Patent Application
20060271944
This invention relates to an electronic device and, more particularly, to an electronic device in a folding structure with a positioning mechanism.
Various electronic devices, such as disc players, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal communication devices, are being widely used. In order to provide compact electronic devices, folding structures are often employed. An electronic device in a folding structure generally includes a main body, a cover, and a hinge assembly for rotatably connecting the main body and the cover.
For example, a conventional disc player includes a main body and a cover. A back edge of the cover is rotatably connected with the main body via a hinge assembly. A lock assembly is arranged at a front edge of the main body to selectively lock the cover with the main body. In order to prevent the cover from over rotating, a positioning mechanism is utilized. When the cover is rotated down, the lock assembly is engaged with the cover. When the lock assembly releases the cover, the cover pops up due to elasticity or manpower, and is stopped at an open position by the positioning mechanism. The positioning mechanism prevents the cover from over-rotating. In use, the disc player may frequently open or close. The positioning mechanism is thus frequently subject to impact forces. This requires the positioning mechanism to have a sufficient strong anti-impact capability, or the positioning mechanism is liable to wobble or even be damaged if not treated with care.
Therefore, a positioning mechanism for an electronic device with a strong structure is desired.
An electronic device includes a main body and a cover. The main body includes a back edge and defines a limiting slot at the back edge thereof. The main body forms a stop portion at the limiting slot. The cover is pivotally connected to the back edge of the main body. The cover includes a limiting member extending into the limiting slot. The limiting member including a peripheral surface is configured for cooperating with the stop portion to prevent the cover from over rotating.
Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Electronic devices of this invention can be disc players, PDAs, cell phones, and other devices in a folding structure. In the following embodiments a disc player is used as an example for illustration.
Referring to
Referring also to
A bearing bracket 16 is formed at a back edge of the upper body 12 of the main body 10. The bearing bracket 16 defines an opening 160 therein. A pair of shafts 17 is respectively secured to two opposite ends of the bearing bracket 16. A lock assembly 19 is mounted between the upper body 12 and the lower body 13 for selectively engaging with the hook 22, to maintain the cover 20 in the closed position.
A pair of sleeves 24 is formed at two opposite ends of a back edge of the cover 20. The pair of sleeves 24 defines an accommodating area 240 therebetween for receiving the bearing bracket 16. An elongated limiting member 26 is formed near the accommodating area 240 and extends downwardly from the cover 20. In this embodiment, the limiting member 26 is substantially a hollow polyhedron. Alternatively, the limiting member 26 may be configured to be solid. A pair of ribs 260 is formed near an upper end (not labeled) of the limiting member 26 and extends to the back edge of the cover 20. Therefore, the ribs 260 connect between the upper end of the limiting member 26 and the cover 20. The ribs 260 are utilized to firmly fix the limiting member 26 with the cover 20. A recess 27 is defined at the back edge of the cover 20.
Referring also to
Referring also to
In assembly, the torsion spring 28 is placed in the spring accommodating portion 280 through the opening 160, with the second end 284 being fixed at the sidewall of the spring accommodating portion 280. Next, the cover 20 is pivotally connected with the main body 10, with the shafts 17 being inserted into the sleeves 24. Meanwhile, the limiting member 26 is inserted into the limiting slot 182. The first end 282 of the torsion spring 28 is moveably received in the recess 27.
When the cover 20 is rotated down to a closed position, the hook 22 is inserted into the hole 122 and firmly engaged by the lock assembly 19. Meanwhile, the torsion spring 28 is compressed. When the lock assembly 19 is caused to release the hook 22, the torsion spring 28 is released. The cover 20 pops up due to the elasticity of the torsion spring 28. Then the limiting member 26 impacts the flat stop surface 180 of the stop portion 18 and is stopped, the cover 20 stops rotating and is in an open position.
Because the area of contact between the limiting member 26 and the stop portion 18 is relatively large, the force of the impact of the limiting member 26 against the stop portion 18 is weakened. Further, the ribs 260 are provided for firmly fixing the limiting member 26 at the cover 20. The limiting member 26 is thus avoided to wobble or to be damaged.
It should be noted that the limiting member 26 could alternatively be a hollow or solid cylinder, or other similar block. In that instance, the flat stop surface 180 of the stop portion 18 is configured in a shape corresponding to the limiting member 26. In addition, the number of ribs 260 is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments.
The embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Other arrangements and advantages may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention should be deemed not to be limited to the above detailed description, but rather by the spirit and scope of the claims that follow, and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200520059236.9 | May 2005 | CN | national |
