Abstract:
A latching mechanism includes a base, a sliding member, a rotary member, and an elastic member. The sliding member can be moved down and up along the base, and includes a first limiting element and a second limiting element. The rotary member is pivotally secured to the base, and includes a first resisting element and a second resisting element. The elastic member is pivotally secured to the base. The elastic member can cause the rotary member to rotate toward different directions. When the rotary member is rotated to cause the first resisting element to be engaged with a bottom of the first limiting element, the latching mechanism is in a locked state. The second limiting element can resist the second resisting element to cause the rotary member to rotate until the first resisting element contacts the first limiting element.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to latching mechanisms, and particularly to a latching mechanism and a display device using the same. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A latch is used to join two objects together while allowing for the regular separation of the objects. Usually, for a display latched to a stand, operating the latch will need two hands, which may bring inconvenience to users. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the present disclosure should be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The units 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 portions throughout the several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a partial, cross-sectional view of a display device having a latching mechanism, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of the latching mechanism of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the latching mechanism of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0009]      FIGS. 4-7  are front views of the latching mechanism of  FIG. 3 , showing how to cause the latching mechanism to be in a locked state. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 8-12  are front views of the latching mechanism of  FIG. 3 , showing how to cause the latching mechanism to be in an unlocked state. 
           [0011]      FIG. 13  is a schematic view showing length relationships between some elements of the latching mechanism of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Embodiments of the present disclosure are described, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a display device  900  of one embodiment. The display device  900  includes a display  800 , a stand  100 , and a latching mechanism  700 . The display  800  is latched to and detached from the stand  100  via the latching mechanism  700 . The latching mechanism  700  is also suitable for doors or windows. 
         [0014]      FIGS. 2-4  show that the latching mechanism  700  includes a base  600 , a sliding member  500 , a rotary member  400 , and an elastic member  300 . In this embodiment, the sliding member  500  is attached to a back of the display  800 . The base  600  is attached to the stand  100 . The sliding member  500  can slide up and down along the base  600 . The rotary member  400  is pivotally fixed to the base  600 . The elastic member  300  can cause the rotary member  400  to rotate toward a first direction (e.g. the A direction shown in  FIG. 4 ) and a second direction opposite to the first direction. 
         [0015]    The sliding member  500  includes a main body  510 , a first limiting element  520 , and a second limiting element  530 . The first limiting element  520  and the second limiting element  530  protrude from a front surface  511  of the main body  510  facing the rotary member  400  and are parallel to each other to define a first gap  540 . The distance between a free end of the second limiting element  530  and the front surface  511  of the main body  510  is greater than the distance between a free end of the first limiting element  520  and the front surface  511  of the main body  510 . The first limiting element  520  includes a fixing portion  523 , two protrusions  522 , and a hook  524 . The fixing portion  523  is fixed to the front surface  511  of the main body  510 . The protrusions  522  protrude from the fixing portion  523  and are parallel to each other to cooperatively form a second gap  521 . A portion of the rotary member  400  can enter the first gap  540  via the second gap  521 . The hook  524  protrudes from a bottom of the fixing portion  523  facing the second limiting element  530 . 
         [0016]    The rotary member  400  includes a first pivot  410 , a first resisting element  420 , and a second resisting element  430 . The first pivot  410  is pivotally fixed to the base  600 . The first resisting element  420  and the second resisting element  430  are arranged on the first pivot  410  and angled to each other. In this embodiment, the angle between the first resisting element  420  and the second resisting element  430  is an obtuse angle. The first resisting element  420  can engage the first limiting element  520  to prevent the sliding member  500  from sliding down. A free end of the first resisting element  420  defines a latching portion  421 . The latching portion  421  defines a latching slot  422  to latch the hook  524 . The latching slot  422  cooperates with the hook  524  to latch the sliding member  500 . Two sidewalls  440  protrude from the first resisting element  420 . The sidewalls  440  are parallel to each other and away from the second resisting element  430 . Each sidewall  440  defines a latching hole  441  to latch the elastic member  300 . 
