CN103687376A - Latch structure and electronic components - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic component. The electronic component includes a portable electronic device, an expansion base and a latch structure. The expansion base includes a base and a frame that can be opened and closed with each other. The latch structure includes a latch component, a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component. The latch component is movably configured on the frame and has a receiving groove. The first magnetic component is movably configured in the receiving groove. The second magnetic component is configured on the base and corresponds to the first magnetic component. The first magnetic component and the second magnetic component have the same magnetism. When the frame and the base are closed to each other, the second magnetic component maintains the first magnetic component in the receiving groove by magnetic force. When the frame and the base are unfolded to each other, the first magnetic component is clamped between the positioning hole and the receiving groove.

Description

Latch structure and electronic components

technical field

The present invention relates to a latch structure, and in particular to a latch structure and electronic components combined with different electronic devices.

Background technique

In today's era of information explosion, human life is inseparable from electronic information. Users often use portable electronic devices to transfer electronic information and store electronic information. It is quite common, especially mobile communication devices or tablet computers that can be carried with you. .

Taking a tablet computer as an example, in order to reduce the burden on the user when carrying it. Therefore, compared with notebook computers, tablet computers often sacrifice some of their functions for convenience. For example, a touch screen is used to replace physical buttons and the like.

In view of this, some manufacturers have designed expansion bases, so that the expanded functions are suitable for users to use tablet computers at fixed points. For example, in addition to the charging function, the docking station will also design physical buttons and even speakers, so that the tablet computer can improve its operability and performance through the docking station.

Contents of the invention

The invention provides an electronic component.

The invention provides an electronic component with better operability and safety.

An embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic component, including a portable electronic device, a docking station, and a locking structure. The expansion base includes a base and a frame that can be opened and closed. The locking structure includes a locking component, a first magnetic part and a second magnetic part. The latch assembly is movably configured on the frame. The latch assembly has an accommodating slot. The first magnetic part is movably arranged in the accommodating groove. The second magnetic part is arranged on the base and corresponds to the first magnetic part. The magnetism of the first magnetic part is the same as that of the second magnetic part. When the frame and the base are closed, the second magnetic part maintains the first magnetic part in the receiving slot by magnetic force, and the latch assembly is suitable for latching the portable electronic device on the frame, or releasing the portable electronic device from the frame. When the latch assembly latches the portable electronic device on the frame, and the frame and the base are unfolded, the first magnetic part and the second magnetic part have no mutual magnetic force, so that part of the first magnetic part moves out of the accommodating groove. It is clamped between the latch assembly and the frame to prevent the latch assembly from moving on the frame.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned frame has a positioning hole located on a moving path of the accommodating groove. When the latch assembly latches the portable electronic device on the frame, the accommodating slot and the positioning hole are opposite to each other, and when the frame and the base are unfolded, the first magnetic part is locked in the accommodating slot and the positioning hole.

In one embodiment of the present invention, it also includes an elastic member disposed in the accommodation groove, the elastic member abuts between the first magnetic member and the latch assembly, and the elastic member constantly drives the first magnetic member away from the accommodation groove.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned elastic member provides the elastic force of the first magnetic member, which is smaller than the magnetic force between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned latch assembly includes a body and a first hook. The main body is slidably arranged in the frame. The body has a sliding slot and the above-mentioned accommodating slot. The first hook has a pivot portion and a sliding portion. The pivot joint is pivotally connected to the frame. The sliding part is coupled to the chute. The main body slides to drive the first hook to rotate so as to be exposed or hidden in the frame.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the extension axis of the above-mentioned sliding slot maintains a distance from the pivot portion, and the extension axis of the sliding slot is consistent with the sliding axis of the body.

