JP3825707B2 - Case for small electronic products - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a case for a small electronic device product that constitutes a case of a small electronic device product such as a mobile phone, a camera for photographing, a video camera for photographing, a portable audio device, a notebook computer, and an electronic notebook, and a method for manufacturing the same. It is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, cases such as housings used in the above-mentioned small electronic device products have been made of hard plastic. However, while suppressing electromagnetic interference, the product is durable and downsized. From the viewpoints of compactness, design, recyclability, etc., there is a demand for metallic materials.
When the case is made of a lightweight magnesium or aluminum alloy, an exterior cover as an exterior material and an interior case as a mechanism member for mounting an internal electronic component are separately manufactured. It is necessary to integrate firmly by welding.
However, most of magnesium and aluminum materials are difficult to weld except for some pure aluminum materials. In other words, for aluminum alloys containing Mg (magnesium) to increase strength, welding is affected by the effects of heat when Mg burns during welding, the generation of hydrogen gas, the solidification temperature of molten aluminum components, and the speed. Cracks (solidification cracks), blowholes (poor fusion), welding deformation (thermal deformation), etc. are likely to occur, and there is a problem that stable welding cannot be performed.
[0003]
Then, as a metal case which improved the weldability at the time of the above-mentioned process, there exists an aluminum alloy case disclosed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2001-198686 by the applicant of this application, for example.
This aluminum alloy case comprises an exterior cover made of an aluminum alloy containing a predetermined proportion of Mg (magnesium) and an interior case made of an aluminum alloy containing a predetermined proportion of Mn (manganese) and a very small amount of Mg. In addition to suppressing electromagnetic interference such as equipment products, it has various advantages such as lightness, durability, workability, weldability, aesthetics of welded parts, etc. Has relatively excellent characteristics.
[0004]
In addition, as another metal case, there is a case in which an integrally formed case is formed by die-casting a magnesium alloy, as in a magnesium alloy case 100 shown in FIG. However, manufacture of this magnesium alloy case is currently difficult to process at room temperature, is expensive, and has a danger in finishing.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention further improves the aluminum alloy case, and the problem is that the magnesium alloy and the aluminum alloy case are as light as the case, have excellent corrosion resistance and are easy to handle. A case for a compact electronic device product having a higher strength and rigidity than a case made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, and a method for manufacturing the same, and a case for a small electronic device product having a high quality and excellent productivity and a method for manufacturing the same It is to provide.
[0006]
[Means for achieving the object]
According to the technical means of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, the first aspect of the present invention provides an exterior cover and an interior case that are respectively formed by press working with powdered copper or tin sprayed on the front and back surfaces of a titanium material. Is a case for small electronic device products that are integrated by overlapping,
The exterior cover and the interior case are overlapped and integrated by spot welding to form a front side casing and a rear side casing, respectively, and the front side casing is provided on the exterior cover. Left and right cylindrical shaft support portions that protrude from one side and are coaxially formed are provided, and the rear housing protrudes from one side portion of the exterior cover and is coaxially disposed between the left and right cylindrical shaft support portions. A cylindrical shaft support portion formed so as to be installed, and by inserting a shaft member into the cylindrical shaft support portion, the front-side housing and the rear-side housing are connected, and the cylindrical shaft The support part protrudes from one side part of the exterior cover so as to sandwich the pair of left and right convex piece parts between the pair of left and right convex piece parts protruding from one side part of the exterior cover and bent into a cylindrical shape. A rising piece formed on the outer periphery of the cover; Characterized in that it is formed from a pair of left and right Totsuana portion to be bent to be.
The titanium material is preferably a pure titanium plate as defined in JISH4600.
[0007]
Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, the shaft member is inserted into the cylindrical shaft support portion via a reinforcing sleeve, thereby connecting the front housing and the rear housing so that the angle can be varied. The reinforcing sleeve includes a locking claw that protrudes inward, and the shaft member includes a plurality of grooves that can be engaged with and disengaged from the locking claw on an elastically deformable outer peripheral surface. It is characterized by.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
This example shows an example in which the front-side casing 10 and the rear-side casing 20 constituting the casing of the mobile phone (see FIG. 12) are formed by the case for a small electronic device product according to the present invention.
