Concealed housing latch assembly for portable electronic device
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsStephen M. Stanton, James L. Isbell, Matthew R. Michieli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A first housing member (102) has a catch member (110) that engages a catch feature (302) on an inside surface of a second housing member (104) when the housing members are assembled together. A release window (117) is formed in the side of the second housing member to facilitate unlatching of the catch member from the catch feature. Alternatively, a latch release member (114) may be disposed in the release window so as to allow unlatching without the use of a tool. Additionally, the complaint covering may be formed so as to provide a water seal between the housing members, via sealing ridge (802) and a sealing groove (902).
Claims21
A concealed housing latch assembly for portable electronic device for latching a first housing member to a second housing member of the portable electronic device, the housing latch comprising:
- at least one catch member disposed on the first housing member extending away from a rear surface of the first housing member and extending beyond an edge of the first housing member, the at least one catch member being deflectable and having a catch opening formed therethrough and having a distal portion;
- at least one catch feature formed on an inside surface of the second housing member at a position corresponding with the opening of the at least one catch member for capturing the at least one catch member;
- at least one cantilevered latch release member formed in the second housing member at a position corresponding to the distal portion of the at least one catch member for deflecting the at least one catch member upon actuating the latch release member;
- and
- a compliant covering disposed over the second housing member, the compliant covering concealing the housing latch assembly;
- wherein the at least one cantilevered latch release member may be deflected through the complaint covering to release the at least one catch member from the at least one catch feature.
A latch assembly for a portable electronic device, comprising:
- a catch member disposed on a first housing member of the operable electronic device;
- a catch feature disposed on a second housing member of the portable electronic device for capturing the catch member;
- wherein the second housing member comprises a release window formed in correspondence with a distal portion of the catch member, and a compliant coveting that conceals the release window;
- and
- wherein the catch member may be released from the catch feature through the complaint covering at the release window.
A front housing for a mobile communication device, the front housing for mating with a rear housing having at least one catch member for latching the front and rear housings together, the front housing comprising:
- at least one catch feature disposed on an inside surface of the front housing, and positioned in correspondence with an opening of the at least one catch member for capturing the at least one catch member;
- at least one release window formed in a side surface of the front housing located in correspondence with a distal portion of the at least one catch member when the front and rear housings are latched together;
- and
- a compliant covering for concealing the at least one release window disposed on an outer surface of the front housing;
- wherein the at least one catch member may be released from the at least one catch feature through the complaint covering at the at least one release window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.