Patent Abstract:
A foldable electronic device includes a first cover, a second cover rotatably connected to the first cover, and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a latching portion formed on the first cover and a catching unit positioned in the second cover. The catching cover includes a pivoted button. The pivoted button defines a catching structure to engage with the latching portion. The pivoted button is rotatably attached to the second cover. The pivoted button causes the catching structure of the pivoted button to engage with or disengage from the latching portion. A latch mechanism applied in the foldable electronic device is also provided.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure generally relates to foldable electronic devices and latch mechanisms and, particularly, to a foldable electronic device having a top cover and a main body and a latch mechanism applied in the foldable electronic device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Portable electronic devices, such as notebook computers, are popular for their portability. When a notebook computer is not being used, a cover is flipped over a main body to protect a display on the cover and a keyboard on the main body and locked together by a typical latch mechanism. When the notebook computer is in use, the cover is opened from the main body. 
     However, the typical latch mechanism often has a sliding member attached to the cover. The cover is opened by sliding the sliding member with, for example, a finger, and separating the cover from the main body. The sliding member generally has a small outer surface area inconspicuously positioned on an edge of the cover. Thus, when sliding the sliding member to open the top cover, the finger may slip. As a result, opening the top cover may be bothersome. 
     Therefore, a new foldable electronic device is desired to overcome the above-described shortcomings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views, and all the views are schematic. 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled, isometric view of one embodiment of a foldable electronic device, the foldable electronic device including a top cover, a main body, and a latch mechanism. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded, isometric view of the latch mechanism of the foldable electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the latch mechanism taken along line III-III of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing a latching portion and a catching unit of the latch mechanism engaged with each other. 
         FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing a latching portion and a catching unit of the latch mechanism separated from each other. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present foldable electronic devices, may be notebooks, cell phones, media players, and so on. For the purposes of conveniently describing one embodiment of an electronic device, a notebook computer is used to describe the foldable electronic device of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a notebook computer (not labeled) includes a top cover  10 , a main body  20 , and a latch mechanism  100  (see  FIG. 2 ). The top cover  10  is rotatably mounted to the main body  20 . The latch mechanism  100  includes a latching portion  30  formed on the top cover  10  and a catching unit  40  positioned in the main body  20 . 
     The main body  20  includes a top wall  21 , a bottom wall  23  opposite to the top wall  21 , and a sidewall  25  connecting the top wall  21  to the bottom wall  23 . The top wall  21  faces a display of the top cover  10 . The top wall  21  defines an engaging opening  211  adjacent to an edge away from a hinged portion of the main body  20  hinged to the top cover  10 . The sidewall  25  defines a button slot  251  communicating with the engaging opening  211 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the latching portion  30  includes a hook  31  and a connecting arm  33  extending from the top cover  10 . The hook  31  is formed from a free end of the connecting arm  33 . The latching portion  30  is formed adjacent to an edge away from a hinged portion of the top cover  10  hinged to the main body  20 , and faces the main body  20 . 
     The catching unit  40  is configured to be fixed inside the main body  20  corresponding to the engaging opening  211  and the button slot  251 . The catching unit  40  includes a pivoted button  41 , a first resilient member  43 , a second resilient member  45 , and a pivot shaft  47 . The pivoted button  41  is an arched sheet having an arched engaging portion  411  and an actuating portion  413  connected to an end of the engaging portion  411 . The engaging portion  411  defines a notch  415  for engaging with the latching portion  30 . The actuating portion  413  defines a transverse shaft hole  417  extending through opposite side surfaces of the actuating portion  413 . The shaft hole  417  is configured for rotatably receiving the pivot shaft  47 . The engaging portion  411  further forms a fixing protrusion  419  formed adjacent to an end away from the actuating portion  413 . 
     The first and second resilient members  43 ,  45  may be helical, columnar springs. The resilient member  43  is a compression spring, and the resilient member  45  is an extension spring. Ends of the first resilient member  43  respectively resist the fixing protrusion  419  and the bottom wall  23 . Ends of the second resilient member  45  respectively resist the actuating portion  413  and the bottom wall  23 . The first resilient member  43  may be longer than the second resilient member  45  when the first and second resilient members  43 ,  45  are in a free state. The pivot shaft  47  may be a cylinder. 
     One end of each of the first and second resilient members  43 ,  45  is fixed to the bottom wall  23 . The first and second resilient members  43 ,  45  are spaced apart from each other, with the second resilient member  45  being closer to the sidewall  25  than the first resilient member  43 . The pivoted button  41  is positioned in the main body  20 , with part of the actuating portion  413  protruding out of the main body  20  via the button slot  251  and the notch  415  facing the engaging opening  211  of the top wall  21 . The pivot shaft  47  is rotatably inserted in the shaft hole  417  of the pivoted button  41  and a sidewall of the main body  20 . The other ends of the first and second resilient members  43 ,  45  resist the pivoted button  41 . The engaging portion  413  is oblique relative to the top wall  21 . It should be noted that the top wall  21  should be assembled to the bottom wall  23  and the sidewall  25  after assembling the pivoted button  41  and the first and second resilient members  43 ,  45  in the main body  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , to fold the notebook computer, an external force parallel to a direction of the arrow of  FIG. 4  is applied to the top cover  10  to push the top cover  10  towards the main body  20 , so that the latching portion  30  gradually moves into the engaging opening  211 . When the latching portion  30  moves through a certain distance, the latching portion  30  resists the engaging portion  413  of the pivoted button  41  and further movement of the latching portion  30  forces the pivoted button  41  to rotate around the pivot shaft  47 . The first resilient member  43  becomes compressed and the second resilient member  45  becomes extended. When the pivoted button  41  rotates to a certain angle, the latching portion  30  becomes caught by the notch  415 , and thus, latched into the notch  415 . When the external force is removed, an elastic force of the first and second resilient members  43 ,  45  forces the pivoted button  41  to rotate towards an original position. As such, the top cover  10  is latched to the main body  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , to open the top cover  10 , another external force is applied to a free end of the actuating portion  413  of the pivoted button  41 , thus forcing the pivoted button  41  to rotate around the pivot shaft  47 . The first resilient member  43  is compressed and the second resilient member  45  is extended. When the pivoted button  41  rotates a certain angle, the latching portion  30  becomes detachable from the notch  415 . At this moment, if an upward force is applied on the top cover  10 , the latching portion  30  is freed from the notch  415  of the pivoted button  41 , thereby unlatching the top cover  10  from the main body  20 . The elastic forces of the first and second resilient members  43 ,  45  then force the pivoted button  41  to rotate and return to an original position. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the top cover  10  is flipped opened by toggling the rotatable button  41 . Therefore, when gripping the pivoted button  41 , it is less likely to be slip when operated. 
     In alternative embodiments, only one of the first and second resilient members  43 ,  45  may be applied in the latch mechanism  100 . The latching portion  30  may be positioned on the main body  20  and the catching unit  40  may be positioned on the top cover  10 . The notch  415  may be another hook for engaging with the hook  31 . 
     Finally, while various embodiments have been described and illustrated, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6