Locking mechanism of a mobile terminal battery cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11949803-B2
Application number	US-202318157670-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2023
Priority date	Oct 4, 2017
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

The present invention provides a locking mechanism in a mobile terminal and a method of manufacturing the same. The locking mechanism comprises a slider, latch, button, and spring. The slider and latch include openings and may translate between a locked position and an unlocked position. The latch may include a protrusion that limits the translation of the slider and the latch when in the locked position. The button is located within the opening of the slider and the opening of the latch, and the spring member is fixed adjacent the latch. In an instance in which an external force is applied to the button, the external force deforms the spring member such that contact between a vertical edge of the protrusion and the spring is precluded allowing translation of the slider and the latch between the locked position and the unlocked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A locking mechanism in a mobile terminal, comprising:
a slider disposed on an exterior side of a battery cover of the mobile terminal and comprising an opening extending through the slider and configured to translate between a locked position and an unlocked position;
a latch disposed on an interior side of the battery cover of the mobile terminal and attached to the slider, wherein the latch is configured to translate between the locked position and the unlocked position, and wherein the latch comprises a corresponding opening extending through the latch and a protrusion;
a button disposed within the opening of the slider and the corresponding opening of the latch; and

a spring in contact with the button and the latch,
wherein in an instance in which an external force is applied to the button, the external force deforms the spring such that contact between a vertical edge of the protrusion and the spring is precluded allowing translation of the slider and the latch between the locked position and the unlocked position,
wherein the latch and the slider each extends outward of the button to provide at least one of a lip, a flange, or an extension along an exterior edge of the latch and the slider that contact an exterior surface of the battery cover and an interior surface of a back housing of the mobile terminal.

2. The locking mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion further comprises a ramped portion proximate the vertical edge of the protrusion.

3. The locking mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein in an instance in which an external translational force is applied to the slider, the ramped portion of the protrusion contacts the spring so as to allow translation of the slider and the latch between the unlocked position and the locked position.

4. The locking mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein a point between the ramped portion and the vertical edge of the protrusion is configured such that, absent the external force applied to the button deforming the spring, the point transitions the locking mechanism between the unlocked position and the locked position.

5. The locking mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the latch, in the locked position, engages with at least a portion of the back housing of the mobile terminal.

6. The locking mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the back housing of the mobile terminal comprises a mounting part, wherein the mounting part further comprises a first mounting base and a second mounting base that are separated by a partition board.

7. The locking mechanism according to claim 6 , wherein at least one sliding slot is formed on the partition board.

8. The locking mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the button comprises a press part, a support part and a fixing part, where the support partis connected to the press part and extends downward from the press part through a sliding slot in a partition board.

9. The locking mechanism according to claim 8 , wherein the support part extends downward to be in contact with a contact part of the spring located in a second mounting base.

10. The locking mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the latch further comprises a projecting tongue formed at a side in its lengthwise direction, wherein the projecting tongue matches with a lateral slot formed at a side of a first mounting base.

11. A method of manufacturing a locking mechanism in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:
disposing a slider on an exterior side of a battery cover of the mobile terminal, wherein the slider comprises an opening extending through the slider and is configured to translate between a locked position and an unlocked position;
disposing a latch on an interior side of the battery cover of the mobile terminal, wherein the latch is attached to the slider and configured to translate between the locked position and the unlocked position, wherein the latch comprises a corresponding opening extending through the latch and a protrusion;
disposing a button within the opening of the slider and the corresponding opening of the latch; and
providing a spring in contact with the latch and the button,
wherein in an instance in which an external force is applied to the button, the external force deforms the spring such that contact between a vertical edge of the protrusion and the spring is precluded allowing translation of the slider and the latch between the locked position and the unlocked position,
wherein the latch and the slider each extends outward of the button to provide at least one of a lip, a flange, or an extension along an exterior edge of the latch and the slider that contact an exterior surface of the battery cover and an interior surface of a back housing of the mobile terminal.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the latch, in the locked position, engages with at least a portion of the back housing of the mobile terminal.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein, in an instance in which an external translational force is applied to the slider, a ramped portion of the protrusion contacts the spring so as to allow translation of the slider and the latch between the unlocked position and the locked position.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein a point between the ramped portion and the vertical edge of the protrusion is configured such that, absent the external force applied to the button deforming the spring, the point transitions the locking mechanism between the unlocked position and the locked position.

15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the latch, in the locked position, engages with at least a portion of the back housing of the mobile terminal.

16. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the back housing of the mobile terminal comprises a mounting part, wherein the mounting part further comprises a first mounting base and a second mounting base that are separated by a partition board.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein at least one sliding slot is formed on the partition board.

18. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the button comprises a press part, a support part and a fixing part, where the support part is connected to the press part and extends downward from the press part through a sliding slot in a partition board.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the support part extends downward to be in contact with a contact part of the spring located in a second mounting base.

20. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the latch further comprises a projecting tongue formed at a side in its lengthwise direction, wherein the projecting tongue matches with a lateral slot formed at a side of a first mounting base.

Assignees

• Hand Held Prod Inc

Inventors

• Yan Xianwei
• Zhang Zach
• Yang Xiaofang
• Chaney David

Classifications

• H04M1/0262 Primary

  for a battery compartment · CPC title

• H05K5/0221

  Locks; Latches · CPC title

• H05K5/0256

  of interchangeable modules or receptacles therefor, e.g. cartridge mechanisms · CPC title

• H05K5/03

  Covers · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title