Electronic apparatus including immobilizing mechanism for swivel mechanism
A second enclosure can be folded over a first enclosure based on the rotation around a rotation axis defined relative to the first enclosure. A protrusion member is guided on the second enclosure along a straight line between first and second positions. A receiving hole is defined in the first enclosure so as to receive the insertion of the protrusion member protruding out of the front or back surface of the second enclosure. Even if one end of the protrusion member collides against the first enclosure during the fold of the second enclosure over the first enclosure, the protrusion member is caused to move. The first enclosure is thus prevented from suffering from damages or scratches over the first enclosure.
1. An electronic apparatus comprising:
a first enclosure;
a second enclosure designed to take first and second attitudes based on the rotation around the first rotation axis, said second enclosure of the first attitude opposing its front surface to a front surface of the first enclosure, said second enclosure of the second attitude opposing its back surface to the front surface of the first enclosure, said second enclosure designed to rotate relative to the first enclosure around a second rotation axis defined within a plane perpendicular to the first rotation axis;
a protrusion member guided on the second enclosure along a straight line, said protrusion member designed to move between first and second positions, said protrusion member allowing one end to protrude out of the front surface of the second enclosure, said protrusion member allowing other end to protrude out of the back surface of the second enclosure;
a receiving hole defined on the front surface of the first enclosure, said receiving hole designed to receive insertion of the one end of the protrusion member when the second enclosure of the first attitude is positioned at a predetermined position based on rotation around the second rotation axis; and
a rotating mechanism designed to generate a driving force to urge the second enclosure of the first attitude toward the first enclosure.
2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said protrusion member is designed to move between the first and second positions on the second enclosure of the second attitude, said receiving hole receiving the other end of the protrusion member when the second enclosure of the second attitude is positioned at the predetermined position based on the rotation around the second rotation axis.
3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a guiding member incorporated in the second enclosure, said guiding member designed to guide movement of the protrusion member;
a protuberance formed on the guiding member at a position opposed to the protrusion member;
a first depression formed on the protrusion member, said first depression receiving the protuberance when the protrusion member takes the first position;
a second depression formed on the protrusion member, said second depression receiving the protuberance when the protrusion member takes the second position; and
a third depression formed at a position between the first and second depressions.
4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said protrusion member includes:
a pair of first contours defining an outline of the protrusion member between the one and other ends of the protrusion member, said first contours extending in parallel with the second rotation axis on the second enclosure of the first attitude;
a second contour defined in parallel with the first rotation axis so as to define the one end of the protrusion member; and
a third contour connecting the first and second contours to each other.
5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said protrusion member simultaneously allowing the one end to protrude out of the front surface of the second enclosure and the other end to protrude out of the back surface of the second enclosure when the protrusion member is positioned at an intermediate position between the first and second positions.
6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a keyboard incorporated in the first enclosure at a position opposed to the second enclosure; and
a display enclosed in the second enclosure, said display defining a screen exposed at the front surface of the second enclosure.
7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotating mechanism includes an elastic member generating a driving force to urge the second enclosure of the first attitude toward the first enclosure.
8. An immobilizing mechanism for an electronic apparatus, said electronic apparatus including a first enclosure and a second enclosure designed to take first and second attitudes based on rotation around a first rotation axis, said second enclosure of the first attitude opposing its front surface to a front surface of the first enclosure, said second enclosure of the second attitude opposing its back surface to the front surface of the first enclosure, said second enclosure designed to rotate relative to the first enclosure around a second rotation axis defined within a plane perpendicular to the first rotation axis, said immobilizing mechanism comprising:
a protrusion member guided on the second enclosure along a straight line, said protrusion member designed to move between first and second positions, said protrusion member allowing one end to protrude out of the front surface of the second enclosure, said protrusion member allowing other end to protrude out of the back surface of the second enclosure; and
a receiving hole defined on the front surface of the first enclosure, said receiving hole designed to receive insertion of the one end of the protrusion member when the second enclosure of the first attitude is positioned at a predetermined position based on rotation around the second rotation axis;
wherein the electronic apparatus further including a rotating mechanism designed to generate a driving force to urge the second enclosure of the first attitude toward the first enclosure.
9. The immobilizing mechanism for the electronic apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the rotating mechanism includes an elastic member generating a driving force to urge the second enclosure of the first attitude toward the first enclosure.
10. An electronic apparatus comprising:
a first enclosure;
a second enclosure designed to take first and second attitudes based on rotation around a first rotation axis, said second enclosure of the first attitude opposing its front surface to a front surface of the first enclosure, said second enclosure of the second attitude opposing its back surface to the front surface of the first enclosure, said second enclosure designed to rotate relative to the first enclosure around a second rotation axis defined within a plane perpendicular to the first rotation axis;
a protrusion member guided on the second enclosure along a straight line, said protrusion member designed to move between first and second positions, said protrusion member allowing one end to protrude out of the front surface of the second enclosure, said protrusion member allowing other end to protrude out of the back surface of the second enclosure; and
a receiving hole defined on the front surface of the first enclosure, said receiving hole designed to receive insertion of the one end of the protrusion member when the second enclosure of the first attitude is positioned at a predetermined position based on rotation around the second rotation axis, wherein
said protrusion member includes:
a pair of first contours defining an outline of the protrusion member between the one and other ends of the protrusion member, said first contours extending in parallel with the second rotation axis on the second enclosure of the first attitude;
a second contour defined in parallel with the first rotation axis so as to define the one end of the protrusion member; and
a third contour connecting the first and second contours to each other.
11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said protrusion member is designed to move between the first and second positions on the second enclosure of the second attitude, said receiving hole receiving the other end of the protrusion member when the second enclosure of the second attitude is positioned at the predetermined position based on the rotation around the second rotation axis.
12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a guiding member incorporated in the second enclosure, said guiding member designed to guide movement of the protrusion member;
a protuberance formed on the guiding member at a position opposed to the protrusion member;
a first depression formed on the protrusion member, said first depression receiving the protuberance when the protrusion member takes the first position;
a second depression formed on the protrusion member, said second depression receiving the protuberance when the protrusion member takes the second position; and
a third depression formed at a position between the first and second depressions.
13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said protrusion member simultaneously allowing the one end to protrude out of the front surface of the second enclosure and the other end to protrude out of the back surface of the second enclosure when the protrusion member is positioned at an intermediate position between the first and second positions.
14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a keyboard incorporated in the first enclosure at a position opposed to the second enclosure; and
a display enclosed in the second enclosure, said display defining a screen exposed at the front surface of the second enclosure.