Battery cover latching assembly for portable electronic device

• US 20060141344A1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industrial Company Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Sutech Trading Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: FIH Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tu, Hsiao-Hua, Chen, Chia-Hua, Chen, Rui-Hao, Ge, Peng-Jin
• Application Number:
  US11/287,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20060141344A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/97
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/00 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery cover latching assembly is used in a portable electronic device, which has a battery cover (10) and a housing (40). The battery cover latching assembly (100) includes a latching hole (12) defined in the battery cover, a locking mechanism (300), and a catching portion (42) formed on the housing. The locking mechanism incorporates a button (20). The button has a latching portion (242) disposed on one end thereof. A portion of the button runs through the latching hole of the battery cover and the catching portion of the housing. The latching portion of the button is rotatably engaged with the catching portion of the housing. This arrangement provides a user with both convenient assembly and disassembly operations.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device including a battery cover, a battery cover latching assembly, and a housing, the battery cover latching assembly comprising:

a latching hole defined in the battery cover;

a locking mechanism comprising a button, the button having a latching portion disposed on one end thereof; and

a catching portion disposed on the housing, the latching portion of the button being insertable through the latching hole of the battery cover and the catching portion of the housing, the latching portion of the button rotatably engaging with the catching portion of the housing.

2. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery cover has a circular protrusion extending from an inner surface thereof and recessed from an outer surface thereof to form a corresponding circular indent within the outer surface of the battery cover, the latching hole including an inserting hole and two diametrically opposite tab holes defined in the circular protrusion, the tab holes of the circular protrusion being in communication with the inserting hole.

3. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the catching portion includes a catching hole, a tab hole, and a guiding slot each defined in the housing, the tab hole of the catching portion being adjacent to and in communication with the catching hole.

4. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the button includes an operating portion and a post protruding from a center of one side of the operating portion.

5. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the latching portion is formed on a distal end of the post.

6. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein two opposite semicircular latching tabs extend perpendicularly from a middle portion of the outer wall of the post, each latching tab defining an arcuate groove, the latching tabs are configured for insertion through the tab holes of the battery cover.

7. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operating portion is received in the circular indent.

8. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a washer.

9. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the washer has two extending portions radiating therefrom, each extending portion of the washer having a respective elastic arm extending from a distal end thereof

10. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the washer defines a center hole, at least two arcuate projections being symmetrically formed on a first side of washer, each arcuate projection being proximate the center hole, the washer further having two diametrically opposite rectangular openings defined therein, each rectangular opening being in communication with the center hole.

11. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the washer is secured on the inner surface of the cover, with the center hole and the rectangular openings aligning with the inserting hole and the tab holes of the battery cover.

12. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the post extends through the inserting hole of the battery cover, the center hole of the washer, and the catching hole of the housing, and the latching portion engaging with the guiding slot.

13. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the latching portion has a position where at least one arcuate groove of the respective latching tabs of the button engages with a corresponding projection of the washer.

14. An assembled device including a first member, a first member latching assembly, and a second member, the first member latching assembly comprising:

a latching hole defined in the first member;

a locking mechanism comprising a button, the button having a latching portion disposed on one end thereof; and

a catching portion disposed on the second member, the latching portion of the button being insertable through the latching hole of the first member and the catching portion of the second member, the latching portion of the button rotatably engaging with the catching portion of the second member.