Storage box and electronic device

The present disclosure relates to a storage box. The storage box includes a body, a cover, and a first magnetic unit. The body is provided with a receiving space. The cover is rotatably attached to the body and is configured to rotate relative to the body to drive the storage box between an open state and a closed state. In the open state, the cover covers the receiving space. In the closed state, the receiving space is exposed. The first magnetic unit includes a first magnetic member attached to the body and a first attracting member attached to the cover. Opening the storage box from the closed state causes the first attracting member to move closer to the first magnetic member. Magnetic force between the first magnetic member and the first attracting member drives the cover to rotate away from the closed state and into the open state.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201921347660.1, filed Aug. 19, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of storage device, and more particularly to a storage box and an electronic device.

BACKGROUND

True wireless stereo (TWS) headphones are generally equipped with headphone storage boxes. The headphone storage box is configured to store and charge the TWS headphone. A cover of the headphone storage box is generally attached to a body of the headphone storage box via a shaft. However it is difficult to reliably secure the cover and the body when the earphone storage box is opened.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a storage box. The storage box includes a body, a cover, and a first magnetic unit. The body is provided with a receiving space. The cover is rotatably attached to the body. The cover is configured to rotate relative to the body to drive the storage box between an open state and a closed state. The cover covers the receiving space when the storage box is in the closed state, and the receiving space is exposed when the storage box is in the open state. The first magnetic unit includes a first magnetic member and a first attracting member. The first magnetic member is attached to the body and the first attracting member is attached to the cover. Opening the storage box causes the first attracting member to move closer to the first magnetic member such that magnetic force between the first magnetic member and the first attracting member drives the cover to rotate away from a closed state and into an open state.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a storage box. The storage box includes a body, a cover, and a magnetic unit. The body defines a receiving space. The cover is rotatably attached to the body and configured to rotatably drive the storage box to switch between an open state and a closed state. The magnetic unit includes a first magnetic member and a first attracting member. The first magnetic member is attached to the body, and the first attracting member is attached to the cover. Rotating the cover from the closed stated toward the open state causes the first attracting member to move closer to the first magnetic member. After rotating the cover to a certain position with respect to the body, magnetic force between the first magnetic member and the first attracting member drives the cover to rotate to and remain the open state.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic device. The electronic device includes a body, a cover, earphones, a battery, a first magnetic unit, and a second magnetic unit. The body defines a receiving space. The cover is movably attached to the body and operable between a closed position where the cover covers the receiving space and an open position where the receiving space is exposed. The earphones are configured to be detachably stored in the receiving space. The first magnetic unit includes a first magnetic member and a first attracting member respectively attached to the body and the cover. The second magnetic unit includes a second magnetic member and a second attracting member respectively attached to the body and the cover. Rotating the cover from the closed position toward the open position causes the first attracting member to move closer to the first magnetic member till the cover is secured to the body in the open position, and rotating the cover from the open position to the closed position causes the second attracting member to move closer to the second magnetic member to enable the cover to rotate to away from the open position and into the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To facilitate understanding of the present disclosure, the present disclosure will be described completely with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure can be implemented in many different ways and is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein. To the contrary, these embodiments are provided to understand the present disclosure more thoroughly and comprehensively.

A storage box includes a body, a cover, and a first magnetic unit. The body is provided with a receiving space. The cover is rotatably attached to the body. The cover is configured to rotate relative to the body to drive the storage box between an open state and a closed state. The cover covers the receiving space when the storage box is in the closed state, and the receiving space is exposed when the storage box is in the open state. The first magnetic unit includes a first magnetic member and a first attracting member. The first magnetic member is attached to the body and the first attracting member is attached to the cover. Opening the storage box causes the first attracting member to move closer to the first magnetic member such that magnetic force between the first magnetic member and the first attracting member drives the cover to rotate away from a closed state and into an open state.

