EMI shielding device which can be easily assembled and disassembled

An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding device includes first and second housing portions assembled along an assembly direction, at least two spaced-apart female fasteners fixed to one of the first and second housing portions, a plurality of male fasteners corresponding in number to the female fasteners and spacedly fixed to the other one of the first and second housing portions, and at least one grip member connected to one of the first and second housing portions. The grip member is applied with a force along the assembly direction or along a direction opposite to the assembly direction to engage or disengage the male and female fasteners.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 101115771, filed on May 3, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding device, and more particularly to an EMI shielding device which can be easily assembled and disassembled.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional EMI shielding device for an electronic device mainly includes a metal or metal-plated housing for covering electronic components in the electronic device so as to provide an EMI shielding effect for the electronic components. Generally, the housing is connected to the electronic device by using screws.

Although such a screw fastening method can stably connect the housing to the electronic device, when it is required to remove the housing in order to repair the electronic components, a tool must be used to remove the screws. This step is very time-consuming, resulting in low efficiency in removal of the housing.

In US Publication No. 2011/0186343, a screw-free EMI shielding device having a cover capable of lateral sliding is disclosed. When it is required to repair an internal electronic component, it only needs to slide the cover laterally to reduce the time for disassembly and assembly. However, an electronic device using the aforesaid EMI shielding device must provide a sufficient space for lateral displacement of the cover.

Therefore, use of the existing EMI shielding devices is very inconvenient and limited, so that an improvement is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an EMI shielding device which can be easily assembled and disassembled so as to reduce the operating time and space.

According to this disclosure, an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding device for receiving an electronic component comprises a first housing portion, a second housing portion removably fixed to the first housing portion along an assembly direction, at least two spaced-apart female fasteners fixed to one of the first and second housing portions, a plurality of male fasteners corresponding in number to the female fasteners and spacedly fixed to the other one of the first and second housing portions, and at least one grip member connected to one of the first and second housing portions. The first and second housing portions cooperatively define a receiving space for receiving the electronic component. Each of the female fasteners includes an engaging groove having an opening facing the other one of the first and second housing portions. Each of the male fasteners extends engagingly into the engaging groove of a corresponding female fastener through the opening. The grip member is applied with a force along the assembly direction or along a direction opposite to the assembly direction to engage or disengage the male and female fasteners.

The effect of the present disclosure resides in that with each of the female fasteners including the engaging groove having the opening in the assembly direction, and with the provision of the grip members, each of the female fasteners can be quickly engaged to or disengaged from the corresponding male fastener in the assembly direction or in a direction opposite to the assembly direction. As such, no additional tool or component and no additional step are required to disengage the female fasteners from the male fasteners. Moreover, when the second housing portion is disassembled from the first housing portion, no extra space is required for disengaging the female fasteners from the corresponding male fasteners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The above-mentioned and other technical contents, features, and effects of this disclosure will be clearly presented from the following detailed description of one embodiment in coordination with the reference drawings.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, an EMI shielding device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is adapted for receiving an electronic component6of an electronic device, and comprises a first housing portion1, a second housing portion2removably fixed to the first housing portion1in an assembly direction (I), two female fasteners3fixed to the second housing portion2and spaced apart from each other along a direction transverse to the assembly direction (I), two male fasteners4fixed to the first housing portion1and respectively corresponding in position to the female fasteners3, and two spaced-apart grip members5connected to the second housing portion2. The first and second housing portions1,2are fixed to each other through the male and female fasteners4,3, and cooperatively define a receiving space21for receiving the electronic component6. The female and male fasteners3,4are made of metal to increase a conductive area of the first and second housing portions1,2, so that the EMI shielding device can achieve a better EMI shielding effect. Each of the grip members5permits gripping by a user. The user can pull the grip members5to move along a direction opposite to the assembly direction (I) so as to separate the second housing portion2from the first housing portion1.

It is understandable that the female fasteners3may be fixed to one of the first and second housing portions1,2, and the male fasteners4may be fixed to the other one of the first and second housing portions1,2corresponding to the female fasteners3. As long as the female and male fasteners3,4can fix the first and second housing portions1,2to each other, any variation in the disposition of the female and male fasteners3,4is acceptable. Further, the number of each of the male and female fasteners4,3is not limited to two. It is preferable that the number of each of the male and female fasteners4,3is more than two and is uniformly distributed. Similarly, the grip members5may be fixed to any one of the first and second housing portions1,2, as long as the grip members5can be gripped and pulled to separate the first and second housing portions1,2from each other. Moreover, the number of the grip member5may be one that is disposed in the center of the second housing portion2according to the requirement. Therefore, the fixing positions and patterns of the female and male fasteners3,4and the grip members5are not limited to the disclosed embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 4, each of the female fasteners3includes two resilient arms31extending towards a corresponding one of the male fasteners4, two fixed arms32respectively located on outer sides of the resilient arms31, a connecting portion33connecting the fixed arms32and the resilient arms31, and an engaging groove34cooperatively defined by the resilient arms31and having an opening341facing the first housing portion1. Each of the male fasteners4includes a base portion41fixed to the first housing portion1, an engaging projection42projecting towards the opening341, and a neck portion43connected between the base portion41and the engaging projection42. The engaging projection42of each male fastener4has a teardrop shape, and is removably engageable with the engaging groove34in a respective female fastener3. The resilient arms31cooperatively clamp therebetween the engaging projection42of the corresponding male fastener4when the corresponding male fastener4extends into the engaging groove34. The engaging groove34of each female fastener3has a teardrop shape corresponding to that of the engaging projection42so as to fittingly receive the same. The neck portion43has a width smaller than a maximum width of the engaging projection42. The resilient arms31respectively have limiting end portions311that extend toward each other and that cooperatively pinch therebetween a portion of the engaging projection42that is proximate to the neck portion43.

