# US 2017/0285692 A1 · Lock mechanism, and electronic device equipped with lock mechanism

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- Number: US 2017/0285692 A1
- Document ID: US20170285692A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/629,442
- Filed: 2017-06-21
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-12-26
- Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Takeshi MORI; Hirofumi SASAKI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285692A1

## CPC

- G06F 1/1679: {for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA (G06F1/1681 takes precedence)}
- E05B 65/0067: {for portable computers, e.g. for locking the screen panel to the keyboard panel}
- G06F 1/16: Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F 1/1616: {with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position}
- G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]}
- G06F 1/1662: {Details related to the integrated keyboard}
- G06F 1/1681: {Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683)}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS

## Abstract

A lock mechanism of the present disclosure includes an engaging member, an operating member, and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism translates a linear movement of the operating member between a first position and a second position into a rotation of the engaging member between a first rotational position and a second rotational position so that, when the operating member is moved to the first position, the engaging member is rotated to the first rotational position, and, when the operating member is moved to the second position, the engaging member is rotated to the second rotational position. The engaging member includes a pair of engaging pieces around a rotation shaft center, and an engaging-target portion includes a pair of engaging recesses with which the pair of engaging pieces engages when the engaging member lies at the first rotational position, and from which the pair of engaging pieces disengages when the engaging member lies at the second rotational position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lock mechanism capable of locking, in an electronic device configured to include a first unit and a second unit so that the first unit and the second unit are detachable, the first unit and the second unit coupled each other,
the lock mechanism comprising:
an engaging member provided to the second unit, the engaging member projecting externally from a predetermined face of the second unit, the engaging member being turnable about a rotation shaft center perpendicular to the predetermined face;
an operating member provided to the second unit, the operating member being linearly movable between a first position and a second position;
an engaging-target portion provided on a first side of the first unit, the engaging-target portion being formed to, when the first unit and the second unit are coupled each other, engage with the engaging member when the engaging member lies at a first rotational position, and disengage from the engaging member when the engaging member lies at a second rotational position; and
a drive mechanism that translates a linear movement of the operating member between the first position and the second position into a rotation of the engaging member between the first rotational position and the second rotational position so that, when the operating member is moved to the first position, the engaging member is rotated to the first rotational position, and, when the operating member is moved to the second position, the engaging member is rotated to the second rotational position,
wherein
the engaging member includes a pair of engaging pieces around the rotation shaft center, and
the engaging-target portion includes a pair of engaging recesses with which the pair of engaging pieces engages when the engaging member lies at the first rotational position, and from which the pair of engaging pieces disengages when the engaging member lies at the second rotational position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein
the drive mechanism includes
an engaging shaft provided at a different position in a radial direction from the rotation shaft center on the engaging member, the engaging shaft extending in parallel to the rotation shaft center, and
a coupling member fixed to the operating member, the coupling member being supported by a predetermined housing of the second unit so as to be movable in a moving direction of the operating member, the coupling member including a groove relatively movably engaged with the engaging shaft of the engaging member, the groove being formed meanderingly so that, when the operating member is moved to the first position, the engaging member is rotated about the rotation shaft center to the first rotational position, and, when the operating member is moved to the second position, the engaging member is rotated about the rotation shaft center to the second rotational position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein
a plurality of the engaging members and a plurality of the engaging-target portions are provided, and
the drive mechanism translates a linear movement of the operating member between the first position and the second position into a rotation of each of the engaging members between the first rotational position and the second rotational position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An electronic device comprising
the lock mechanism according to claim 1.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein
the second unit includes
an input unit including a keyboard,
a socket capable of accommodating the first side of the first unit, and
a hinge that couples a second side of the input unit and a third side of the socket so that the input unit and the socket are relatively rotatable, and
the predetermined face of the second unit is, when the socket accommodates the first side of the first unit, a face facing the first side of the first unit in the socket.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein
the drive mechanism is accommodated in an internal space of the socket.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein
the second unit is an input unit including a keyboard, the input unit including a receiver on a main face disposed with the keyboard, the receiver being capable of accepting the first side of the first unit, and
the predetermined face of the second unit is, when the first side of the first unit is mounted on the receiver, a face facing, on the receiver, the first side of the first unit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein
the drive mechanism is accommodated in an internal space of the input unit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein
the first unit is a tablet computer.