  57  effectively prevents lateral movement of the detachable panel  45  relative to the PDA  40  and the engagement of the engaging hook  50  with the engaging sink  50  effectively prevents movement of the detachable panel  45  in a direction away from the housing  62 . 
     The detachable panel  45  is attached to the POA  40  by sliding the detachable panel  45  along the recess  64  in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG.  2 . During the sliding process, the engaging hook  50  enters the engaging sink  52  and grips the edge of the recess surface adjacent to the engaging sink  52  similarly to what is done in the prior art mechanism. However, when the engaging hook  50  is fully engaged with the engaging sink  52 , the flexible detachable panel  45  causes the locating shaft  55  to enter the dimple  57 , thereby temporarily fixing the detachable panel  45  to the housing  62 . FIGS. 3 and 4 help to illustrate the arrangement and connectivity of the various parts used in the attachment process. 
     The major difference between the prior art PDA  10  and the present invention PDA  40  is the use of the locating shaft  55  and the dimple  57  in place of the fixing hook  25  and the fixing sink  27 . In the prior art PDA  10 , the detachable panel  15  effectively grips the recess  34  between the fixing hook  25  and the engaging hook  20 . Because the detachable panel  15  is not completely surrounded by the edges of the recess  34 , the grip is necessary to movement of the detachable panel  15  allowing the detachable panel to disengage from the housing  32 . This grip also makes the detachable panel  15  difficult to detach from the prior art PDA  10 . Additionally, the slope of the trapezoidal fixing hook  25  protrudes beneath the bottom surface of the recess  34  preventing easy withdrawal of the fixing hook  25  from the fixing sink  27 . 
     On the other hand, the present invention uses the locating shaft  55  and the dimple  57 , not to grip the recess  65 , but to prevent lateral movement of the detachable panel  45 . The flanking edges of the recess  65  place additional restrictions on the lateral movement of the detachable panel  45 . With the lateral movement of the detachable panel  45  restricted, the engaging hook  50  can function to securely hold the detachable panel  45  fast against the PDA  40  without encumbering the detachment process as seen below. 
     The housing  62  of the PDA  40  also comprises an open hole  65  adjacent to and in contact with an end of the recess  65  nearest the dimple  57 . The open hole  65  is a depression or hole in the housing  62  provided to simplify detachment of the detachable panel  45  from the PDA  45 . A tip of an appropriate tapering means  70 , such as a stylus of a pen, can be inserted into the open hole  65 . The flexibility of the detachable panel allows the stylus to lift an end of the detachable panel  45  closest to the locating shaft  55 , thereby lifting the locating shaft  55  out of the dimple  57 . 
     When the locating shaft  55  is lifted out of the dimple  57 , the detachable panel  45  can be detached from the housing  62  by sliding the detachable panel  45  in a direction opposite to the arrow A in FIG.  2 . When the detachable panel  45  is sliding in the direction opposite to arrow A, the engaging hook  50  is released from the engaging sink  52 , completing the detachment process. 
     A second embodiment of the present invention is nearly identical to the PDA  40  except that there is no recess  64  formed in the housing  62 . An engaging sink  50 , a dimple  57 , and an open hole  65  are all formed on a surface of the housing  62  so that the detachable panel  45  protrudes from the housing  62 . The method of attaching and detaching the detachable panel  45  remains the same as in the PDA  40 . 
     In contrast to the prior art, the present invention provides a simplified, one-step attachment procedure for attaching a detachable panel to a PDA  40 . Simply slide the detachable panel  45  along the recess  64  until the detachable panel  45  snaps into place. The prior art detachable panel  15  required two steps, sliding the detachable panel  15  and pressing on the detachable panel  15  until the detachable panel  15  deforms adequately to allow the fixing hook  25  to lock into the fixing sink  27 . 
     Removal of the detachable panel has also been simplified. Elasticity in the detachable panel  45  of the present invention allows a tapering means  70 , such as a pen stylus, to lift the locating shaft  55  out of the dimple  57  so the detachable panel  45  merely slides off. Conversely, the prior art detachable panel  15  requires the user to deform the detachable panel  15  enough to free the engaging hook  20  from the engaging sink  22 , which further allows the user to free the fixing hook  25  from the fixing sink  27 . 
     It is obvious that the present invention has simplified the mechanism and increased convenience to the user. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the means and bounds of the appended claims.