A storage box includes a body, a cover, and a magnetic unit. The body defines a receiving space. The body defines a receiving space. The cover is rotatably attached to the body and configured to rotatably drive the storage box to switch between an open state and a closed state. The magnetic unit includes a first magnetic member and a first attracting member. The first magnetic member is attached to the body, and the first attracting member is attached to the cover. Rotating the cover from the closed stated toward the open state causes the first attracting member to move closer to the first magnetic member. After rotating the cover to a certain position with respect to the body, magnetic force between the first magnetic member and the first attracting member drives the cover to rotate to and remain the open state.

An electronic device includes a body, a cover, earphones, a battery, a first magnetic unit, and a second magnetic unit. The body defines a receiving space. The cover is movably attached to the body and operable between a closed position where the cover covers the receiving space and an open position where the receiving space is exposed. The earphones are configured to be detachably stored in the receiving space. The first magnetic unit includes a first magnetic member and a first attracting member respectively attached to the body and the cover. The second magnetic unit includes a second magnetic member and a second attracting member respectively attached to the body and the cover. Rotating the cover from the closed position toward the open position causes the first attracting member to move closer to the first magnetic member till the cover is secured to the body in the open position, and rotating the cover from the open position to the closed position causes the second attracting member to move closer to the second magnetic member to enable the cover to rotate to away from the open position and into the closed position.

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, in an embodiment, the storage box10is configured to store and charge TWS headphones, which improves the convenience of storing and charging the TWS headphones. In other embodiments, the storage box10may be configured to store other electronic devices or objects and may not have a charging function. Specifically, the present disclosure is described by taking the storage box10for storing TWS headphones as an example. The storage box10includes a body100which is generally a rectangular block. The body100is provided with a receiving space101. In the embodiment in which the storage box10is configured to store TWS headphones, the receiving space101is further configured to receive a battery. In this way, the battery can charge the TWS headphones stored in the storage box10. The battery can be a lithium battery that can be repeatedly charged and discharged. In other embodiments, the body100can be in a cylindrical shape, in a prismatic shape, or in other shapes.

The cover200is attached to the body100and capable of rotating relative to the body100to cause the storage box10to be in an open state or a closed state. As illustrated inFIG. 1, when the storage box10is in the closed state, the cover200covers the receiving space101so as to protect the TWS headphones stored in the receiving space101of the storage box10. In the embodiment in which the storage box10includes the battery, each of the body100and the TWS headphone is provided with a metal contact correspondingly. After covering the body100, the cover200can abut against the TWS headphone stored in the storage box10to cause the metal contacts of the body100and the battery to well contact so as to form a reliable electrical connection. Thus, the TWS headphone can be charged by the battery. As illustrated inFIG. 2, when the storage box10is in the open state, the receiving space101is exposed, which is convenient for a user to place the TWS headphone in the receiving space101of the storage box10.

With reference toFIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the storage box10can further include a magnetic unit300. The magnetic unit300includes a first magnetic member310and a first attracting member320. The first magnetic member310is disposed at body100and the first attracting member320is disposed at the cover200. As illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5, in a process of opening the storage box10, the first attracting member320can be moved gradually closer to the first magnetic member310. The magnetic force between the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320drives the cover200to rotate to be in an open state and keeps the cover200in the open state, as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7. Specifically, one of the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320is a magnet, and the other of the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320is a magnet or a magnetizable metal member. The magnetizable metal member may be made of iron, cobalt, nickel, and their alloys. In the embodiment, the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320both are magnets. As illustrated inFIG. 2, to open the storage box10in the closed state, a torque is applied to the cover200to rotate the cover200relative to the body100such that the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320can be moved close to each other. As illustrated inFIG. 5, after the cover200is rotated to a certain degree relative to the body100, the first attracting member320may be moved sufficiently close to the first attracting member320such that there is no need to continue to apply the torque to the cover200. At this position, the magnetic force between the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320can drive the cover200to continue to rotate relative to the body100so as to automatically open the storage box10and reliably keep the cover200in the open state, as illustrated inFIG. 7. When the cover200is in the open state, the magnetic force between the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320prevents the cover200from inadvertently rotating relative to the body100to in the closed state. This can allow a user to perform operations, such as, taking the TWS headphone out of the receiving space101of the storage box10or placing the TWS headphone in the receiving space101of the storage box10, thereby improving convenience and functionality.

