PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8054623-B2
Application Number: US-94970410-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Latching mechanism

Abstract:
An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include a first side and a second side. The electronic device may also include a lid configured to cover an opening on the first side. The lid may include an interior side. The interior side may be invisible from outside of the electronic device when the lid covers the opening. The electronic device may also include a latching mechanism including a slider configured to slide along at least one of the lid and the first side for latching the lid at the interior side. The electronic device may also include a control unit disposed on the second side and configured to actuate movement of the slider.

Claims:
1. An electronic device comprising:
 an outer housing having an opening at a first side thereof; 
 a lid configured to cover the opening in the housing, the lid including an interior side and an exterior side; and 
 a latching mechanism disposed inside the outer housing, the latching mechanism including:
 a sliding component configured to slide from a first position to a second position, 
 a first set of latching units disposed on the sliding component and configured to latch the interior side of the lid, and 
 a second set of latching units disposed on the sliding component and configured to secure one or more electronic components in place inside the outer housing when the first set of latching units latches the lid. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further including:
 a control unit disposed on a second side of the outer housing and configured to actuate movement of the sliding component. 
 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the second side is perpendicular to the first side. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more electronic components include a storage device. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more electronic components include at least one of a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, a magneto-optical disk drive, and a solid state storage device. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the latching mechanism further includes:
 a third set of latching units disposed on the sliding component and configured to secure one or more additional electronic components in place inside the outer housing when the first set of latching units latches the lid and the second set of latching units secures the one or more electronic components. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the first set of latching units, the second set of latching units, and the third set of latching units are disposed on three different sides of the sliding component. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the sliding component includes a visual indicator configured to indicate whether one or more components inside the electronic device are latched by the latching mechanism. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking unit configured to move to a locking position such that the latching mechanism is locked in place. 
     
     
       10. A latching mechanism adapted to latch a lid over an opening of an electronic device, the latching mechanism comprising:
 a sliding component configured to be located within the electronic device; 
 a first set of latching units disposed on the sliding component and configured to latch an interior side of the lid; and 
 a second set of latching units disposed on the sliding component and configured to secure one or more electronic components in place inside the electronic device when the first set of latching units latches the interior side of the lid. 
 
     
     
       11. The latching mechanism of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a control unit disposed configured to be located on the outside of the electronic device and to actuate movement of the sliding component 
 
     
     
       12. The latching mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein the second side is perpendicular to the first side. 
     
     
       13. The latching mechanism of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a third set of latching units disposed on the sliding component and configured to secure one or more additional electronic components in place inside the outer housing when the first set of latching units latches the lid and the second set of latching units secures the one or more electronic components. 
 
     
     
       14. The latching mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the first set of latching units, the second set of latching units, and the third set of latching units are disposed on three different sides of the sliding component. 
     
     
       15. The latching mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein the latching mechanism is adapted to be locked in place by a locking unit at the electronic device. 
     
