Patent ID: 7184262

Claim:
A latch unit for an electronic device including two mutual housings pivoted to each other, the one housing being formed with a slot, the other housing being formed with a slot opposite to the one house, the one housing being rotatable relative to the other housing about an axis to a closed position, in which, the one housing is stacked on the other housing, said latch unit comprising: a hook member adapted to be mounted movably in the one housing and having an engaging end extending in a transverse direction relative to said slot, said hook member being movable linearly in said transverse direction between a first transverse position, in which, said engaging end is adapted to extend into said slot opposite to the one housing when the one housing is simultaneously positioned, and a second transverse position, in which, said engaging end is separated from the other housing: and a hook-controlling member which is adapted to be mounted on the one housing and which is operable for moving said hook member between said first and second transverse positions: an urging member, adapted to be disposed in the one housing for urging said hook member to the engaging position; said hook member in the form of a plate that has two opposite anchored ends which define said first and second engaging ends, respectively, said hook member being formed with an inclined slot that extends inclinedly relative to a horizontal line between said first and second engaging ends, said hook-controlling member including a button that is adapted to be mounted movably on an exterior of the one housing, and a pushing rod that projects from said button into said inclined slot and that slidably engages a periphery of said inclined slot in such a manner that movement of said button along the horizontal line results in concurrent movement of said hook member linearly in said transverse direction between said first and second transverse positions.