PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-7835150-B2
Application Number: US-33551708-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Portable computer latch structures

Abstract:
A portable computer is provided that has a housing. A battery may be contained within the housing. The housing may have panels such as a fixed housing panel and a removable access panel. A lever actuated latching mechanism may be used to lock the removable access panel and the battery within the portable computer. A lock may be used to block movement of the lever and thereby prevent access to the interior of the computer. Magnetic elements may be used to facilitate operation of the lever and to hold the access panel in place. The latch mechanism may provide mechanical advantage when disengaging the magnets that hold the access panel.

Claims:
1. A portable computer, comprising:
 a housing having a removable access panel; and 
 latch structures that hold the access panel in place, wherein the latch structures comprise:
 a lever; and 
 an opening into which a lock is inserted to prevent motion of the lever. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A portable computer, comprising:
 a housing having a removable access panel; and 
 latch structures that hold the access panel in place, wherein the housing has an interior portion under the access panel that is configured to accommodate a removable battery and wherein the latch structures comprise a sliding rack member. 
 
     
     
       3. The portable computer defined in  claim 2  wherein the sliding rack member comprises battery engagement features that engage the removable battery. 
     
     
       4. The portable computer defined in  claim 3  wherein the latch structures further comprises a lever that slides the sliding rack member when the lever is actuated and wherein the battery engagement features release the removable battery when the lever is placed in an open position. 
     
     
       5. The portable computer defined in  claim 2  wherein the sliding rack member comprises engagement features that engage the access panel to hold the access panel in place on the portable computer. 
     
     
       6. The portable computer defined in  claim 5  wherein the latch structures further comprises a lever that slides the sliding rack member when the lever is actuated and wherein the engagement features release the access panel when the lever is placed in an open position. 
     
     
       7. A portable computer, comprising:
 a housing having a removable access panel; 
 latch structures that hold the access panel in place, wherein the latch structures comprise:
 a lever; and 
 a sliding rack member actuated by the lever. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The portable computer defined in  claim 7  further comprising magnets that hold the access panel in place on the portable computer. 
     
     
       9. The portable computer defined in  claim 7  wherein the lever is movable to a stowed position flush with an exterior surface of the portable computer and wherein the portable computer further comprises a magnet that retains the lever in the stowed position. 
     
     
       10. The portable computer defined in  claim 9  wherein the access panel comprises hooks that engage with the latch structures. 
     
     
       11. The portable computer defined in  claim 10  wherein the hooks have ramped surfaces that bias the access panel away from the portable computer as the lever is opened to slide the sliding rack member. 
     
     
       12. The portable computer defined in  claim 11  further comprising magnets that hold the access panel in place on the portable computer. 
     
     
       13. Portable computer structures, comprising:
 a removable access panel; 
 a sliding rail member that engages the removable access panel; and 
 hooks with ramped surfaces and members that mate with the hooks and bear against the hooks. 
 
     
     
       14. The portable computer structures defined in  claim 13  wherein the members comprise rolling latch members. 
     
     
       15. The portable computer structures defined in  claim 14  wherein the rolling latch members comprise rolling bushings each having a cylindrical plastic cylinder that surrounds a mating cylindrical protrusion. 
     
     
       16. An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing with a removable access panel; and 
 a rotating lever that moves between an open position in which the removable access panel is free to be removed and a closed position in which the removable access panel is held in place within the housing. 
 
     
     
