TWI468281B - Housing and method for making the same - Google Patents

Description

Housing and method of manufacturing same

The present invention relates to a housing structure, and more particularly to a housing for use in a portable electronic device and a method of manufacturing the same.

The housing applied to the portable electronic device generally comprises an upper shell and a lower shell. To enhance the anti-drop performance of the product, the upper shell and the lower shell are usually fixedly mounted by welding. However, since slag is inevitably generated during the welding process, the slag remains between the upper shell and the lower shell, which may cause a gap in the weld, thereby affecting the yield of the shell welding and the overall drop resistance of the shell.

In view of the above, it is necessary to provide a housing that is excellent in drop resistance and easy to weld.

It is also necessary to provide a manufacturing method which can effectively improve the drop resistance and the soldering yield of the casing.

A casing comprises a lower casing and an upper casing disposed on the lower casing, the lower casing comprises a connecting surface, the upper casing comprises a bottom surface, and the connecting surface of the lower casing is welded and fixed on the bottom surface of the upper casing, and the corresponding connecting surface is opened on the bottom surface The tank is accommodated to accommodate the slag produced during the welding process.

A manufacturing method of the above casing, comprising the steps of: providing a plate material to form a lower shell; providing another plate to form an upper shell; corresponding to the bottom surface of the upper shell The welding portion of the connecting surface of the lower shell forms a receiving groove; the upper shell is placed on the lower shell such that the bottom surface is attached to the connecting surface, and the receiving groove is aligned with the connecting surface; a laser source is provided to cause the laser to be emitted from the laser source The light beam is projected between the bottom surface and the connecting surface to weld the lower shell and the upper shell together, and the slag generated during the welding process is correspondingly accommodated in the receiving groove.

When the casing is welded to the upper casing by the accommodating groove formed on the bottom surface of the upper casing, the slag generated during the welding process can flow into the accommodating groove with the melt, thereby effectively preventing the slag from remaining in the upper casing. A gap is formed between the bottom surface and the connecting surface of the lower shell, which improves the welding yield and the drop resistance of the housing.

100‧‧‧shell

10‧‧‧ lower case

12‧‧‧ bottom wall

13‧‧‧Wall

131‧‧‧ Connection surface

30‧‧‧Upper shell

31‧‧‧ frame

311‧‧‧ bottom

312‧‧‧ top surface

313‧‧‧Strengthened ribs

3131‧‧‧ side

314‧‧‧ accommodating slot

316‧‧‧ Groove

32‧‧‧ display window

1 is an assembled, isometric view of a housing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the housing of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the upper casing of the casing shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the portion IV in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of the housing of Figure 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 2, the housing 100 includes a lower case 10 and an upper case 30 disposed on the lower case 10. The lower case 10 and the upper case 30 are fixedly mounted by welding.

The lower casing 10 includes a bottom wall 12 and a peripheral wall 13 which is formed by bending a substantially vertical extension of the periphery of the bottom wall 12. The peripheral wall 13 includes a connecting surface 131 that is remote from the bottom wall 12. The connecting surface 131 is connected to the upper casing 30 in a welded manner. In the present embodiment, the bottom wall 12 has a substantially rectangular plate shape, and the peripheral wall 13 has a substantially rectangular frame shape. The bottom wall 12 is in contact with the peripheral wall 13 and the four corners of the peripheral wall 13 are uniformly curved arc-shaped structures to increase the shell. The overall aesthetics of the body 100.

Referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 together, the upper casing 30 has a frame shape and includes a substantially rectangular frame 31 and a substantially rectangular display window 32 surrounded by the frame 31. The frame body 31 includes a bottom surface 311 and a top surface 312 opposite to the bottom surface 311. A substantially rectangular annular reinforcing rib 313 is formed on the bottom surface 311 to surround the display window 32 to increase the overall strength of the frame 31. The outer peripheral dimension of the reinforcing rib 313 is equivalent to the inner peripheral edge of the peripheral wall 13 of the lower casing 10, so that the lower casing 10 is welded to the upper casing 30. The connecting surface 131 of the bottom surface 311 corresponding to the peripheral wall 13 of the lower casing 10 is on the outer side of the reinforcing rib 313, and a receiving groove 314 having a substantially V-shaped cross section is recessed around the display window 32 or/and the reinforcing rib 313. In the present embodiment, the receiving groove 314 is formed with a rounded corner (not shown) at a position where the bottom surface 311 of the frame body 31 is in contact with each other. The opening width of the receiving groove 314 is gradually decreased from the bottom surface 311 toward the top surface 312 of the frame body 31 to facilitate the flow of molten slag into the receiving groove 314 with the melt during the welding process, thereby reducing the residual slag remaining on the bottom surface 311 and the connection. The gap caused between the faces 131 improves the welding yield.

The reinforcing rib 313 includes a side surface 3131 facing the side of the receiving groove 314. After welding, the side surface 3131 of the reinforcing rib 313 is in close contact with the inner side surface of the peripheral wall 13 of the lower casing 10 to further enhance the strength of the casing 100 after welding.

A corresponding groove 316 is recessed on the top surface 312 of the frame 31 corresponding to the reinforcing rib 313. The recess 316 is disposed around the display window 32 with respect to the reinforcing rib 313 to facilitate mounting other structures, such as a decorative frame (not shown).

It can be understood that the receiving groove 314 can also be recessed on other parts of the bottom surface 311 corresponding to the connecting surface 131 of the lower casing 10 without being adjacent to the outer side of the reinforcing rib 313.

A manufacturing method of the above casing 100 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, which includes the following steps:

Step 1: providing a sheet material, which is formed by casting, stamping, forging, punching forging or die casting, etc., and the lower shell 10 includes a bottom wall 12 and a peripheral wall formed by a substantially vertical extension of the periphery of the bottom wall 12 13.