In an embodiment of the present invention, it further includes a second hook disposed in the frame and located on the moving path of the main body. When the body slides toward the second hook and pushes the second hook out of the frame, the body drives the first hook to rotate and hides in the frame. When the body moves away from the second hook, the body drives the first hook to expose the frame.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned body is located between the first hook and the second hook.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned second hook includes an elastic piece and a hook portion. One end of the shrapnel is fixed on the frame. The hook portion is located at the other end of the shrapnel. The main body slides toward the second hook to deform the elastic piece and push the hook portion out of the frame. When the body moves away from the second hook, the shrapnel drives the hook part to move back into the frame.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned movement range of the first hook and the movement range of the second hook belong to two geometric planes perpendicular to each other.

Based on the above, in the above embodiments of the present invention, the locking structure drives the first hook or the second hook to latch the frame to the base, or to latch the portable electronic device to the frame. Furthermore, the magnetic component is further matched so that the frame and the base can only be assembled or disassembled when the portable electronic device is in a closed state. In this way, when the expansion base is in the unfolded state, the second hook can still maintain its buckled state on the portable electronic device without being affected by external force, and then the expansion base in the expanded state can maintain a fixed connection with the portable electronic device. Therefore, the safety and operability of the electronic components are ensured.

In order to make the above-mentioned features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, the following specific embodiments are described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are schematic diagrams of an expansion base according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are partial enlarged views of part A of the docking station in FIG. 2 from relative perspectives;

Figure 5 and Figure 6 are side views of the latch assembly of Figure 3, respectively;

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are schematic diagrams showing different states of the latch assembly in FIG. 4 from a top view;

Fig. 9 shows a schematic diagram of the latch assembly in another state;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the operation of the docking station and the portable electronic device through the locking structure of the present invention.

Explanation of reference signs:

10: electronic components;

100: expansion base;

110: base;

112, 210: buckle part;

120: frame;

122: positioning hole;

130: hinge;

200: portable electronic devices;

300: latch structure;

310: the first magnetic part;

320: the second magnetic part;

330: latch assembly;

331: the first hook;

331a: pivot joint;

331b: sliding part;

332: the second hook;

332a: Shrapnel;

332b: hook part;

333: ontology;

333a: chute;

333b: storage tank;

334: push button;

340: elastic member;

A1: Axial;

d1: spacing;

E1: one end;

E2: the other end;

N1: first geometric plane;

N2: second geometric plane;

P1: first position;

P2: second position.

Detailed ways

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are schematic diagrams of an expansion base according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 shows that the expansion base is in an unfolded state, and FIG. 2 shows that the expansion base is in a closed state. In this embodiment, the electronic component 10 is composed of a docking station 100 and a portable electronic device 200 . The docking station 100 includes a base 110 and a frame 120 connected by a hinge 130 so that the base 110 and the frame 120 can be opened and closed correspondingly to switch between the unfolded state in FIG. 1 and the closed state in FIG. 2 . The portable electronic device 200, such as a tablet computer or a mobile phone, is assembled to the frame 120 so that the frame 120 surrounds the portable electronic device 200, and thus electrically connects the portable electronic device 200 to the base 110 to pass through the expansion base. The stand 100 expands the functions of the portable electronic device 200 .

It should be noted that in order to avoid the possibility of the portable electronic device 200 falling from the frame 120 due to a user's mistaken touch when the docking station 100 is in the unfolded state (as shown in FIG. 1 ), the electronic component 10 needs to be designed A safety mechanism is provided so that the portable electronic device 200 can be assembled to or disassembled from the docking station 100 when it is not in use. Accordingly, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 respectively show a partial enlarged view of part A of the docking station in FIG. 2 from relative perspectives. Here, a part of the frame 120 is seen through to facilitate identification and description of related components therein. 3 and 4 respectively show different states of the latching structure.

Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 at the same time. The electronic assembly 10 further includes a latch structure 300 disposed on the docking station 100 for locking the base 110 and the frame 120 of the docking station 100 in the closed state shown in FIG. 2 . latch together, and the latch structure 300 can also latch the portable electronic device 200 on the frame 120 of the docking station 100, and at the same time limit the portable electronic device 200 only when the docking station 100 is in a closed state through its structural features Only then can the portable electronic device 200 be assembled to the frame 120 . The details are as follows:

In this embodiment, the locking structure 300 includes a locking component 330 which is movably configured on the frame 120 . The latch assembly 330 includes a first hook 331 , a second hook 332 , a body 333 and a push button 334 . The main body 333 is slidably disposed in the frame 120 and slides back and forth along an axis A1 , while the first hook 331 and the second hook 332 are located on opposite ends of the main body 333 along the axial A1 . The push button 334 is disposed outside the frame 120 and connected to the body 333 , so that the user can control the body 333 to slide in the frame 120 by applying force to the push button 334 .

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are side views of the latch assembly in FIG. 3 , which are used to illustrate the different states of the first hook 331 as the body 333 slides. Please refer to FIG. 3 , FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , in this embodiment, the body 333 has a sliding slot 333a extending along the axial direction A1, and the first hook 331 has a pivoting portion 331a and a sliding portion 331b, The pivoting portion 331a is pivotally connected to the frame 120 (as shown in FIG. 3 ), and the sliding portion 331b is coupled to the slide slot 333a of the body 333 . Since the sliding slot 333a and the pivoting portion 331a maintain a distance d1, when the main body 333 slides back and forth along the axial direction A1, it simultaneously drives the sliding portion 331b to move along the axial direction A1 and exerts a torque on the first hook 331 to cause The first hook 331 rotates relative to the frame 120 through its pivot portion 331 a. Here, since the first hook 331 is equivalent to rotating on the first geometric plane N1 to be exposed or hidden in the frame 120, when the frame 120 and the base 110 are in a closed state (that is, the first geometric plane N1 is perpendicular to the base 110 ), the exposed first hook 331 of the frame 120 can thus be buckled on the buckle portion 112 of the base 110 , so that the closed base 110 and the frame 120 can be fixed together. In contrast, if the user pushes the body 333 at this time to rotate the first hook 331 and hide it in the frame 120 , the fixed relationship between the base 110 and the frame 120 can be released.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are schematic diagrams showing different states of the latch assembly in FIG. 4 from a top view, wherein the state in FIG. 3 substantially corresponds to the state in FIG. 8 . Please refer to FIG. 4 , FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 at the same time, the second hook 332 is disposed in the frame 120 and located on the moving path of the main body 333 . Furthermore, the second hook 332 has an elastic piece 332a and a hook portion 332b, one end E1 of the elastic piece 332a is fixed to the frame 120, and the hook portion 332b is located at the other end E2 of the elastic piece 332a. As shown in FIG. 7 , when the second hook 332 is not stressed, the other end E2 of the elastic piece 332 a extends from the frame 120 near the portable electronic device 200 to away from the portable electronic device 200 . As shown in FIG. 8, when the body slides toward the second hook 332 along the axial direction A1, the body 333 will press against the other end E2 of the elastic piece 332a, and then push the hook portion 332b to the portable electronic device 200, that is, the hook portion 332b will be locked. The hook portion 332 b pushes out the frame 120 and is locked on the buckle portion 210 of the portable electronic device 200 , so that the portable electronic device 200 is fixed on the frame 120 . In other words, the second hook 332 moves on a second geometric plane N2, and the assembled frame 120 and portable electronic device 200 are also located on this second geometric plane N2, and when the frame 120 and the base 110 are in a In the closed state, the second geometric plane N2 is parallel to the base 110 .