       17. The electronic device defined in  claim 16  wherein the housing has an interior and is configured to accommodate a removable battery within the interior under the removable access panel. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device defined in  claim 17  wherein the housing comprises an opening into which a lock is inserted and locked to prevent rotation of the lever into the open position. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device defined in  claim 18  further comprising a data storage component mounted under the access panel within the housing.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/105,038, filed Oct. 13, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to electronic devices and, more particularly, to latch structures for electronic devices such as portable computers. 
     Portable computers often have detachable covers. In a typical scenario, a main logic board and computer components such as a hard drive and optical disk drive are mounted in a computer housing. The housing may be formed from upper and lower halves that are secured by screws. In the event that an interior portion of the computer requires servicing, service personnel may disassembly the upper and lower housing portions to gain interior access. 
     While this type of arrangement may be satisfactory for permitting occasional access to interior computer components, housings that have portions attached by screws are generally too cumbersome to use in situations in which more frequent interior access is desired. For example, if a user desired to access the interior of a computer to make an adjustment or to replace a depleted battery with a freshly charged battery, requiring the user to disassemble the computer with a screwdriver would be unacceptable. 
     Many portable computers are provided with externally mounted batteries. Because this type of battery does not require internal housing access, the need for disassembly the computer case to exchange batteries is avoided. However, the appearance of externally mounted batteries tends not to be aesthetically pleasing. Externally mounted batteries often protrude significantly from the housing of the computer, leading to an unsightly bulge in the rear part of the housing. Moreover, external battery mounting arrangements do not address the difficulties associated with providing access to the interior of the computer for other purposes. 
     It would therefore be desirable to provide portable computers with improved structures such as housing cover latch structures for providing aesthetically pleasing and secure battery storage and interior housing access. 
     SUMMARY 
     A portable computer with improved latch structures is provided. A latch for a portable computer may have a sliding rack member. Features on the rack member may be used to engage a battery and an access panel on the portable computer. A lever may be used to actuate the rack. When the lever is in a closed position, the battery may be held in place within the computer. The access panel may also be engaged. Magnets may help to hold the access panel in place. In the event of a shock that dislodges the access panel from the magnets, hooks may hold the access panel in place. 
     When it is desired to lock the system, a lock may be inserted into the housing of the portable computer. The lock may prevent opening of the lever and thereby prevent the rack from moving. Because movement of the rack is blocked, the access panel cannot be removed. This enhances security, because interior components of the portable computer such as its hard drive cannot be readily removed. 
     When the lock is not in place, the lever can be opened to move the rack and allow the access panel to be removed. Movement of the rack helps to disengage the access panel from the magnets. Magnets may also be used in the lever mechanism. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device such as a portable computer having latch structures in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an underside portion of an illustrative portable computer having a latch in a partly open configuration that allows a lower housing portion to be removed from the computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an underside portion of an illustrative portable computer having a latch in a closed configuration that holds a lower housing portion to the computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective interior view of an underside portion of an illustrative portable computer with its lower housing portion removed and placed adjacent to the computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective interior view of an underside portion of an illustrative portable computer with its lower housing portion removed to expose interior portions of the computer and latch structures associated with a closed latch in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective interior view of an underside portion of an illustrative portable computer with its lower housing portion removed to expose interior portions of the computer and latch structures associated with an open latch in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is cross-sectional side view of a partially open latch in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of the latch of  FIG. 7  showing how a lock that is separate from the computer may be inserted into the computer in the vicinity of the latch to prevent deployment of the latch and interior access to the computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of the latch of  FIG. 7  in an open configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of latch structures in which magnets and hooks are being used to hold computer components in