[0013]
The front-side housing 10 is formed by superposing an exterior cover 11 and an interior case 12 that are respectively formed from a titanium material and integrating them by spot welding (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
Similarly to the front housing 10, the rear housing 20 is also formed by superimposing an exterior cover 21 and an interior case 22 formed of titanium material by spot welding (FIGS. 6 and 7). reference).
[0014]
Each of the exterior covers 11 and 21 and the interior cases 12 and 22 was formed by pressing powdered copper or tin on the entire front and back surfaces of a pure titanium plate defined in JISH4600, and then pressing the pure titanium plate. Is.
[0015]
That is, when the press working is performed without spraying powdered copper or tin on the front and back surfaces of the pure titanium plate as described above, the exterior covers 11 and 21 and the interior cases 12 and 22 respectively correspond to the corresponding presses. Bending and drawing into the die, which makes it extremely difficult to mold, but according to the present embodiment, the outer covers 11 and 21 and the inner cases 12 and 22 are pressed during pressing. Since powdery copper or tin is interposed between each and the corresponding press working mold, punching, bending and drawing can be easily performed.
[0016]
The press molding of the outer cover 11 will be described in detail. First, by punching and forging a pure titanium plate sprayed with powdered copper or tin as described above, as shown in FIG. A plurality of penetrating key insertion holes 11a, a pair of left and right convex pieces 11b, 11b formed protruding from one side of the front housing 10 side (the right side in FIG. 3), and the convex pieces 11b, 11b And a flat plate having a predetermined shape having a pair of left and right convex hole portions 11c and 11c formed so as to project the through hole.
[0017]
Next, as shown in FIG. 4, a rising piece portion 11d is formed by bending drawing at an outer peripheral portion including the convex hole portions 11c and 11c and excluding the convex piece portion 11b. The rising piece portion 11d increases the bending strength so that the exterior cover 11 is not easily bent.
[0018]
And cylindrical shaft support part 11b ', 11b' is formed by bending the said convex piece parts 11b and 11b along the said convex hole part 11c, respectively in a cylinder shape (refer FIG. 5).
[0019]
These cylindrical shaft support portions 11b ′ and 11b ′ are portions where the front side housing 10 is pivotally supported on the rear side housing 20 by a shaft member 30 which will be described later. Since strength is required, the reinforcing sleeve 40 is inserted and welded therein.
[0020]
The reinforcing sleeve 40 is formed by bending a pure titanium material, which is the same material as the outer cover 11, into a cylindrical shape, and forming a plurality of engaging and disengaging claws 41 that protrude inward by cutting out the peripheral wall and bending it inward. is doing.
The engagement / disengagement claw 41 engages / disengages with a groove 31a on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft member 30 to be described later, so that the angle between the front housing 10 and the rear housing 20 can be changed stepwise. .
In FIG. 2, the reinforcing sleeve 40 and the shaft member 30 are illustrated to be assembled to one of the left and right cylindrical shaft support portions 11 b ′ and 11 b ′, but are similarly assembled to the other. Of course.
[0021]
Similarly to the exterior cover 11, the interior case 12 is formed by press-molding a pure titanium plate sprayed with powdered copper or tin, so that a flat frame portion 12a that contacts the inner surface of the exterior cover 11 is obtained. A plurality of rising piece portions 12b rising from a predetermined portion on the outer periphery of the frame portion 12a are formed.
[0022]
The rising piece 12b of the interior case 12 enhances the bending strength of the interior case 12, and constitutes an engaging portion, a screw hole, or the like that engages with an internal electronic component or the like.
[0023]
The exterior cover 11 and the interior case 12 press-molded as described above are overlapped and spot-welded at a plurality of predetermined locations, thereby constituting a highly rigid front-side casing 10.
[0024]
The exterior cover 21 and the interior case 22 of the rear casing 20 are made of pure titanium plates sprayed with powdered copper or tin, respectively, like the exterior cover 11 and the interior case 12 of the front casing 10. Press-molded (see FIGS. 8 and 9), and they are overlapped and spot-welded at a predetermined plurality of locations to constitute a rear-side casing 20 having high rigidity (see FIGS. 7 and 8).
