Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to stylus holding mechanisms, and more particularly to a stylus holding mechanism for portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     One kind of portable electronic devices generally has a large screen and the screen is typically pressure-sensitive. A stylus is used as an input device for writing, marking, or pressing on the pressure-sensitive screen. 
     In some electronic devices, the stylus is mounted to/into an integrated housing thereon, according to which the housing of the electronic device has a deep hole defined, for example in one sidewall thereof, substantially parallel thereto. The stylus is received and retained in the hole by friction therebetween. Even so, the stylus may be separated from the housing as friction between the stylus and the housing gradually decreases with continued use. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present stylus holding mechanism for portable electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled, isometric view of an exemplary stylus holding mechanism for a portable electronic device. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially, exploded, isometric view of the exemplary stylus holding mechanism. 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric view of a positioning mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partially assembled, isometric view of the exemplary stylus holding mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a stylus holding mechanism  100  for a portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone. The stylus holding mechanism  100  includes a housing  10 , a stylus  30 , and a positioning mechanism  50 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the housing  10  includes a bottom surface  12 , opposite end walls  13  and opposite sidewalls  14 , thereby cooperatively defining a cavity  120 . A dividing plate  122  is positioned in the cavity  120 , adjacent to one sidewall  14 . The dividing plate  122  is parallel to the sidewall  14 . A receiving space  16  is defined between the dividing plate  122  and the sidewall  14  for receiving the stylus  30 . A latching portion  18  is formed on one corner of the bottom surface  12  toward the receiving space  16 . Two adjacent sides of the latching portion  18  are respectively intersected with one end wall  13  and one sidewall  14  connected to each other. One side of the latching portion  18  protrudes from the bottom surface  12 , and the other side of the latching portion  18  is recessed to define a notch  142 . The latching portion  18  defines an insertion hole  144  communicating the notch  142  with the receiving space  16 . A plurality of tabs  146  perpendicularly extends from the sidewall  14 , and spans over the receiving space  16 . 
     The stylus  30  is a substantially thin and long pole. The stylus  30  can be received in the receiving space  16  of the housing  10 . The stylus  30  includes a head portion  32 , a body portion  34  and a tip portion  36 . The head portion  32  can be received in the notch  142 . A step  322  is formed between the head portion  32  and the body portion  34 . The body portion  34  passes through the insertion hole  144 , and can be received in the receiving space  16 . The step  322  abuts the latching portion  18 . The body portion  34  defines a groove  342  adjacent to the tip portion  36 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the positioning mechanism  50  includes a frame  52 , a compressible spring  54 , a block  56  and a cover  58 . The frame  52  is positioned on the bottom surface  12 , and is adjacent to the dividing plate  122 . The frame  52  is substantially U-shaped, and includes a top plate  522 , two side plates  524  and two latching tongues  526 . The side plates  524  are connected to the top plate  522 . Each latching tongue  526  extends from a corresponding side plate  524 . The two latching tongues  526  are opposite to each other, and define an opening  528  therebetween. The compressible spring  54  is received in the frame  52 . One end of the compressible spring  54  abuts the top plate  522 . The block  56  may be slidably positioned in the frame  52 . The block  56  includes a base  562 , a neck  564  and a projection  566  integrally formed together. The base  562  can be received in the frame  52 . A width of the base  562  exceeds that of the opening  528  between the latching tongues  526 , preventing the base  562  from passing through the frame  52 . The projection  566  is substantially triangular, and a bottom edge of the projection  566  is longer than the opening  528  to prevent the projection  566  from entering the frame  52 . A peak portion of the projection  566  is received in the groove  342 . The cover  58  can be detachably positioned on the frame  52  to enclose the frame  52 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , when the positioning mechanism  50  is assembled, the compressible spring  54  is received in the frame  52 . The neck  564  of the block  56  is received in the opening  528 , and the base  562  is received in the frame  52 . The projection  566  is positioned outside of the frame  52 , toward the receiving space  16 . One end of the compressible spring  54  abuts the top plate  522 , and the other end abuts the base  562 . The cover  58  is attached to the frame  52  by adhesive. The stylus  30  is received in the receiving space  16  through the insertion hole  144 . The head portion  32  of the stylus  30  is received in the notch  142 , and the projection  566  is received in the groove  342 , securely retaining the stylus  30  to the housing  10 . 
     In use, pulling force on the head portion  32  of the stylus  30  causes body portion  34  to compress the projection  566  on compressible spring  54 , allowing projection  566  to exit the groove  342 . Thus, the stylus  30  can be easily removed from the receiving space  16  for use with a touch screen of the housing  10 . 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that different changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely preferred or exemplary embodiments.

Technology Category: g