         [0017]    The elastic member  300  includes a fixing element  310 , an elastic element  320 , a connecting element  330 , and a third pivot  340 . The fixing element  310  is pivotally fixed to the base  600  and includes a second pivot  315 . The fixing element  310  defines a limiting hole  319  to receive a rod  331  of the connecting element  330 . The elastic element  320  is arranged over the connecting element  330 , with one end resisting a head  333  of the connecting element  330  and an opposite end resisting the fixing element  310 . The head  333  defines a latching hole  335 . The head  333  is arranged between the sidewalls  440 , with the latching holes  441 ,  335  aligned with each other. The second pivot  340  passes through the latching holes  441 ,  335  in sequence to pivotally secure the connecting element  330  to the first resisting element  420 . In this embodiment, a line L connecting the second pivot  315  and the first pivot  410  is defined as a reference line L (see  FIG. 4 ). When the second pivot  340  is at a left side of the reference line L, the elastic element  320  forces the rotary member  400  to rotate toward the first direction (see  FIGS. 4-8  and  FIGS. 11-12 ). When the second pivot  340  is at a right side of the reference line L, the elastic element  320  forces the rotary member  400  to rotate toward the second direction (see  FIGS. 9-10 ). 
         [0018]    The base  600  includes a first limiting surface  610  and a second limiting surface  620 . The base  600  further defines a first through hole  630 , a second through hole  640  (see  FIG. 4 ), and a number of fixing holes  650 . A number of connecting bolts  666  cooperate with the fixing holes  650  to fix the base  600  to the stand  100 . The first limiting surface  610  is to prevent the rotary member  400  from rotating towards the first direction. The second limiting surface  620  is to prevent the rotary member  400  from rotating towards the second direction. An end of the first pivot  410  is received in the first through hole  630 . An end of the second pivot  315  is received in the second through hole  640 . The base  600  further defines a sliding slot  690 . The sliding member  500  can slide down and up along the sliding slot  690 . 
         [0019]      FIGS. 4-7  show that in order to latch the display  800  to the stand  100 , the sliding member  500  is moved up, and the first limiting element  520  resists the first resisting element  420  to cause the rotary member  400  to rotate toward the first direction around the first pivot  410 . The elastic element  320  forces the first resisting element  420  to move from the second gap  521  to the first gap  540 . The elastic element  320  further causes the rotary member  400  to rotate toward the first direction until the latching slot  422  latches the hook  524 . At this point, the first limiting surface  610  resists the second resisting element  430  to prevent the rotary member  400  from further rotating toward the first direction. Thus, the display  800  is latched to the stand  100  via the latching mechanism  700 . 
         [0020]      FIGS. 8-12  show that in order to detach the display  800  from the stand  100 , the sliding member  500  is moved up, and the second limiting element  530  resists the first resisting element  420  to cause the rotary member  400  to rotate toward the second direction until the third pivot  340  is moved to the right side of the reference line L and the first resisting element  420  resists the second limiting surface  620 . At this point, the elastic element  320  forces the rotary member  400  to rotate toward the second direction. As the second limiting surface  620  resists the first resisting element  420 , the rotary member  400  stops rotating toward the second direction, and the rotary member  400  is kept in a balanced state. The sliding member  500  is then moved down, and the second limiting element  530  resists the second resisting element  430  to cause the rotary member  400  to rotate toward the first direction. The sliding member  500  is continuously moved down until the first resisting element  420  enters the second gap  521  of the first limiting element  520 . The sliding member  500  is continuously moved down until the first resisting element  420  slides out of the second gap  521  and disengages from the first limiting element  520 . At this point, the latching mechanism  700  is in an unlocked state, and the display  800  can be detached from the stand  100 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 13  shows that in order to cause the latching mechanism  700  to be in the unlocked state, the distance H between the first limiting element  520  and the second limiting element  530  should satisfy a preset requirement. Take a surface of the fixing portion  523  away from the main body  510  of the sliding member  500  as a point C, take the free end of the second limiting element  530  as a point D, take a center of the first pivot  410  as a point F, take a free end of the first resisting element  420  as a point E, and take a free end of the second resisting element  430  as a point G. The distance between the points C and D is L, the distance between the points E and G is h, the distance between the points E and F is M, and the distance between the points F and G is m. When the second limiting element  530  resists the second resisting element  430 , and the first resisting element  420  is received in the second gap  521  (see  FIG. 3 ), a connection line connecting the points C and D is parallel to the connection line connecting the points E and G. To ensure that the latching mechanism  700  can be switched between the locked state and the unlocked state, L should be less than h. That is, L is related to M, m, and a formed by connection lines connecting the points E, F, and G. Furthermore, H should be less than L. 
         [0022]    With such configuration, by sliding the sliding member  500  with one hand, the latching mechanism  700  can be switched between the locked state and the unlocked state. 
         [0023]    Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the exemplary embodiment thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.