Patent Abstract:
A chassis includes a cover unit, a base unit which includes a bottom panel and a cover panel fixed to the bottom panel, a through hole defined in the cover panel, and a latch mechanism assembly. The latch mechanism assembly includes a hook protruding from the cover unit, an operating apparatus mounted to the bottom panel, a supporting member mounted to the bottom panel, a latch member resiliently mounted to the supporting member, and a connecting pole connecting the latch member to the operating apparatus. The hook is capable of extending through the through hole of the cover panel. The latch member includes a latch portion capable of securing the hook. The latch member is capable of engaging the hook when the hook is located within the through hole, and the operating apparatus is capable of retracting the connecting pole and thus causing the latch member to disengage the hook.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to latch mechanism assemblies, and more particularly to a latch mechanism assembly for a portable computer. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Typically, an electronic device, such as a portable computer, includes a cover unit and a base unit pivotably connected to the cover unit, and a latch mechanism is provided to lock the cover unit to the base unit. 
     As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,239, a latch mechanism for locking a cover unit to a base unit includes a latch frame movably installed inside of the cover unit, a plurality of latches are formed on the latch frame at predetermined intervals, one end portion of each latch protrudes from a front surface of the cover unit, and a slide knob is operatively connected to the latch frame for concurrently operating the latches. The latches are inserted into and locked by latch grooves formed at positions corresponding to the latches on an upper surface of the base unit. The latches are urged against the base unit by elastic forces applied by double springs mounted to two ends of the latch frame. However, to open the cover unit, the slide knob is slid to counter the elastic forces of the springs and disengage the latch mechanism from the base unit. The sliding force depends on the friction between the slide knob and the operator&#39;s fingers. It is laborious for an operator to provide enough force to move a slide knob. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a labor saving latch mechanism assembly. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a chassis includes a cover unit, a base unit which includes a bottom panel and a cover panel fixed to the bottom panel, a through hole defined in the cover panel, and a latch mechanism assembly. The latch mechanism assembly includes a hook protruding from the cover unit, an operating apparatus mounted to the bottom panel, a supporting member mounted to the bottom panel, a latch member resiliently mounted to the supporting member, and a connecting pole connecting the latch member to the operating apparatus. The hook is capable of extending through the through hole of the cover panel. The latch member includes a latch portion capable of securing the hook. The latch member is capable of engaging the hook when the hook is located within the through hole, and the operating apparatus is capable of retracting the connecting pole and thus causing the latch member to disengage the hook. 
     Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a latch mechanism assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with a cover unit and a base unit, the base unit including a bottom panel and a cover panel, the latch mechanism assembly including an operating apparatus, two latch members, two connecting poles, and two mounting members; 
         FIG. 2  shows another view of the cover panel of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the latch mechanism assembly with the bottom panel of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the operating apparatus of  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect, the operating apparatus including a receiving member; 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the receiving member of  FIG. 4 , but viewed from another aspect; 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled view of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an assembled view of one latch member and one mounting member of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an assembled view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a partially assembled view of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are cross-sectional views of  FIG. 9 , showing two using states respectively. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a latch mechanism assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is provided for locking a cover unit  10  to a base unit  20  of an electronic device, such as a portable computer. The latch mechanism assembly includes two pins  12  fixed to the cover unit  10 , an operating apparatus  30  mounted to the base unit  20 , two latch members  40 , two connecting poles  50 , and two supporting members  60 . 
     Each pin  12  includes a tapered leading portion  122  formed at a free end thereof. An annular locking slot  124  is defined in the pin  12  in the vicinity of the leading portion  122 . The base unit  20  includes a bottom panel  22 , and a cover panel  24  covered on the bottom panel  22 . A plurality of electronic components, such as a motherboard, a power supply, data storage devices, and so on, is arranged between the bottom panel  22  and the cover panel  24 . Two through holes  242  are defined in the cover panel  24  corresponding to the pins  12  of the cover unit  10 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the bottom panel  22  has a flange  221  extending up from one side thereof. A receiving slot  224  is defined in a middle of the flange  221 . The bottom panel  22  includes two columns  222  adjacent to the receiving slot  224 , two locating rods  225 , and two mounting rods  226  adjacent to the locating rods  225  respectively extending up therefrom. A rib (not labeled) is formed on the bottom panel  22  connected to each column  222 . A mounting hole  223  is defined in each column  222 . The locating rods  225  and the mounting rods  226  are located away from the receiving slot  224 . A mounting hole  227  is defined in each mounting rod  226 . 