JP2006165046A - Housing structure of mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the housing structure of a mobile terminal which excels in outer appearance and has a high shock resistance. <P>SOLUTION: On the bottom face of a lower case 21 near an end on the side where a decorative cover 4 is to be put on, screw bosses are formed. In the bottom face of an upper case 21 near an end on the same side, screw holes are formed where the shanks of co-tightening screws to be screwed on the screw bosses are to be inserted. In an end in the periphery of the opening of the upper and lower cases 21 and 22 on the side the decorative cover 4 is to be put on, cutouts 211, 212, 221, and 222 for forming a hole for arranging co-tightening ribs 42 are formed between the screw bosses and the screw holes. The nearly cylindrical decorative cover 4 with one end closed is formed with the flat bar-like co-tightening ribs 42 having a hole into which the co-tightening screw can be inserted, and with a slender oval hole 41 through which the head of the co-tightening screw can be passed. The co-tightening ribs 42 are inserted into the hole formed by the cutouts 211, 212, 221, and 222 in the end of the combined upper and lower cases 21 and 22, and with the co-tightening ribs 42 inserted into the hole, the co-tightening screws are screwed on the screw bosses. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a casing structure of a portable terminal, and more particularly to a casing structure of a portable terminal that has excellent aesthetics and high impact resistance.

  In recent years, electronic devices have become smaller and lighter, and various portable terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs have become widespread.

  The appearance of the terminal is an important element for differentiating from other products in the mobile terminal market. For this reason, attempts have been made to improve the aesthetics of the terminal by applying a two-color coating to a case that has been monochromatic in the past.

  However, if one part is to be painted with two or more colors, the number of work steps such as masking and jig alignment increases, resulting in low productivity. In addition, the mask and the jig are displaced during coating, and an abnormality occurs in the boundary portion. This reduces the yield of components and increases the cost of the product.

  In addition, since the casing of the mobile terminal has a structure in which circuit boards on which electronic components and modules for performing functions as electronic devices are mounted are housed in the upper and lower cases, the boundary between the upper and lower cases (boundary Line). This boundary is one of the factors that impair the appearance.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, it is also attempted to improve the aesthetics by attaching a decorative cover to the portable terminal so as to conceal the joint of the casing.

  Further, in a portable terminal held and carried by a user, the impact resistance of the terminal is also an important factor. In the conventional case structure, there is a fitting part at the end of the case, so when an impact force is applied to the case (such as when dropped), the case end is impacted to fit the upper and lower cases. Is released, and the circuit board and the like housed inside are exposed, causing a failure.

As a prior art regarding the improvement of the aesthetics of a portable terminal, there exists "the housing structure of an electronic device" disclosed by patent document 1. FIG. In the invention described in Patent Document 1, a cover and a case are coupled using a screw, and the screw is concealed by a battery lid.
JP-A-7-297565

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the decorative cover is attached to the housing using the claw fitting, it is difficult to remove the decorative cover after being attached at one end. In addition, if the decorative cover is damaged and the fitting by the claw becomes weak, the decorative cover may fall off.

In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the battery lid is fixed by simple claw fitting, the battery lid is easily detached when an external force of the housing acts. In addition, the battery lid merely conceals the battery and the screw, and does not contribute to improving the strength of the casing.
That is, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, high impact resistance cannot be obtained.

  Thus, conventionally, a casing structure of a portable terminal that has excellent aesthetics and high impact resistance has not been provided.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a casing structure of a portable terminal that is excellent in aesthetics and has high impact resistance.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first and second cases of the present invention are a combination of the first case and the second case having a substantially bottomed box shape with one side opened and the opening surfaces of the first case and the second case facing each other. 1 is a housing structure of a portable terminal in which a decorative cover is attached to at least one end of the first case, wherein one of the first and second cases has a screw boss on the bottom surface near the end on the side where the decorative cover is attached, A screw hole is formed on the bottom surface in the vicinity of the end on the same side, through which a body portion of a co-fastening screw that is screwed to the screw boss is inserted, and the decorative cover around the opening edge of at least one of the first and second cases The end on the side to which the is mounted is provided with a notch for forming a hole for disposing a substantially flat rod-like member between the screw boss and the screw hole, and a substantially cylindrical decoration whose one end is closed The cover has a hole through which a co-fastening screw can be inserted. On the side where the flat bar-shaped co-tightening rib comes into contact with the first and second housings, holes for co-tightening screws through which the heads of the co-tightening screws can pass are formed in the side walls, respectively. A casing of a mobile terminal, wherein a fastening bolt is inserted into a hole formed by a notch at an end of the second case, and a fastening screw is screwed to a screw boss in a state of passing through the fastening rib. The body structure is provided.

  In the present invention, the co-tightening rib is formed with a recess at each position where it comes into contact with the first and second cases. When the co-fastening screw is screwed to the screw boss, the first and second cases are formed. It is preferable to fit into the recess. Alternatively, the joint fastening rib has a protrusion formed on the tip side from the position in contact with the first and second cases. When the joint fastening screw is screwed to the screw boss, the width of the hole formed by the notch is increased. It is preferable that the width of the joint fastening rib is narrower than the portion where the projection is formed.

