Patent Publication Number: US-7584894-B2

Title: Housing mechanism for receiving memory card

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to housing mechanisms and, more particularly, to a housing mechanism for receiving a memory card used in a portable electronic device. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     With the development of information processing technology, portable electronic devices such as digital cameras, mp3 players, video cameras, mobile phones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) are now in widespread use. The memory card is an important element to store datum and applications in such portable electronic devices. 
     The memory card is typically pluggably fixed in a housing of the electronic device. One end of the memory card has a first electronic interface element. The housing of the electronic device has an opening in one sidewall thereof. A second electronic interface element is provided at a bottom of the opening. When the memory card is used, the first electronic interface element is inserted into the opening of the housing of the electronic device with the first electronic interface element engaging with the second electronic interface element of the electronic device. This enables it to conveniently to transfer data to various electronic devices. However, when no memory card is connected to the electronic device, the second electronic interface element of the electronic device is liable to become clogged or obstructed with dust. Consequently the performance of the second electronic interface element is liable to be damaged. 
     Therefore, a new housing mechanism for receiving a memory card is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcoming. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In one embodiment thereof, a housing mechanism includes a housing, a defending element and a magnetic unit. The housing has a cavity, and an opening defined in a sidewall of the housing. The opening communicates with the cavity. The defending element is rotatably attached to an inner side of the sidewall adjacent the opening. The magnetic unit is fixed adjacent to the opening and configured for causing the defending element to return to cover the opening by a magnetic force produced by the magnetic unit. 
     Other advantages and novel features of the embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the housing 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 housing mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled, isometric view of a housing mechanism, in accordance with a preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the housing mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 , together with a memory card; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged, isometric view of a defending element of the housing mechanism shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; and 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the housing mechanism used with the memory card of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present housing mechanism is suitable for portable electronic devices such as digital cameras, mp3 players, video cameras, mobile phones, PDAs, and so on. 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail,  FIG. 2  shows a housing mechanism  8  used with a memory card  70  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Also referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the housing mechanism  8  includes a housing  10 , an opening  20 , a defending element  30 , a locking element  40  and a magnetic unit  50 . 
     The housing  10  is substantially in the form of a rectangular block. A cavity  11  is defined in a center portion of the housing  10 . The cavity  11  is used to accommodate some electronic elements, such as a printed circuit board, therein, when the housing  10  is assembled with other housings of a portable electronic device. The opening  20  is defined through one sidewall of the housing  10 , and communicates with the cavity  11 . The opening  20  is substantially rectangular. Two receiving holes  12  are respectively defined in the housing  10  adjacent to two ends of the opening  20 . The receiving hole  12  is substantially a rectangular recess. A latching groove  13  is defined in the sidewall of the housing  10  and above the opening  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the defending element  30  is substantially a rectangular solid, and includes two shafts  32  respectively extending from two opposite side surfaces thereof. The section size of the defending element  30  is larger or equal to that of the opening  20 . The two shafts  32  are mounted into the two receiving holes  12 , and can be rotated in the two receiving holes  12 , respectively. Therefore, the defending element  30  can be rotatable relative to the housing  10 . 
     The locking element  40  has a first surface  401 , a second surface  402  adjacent to the first surface  401 , a third surface  403  opposite to the first surface  401 , and a fourth surface  404  opposite to the second surface  402 . The locking element  40  includes a block  41 , two locking rods  42 , a locking projection  43 , and a receiving groove  44 . The block  41  is formed at a substantially central portion of the first surface  401  of the locking element  40 . The receiving groove  44  is defined in the block  41 . The two locking rods  42  respectively extend from two ends of the second surface  402  of the locking element  40 , perpendicular to the second surface  402 . The locking projection  43  protrudes from the third surface  403  and extends to the fourth surface  404  of the locking element  40 , and parallel to the block  41 . 
     The two locking rods  42  are also respectively mounted into the two receiving holes  12  of the housing  10 , and presses against the two shafts  32  of the defending element  30 , so as to avoid the defending element  30  being pushed out of the housing  10 . The locking projection  43  of the locking element  40  can be engaged with the latching groove  13  of the housing  10 , thereby the locking element  40  can be attached to the housing  10 , facing the defending element  30 . 
     The magnetic unit  50  includes a magnet  51  and a magnetic metal  52  such as iron. The magnetic metal  52  is fixed in a substantially central portion of the defending element  30 . The magnet  51  is fixed in the receiving groove  44  of the locking element  40 , and faces the magnetic metal  52 . 
     When no memory card  70  is fixed with the housing mechanism  8 , the defending element  30  is kept in a close state and covers the opening  20  as the magnet  51  attracts the magnetic metal  52  upward. Thus moving the defending element  30  into a closed position. Therefore, electronic elements in the portable electronic device cannot become obstructed by dust. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , when the memory card  70  is fixed to the housing mechanism  8 , one end of the memory card  70  is inserted into the opening  20  by a user. When the memory card  70  travels through the opening  20 , the defending element  30  is pushed open. The memory card  70  moves into the cavity  11  of the housing  10 . The defending element  30  keeps this open state until the memory card  70  is pulled out of the housing mechanism  8 . When the memory card  70  is pulled out of the housing mechanism  8 , the defending element  30  rotates back to cover the opening  20  due to the attraction of the magnet  51 . 
     In alternative embodiments, positions of the locking projection  43  and the latching groove  13  are interchangeable. Accordingly, the locking projection  43  can be defined in the sidewall of the housing  10  and above the opening  20 , the latching groove  13  can be defined in the locking element  40 . Therefore, the locking element  40  can also be attached to the housing  10 . 
     In the embodiment, a first locking member, i.e. the locking element  40  and a magnet  51  fixed in the receiving groove  44  of the locking element, can be located adjacent to the opening  20 . A second locking member, i.e. the magnetic metal  52 , can be attached to the defending element  30 . The first and second locking members magnetically cooperate with each other so as to load the defending element toward the closed state. 
     In further alternative embodiments, positions of the magnet  51  and the magnetic metal  52  are also interchangeable. Accordingly, the magnet  51  can be fixed in the defending element  30 , and the magnetic metal  52  can be fixed in the receiving groove  44  of the locking element  40 . In addition, it is to be understood that the magnetic metal  52  can be replaced with another magnet having a different magnetic pole from that of the magnet  51 . 
     It is to be understood that the magnet  51  can be directly fixed at the housing  10  so that it causes the defending element  30  to return to cover the opening  20 . In addition, the defending element  30  can be configured to connect with the housing by other means, as long as the defending element  30  is movable relative to the housing  10 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the 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 invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.