When opening the storage box10, the first attracting member320can be moved to gradually approach the first magnetic member310such that the magnetic force between the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320drives the cover200to rotate to be in the open state. That is, the magnetic force between the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320can act as a driving force to automatically open the storage box10after the cover200is rotated a certain degree relative to the body100. The magnetic force between the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320can keep the cover200in the open state such that the cover200is reliably secured to the body100in the open state, which can conveniently allow the user to perform operations with the storage box.

As illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9, the storage box10can further include another magnetic unit400. The magnetic unit400includes a second magnetic member410and a second attracting member420. The second magnetic member410is disposed at the body100and the second attracting member420is disposed at the cover200. As illustrated inFIGS. 10, 11, and 12, in a process of closing the storage box10, the second attracting member420can be moved to gradually approach the second magnetic member410such that the magnetic force between the second magnetic member410and the second attracting member420drives the cover200to rotate to be in the closed state and keeps the cover200in the closed state. Specifically, one of the second magnetic attracting member410and the second attracting member420is a magnet, and the other of the second magnetic attracting member410and the second attracting member420is a magnet or a magnetizable metal member. The magnetizable metal member may be made of iron, cobalt, nickel, and their alloys. In the embodiment, the second magnetic member410and the second attracting member420both are magnets. To switch the storage box10from the closed state to the open state, a torque is applied to the cover200to overcome the magnetic force between the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320such that the cover200is rotated relative to the body100. The second magnetic member410and the second attracting member420are driven to gradually approach each other. When the storage box10is about to be closed, there may not need to continue to apply the force to the cover200. The magnetic force between the second magnetic member410and the second attracting member420the cover200to rotate to be in the closed state. In the closed state, the magnetic force between the second magnetic member410and the second attracting member420enables the cover200to be reliably secured to the body100, which can prevent the storage box10from being inadvertently opened. It should be understood, that the magnetic unit400may not be necessary. For example, a snap structure can be applied to reliably fix the cover to the body when the storage box10is in the closed state.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3, 4 and 5, in the embodiment in which the body100is generally a rectangular block, the body100includes a bottom wall110, a circumferential member120extending from an edge of the bottom wall110, and a supporting member130connected to an end of the circumferential member120away from the bottom wall110. The bottom wall110, the circumferential member120, and the supporting member130cooperatively define the receiving space101. The first magnetic member310and the second magnetic member410are attached to the supporting member130. As illustrated inFIG. 9, when the storage box10is in the closed state, a distance between the first magnetic member310and an outer surface of the bottom wall110is greater than a distance between the first attracting member320and the outer surface of the bottom wall110. When opening the storage box10, the first attracting member320is moved in a direction away from the bottom wall110and gradually closed to the first magnetic member310. Specifically, In an embodiment, the second magnetic member410and the second attracting member420both are bar magnets, as illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 13, when the storage box10is in the closed state, the N pole and the S pole of the first magnetic member310are horizontally disposed, that is, a line extending through the N pole and the S pole of the first magnetic member310is horizontal, and the N pole and the S pole of the first attracting member320are vertically disposed, that is, a line extending through the N pole and the S pole of the first attracting member320is vertical. Thus, a line of magnetic force of the first magnetic member310in an extending direction of the first magnetic member310along the line extending through the N pole and the S pole of the first magnetic member310is substantially perpendicular to a line of magnetic force of the first attracting member320in an extending directions of the first attracting member320along the line extending through the N pole and the S pole of the first attracting member320. In this way, the magnetic force between the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320is relatively small.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 14, when the cover200is rotated relative to the body100to open the storage box10, the first attracting member320is rotated clockwise such that the unlike poles of the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320are close to each other until the line extending through the N pole and the S pole of the first magnetic member310and the line extending through the N pole and the S pole of the first attracting member320are about to be consistent, that is, parallel to each other. At this time, the magnetic force generated is relatively large. As illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 15, when the storage box10is in the open state, the line extending through the N pole and the S pole of the first magnetic member310and the line extending through the N pole and the S pole of the first attracting member320are about to be consistent, that is, parallel to each other, such that the cover200is reliably positioned on the body100. With this structure, when the storage box10is in the closed state, the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320are staggered or misaligned with each other in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction in space. The vertical direction extends along the line extending through the N pole and the S pole of the first magnetic member310, the horizontal direction extends along the line extending through the N pole and the S pole of the first attracting member320. As a result, a distance between the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320is relatively large and accordingly the magnetic force therebetween is relatively small. When opening the storage box10, such a structure can avoid the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320to generate a large blocking force to block the rotation of the cover200.