  In any of the above configurations, the color of the decorative cover is preferably different from the colors of the first and second cases. In addition, it is preferable that the joint screw hole is closed by a detachable member after the joint screw is screwed to the screw boss. Moreover, it is preferable that the joint screw hole has a long oval shape.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the housing | casing structure of the portable terminal provided with the high impact resistance while being excellent in aesthetics can be provided.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment in which the present invention is suitably implemented will be described. FIG. 1 shows a housing structure of a mobile terminal according to the present embodiment.
This portable terminal is a “folding type” portable terminal in which an upper casing 1 and a lower casing 2 are connected via a hinge, and a decorative cover 3 is provided at the tip of the upper casing 1 and the lower casing 2. , 4 are attached. In the portion where the decorative covers 3 and 4 are arranged, the boundary between the upper cases 11 and 21 and the lower cases 12 and 22 is concealed.
In addition, since the decorative covers 3 and 4 are painted in a color different from that of the upper and lower casings 1 and 2, the mobile terminal is attached to the upper and lower casings 1 and 2, so that the portable terminal And a portion where the paint color B is exposed.

  FIG. 2 shows the structures of the upper and lower cases 21 and 22 and the decorative cover 4. The decorative cover 4 has a substantially cylindrical shape with one end closed, and the shape of the opening is substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape of the lower housing 2. In addition, a long oval hole 41 is formed in a portion on the back side of the terminal when attached to the lower housing 2. Further, the inner fastening rib 42 (42a, 42b) is formed inside the end face. The joint fastening rib 42 is formed with a hole having a size through which a screw (joint fastening screw) used when the upper case 21 and the lower case 22 are screwed can be passed.

  Each of the upper case 21 and the lower case 22 has notches 211, 212, 221, and 222 formed at the end side of the terminal. As shown in FIG. 3, these notches form holes at the end of the lower housing 2 in which the joint ribs 42 a and 42 b can be inserted when the upper case 21 and the lower case 22 are combined. .

  FIG. 4 shows a method for attaching the decorative cover 4. First, the upper case 21 and the lower case 22 are combined to form a hole at the end of the lower housing 2. Next, the decorative cover 4 is put on the end of the lower housing 2. At this time, the joint ribs 42 a and 42 b are inserted into the holes at the ends of the lower housing 2. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4A, the upper case 21 and the lower case 22 are screwed together with a co-fastening screw. At this time, the co-tightening screw is screwed in a state of penetrating the co-tightening ribs 42a and 42b. When the co-fastening screw is screwed, the co-fastening ribs 42a, 42b are sandwiched between the upper and lower cases 21, 22 as shown in FIG. 4B, and the decorative cover 4 is fixed to the upper and lower cases 21, 22. After that, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the oblong hole 41 is closed with the screw cover 5 to conceal the joint screw.

By combining the upper case 21, the lower case 22, and the decorative cover 4 with the above structure, the following effects can be obtained.
○ Since the part where the co-fastening screw is actually screwed is not exposed to the outside, the screwing point is not easily destroyed even if an impact force is applied due to dropping or the like.
O Since the upper case 21 and the lower case 22 are sandwiched in the vertical direction by the decorative cover 3, the fitting between the upper case 21 and the lower case 22 is difficult to come off.
○ Since the upper and lower cases 21 and 22 can be fixed and the decorative cover 4 can be attached to the upper and lower cases 21 and 222 in one step (joint screwing), assembly is easy.
○ You can remove the decorative cover 4 without destroying it by removing the screw.
○ Fixing of the upper and lower cases 21 and 22 (screwing between the tightening screw and one case) and fixing of the lower housing 2 and the decorative cover 4 (penetration of the tightening ribs 42a and 42b by the tightening screw) Since it is performed at a separate location, even if the decorative cover 4 is broken, the fitting of the upper and lower cases 21 and 22 is maintained.

  Here, the attachment of the decorative cover 4 to the lower housing 2 has been described as an example, but the same applies to the attachment of the decorative cover 3 to the upper housing 1.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment in which the present invention is suitably implemented will be described. The housing structure of the mobile terminal according to the present embodiment is a configuration in which the upper housing 1 and the lower housing 2 are connected via a hinge, as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 (a) shows the structure of the joint location of the upper and lower cases 21, 22 and the decorative cover 4 in this embodiment. In the present embodiment, a concave portion 421 is formed in the joint fastening rib 42, and convex portions 213 and 223 are formed in the cutout portions of the upper case 21 and the lower case 22.
As shown in FIG. 5B, when the fastening screw is fastened, the upper case 21 and the lower case 22 are pressed by the fastening screw, and the convex portions 213 and 223 of both cases are the concave portions 421 and 422 of the joint fastening rib. To fit.

