EASILY ASSEMBLED AND DISASSEMBLED LATCHING STRUCTURE
A latching structure includes a first plate, a second plate and a sliding plate disposed on a surface of the first plate and movable in a first direction. The first plate includes first arches each having an alignment hole in the first direction. The second plate includes second arches each having a latching hole in the first direction. The sliding plate includes pins corresponding to the latching holes. When the alignment hole accommodates the second arch and the sliding plate is located at a latching position, the pin is located in a corresponding latching hole to block separation of the first plate from the second plate in a second direction. When the sliding plate is located at a retracted position, the pin separates from the corresponding latching hole to allow separation of the first plate from the second plate in the second direction.
This application claims the benefit of People's Republic of China application Serial No. 201820651302.9, filed on May 3, 2018, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention relates in general to a latching structure, and more particularly to an easily assembled and disassembled latching structure.
BACKGROUNDTo provide consumers with a variety of choices, there are some modular products available for consumers to purchase, and these modular products can be assembled with each other to meet the needs of consumers.
However, such modular products which are inconvenient to be assembled or disassembled may give users a bad experience.
SUMMARYThe present invention relates to an easily assembled and disassembled latching structure. The sliding plate is disposed on the first plate and movable between a latching position and a retracted position in a first axial direction on the first surface of the first plate. Thus, it is quite easy to assemble and disassemble the first plate and the second plate.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an easily assembled and disassembled latching structure is provided. The latching structure includes a first plate, a second plate and a sliding plate. The first plate includes a plurality of first arches recessed from a second surface of the first plate and projecting from a first surface of the first plate. The first arches each has an alignment hole passing underneath each of the first arches in a first axial direction. The first surface is opposite to the second surface. The second plate includes a plurality of second arches. Each of the second arches is adapted to be accommodated by a corresponding one of the alignment holes. Each of the second arches has a latching hole passing underneath each of the second arches in the first axial direction. The sliding plate includes a plurality of pins respectively corresponding to the latching holes. The sliding plate is disposed on the first surface of the first plate and movable between a latching position and a retracted position in the first axial direction. When each of the alignment holes accommodates a corresponding one of the second arches and the sliding plate is located at the latching position, the pins are each located in a corresponding one of the latching holes to block separation of the first plate from the second plate in a second axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction. When the sliding plate is located at the retracted position, the pins each separates from the corresponding one of the latching holes to allow separation of the first plate from the second plate in the second axial direction.
According to the above, the present invention provides an easily assembled and disassembled latching structure. The first plate and the sliding plate disposed on the first plate, and the second plate may be respectively disposed on the two modular products, which can be assembled with each other, at the time of shipment, and the combination of the two modular products is very simple, convenient and reliable.
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONDetailed descriptions of the present invention are disclosed below with a number of embodiments. Although the present invention does not illustrate all possible embodiments, other embodiments not disclosed in the present invention are still applicable. Moreover, the dimension scales used in the accompanying drawings are not based on actual proportion of the product. Therefore, the specification and drawings are for explaining and describing the embodiment only, not for limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. Furthermore, in the drawings of the embodiments, some elements are omitted so that technical features of the present invention can be clearly illustrated. Designations common to the accompanying drawings and embodiments are used to indicate identical or similar elements.
Referring to
For example, in one embodiment, the first plate 1 and the sliding plate 3 are disposed on a first communication device 101, and the second plate 2 is disposed on a second communication device 102. In this example, the first communication device 101 and the second communication device 102 may respectively be one of the communication devices, such as an Internet of Things communication device, a base station, a small cell, a Wi-Fi access hotspot, a router, and the like. The first plate 1 may be used as a side plate of the first communication device 101. For example, the first plate 1 may be disposed on a first side 101S1 of the first communication device 101, and the sliding plate 3 may be disposed on a surface of the first plate 1 facing the interior of the first communication device 101. The second plate 2 may be used as a side plate of the second communication device 102. For example, the second plate 2 may be disposed on a second side 102S2 of the second communication device 102.
Furthermore, the first communication device 101 may further be assembled to a third communication device (not depicted). In this condition, another second plate 2 may be disposed on the second side 101S2 of the first communication device 101, another first plate 1 and sliding plate 3 may be disposed on the first side of the third communication device in the same way, and the first communication device 101 and the third communication device are assembled together by facing the second side 101S2 of the first communication device 101 to the first side of the third communication device. Similarly, the second communication device 102 may also be assembled to a fourth communication device. In this condition, still another first plate 1 and sliding plate 3 may be disposed on the first side 102S1 of the second communication device 102, still another second plate 2 may be disposed on the second side of the fourth communication device in the same way, and the fourth communication device and the second communication device 102 are assembled together by facing the second side of the fourth communication device to the first side 102S1 of the second communication device 102. Thus, the user may be free to choose at least two modular products to combine together. For convenience of explanation, the first side of each device mentioned above refers to the side facing negative X axis in the drawing, and the second side refers to the side facing positive X axis in the drawing.
Each of the first arches 13 has an alignment hole 131. Referring to
Each of the second arches 23 has a latching hole 231. Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In one embodiment, the first plate 1 may has a recessed positioning portion 14 recessed form the first surface 11 of the first plate 1 in the negative X axis. The recessed positioning portion 14 includes a first recess portion 141 and a second recess portion 142. In addition, the sliding plate 3 may include an elastic positioning portion 35. When the sliding plate 3 is located at the retracted position, the elastic positioning portion 35 may be fit into the first recess portion 141. Thus, the sliding plate 3 cannot easily have relative motion with respect to the first plate 1 in the Z axis. While the sliding plate 3 moves from the retracted position to the latching portion in the positive Z axis, the elastic positioning portion 35 may be detached from the first recess portion 141. When the sliding plate 3 is located at the latching position, the elastic positioning portion 35 may be fit into the second recess portion 142. Thus, the sliding plate 3 cannot easily have relative motion with respect to the first plate 1 in the Z axis.
