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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
A mobile phone has a housing having a battery chamber for selectively
accommodating a rechargeable battery. The mobile phone includes
a battery latch and a latch coupling element. The battery latch
is movably connected with the housing for locking or releasing the
rechargeable battery. The latch coupling element is disposed on
the housing adjacent to the battery chamber. The battery latch,
corresponding to the latch coupling element, reciprocally moves
along a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the battery
chamber. When no force is exerted on the battery latch, the battery
latch is in a first position. When a predetermined force is exerted
on the battery latch, the battery latch moves a predetermined distance
to a second position to release the battery from the housing.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mobile phone having a housing, the housing having a battery
chamber configured to selectively accommodate a rechargeable battery,
the mobile phone comprising: a battery latch, movably connected
with the housing, configured to lock the rechargeable battery in
a first position and to release the rechargeable battery in a second
position; and a latch coupling element disposed on the housing and
located adjacent to the battery chamber, the battery latch, corresponding
to the latch coupling element, reciprocally moving along a direction
parallel to a longitudinal axis of the battery chamber; wherein
the battery latch is in the first position when no force is exerted
on the battery latch, and the battery latch is in the second position
for placing the rechargeable battery when a predetermined force
is exerted on the battery latch to move the battery latch to a predetermined
distance.
2. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the battery latch is integral
with the housing, and wherein the battery latch substantially covers
the latch coupling element when the battery latch is in the first
position.
3. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the battery latch has a
rough top surface to increase friction when the predetermined force
is exerted on the battery latch.
4. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the battery chamber comprises
a spring flexibly contacting the rechargeable battery wherein the
spring is positioned to electrically couple the rechargeable battery
and the mobile phone when the battery latch is in the first position,
and to bias the rechargeable battery away from the battery chamber
due to the metal leaf spring when the battery latch moves from the
first position to the second position.
5. The mobile phone of claim 4, wherein the spring is a metal leaf
spring.
6. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the battery latch has a
bottom surface and a front fringe, the battery latch further comprising
a pair of guide rails on the bottom surface and a bulge on the front
fringe.
7. The mobile phone of claim 6, wherein the latch coupling element
comprises: a pair of guide grooves configured for sliding movement
of the pair of guide rails; and an elastic member elastically contacting
the bulge, wherein the battery latch reciprocally moves corresponding
to the latch coupling element to selectively lock and release the
rechargeable battery.
8. The mobile phone of claim 7, wherein the bulge is engaged with
a cavity in bottom of the rechargeable battery to lock the rechargeable
battery when the battery latch is in the first position.
9. The mobile phone of claim 8, wherein the bulge leaves the cavity
to release or reinstall the rechargeable battery, when the battery
latch moves from the first position to the second position.
10. The mobile phone of claim 9, wherein, the elastic force of
the elastic member bias battery latch to the first position when
the battery latch is in the second position and the predetermined
force is removed.
11. The mobile phone of claim 10, wherein the battery latch further
comprises a pair of positioning hooks, and the latch coupling element
further comprises a pair of positioning slots configured to accommodate
the pair of positioning hooks.
12. The mobile phone of claim 11, wherein the elastic member biases
each of the positioning hooks to contact a front edge of each of
the positioning slots to maintain the battery latch in the first
position when no force is exerted on the battery latch, and to contact
a rear edge of each of the positioning slots to maintain the battery
latch in the second position, when the predetermined force is exerted
upon the battery latch.
13. The mobile phone of claim 12, wherein the latch coupling element
further comprises a guide pillar configured to connect the elastic
member.
14. The mobile phone of claim 13, wherein a bottom of the bulge
contacts the guide pillar to maintain the battery latch in the second
position when the predetermined force is exerted upon the battery
latch.
15. The mobile phone of claim 7, wherein the elastic member is
a spring.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application Serial
No. 90118355 filed on Jul. 26, 2001.
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to mobile phones, and more particularly,
to mobile phone with a battery latch to lock or release a rechargeable
battery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently mobile phones have become one of the most widely used
and convenient communication equipment. Typically, such phones employ
rechargeable batteries, such as NiMH batteries, Li-ion batteries,
or Li-polymer batteries, as power supplies. When a battery runs
out of electricity, the rechargeable battery is often removed from
the housing of the mobile phone so that the battery can be recharged
or replaced. A connection mechanism, therefore, is required for
connecting the rechargeable battery to the housing of the mobile
phone and for releasing the rechargeable battery from the mobile
phone at appropriate times.
