Locking and retaining mechnism for an electronic device having a detachable control unit

A structure for detachably positioning a control unit to an equipment body of an electronic device, said structure comprising:

• a retaining portion formed on said equipment body;
• a retaining portion formed on a first portion of said control unit, said retaining portion formed on said control unit interlocking with said retaining portion formed on said equipment body;
• a locking member positioned in said equipment body wherein said locking member selectively engages and disengages a second portion of said control unit thereby securing said control unit to said equipment body;
• a temporary retaining member positioned in said equipment body whereby said temporary retaining member detachably engages and retains a portion of said control unit;
• an urging member coupled to said temporary retaining member, thereby urging said temporary retaining member in a direction such that said temporary retaining member protrudes from said equipment body;
• and
• a lock release unit coupled to said locking member whereby when said lock release unit is activated, said locking member disengages and releases said control unit;
• and
• wherein when said locking member is engaged with said control unit, said temporary retaining member operates together with said locking member to secure said control unit to said equipment body and when said lock release unit causes said locking member to disengage said control unit, said temporary retaining member retains said control unit in a position protruding from said equipment body.

A locking and retaining mechanism for use with an electronic device which includes an equipment body and a control unit detachably mountable on said equipment body, said locking and retaining mechanism comprising:

• a locking mechanism whereby said locking mechanism detachably engages and secures said control unit to said equipment body;
• a lock release unit coupled to said locking member whereby said lock release unit selectively causes said locking member to release said control unit from said equipment body;
• and
• a temporary retaining member located in said equipment body whereby said temporary retaining member detachably engages and retains said control unit;
• wherein when said locking member is disengaged from said control unit by said lock release unit, said temporary retaining member retains said control unit detachably connected to said equipment body.

A locking and retaining mechanism for use with an electronic device which includes an equipment body and a detachably mounted control unit, said locking and retaining mechanism comprising:

• means for retaining a first portion of said control unit to said equipment body;
• means for engaging and disengaging a second portion of said control unit thereby securing said control unit to said equipment body;
• means for disengaging said control unit from said means for engaging;
• and
• means for detachably retaining said control unit to said equipment body after said control unit has been disengaged from said means for engaging by said means for disengaging,
• wherein said control unit remains detachably connected to said equipment body after said control unit has been disengaged from said means for engaging by said means for disengaging.

A method for locking and retaining a detachably mounted control unit to an equipment body of an electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:

• retaining a first portion of said control unit on said equipment body;
• engaging and a second portion of said control unit such that said second portion of said control unit is selectively locked to and unlocked from said equipment body;
• and
• detachably retaining said control unit on said equipment body after said second portion of said control unit has been selectively unlocked from said equipment body,
• wherein said control unit remains detachably retained on said equipment body to protrude from said equipment body after said second portion of said control unit has been selectively unlocked from said equipment body.