Patent Publication Number: US-2010130268-A1

Title: Battery cover latch mechanism and portable electronic device using same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to battery cover latch mechanisms used in portable electronic devices. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Portable electronic devices usually include latch mechanisms to latch battery covers to housings. The latch mechanisms must allow frequent installation and removal of batteries. 
     A typical latch mechanism includes a pair of hooks at one end of the battery cover and a locking pin protruding from the other end of the battery cover. The housing defines a pair of grooves and a locking hole. In assembly, the hooks are inserted into the grooves. The battery cover is pressed down to the housing until the locking pin is inserted into the locking hole. However, during disassembly, a large force is needed to remove the battery cover from the housing. It is difficult to install or remove the battery cover. 
     Therefore, there is a room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of a battery cover latch mechanism and a portable electronic device using the battery cover latch mechanism can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present battery cover latch mechanism and a portable electronic device using the battery cover latch mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a partial and exploded view of a battery cover latch mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from anther angle. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a latching part in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial and assembled perspective view of the battery cover latch mechanism. 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled perspective view of the battery cover latch mechanism. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 5 , showing the battery cover latch mechanism in an unlocked condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show a portable electronic device using a battery cover latch mechanism  100 . The battery cover latch mechanism  100  includes a housing  10 , a battery cover  30 , a button  50 , a latching part  70 , and a resilient member  90 . 
     The housing  10  includes a main body  11  and four peripheral walls  12  bent away from the main body  11 . The main body  11  includes a first wall  110 , a second wall  112  opposite to the first wall  110 , two supporting portions  14 , a baffle plate  16 , two resisting posts  17 , and a resisting plate  18 . The first wall  110  defines a recessed portion  113  for matching with the battery cover  30 . Accordingly, the second wall  112  defines a flange portion  114  positioned thereon. The flange portion  114  defines a latching hole  13 . The supporting portions  14  are symmetrically positioned at two sides of the latching hole  13 . Each of the supporting portions  14  includes a main portion  140  and a plate body  141 . Each main portion  140  is L-shaped. One end of the main portion  140  is secured on the flange portion  114 . Each plate body  141  connects to the main portion  140 . The supporting portions  14  are configured for receiving and supporting the latching part  70 . The second wall  112  defines a through hole  15  adjacent to the latching hole  13 . The through hole  15  is configured for receiving the button  50 . The baffle plate  16  is positioned on the second wall  112 , adjacent to the through hole  15 , and located opposite to the supporting portions  14 . Each of the resisting posts  17  is L-shaped and positioned on the second wall  112  and leaning against one side of the baffle plate  16  away from the latching hole  13 . The resisting posts  17  respectively align with the supporting portions  14  and are configured for resisting the latching part  70 . The resisting plate  18  is positioned on the second wall  112  and faces a side of the resisting posts  17  away form the latching hole  13 . The resisting plate  18  defines a recessed groove  181  facing the baffle plate  16  and configured for receiving the resilient member  90 . 
     The battery cover  30  includes a main cover  31 , three sidewalls  32  bent from three edges of the main cover  31 , and a clasp  33  positioned near a free end of the main cover  31 . The sidewalls  32  are matchable with the recessed portion  113 . The clasp  33  is latchable to the latching part  70 . 
     The button  50  includes a pressing portion  51 , two limiting portions  53 , and a guiding block  55 . The pressing portion  51  is engagable in the through hole  15 . The limiting portions  53  are positioned on a same side of the pressing portion  51  and respectively extend from two ends of the pressing portion  51 . The limiting portions  53  are configured for resisting the housing  10 . The guiding block  55  is positioned on the pressing portion  51  between the limiting portions  53 . The guiding block  55  defines a first inclined plane  551  configured for pushing the latching part  70 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the latching part  70  includes a main plate  71 , a board  72 , a post  73 , a protrusion  74 , and a latching part  75 . The main plate  71  includes a first surface  711  and a second surface  713  opposite to the first surface  711 . The main plate  71  defines two gaps  715  symmetrically formed in two edges thereof. The board  72  perpendicularly extends from a peripheral edge of the first surface  711 . The board  72  is configured for resisting the baffle plate  16  to limit the sliding distance of the latching part  70 . An end of the main plate  71  and the board  72  defines a chamber  721 . The post  73  is positioned on a bottom of the chamber  721 . The protrusion  74  is positioned on the second surface  713 . The protrusion  74  defines a receiving portion  741  passing through the main plate  71 . The receiving portion  741  has four inner walls (not labeled), one of the inner walls includes a second inclined plane  743  configured for resisting the first inclined plane  551  to move the button  50 . The latching part  75  perpendicularly extends from a periphery edge of the second surface  713  opposite to the post  73 . The latching part  75  is configured for resisting the supporting portions  14 . 
     The resilient member  90  is a pressure spring coiled around the post  73  and configured for providing elastic force to the latching part  70 . 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6 , in assembly, the pressing portion is placed in the through hole  15 . The limiting portions  53  resist the housing  10 . The guiding block  55  passes through the receiving portion  741 . The resisting posts  17  respectively pass through the gaps  715 , the latching part  70  contacts with the main body  11 . The latching part  70  is moved to the supporting portions  14  by an external force, thereby, the latching part  70  is received in the supporting portions  14 . The board  72  resists the baffle plate  16 . The resilient member  90  coils around the post  73  and resists the resisting plate  18 . Meanwhile, the resilient member  90  generates an elastic force. Then, the external force is removed, the first inclined plane  551  resists the second inclined plane  743  by the elastic force of the resilient member  90 . The sidewalls  32  of the battery cover  30  match with the recessed portion  113 , and the clasp  33  extends through the latching hole  13  and latches to the latching part  75 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , when the battery cover  13  is to be detached from the housing  10 , the pressing portion  15  is pressed by an external force, first inclined plane  551  resists the second inclined plane  743  and drives the latching part  70  move to the baffle plate  16 . The resilient member  90  is compressed by the latching part  70  and the resisting plate  18 , and is resiliently deformed. The latching part  75  is detached from the clasp  33 , thereby, the battery cover  30  is disassembled from the housing  10 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, 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 invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.