Furthermore, the engagement of the first recess portion 141 and the elastic positioning portion 35 or the engagement of the second recess portion 142 and the elastic positioning portion 35 may further enhance user's hand feelings during operation. In other words, when the elastic positioning portion 35 is fit into the first recess portion 141, the user may be aware that the sliding plate 3 is at the retracted position. When the elastic positioning portion 35 is fit into the second recess portion 142, the user may be aware that the sliding plate 3 is at the latching position.
Referring to
Next, the sliding plate 3 is moved to the retracted position in the positive Z axis.
Next, the sliding plate 3 is moved to the latching position in the positive Z axis.
Referring to
In one embodiment, when the sliding plate 3 is located at the latching position, each pin 31 further extends through and is projected from each latching hole 231 in Z axis. In other words, each of the pins 31 are longer than each of the latching holes 231 in Z axis. Thus, the pins 31 may securely block separation of the first plate 1 from the second plate 2 in X axis, preventing the pins 31 from being detached from the latching holes 231 due to deformation.
In one embodiment, the sliding plate 3 may further include a plurality of elastic arms 33 disposed on two opposite sides of the sliding plate 3 and corresponding to some of the restraining portions 16 of the first plate 1. Each of the elastic arms 33 comprises a hook 331. As shown in
On the other hand, to enhance user's hand feelings during operation, and further assist in restricting the sliding plate 3 to moving in Z axis, the first plate 1 and the sliding plate 3 may respectively include a positioning rib 15 and a positioning groove 32. Referring to
Through the above configurations, the first plate 1 and the sliding plate 3 are assembled first, as shown in
Moreover, referring to
Furthermore, referring to
At the time of shipment, the easily assembled and disassembled latching structure provided above may be respectively disposed on the two modular products, which can be assembled with each other, and the combination of the two modular products is very simple, convenient and reliable.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the invention being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A latching structure comprising:
- a first plate comprising a plurality of first arches projecting from a first surface of the first plate and recessed from a second surface of the first plate, the first arches each having an alignment hole passing underneath each of the first arches in a first axial direction, wherein the first surface is opposite to the second surface;
- a second plate comprising a plurality of second arches each having a latching hole, wherein each of the second arches is adapted to be accommodated by a corresponding one of the alignment holes, and each of the latching holes passes underneath each of the second arches in the first axial direction; and
- a sliding plate comprising a plurality of pins respectively corresponding to the latching holes, the sliding plate disposed on the first surface of the first plate and movable between a latching position and a retracted position in the first axial direction;
- wherein when each of the alignment holes accommodates a corresponding one of the second arches and the sliding plate is located at the latching position, the pins are each located in a corresponding one of the latching holes to block separation of the first plate from the second plate in a second axial direction perpendicular to the first axial direction;
- when the sliding plate is located at the retracted position, the pins each separates from the corresponding one of the latching holes to allow separation of the first plate from the second plate in the second axial direction.
2. The latching structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the pins are longer than each of the latching holes.
3. The latching structure according to claim 1, wherein the first plate is a side plate of a communication device, the sliding plate comprises a pinch portion disposed adjacent to a bottom portion of the communication device, and when the sliding plate is located at the retracted position, the pinch portion projects out from the bottom portion of the communication device.
4. The latching structure according to claim 3, wherein the second plate has a pinch space disposed corresponding to the pinch portion.
5. The latching structure according to claim 1, wherein the first arches are disposed on four corners of the first plate.
6. The latching structure according to claim 1, wherein the first plate has a first recess portion and a second recess portion, the sliding plate further comprises an elastic positioning portion;
- when the sliding plate is located at the retracted position, the elastic positioning portion is fit into the first recess portion;
- when the sliding plate is located at the latching position, the elastic positioning portion is fit into the second recess portion.
7. The latching structure according to claim 1, wherein the first plate and the sliding plate respectively comprise a positioning rib and a positioning groove;
- when the sliding plate moves between the latching position and the retracted position in the first axial direction, the positioning rib abuts against the positioning groove.
8. The latching structure according to claim 7, wherein the positioning rib and the positioning groove are configured to block separation of the sliding plate from the first plate in the second axial direction when the sliding plate moves between the latching position and the retracted position in the first axial direction.
9. The latching structure according to claim 1, wherein the first plate further comprises a plurality of restraining portions disposed on two opposite sides of the first plate and projecting from the first surface, and the restraining portions are configured to restrict the sliding plate to moving in the first axial direction and blocking separation of the sliding plate from the first plate in the second axial direction when the sliding plate is located at the retracted position.
10. The latching structure according to claim 9, wherein the sliding plate further comprises a plurality of elastic arms disposed on two opposite sides of the sliding plate and corresponding to parts of the restraining portions, the elastic arms each comprises a hook, and when the sliding plate is located at the latching position, the hook is coupled with a corresponding one of the restraining portions.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 15, 2019
Publication Date: Nov 7, 2019
Inventors: Li-Li HO (Taipei City), Cheng-Chung CHANG (Taipei City), Yi-Fei YU (Taipei City)
Application Number: 16/383,800