Abstract:
A battery holding mechanism for holding a battery in a portable electronic device, includes a bearing unit, a connecting unit connected to the bearing unit and an operating unit connected to the connecting unit. The bearing unit includes a bearing board for bearing the battery assembled in the portable electronic device thereon and an assembling component formed on the bearing board for assembling the bearing unit to the portable electronic device. The operating unit is configured for being operated to move the connecting unit and the bearing unit, thereby detaching the battery placed on the bearing board from the portable electronic device.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to battery holding mechanisms for portable electronic device, and particularly to a flexible battery holding mechanism and a portable electronic device using the same. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Nowadays, many portable electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones and personal digital assistants) are widely used. Most portable electronic devices include batteries attached thereon to supply electric energy. Generally, a portable electronic device defines a receiving space to receive the battery therein. The received battery is electronically connected to inner circuits of the portable electronic device. When electric energy of the battery is low, the battery can be removed and replaced by a new battery. 
     In use, a battery should be tightly secured in a portable electronic device for maintaining a stable electronic connection. However, such tight structures may be inconvenient to access and remove the battery from the receiving space. Additionally, when removing the battery, the battery and the portable electronic device may be damaged by rubbing or crashing to each other caused by the tight securing. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present battery holding mechanism and portable electronic device using the same can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the various drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present battery holding mechanism and portable electronic device using the same. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, disassembled view of a battery holding mechanism used in a portable electronic device, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the battery cover mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic, assembled view of the battery holding mechanism and the portable electronic device shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein a battery is received in the portable electronic device. 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but shown in another view angle, and the battery is being removed from the portable electronic device. 
         FIG. 5  is a cut-away view along the line V-V shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  schematically shows a battery holding mechanism  100  according to an exemplary embodiment, which is used in a portable electronic device  200  such as a mobile phone, a digital camera, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. 
     Also referring to  FIG. 2 , the battery holding mechanism  100  includes a bearing unit  50 , a connecting unit  60  and an operating unit  70 . The bearing unit  50 , the connecting unit  60  and the operating unit  70  are all made of flexible and elastic material, such as rubber or resin. The bearing unit  50  includes a bearing board  51  and an assembling component  52 . The bearing board  51  is a planar board including two parallel opposite surfaces  511 ,  512 . The assembling component  52  includes a cylindrical assembling pole  522  perpendicularly connected to an end of the surface  512  and an holding end  524  formed on a distal end of the assembling pole  522 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the diameter of the holding end  524  is larger than the diameter of the assembling pole  522 . 
     The connecting unit  60  is a planar board perpendicularly connected to the surface  511 , and the connecting unit  60  and the assembling component  52  are respectively positioned at two opposite ends of the bearing board  51 . A middle portion of the connecting unit  60  protrudes to form a semi-cylindrical retaining portion  62 . The retaining portion  62  and the bearing unit  50  are positioned on a same side of the connecting unit  60 , and the retaining portion  62  extends parallel to the bearing board  51 . 
     The operating unit  70  includes an operating portion  72 , which is a planar board. A side of the operating portion  72  bends to form an inclined connecting component  722 , and the operating portion  72  is connected to a side of the connecting unit  60  via the connecting component  722 . The operating portion  72  and the bearing board  50  are respectively connected to two opposite surfaces of the connecting unit  60  and positioned at two opposite ends of the connecting unit  60 . The operating portion  72  is positioned parallel to the bearing board  51  and perpendicular to the connecting unit  60 , such that the battery holding mechanism  100  is step-shaped. Angles formed between the connecting component  722  and the connecting unit  60  or the operating portion  72  are both about 45 degrees. A central portion of the operating portion  72  protrudes to form a retaining protrusion  74 , wherein the retaining protrusion  74  and the connecting portion  60  are positioned on a same side of the operating portion  72 . An operating incline  76  is formed on a side of the operating portion  70  opposite to the connecting component  722 . 
