Patent Publication Number: US-2011052956-A1

Title: Battery cover assembly and portable electronic device utilizing the same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The exemplary disclosure generally relates to battery cover assemblies and, particularly, to a battery cover assembly and a portable electronic device utilizing the assembly. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Batteries are widely used in portable electronic devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, and so on. Often, batteries are attachably received in the electronic device, and battery covers provided to connect with housings of the electronic devices to secure the batteries. Batteries are replaced by opening the battery covers when, for example, the batteries are damaged and/or dead (i.e. no longer rechargeable). 
     Although battery cover assemblies may be simple, the engagement between the battery cover and the housing of the mobile phone can be too strong to allow easy detachment thereof. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the exemplary portable electronic device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the battery cover assembly. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a portable electronic device as disclosed; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-section of a housing of the portable electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled cross-section of a portable electronic device showing an exemplary embodiment of a battery cover assembly as disclosed; and 
         FIG. 5  is an open view of the cover assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a portable electronic device  100  as disclosed, such as a cellular phone or any electronic device where battery power is employed. The portable electronic device  100  includes a housing  11 , an operating module  30 , a protective cover  50  configured to cover the housing  11  and the operating module  30 , and a battery cover  70  removably attached to the housing  11 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the housing  10  includes an end portion  13  with a presentation surface  11  and an inner surface  12 . The presentation surface  11  defines a cutout  111  and a receiving hole  131  communicating with the cutout  111 . The end portion  13  defines a notch  113  communicating with the cutout  111 , a connecting hole  135 , and a through hole  136  communicating with the connecting hole  135 . The connecting hole  135  is configured to receive a connector (not shown) therein. A mounting portion  123  with a supporting surface  1231  is formed between the receiving hole  131  and the connecting hole  135 . The housing  11  defines a groove  133  at two sides of the mounting portion  123 . The grooves  133  communicate with the receiving hole  131 . The housing  11  defines a latching portion  137  including a first slit  1371  defined on the inner surface  12  of one of the grooves  133  and a second slit  1373  defined on the bottom surface of the notch  113 . The first slit  1371  communicates with the second slit  1373 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the housing  10  defines a chamber  121 . The chamber  121  communicates with the receiving hole  131  and the connecting hole  135 . The housing  10  forms a positioning portion  125  and a post  127 . Both the positioning portion  125  and the post  127  extend upwards from the bottom surface  12  in the chamber  121 . The mounting portion  123  connects to the end portion  13 . The positioning portion  125  defines a positioning slot  1251  at approximately the middle thereof so the positioning portion  125  is divided into two substantially L-shaped portions facing each other. The post  127  is aligned with the positioning slot  1251 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the operating module  30  includes an operating element  31  and an elastic element  33 . The operating element  31  includes a base  311  with a resisting protrusion  3111  at one end; two resisting arms  315  extending from the other end of the base  311 ; a pin  317  formed between the two resisting arms  315 ; and two latching protrusion  319  adjacent to the two resisting arms  315 . The two resisting arms  315 , of elastic material, each have a stopping protrusion  3151 . The stopping protrusions  3151  are configured to abut the mounting portion  123  to prevent the operating element  31  from separating from the housing  10 . The pin  317  is configured to guide the elastic element  33 . In the exemplary embodiment, the elastic element  33  is a compression spring having a hook  331  on one end. 
     The protective cover  50  includes a plate  51  having a first latching arm  511  and a second latching arm  513  at two opposite ends. The first latching arm  511  and the second latching arm  513  are configured to attach the protective cover  50  to the housing  11 . 
     The battery cover  70  is configured to cover the housing  11  and enclose a battery (not shown) for the electronic device  100 . Two substantially L-shaped tabs  71  project from one end of the battery cover  70 . The tabs  71  are configured to be received in the receiving hole  131  and abut the housing  11 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , during assembly of the portable electronic device  100 , the hook  331  of the elastic element  31  is placed over the post  127 . The resisting arms  315  are pressed to pass the resisting protrusions  3151  through a corresponding groove  133  and be received in the chamber  121 . At the same time, the elastic element  31  is coiled around the post  137  and positioned by the positioning portion  125 . The operating element  31  slidably resists the supporting surface  1231 , and the latching protrusions  319  are slidably received in the corresponding receiving grooves  133 . The first latching arm  511  is received in the first slit  1371  and the second slit  1373  so that the protective cover  50  is pivotably mounted on the housing  11  by the elastic deformation of the first latching arm  511 . The battery cover  70  is attached to the housing  11 , and the tabs  71  engage the latching protrusions  319  by the elastic force of the elastic element  33 . Finally, the protective cover  50  is pivoted to insert the second latching arm  513  into the through hole  136 . Thus, the portable electronic device  100  is assembled. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , when a battery is to be changed or installed, first the protective cover  50  is pivoted to expose the resisting element  31 . Then, the resisting protrusion  3111  of the resisting element  31  is pressed (e.g., by finger of the user) to slide the operating element  31  along the supporting surface  1231  toward the positioning portion  125 . The latching protrusions  319  thus separate from the tabs  71  of the battery cover  70  which can, accordingly, be removed from the housing  10 . At the same time, the elastic element  33  is elastically deformed, whereby operating element  31  withdraws by the elastic force thereof on release. 
     It is notable that connecting hole  135  can be defined where a connector is desirable while covered by the protective cover  50 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment of the portable electronic device  100 , by pressing the operating element  31 , the battery cover  70  could be removed from the housing  11  such that it is easy to use. Furthermore, the portable electronic device  100  has a protective cover  50  to cover the operating element  31  to prevent the portable electronic device  100  from dust or water penetrating. 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclose or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.