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the operating apparatus  30  includes a receiving member  31 , a first resilient member  32 , a second resilient member  33 , a driving member  34 , two linking members  35 , a cover  36 , and an operating member  37 . The receiving member  31  includes a bottom wall  311 , a first sidewall  312  perpendicularly extending up from a side of the bottom wall  311 , a second sidewall  313  perpendicularly extending up from an end of the bottom wall  311  and perpendicularly connected to one end of the first sidewall  312 , a third sidewall  314  opposite to the first sidewall  312  perpendicularly extending up from an opposite side of the bottom wall  311  and perpendicularly connected to the second sidewall  313 , and a fourth sidewall  315  opposite to the second sidewall  313  perpendicularly extending up from an opposite end of the bottom wall  311  and perpendicularly connected to the first sidewall  312  and the third sidewall  314 . Two through holes  3112  are defined in opposite ends of the bottom wall  311  outside of the second and fourth sidewalls  313 ,  315  respectively. Three elongated locking slots  3114  are defined in the bottom wall  311  outside of the third sidewall  314 . A through slot  3122  is defined in a middle of the first sidewall  312 . Three protrusions which are not labeled extend from an inner surface of the first sidewall  312 . Three locking slots  3124  are defined in the first sidewall  312  below the three protrusions respectively and run through the first sidewall  312 . Two posts  3132 ,  3152  extend up from the tops of the second sidewall  313  and the fourth sidewall  315  respectively, adjacent to the first sidewall  312 . Two cutouts  3134 ,  3154  are defined in the second sidewall  313  and the fourth sidewall  315  respectively in the vicinity of the third sidewall  314 . Two posts  3142  extend up from the top of the third sidewall  314 . A post  3144 , as seen in  FIG. 5 , extends towards the first sidewall  312  from a lower portion of the third sidewall  314 . 
     The first resilient member  32  is a compressing spring. The second resilient member  33  is a torsion spring. The second resilient member  33  includes two blocking ends. 
     The driving member  34  includes a Y-shaped main body. The main body includes an operating portion  342  and two driving portions  344  extending from an end of the portion  342 . A wedge-shaped block  3422  extends up from an opposite end of the operating portion  342 . A driving post  3442  extends up from each driving portion  344 . A shaft  346  extends between the driving portions  344  away from the operating portion  342 . 
     Each linking member  35  is rectangular-shaped. A first sliding slot  352  and a second sliding slot  354  are defined in two opposite sides of the linking member  35  adjacent to two diagonally opposite corners respectively. The first and second sliding slots  352 ,  354  are parallel to each other. A locking hole  356  is defined in the linking member  35  at the same side as the first sliding slot  352 . A triangular slot is defined in the linking member  35  between the first and second sliding slots  352 ,  354 . An slanted surface  358  is formed at an inner sidewall of the triangular slot. 
     The cover  36  includes a horizontal plate  362  and an upright plate  364  perpendicularly extending down from a side of the horizontal plate  362 . Two elongated slots  3622  parallel to the upright plate  364  are defined in the horizontal plate  362 , adjacent to a conjunction of the horizontal plate  362  and the upright plate  364 . Two limiting slots  3624  perpendicular to the elongated slots  3622  are defined in the horizontal plate  362 . Three engaging portions  3626  extend from an opposite side of the horizontal plate  362 . Two arc-shaped locking slots  3628  are defined in opposite ends of the horizontal plate  362  respectively, adjacent to the engaging portions  3626 . Three engaging portions  3642  extend down from a bottom of the upright plate  364 . 
     The operating member  37  defines a locking slot  372  configured for receiving the operating portion  342  of the driving member  34 . 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 3 and 7 , each latch member  40  is made by bending a resilient metal wire. The latch member  40  includes a latch portion  42  in a middle thereof, two fixing portions  44  extending down from opposite ends of the latch portion  42 , and two resilient portions  46  extending from distal ends of the fixing portions  44  respectively. The latch portion  42  is generally U-shaped. A bending portion  442  extends in from a free end of each latch portion  42 . Each resilient portion  46  is helical. 
     Each connecting pole  50  is made of a metal wire, and includes a first connecting portion  52  and a second connecting portion  54  at opposite ends thereof, respectively. 
     Each supporting member  60  includes a base plate  61 , a columnar supporting portion  62  perpendicularly extending up from the base plate  61 . A plurality of ribs is formed between the base plate  61  and a circumference of the supporting portion  62 . The supporting portion  62  defines a locking hole  622  therein along its axis. A slot  626  is defined in the circumference of the supporting portion  62  and communicates with the locking hole  622 . A mounting hole  68  and a locating hole  69  are defined in the base plate  61  at opposite sides of the supporting portion  62 . Two notches  611  are defined in each side of the base plate  61 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 6 , in assembling the operating apparatus  30 , the second resilient member  33  fits the post  3144  of the third sidewall  314  of the receiving member  31 . The first resilient member  32  fits the shaft  346  of the driving member  34 . The driving member  34  with the first resilient member  32  is received in the receiving member  31  with the first resilient member  32  being compressed. One end of the first resilient member  32  engages with the driving member  34 , the other end of the first resilient member  32  engages with an inner surface of the third sidewall  314  of the receiving member  31 . The operating portion  342  of the driving member  34  extends through the through slot  3122  of the first sidewall  312  of the receiving member  31 . The operating member  37  fits the operating portion  342  via the locking slot  372  thereof. The block  3422  of the operating portion  342  is engaged with the operating member  37  in order to avoid the operating member  37  from being disengaged from the operating portion  342  of the driving member  34 . 
