JP2005340683A - Housing structure of portable electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure the rigidity of the whole housing and also waterproofness. <P>SOLUTION: A waterproofing package 15 is formed continuously along the edge between a pair of upper and lower housings 13 and 14 for accommodating a display module 4. A pair of upper and lower metal protectors 20 and 21 are arranged on outer peripheries of the pair of the upper and lower housings 13 and 14. These pair of the upper and lower protectors 20 and 21 are screw-clamped by a screw clamping member 22, and the pair of the upper and lower housings 13 and 14 are snapped by the pair of the upper and lower protectors 20 and 21. Accordingly, the rigidity of the whole housing 1 can be secured by the pair of the upper and lower metal protectors 20 and 21. Further, even if the waterproofing package 15 is provided between the pair of the upper and lower housings 13 and 14, the pair of the housings 13 and 14 are snapped by the pair of the upper and lower protectors 20 and 21. Accordingly, a clearance can be prevented to be formed between the pair of the upper and lower housings 13 and 14, and the waterproofness can be secured. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a case structure of a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a mobile phone includes an upper case made of a synthetic resin and a lower case made of a synthetic resin, and various kinds of circuit boards and the like are provided inside the upper case and the lower case. There is one configured to store a module having the electronic components.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-53334

  In such a cellular phone case structure, a screw is inserted from a screw insertion hole provided at an end of the lower case, and the inserted screw is inserted through a screw insertion hole provided in a circuit board of the module. The end portions of the upper case and the lower case are fixed to each other by screwing onto a nut embedded in the end portion. In addition, an intermediate portion between the upper case and the lower case fixes a metal shield case to the circuit board of the module, and a connecting plate that engages with the intermediate portion of the upper case is integrally formed on the shield case. The intermediate portion between the upper case and the lower case is fixed by screwing the screw inserted from the screw insertion hole of the lower case into the screw hole of the connecting plate.

  However, in such a conventional cellular phone case structure, even if the upper case and the lower case are made of synthetic resin, the rigidity of the entire case can be secured by the metal shield case, but the upper case Since the waterproof case and the lower case are made of synthetic resin, if the waterproof packing is placed between the upper case and the lower case in order to ensure waterproofness, the waterproof packing will be repelled away from the screwed part. There is a problem that a gap is generated between the upper case and the lower case due to the force, and sufficient waterproofness cannot be obtained.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a case structure of a portable electronic device that can ensure the rigidity of the entire case and also ensure waterproofness.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes the following components.
In addition, the reference numerals of the drawings attached to the respective components described in the section of the embodiment described later are attached to the respective components together with parentheses.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the invention described in claim 1 includes a pair of upper and lower cases (upper case 13 and lower case 14) for housing a module (display module 4), and the pair of upper and lower cases. A waterproof packing portion (15) provided continuously along each peripheral edge portion, and a pair of upper and lower protectors (upper protector 20 and lower protector) respectively disposed on the outer peripheral portions of the pair of upper and lower cases. 21) and a screwing member (22) for screwing the pair of upper and lower protectors to sandwich the pair of upper and lower cases with the pair of upper and lower protectors. Structure.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the invention according to claim 2 is such that the screwing member (22) is a pair of upper and lower cases (upper case 13 and lower case 14) than the waterproof packing part (15). The case structure of the portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the case structure is located on an outer side of the portable electronic device.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the module (display module 4) is held by a buffer member (25), and the pair of upper and lower cases (upper case 13 and lower case 14). 3. The case structure of the portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the case structure is placed in a floating state.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the waterproof packing portion is provided continuously along the peripheral edge of each case between the pair of upper and lower cases for housing the module, and the metal is provided on each outer peripheral portion of the pair of upper and lower cases. In this state, a pair of upper and lower protectors are screwed together with a screwing member, and a pair of upper and lower protectors sandwich the pair of upper and lower cases. The protector can secure the rigidity of the entire case, and even if a waterproof packing is provided between the pair of upper and lower cases, the pair of upper and lower cases are sandwiched between the pair of upper and lower metal protectors. Even in a portion away from the member, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between the pair of upper and lower cases, thereby ensuring waterproofness. .

  According to the invention of claim 2, the screwing member is located on the outer side of each case with respect to the waterproof packing portion, so that the portion screwed with the screwing member does not have a waterproof structure, The waterproofness of the entire case can be ensured, whereby the waterproof structure can be simplified and the assembling work can be simplified.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the module is held by the buffer member and arranged in a state of floating in the pair of upper and lower cases, so that the impact caused by dropping or the like causes the pair of upper and lower protectors and the pair of upper and lower cases. Even when applied, the shock can be absorbed by the buffer member so that it is not transmitted to the modules in the pair of upper and lower cases. As a result, the module is not damaged by an external impact and can be reliably protected, so that a high impact resistance can be obtained.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a mobile phone will be described with reference to FIGS. In this case, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile phone to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a display case of the mobile phone of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone is configured such that a display case 1 and an input case 2 are rotatably connected by a hinge portion 3, and the display case 1 and the input case 2 are rotated around the hinge portion 3. The display case 1 and the input case 2 are rotated around the hinge portion 3 and used in an open state.

