Abstract:
A cover mechanism includes a cover which is detachably attached to a housing and a slide member which is slidably attached to the housing. The slide member includes a lock portion which locks the cover to keep the cover closed and a push-up portion which pushes up the cover as the slide member slides in a direction to release the lock.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an open-and-close mechanism of a cover and an electronic device with a cover having the open-and-close mechanism. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Open-and-close mechanisms have been adopted to portable electronic devices. In one example, a finger is put into a slot formed at a housing to which a battery cover is detachably attached, and the finger is put on a tab provided on the battery cover to open the battery cover. In another example, a finger is put on a convex portion or a concave portion provided at a battery cover which is slidably attached to a housing to open the battery cover. 
         [0005]    However, the above mechanism, wherein the slot is formed at the housing or wherein the tab, the convex portion or the concave portion is formed on the battery cover, has a problem that it cannot achieve a flat housing. 
         [0006]    Recently, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-33489 proposes a lock mechanism which does not easily weaken and by which a battery lid can be easily removed and attached. This lock mechanism is used for locking the battery lid to a housing and includes a slide member attached to the housing, a pressing member and a hook provided at the battery lid. An engagement block, which is engaged with the hook, is provided at the slide member. The pressing member is attached to the slide member so as to be movable along a direction that intersects a sliding direction of the slide member. When the pressing member is pressed, the slide member is pressed by the pressing member and slides so as to move away from the battery lid. This movement releases the engagement between the hook of the battery lid and the engagement block. 
         [0007]    Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-54193 proposes a lock mechanism which prevents damage to a lock member and an engaging part when a lid member is attached to a housing part, with the lock member moved to a lock position. This lock mechanism comprises a lock member which is slidably arranged on a battery lid, and which moves between a lock position where the battery lid attached over an opening of a battery housing part is locked and a lock release position where the battery lid can be attached to and detached from the opening of the battery housing part. The lock mechanism further comprises an engaging part which is provided in the battery housing part for the engagement with the lock member moved to the lock position and an elastic body which is arranged integrally with the lock member, and which is elastically deformed by the lock member and at the same time converts elastic force into force to move the lock member toward the lock release position if the lock member makes contact with the engaging part when the battery lid closes the opening of the battery housing part. 
         [0008]    The lock mechanisms in the above Japanese Patent Publications can achieve flat housings. However, after the lock is released by sliding the slide member or the lock member, the battery lid needs to be opened by lifting up the end thereof with a hand or by sliding the battery lid while pushing a surface thereof. Thus the opening operation of the lid is troublesome. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An object of the present invention is to provide an open-and-close mechanism of a cover which achieves a flat housing and which makes it possible to carry out releasing operation of a lock and opening operation at the same time so that the cover is smoothly opened. 
         [0010]    In order to realize the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cover mechanism including a cover which is detachably attached to a housing and a slide member which is slidably attached to the housing, wherein the slide member includes a lock portion which locks the cover to keep the cover closed and a push-up portion which pushes up the cover as the slide member slides in a direction to release a lock. 
         [0011]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device including a cover mechanism including a housing, a cover which is detachably attached to the housing and a slide member which is slidably attached to the housing, wherein the slide member includes a lock portion which locks the cover to keep the cover closed and a push-up portion which pushes up the cover as the slide member is slid in a direction to release a lock. 
         [0012]    The present invention achieves a flat housing and makes it possible to carry out releasing operation of a lock and opening operation at the same time so that a cover is smoothly opened. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view showing a battery cover of a scientific calculator which is an embodiment of an electronic device to which the present invention is applied; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view along the line indicated by the arrows A in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  shows removal of the battery cover in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a slide member; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the battery cover seen from the inside; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a housing around the slide member when the battery cover is removed; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the slide member according to the second embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the battery cover seen from the inside; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7B  is an enlarged view of a convex portion in  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the housing around the slide member when the battery cover is removed; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9A  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 2A  showing the third embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9B  shows the battery cover of  FIG. 9A  in a pop-up mode; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the slide member; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the battery cover seen from the inside; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of an essential part in cross section along the line indicated by the arrows B in  FIG. 9A ; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 12B  is a perspective view of an essential part in cross section along the line indicated by the arrows C in  FIG. 9B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0030]    Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
       First Embodiment  
       [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a battery cover of a scientific calculator as an embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention. The reference numerals  1 ,  2  and  3  respectively indicate a housing, the battery cover and a slide member. 