     
       16. A method of closing an electronic device, comprising:
 placing a lid over an opening of an electronic device; and 
 actuating a latching mechanism at the electronic device, wherein the latching mechanism includes:
 a sliding component located within the electronic device, 
 a first set of latching units disposed on the sliding component that latch an interior side of the lid during said actuating, and 
 a second set of latching units disposed on the sliding component that secure one or more electronic components in place inside the electronic device during said actuating. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein said actuating includes sliding the sliding component such that the first and second sets of latching units engage the lid and one or more electronic components respectively. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein said sliding is actuated by a control unit disposed on a second side of the outer housing. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , further including the step of:
 locking the latching mechanism in place by using a locking unit at the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the latching mechanism further includes:
 a third set of latching units disposed on the sliding component and configured to secure one or more additional electronic components in place inside the outer housing when the first set of latching units latches the lid and the second set of latching units secures the one or more electronic components.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of and claims priority to commonly owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/831,231, filed Jul. 31, 2007, and entitled “LATCHING MECHANISM,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An electronic device, such as a computer, may include a removable lid or enclosure. A user may be able to remove the lid or enclosure, for example, for installing or replacing one or more components inside the electronic device. 
     In general, the lid may be secured on the housing of the electronic device by a plurality of fasteners, such as screws. In order to remove the lid or to secure the lid, a user typically needs an additional tool, such as a screwdriver, to remove the fasteners. If the user does not have a tool at hand, the user may not be able to remove or secure the lid. 
     Each of the plurality of fasteners may have to be individually removed. Therefore, removing and securing the lid may be time-consuming. Further, one or more of the fasteners may be missing. If one or more of the fasteners are missing, the user may need to purchase replacement fasteners; otherwise, the lid may not be properly secured in place. 
     Typically, the fasteners are disposed on the exterior surface of the lid. Accordingly, the appearance of the electronic device may not be aesthetically desirable. Further, dust or other contaminants may accumulate on the fasteners and corresponding mating structures/features (e.g., screw holes) on the lid. Therefore, it may be inconvenient to maintain cleanness of the electronic device. 
     In addition, the fasteners and mating structures/features on the lid may also incur significant manufacturing and material costs for the electronic device. 
     As can be appreciated from the above discussion, much inconvenience and/or cost may be associated with the convention arrangements for removing and securing lids of electronic devices. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic device. The electronic device may include a first side and a second side. The electronic device may also include a lid configured to cover an opening on the first side. The lid may include an interior side. The interior side may be invisible from outside of the electronic device when the lid covers the opening. The electronic device may also include a latching mechanism including a slider configured to slide along at least one of the lid and the first side for latching the lid at the interior side. The electronic device may also include a control unit disposed on the second side and configured to actuate movement of the slider. 
     The above summary relates to only one of the many embodiments of the invention disclosed herein and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the claims herein. These and other features of the present invention will be described in more detail below in the detailed description of the invention and in conjunction with the following figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a partial perspective view of a lid of an electronic device and an exploded view of a latching mechanism for latching the lid in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a perspective view of hard disk drive (HDD) carriers latched by the latching mechanism. 
         FIG. 1C  illustrates a perspective view of an optical disc drive (ODD) carrier latched by the latching mechanism in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1D  illustrates a partial exploded view of an electronic device including the latching mechanism in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a few embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps and/or structures have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention. 
     One or more embodiments of the invention relate to a latching mechanism for latching a lid of an electronic device. For example, the electronic device may represent one or more of a computing device (e.g., a computer), a networking device (e.g., a switch), an entertainment device (e.g., a television), etc. The lid may be configured to cover an opening on a first side of the electronic device. The latching mechanism may include a slider configured to slide along the lid and/or the first side. 
     The latching mechanism may further include a control unit (e.g., handle, knob, slider, switch, etc.) disposed on a second side of the electronic device and configured to actuate movement of the slider. 
     The latching mechanism may also include a first set of latching units (e.g., hooks, tangs, pins, receivers, apertures, channels, etc.) disposed on the slider and configured to latch an interior side of the lid. The interior side of the lid may be invisible from outside of the electronic device when the lid covers the opening. 
     The latching mechanism may also include a second set of latching units (e.g., hooks, tangs, pins, receivers, apertures, channels, etc.) disposed on the slider and configured to secure one or more electronic components in place inside the electronic device when the first set of latching units latches the interior side of the lid. 