The second housing portion2includes a number of fixing holes22corresponding to that of the female fasteners3. Each of the fixed arms32includes a main body321connected to the connecting portion33, a bent portion322extending outward from one end of the main body321that is distal from the connecting portion33, a wedge-shaped portion323projecting from an outer surface of the main body321and spaced apart from the bent portion322, and a fixed groove324cooperatively defined by the main body321, the bent portion322and the wedge-shaped portion323. A minimum distance (d) (seeFIG. 3) between the fixed grooves324of the fixed arms32is substantially equal to the length (L) (seeFIG. 4) of a corresponding fixing hole22. The fixed grooves324of the fixed arms32are respectively engaged to two opposite sides of a wall which defines the corresponding fixing hole22, so that the female fasteners3can be stably fix to the second housing portion2.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the second housing portion2is formed with two spaced-apart pairs of retaining holes23. Each of the grip members5includes a grip portion51for gripping by a hand and having two opposite ends inserted respectively into a corresponding pair of the retaining holes23, and two retaining portions52respectively connected to the two opposite ends of the grip portion51. Each of the retaining portions52has a width (w1) larger than a width (w2) of a corresponding retaining hole23. The two opposite ends of the grip portion51are retained movably in the corresponding pair of the retaining holes23through the retaining portions52. When the grip members5are not gripped by the user, the grip portions51of the grip members5abut against a surface of the second housing portion2. Therefore, the volume of the EMI shielding device is not increased due to the provision of the grip members5.

When it is required to disassemble the second housing portion2from the first housing portion1to repair the electronic component6inside the receiving space21, since the two opposite ends of the grip portion51of each grip member5are movable in the corresponding pair of the retaining holes23, the grip portions51of the grip members5may be separated from the surface of the second housing portion2to facilitate gripping by the user. The user grips the grip members5with both hands, and applies a force in a direction opposite to the assembly direction (I), thereby separating the second housing portion2along with the female fasteners3from the first housing portion1. At this time, two sides of the engaging projection42of each male fastener4push the resilient arms31of the corresponding female fastener3so as to deform and move the same away from each other, so that the engaging projection42can move out of the engaging groove34in the respective female fastener3through the opening341. Hence, the female fasteners4can be separated from the respective male fasteners3. In this process of disassembling the second housing portion2from the first housing portion1, no additional tool and no additional step are required to disengage or engage the female fasteners4from the male fasteners3, so that the time and the complexity of the repair procedure can be greatly reduced. Further, since the openings341in the engaging grooves34of the female fasteners3are in the assembly direction (I) so that the female fasteners3can be separated from the respective male fasteners4along the direction opposite to the assembly direction (I), no extra space is required to separate the female fasteners3from the male fasteners4. Thus, the space requirement for disassembling the first housing portion1and the second housing portion2is reduced. Moreover, for the same reason, it is not required to reserve a space inside the electronic device for lateral sliding of a housing or a cover.

Additionally, because the engaging projection42of each male fastener4is formed with a through hole421(seeFIG. 3) that extends in a direction perpendicular to the assembly direction (I), when the engaging projection42of each male fastener4is disengaged from or engaged to the engaging groove34of the respective female fastener3, the maximum width of the engaging projection42can be reduced, so that the engaging projection42can be easily inserted into or removed from the engaging groove34.

In this embodiment, each of the male fasteners4is fixed to the first housing portion1by using two screws. Alternatively, the male fasteners4may be fixed to the first housing portion1without using screws.