     One of the linking members  35  is supported by the second and third sidewalls  313 ,  314 , and the other linking member  35  is supported by the third and fourth sidewalls  314 ,  315 . The posts  3142  of the third sidewall  314  are inserted through the first sliding slots  352  of the linking members  35 , respectively. The post  3132  of the second sidewall  313  and the post  3152  of the fourth sidewall  315  are inserted through the second sliding slots  354  of the linking members  35 , respectively. The driving posts  3442  of the driving member  34  are received in the triangular slots of the linking members  35 , and engaged with the corresponding slanted surfaces  358 , respectively. Two blocking ends of the second resilient member  33  extend through the first sliding slots  352  of the linking members  35  and are engaged with the linking members  35 , respectively. The cover  36  covers the linking members  35 . The engaging portions  3626  of the horizontal plate  362  are engaged in the locking slots  3124  of the first sidewall  312 , respectively. The engaging portions  3642  of the upright plate  364  are engaged in the locking slots  3114  of the bottom wall  311  of the receiving member  31 , respectively. The locking slots  3628  of the horizontal plate  362  of the cover  36  are engaged with the post  3132  of the second sidewall  313  and the post  3152  of the fourth sidewall  315  respectively. The driving posts  3442  of the driving member  34  extend through the limiting slots  3624  of the cover  36 , respectively. The posts  3142  of the third sidewall  314  of the receiving member  31  extend through the elongated slots  3622  of the cover  36 , respectively. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 7 , each latch member  40  is mounted to a corresponding supporting member  60 . The latch portion  42  of the latch member  40  is engaged in the slot  626  of the supporting member  60 . The fixing portions  44  of the latch member  40  are locked in the notches  611  of the base plate  61  respectively to fix the latch member  40  to the supporting member  60 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 8 , in assembly, two screws extend through the through holes  3112  of the bottom wall  311  of the receiving member  31  to be engaged in the mounting holes  223  of the columns  222  of the bottom panel  22 , for fixing the operating apparatus  30  to the bottom panel  22 . The operating member  37  of the operating apparatus  30  is received in the receiving slot  224  of the bottom panel  22 . 
     Each supporting member  60  is fixed to the bottom panel  22  via the corresponding locating rod  225  of the bottom panel  22  being engaged in the locating hole  69  of the supporting member  60  and a screw extending through the mounting hole  68  of the supporting member  60  to be engaged in the mounting hole  227  of the corresponding mounting rod  226  of the bottom panel  22 . 
     The connecting poles  50  are mounted between the operating apparatus  30  and the latch members  40 , respectively. The first connecting portion  52  of each connecting pole  50  is engaged in the locking hole  356  of a corresponding linking member  35 . The second connecting portion  54  of each connecting pole  50  is engaged with the corresponding latch member  40 , adjacent to the latch portion  42 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . The cutout  3134  of the second sidewall  313  and the cutout  3154  of the fourth sidewall  315  of the receiving member  31  are configured for avoiding interference with the connecting poles  50 . 
     The cover panel  24  is fixed to the bottom panel  22 , thereby fully assembling the base unit  20 . The cover unit  10  is rotationally attached to the base unit  20 . The cover unit  10  is rotated to cover the base unit  20  when the electronic device is not in use. The leading portions  122  of the pins  12  of the cover unit  10  extend through the corresponding through holes  242  of the cover panel  24  of the base unit  20  to abut against the latch portions  42  of the corresponding latch members  40 . The cover unit  10  is further rotated, the leading portions  122  of the pins  12  deform the latch members  40  toward the operating apparatus  30  against the resilient portions  46 . After the leading portions  122  of the pins  12  entirely extend through the latch members  40  respectively, the latch portions  42  of the latch members  40  rebounds to be engaged in the locking slots  124  of the pins  12  respectively, as shown in  FIG. 11 . Thus, the cover unit  10  is locked to the base unit  20 . 
     To unlock the cover unit  10  from the base unit  20 , the operating portion  37  of the operating apparatus  30  is pressed. The driving member  34  slides toward the third sidewall  314  of the receiving member  31  against the first resilient member  32 . The driving posts  3442  of the driving member  34  are engaged with the slanted surfaces  358  of the linking members  35  respectively, to move the linking members  35  toward each other. Each linking member  35  drives a corresponding connecting pole  50  to pull the latch portion  42  of the corresponding latch member  40 . The latch members  40  are to make the latch portions  42  from the corresponding locking slots  124  of the pins  12 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Therefore the cover unit  10  is released from the base unit  20 . 
     To unlock the cover unit  10  from the base unit  20 , the operating portion  37  of the operating apparatus  30  is pressed. The driving member  34  slides toward the third sidewall  314  of the receiving member  31  against the first resilient member  32 . The driving posts  3442  of the driving member  34  are engaged with the slanted surfaces  358  of the linking members  35  respectively, to move the linking members  35  toward each other. Each linking member  35  drives a corresponding connecting pole  50  to pull the latch portion  42  of the corresponding latch member  40 . The latch members  40  are to make the latch portions  42  from the corresponding locking slots  124  of the hooks  12 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Therefore the cover unit  10  is released from the base unit  20 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though 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. 
     For the sake of convenience, the reference numbers and what they represent are shown in the list as follows: 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 Cover unit 
               
