Electronic device and dock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9072160-B2
Application number	US-201313908317-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2013
Priority date	Jun 4, 2012
Publication date	Jun 30, 2015
Grant date	Jun 30, 2015

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an electronic device and a dock. The electronic device includes a first body, an insertion connector for connecting the first body, a second body connected to the insertion connector and physically connected/disconnected to/from the first body via the insertion connector by inserting the first body into the insertion connector or pulling the first body out of the insertion connector, a lock means having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the first body is securely connected to the insertion connector and cannot be physically pulled out of and disconnected from the insertion connector when the lock means is in the locked state and the first body is insecurely connected to the insertion connecter and can be physically pulled out of and disconnected from the insertion connector when the lock means is in the unlocked state, and a rotation means physically connected to the lock means.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a first body;
an insertion connector for connecting the first body;
a second body connected to the insertion connector and physically connected/disconnected to/from the first body via the insertion connector by inserting the first body into the insertion connector or pulling the first body out of the insertion connector;
a lock means having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the first body is securely connected to the insertion connector and cannot be physically pulled out of and disconnected from the insertion connector when the lock means is in the locked state, and wherein the first body is insecurely connected to the insertion connecter and can be physically pulled out of and disconnected from the insertion connector when the lock means is in the unlocked state; and
a rotation means physically connected to the lock means,
wherein when the first body is connected to the second body via the insertion connector,
the lock means is in the locked state in a case where the first body is rotated to a first rotation range with respect to the second body via the rotation means,
the lock means is in the unlocked state in a case where the first body is rotated from the first rotation range to a second rotation range with respect to the second body via the rotation means, and
the lock means is in the locked state in a case where the first body is rotated from the second rotation range to a third rotation range with respect to the second body via the rotation means.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the rotation means comprises:
a rotation axis; and
a transmission mechanism physically connected to the rotation axis and the lock means,
wherein rotation of the rotation axis causes movement of the transmission mechanism, which in turn causes the lock means to enter the locked or unlocked state.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the lock means comprises:
a lock body physically connected to the transmission mechanism; and
a locking hook connected to the lock body for locking the first body.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein
the locking hook has a locked state and an unlocked state, and
the locking hook is in the locked state such that the first body is securely connected to the insertion connector and cannot be physically pulled out of and disconnected from the insertion connector in a case where the first body is rotated to the first rotation range with respect to the second body via the rotation means,
the locking hook is in the unlocked state such that the first body is insecurely connected to the insertion connecter and can be physically pulled out of and disconnected from the insertion connector in a case where the first body is rotated from the first rotation range to the second rotation range with respect to the second body via the rotation means, and
the locking hook is in the locked state such that the first body is securely connected to the insertion connector and cannot be physically pulled out of and disconnected from the insertion connector in a case where the first body is rotated from the second rotation range to the third rotation range with respect to the second body via the rotation means.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , further comprising:
an elastic mechanism physically connected to the locking hook and applying a force to cause the locking hook to enter the locked state when the locking hook is in the unlocked state.

6. A dock, comprising:
a lock means having a locked state and an unlocked state and physically locking a first body and a second body; and
a rotation means physically connected to the lock means,
wherein
the lock means is in the locked state in a case where the rotation means is rotated to a first rotation range under an external force,
the lock means is in the unlocked state in a case where the rotation means is rotated from the first rotation range to a second rotation range under an external force, and
the lock means is in the locked state in a case where the rotation means is rotated from the second rotation range to a third rotation range under an external force.

7. The dock of claim 6 , further comprising:
an elastic mechanism physically connected to the lock means and applying a force to cause the lock means to enter the locked state when the lock means is in the unlocked state.

8. The dock of claim 6 , wherein the rotation means comprises:
a rotation axis; and
a transmission mechanism physically connected to the rotation axis and the lock means and arranged between the rotation axis and the lock means,
wherein rotation of the rotation axis causes movement of the transmission mechanism, which in turn causes the lock means to enter the locked or unlocked state.

9. The dock of claim 6 , wherein the lock means comprises:
a lock body physically connected to the rotation means; and
a locking hook connected to the lock body for locking the first body.

10. The dock of claim 8 , wherein
the lock body is physically connected to the transmission mechanism and the lock means has at least a slope, and
the rotation of the rotation axis causes the movement of the transmission mechanism, which applies an effect on the slope of the lock body such that the lock body and the locking hook move to cause the locking look to enter the locked or unlocked state.

11. The dock of claim 9 , wherein
the lock body is physically connected to the transmission mechanism and the lock means has at least a slope, and
the rotation of the rotation axis causes the movement of the transmission mechanism, which applies an effect on the slope of the lock body such that the lock body and the locking hook move to cause the locking look to enter the locked or unlocked state.

Assignees

• Lenovo Beijing Ltd

Inventors

• Yuan Chunfeng
• Xia Xiaosong
• Xin Zhifeng

Classifications

• H05K5/0221 Primary

  Locks; Latches · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• G06F1/1654

  the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use · CPC title