IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,429,900
Granted Patent B1
US 10,429,900 · App. 16/022,674 · Granted Oct 1, 2019

Coupled structure and electronic device

Inventors: Masahiro Kitamura (Yokohama, JP); Mitsuo Horiuchi (Yokohama, JP); Satoshi Douzono (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
G06F1/1662G06F3/0213G06F3/0221G06F1/1616
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,429,900
App. No.
16/022,674
Granted
Oct 1, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A coupled structure capable of keeping the coupled state between coupled members without degrading the appearance, and an electronic device including such a coupled structure are disclosed. A coupled structure includes a keyboard unit coupled with a main body chassis. The coupled structure includes a hook mechanism which engages the keyboard unit with the main body chassis when the keyboard unit moves in one direction relative to the main body chassis, a locking part formed at the main body chassis, and an elastic part formed at the keyboard unit, and the elastic part biases the keyboard unit engaged with main body chassis in the one direction relative to the main body chassis when the locking part locks the elastic part.

Claims (34)

1. A coupled structure including a first member coupled to a second member, comprising:

a hook mechanism configured to engage the first member with the second member when the first member moves in one direction relative to the second member;

a locking part at the second member; and

an elastic part at the first member, the elastic part configured to bias the first member engaged with the second member in the one direction relative to the second member when the locking part locks the elastic part.

2. The coupled structure according to claim 1 , wherein

the hook mechanism includes an engagement hole at one face of the first member and a hook at one face of the second member or a hook at the one face of the first member and an engagement hole at the one face of the second member,

the hook mechanism configured to, after placing the one face of the first member on the one face of the second member and inserting the hook into the engagement hole, and moving the first member in the one direction relative to the second member, engage with the engagement hole,

the elastic member is disposed at the one face of the first member, and

the locking part is disposed at the one face of the second member, and has a locking face configured to lock the elastic part in the one direction.

3. The coupled structure according to claim 2 , wherein

the locking face has an inclined face that is inclined gradually in the one direction and toward a direction of placing the one face of the first member on the one face of the second member.

4. The coupled structure according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a screw that fastens the first member to the second member in the direction of placing the one face of the first member on the one face of the second member.

5. The coupled structure according to claim 4 , wherein

the one face of the first member has a recess having a first hole at a center, the first hole configured for insertion of the screw, and

the one face of the second member has a second hole at a center, the second hole configured for insertion of the screw, and has a projection configured to fit the recess of the first member.

6. The coupled structure according to claim 2 , wherein

the locking part extends in the one direction and has an upper face continuous to the locking face, and

the upper face of the locking part has a length in the one direction that is longer than an engagement length of the hook with the engagement hole.

7. An electronic device, comprising:

a coupled structure including a first member coupled to a second member, comprising:

a hook mechanism configured to engage the first member with the second member when the first member moves in one direction relative to the second member;

a locking part at the second member; and

an elastic part at the first member, the elastic part configured to bias the first member engaged with the second member in the one direction relative to the second member when the locking part locks the elastic part; wherein

the first member is a keyboard unit, and

the second member is a chassis having an upper face on which the keyboard unit is mounted.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein

the one direction is a direction toward an end of the keyboard unit that is closer to a user of the electronic device.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein

the elastic part is disposed at a position close to the end of the keyboard unit that is closer to the user.

10. The electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein

the keyboard unit includes a metal base plate and a resin housing plate stacked on an upper face of the base plate,

the elastic part includes a first plate spring disposed at the base plate and a second plate spring disposed at the housing plate, the second plate spring being overlapped on the first plate spring, and

the second plate spring comes in contact with the locking part.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2018
From: KITAMURA, MASAHIRO; HORIUCHI, MITSUO; DOUZONO, SATOSHI
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 046234/0671 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,443,221 US 12,585,309