Patent Publication Number: US-2013235549-A1

Title: Fixing mechanism and electronic device using the same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to electronic devices; and particularly, to an electronic device having a fixing mechanism. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Electronic devices, such as disc players and notebook computers, include a housing and at least one electronic component, for example, a heat sink plate used for dissipating the heat produced by the electronic device. The heat sink plate is typically assembled and fixed to the housing by mean of screws. However, auxiliary tools are required for disassembly and assembly of the heat sink plate, thereby causing inconvenience and constraints on operation. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references 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 embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of an electronic device with a fixing mechanism. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially disassembled view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partially assembled view of the electronic device of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an embodiment of an electronic device  100 . The electronic device  100  includes a housing  10 , a cover  20 , an electronic component  30  received in the housing  10 , and a fixing mechanism  40 . The cover  20  is rotatably coupled to the housing  10  and is capable of being opened and closed relative to the housing  10 . The electronic device  100  may be a notebook computer, a disc player, or other electronic device. In the embodiment, the electronic device  100  is a disc player. 
     The housing  10  is substantially rectangular, and includes a top case  11  having a top plate  110 , and a bottom case  12 . The top case  11  cooperates with the bottom case  12  to define a receiving space (not labeled) for receiving the electronic component  30 , the fixing mechanism  40  and other electronic components  50 , for example, a circuit board. The bottom case  12  includes a bottom plate  120  opposite to the top plate  110 , a first sidewall  122  and a second sidewall  124  extending from opposite rims of the bottom plate  120 . 
     The electronic component  30  is substantially rectangular, and is mounted on the bottom plate  120 . In the embodiment, the electronic component  30  is a heat sink component for dissipating the heat produced by the electronic device  100 . The electronic component  30  includes a first rim  301  corresponding to the first sidewall  122 , and a second rim  302  opposite to the first rim  301 . The first rim  301  is recessed to define a semi-circular first latching notch  303 . The second rim  302  is recessed to define a semi-circular second latching notch  304 . In other embodiments, the shape of the first and second latching notches  303 ,  304  may be elliptical or some other shape. 
     The fixing mechanism  40  is used for fixing the electronic component  30  to the bottom plate  120 . The fixing mechanism  40  is positioned on the bottom case  12 , and includes a first positioning post  41 , a first latching component  42 , a second positioning post  43 , and two spaced second latching components  44 . 
     The first and second positioning posts  41 ,  43  perpendicularly protrude from the bottom plate  120  and are opposite to each other. The first positioning post  41  is arranged adjacent to the first sidewall  122 . The second positioning post  43  is arranged adjacent to the second sidewall  124 . The shape of the first and second positioning posts  41 ,  43  is substantially cylindrical, for engaging with the first and second latching notches  303 ,  304 . 
     The first latching component  42  and the two second latching components  44  perpendicularly protrude from the bottom plate  120 . The first latching component  42  is arranged adjacent to the first sidewall  122  and is spaced from the first positioning post  41 . The two second latching components  44  are opposite to the first latching component  42  and are arranged adjacent to the second sidewall  124 . The second positioning post  43  is sandwiched between the two second latching components  44  and is spaced from each second latching component, for engaging with the second latching notch  304 . In the embodiment, the first and second latching components  42 ,  44  are hooks which have the same configuration. The first latching component  42  is made of elastic material, and maintains a predetermined gap from the first sidewall  122 , for allowing the first latching component  42  to deform toward the first sidewall  122 . The two second latching components  44  are made of rigid material, for resisting the electronic component  30 . In other embodiment, the two second latching components  44  can be made of other materials. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , to secure the electronic component  30  to the bottom plate  120 , firstly, the second positioning post  43  is received in the second latching notch  304 , the two second latching components  44  hook over opposite ends of the second rim  302 . Secondly, the electronic component  30  is pressed down to deform the first latching component  42 , such that the first positioning post  41  is received in the latching notch  303  and the first latching component  42  hooks over the first rim  301 . As a result, the electronic component  30  is secured to the bottom plate  120 . 
     After assembly, opposite ends of the electronic component  30  are limited by the first and second positioning posts  41  and  42 , thus the electronic component  30  is prevented from moving in a first direction parallel to the bottom plate  120 . The first and second latching components  42  and  43  hook over and grip opposite ends of the electronic component  30 , thus, the electronic component  30  is prevented from moving in a second direction perpendicular to the bottom plate  120 . 
     In disassembly, the first latching component  42  is elastically deformed and disengages from the electronic component  30 , and the first rim  301  is raised relative to the bottom plate  120 , for allowing the electronic component  30  to disengage from the first positioning post  41 . Then the second rim  302  is pulled away relative to the bottom plate  120 , and disengages from the second positioning post  43  and the two second latching components  44 , thus, the electronic component  30  can be disassembled from the bottom plate  120  without the use of a tool. 
     The fixing mechanism  40  is capable of fixing the electronic component  30  to the bottom case  12 , and is capable of allowing assembly and disassembly of the electronic component  30  to/from the bottom case  12  without any tool, such that the assembly and disassembly process can be quickly and conveniently implemented. The position and the number of the first and second positioning posts  41 , 43 , and the first and second latching components  42 ,  44  can be changed according to need, and the number and the position of the fixing mechanism  40  may also be changed according to need. 
     Although information and the advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.