Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The exemplary invention relates to cover mechanisms used in electronic devices. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Electronic devices usually have external interfaces for electrically connecting peripheral devices, accessories or networks to the electronic device. Such external interfaces should be protected by the cover mechanisms for continued proper functioning. 
     Cover mechanisms usually include covers with locks. When the cover mechanisms are used in electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones), the covers are typically locked to the electronic devices by the locking means and, used to cover holes through which the interfaces (e.g., universal serial bus (USB)) of electronic devices are exposed. However, it can be difficult to close off two or more interfaces with one cover mechanism. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the exemplary cover mechanism and a portable electronic device using the cover mechanism can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary cover mechanism and the portable electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an electronic device including an cover mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded and isometric view of the cover mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , showing another aspect thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the cover mechanism shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , showing another aspect thereof. 
         FIG. 6  is similar to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , both being viewed from different angle and showing an opening operation of the cover mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary mobile phone  200  can be seen including an enclosed housing  300 , a keypad  17 , a display  18 , and a cover mechanism  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the cover mechanism  100  includes a base portion  30 , i.e., parts of the housing  300  (e.g. a bottom wall  31  and a sidewall  35 ), a first cover member  50  and a second cover member  70 . The cover mechanism  100  is used to close off three interface holes defined in sidewall  35 , which are illustrated and identified as a first interface hole  3512 , a second interface hole  3522  and a third interface hole  353 . The second interface hole  3522  is positioned between the first interface hole  3512  and the third interface hole  353 . A portion of the sidewall  35  between the first interface hole  3512  and the second interface hole  3522  defines a groove  3515  and a slit  3525  therethrough. The groove  3515  and the slit  3525  communicate with the first interface hole  3512  and the second interface hole  3522 , respectively. The bottom wall  31  has a locking block  33  protruding therefrom and adjacent to the slit  3525 . The locking block  33  is generally rectangular and has a first locking hole  332  aligning with the slit  3525 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the sidewall  35  has two latching protrusions  38  protruding from an outside surface thereof. The two latching protrusions  38  are adjacent to the first interface hole  3512  and on the side of the first interface hole  3512  opposite to second interface hole  3522 . Each of the latching protrusions  38  is generally L-shaped having a latching end  381  extending therefrom. The latching ends  381  extend in opposite directions. 
     The first cover member  50  has a first cover portion  51 , a latching cutout  52  and a locking protrusion  53 . The latching cutout  52  and the locking protrusion  53  are located at opposite ends of the first cover member  50 , respectively. The first cover portion  51  is flexible (e.g. flexible rubber) and disposed between the latching cutout  52  and the locking protrusion  53 . The first cover portion  51  is configured to cover the first interface  3512  (best shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
     The latching cutout  52  is configured for receiving and latching the latching protrusions  38  therein. Accordingly, an interior wall of the latching cutout  52  is configured for receiving and latching the two latching ends  381  therein. The locking protrusion  53  is generally L-shaped and includes a first connecting portion  531  and a locking portion  532 . The first connecting portion  531  connects the locking portion  532  to the first cover portion  51 . The first connecting portion  531  is configured for inserting into the groove  3515 . The locking portion  532  defines a second locking hole  535  corresponding to the first locking hole  332 . 
     The second cover member  70  has a second cover portion  71  and a locking pin  75  protruding from a surface of the second cover portion  71 . The second cover portion  71  is configured to cover the second interface hole  3522  and the third interface hole  353  (best shown in  FIG. 4 ). The second cover portion  71  is also flexible (e.g. flexible rubber). The locking pin  75  is at one end of the second cover portion  71  and includes a second connecting portion  751 , a limiting portion  752  and a pin portion  753 . The limiting portion  752  connects the second connecting portion  751  and the pin portion  753 . 
     The second connecting portion  751  connects the limiting portion  752  and the pin portion  753  to the second cover portion  71 . The second connecting portion  751  can be received in the slit  3525  when the second cover member  70  engages to the sidewall  35 . At this position, the limiting portion  752  is configured for locking with a part of the sidewall  35  between the groove  3515  and the slit  3525  to prevent the second cover member  70  from moving away in a vertical direction (best shown in  FIG. 4 ). The pin portion  753  is configured for locking into the first locking hole  332  and thus prevent second cover member  70  from moving away in a horizontal direction (best shown in  FIG. 4 ). The pin portion  753  has substantially the same size and shape as first locking hole  332 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first cover member  50  is locked to the base  30  by latching two latching protrusions  38  into the latching cutout  52 . At this time, the locking portion  532  contacts the locking block  33  and located between the locking block  33  and the groove  3515 . The second locking hole  535  aligns with the first locking hole  332 . Then, the second cover member  70  is locked to the base  30  after the pin portion  753  inserts into the first locking hole  332  and the second locking hole  535 . When the latching protrusions  38  are in the latching cutout  52 , the first cover member  50  cannot move away from the sidewall  35  in a vertical direction. Also, by a locking of the pin portion  753  into the second locking hole  535 , the first cover member  50  cannot move away from the sidewall  35  in a horizontal direction. The vertical movement is stopped by the locking of the limiting portion  752  against the part of the sidewall  35  between the groove  3515  and the slit  3525 . The horizontal movement is limited by the locking of the pin portion  753  into the first locking hole  332 . The first cover portion  51  closes off the first interface hole  3512 , simultaneously, the second cover portion  71  closes off the second and third interface holes  3522  and  353 . Therefore, the cover mechanism  100  closes off two or more interface holes, exemplified as the first, second and third interfaces holes  3512 ,  3522  and  353 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , when the first interface hole  3512  needs to be exposed, the first cover member  50  will be released from the locked state. During this stage, the first cover member  50  is pulled away enabling the two latching protrusions  38  to disengage from the latching cutout  52 . Because the first cover portion  51  is flexible and the pin portion  753  being locked into the second locking hole  535 , the first interface hole  3512  can be exposed by bending the first cover portion  51  around the locking portion  532 . 
     When the second and third interface holes  3522  and  353  need to be exposed, the second cover member  70  will be released from the locked state. Because the second cover portion  71  is flexible, the second and third interface holes  3522  and  353  can be exposed by bending the second cover portion  71  around the locking pin  75 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Technology Category: h