Patent Abstract:
An exemplary latching mechanism for connecting a first component ( 20 ) and a second component ( 40 ). The latching mechanism includes at least one first engaging portion ( 408 ) formed/defined on the second component, at least one latch holder ( 60   a   , 60   b ) fixed relative to the first component, and at least one first latching member ( 80   a   , 80   b ). A first latch-clasping piece ( 604 ) extends from the at least one latch holder. The at least one first latching member has at least one second engaging portion ( 806 ). The second engaging portion engages with the first engaging portion of the second component. The first engaging portion of the second component and the first latching member are disposed between the first latch-clasping piece of the latch holder and the first component. The present invention further provides an electronic device employing the latching mechanism.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to latching mechanisms, particularly to a latching mechanism employed in an electronic device. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Components of electronic devices are generally protected by a housing. The housing surrounds or encloses the electronic parts to be protected. Most housing are not a single integral body but are several parts assembled together by latching mechanisms to form an integrated unit. If the latching mechanisms are easily detachable from the housing the protection offered by the housing may be compromised. 
         [0005]    A typical latching mechanism used in electronic devices may includes screws or nuts and bolts for connecting the housings together. However, the screws or nuts and bolts are unsightly and may affect the overall appearance of the electronic device. In addition, assembly efficiency is low because the screws or nuts and bolts should be assembled one by one. Furthermore, the housings of the electronic device can be detached from each other easily because of easy access to the screws and the nuts and bolts and any visible indication of this intrusion may not be possible. Thus, the electronic device can be disassembled and valuable intellectual property can be duplicated or copied easily. 
         [0006]    Therefore, a latching mechanism, for housings of electronic devices, which is easy to assembly, and thereby reducing assembling time, and difficult to be detached from an electronic device without damaging components and/or the latching mechanism is desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An exemplary latching mechanism for connecting a first component and a second component. The latching mechanism for the first and second components includes an engaging portion formed/defined on the second component, a latch holder fixed relative to the first component, and a first latching member. A first latch-clasping piece extends from the latch holder. The first latching member has a second engaging portion. The second engaging portion engages with the first engaging portion of the second component. The first engaging portion of the second component and the first latching member are disposed between the first latch-clasping piece of the latch holder and the first component. The present invention further provides an electronic device employing the latching mechanism. 
         [0008]    Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present latching mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and all the views are schematic. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a latching mechanism for housings of an electronic device connected by the latching mechanism of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a first housing of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of the latching mechanism of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an assembled, isometric view of the latching mechanism and the housings of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view of the latching mechanism connecting the housings along line V-V of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a position VI of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a position VII of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    The present invention provides a latching mechanism. The latching mechanism is usually employed in electronic devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, and laptop computers. The electronic devices include two housings that need to be connected together. It can be understood that the latching mechanism may also be used to connect two other components other than housings. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the latching mechanism used to connect a first housing  20  and a second housing  40  includes latch holders  60   a ,  60   b , and first latching members  80   a ,  80   b.    
         [0019]    Also referring to  FIG. 2 , the first housing  20  is approximately a rectangular-shaped member. The first housing  20  includes a bottom base  202 , two first sidewalls  204  extending perpendicularly from two opposite sides of the base  202 , and two second sidewalls  206  extending perpendicularly from another two opposite sides of the bottom base  202 . The second sidewalls  206  are joining to the first sidewalls  204  correspondingly, and the second sidewalls  206  are perpendicular to the first sidewalls  204 . A slot  208  is defined in each of the first sidewalls  204  from an inner side of the first sidewalls  204 . The first housing  20  may be other shapes different from a rectangle. 
         [0020]    The second housing  40  is approximately a rectangular-shaped frame. The second housing  40  includes two first rims  402  disposed at two opposite sides of the housing  40  and two second rims  404  disposed at another two opposite sides. The second rims  404  are joining to the first rims  402  correspondingly, and the second rims  404  are perpendicular to the first rims  402 . A second latching member  406  extends from each of the first rims  402 , and at least one hooking member  408  extends from each of the second latching member  406 . The at least one hooking member  408  extends outwards of the second housing  40  perpendicularly. In the embodiment, three hooking members  408  extend from each of the second latching members  406 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the latch holder  60   a  includes a main portion  602 , a first latch-clasping piece  604 , and a plurality of second latch-clasping pieces  606  spaced from each other in a first predetermined manner. In the embodiment, the latch holder  60   a  includes two second latch-clasping pieces  606 . The main portion  602  is an elongated strip. The first latch-clasping piece  604  extends from a lateral edge of the latch holder  60   a . The second latch-clasping pieces  606  extend from another lateral edge of the latch holder  60   a  opposite to the first latch-clasping piece  604  and on a same side of the latch holder  60   a . The first latch-clasping piece  604  is an elongated strip. An interspace  609  is defined between the first latch-clasping piece  604  and the second latch-clasping pieces  606 . A groove  610  is defined in each second latch-clasping piece  606 . 
