Abstract:
A fixing mechanism includes: a battery holder comprising a hollow sleeve, the sleeve defining a chamber to receive a battery and an opening extending along a direction substantially parallel to a center axis of the battery holder; and a resilient battery cover sealing the opening of the battery holder. The sleeve further includes a latching portion defined in an inner surface thereof adjacent to the opening; and the resilient battery cover further includes at least one latching hook locked with the latching portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to fixing mechanisms and, particularly, to a fixing mechanism for fixing a battery in a battery holder. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    An electronic device, such as a wireless keyboard, a wireless touchpad, a remote control, and the like, usually includes a battery to provide electrical power. A fixing mechanism for fixing a battery in the electronic device is often utilized to facilitate installing and uninstalling the battery. 
         [0005]    A typical fixing mechanism includes a battery holder and a detachable battery cover. The battery holder includes a sleeve defining at least one opening end. The sleeve defines a chamber to receive the battery. The battery cover is used to seal the opening end of sleeve. The sleeve further defines an inner screw threading in an inner surface of the chamber adjacent to the opening end. The body portion of the battery cover defines an outer screw threading corresponding to the inner screw threading, such that the body portion of the battery cover may be screwed into the opening end of the sleeve. However, the electronic device usually further includes a pair of electrical connecting members and a current-limiting printed circuit board (PCB). The electrical connecting members are positioned at two ends of the battery in the chamber to electrically connect two electrodes of the battery. The current-limiting PCB is electrically connected to one of the electrical connecting members adjacent to the battery cover. If a user wants to replace the battery, the battery cover, the electrical connecting member and the current-limiting PCB must be disassembled from the sleeve. Thus, it is relatively inconvenient to replace the battery. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    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. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a first embodiment of a fixing mechanism. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed in another aspect. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged, side cross-sectional view of the fixing mechanism of  FIG. 1 , taken along line III-III. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric view of a second embodiment of a fixing mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first embodiment of a fixing mechanism  100  includes a battery holder  10 , and a resilient battery cover  20  fixed to the battery holder  10 . The fixing mechanism  100  is used to fix a battery (not shown) in the battery holder  10  with the resilient battery cover  20 . The fixing mechanism  100  can be employed in an electronic device (not shown), such as a wireless keyboard, a wireless touchpad, a remote control, and so on. 
         [0013]    The battery holder  10  can be substantially cylindrical. The battery holder  10  includes a first end cover  11 , a second end cover  12 , and a hollow sleeve  13 . In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve  13  is substantially cylindrical. The sleeve  13  defines a chamber  14 . The first end cover  11  and the second end cover  12  are fixed to two ends of the sleeve  13  by, for example, by adhesive or welding. The sleeve  13  defines an elongated opening  15  extending along a direction substantially parallel to a center axis X of the battery holder  10 . In other words, the sleeve  13  includes a pair of elongated edges  151  substantially parallel to the center axis X and a pair of curved edges  152  substantially parallel to the first and second end covers  11 ,  12 . The elongated edges  151  and the curved edges  152  cooperatively define the elongated opening  15 . 
         [0014]    The sleeve  13  further defines a pair of latching portions  16  and a pair of limiting portions  17 . In the illustrated embodiment, each latching portion  16  is an elongated latching depression defined at an inner surface of the sleeve  13  extending along a direction substantially parallel to the center axis X adjacent to each elongated edge  151 . Each limiting portion  17  is an elongated cutout defined on each elongated edge  151  and communicating with the chamber  14 . 
         [0015]    The resilient battery cover  20  can be fixed to the sleeve  13  to seal the elongated opening  15 . The resilient battery cover  20  includes a curved body  21 , a plurality of latching hooks  23  and a plurality of latching rims  25 . In the illustrated embodiment, a shape of the curved body  21  complements the sleeve  13  to form an integral appearance. The curved body  21  is made of elastic materials, such as elastic resins and an elastic metallic sheet. 
         [0016]    The latching hooks  23  are formed at an inner surface of the curved body  21  adjacent to opposite edges of the curved body  21  corresponding to the latching portions  16 . The latching hooks  23  can be locked in the corresponding latching portions  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, each of the latching hooks  23  is substantially L-shaped. The latching rims  25  extend out from the opposite edges of the curved body  21  corresponding to the limiting portions  17 . The latching rims  25  can be received in the limiting portions  17  to be blocked by the battery holder  10 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , after the battery is received in the chamber  14  of the battery holder  10 , the resilient battery cover  20  is fixed to the battery holder  10  as follows. Firstly, an external force is applied at opposite edges of the resilient battery cover  20  adjacent to the latching hooks  23 , and then the resilient battery cover  20  is bent inwards. Secondly, the bent resilient battery cover  20  acted by the external force is placed into the elongated opening  15 . Finally, when the external force is withdrawn, the resilient battery cover  20  rebounds, the latching hooks  23  are locked in the corresponding latching portions  16 , and the latching rims  25  are received in the limiting portions  17  and blocked by the limiting portions  17 . Accordingly, the resilient battery cover  20  is fixed on the sleeve  13  of the battery holder  10 . 
         [0018]    To disassemble the resilient battery cover  20  from the battery holder  10 , an external force is applied to bend the resilient battery cover  20  inward relative to the sleeve  13 . At this time, the latching hooks  23  may be detached from the latching portions  16 . Finally, the resilient battery cover  20  can be popped out of the sleeve  13  of the battery holder  10 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a second embodiment of a fixing mechanism  200  includes a battery holder  30 , and a resilient battery cover  40 . The battery holder  30  includes a sleeve  33  and an elongated opening  35  defined in the sleeve  33 . The sleeve  33  includes a pair of elongated edges  351  substantially parallel to the center axis X and a pair of curved edges  352  connecting the elongated edges  351 . The sleeve  33  further includes a plurality of latching portions  36  and a plurality of limiting portions  37 . The sleeve  33  is similar as principle to the sleeve  13  of the first embodiment, except that the latching portions  36  are protruding rims defined on an inner surface of the sleeve  33 . The limiting portions  37  are protrusions extending out from the pair of elongated edges  351 . 
         [0020]    The resilient battery cover  40  includes a curved body  41 , a pair of latching hooks  43  extending out from an inner surface of the curved body  41  corresponding to the latching portions  36 , a plurality of latching cutouts  45  defined on an outer surface of the curved body  41  corresponding to the limiting portions  37 . The latching hooks  43  are engaged with the latching portions  36 , and the limiting portions  37  are received and blocked by the latching cutouts  45 . 
         [0021]    It is should be noted that the configurations of the receiving depressions  2335  are not limited to the configurations described above. Each receiving depression  2335  can be any other suitable structure. For example, each receiving depression  2335  can include three, four, or more slanted inner side surfaces  2337 . 
         [0022]    It is noted that the scope of the fixing mechanisms  100 ,  200  is not limited to the embodiments described above. The numbers and shapes of the latching portions  16 ,  36 , the latching hooks  23 ,  43 , and the limiting portions  17 ,  37  are specifically described and illustrated for the purpose of exemplifying various aspects of the present fixing mechanisms  100 ,  200 . 
         [0023]    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.