[0025]
In the figure, reference numeral 21 a in the exterior cover 21 is a rising piece that increases the bending strength of the exterior cover 21, and reference numeral 21 b pivots the exterior cover 21 to the exterior cover 11 of the front side housing 10. It is a cylindrical axial support part for this. Reference numeral 21c is a square hole for exposing and displaying an internal liquid crystal display.
Reference numeral 50 in FIG. 7 denotes a pure titanium reinforcing sleeve welded into the cylindrical shaft support portion 21b in order to reinforce the cylindrical shaft support portion 21b.
[0026]
Further, reference numeral 22a in the inner case 22 in FIG. 6 is a frame portion spot-welded to the inner surface of the outer cover 21 at a plurality of locations, and reference numeral 22b increases the bending strength of the inner case 22 and incorporates the built-in electronics. It is a rising piece provided with an engaging part to a part or the like.
[0027]
The front housing 10 and the rear housing 20 configured as described above are provided between the cylindrical shaft support portions 11b ′ and 11b ′ of the outer cover 11 of the front housing 10 and the outer cover 21 of the rear housing 20. The cylindrical shaft support portion 21b is coaxially disposed. Further, the front side housing 10 and the rear side housing 20 are provided with left and right shafts with reinforcing sleeves 40 and 40 and a reinforcing sleeve 50 interposed in the cylindrical shaft support portions 11b ′, 11b ′ and 21b. By inserting the members 30 and 30, they are connected so that the angle can be varied step by step.
[0028]
The shaft member 30 is engaged with an elastically deformable cylindrical portion 31 made of a synthetic resin material or the like on the outer periphery, and a plurality of engaging and disengaging claws 41 are engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 31. The groove 31a is formed.
Therefore, the angles of the front housing 10 and the rear housing 20 are changed stepwise by the engagement / disengagement of the engagement / disengagement claw 41 and the groove 31a.
[0029]
In addition, the aspect of the exterior cover 11 of the front side housing 10 is not limited to the above-described one. For example, a cylindrical shaft support portion of the exterior cover 11 like an exterior cover 11 ′ shown in FIG. You may provide cylindrical axial support part 11b "and 11b" of a shape different from 11b 'and 11b'. Since the cylindrical shaft support portion 11b ″ is bent into a cylindrical shape by press working and its distal end portion is joined to the main body 11x of the exterior cover 11 by welding, it has a robust structure. About the other structural part of this exterior cover 11 ', since the fundamental structure is the same as that of the exterior cover 11, the duplicate description is omitted by attaching the same reference numerals.
[0030]
Further, in the exterior cover 21 of the rear housing 20, the cylindrical shaft support portion 21b is integrally provided. However, as in the exterior cover 21 ′ shown in FIG. 11, a cylinder separate from the main body 21x. The cylindrical shaft support portion 21b ′ may be formed from a pure titanium plate, and the cylindrical shaft support portion 21b ′ may be welded to the main body 21x in a step after the forming step.
[0031]
As described above, a preferred example of the embodiment of the present invention corresponding to a cellular phone case has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a portable personal computer shown in FIG. Of course, it is possible to correspond to the digital camera 70, the digital camera 70 shown in FIG. 14, a video camera, a CD player, an MD player, a navigator, a mobile computer, an electronic notebook, and the like.
[0032]
In the above embodiment, each of the exterior covers 11 and 21 and the interior cases 12 and 22 is formed from a pure titanium plate as defined in JISH4600. However, one or both of the exterior cover and the interior cases are used. Is composed of a multilayer plate (cladding material) composed of a plurality of types of material layers including at least a pure titanium layer so as to obtain characteristics of both pure titanium and other metal materials. For example, it is possible to use a clad material composed of a pure titanium layer and an aluminum layer. Moreover, it is also possible to use the clad material which consists of an aluminum layer and a stainless steel layer in one of the said exterior cover and an interior case.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
Since handling excellent corrosion resistance easy to titanium charge properties can be effectively utilized is of course lightweight, by superimposing the exterior cover and an interior cases made of titanium material are integrated by spot welding, Even when a relatively thin titanium plate is used, high strength and high rigidity can be maintained.
Therefore, it is as lightweight as a magnesium or aluminum alloy case, has excellent corrosion resistance, is easy to handle, has higher strength and rigidity than a magnesium or aluminum alloy case, and is a compact case for small electronic devices. Can be provided.
