Scanner capable of adjusting the height of a paper cover

• US 6,972,878 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Avision, Inc.
• Inventors: Shyu, Devon
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibbs, Heather D.
• Application Number:
  US09/842,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20020118404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 358/498, 358/497, 358/474, 162/72, 162/54, 162/39, 399/380, 355/25, 346/139, 347/223
• US Class Current: 358/497
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00519 Constructional details not otherwise provided for, e.g. housings, covers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00554 Latches or hinges therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides a scanner including a housing defining two mounting holes. An elastic rib is located beside each of the two mounting holes to provide a retaining action. A paper cover is pivotally mounted on the housing and has two locking hooks. Each locking hook is mounted in a respective mounting hole of the housing. Thus, the height of the paper cover can be adjusted according to the variation of depth of the locking hook in the mounting hole. In addition, the locking hook is retained by the elastic rib and the catch plate of the mounting hole, such that the paper cover cannot be removed easily, thereby preventing the paper cover from being lost.

Claims

1. A scanner capable of adjusting the height of a paper cover, comprising:

a housing having a first surface defining at least two mounting holes, each of the two mounting holes being formed with two opposite catch plates;

a paper cover having an inner face with at least two locking hooks protruding outward therefrom, each locking hook including a shank having a first side and a second side each having a wing block protruded outward therefrom, each locking hook being mounted in a respective mounting hole of the housing, each wing block facing the respective catch plate; and

at least two elastic ribs each mounted beside a respective mounting hole of the housing and each having a top end formed with a catch block, the catch block of each of the elastic ribs having one side extended into the respective mounting hole and rested on the respective locking hook to provide an elastic stop effect to the respective locking hook to prevent the respective locking hook from being detached from the respective mounting hole when the locking hook of the paper cover is both perpendicular to and parallel with the respective mounting hole of the housing.

2. The scanner capable of adjusting the height of a paper cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing has a second surface located perpendicular to the first surface and formed with at least two open-shaped openings each connected to a respective one of the two mounting holes.

3. The scanner capable of adjusting the height of a paper cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shank of each locking hook has a surface formed with an opening.

4. The scanner capable of adjusting the height of a paper cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein each wing block has a length and a width equal to each other.

5. The scanner capable of adjusting the height of a paper cover in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the mounting holes of the housing has a longitudinal portion connected to the open-shaped opening and a transverse portion traversing the longitudinal portion.

6. The scanner capable of adjusting the height of a paper cover in accordance with claim 5, wherein the one side of the catch block of each of the elastic ribs is extended into the transverse portion of the respective mounting hole.

7. The scanner capable of adjusting the height of a paper cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein the one side of the catch block of each of the elastic ribs is pushed by the respective locking hook to retract from the respective mounting hole when the respective locking hook is inserted into the respective mounting hole of the housing and is extended into the respective mounting hole by an elastic action after the respective locking hook is inserted into the respective mounting hole of the housing to stop movement of the respective locking hook.