Portable computer with an unlatching member movable in either of two opposite directions to permit opening of a computer lid

A portable computer including:

• a keyboard unit formed with two latch retaining notches;
• a lid mounted pivotally on said keyboard unit for covering said keyboard unit;
• two spring-biased latch members disposed movably on said lid to engage said retaining notches, respectively;
• and
• an unlatching member disposed movably on said lid and capable of being moved on said lid so as to disengage said latch members from said retaining notches, thereby permitting movement of said lid for uncovering said keyboard unit;
• wherein the improvement comprises said unlatching member being connected to said latch members so that, when said unlatching member moves on said lid in either of a first direction and a second direction that is opposite to said first direction, said latch members move on said lid in said first direction, thereby disengaging said latch members from said retaining notches, wherein said unlatching member has a first driving portion and a second driving portion, said computer further including:
• a driven plate disposed movably on said lid and guided to move in either of said first and second directions, said latch members being mounted fixedly on said driven plate, said driven plate having a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion;
• and
• a driving member mounted rotatably on said lid and disposed between said second driving portion of said unlatching member and said second engagement portion of said driven plate, movement of said unlatching members on said lid in said first direction causing said first driving portion of said unlatching member to engage and move said first engagement portion of said driven plate on said lid in said first direction, movement of said unlatching member on said lid in said second direction causing said second driving portion of said unlatching member to engage and rotate said driving member so that said driving member engages and moves said second engagement portion of said driven plate on said lid in said first direction.