As the technology evolves, the rechargeable battery not only becomes
increasingly thin, but also the mobile phone becomes provided with
enhanced functionality. At the same time, the demand for mobile
phones of smaller size and increasingly attractive appearance rapidly
increases.
Typical prior art mobile phones frequently employ a battery latch
as the connection mechanism. The battery latch is usually disposed
at one end of the shell of the rechargeable battery such that the
rechargeable battery is directly connected to the housing of the
mobile phone. Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of a prior
art mobile phone 100 is shown. A battery latch 102 is disposed at
one end of the rechargeable battery 101 to connect the rechargeable
battery 101 to the housing 103 of the mobile phone 100. Typically,
a space is necessarily reserved for a user to gain access to the
battery latch 102 during operation. A recess 104 is therefore formed
on the housing 103 of the mobile phone 100.
In prior art mobile phone 100 shown in FIG. 1, the battery latch
102 is not integral with the housing 103 of the mobile phone 100,
thus degrading the appearance of the phone. Moreover, when the mobile
phone 100 employing battery latch 102 to connect the rechargeable
battery 101 to housing 103 falls to the ground rechargeable battery
101 may become detached easily from housing 103 resulting in damage
to the housing 103 and/or the rechargeable battery 101.
It is therefore a desire to develop a mobile phone having a connection
mechanism that is integral with the appearance of the housing and
that is convenient for the user to mount or remove the rechargeable
battery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the drawbacks described above various embodiments of
the present invention provide a mobile phone with a battery latch
that prevents the detachment of the rechargeable battery when accidental
external force impacts on the mobile phone.
In one aspect of the present invention, a mobile phone is provided
with a rechargeable battery having a simple disassembly mechanism.
The mobile phone has a housing having a battery chamber for selectively
accommodating a rechargeable battery. The mobile phone includes
a battery latch and a latch coupling element that is movably connected
with the housing. The battery latch includes a pair of guide rails
on its bottom and a bulge at its front fringe. The latch coupling
element may be disposed on the housing adjacent to the battery chamber.
The latch coupling element includes a pair of guide grooves for
sliding movement of the pair of guide rails and an elastic member
elastically contacting the bulge so that the battery latch reciprocally
moves corresponding to the latch coupling element to lock or release
the rechargeable battery.
When no force is exerted on the battery latch, the battery latch
is suitably in a first position. When a predetermined force is exerted
on the battery latch, the battery latch moves a predetermined distance
to a second position. When the battery latch is in the first position,
the bulge of the battery latch is engaged within a cavity in the
bottom of the rechargeable battery to lock the battery into position.
When the battery latch moves from the first position to the second
position, the bulge leaves the cavity to release or reinstall the
battery. When the battery latch is in the second position and the
predetermined force is removed, the elastic force of the elastic
member suitably returns the battery latch to the first position.
In a further embodiment, the battery latch includes a pair of positioning
hooks and the latch coupling element further includes a pair of
positioning slots for accommodating the pair of positioning hooks.
When no force is exerted on the battery latch, the elastic force
of the elastic member makes each of the positioning hooks contact
a front edge of each of the positioning slots to maintain the battery
latch in the first position. When the predetermined force is exerted
and the battery latch moves the predetermined distance, each of
the positioning hooks contacts to a rear edge of each of the positioning
slots to maintain the battery latch in the second position.
In an alternative embodiment, the latch coupling element further
includes a guide pillar for connecting the elastic member. When
the predetermined force is exerted and the battery latch moves the
predetermined distance, a bottom of the bulge contacts the guide
pillar to maintain the battery latch in the second position.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the battery chamber
includes a metal leaf spring flexibly contacting the rechargeable
battery. When the battery latch is in the first position, the metal
leaf spring serves as an electrical contact between the rechargeable
battery and the mobile phone. When the battery latch moves from
the first position to the second position, the rechargeable battery
is bounced off the battery chamber due to the metal leaf spring.