place such as a battery and housing cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the illustrative latch structures of  FIG. 10  in a partially opened state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of an interior portion of a computer in the vicinity of a midwall that supports reciprocating latch structures in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of an interior portion of a computer in the vicinity of a midwall showing how rolling latch members may engage tabs or other engagement structures on structures such as a battery when latch structures are placed in a locked position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view of an interior portion of a computer in the vicinity of a midwall showing how magnet assemblies may each be mounted within a recess within the midwall in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 15 ,  16 ,  17 , and  18  are side views of an illustrative computer latch structure showing how rolling latch members may interact with hooks and battery engagement members at successive stages during the process of disengaging a latching mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to portable computer structures such as latching structures for portable computers. Latching structures may be associated with a latch. When the latch is in a closed position, the latching structures may help to secure portable computer structures in place within a portable computer. For example, the latch structures may help to hold a battery in place within the portable computer and may help to hold a cover to the case of the computer. The battery may be mounted within the interior of the computer and may be hidden by the cover. When the latch is in an open position, the cover and battery may be released. 
     To prevent unauthorized access to the interior of the computer, the latch may be locked. For example, the latch may be locked by inserting and locking a lock to the computer case in the vicinity of the latch. The lock may also be used to hold the computer to a stationary object such as a desk via a security cable. The presence of the lock may prevent the latch from opening and thereby prevent the cover of the computer from being removed. Because the cover of the computer cannot be removed, the interior of the computer and sensitive components that are housed within the interior such as hard drive and other storage components and processing circuitry cannot be accessed. 
     An illustrative electronic device such as a portable computer in which the portable computer structures may be provided is shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , portable computer  10  may have a housing  12 . Housing  12 , which is sometimes referred to as a case, may be formed from one or more individual structures. For example, housing  12  may have a main structural support member that is formed from a solid block of machined aluminum or other suitable metal. One or more additional structures may be connected to the housing  12 . These structures may include, for example, internal frame members, external coverings such as sheets of metal, etc. Housing  12  and its associated components may, in general, be formed from any suitable materials such as such as plastic, ceramics, metal, glass, etc. An advantage of forming housing  12  at least partly from metal is that metal is durable and attractive in appearance. Metals such as aluminum may be anodized to form an insulating oxide coating. 
     Case  12  may have an upper portion  26  and a lower portion  28 . Lower portion  28  may be referred to as the base or main unit of computer  10  and may contain components such as a hard disk drive, battery, and main logic board. Upper portion  26 , which is sometimes referred to as a cover or lid, may rotate relative to lower portion  28  about rotational axis  16 . Portion  18  of computer  10  may contain a hinge and associated clutch structures and is sometimes referred to as a clutch barrel. 
     Lower housing portion  28  may have a slot such as slot  22  through which optical disks may be loaded into an optical disk drive. Lower housing portion may also have a touchpad such as touchpad  24  and may have keys  20 . If desired, additional components may be mounted to upper and lower housing portions  26  and  28 . For example, upper and lower housing portions  26  and  28  may have ports to which cables can be connected (e.g., universal serial bus ports, an Ethernet port, a Firewire port, audio jacks, card slots, etc.). Buttons and other controls may also be mounted to housing  12 . 
     If desired, upper and lower housing portions  26  and  28  may have transparent windows through which light may be emitted (e.g., from light-emitting diodes). This type of arrangement may be used, for example, to display status information to a user. Openings may also be formed in the surface of upper and lower housing portions to allow sound to pass through the walls of housing  12 . For example, openings may be formed for microphone and speaker ports. With one illustrative arrangement, speaker openings such as speaker openings  30  may be formed in lower housing portion  28  by creating an array of small openings (perforations) in the surface of housing  12 . 
     A display such as display  14  may be mounted within upper housing portion  26 . Display  14  may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, or plasma display (as examples). A glass panel may be mounted in front of display  14 . The glass panel may help add structural integrity to computer  10 . For example, the glass panel may make upper housing portion  26  more rigid and may protect display  14  from damage due to contact with keys or other structures. 