Based on the above, please refer to FIG. 5 to FIG. 8 at the same time. The first hook 331 and the second hook 332 of the latch assembly 330 belong to the first geometric plane N1 and the second geometric plane N2 perpendicular to each other when moving, and the second The first hook 331 and the second hook 332 are located at opposite ends of the sliding path of the body 333 . In other words, through the structure and movement characteristics of the first hook 331, the body 333 and the second hook 332, when the user slides the body 333 to a first position P1 (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 ), the frame 120 The base 110 can be latched by the first hook 331 , and the portable electronic device 200 can be released from the frame 120 . In contrast, when the user pushes the main body 333 to slide to a second position P2 (as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 ), the frame 120 is released from the base 110, and the portable electronic device 200 can be latched on the second hook 332. frame 120 on.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic view of the latch assembly in another state. Please refer to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 9 at the same time. In this embodiment, in order to make the base 110 of the docking station 100 and the frame 120 in the unfolded state, the portable electronic device 200 can still maintain a fixed relationship with the frame 120 and Fall without being affected by any external force. The latch structure 300 also includes an elastic member 340, a first magnetic member 310 and a second magnetic member 320, wherein the body 333 has a receiving groove 333b, and the first magnetic member 310 is movably disposed in the receiving groove 333b , the elastic member 340 is disposed in the receiving groove 333 b and abuts between the first magnetic member 310 and the main body 333 . Here, the elastic member 340 constantly drives the first magnetic member 310 to move away from the accommodating groove 333b, that is, when the first magnetic member 310 is completely located in the accommodating groove 333b, the elastic member 340 is in a deformed state. The second magnetic part 320 is disposed in the base 110 , and when the base 110 and the frame 120 are in a closed state, the first magnetic part 310 and the second magnetic part 320 are opposite to each other. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the magnetic properties of the opposite sides of the first magnetic part 310 and the second magnetic part 320 are the same, so in the above closed state, the first magnetic part 310 and the second magnetic part 320 generate a magnetic repulsion force to each other.

In addition, the frame 120 also has a positioning hole 122 located on the moving path of the accommodating slot 333b. When the body 333 slides to the second position P2, the positioning hole 122 is facing the accommodating groove 333b, so that the elastic member 340 can push the first magnetic member 310 to the positioning hole 122, and the first magnetic member 310 is locked in the positioning The hole 122 and the accommodating groove 333b prevent the body 333 from sliding relative to the frame 120 .

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the operation of the docking station and the portable electronic device through the locking structure of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 at the same time. In step S110, the base 110 and the frame 120 of the expansion base 100 are in a closed state, and the first hook 331 is buckled on the base 110 to connect the base 110 to the base 110. Frames 120 are secured together. In step S120 , the portable electronic device 200 is assembled to the frame 120 . In step S130 , the body 333 is pushed to release the latching relationship between the first hook 331 and the base 110 , and at the same time, the second hook 332 is driven to fix the portable electronic device 200 on the frame 120 .

It is worth noting that although the accommodating groove 333b at this time is facing the positioning hole 122, the magnetic repulsion between the first magnetic member 310 and the second magnetic member 320 is greater than the magnetic repulsion force of the elastic member 340, so the first magnetic member 310 Therefore, it remains in the accommodation groove 333b. In step S140 , since the locking relationship between the base 110 and the frame 120 has been released in the previous step, the user can thus drive the frame 120 to unfold relative to the base 110 . At this time, the distance between the first magnetic part 310 and the second magnetic part 320 will increase accordingly, thereby gradually reducing the magnetic repulsion force between them, so the elastic part 340 can drive the first magnetic part 310 to move to the positioning hole 122, and then It is clamped between the accommodating groove 333 b and the positioning hole 122 , resulting in the effect of preventing the main body 333 from continuing to slide.

In other words, when the base 110 and the frame 120 are unfolded, the body 333 no longer slides due to the clamping action of the first magnetic member 310 , so the second hook 332 can keep it locked in the portable electronic device 200 status. Accordingly, when the base 110 and the frame 120 are in the unfolded state, the portable electronic device 200 can still maintain a fixed relationship with the frame 120 , and it is not affected by other external forces to avoid the possibility of falling from the frame 120 .

