LATCH MECHANISM

Abstract

A latch mechanism includes a latching member, a button, and an elastic member for restoring the latching member. The latching member is rotatably installed in a cover unit. The latching member includes a latching portion for engaging with a base unit. The button is movably fixed to the cover unit. The button includes a slanted pushing portion for driving the latching member to rotate for disengaging the latching portion from the base unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric, inverted view of a latch mechanism with a cover unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the cover unit includes a first panel and a second panel;

FIG. 2 an enlarged, assembled view of FIG. 1 without the first panel of the cover unit;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but showing another state of the latch mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic, assembled view of FIG. 1 with a base unit.

Claims

1. A latch mechanism for locking a cover unit to a base unit, the latch mechanism comprising: a latching member configured so as to be rotatably installed in the cover unit, the latching member comprising a latching portion configured for engaging with the base unit;a button configured so as to be movably fixed to the cover unit, the button comprising a slanted pushing portion configured for driving the latching member to rotate for disengaging the latching portion from the base unit; andan elastic member for restoring the latching member.

2. The latch mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a torsion spring.

3. The latch mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover unit comprises a first panel and a second panel fixed to the first panel, the second panel defines a through hole therein allowing the latching portion of the latching member extending out therefrom.

4. The latch mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least two pairs of fixing members are formed on the second panel, each of the fixing members defines a curved groove, and at least two pairs of arcuate flanges are formed on the latching member for engaging in the corresponding grooves.

5. The latch mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the latching member defines two staggered notches therein, and two hooking members are formed on the second panel for engaging in the corresponding notches.

6. The latch mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the latching member defines a recess therein, a projection extends from the latching member adjacent to the recess, a fixing plate is formed on the second panel adjacent to the recess, a rod extends from the latching member toward the recess, and the elastic member is placed around the rod, with two ends of the elastic member fixed to the projection and the fixing plate respectively.

7. The latch mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein a front edge of the second panel defines a cutout therein, a receiving portion is formed on the second panel communicating with the cutout, the button is slidably received in the receiving portion, and the button comprises a pressing portion exposed in the cutout.

8. The latch mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein a stop plate having an aperture is formed on the second panel, and a post protrudes from the pressing portion perpendicularly for extending through the aperture of the stop plate.

9. The latch mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein an elastic member is placed around the post between the pressing portion and the stop plate for restoring the button.

10. An electronic device comprising: a cover unit;a base unit defining a latching slot therein;a latching member rotatably installed in the cover unit, the latching member comprising a latching portion for engaging in the latching slot of the base unit;a button slidably received in the cover unit and operatively accessible from outside of the cover unit, for driving the latching member to rotate and disengage the latching portion from the latching slot of the base unit; andan elastic member for restoring the latching member.

11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cover unit comprises a first panel and a second panel fixed to the first panel.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least two pairs of fixing members are formed on the second panel, each of the fixing members defines a curved groove, and the latching member is rotatably disposed in the grooves of the fixing members.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the latching member defines a recess therein, a projection extends from the latching member adjacent to the recess, a fixing plate is formed on the second panel adjacent to the recess, a rod extends from the latching member toward the recess, and the elastic member is placed around the rod, with two ends of the elastic member fixed to the projection and the fixing plate respectively.

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a stop plate having an aperture is formed on the second panel, a post protrudes from the button for extending through the aperture of the stop plate, and an elastic member is placed around the post between the pressing portion and the stop plate for restoring the button.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a slanted pushing portion extends from the button for pushing the latching member to rotate.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the latching portion defines a latching hole therein, and a block extends into the latching slot from the base unit for engaging in the latching hole of the latching portion.