               
                 12 
                 pin 
               
               
                 122 
                 Tapered leading 
               
               
                 124 
                 Locking slot 
               
               
                 20 
                 Base unit 
               
               
                 22 
                 Bottom panel 
               
               
                 24 
                 Cover panel 
               
               
                 242 
                 Through hole 
               
               
                 221 
                 Flange 
               
               
                 222 
                 Column 
               
               
                 223 
                 Mounting hole 
               
               
                 224 
                 Receiving slot 
               
               
                 225 
                 Locating rod 
               
               
                 226 
                 Mounting rod 
               
               
                 227 
                 Mounting hole 
               
               
                 30 
                 Operating apparatus 
               
               
                 31 
                 Receiving member 
               
               
                 311 
                 Bottom wall 
               
               
                 3112 
                 Through hole 
               
               
                 3114 
                 Locking slot 
               
               
                 312 
                 First sidewall 
               
               
                 3122 
                 Through hole 
               
               
                 3124 
                 Locking slot 
               
               
                 313 
                 Second sidewall 
               
               
                 3132 
                 Post 
               
               
                 3134 
                 Cutout 
               
               
                 314 
                 Third sidewall 
               
               
                 3142 
                 Post 
               
               
                 3144 
                 Post 
               
               
                 315 
                 Fourth sidewall 
               
               
                 3152 
                 Post 
               
               
                 3154 
                 Cutout 
               
               
                 32 
                 First resilient member 
               
               
                 33 
                 Second resilient member 
               
               
                 34 
                 Driving member 
               
               
                 342 
                 Operating portion 
               
               
                 344 
                 Driving portion 
               
               
                 3422 
                 Block 
               
               
                 3442 
                 Driving post 
               
               
                 346 
                 Shaft 
               
               
                 35 
                 Linking member 
               
               
                 352 
                 First sliding slot 
               
               
                 354 
                 Second sliding slot 
               
               
                 356 
                 Locking hole 
               
               
                 358 
                 Slanted surface 
               
               
                 36 
                 Cover 
               
               
                 362 
                 Horizontal plate 
               
               
                 3622 
                 Elongated slot 
               
               
                 3624 
                 Limiting slot 
               
               
                 3626 
                 Engaging portion 
               
               
                 3628 
                 Locking slot 
               
               
                 364 
                 Upright plate 364 
               
               
                 3642 
                 Engaging portion 
               
               
                 37 
                 Operating member 
               
               
                 372 
                 Locking slot 
               
               
                 40 
                 Latch member 
               
               
                 42 
                 Latch portion 
               
               
                 44 
                 Fixing portion 
               
               
                 46 
                 Resilient portion 
               
               
                 442 
                 Bending portion 
               
               
                 50 
                 Connecting pole 
               
               
                 52 
                 First connecting portion 
               
               
                 54 
                 Second connecting portion 
               
               
                 61 
                 Base plate 
               
               
                 611 
                 Notch 
               
               
                 62 
                 Supporting portion 
               
               
                 622 
                 Locking hole 
               
               
                 626 
                 Slot 
               
               
                 68 
                 Mounting hole 
               
               
                 69 
                 Locating hole

Technology Classification (CPC): 4