Latch unit for an electronic device

Details Latch unit for an electronic device Latch unit for an electronic device

2002-05-06

2004-03-16

Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2835)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C361S689000, C312S223100, C312S223200

Reexamination Certificate

active

06707665

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority of Taiwan patent Application No. 90215441, filed on Sep. 7, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a latch unit for an electronic device, more particularly to a latch unit for locking a display module to a main body of a portable computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventional portable computer
7
which includes a display module
71
and a main body
72
pivoted to the display module
71
via a hinge member
73
so as to permit the display module
71
to be rotatable about a vertical axis (Z) and a horizontal axis (X). The display module
71
has front and back walls
713
,
714
. The display module
71
is provided with a latch means having an anchored protrusion
716
formed on the front wall
713
. The main body
72
has an upper wall
722
formed with a slot
723
. The anchored protrusion
716
extends into and engages a periphery of the slot
723
when the display module
71
rotates about the horizontal axis (X) to a closed position, thereby locking the display module
71
to the main body
72
. The portable computer
7
can be converted into a tablet computer by rotating the display module
71
about the vertical axis (Z) to a position where the back wall
714
of the display module
71
can confront the upper wall
722
of the main body
72
upon rotation of the display module
71
about the horizontal axis (X) to the closed position. The conventional portable computer
7
is disadvantageous in that when in the form of the tablet personal computer, the display module
71
and the main body
72
cannot be locked together.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a latch unit for an electronic device that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawback.
According to the present invention, there is provided a latch unit for an electronic device that includes first and second housings pivoted to each other. The first housing is formed with opposite first and second slots. The second housing is formed with an upper slot. The first housing is rotatable relative to the second housing about a first axis to a closed position, in which, the first housing is stacked on the second housing. The first housing is rotatable relative to the second housing about a second axis between a first angular position, in which, the first slot confronts and is registered with the upper slot upon movement of the first housing to the closed position, and a second angular position, in which, the second slot confronts and is registered with the upper slot upon movement of the first housing to the closed position. The latch unit includes: a hook member adapted to be mounted movably in the first housing and having opposite first and second engaging ends extending oppositely in a transverse direction relative to the first and second slots, the hook member being movable in the transverse direction between a first transverse position, in which, the first engaging end is adapted to extend through the first slot and into the upper slot when the first housing is simultaneously positioned at the first angular position and the closed position, and a second transverse position, in which, the second engaging end is adapted to extend through the second slot and into the upper slot when the first housing is simultaneously positioned at the second angular position and the closed position; and a hook-controlling member which is adapted to be mounted on the first housing and which is operable for moving the hook member between the first and second transverse positions.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5465191 (1995-11-01), Nomura et al.
patent: 5548478 (1996-08-01), Kumar et al.
patent: 5594619 (1997-01-01), Miyagawa et al.
patent: 6122152 (2000-09-01), Goto et al.
patent: 6275376 (2001-08-01), Moon

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