     Computer  10  may have input-output components such as touch pad  24 . Touch pad  24  may include a touch sensitive surface that allows a user of computer  10  to control computer  10  using touch-based commands (gestures). A portion of touchpad  24  may be depressed by the user when the user desires to “click” on a displayed item on screen  14 . 
     A perspective view of the bottom of computer  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , part of the exterior surface of the bottom portion of housing  12  for computer  12  may be formed by fixed housing panel  34  and removable access panel  32 . Panels  32  and  34  may be formed from thin sheets of a rigid material such as anodized aluminum. Panels  32  and  34  may be mounted to lower housing portion  28 . Fixed housing panel  34  may be attached to lower housing portion  28  by screws  42 . Along front edge  44 , prongs on the underside of removable access panel  32  may mate with features in lower housing portion  28 . Along interior edge  46 , hooks on the underside of removable access panel  32  may mate with latch structures. When the latch is in the closed position, access panel  32  may be secured to housing portion  28  by the hooks. The latch structures in computer  10  may also be used in securing a battery. When the latch is in the open position, the removable access panel and battery may be removed. 
     Magnets may be used to secure removable access panel  32  to housing  28  along edge  46 . When it is desired to remove access panel  32  from computer  10 , the user must overcome the force of the magnets. The latch mechanism that is used in securing removable access panel  32  may be used to help “strip” the access panel from the magnets. The magnets exert a strong attraction on removable access panel  32  at close distances. To strip the access panel from the magnets, the latching mechanism lifts the removable access panel upwards to form a gap such as gap  40 . At this distance, the attraction from the magnets is significantly reduced and the latch mechanism is physically disengaged from the hooks on the removable access panel. This allows a user to easily remove the removable access panel  32  from lower housing portion  28 . 
     An actuating mechanism such as lever  36  may be used to control operation of the latching mechanism. When lever  36  lies flush with the surface of fixed housing panel  34 , the latch mechanism is locked. When lever  36  is rotated upwards in direction  48 , the latch mechanism unlocks and forces removable access panel  32  upwards to form gap  40 . When it is desired to lock panel  32  in place on housing  28 , the user may rotate lever  36  in direction  50 . 
       FIG. 3  shows lever  36  in its stowed position. A magnet may be used to help retain lever  36  in this configuration when not in use. 
     A lock (bolt) such as lock  52  may have an associated plunger. A cable may optionally be attached to lock  52 . When it is desired to lock computer  10  to a desk or other stationary object, the plunger of lock  52  may be inserted in a mating rectangular opening in computer  10 . The plunger may have a T-shaped portion that can be turned perpendicular to the rectangular opening during locking. This holds the lock to computer  10 . The cable that is attached to lock  52  may then be connected to a desk to lock down computer  10 . 
     In addition to locking computer  10  to a desk or other object, lock  52  may be used to prevent lever  36  from moving. This, in turn, prevents an attacker from opening removable access panel  32 . The attacker is therefore unable to access sensitive computer components in the interior of computer  10  such as hard drive and memory components. 
     In the view of  FIG. 4 , removable access panel  32  has been removed from computer  10  and has been placed with its interior face up. Aluminum is not a magnetic material, so for proper operation of the magnetic latch feature of computer  10 , it may be desirable to attach a magnetic material to the inside of panel  32 . The magnetic material that is attached may be provided as individual structures or as a strip. The magnetic material may be a magnet, or a magnetic material such as steel. In the example of  FIG. 4 , magnetic metal strip  62  has been attached to panel  32 . Magnetic metal strip  62  may be formed from nickel-plated steel, chrome-plated steel, or magnetic stainless steel (as examples). 
     Magnetic strip  62  may have hooks  64  that engage corresponding structures associated with midwall member  76 . Strip  62  may also have protrusions such as teeth  66 . Each tooth  66  may mate with a corresponding recess  72  in bridge member  74 . Bridge member  74  may be attached to the interior surface of fixed panel  34  along edge  46 . 
     Metal strip member  68  may be connected along the outer edge of access panel  32 . Prongs  70  on strip member  68  may engage a lip or recesses along edge  44  of lower housing portion  28  to hold removable access panel  32  in place along this edge of computer  10 . With one suitable attachment mechanism, bridge member  74  is attached to panel  34  by welds or adhesive, strip member  62  is attached to panel  32  by welds or adhesive, and strip  68  is attached to panel  32  by welds or adhesive. Other attachment mechanisms may also be used if desired. 
     Computer  10  may include components such as battery  60  and hard disk drive  54 . Battery  60  may have tabs that are engaged by the same latch mechanism that is used in engaging hooks  64  of removable access panel  32  when it is desired to attach removable access panel  32  to housing  28 . Hard disk drive  54  may be mounted to housing portion  28  using rails such as rail  56 . A screw such as screw  58  may be used to attach rail  56  to housing portion  28 . The end of screw  58  may be formed in the shape of a screwdriver tip, allowing screw  58  to serve as a hidden screwdriver. When access panel  32  is removed a user can access the screwdriver and use it to remove screws  42 . This allows the user to remove fixed panel  34  from housing portion  28  without tools. 