In addition, when the portable electronic device 200 needs to be disassembled from the frame 120 , the above steps only need to be reversed, that is, even if the frame 120 and the base 110 return to the closed state, the portable electronic device 200 can be removed smoothly.

To sum up, in the above embodiments of the present invention, the locking structure drives the first hook or the second hook through the sliding of the body, so that the frame is bolted to the base or the portable electronic device is bolted to the frame, and Furthermore, the magnetic part is matched so that the frame and the base can only be assembled or disassembled when the portable electronic device is in a closed state. In this way, when the expansion base is in the unfolded state, the second hook can still maintain its buckled state on the portable electronic device without being affected by external force, and then the expansion base in the expanded state can maintain a fixed connection with the portable electronic device. Therefore, the safety and operability of the electronic components are ensured.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than limiting them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: It is still possible to modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention. scope.

Claims (10)

1. An electronic assembly, characterized in that, comprising: a portable electronic device; An expansion base, including a base and a frame that can be opened and closed; A latch structure, comprising: a latch assembly, movably configured on the frame, and the latch assembly has an accommodating groove; A first magnetic part is movably arranged in the accommodating groove; and A second magnetic piece is arranged on the base and corresponds to the first magnetic piece. The magnetic properties of the first magnetic piece are the same as those of the second magnetic piece. When the frame and the base are closed, the second magnetic piece The component maintains the first magnetic component in the accommodating groove by magnetic force, and the latch assembly is suitable for latching the portable electronic device on the frame, or releasing the portable electronic device from the frame, when the latch assembly latches When the portable electronic device is locked on the frame, and the frame and the base are unfolded to each other, the first magnetic part and the second magnetic part have no magnetic force interacting with each other, so that part of the first magnetic part moves out of the container. The slot is inserted between the latch assembly and the frame to stop the latch assembly from moving on the frame. 2. The electronic assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame has a positioning hole located on the moving path of the accommodating slot, when the latch component latches the portable electronic device on the frame, The accommodating groove and the positioning hole are opposite to each other, and when the frame and the base are unfolded to each other, the first magnetic component is locked in the accommodating groove and the positioning hole. 3. The electronic assembly according to claim 2, wherein the docking station further comprises: An elastic piece is disposed in the accommodation groove, the elastic piece abuts between the first magnetic piece and the latch assembly, and the elastic piece constantly drives the first magnetic piece away from the accommodation groove. 4. The electronic assembly according to claim 3, wherein the elastic force provided by the elastic member to the first magnetic member is smaller than the magnetic force between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member. 5. The electronic assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch assembly comprises: a body, slidably disposed in the frame, the body has a sliding groove and the receiving groove; A first hook has a pivoting portion and a sliding portion, the pivoting portion is pivotally connected to the frame, the sliding portion is coupled to the chute, the body slides to drive the first hook to rotate to expose or hide the frame. 6 . The electronic assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the extending axis of the sliding slot maintains a distance from the pivot portion, and the extending axis of the sliding slot is consistent with the sliding axis of the body. 7 . 7. The electronic assembly according to claim 5, wherein the latch assembly further comprises: a second hook, disposed in the frame and on the moving path of the body, when the body slides toward the second hook and pushes the second hook out of the frame, the body drives the first hook The hook rotates to be hidden in the frame, and when the body moves away from the second hook, the body drives the first hook to expose the frame. 8. The electronic component according to claim 7, wherein the body is located between the first hook and the second hook. 9. The electronic component according to claim 7, wherein the second hook comprises an elastic piece and a hook portion, one end of the elastic piece is fixed on the frame, and the hook portion is located at the other end of the elastic piece , the body slides toward the second hook to deform the elastic piece and push the hook portion out of the frame. When the body moves away from the second hook, the elastic piece drives the hook portion to move back into the frame. 10 . The electronic component according to claim 7 , wherein the movement range of the first hook and the movement range of the second hook belong to two geometric planes perpendicular to each other. 11 .

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