         [0032]    As shown in the figure, the battery cover  2  is detachably attached to the back of the housing  1  to cover an approximately half part thereof. The slide member  3  is attached along the upper edge of the battery cover  2  such that the slide member  3  can slide laterally. In the example shown in the figure, a level-difference is formed around the center of the upper edge of the battery cover  2 . The slide member  3  is arranged at a level-difference portion  21  formed along the right half of the upper edge to achieve a flat outer surface of the housing  1 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , a couple of insert hooks  22  are formed along the lower edge of the battery cover  2  in the inside. A convex portion  23  is formed near the level-difference portion  21  on the upper edge. A projecting portion  25  is formed at the center of the level-difference portion  21 . Ribs  27  are formed along the both lateral sides. A lock hole  24  opening toward the level-difference portion  21  is formed at the convex portion  23 . The projecting portion  25  includes a slope  26  on the side of the convex portion  23 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the slide member  3  includes an outer surface portion which has the same thickness as a level-difference formed on the battery cover  2  and which fits the level-difference portion  21 . Inside the outer surface portion, the slide member  3  includes a base portion  31  and a square-rod shaped lock portion  32  which projects to the left (operating direction for locking) from the base portion  31 . Also, a push-up portion  33  which is adjacent to the outer surface portion and which projects upward is formed at the base portion  31 . The push-up portion  33  includes a slope  34  on the opposite side of the lock portion  32 . The surface of this slope  34  makes contact with the surface of the slope  26  of the battery cover  2 . The lock portion  32  is inserted to the lock hole  24  of the battery cover  2 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 , in a cover-acceptance concave portion  11  on the back side of the housing  1 , an opening  12  to which the convex portion  23  of the battery cover  2  is inserted is formed at a position corresponding to the lock portion  32  of the slide member  3 . Also, an opening  13  to which the projecting portion  25  of the battery cover  2  is inserted is formed at a position corresponding to the push-up portion  33  of the slide member  3 . 
         [0036]    Insert holes to which the insert hooks  22  of the battery cover  2  are respectively inserted and which are not shown in the drawings are formed on the lower edge of the housing  1  on the back side. 
         [0037]    According to the above configuration, when the battery cover  2  is attached, the slide member  3  is slid to the left, and the lock portion  32  of the slide member  3  is inserted to the lock hole  24  in the convex portion  23  of the battery cover  2  to keep a locked state as shown in  FIG. 2A . At the same time, the surface of the slope  34  of the push-up portion  33  of the slide member  3  makes contact with the surface of the slope  26  of the projecting portion  25  of the battery cover  2 . The insert hooks  22  of the battery cover  2  are inserted to the insert holes of the housing  1 . 
         [0038]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 2B , as the slide member  3  is slid to the right, that is, to the outside, the lock portion  32  begins to get out of the lock hole  24  of the battery cover  2  while the slope  26  of the projecting portion  25  is pushed up by the slope  34  in the push-up portion  33 . As a result, at the same time as release of the lock, the upper edge and the right edge of the battery cover  2  are slightly pushed up to be in a pop-up mode. Therefore the battery cover  2  can be easily removed by hand. 
         [0039]    According to the above open-and-close configuration of the battery cover  2  in the embodiment, a flat housing is achieved, and releasing operation of the lock of the battery cover  2  and pop-up operation are carried out at the same time so that the battery cover  2  is smoothly opened. 
       Second Embodiment  
       [0040]      FIG. 6  shows the slide member  3  according to the second embodiment. In the same manner as the above first embodiment, the reference numerals  31  and  32  respectively indicate the base portion and the lock portion. Further, the reference numerals  35  and  36  respectively indicate an elastic portion (the push-up portion) and a slope. 
         [0041]    In addition to the base portion  31  and the lock portion  32 , as shown in the figure, the bridge-like elastic portion  35  which functions as the push-up portion, instead of the push-up portion  33  in the first embodiment, is formed in the base portion  31  inside the slide member  3 . A slope  36  is formed along a bridge-like upper edge of the elastic portion  35 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  shows the battery cover  2 . In the same manner as the above first embodiment, the reference numerals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  27 ,  28  and  29  respectively indicate the level-difference portion, the insert hooks, the convex portion, the lock hole, the ribs, the convex portion and the slope. 
         [0043]    In addition to the level-difference portion  21 , the insert hooks  22 , the convex portion  23 , the lock hole  24  and the ribs  27 , as shown in the figure, the convex portion  28 , instead of the projecting portion  25  in the first embodiment, is formed inside the battery cover  2 . The L-shaped slope  29  is formed along an edge of the convex portion  28  at the end thereof. This slope  29  makes contact with the slope  36  in the elastic portion  35  of the slide member  3  with a predetermined pressure. 