       FIG. 5  shows how midwall member  76  may span the width of computer  10 . A sliding rack member such as rack  78  may reciprocate along longitudinal axis  80  of midwall  76 . Rack  78  may be formed from sheet metal or other suitable rigid materials. The lateral position of rack  78  may be controlled by the position of lever  36 . When lever  36  is in its closed position flush with panel  34 , rack  78  is moved to the right in direction  84 . When lever  36  is in its open position, rack  78  is moved to the left in direction  82 . 
     Attachment point guide structures  86  help guide rack  78  along midwall  76 . Each attachment point guide structure may have a low friction bushing such as a plastic cylindrical member that is held in place on rack  78  by a screw. As rack  78  reciprocates along axis  80 , attachment point guide structures move within corresponding openings  88  in midwall member  76 . 
     Rolling latch members  90  (i.e., latch members  90 A and  90 B) may be attached to rack  78 . Each latch member  90  may have a low friction mechanism such as a rolling bushing formed from a cylindrical plastic cylinder that surrounds a mating cylindrical protrusion on rack  78 . Rolling latch members  90 A may be used to engage hooks  64  on removable access panel  32 . Rolling latch members  90 B may be used to engage tabs on battery  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when lever  36  is placed in its open position, rail  78  moves in direction  82 , moving guide structures  86  and rolling latch members  90  to the left. Guide structures  86  are preferably placed adjacent to rolling latch members  90  to ensure that rack  78  is guided properly along midwall member  76 . The use of guide structures such as guide structures  86  helps prevent rack  78  from bending along its longitudinal axis, thereby ensuring smooth operation of the latch mechanism. 
     The movement of lever  36  may be used to control the movement of rack  78 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , lever  36  may be attached to housing portion  28  by a plastic lever frame  116  using pivot shaft  102 . Pin  104  may be used to connect lever  36  to plastic yoke  106 . Yoke  106  may be rigidly screwed to rack  78  and may serve as an interface between lever  36  and rack  78 . There is preferably a slot such as slot  105  in yoke  106  that allows pin  104  to reciprocate slightly without translating yoke  106 . This serves to provide the latch mechanism with hysteresis. Because of the hysteresis, a user may move lever  36  slightly without encountering the friction associated with translating rack  78 . 
     As an example, lever  36  may be in its stowed position. A user may want to grasp end  118  of lever  36 . To deploy lever  36  to the position shown in  FIG. 7 , the user may press lightly on end  112  of lever  36  in direction  114 . This will cause end  118  of lever  36  to move outwards in direction  48 . Because of the hysteresis provided by the slot in yoke  106 , there will be little resistance to moving lever  36  into the position shown in  FIG. 7 . Once this position has been obtained, a user may grasp lever  36  firmly and may then proceed to complete the desired lever movement in direction  48 . This fully deploys lever  36 . As lever  36  moves in direction  48 , pin  104  is moved in direction  82 , thereby moving yoke  106  and rack  78  in direction  82  to disengage the latch. 
     Lever  36  may have a magnetic stowage feature. Magnetic attraction may be provided using any suitable magnet arrangement. For example, lever  36  may be held in its stowed position using two magnets that attract each other or using a magnet and a corresponding magnetic metal such as steel may be used. In the example shown in  FIG. 7 , magnetic attraction plate  108  is mounted within end  118  of lever  36  (e.g., using adhesive) and is attracted to a corresponding magnet  110  mounted in a recess within lever frame  116 . 
     Movement of lever  36  may be inhibited by attaching a lock though hole  92 . Plunger  94  may be attached to housing portion  28  using sheet metal bracket  126  or other suitable attachment mechanism. Plunger  94  may reciprocate within housing  28  along longitudinal axis  96 . When plunger  94  is moved in direction  100  into the position shown in  FIG. 7 , lever  36  is free to move. When plunger  94  is moved in direction  98 , lever  36  is prevented from opening fully. 
     Hole  92  may have a rectangular surface opening on lower housing portion  28 . When key-shaped locking member  120  ( FIG. 8 ) is inserted in hole  92  and is turned to lock the lock  52  in place on housing  28 , plunger  94  is pushed into housing portion  28  in direction  98 , until the position of  FIG. 8  is reached. In this position, lower surface  122  of plunger  94  engages shelf  124  of lever  36 . If a user attempts to open lever  36 , surface  122  will bear against shelf  124  of lever  36 , thereby preventing further movement of lever  36 . Because the user cannot open lever  36 , the user cannot open the latching mechanism to remove removable access panel  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9  (from which frame  116  has been removed for clarity), a magnet such as magnet  130  may be mounted to the side of lever  36  at lever end  132 . A corresponding magnet  128  may be mounted to frame  116  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). Magnets  128  and  130  may be configured to attract each other (or, if desired, a repulsive arrangement could be used). The interaction between magnets  128  and  130  may help hold lever  36  in its open position and may help to open the latch somewhat as the latching mechanism is being disengaged. Holding level  36  in the open position keeps the latching structure receptive to installation of components, an intuitive arrangement for the user. 