Step 2: providing another sheet, the upper shell 30 is formed by casting, stamping, forging, punching forging or die casting. The upper case 30 includes a frame body 31 and a display window 32 surrounded by the frame body 31. The frame body 31 includes a bottom surface 311 and a top surface 312 opposite to the bottom surface 311. A substantially rectangular annular reinforcing rib 313 is protruded from the bottom surface 311 to surround the display window 32. The outer peripheral edge of the reinforcing rib 313 has a size corresponding to the inner peripheral edge of the peripheral wall 13 of the lower casing 10. A recess 316 is recessed in the top surface 312 of the frame 31 corresponding to the reinforcing rib 313, and the recess 316 is disposed around the display window 32 with respect to the reinforcing rib 313.

Step 3: The receiving groove 314 is formed by milling or chemical etching on the outer surface of the reinforcing rib 313 on the bottom surface 311 of the upper casing 30.

Step 4: placing the upper casing 30 on the lower casing 10 such that the connecting surface 131 of the peripheral wall 13 of the lower casing 10 is close to the bottom surface 311 of the upper casing 30, and the inner side wall of the peripheral wall 13 of the lower casing 10 is closely adhered to the reinforcement. The outer side of the rib 313.

Step 5: providing a laser source (not shown), and causing the laser beam emitted from the laser source to be projected between the connecting surface 131 of the peripheral wall 13 of the lower casing 10 and the bottom surface 311 of the lower casing 10 to The case 10 is welded to the upper case 30. Preferably, the angle between the laser beam and the connecting surface 131 ranges from 30 degrees to 60 degrees.

Step 6: The housing 100 is integrally processed by a milling process or a polishing method to smoothly transition the connection between the lower casing 10 and the upper casing 30 to increase the aesthetics of the casing 100.

It can be understood that the order of step one and step two is interchangeable. Step 6 can be omitted.

When the housing 100 is opened by the receiving groove 314 on the bottom surface 311 of the upper case 30, when the lower case 10 is welded to the upper case 30, the slag generated during the welding process can flow into the receiving groove 314 with the melt, thereby effectively avoiding Since the slag remains between the bottom surface 311 of the upper case 30 and the connection surface 131 of the lower case 10, a gap is formed, which improves the soldering yield and the drop resistance of the case 100. After welding, the side surface 3131 of the reinforcing rib 313 is in close contact with the inner side wall of the bottom wall 12 of the lower casing 10, which can further strengthen the strength of the casing 100 after welding. In addition, by controlling the angle between the laser beam and the connecting surface 131 to be in the range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees, the heat receiving area of the connecting surface 131 of the lower case 10 and the bottom surface 311 of the upper case 30 can be increased, thereby reducing the penetration of the peripheral wall. 13 and the bottom surface 311 is bad.

In summary, the present invention has indeed met the requirements of the invention patent, and has filed a patent application according to law. However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it is not possible to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Equivalent modifications or variations made by persons skilled in the art in light of the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

12‧‧‧ bottom wall

13‧‧‧Wall

131‧‧‧ Connection surface

311‧‧‧ bottom

312‧‧‧ top surface

313‧‧‧Strengthened ribs

3131‧‧‧ side

314‧‧‧ accommodating slot

316‧‧‧ Groove

Claims (9)

A casing comprising a lower casing and an upper casing disposed on the lower casing, the lower casing comprising a connecting surface, a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending from a periphery of the bottom wall to one side thereof, the upper casing including a bottom surface, the upper casing The connecting surface of the lower shell is welded and fixed on the bottom surface of the upper shell, and the improvement is that the bottom surface is provided with a receiving groove at the connecting surface and a reinforcing rib protruding adjacent to the receiving groove, the receiving groove is for receiving the welding The slag generated in the process; the reinforcing rib includes a side facing the side of the receiving groove, the side abutting against the inner side of the peripheral wall. The casing of claim 1, wherein the receiving groove forms a rounded corner at a position where the bottom surface meets. The casing of claim 1, wherein the opening width of the receiving groove gradually decreases toward a direction away from the bottom surface. The casing of claim 1, wherein the upper casing is in the form of a frame, and comprises a frame and a display window surrounded by the frame. The casing of claim 4, wherein the upper casing further comprises a top surface opposite the bottom surface, and the top surface is formed with a groove around the display window. A method of manufacturing a casing according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet material to form a lower shell; providing another sheet to form an upper shell; and a bottom surface of the upper shell corresponding to the lower portion Forming a receiving groove at a joint of the connecting surface of the shell; placing the upper shell on the lower shell such that the bottom surface fits the connecting surface and aligning the receiving groove with the connecting surface; and providing a laser source a laser beam emitted by the laser source is projected between the bottom surface and the connecting surface to weld the lower shell and the upper shell together, and the slag generated during the welding process is correspondingly accommodated The accommodation tank is inside. The method of manufacturing a casing according to claim 6, wherein the lower casing further comprises a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending from a periphery of the bottom wall to a side thereof, wherein the bottom surface of the upper casing is further convex a reinforcing rib disposed adjacent to the receiving groove, the reinforcing rib including a side facing the receiving groove side, the side abutting against an inner side surface of the peripheral wall. The method of manufacturing a casing according to claim 6, wherein the upper casing is in the shape of a frame, and comprises a frame and a display window surrounded by the frame, and the display is arranged on the top surface of the frame. A groove is formed in the window. The method of manufacturing a casing according to claim 6, wherein the angle between the laser beam and the connecting surface ranges from 30 degrees to 60 degrees.