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US 6,108,196 AGranted
Locking mechanism for notebook computer
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorHee-duck Jung
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking mechanism for a notebook computer has an ejecting unit which elastically pushes a latch up to a certain height. The ejecting unit includes an elastic member installed at a main base panel of the notebook computer and an ejector for pushing the latch up due to the elastic member when a display panel is to be opened. Thus, the notebook computer can be easily opened and closed and also the external appearance of the notebook computer looks more aesthetically pleasing.
Claims20
A locking mechanism of a portable computer, comprising:
- the portable computer having a base panel supporting a keyboard and a display panel pivotally mounted on said base panel accommodating movement between the open position when the portable computer is open, and the closed position when said display panel is rotated to cover the keyboard;
- a latch installed in said display panel of the portable computer accommodating movement between a latched position and a released position;
- a slide knob operatively connected to said latch, permitting a user to move the latch between the latched position engaging a corresponding latch groove formed on said base panel to enable said display panel to be secured in the closed position, and the released position accommodating disengagement from the corresponding latch groove of said base panel to enable said display panel to be moved into the open position;
- and
- an ejection unit installed in said base panel elastically pushing said latch away from said base panel to cover the corresponding latch groove of said base panel but not protruding above said base panel when said latch is moved from the latched position to the released position, and elastically pushing said latch to secure said latch in the latched position after said latch is moved from the released position to the latched position, an upper surface of said ejector unit being in contact with a lower surface of said latch when the portable computer is closed.
2 more elements
A computer system, comprising:
- a base panel supporting a keyboard;
- a display panel pivotally mounted on said base panel for movement between an opened position and a closed position;
- and
- a locking mechanism provided at said display panel for locking said display panel in the closed position when said display panel is moved to the closed position, and for releasing said display panel from the closed position when said display panel is moved to the open position, said locking mechanism comprising:
- a latch installed in said display panel accommodating movement between a latched position engaging the corresponding latch groove formed on said base panel to enable said display panel to be secured in the closed position, and a released position disengaging from the corresponding latch groove of said base panel to enable said display panel to be moved into the open position;
- and
- an ejection unit installed in said base panel elastically pushing said latch away from said base panel to cover the corresponding latch groove of said base panel but not protruding to an outside area above an exterior surface of said base panel when said latch is moved from the latched position to the released position, and elastically pushing said latch to secure in the latched position after said latch is moved from the released position to the latched position, an upper portion of said ejector being in contact with a lower portion of said latch when said display panel is in the closed position.
4 more elements
A method, comprising the steps of:
- attaching a latch to a display panel of a portable computer, said latch protruding out of the display panel on a side accommodating a visual display of the display panel, said latch having a resilient member accommodating a sliding motion of said latch, the portable computer having the base panel supporting a keyboard and the display panel pivotally mounted on the base panel accommodating movement between the open position when the portable computer is open, and the closed position when the display panel is rotated to cover the keyboard;
- and
- installing an ejection unit in said base panel accommodating elastically pushing said latch away from the base panel to cover the corresponding latch groove of said base panel but not protruding to an outside area above an exterior surface of the base panel when said latch is moved from the latched position to the released position, and accommodating elastically pushing said latch to secure in the latched position after said latch is moved from the released position to the latched position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.