Abstract:
A battery latching mechanism for securing a battery includes a resisting block, at least one elastic member, and a lower body section. The lower body section comprises two latch arms. The battery is received in the lower body section and latched between the two latch arms. The resisting block is slidably received in the lower body section. when the resisting block is slid relative to the lower body section to move apart the latch arms, the battery is released from between the latch arms, and ejected out of the lower body section compressed by the elastic member.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to battery latching mechanisms and, particularly, to a battery latching mechanism used in a portable electronic device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Battery latching mechanisms are usually provided to secure batteries within portable electronic devices. 
         [0005]    As the demand for multifunctional portable electronic devices rises, batteries of portable electronic devices are desired to be more powerful to satisfy high demands of users. However, most powerful batteries are usually large and heavy, thus strong latch mechanisms are required to secure these large, heavy batteries. 
         [0006]    To change the battery for recharging, the operator must first release the latching mechanism and then separate the battery from the portable electronic device. Thus it is inconvenient and time consuming to replace the battery. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Many aspects of the battery latching mechanism can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present battery latching mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate corresponding sections throughout the several views. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an isometric, assembled view of the battery latching mechanism, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of a battery latching mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but with the upper body section partially omitted. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the battery latching mechanism shown in  FIG. 3 , with the battery received in the receiving space. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing the battery partially ejected out of the receiving space. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show an exemplary battery latching mechanism  10 . The battery latching mechanism  10  is fit for securing a battery  16 , and includes an upper body section  11 , a lower body section  12 , an eject mechanism  17 , and a battery cover  15 . The eject mechanism  17  includes a resisting block  13  and at least one elastic member  14 . The upper body section  11  is attached to the lower body section  12  to form a housing of a portable electronic device. The battery  16  is received in the lower body section  12 , and covered by the battery cover  15 . The resisting block  13  is slidably received in the lower body section  12  and can eject the battery  16  out of the lower body section  12 . The elastic members  14  are located between the resisting block  13  and the lower body section  12 . 
         [0015]    The upper body section  11  includes a screen  111  and a keypad  112 . The upper body section  11  is used to cover the lower body section  12 . The lower body section  12  is similar to the upper body section  11  in shape. The lower body section  12  includes a peripheral wall  121 . The lower body section  12  further defines a receiving space  122 . The receiving space  122  is surrounded by a bottom wall  1221  and two sidewalls  1222 , forming an opening  1223  through the peripheral wall  121  opposite to the bottom wall  1221 . The two sidewalls  1222  are opposite to each other, and vertically connect with the bottom wall  1221 . The opening  1223  provides an entry for the battery  16  into the receiving space  122 . Each sidewall  1222  defines a notch  1224  adjacent to the opening  1223 , used to latch the battery cover  16 . Two moveable latch arms  123  spacedly protrude from the bottom wall  1221  towards the opening  1223 . Each latch arm  123  extends along the sidewalls  1222 . An aperture  124  is defined between each latch arm  123  and one corresponding sidewall  1222  to facilitate deformation of the latch arm  123 . A clamp  1231  protrudes from each latch arm  123  adjacent to the opening  1223 . Each clamp  1231  includes a guiding surface  1232  and a latch surface  1233  adjacent to the guiding surface  1232 . The guiding surface  1232  is a slope, used to guide the battery  16  into the receiving space  122 . The latch surface  1233  abuts against the battery  16  to latch the battery  16  in the receiving space  122 . A projection  1234  protrudes from each latch arm  123  towards the other latch arm  123 . Each projection  1234  includes a clamping surface  1235  and a resisting surface  1236  connected to the clamping surface  1235 . The clamping surface  1235  faces the opening  1223 . The clamping surfaces  1235  and the latch surfaces  1233  latch the battery  16  therebetween. The resisting surfaces  1236  face each other and are configured for being deflected by the resisting block  13 . A plurality of poles  125  protrude from the bottom wall  1221  towards the opening  1223 . The poles  125  are located between the two latch arms  123 , corresponding to the elastic members  14 . Each elastic member  14  is engaged with and coiled around one of the poles  125 . 
         [0016]    The resisting block  13  includes a resisting wall  131  and a mounting wall  132  opposite to the resisting wall  131 . The mounting wall  132  defines a plurality of holes  1321 , corresponding to the poles  125 . Each hole  1321  receives one pole  125  and one elastic member  14  therein. The resisting wall  131  is used to resist the battery  16 . 
         [0017]    Each elastic member  14  is a compressible spring. One end of the elastic member  14  is fastened to the bottom wall  1221 , the other end is received in the hole  1321  and fastened to the resisting block  13 . 
         [0018]    The battery cover  15  has the same size and shape as the opening  1223  to exactly close off the opening  1223 . A latch block  151  protrudes from each side of the battery cover  15 , corresponding to the notch  1224 . Each latch block  151  latch with the notch  1224 , thus assembling the battery cover  15  to the lower body section  12 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  together, each elastic member  14  is coiled about and engaged with one pole  125 , with one end of the elastic member  14  resisting against the bottom wall  1221 . The resisting block  13  is received in the receiving space  122 , with the other end of the elastic member  14  received in the hole  1321  and secured to the resisting block  13 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, the battery  16  is inserted into the receiving space  122 . During this stage, the battery  16  deflects the two latch arms  123 , guided by the guiding surfaces  1232  until the battery  16  goes over the clamp  1231  to be latched between the stopping surfaces  1233  and the clamping surfaces  1235 . At this time, the elastic members  14  are compressed as the resisting block  13  slides towards the bottom wall  1221  and accumulates an elastic force against the battery  16 . Finally the battery cover  15  is covered to the opening  1223 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , to remove the battery  16  from the receiving space  122 , the battery cover  15  is detached from the opening  1233 . Then an external force is exerted on the battery  16  to push the battery  16  towards the bottom wall  1221 . During this process, the battery  16  resists the two resisting surfaces  1236  to deflect the two projections  1234  away from each other. Thus, the two latch arms  123  biases away from each other to make the two clamps  1231  open. At this time, the battery  16  is ejected by the elastic members  14  partially out of the opening  1223 . Now it&#39;s easy for a user to remove the battery  16 . 
         [0022]    The battery latching mechanism  10  uses the two latch arms  123  to latch the battery  16 , and uses the resisting block  13  and the elastic members  14  to eject the battery  16 . Therefore, Thus it is convenient and easy to replace the battery. 
         [0023]    It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of sections within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms, in which the appended claims are expressed.