Patent ID: 7411781

Claim:
A latch device for a portable computer having a display enclosed within a front case and a rear case, said latch device comprising: a latch installation portion formed within the rear case; a latch seated in the latch installation portion, said latch including a hook protruding from said latch installation portion and extending through the front case and being capable of interlocking with a catching groove; an elastic member providing an elastic locking force for securing the hook within the catching groove; and a release mechanism engaged with at least one of the front case and the rear case and being operatively movable responsive to an input force and with respect to an exterior of an end of the display, said hook being movable between a first position and a second position responsive to the input force, wherein the latch installation portion includes a latch seating space being formed in the rear case, wherein the latch is seated within said latch seating space, said latch seating space opening toward a rear face of the rear case and being formed with a hook slot opening toward the front case, wherein the front case covers a front of the rear case and includes a front case hook slot corresponding to the hook slot opening, and wherein said hook passes through said hook slot opening and the front case hook slot.