Moreover, since the integration of the exterior cover and the interior case can be easily and reliably performed by spot welding, it is possible to provide a small electronic device product case that is excellent in productivity and quality.
In addition, since the exterior cover and the interior case are formed by press working, the mass production is excellent and the processing cost can be reduced.
Furthermore, the powdered copper or tin can be easily drawn, bent, and drawn from the mold for the outer cover or the inner case after molding. Therefore, productivity can be further improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a front housing which is an example of a case for a small electronic device product according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a reinforcing sleeve and a shaft member are assembled to the front housing.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show an exterior cover of a front housing in the middle of press molding, where FIG. 3A is a plan view of the exterior cover immediately after being punched, and FIG. 3B is a longitudinal sectional view of the exterior cover.
FIGS. 4A and 4B show an exterior cover of a front housing in the middle of press molding, where FIG. 4A is a plan view of the exterior cover immediately after bending a rising piece, and FIG. 4B is a longitudinal sectional view of the exterior cover. .
FIGS. 5A and 5B show an exterior cover of a front housing in the middle of press molding, where FIG. 5A is a plan view of the exterior cover immediately after bending a cylindrical shaft support portion, and FIG. 5B is a longitudinal sectional view of the exterior cover. is there.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a rear casing which is another example of a case for a small electronic device product according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which a reinforcing sleeve is assembled to the rear casing.
FIGS. 8A and 8B show an exterior cover of a rear housing in the middle of press molding, where FIG. 8A is a plan view of the exterior cover immediately after being punched, and FIG. 8B is a longitudinal sectional view of the exterior cover.
9A and 9B show an exterior cover of a rear housing in the middle of press molding, in which FIG. 9A is a plan view of the exterior cover immediately after bending a rising piece and a cylindrical shaft support, and FIG. 9B is a plan view of the exterior cover. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of an exterior cover.
11A and 11B show another example of the exterior cover, in which FIG. 11A is a plan view and FIG. 11B is a longitudinal sectional view.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an example in which a case of a mobile phone is configured using the case for a small electronic device product according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example of another product using the case for a small electronic device product according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of another product using the case for a small electronic device product according to the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional metal case.
[Explanation of symbols]
10: Front side case 20: Rear side case 11, 21: Exterior cover 12, 22: Interior case 11d, 12b, 21a, 22b: Rising piece

Claims (2)

It is a case for a small electronic device product in which an exterior cover and an interior case, which are each formed by press working with powdered copper or tin sprayed on the front and back surfaces of a titanium material , are overlapped and integrated,
The exterior cover (11, 21) and the interior case (12, 22) are overlapped and integrated by spot welding to form a front casing (10) and a rear casing (20), respectively. And comprising
The front housing (10) includes left and right cylindrical shaft support portions (11b ′, 11b ′) that are coaxially formed to protrude from one side of the exterior cover (11).
The rear housing (20) is formed so as to protrude from one side of the exterior cover (21) and be coaxially disposed between the left and right cylindrical shaft support portions (11b ′, 11b ′). A cylindrical shaft support (21b),
By inserting the shaft member (30) into the cylindrical shaft support portions (11b ′, 11b ′, 21b), the front housing (10) and the rear housing (20) are connected,
The cylindrical shaft support portions (11b ′, 11b ′) include a pair of left and right convex pieces (11b, 11b) that protrude from one side of the exterior cover (11) and are bent into a cylindrical shape, and the pair of left and right convex pieces. A pair of left and right parts that protrude from one side of the exterior cover (11) and bend together with the rising piece (11d) formed at the outer peripheral portion of the exterior cover (11) so as to sandwich the portions (11b, 11b) A case for a small electronic device product, characterized in that it is formed of convex hole portions (11c, 11c) . The shaft member (30) is inserted into the cylindrical shaft support portions (11b ′, 11b ′, 21b) via the reinforcing sleeve (40), so that the front side case (10) and the rear side case are provided. Connecting the body (20) so that the angle is variable,
The reinforcing sleeve (40) includes a locking claw (41) protruding inward, and the shaft member (30) can be engaged with and disengaged from the locking claw (41) on an elastically deformable outer peripheral surface. The small electronic device product case according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of grooves (31 a) .

Images