     The first set of latching units and the second set of latching units may be disposed on two different sides of the slider. Alternatively or additionally, the first set of latching units and the second set of latching units may perform latching/unlatching actions from two different sides of the slider. 
     The second set of latching units may be configured to latch at least a first carrier disposed inside the electronic device when the first set of latching units latches the lid. The first carrier may be configured to carry at least a first electronic component. In one or more embodiments, the first electronic component may represent at least one of a storage device, a memory module, etc. For example, the first electronic component may represent at least one of a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, a magneto-optical disk drive, a solid-state storage device, etc. 
     The latching mechanism may further include a third set of latching units (e.g., hooks, tangs, pins, receivers, apertures, channels, etc.) configured to latch at least a second carrier disposed inside the electronic device when the first set of latching units latches the lid. The second carrier may be configured to carry at least a second electronic component. The first electronic component and the second electronic component may represent different electronic component types or the same electronic component type. 
     The first set of latching units, the second set of latching units, and the third set of latching units may be disposed on three different sides of the slider. Alternatively or additionally, the first set of latching units, the second set of latching units, and the third set of latching units may perform latching/unlatching actions from three different sides of the slider 
     The slider may be secured inside the electronic device by one or more mounting elements (e.g., pins, screws, hooks, etc.). The one or more mounting elements may be configured to guide translation of the slider. 
     The slider may also include one or more visual indicators configured to indicate whether one or more components (e.g., the one or more electronic components and/or one or more corresponding carriers) inside the electronic device are latched by the latching mechanism. The one or more visual indicators may be visible through one or more channels. The one or more channels may be configured to limit movement of the first set of latching units. 
     The slider may include a coating configured to tune friction between the slider and an associated contact surface inside the electronic device. The coating may be formed of a material including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), such as Teflon.®. 
     One or more embodiments of the invention relate to an electronic device that includes the latching mechanism or a variation of the latching mechanism. 
     The features and advantages of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the figure and discussions that follow. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a partial perspective view of a lid  105  of an electronic device and an exploded view of a latching mechanism  110  in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present in invention. Latching mechanism  110  may include a first set of latching units, including one or more latching units, such as latching units  111   a - d . configured to latch a set of mating units, such as mating units  155 - 158 , disposed on an interior side  151  of lid  105 . Interior side  151  may be invisible from outside of the electronic device when lid  105  is installed on the electronic device. 
     Latching units  111   a - d  may be disposed on a first side  171  of slider  159  of latching mechanism  110 . In one or more embodiments, one or more of latching units  111   a - d  may include a male feature. Alternatively or additionally, one or more of mating features  155 - 158  may include a male feature. 
     Latching mechanism  110  may also include a set of channels  118   a - d  configured to accommodate latching units  111   a - d . Latching mechanism  110  may also include a set of fastening units  114   a - d  configured to secure latching units  111   a - d  at corresponding channels  111   a - d , respectively. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates a perspective view of hard disk drive (HDD) carriers  121 - 124  latched by latching mechanism  110 . HDD carriers  121 - 124  may be disposed inside an electronic device for carrying hard disk drives. Latching mechanism  110  may include a second set of latching units, including one or more latching units, such as latching units  112   a - d , configured to latch mating units, such as mating units  125 - 128 , of HDD carriers  121 - 124 , respectively. With HDD carriers  121 - 124  latched by latching mechanism  110 , the hard disk drives may be secured in place inside the electronic device. 
     The second set of latching units and the first set of latching units (discussed in the example of  FIG. 1A ) may be disposed on different sides of a slider  119  of latching mechanism  110 . Latching units  112   a - d  may be disposed on a second side  172  of slider  119  of latching mechanism  110 . In one or more embodiments, one or more of latching units  112   a - d  may include a male feature. Alternatively or additionally, one or more of mating units  125 - 128  may include a male feature. 
       FIG. 1C  illustrates a perspective view of an optical disc drive (ODD) carrier  130  latched by latching mechanism  110  in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. ODD carrier  130  may be disposed inside an electronic device and configured to carry an optical disk drive, such as a CD drive or a DVD drive. Latching mechanism  110  may include a third set of latching units, including one or more latching units, such as latching unit  113  configured to one or more latching units, such as latch mating unit  135 , of ODD carrier  130 . With ODD carrier  130  latched by latching mechanism  110 , the optical disk drive may be secured in place inside the electronic device. 
     Latching unit  113  may be disposed on a third side  173  of slider  119  of latching mechanism  110 . In one or more embodiments, latching unit  113  may include a male feature. Alternatively, mating unit  135  may include a male feature. 
       FIG. 1D  illustrates a partial exploded view of an electronic device  100  in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. Electronic device  100  may include a housing  101  (represented/indicated by a frame  103 , an outline  104 , etc.) configured to accommodate a plurality of electronic components. 