         [0044]      FIG. 8  shows a portion of the housing  1  around the slide member  3  when the battery cover  2  is removed. In the same manner as the above first embodiment, the reference numerals  11 ,  12  and  13  respectively indicate the cover-acceptance concave portion, the opening to which the convex portion  23  of the battery cover  2  is inserted and the opening wherein the base portion  31  of the slide member  3  moves. 
         [0045]    As shown in the figure, in addition to the openings  12 ,  13 , an opening  14  to which the convex portion  28  of the battery cover  2  is inserted is formed at a position corresponding to the elastic portion  35  of the slide member  3 . 
         [0046]    According to the above configuration, when the battery cover  2  is attached, the lock portion  32  of the slide member  3  is inserted to the lock hole  24  in the convex portion  23  of the battery cover  2  to keep a locked state as shown in  FIG. 8 . At the same time, the slope  36  in the elastic portion  35  of the slide member  3  makes contact with the slope  29  in the convex portion  28  of the battery cover  2  with pressure. 
         [0047]    As the slide member  3  is slid to the right, the lock portion  32  begins to get out of the lock hole  24  of the battery cover  2  while the convex portion  28  is pushed up by the elastic portion  35  via the slopes  36 ,  29 . As a result, in the same manner as the first embodiment, at the same time as release of the lock, the upper edge and the right edge of the battery cover  2  are slightly pushed up to be in a pop-up mode. Therefore the battery cover  2  can be easily removed by hand. 
       Third Embodiment  
       [0048]      FIG. 9  shows the third embodiment. In the same manner as the above first embodiment, the reference numerals  1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  2 ,  21 ,  23 ,  24 ,  27 ,  3  and  32  respectively indicate the housing, the cover-acceptance concave portion, the opening, the battery cover, the level-difference portion, the convex portion, the lock hole, the ribs, the slide member and the lock portion. Further, the reference numerals  17  and  37  respectively indicate an inclined guide and lateral convex portions. 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , in addition to the base portion  31  and the lock portion  32 , a couple of lateral convex portions  37  having different heights are formed on the base portion  31  inside the slide member  3 . In the example of the figure, the lateral convex portion  37  on the left is at a higher position than the lateral convex portion  37  on the right. The lock portion  32  has a trapezoid shape which includes a slope on the upper side. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the level-difference portion  21 , the insert hook  22 , the convex portion  23 , the lock hole  24 , the ribs  27  are formed inside the battery cover  2 . The lock hole  24  has a trapezoid shape which includes a slope on the upper side. 
         [0051]    The inclined guide  17  which is a slot is formed inside the housing  1 . This inclined guide  17  rises toward right, and the couple of lateral convex portions  37  of the slide member  37  are inserted thereto. 
         [0052]    According to the above configuration, when the battery cover  2  is attached, the lock portion  32  of the slide member  3  is inserted to the lock hole  24  in the convex portion  23  of the battery cover  2  to keep a locked state as shown in  FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 12A . At the same time, the lateral convex portions  37  of the slide member  3  are on the left side in the slot of the inclined guide  17  inside the housing  1 . 
         [0053]    As shown in  FIG. 9B , as the slide member  3  is slid to the right, the lock portion  32  begins to get out of the lock hole  24  of the battery cover  2  while the lateral convex portions  37  of the slide member  3  moves to the right in the slot of the inclined guide  17  inside the housing  1  so that the slide member  3  rises slightly. At the same time, the lock hole  24  is pushed up by the lock portion  32  via the upper slope as shown in  FIG. 12B . Thus the convex portion  23  is pushed up, and as a result, in the same manner as the first embodiment, at the same time as release of the lock, the upper edge and the right edge of the battery cover  2  are slightly pushed up to be in a pop-up mode. Therefore the battery cover  2  can be easily removed by hand. 
       Modification  
       [0054]    In the above embodiment, the scientific calculator is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other electronic devices such as a camera and a cellular phone. 
         [0055]    Also, in the above embodiment, the battery cover is illustrated. However, the present invention can be applied to covers or lids for other parts. 
         [0056]    Further, shapes, etc. of the cover, the slide member, the lock portion and the push-up portion can be determined freely. In addition, details can be modified at will. 
         [0057]    Though several embodiments of the present invention are illustrated, the scope of the invention is not limited to the above embodiments but includes the scope of claims attached below and the scope of their equivalents. 
         [0058]    This U.S. patent application claims priority to Japanese patent application No. 2013-008946 filed on Jan. 22, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein for correction of incorrect translation.