  In the housing structure of the portable terminal according to the present embodiment, when the joint fastening screws are screwed, the convex portions 213 and 223 of the upper and lower cases 21 and 22 and the concave portions 421 and 422 of the joint fastening rib 42 are fitted. The cover 4 can be fixed to the lower housing 2 more reliably.

  Here, the attachment of the decorative cover 4 to the lower housing 2 has been described as an example, but the same applies to the attachment of the decorative cover 3 to the upper housing 1.

[Third Embodiment]
A third embodiment in which the present invention is preferably implemented will be described. The housing structure of the mobile terminal according to the present embodiment is a configuration in which the upper housing 1 and the lower housing 2 are connected via a hinge, as in the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 shows the structure of the joint location of the upper and lower cases 21 and 22 and the decorative cover 4 in this embodiment.
Although the structure is almost the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the upper and lower cases 21 and 22 are not formed with protrusions, and the protrusions 423 and 424 are formed on the fastening ribs.

  The hole formed when the upper and lower cases 21 and 22 are combined is substantially the same as the thickness of the portion where the convex portions 423 and 424 of the joint fastening rib 42 are formed.

  When the co-fastening screw is fastened, as shown in FIG. 6B, the upper case 21 and the lower case 22 are pressed by the co-fastening screw, and the hole width is reduced. For this reason, when the co-fastening screw is fastened, the co-fastening rib 42 cannot be pulled out from the hole between the upper and lower cases 21 and 22.

  Even in the structure according to the present embodiment, the decorative cover 4 can be more reliably fixed to the lower housing 2 as in the second embodiment.

  Here, the attachment of the decorative cover 4 to the lower housing 2 has been described as an example, but the same applies to the attachment of the decorative cover 3 to the upper housing 1.

Each of the above embodiments is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these.
For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration in which the screws are fastened with the two fastening screws is shown in two places. However, this may be one place or three or more places.
In each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration in which the decorative cover is mounted on both the upper housing and the lower housing has been described. However, the decorative cover may be mounted on only one of these.
The same effect can be obtained when either case has almost no depth as a box (in other words, when either case is substantially flat).
Moreover, in each said embodiment, although the folding type portable terminal was taken as an example, it cannot be overemphasized that it is applicable to all portable terminals, such as a straight type and a rotation type.
In addition, when mounting a plurality of decorative covers on the mobile terminal, the structure of the joint fastening ribs and upper and lower cases shown in each embodiment may be mixed, and one decoration cover includes a plurality of joint fastening ribs. In this case, the structures shown in the embodiments may be mixed.
As described above, the present invention can be variously modified.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the portable terminal concerning 1st Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows the structure of an upper and lower case and a decoration cover. It is a figure which shows that a hole is formed in a housing | casing edge part when combining an upper and lower case. It is a figure which shows the procedure of the housing | casing assembly of the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the procedure of the assembly of the portable terminal which concerns on 2nd Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows the procedure of the assembly of the portable terminal which concerns on 3rd Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows the structure of the decoration cover by a prior art, and the housing | casing of the portable terminal with which this was mounted | worn.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper housing | casing 2 Lower housing 3, 4 Decorative cover 5 Screw cover 11, 21 Upper case 12, 22 Lower case 41 Long oval hole 42 Joint fastening rib 211, 212, 221, 222 Notch

Claims (6)

A portable terminal in which the opening surfaces of the substantially bottomed box-like first case and the second case having one open face are combined to face each other, and a decorative cover is attached to at least one end of the combined first and second cases The housing structure of
One of the first and second cases is screwed to the screw boss on the bottom surface near the end on the same side of the other case and the screw boss on the bottom surface near the end on the same side of the other case. A screw hole through which the body of the co-fastening screw is inserted is formed,
A hole for disposing a substantially flat rod-shaped member between the screw boss and the screw hole at an end of the opening periphery of at least one of the first and second cases on the side where the decorative cover is mounted. Is provided with a notch,
The substantially cylindrical decorative cover with one end closed is formed on the side where the substantially flat bar-shaped co-tightening rib having a hole through which the co-tightening screw can be inserted comes into contact with the first and second housings. A hole for a joint screw through which the head of the screw can penetrate is formed in each side wall,
The joint fastening rib is inserted into a hole formed by the notch at the end of the combined first and second cases, and the joint fastening screw is screwed to the screw boss in a state of passing through the joint fastening rib. A portable terminal housing structure characterized by the above.   The co-tightening rib is formed with a recess at each position where it comes into contact with the first and second cases. When the co-fastening screw is screwed to the screw boss, the first and second cases are The casing structure of the portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the casing structure is fitted into the recess.   A protrusion is formed on the front end side of the joint fastening rib with respect to the first and second cases, and a hole formed by the notch is formed by screwing the joint fastening screw to the screw boss. The casing structure of the portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the width of the casing is narrower than a portion of the joint fastening rib where the protrusion is formed.   The case structure of the portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a color of the decorative cover is different from a color of the first and second cases.   The portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the joint screw hole is closed by a detachable member after the joint screw is screwed onto the screw boss. Enclosure structure.   6. The casing structure of a mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the screw hole for fastening screws is a long oval shape.

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