Enclosure for portable electronic device having pivotable panel handle

Abstract

An enclosure ( 100 ) for a portable electronic device includes: a panel ( 120 ) having a number of tabs ( 1231 ), and defining a lock hole ( 129 ) bounded by an inner wall ( 1291 ); a housing ( 150 ) having a number of tab slots ( 156 ) corresponding to the tabs of the panel; and a handle ( 130 ) configured to fit in the lock hole. The panel is attached on the housing by the tabs being received in the corresponding tab slots, and the handle is contained in the lock hole and is rotatably connected to the inner wall. Thus the handle can be opened or closed relative to the panel. A user can manually rotate the handle to the open position and then pull up the panel using the handle. There is no need for a special tool, making it convenient to change the panel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An enclosure for a portable electronic device, comprising: 
 a panel having at least one tab, and defining a lock hole bounded by an inner wall;    a housing having at least one tab slot corresponding to said tab of the panel; and    a handle configured to fit in the lock hole;    wherein the panel is attached on the housing by said tab being received in said tab slot, the handle being contained in the lock hole and being rotatably connected to the inner wall.    
     
     
         2 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a pivot protrudes from a periphery of the handle.  
     
     
         3 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the inner wall defines a pivot slot corresponding to the pivot of the handle.  
     
     
         4 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the pivot of the handle is received in the pivot slot and rotates therein.  
     
     
         5 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tab extends from a periphery of the panel.  
     
     
         6 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a latch extends from an inner surface of a first end of the panel.  
     
     
         7 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises a recessed portion defined by an inner wall.  
     
     
         8 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said tab slot of the panel is defined in the inner wall of the recessed portion.  
     
     
         9 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the recessed portion at an end of the housing defines a latch slot corresponding to the latch of the panel.  
     
     
         10 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a second end of the handle defines a groove, the groove is bounded by an upper wall, two side walls and an end wall, and the side walls and the end wall connect with the upper wall.  
     
     
         11 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a stopping protrusion extends from the end wall of the handle into the groove.  
     
     
         12 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a turning protrusion extends from an inner surface of the handle adjacent to the end wall.  
     
     
         13 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the turning protrusion has a bottom end, and a slant formed adjacent the bottom end.  
     
     
         14 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein a ledge extends into the lock hole from a part of the inner wall nearest the first end of the panel.  
     
     
         15 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the ledge is thinner than the first end of the panel.  
     
     
         16 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein an inner surface of a first end of the handle defines a cutout corresponding to the ledge of the panel.  
     
     
         17 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the panel defines a recess below and in communication with the lock hole, and the recess occupies an area slightly greater than that occupied by the lock hole.  
     
     
         18 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising a securing plate shaped and sized to fit into the recess.  
     
     
         19 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein a turning sheet extends from a middle of an end of the securing plate.  
     
     
         20 . The enclosure for a portable electronic device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein a cap sheet extends from a side of the end of the securing plate.  
     
     
         21 . An enclosure comprising: 
 a housing;    a panel detachably attached to the housing and having at least one tab and a pivotal handle at two opposite ends thereof;    a housing having at least one tab slot corresponding to said tab of the panel; and    a handle configured to fit in the lock hole;    wherein the panel is attached on the housing by said tab being received in said tab slot under a condition that the handle is coplanar with a top face of the panel, and said handle is adapted to be rotated to an extending position to detach the panel from the housing.