         [0022]    The first latching member  80   a  includes a base  802  and a plurality of resilient members  804  spaced apart from each other in the first predetermine manner corresponding the second latch-clasping pieces  606 . In the embodiment, the first latching member  80   a  includes three resilient members  804 . The base  802  is an elongated strip. Each of the resilient members  804  extends from a side of the base  802  and immediately forms a 180 degrees U-shaped bend relative to the base  802 . A clearance  807  is defined between the base  802  and the resilient members  804 . An end of each resilient member  804  is bended slightly towards a direction of the base  802 , thereby forming a resilient slider  805 . A hook catch hole  806  is defined in each of the resilient members  804 . The first latching member  80   a  is elastic so that the resilient members  804  can bend slightly towards to or away from the base  802  under an external force. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , when assembling the first and second housings  20 ,  40  together, firstly, the latch holder  60   a  and the first latching member  80   a  is aligned next to each other such that the base  802  of the first latching member  80   a  is received in the groove  610  of the latch holder  60   a , and the resilient members  804  of the first latching member  80   a  are received in the interspace  609  of the latch holder  60   a  and correspond to the grooves  610 . Then the latch holder  60   a  and the first latching member  80   a  are disposed at an internal side of one of the first sidewalls  204  of the first housing  20 . The base  802  of the first latching member  80   a  is adjacent to the first sidewall  204  and received in one corresponding slot  208  of the first housing  20 . Next, the latch holder  60   a  is fixed to the first housing  20 . In this embodiment, the latch holder  60   a  is fixed to the first housing  20  by adhesive. However, the latch holder  60   a  may also be fixed by other means such as bolts or rivets. Finally, the second housing  40  is coupled to the first housing  20  such that the second latching members  406  of the second housing  40  and the hooking members  408  on the second latching member  406  enter a space defined between the first latch-clasping piece  604  correspondingly. The resilient sliders  805  guides the hooking members  408  and substantially deform the resilient members  804  as a whole by a pushing force of the hooking members  408  on the second housing  40 . When the second housing  40  is pushed into a certain position such that the second latching member  406  is at a certain position of the space between the first latch-clasping piece  604  and resilient members  804  correspondingly, the hooking members  408  of the second housing  40  are hooked in the hook catch hole  806 . The resilient members  804  of the first latching member  80   a  returns to a normal form at rest. Thereby, the second housing  40  is securely coupled to the first housing  20 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a structure of the latch holder  60   b  is similar to that of the latch holder  60   a , and a structure of the first latching member  80   b  is similar to that of the first latching member  80   a . Referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , engagement mechanisms of the latch holder  60   b  and the first latching member  80   b  are the same as the engagement mechanisms of the latch holder  60   a  and the first latching member  80   a . The latch holder  60   b  and the first latching member  80   b  engages with another first sidewall  204  of the first housing  20  and another second latching member  406  of the second housing  40  in a same manner as the latch holder  60   a  and the first latching member  80   a  engaging with the first and second housings  20 ,  40 . After assembly, the latch holders  60   a ,  60   b , the first latching members  80   a ,  80   b , the slots  208  of the first housing  20 , and the hooking members  408  of the second housing  40  cooperatively connect the first and second housings  20 ,  40  together. The hooking members  408  of the second housing  40  and the first latching members  80   a ,  80   b  are set between the first housing  20  and the latch holders  60   a ,  60   b  fixed to the first housing  20  and are not exploded. Therefore, an engagement between the second housing  40  and the first latching members  80   a ,  80   b  cannot be disassembled without damaging any components of the first and second housings  20 ,  40 , the first and latch holders  60   a ,  60   b , or the first and first latching members  80   a ,  80   b . It can be seen that the first and second housings  20 ,  40  cannot be disassembled without damaging such components. 
         [0025]    Alternatively, other catching mechanisms can be formed on the first and second housings  20 ,  40  in order to connect the first and second housings  20 ,  40  more securely. The first latching members  80   a ,  80   b  may also be fixed on the first housing  20 . The latch holders  60   a ,  60   b  and the first latching members  80   a ,  80   b  can be integrally formed with the first housing  20 . The hooking members  408  may extend from the first latching members  80   a ,  80   b , and the hook catch hole  806  is defined in the second housing  40  correspondingly. 
         [0026]    It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8