Compliant magnetic locking mechanism
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsDevin Caplow-Munro, Amit Kaistha, Denys Yaremenko, Brett Tomky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The presently disclosed compliant magnetic locking mechanisms provide mechanism(s) and method(s) for latching a cover (e.g., a rear cover) to a device body that is quick assembling, low cost, easily recyclable, secure, and/or leaves no exposed fasteners. A bi-stable (or mono-stable) compliant mechanism inside the cover actuates a set of latches in and out. This action serves to lock and unlock the cover or other removable portion of the computing device. The compliant magnetic locking mechanisms may contain an array of magnets, which can be used in conjunction with a magnetic key to actuate the compliant mechanism from the exterior.
Claims19
A compliant magnetic locking mechanism comprising:
- a mechanism housing;
- a rotatable hub including a first radial arrangement of magnetic or ferromagnetic inserts seated within the mechanism housing;
- one or more arms, each extending outwardly from the hub within the mechanism housing;
- one or more latches, each attached to one of the arms, wherein the arms are arranged in a spiral formation extending outwardly from the hub and terminating at the latches, and wherein:
- a first position of the rotatable hub presses outward on the arms and extends the latches from the mechanism housing into corresponding latch receptacles within an article, thereby locking the mechanism housing to the article, and
- a second position of the rotatable hub pulls inward on the arms and retracts the latches out of the corresponding latch receptacles and into the mechanism housing, thereby unlocking the mechanism housing from the article;
- and
- and
- one or more springs, each attached to a distal end of one of the arms.
A method of using a compliant magnetic locking mechanism to attach a cover to a computing device, comprising:
- attaching a magnetic key to an exterior surface of the cover, wherein a first radial arrangement of magnetic or ferromagnetic inserts seated within the compliant magnetic locking mechanism align with a second radial arrangement of magnetic or ferromagnetic inserts within the magnetic key;
- fitting the cover within a cover recess in a device body;
- rotating the magnetic key, which induces a corresponding rotation of the compliant magnetic locking mechanism from an unlocked position to a locked position, the compliant magnetic locking mechanism including:
- a rotatable hub including the first radial arrangement of magnetic or ferromagnetic inserts seated within the cover;
- one or more arms, each extending outwardly from the hub within the cover;
- and
- one or more latches, each attached to one of the arms, wherein:
- the unlocked position of the rotatable hub pulls inward on the arms and retracts the latches within the cover;
- and
- the locked position of the rotatable hub presses outward on the arms and extends the latches from the cover into latch receptacles within the device body, thereby locking the cover to the device body;
- and
- detaching the magnetic key from the exterior surface of the cover.
A computing device comprising:
- a device body including a cover recess and one or more latch receptacles;
- and
- a cover fit within the cover recess, the cover including:
- a mechanism housing;
- and
- a compliant magnetic locking mechanism including:
- a rotatable hub including a first radial arrangement of magnetic or ferromagnetic inserts seated within the mechanism housing;
- one or more arms, each extending outwardly from the hub within the mechanism housing;
- and
- one or more latches, each attached to one of the arms, wherein:
- a first position of the rotatable hub presses outward on the arms and extends the latches from the cover into the latch receptacles within the device body, thereby locking the cover to the device body, and
- a second position of the rotatable hub pulls inward on the arms and retracts the latches out of the latch receptacles within the device body, thereby unlocking the cover from the device body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.