It can be understood that, in other embodiments, the second magnetic member410and the second attracting member420are both bar-shaped. When the storage box10is in the closed state, the first magnetic member310is horizontally disposed, that is, disposed along a length direction of the first magnetic member310; the first attracting member320is vertically disposed, that is, disposed along a length direction of the first attracting member320; the length direction of the first magnetic member310and the length direction of the first attracting member320are perpendicular to each other. When the storage box10is in the open state, the first magnetic member310is horizontally disposed, that is, disposed along the length direction of the first magnetic member310; the first attracting member320is horizontally disposed, that is, disposed along the length direction of the first attracting member320; the length direction of the first magnetic member310and the length direction of the first attracting member320are parallel to each other. When the storage box is in the closed state, the first magnetic member310and the first attracting member320are staggered or misaligned with each other in the length direction of the first magnetic member310and the length direction of the first attracting member320.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, the circumferential member120includes a first side wall121and a second side wall123opposite to each other. As illustrated inFIG. 8, the circumferential member120further includes a third side wall125and a fourth side wall127disposed opposite to each other. The third side wall125and the fourth side wall127are connected between the first side wall121and the second side wall123. The first side wall121, the second side wall123, the third side wall125, and the fourth side walls127are sequentially and circumferentially disposed between the bottom wall110and the supporting member130. The first magnetic member310is closer to the first side wall121than the second magnetic member410. As illustrated inFIG. 9, the supporting member130defines a first slot1301close to the first side wall121and the first slot1301is configured to mount the first magnetic member310therein. The supporting member130defines a second slot1302close to the second side wall123and the second slot1302is configured to mount the second magnetic member410therein. Thus, the first slot1301and the second slot1302are spaced apart from each other. The supporting member130further defines an avoidance space1303next to the first slot1301and close to the first side wall121, and the avoidance space1303is configured to allow the first attracting member320to move therein. The first slot1301, the second slot1302, and the avoidance space1303are disposed below a top wall131of the supporting member130. The first magnetic member310is disposed in the first slot1301.

The first magnetic member310and the second magnetic member410received in the supporting member130are spaced apart from each other. At the same time, the first magnetic member310and the second magnetic member410are located below the top wall131of the supporting member130. In this way, when the storage box10is in the open state, the first magnetic member310and the second magnetic member410are invisible, thereby allowing the storage box10to have a good appearance. The supporting member130can cover an opening defined at an end of the circumferential member120away from the bottom wall110and define through holes132for mounting the TWS earphones, as illustrated inFIG. 1. An upper surface of the top wall131of the supporting member130can be flush with an end surface1200of the circumferential member120away from the bottom wall110of the body100, such that the body100has a good appearance, the cover200and the body100cooperate well, and closing the cover200and the body100is achieved. In an alternative embodiment, the end surface1200of the supporting member130away from the bottom wall110may be provided with stepped members and the cover200is provided with recessed portions. When the storage box10is in the closed state, the stepped members engage with the recessed portions to form a relatively firm positioning structure between the cover200and the body100.

