Patent Publication Number: US-2010124699-A1

Title: Battery cover latching mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to battery cover latching mechanisms and, particularly, to a battery cover latching mechanism used in a portable electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Battery cover latching assemblies are usually provided to secure battery within portable electronic devices. 
     A typical battery cover latching assembly for an electronic device usually includes a battery cover and latching means, e.g., a locking pin latching into a locking hole. The battery cover can be detachably mounted to a housing of portable electronic devices using the latching means. 
     However, removal of the battery cover may require a strong force, which may damage the locking pin. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the battery cover latching mechanism can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present battery cover latching mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate corresponding sections throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a battery cover latching mechanism, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but without the battery cover. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the button member shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partially, isometric view of the battery cover shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled view of the battery cover latching mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the battery cover latching mechanism shown in  FIG. 5  taken along line VI-VI. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing a working status of the battery cover latching mechanism shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary battery cover latching mechanism  100  including a body member  10 , a battery cover  20 , and a button member  30 . The battery cover  20  is placed above the body member  10 . The button member  30  is pivotably mounted to the body member  10 , and used to releasably lock the battery cover  20  to the body member  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  together, the body member  10  can be a housing of a portable electronic device. The body member  10  includes a top wall  11 , a bottom wall  12  opposite to the top wall  11 , and two opposite sidewalls  13 . The two sidewalls  13  connect the top wall  11  and the bottom wall  12  to enclose a battery receiving space  14 . The top wall  11  defines a cavity  15  adjacent to the battery receiving space  14 . The cavity  15  includes a first wall  151  facing the battery receiving space  14 , a second wall  152 , and two third walls  153 . The second wall  152  and the two third walls  153  connect the first wall  151  and the battery receiving space  14 . The first wall  151  includes a protrusion  1511 , used to resist the battery cover  20 . The second wall  152  includes a resisting block  1521  adjacent to the first wall  151 . The resisting block  1521  is used to abut against the button member  30 . The second wall  152  further includes a cutout  1522  and two pivot slots  1523 . The cutout  1522  is defined adjacent to the battery receiving space  14 . The two pivot slots  1523  are symmetrically defined on both sides of the cutout  1522 . Each of the two third walls  153  defines a pivot hole  1531  corresponding to one pivot slot  1523 . The pivot slots  1523  communicate with the pivot holes  1531  correspondingly. The bottom wall  12  defines a plurality of limiting slots  121  facing away from the top wall  11 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the battery cover  20  shields the battery receiving space  14 . The battery cover  20  includes a first end  21  and an opposite second end  22 . The first end  21  defines a latching slot  212 , thus forming an ejection portion  211 . The latching slot  212  is used to latch the battery cover  20  to the body member  10 . The ejection portion  211  is used to resist the button member  30 . The second end  22  includes a plurality of limiting blocks  221  protruding towards the first end  21 . The limiting blocks  221  are insertable into the limiting slots  121 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  together, the button member  30  includes a first end wall  31 , a second end wall  32  opposite to the first end wall  31 , and a mounting surface  33 . The first end wall  31  includes a latching block  311 . The latching block  311  latches into the latching slot  212 . The second end wall  32  includes a clamping portion  321 , corresponding to the protrusion  1511 . The clamping portion  321  latches with the protrusion  1511 . An “L”-shaped resisting block  331  and two pivot shafts  332  protrude from the mounting surface  33 . The resisting block  331  protrudes from the mounting surface  33  adjacent to the first end wall  31 . The resisting block  331  is used to facilitate ejection of the battery cover  20 . The two pivot shafts  332  are symmetrically secured to the mounting surface  33  between the resisting block  331  and the clamping portion  321 . Each pivot shaft  332  partially protrudes out of the mounting surface  33  to form a free end  3321 . The pivot shafts  332  are pivotably received in the pivot slots  1523 , with the two free ends  3321  pivotably received in the pivot holes  1531  correspondingly. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , to mount the button member  30  to the body member  10 , the button member  30  is inserted into the cavity  15  of the body member  10 . The resisting block  331  is received in the cutout  1522 . Thus, the button member  30  can pivot about the pivot shafts  332  relative to the body member  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , to mount the battery cover  20  to the body member  10 , the battery cover  20  is generally placed over the battery receiving space  14 , with the first end  21  facing the top wall  11  of the body member  10 . The battery cover  20  is pushed towards the top wall  11  until the limiting blocks  221  latch into the limiting slots  121 , with the latching block  311  and the resisting block  331  cooperatively latching/holding the ejection portion  211  between them. Then, the button member  30  is pivoted about the pivot shafts  332  to latch/insert the latching block  311  into the latching slot  212 , thus the battery cover  20  is tightly latched to the body member  10 . 
     To release the battery cover  20  from the body member  10 , an external force is applied at the second end wall  32  of the button member  30  to pivot the button member  30  about the pivot shafts  332  counterclockwise until the clamping portion  321  moves beyond the protrusion  1511  and resists the resisting block  1521 . At this time, the latching block  311  moves out of the latching slot  212  and the resisting block  331  resists the ejection portion  211  to eject the battery cover  20  away from the battery receiving space  14 . 
     The battery cover latching mechanism  100  can tightly lock the battery cover  20  to the body member  10  using the button member  30 , and also facilitate opening operation of the battery cover  20  with limited risk of damage. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of sections within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms, in which the appended claims are expressed.