     The electronic components may include an optical disk drive carried by ODD carrier  130 . Alternatively or additionally, the electronic components may Include one or more hard disk drives carried by one or more of HDD carrier  121 - 124 . 
     Electronic device  100  may also include lid  105  (shown in the example of  FIG. 1A ) for covering an opening  106  on first side  107  of housing  101 , for example, for protecting the components inside  101  and for reinforcing the structure of housing  101 . 
     Electronic device  100  may also include latching mechanism  310  configured to simultaneously latch two or more components of electronic device  100 , such as lid  105 , one or more of HDD carriers  121 - 124 , and ODD carrier  130 . 
     Electronic device  100  may also include a shelf  190  configured to support/carry ODD carrier  530 , HDD carrier  121 - 124 , and/or latching mechanism  110 . Electronic device  100  may include a set of mounting elements  192   a - e  configured to mount latching mechanism  110 , through channels  117   a - e  on slider  119 , onto shelf  190 . Mounting elements  192   a - e  may also be configured to guide movement (e.g., translation) of latching mechanism  110  by slidably engaging channels  117   a - e . Latching units  111   a - d  may be installed on slider  119  through channels  191   a - d  of shelf  190 . Channels  191   a - d  may be configured to guide movement of latching units  111   a - d.    
     Slider  119  may include a coating for tuning friction between slider  119  and an associated contact surface of shelf  190 . Accordingly, integrity, durability, and performance of latching mechanism  110  may be optimized. The coating may be formed of a material including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), such as Teflon.®. 
     Slider  119  may also include one or more visual indicators, such as indicators  116   a - d  and  115   a - d , configured to indicate whether components inside housing  101 , such as ODD carrier  130  and HDD carriers  121 - 124 , are latched. When the components are latched, indicators  116   a - d  may be visible through channels  191   a - d . When the components are unlatched, visual indicators  115   a - d  are visible through channels  191   a - d.    
     Electronic device  100  may also include a control unit  180  configured to actuate movement of latching mechanism  110  through a biasing mechanism  100 . Biasing mechanism  160  may include a sliding pin and a channel. Alternatively or additionally, biasing mechanism  160  may include a cam mechanism and/or a spring mechanism. Through biasing mechanism  160 , control unit  180  may actuate latching mechanism  110  to translate in a latching direction  187  to simultaneously latch multiple components, for example, including lid  105 , HDD carriers  121 - 124 , and ODD carrier  130 . Through biasing mechanism  160 , control unit  180  may also actuate latching mechanism  110  to translate in an unlatching direction  188  to simultaneously unlatch the components. In one single action of control unit  180 , multiple components may be latched or unlatched simultaneously. Advantageously, no external/additional tool is required, latching and unlatching are convenient and easy, and there are no fasteners to be lost. 
     Control unit  180  may be disposed on a second side  108  that is perpendicular to first side  107 , where lid  105  is disposed. Accordingly, lid  105  may be latched and unlatched even if first side  107  is very close to a wall or other objects, without electronic device  100  or the objects being moved. 
     Electronic device  100  may also include a locking unit  183 . Locking unit  183  may be configured to rotate to a locking position such that a locking portion  184  protrudes through aperture  181  of control unit  180 . A lock, such as a combination lock, may apply at the locking portion for locking control unit  180 , such that lid  105  may not be removed and that security for components inside electronic device  100  may be improved. 
     As can be appreciated from the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention may require only one single action on a control unit to simultaneously latch or unlatch multiple components of an electronic device, including the lid of the electronic device. There may be no external/additional tool required for removing/securing the lid. Advantageously, servicing the electronic device may be convenient and easy. Further, there may be no fasteners associated with the lid to be lost. 
     Since multiple components may be secured in place through only one single action, assembly of the electronic device may be simplified. As a result, manufacturing cost for the electronic device may be reduced. 
     By eliminating the need for multiple fasteners and mating structures/features for installing the lid, embodiments of the invention may effectively the part count for the electronic device. Advantageously, manufacturing and material costs for the electronic device may be further reduced. 
     Further, since there are no fasteners and mating structures/features on the external surface of the lid, the appearance of the electronic device may be aesthetically desirable. Cleaning of the electronic device also may be simplified. 
     Embodiments of the invention may also provide visual indications for the latching status of components inside the electronic device. Accordingly, the components may be appropriately handled, and therefore likelihood of damage to the components may be advantageously reduced. 
     While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents, which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and apparatuses of the present invention. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may find utility in other applications. The abstract section is provided herein for convenience and, due to word count limitation, is accordingly written for reading convenience and should not be employed to limit the scope of the claims. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alternations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20101118
Publication Date: 20111108
Grant Date: 20111108
Priority Date: 20070731
Inventors: MARIANO RICARDO
SPRINGER GREGORY
RUSSELL-CLARKE PETER
DE IULIIS DANIELE
LIN BOYU
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F1/181", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F1/181", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 40337906