  In this case, the display case 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular thin box shape as shown in FIG. 1, and the display module 4 is housed therein as shown in FIGS. . The display module 4 includes a circuit board 5, and the circuit board 5 is provided with various electronic components 8 in addition to the display device 6 and the speaker 7. The display device 6 is a flat display element such as a liquid crystal display element or an EL (electroluminescence) display element, and corresponds to the opening 1a of the display case 1 facing the input case 2 as shown in FIG. In this state, various information such as telephone information is displayed in an electro-optical manner.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the input case 2 is formed in a box shape having substantially the same size as the display case 1, and an input module (not shown) is accommodated therein, and in this state, the input case 2 is rotated around the hinge portion 3. It is configured to overlap the display case 1 when moved and closed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, a key input unit 9 and a microphone unit (not shown) are provided on the opposing surface of the input case 2 facing the display case 1. The key input unit 9 includes various keys such as a numeric key, a character key, a call key, a power key, and a multi-function key.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hinge portion 3 includes a cylindrical first convex portion 10 provided at a proximal end portion (lower side portion in FIG. 1) on the front side of the display case 1 and a front base of the input case 2. A pair of second convex portions 11 provided on both sides of the end portion (upper side portion in FIG. 1) and a connecting shaft (not shown) for rotatably mounting the first and second convex portions 10 and 11 are provided. The first convex portion 10 of the display case 1 is disposed between the pair of second convex portions 11 of the input case 2, and in this state, the first convex portion 10 and the second convex portion 11 can be rotated about the connecting shaft, respectively. By attaching, the 1st, 2nd convex parts 10 and 11 are comprised so that it may rotate relatively centering on this connection shaft.

  By the way, the display case 1 and the input case 2 are electrically connected to each other by a connecting member (not shown) through which the display module 4 and the input module (not shown) housed in the display case 1 and the input case 2 are inserted. It is connected to the. The display case 1 and the input case 2 have substantially the same structure. Therefore, the display case 1 will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display case 1 includes an upper case 13 and a lower case 14. The upper case 13 and the lower case 14 are made of synthetic resin, and are configured to house the display module 4 therein by being overlapped and joined to each other. A waterproof packing portion 15 is provided between the upper case 13 and the lower case 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the waterproof packing 15 is provided continuously along the edge of the upper case 13 among the edges where the upper case 13 and the lower case 14 face each other. A frame-like fitting groove 16 and a frame-like fitting convex portion 17 provided continuously along the edge of the lower case 14 are provided, and the lower case 14 is fitted into the fitting groove 16 of the upper case 13. It is comprised so that the joint convex part 17 may fit. In this case, it is desirable that the waterproof packing portion 15 includes a waterproof ring 18 that is disposed in the fitting groove 16 of the upper case 13 and is pressed by the fitting convex portion 17 of the lower case 14.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a metal upper protector 20 is disposed on the outer peripheral portion on the upper surface of the upper case 13, and the metal lower protector is also provided on the outer peripheral portion on the lower surface of the lower case 14. A side protector 21 is arranged. The upper protector 20 and the lower protector 21 are made of a light and hard metal made of an alloy such as titanium or magnesium and are formed in a substantially frame shape. Further, the upper protector 20 and the lower protector 21 are screwed by sandwiching the upper case 13 and the lower case 14 with a screwing member 22.

  That is, the screwing member 22 includes a screw 23 and a nut 24 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the screws 23 are inserted from the screw insertion holes 20 a provided at the four corners of the upper protector 20, and the screw insertion holes 13 a provided at the four corners of the upper case 13 and the lower case 14. The screw is inserted into the screw insertion holes 21 a provided at the four corners of the lower protector 21 through the screw insertion holes 14 a provided at the four corners, and the tip of the inserted screw 23 is screwed onto the nut 24. .

  Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the screwing member 22 screws the upper protector 20 and the lower protector 21 to screw the upper case 13 and the lower case 14 together with the upper protector 20 and the lower protector 21. It is comprised so that it may pinch. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the screwing member 22 is provided on the outer side of the upper case 13 and the lower case 14 with respect to the waterproof packing portion 15.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the waterproof packing portion 15 is provided to be curved inward at each of the four corners of the upper case 13 and the lower case 14. Accordingly, the screw insertion holes 13a and 14a at the four corners of the upper case 13 and the lower case 14 are provided outside the curved waterproof packing portion 15, respectively.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the display module 4 is disposed inside the upper case 13 and the lower case 14 by the buffer member 25. That is, the buffer member 25 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and is attached to each of the four corners of the circuit board 11 of the display module 4. In this state, the upper and lower ends of the buffer member 25 are the upper case 13 and the lower case, respectively. 14 is configured to elastically hold the display module 4 while floating inside the upper case 13 and the lower case 14.