     The portable electronic device  200  includes a housing  20 , a battery  30  and a battery cover  40 . The housing  20  defines a recess  22  corresponding to the battery  30  in a central portion thereof, and then a planar bottom  222  and a side wall  224  perpendicular to the bottom  222  corresponding to the recess  22  are formed on the housing  20 . An end of the bottom  222  partially recesses to form a rectangular assembling recess  2222  corresponding to the bearing board  51 . An assembling hole  2224  corresponding to the assembling component  52  through the housing  20  is defined in a bottom of the assembling recess  2222 . A size of the assembling hole  2224  is less than a size of the holding end  524 . The side wall  224  partially recesses to form a rectangular side groove  2242  communicating with the assembling recess  2224  and corresponding to the connecting unit  60 . The housing  20  also defines an operating recess  24  communicating with the connecting unit  60  and corresponding to the operating unit  70  at an end thereof. The bottom of the operating recess  24  defines a retaining hole  242  corresponding to the retaining protrusion  74  in a central portion thereof, and a connecting incline  26  corresponding to the connecting component  722  and adjoining the side groove  2242  is formed on a side of the bottom of the operating recess  24 . The battery cover  40  is capable of covering the recess  22 . 
     Also referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , in assembly, the bearing board  51  is received in the assembling recess  2222 , with the surface  512  facing the bottom of the assembling recess  2222 . Thus, the holding end  524  is compressed and inserted into the assembling hole  2224 . The bearing board  51  is pressed until the holding end  524  passes through the assembling hole  2224 . Thus, the assembling pole  522  is received in the holding hole  2224 , the holding end  524  and the bearing board  51  are respectively positioned at two sides of the housing  20 , and the holding end  524  resiles to prevent the battery holding mechanism  100  separating from the housing  20 . The connecting unit  60  is received in the side groove  2242 . The connecting component  722  is attached to the connecting incline  26 . The operating unit  70  is received in the operating recess  24 , and the retaining protrusion  74  is inserted into the retaining hole  242 . In this way, the battery holding mechanism  100  is assembled to the housing  20 . Understandably, the operating incline  76  is positioned towards the bottom of the operating recess  24 , and then a gap  77  is formed between the out side of the operating unit  70  and the housing  20  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). The retaining portion  62  is positioned opposite to the bottom of the operating recess  24 , i.e., exposed outwards. 
     The battery  30  is received in the recess  22 . The inclined connecting component  722  can facilitate the receiving operation. The assembled battery  30  is placed on the bearing board  51  and compresses the exposed retaining portion  62 . Finally, the battery cover  40  is assembled to the housing  20  to cover the battery  30 , thus the portable electronic device  200  is completed. 
     When the portable electronic device  200  is used, the retaining portion  62  compressed by the received battery  30  generates a rebounding tendency to press the battery  30  towards the side wall  224 . Thus, the battery holding mechanism  100  cooperates with the housing  20  to secure the battery  30  in the containing recess  22  to maintain a stable electric connection between the battery  30  and the inner circuits of the portable electronic device  200 . The elastic bearing board  51  and retaining portion  62  can also prevent the battery  30  from rubbing or crashing the housing  20 . 
     When the battery  30  needs to be changed, the battery cover  40  is removed. The operating unit  70  is firstly disengaged from the housing  20 . The gap  77  and the operating incline  76  can facilitate the operation of moving the operating unit  70 . The connecting unit  60  and the bearing board  50  are then pulled away from the housing  20 , and the battery  30  is driven out from the recess  22 . The holding end  524  prevents the battery holding mechanism  100  separating from the housing  20 , and the assembling pole  522  is bent such that the bearing board  51  can be adequately moved to drive the battery  30  out. 
     The battery holding mechanism  100  has a simple structure and low cost. When the portable electronic device  200  is used, the battery  30  is held stably and is protected from rubbing or crashing by the battery holding mechanism  100 . When the battery  30  is taken out from the recess  22 , it can be easily driven out by the operating unit  70 . Thus, the battery  30  can be easily detached from the housing  20  and is protected from most ribbing or crashing to the housing  20 . 
     It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various embodiments, 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 present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.