FIGS. 7 and 8illustrate a first alternative form of connection between the male fasteners4(only one is shown) and the first housing portion1without using screws. In this case, the first housing portion1is formed with an engaging hole11, an insert hole12, and a hook hole13which are spacedly arranged in a row and which are located at a position corresponding to the male fastener4. The engaging hole11has a large-diameter hole section111and a small-diameter hole section112in spatial communication with each other. Each male fastener4further includes a protrusion44protruding from the base portion41in a direction opposite to the engaging projection42, a bent arm45extending outwardly from the base portion41, and an engaging hook46located at one end of the bent arm45. The protrusion44has a neck portion441and a head portion442formed at one end of the neck portion441. The neck portion441is configured to fit into the small-diameter hole section112of the engaging hole11and thus has a diameter approximately equal to that of the small-diameter hole section112. The head portion442has a diameter larger than that of the neck portion441and smaller than that of the large-diameter hole section111. To interconnect the male fastener4and the first housing portion1, the bent arm45is first passed through the insert hole12to extend towards the hook hole13so as to engage the engaging hook46with the hook hole13. Afterwards, the protrusion44is inserted into the large-diameter hole section111and is then moved to the small-diameter hole section112, so that the neck portion441of the protrusion44is fixedly fitted into the small-diameter hole section112.

FIGS. 9 and 10illustrate a second alternative form of connection between the male fasteners4(only one is shown) and the first housing portion1without using screws. In this case, the first housing portion1is formed with two spaced-apart engaging holes11at a position corresponding to the male fastener4. Each of the engaging holes11has a large-diameter hole section111and a small-diameter hole section112in spatial communication with each other. The male fastener4further includes two spaced-apart protrusions44extending from the base portion41in a direction opposite to the engaging projection42. Each of the protrusions44has a neck portion441and a head portion442formed at one end of the neck portion441. The neck portion441is configured to fit into the small-diameter hole section112of a corresponding engaging hole11and thus has a diameter slightly smaller than or approximately equal to that of the small-diameter hole section112. The head portion442has a diameter larger than that of the neck portion441and smaller than that of the large-diameter hole section111of the corresponding engaging hole11. To interconnect the male fastener4and the first housing portion1, the protrusions44are first inserted into the large-diameter hole sections111of the respective engaging holes11, and are then moved to the small-diameter hole sections112of the respective engaging holes11, so that the neck portions441of the protrusions44are fixedly fitted into the small-diameter hole sections112of the respective engaging holes11.

FIGS. 11 and 12illustrate a third alternative form of connection between the male fasteners4(only one is shown) and the first housing portion1without using screws. In this case, the first housing portion1is formed with two spaced-apart L-shaped first engaging holes11, a first engaging plate15formed between the first engaging holes11, a substantially H-shaped second engaging hole14spaced apart from first engaging holes11, and a second engaging plate16and a tongue plate17extending toward the center of the second engaging hole14. The first and second engaging holes, the first and second engaging plates15,16and the tongue plate all are located at a position corresponding to the male fastener4. The first engaging holes11are mirror images of each other. The male fastener4further includes a pair of first protruding studs47, a pair of second protruding studs49and a stepped portion48which are all located on the base portion41opposite to the engaging projection42. The stepped portion48is distal from the first protruding studs47. That is, the second protruding studs49are disposed between the stepped portion48and the first protruding studs47. The first protruding studs47are spaced apart from each other, and are mirror images of each other. The second protruding studs49are spaced apart from each other, and are mirror images of each other. The first and second protruding studs47,49have a similar construction. Each of the first and second protruding studs47,49includes a substantially L-shaped plate472,492having a short side connected to the base portion41and a long side parallel to the base portion41, and an end plate473,493connected between the L-shaped plate472,492and the base portion41. The L-shaped plate472, the end plate473and the base portion41of each first protruding stud47cooperatively define a first groove471having an opening474facing in a direction away from the stepped portion48. The L-shaped plate492, the endplate493and the base portion41of each second protruding stud49cooperatively define a second groove491having an opening494also facing in a direction away from the stepped portion48.

To fix the male fastener4to the first housing portion1, the first and second protruding studs47,49of the male fastener4are inserted into the corresponding first and second engaging holes11,14, and are then moved such that two corners of the first engaging plate15respectively extend into the first grooves471of the first protruding studs47through the openings474thereof and are limited therein, and two corners of the second engaging plate16respectively extend into the second grooves491of the second protruding studs49through the openings494thereof and are limited therein. At this time, a free end of the tongue plate17abuts against the stepped portion48. Therefore, the L-shaped plates472,492of the first and second protruding studs47,49cooperate with the base portion41to prevent the male fastener4from moving in a direction opposite to the assembly direction (I), and the endplates473,493of the first and second protruding studs47,49cooperate with the base portion41to prevent the male fastener4from moving in a direction perpendicular to the assembly direction (I).

To sum up, by using the female and male fasteners3,4which can be detachably connected to each other along the assembly direction (I), and by providing the grip members5on which forces in the direction opposite to the assembly direction (I) may be applied thereto, the first and second housing portions1,2can be disassembled or assembled without using any additional tool or component, thereby reducing the operating time. Further, since the female and male fasteners3,4can be disengaged in the direction opposite to the assembly direction (I), no extra space is required for disengaging the female fasteners4from the male fasteners4, so that the space requirement for disassembling the second housing portion2from the first housing portion1can be minimized. Thus, the object of the present disclosure can be achieved.