US 7,003,333 B2 · Latch mechanism and electronic device employing a latch mechanism

Abstract

A hand held electronic device (50) has a flip cover (52) movable between a latched closed position and an open position, the flip cover (52) being slidable in a closed position along a sliding axis between a latched position and an unlatched position whereby in the unlatched position the flip cover (52) is rotatable between a closed position and an open position about a rotational axis transverse to the sliding axis. The flip cover (52) is securable in a latched closed position and an unlatched open position by frictional engagement between gripping fingers at opposite ends of parallel tracks in which rollers attached to the flip cover hinge shaft are able to travel.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims18

Dependent claims

A latch mechanism for a flip cover of a hand held electronic device, said latch mechanism comprising:

a rotatable shaft mounted in spaced slotted apertures of a track member to allow movement of said shaft in a direction transverse to a rotational axis of said shaft;
a latch member mounted on said shaft for relative longitudinal movement along said shaft and relative rotational movement coaxially with said rotational axis, said latch member and said shaft being relatively moveable between a disengaged position in which said shaft is free to rotate relative to said latch member and an engaged position in which rotation between said shaft and said larch member is resisted by engagement between said latch member and a projection extending radially from said shaft;
and
a coupling that operatively couples said latch member with said track member, said coupling, in use, being operable to move said latch member between an engaged and a disengaged position by movement of said shaft in a direction transverse to said rotational axis.

1 more element

A hand held electronic device having a flip cover movable between a latched closed position and an open position, said flip cover being slidable in a closed position alone a sliding axis between a latched position and an unlatched position whereby in said unlatched position, said flip cover is rotatable between a closed position and an open position about a rotational axis transverse to said sliding axis, wherein said device has a latch mechanism providing a latching of the flip cover when in the latched closed position, the latch mechanism including:

a rotatable shaft, rotatable about said rotational axis, mounted in spaced slotted apertures of a track member to allow movement or said shaft in a direction transverse to said rotational axis;
a latch member mounted on said shaft for relative longitudinal movement along said shaft and relative rotational movement coaxially with said rotational axis, said latch member and said shaft being relatively moveable between a disengaged position in which said shaft is free to rotate relative to said latch member and an engaged position in which rotation between said shaft and said latch member is resisted by engagement between said latch member and a projection extending radially from said shaft;
and
a coupling that operatively couples said latch member with said track member, said coupling, in use, being operable to move said latch member between an engaged and a disengaged position by movement of said shaft in a direction along said sliding axis.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,597 words

Summary1,639 words

#This invention is concerned with a latch mechanism and electronic device using such a latch mechanism. The invention is concerned, particularly, although not exclusively with a latch mechanism for a flip cover of a hand held electronic device such as a cell phone.

#Hand held electronic devices such as personal digital assistants (PDA's) and cell phones have employed hinged covers or lids to provide physical protection for a keypad and/or a touch sensitive liquid crystal display (LCD).

#U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,656 discloses a PDA with a hinged cover movable from a closed position to an open position where it remains, inclined slightly to a vertical axis, under the influence of gravity.

Brief description of the drawings6 figures

#In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a latch mechanism according to the invention;

#FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the assembled latch mechanism of FIG. 1 in a latched state;

Detailed description1,827 words

#In FIG. 1 the latch assembly comprises a housing base in the form of a track member 1, a latchable flip cover hinge pin or rotatable shaft 2 and a housing cover 3.

#Track member 1 has a floor 4 with a contoured slotted aperture 5 formed therein and on opposite sides of aperture 5 are a pair of ribs 6 having spaced cover locating recesses 7. Positioned outwards of ribs 6 are recessed tracks 8 formed between spaced walls 9, 10. A resilient metal clip 11 is located at each end of each track 8 by a locating bracket 12 securable in a respective locating recess 13.

#The shaft 2 has mounted thereon rollers 14 and a latch key 15 projecting radially and non-rotatably from shaft 2. Slidably mounted between rollers 14 is a hollow latch member 16 having a notched recess 17 to locate key 15 in an engaged position. As shown latch member 16 is disengaged from latch key 15. In an unlatched state as shown, shaft 2 is rotatable in latch member 16 and shaft 2 and latch member 16 are coupled by a torsion spring 18.

Facts

Application

10/244,978Filed 17 Sep 2002

Published

US 2004/0198245 A17 Oct 2004

Granted

21 Feb 2006

Term ended

21 Nov 2023

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 430 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification3 codes

H04M 1/0237
Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation…
H04M 1/0216
Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position:…
H04M
Telephonic communication

Timeline

17 Sep 2002Application filedUS 10/244,978
17 Sep 2002Assigned to Motorola, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
7 Oct 2004PublishedUS 2004/0198245 A1
21 Feb 2006GrantedUS 7,003,333 B2
13 Dec 2010Assigned to Motorola Mobility, Incassignment of assignor's interest
2 Oct 2012Assigned to Motorola Mobility LLCchange of name
24 Nov 2014Assigned to Google Technology Holdings LLCassignment of assignor's interest
21 Nov 2023Term endedEstimated, includes 430 days of adjustment

Latch mechanism and electronic device employing a latch mechanism

Life of this patent

Latch mechanism and electronic device employing a latch mechanism

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims18

Description3,597 words

Drawings

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent

Description3,597 words