Portable electronic apparatus having improved latch mechanism
A portable computer includes a base unit ( 70 ), and a display unit ( 10 ) pivotally connected to the base unit for movement between a closed position and an open position. A pair of hooks ( 11 ) is arranged on the display unit, each hook including a latching portion ( 113 ). A pair of catches ( 571 ) is arranged on the base unit and movable with respect to the hooks, each catch including a free end which snappingly engages the latching portion of a corresponding hook to attach the display unit to the base unit at the closed position. The latching portion of each hook defines an arcuate surface ( 574 ) along which each hook drives a corresponding catch to disengage from each other during movement of the display unit from a closed position to an open position.
1. A portable computer comprising:
a base unit;
a display unit pivotally connected to the base unit for movement between an open position and a closed position;
a hook arranged from one of the display unit and the base unit, the hook comprising a latching portion; and
a catch arranged from the other of the display unit and the base unit and movable with respect to the hook, the catch comprising a free end which snappingly engages the latching portion of the hook to attach the display unit to the base unit at the closed position;
the latching portion of the hook defining an arcuate surface along which the hook drives the catch to disengage from each other during the movement of the display unit from the closed position to the open position, the free end of the catch defining an arcuate end surface which smoothly connects to the upper surface and forms a relatively sharp corner with the lower surface, the latching portion of the hook engaging the relatively sharp corner at the closed position.
2. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the hook further comprises an actuating portion opposite to the latching portion, and the actuating portion defines a horizontally planar surface or a slanted surface to drive the arcuate end surface of the free end of the catch adjacent the upper surface during the movement of the display unit from the open position to the closed position.
3. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the catch is a movably spring-loaded catch.
4. A portable computer comprising:
a base unit, a spring-loaded catch movably arranged inside the base;
a display unit pivotally attached to the base unit for movement between an open position and a closed position, a hook mounted to the display unit and securing the display unit to the base unit at the closed position by means of interlocking with the catch; and
means for disengaging the hook from the catch during the course of the display being moved from the closed position to the open position;
wherein the disengaging means comprises an arcuate surface defined at the hook along which the hook moves with respect to the catch to disengage from each other from the closed position to the open position, the latch defines an end surface and a lower surface which cooperatively form a relatively sharp corner to interlock with the arcuate surface of the hook at the closed position.
5. The portable computer as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the base further comprises a bracket movably attached to the base unit via a retention apparatus, and the catch is formed from the bracket.
6. The portable computer as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the retention apparatus comprises a seat provided adjacent a front wall of the base unit to support the bracket and a tab spaced apart from the seat, and a coil spring is provided between the tab and bracket.
7. A portable computer comprising:
a base unit;
a display unit pivotally connected to the base unit for movement between an open position and a closed position;
a hook arranged from one of the display unit and the base unit, the hook comprising a latching portion; and
a catch arranged from the other of the display unit and the base unit and movable with respect to the hook, the catch comprising a free end which snappingly engages the latching portion of the hook to attach the display unit to the base unit at the closed position;
the free end of the catch defining an arcuate surface along which the hook drives the catch to disengage from each other during the movement of the display unit from the closed position to the open position, the catch defining an upper surface and a lower surface, the arcuate surface of the catch smoothly connecting to each of the upper and lower surfaces, and the latching portion of the hook defining an arcuate surface which engages the arcuate surface of the catch adjacent the lower surface at the closed position.
8. The portable computer as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the hook further comprises an actuating portion opposite to the latching portion, and the actuating portion defines a horizontally planar surface to drive the arcuate surface of the free end of the catch adjacent the upper surface during the movement of the display unit from the open position to the closed position.
9. The portable computer as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the catch is a movably spring-loaded catch.