As illustrated inFIG. 7andFIG. 9, when opening the storage box10, the cover200or the first attracting member320can abut against the supporting member130to limit a range of rotation of the cover200relative to the body100. This can prevent a hinge member500that rotatably attaches to cover200to the body100from being damaged due to excessive rotation of the cover200. For example, the hinge member500includes a rotation shaft provided at one of the cover200and the body100, and a rotation hole provided in the other of the cover200and the body100. The rotation shaft is disposed within the rotation hole such that the cover200is rotatably attached to the body100. The hinge member500is also received in the avoidance space1303. Since the cover200or the first attracting member320can abut against the supporting member130, such as a portion of the supporting member130above the avoidance space1303, that is, a lower surface of the top wall131of the supporting member130above the avoidance space1303, the rotating shaft or the rotation hole from being damaged due to the excessive rotation of the cover200is prevented.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, the cover200is provided with a receiving space201. When the storage box10is in the closed state, the receiving space201communicates with the receiving space101to define a large storage space in the storage box10such that part of TWS earphones can be received in the receiving space201of the cover200. As a result, the TWS earphones are well stored in the storage box10. In the embodiment, the cover200includes a top wall210and a circumferential member220circumferentially extending from an edge of the top wall210. The top wall210and the circumferential member220cooperatively define the receiving space201. The first attracting member320and the second attracting member420are attached to the circumferential member220. As illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9, the circumferential member220includes a first side wall221and a second side wall223opposite to each other, and a third side wall225and a fourth side wall227opposite to each other. The first side wall221and the second side wall223are connected between the third side wall225and the fourth side wall227. The first side wall221, the second side wall223, the third side wall225, the fourth side wall227, and the top wall210cooperatively define the receiving space201. The first attracting member320is disposed at the first side wall221, and the second attracting member420is disposed at the second side wall223.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, when the storage box10is in the closed state, the second attracting member420is located below the hinge member500. As illustrated inFIG. 7, when the storage box10is in the open state, the second attracting member420is located at a side of the hinge member500. When the storage box10is in the closed state, the first side wall221engages with the first side wall121, the second side wall223engages with the second side wall123, the third side wall225engages with the third side wall125, and the fourth side wall227engages with the fourth side wall127. In the embodiment in which the rotation shaft is disposed within the rotation hole to provide a rotatable connection, the rotation shaft is provided at one of the first side wall221and the first side wall121, and the rotation hole is provided in the other of the first side wall221and the first side wall121.

When the storage box10is in the closed state, an outer surface of the first side wall221is flush with an outer surface of the first side wall121, an outer surface of the second side wall223is flush with an outer surface of the second side wall123, an outer surface of the third side wall225is flush with an outer surface of the third side wall125, and an outer surface of the fourth side wall227is flush with an outer surface of the fourth side wall127. In this way, the appearance of the storage box10can be improved. Furthermore, when the storage box10is in the open state, an angle between the first side wall221and the first side wall121is a right angle or an obtuse angle. When the storage box10is in the open state, the angle between the first side wall221and the first side wall121is a right angle or an obtuse angle. In the embodiment, when the storage box10is in the open state, the angle between the first side wall221and the first side wall121is about 90 degrees, such that a portion of the body100blocked by the cover200in a vertical direction is relatively less, or the second side wall223will not block the body100in the vertical direction, which avoids the cover200from interfering with the operations of storing or taking out the TWS earphones.

The technical features of the embodiments described above can be arbitrarily combined. In order to simplify the description, all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments have not been described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, the combination of these technical features should be considered to be within the scope described in present disclosure.

The present disclosures describe certain embodiments in more specific and detailed manner, but should not be read to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that modifications and improvements can be made by those skilled in the art within the spirit and principle of the above embodiments, and those modifications and improvement should be included within the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure shall be subject to the appended claims.