In another aspect, a mobile phone is provided with a battery latch
that is integral with the housing of the mobile phone. When the
battery latch is in the first position, the battery latch substantially
covers the latch coupling element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this
invention will become more readily understood by reference to the
following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a mobile phone according to the
prior art;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary mobile phone;
FIG. 3a is a top view of an exemplary battery latch of a mobile
phone;
FIG. 3b is a bottom view of the exemplary battery latch of the
mobile phone;
FIG. 4a is a schematic diagram of an exemplary mobile phone when
the battery latch is in the first position;
FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary battery latch
of the mobile phone when the battery latch is in the first position;
FIG. 5a is a schematic diagram of the exemplary mobile phone when
the battery latch is in the second position;
FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary battery latch
of the mobile phone when the battery latch is in the second position;
and
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the exemplary mobile phone without
installing a rechargeable battery.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary mobile phone 200 suitably includes
a housing 1 having a battery chamber 11 sized to selectively accommodate
a rechargeable battery 5 (as shown in FIG. 4a and FIG. 5a). The
mobile phone 200 includes a battery latch 2 used for locking or
releasing the rechargeable battery 5. The battery latch 2 may be
movably connected with housing 1 as shown. Mobile phone 200 further
includes a latch coupling element 3, which is disposed on the housing
1 adjacent to battery chamber 11.
As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3a, and FIG. 3b, battery latch 2 has a
pair of guide rails 21, 22 and a pair of positioning hooks 24, 25
on its bottom surface. Battery latch 2 further includes a rough
surface 26 such as any number of elevated lines or grooves to increase
friction when a user exerts a predetermined force on battery latch
2. Battery latch 2 further includes a bulge 23 which may be disposed
on a front fringe of the battery latch 2 as approved.
As shown in FIG. 2, latch coupling element 3 suitably has a pair
of guide grooves 31, 32, a guide pillar 33, a pair of positioning
slots 34, 35, and an elastic member 4, which may be a spring or
other biasing device. The pair of the guide rails 21, 22 of battery
latch 2 slide in the pair of the guide grooves 31, 32, respectively.
The pair of the positioning slots 34, 35 accommodate the pair of
positioning hooks 24, 25 of battery latch 2. Guide pillar 33 suitably
connects to spring 4, which flexibly contacts a bottom of bulge
23 of battery latch 2. Battery latch 2 reciprocally moves corresponding
to the latch coupling element 3 along a direction parallel to a
longitudinal axis of the guide pillar 33 (or a longitudinal axis
of the battery chamber 11) to lock or release the rechargeable battery
5.
Referring now to FIGS. 4a and 4b, when no force is exerted on battery
latch 2, the elastic force of spring 4 makes each of the positioning
hooks 24, 25 contact a front edge of each of the positioning slots
34, 35 to maintain battery latch 2 in the first position. Referring
to FIGS. 5a and 5b, when the predetermined force is exerted on battery
latch 2 and battery latch 2 moves the predetermined distance, each
of the positioning hooks 24, 25 contacts a rear edge of each of
the positioning slots 34, 35. The bottom of bulge 23 contacts the
front edge of guide pillar 33 when the battery is in the second
position.
As shown in FIG. 4a, battery latch 2 is integral with the housing
1 of the mobile phone 200. When battery latch 2 is in the first
position, battery latch 2 fully covers the latch coupling element
3, and is integrated with the housing 1 of the mobile phone 200
and rechargeable battery 5.
As shown in FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b, when battery latch 2 is in the
first position, the front fringe of the battery latch 2 contacts
the bottom of rechargeable battery 5. Due to the elastic force of
spring 4, bulge 23 of battery latch 2 is engaged with cavity 51
in the bottom of rechargeable battery 5 to lock rechargeable battery
5.
When battery latch 2 moves from the first position to the second
position, as shown in FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b, bulge 23 of battery latch
2 leaves cavity 51 of the rechargeable battery 5 to release or reinstall
the rechargeable battery 5. When battery latch 2 is in the second
position and the predetermined force is removed, the elastic force
of spring 4 makes battery latch 2 revert to the first position,
as shown in FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b.
Referring again to FIG. 2, FIG. 4a, FIG. 5a, and FIG. 6, battery
chamber 11 suitably includes a metal leaf spring 12 flexibly contacting
the rechargeable battery 5. When battery latch 2 is in the first
position, metal leaf spring 12 serves as an electrical contact between
rechargeable battery 5 and mobile phone 200. When battery latch
2 moves from the first position to the second position, rechargeable
battery 5 is bounced off battery chamber 11 due to metal leaf spring
12.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described,
various modifications may be made without departing from the invention,
which is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims and
their legal equivalents. |