  In such a cellular phone case structure, a waterproof packing 15 is provided between the upper and lower cases 13 and 14 for housing the display module 4 along the peripheral edges of the cases 13 and 14. The upper protector 20 and the lower protector 21 are arranged on the outer peripheral portions of the cases 13 and 14 respectively, and in this state, the upper protector 20 and the lower protector 21 are screwed together by the screwing members 22 and fastened together. Thus, since the upper and lower cases 13 and 14 are sandwiched between the upper protector 20 and the lower protector 21, the rigidity of the entire display case 1 can be ensured.

  In this case, since the upper protector 20 and the lower protector 21 are each formed of a light and hard metal made of an alloy such as titanium and magnesium, the rigidity of the entire display case 1 can be increased. Further, since the upper protector 20 and the lower protector 21 are screwed by the screwing member 22 to sandwich the upper case 13 and the lower case 14, the waterproof packing provided between the upper and lower cases 13, 14. The portion 15 can ensure waterproofness.

  In particular, since the upper case 13 and the lower case 14 are sandwiched between the upper protector 20 and the lower protector 21, there is a gap between the upper case 13 and the lower case 14 even at a portion away from the screwing member 22. Can be prevented, and thus waterproofness can be surely achieved. Further, the waterproof packing portion 15 has a waterproof ring 18 disposed in the fitting groove 16 provided continuously along the edge of the upper case 13, and the lower case is inserted into the fitting groove 16 of the upper case 13 in this state. 14 has a structure in which the fitting protrusions 17 provided continuously along the edge of 14 are fitted and the waterproof ring 18 is pressed into the fitting groove 16, so that the waterproof property is further ensured. Can be planned.

  The screwing member 22 includes a screw 23 and a nut 24. The screw 23 is inserted from the screw insertion hole 20a of the upper protector 20, and is passed through the screw insertion holes 13a and 14a of the upper case 13 and the lower case 14 to be lowered. Since it is screwed into the nut 24 provided in the screw insertion hole 21 a of the side protector 21, the upper case 13 and the lower case 21 can be sandwiched and firmly fixed by the upper protector 20 and the lower protector 21. .

  In this case, since the screwing member 22 is provided on the outer sides of the cases 13 and 14 above and below the waterproof packing 15, the portion screwed by the screwing member 22 is waterproofed. Even if not, the waterproofness of the entire display case 1 can be secured, whereby the waterproof structure can be simplified and the assembly work can be simplified.

  Further, the display module 4 is disposed in the upper and lower cases 13 and 14 by the buffer member 25, and is thereby arranged in a state of being floated in the upper and lower cases 13 and 14. Even when the protectors 20 and 21 and the upper and lower cases 13 and 14 are applied, the shock is absorbed by the buffer member 25 so that the shock is not transmitted to the display module 4. For this reason, the display module 4 is not damaged by an external impact, and the display module 4 can be surely protected, whereby a high impact resistance can be obtained.

  In addition, in the said embodiment, although the screwing member 22 is the structure provided with the screw 23 and the nut 24, it is not restricted to this, For example, the screw hole to which the screw 23 is screwed to each corner part of the lower protector 21 is provided. It may be formed directly. Even if comprised in this way, since there exists an effect similar to embodiment mentioned above, since the nut 24 as another component becomes unnecessary especially, a number of parts can be reduced and the assembly operation is further simplified. Can be achieved.

  Moreover, the waterproof packing part 15 of the said embodiment arrange | positions the waterproof ring 18 in the fitting groove 16 provided along the edge of the upper case 13, and the fitting groove of the upper case 13 in this state 16, fitting protrusions 17 provided continuously along the edge of the lower case 14 are fitted to each other, and the waterproof ring 18 is pressed into the fitting groove 16. Need not be disposed in the fitting groove 16 of the upper case 13, and a structure in which the fitting convex portion 17 of the lower case 14 is brought into close contact with the fitting groove 16 of the upper case 13 may be adopted.

In the above embodiment, the display case 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the input case 2 is preferably configured in the same manner as the display case 1.
Furthermore, although the case where it applied to a mobile telephone was described in the said embodiment, it is not restricted to this, For example, it can apply widely also to portable electronic devices, such as an electronic dictionary and PDA (personal digital assistant).

1 is an external perspective view of a mobile phone to which the present invention is applied. It is the perspective view which decomposed | disassembled the display case of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view in the AA arrow of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view in the BB arrow view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display case 2 Input case 3 Hinge part 4 Display module 5 Circuit board 6 Display apparatus 9 Key input part 13 Upper case 14 Lower case 15 Waterproof packing part 20 Upper protector 21 Lower protector 22 Screw fixing member 23 Screw 24 Nut 25 Buffer member

Claims (3)

A pair of upper and lower cases for housing the module;
A waterproof packing provided continuously along each peripheral edge between the pair of upper and lower cases, and
A pair of upper and lower protectors made of metal respectively disposed on each outer peripheral portion of the pair of upper and lower cases;
A case structure for a portable electronic device, comprising: a screwing member for screwing the pair of upper and lower protectors and sandwiching the pair of upper and lower cases with the pair of upper and lower protectors.   The case structure of the portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the screwing member is located on an outer side of the pair of upper and lower cases with respect to the waterproof packing portion.   The case structure of the portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the module is arranged in a state of being held by a buffer member and floating in the pair of upper and lower cases.

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