     Magnets  128  and  130  may be offset from each other when lever  36  is fully open. In this orientation, magnet  130  on lever  36  will be pulled more towards magnet  128  than if magnets  128  and  130  where perfectly aligned. When in the open lever position of  FIG. 9 , a stop on lever frame  116  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) may prevent lever  36  from opening further. 
       FIG. 10  shows how magnetic attraction may be used to help hold access panel  32  in place. In the view of  FIG. 10 , midwall  76  is not shown for clarity. A series of magnet assemblies such as magnet assembly  134  may be mounted within recesses in midwall  76  adjacent to recesses  72  in bridge member  74  ( FIG. 4 ). Each magnet assembly  134  may include a first magnet such as magnet  136 , a second magnet such as magnet  138 , and a magnetic shunt member such as magnetic shunt  140  (formed from a magnetic material such steel). Magnets  136  and  138  may be placed with their poles oriented opposite to each other. In this configuration, magnets  136  and  138  in conjunction with magnetic shunt  140  form a relatively strong horseshoe magnet that attracts teeth  66  on removable access panel  32  to hold removable access panel  32  to computer  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , each rolling latch member  90  may have a bushing  142  that is held in place by a mating screw  144 . Bushings  142  are annular in shape and serve as rolling members that reduce friction as rack  78  reciprocates. During disengaging movement of rack  78 , bushings  142  roll against ramped surfaces  148  of corresponding hooks  64 . Hook engagement surfaces  146  serve as a barrier that blocks rolling latch members  90  and panel  32  from being moved more than a small amount in direction  150 . Initial movement of panel  32  relative to housing  28  in direction  150  is prevented by the magnetic attraction between magnet assemblies  134  and corresponding teeth  66  on panel  32 . If a shock or other strong force manages to overcome this magnetic attraction, the mechanical locking function of hook surfaces  146  will be used to prevent removal of panel  32 . 
       FIG. 11  shows how bushing  142  of rolling latch member  90  rolls up and along surface  148  of hook  64  during latch disengagement. Because surface  148  is slanted, this mechanical operation helps to overcome the opposing locking force provided by magnet assemblies  134 , thereby stripping panel  32  from housing  28 . During disengagement, some rolling latch members  90  such as the right hand latch member  90  of  FIG. 11  disengage from hooks  64 . At the same time, other rolling latch members  90  such as the left hand latch member  90  of  FIG. 11  disengage from tabs on battery  60 . 
     A cross-sectional view of the interior of computer  10  in the vicinity of midwall  76  is shown in  FIG. 12 . As shown in the cross-section of  FIG. 12 , bridge  74  may form a ledge such as ledge  156  against which the edge of panel  32  may rest. This ensures that the outer surface of panels  32  and  34  are flush with each other in region  152 . Bridge  74  also serves to shield the interior of computer  10  from view through the small gap between panels  32  and  34 . 
     Bushing  142  may rotate around protruding cylindrical portion  150  of rack  78  and may be held in place by screw  144 . Portion  150  may be threaded to receive screw  144 . Clearance gaps  154  between hook  64  and rolling latch member  90  prevent rolling latch member  90  from adversely affecting the flushness of panels  32  and  34  in region  152 . 
     The cross-sectional view of  FIG. 13  shows how some of rolling latch members  90  may engage tabs or other engagement structures on battery  60  such as tab  156 . This helps hold battery  60  in place within the interior of computer  10  when the latching mechanism is in its locked position. 
       FIG. 14  shows how each magnet assembly  134  may be mounted within a recess within midwall  76 . A lubricating member such as plastic strip  158  may be interposed between sliding rack member  78  and midwall member  76  to reduce friction. 
       FIGS. 15 ,  16 ,  17 , and  18  illustrate how rolling latch members  90  interact with hooks  64  and battery engagement members  156  during the process of disengaging the latching mechanism. Rolling latch members  90 A interact with hooks  64 . Rolling latch members  90 B interact with battery engagement members  156 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , the hysteresis provided by slot  105  in yoke  106  allows lever  36  to be partially deployed without moving rack  78 . 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20081215
Publication Date: 20101116
Grant Date: 20101116
Priority Date: 20081013
Inventors: DEGNER BRETT W.
BROCK JOHN
KESSLER PATRICK
LIGTENBERG CHRIS
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F1/1656", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1656", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1635", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1616", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/1635", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 42098657