Housing of portable electronic devices

A housing (10) of a portable electronic device includes an upper housing (11), a lower housing (12) and a protecting component (13). The upper housing defines a first latching member (1112) therein. The lower housing defines a second latching member (121) therein. The protecting component is assembled between the upper housing and the lower housing for preventing dust and vapor from entering the electronic device and defines a first latching portion (1313) corresponding to the first latching member and a second latching portion (1314) corresponding to the second latching member. The first latching portion and the second latching member respectively cooperate with the first latching member and the second latching member to assemble the upper housing, the lower housing and the protecting component together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to housings of portable electronic devices, particularly to a waterproof and dustproof housing of portable electronic devices.

2. Description of Related Art

Nowadays, portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops and personal digital assistants (PDA) are widely used. Generally, a portable electronic device includes an upper housing and a lower housing assembled together to form a whole housing by means of latching, bolting, etc.

However, in assembly of a portable electronic device, an aperture is prone to exist between the upper housing and the lower housing. In use, vapor and dust may enter the portable electronic device through the aperture, and may cause damages to inner circuits of the portable electronic device.

Therefore, a new housing of portable electronic devices is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcomings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a housing10according to an exemplary embodiment, such as a mobile phone, is shown. The housing10includes an upper housing11, a lower housing12and a protecting component13located between the upper housing11and the lower housing12.

Also referring toFIG. 4, the upper housing11includes a sidewall111formed on a peripheral thereof and another wall112formed at an end thereof. The sidewall111cooperates the wall112to form a receiving space113for receiving circuits (not shown) of the portable electronic device. Also referring toFIG. 6, the sidewall111includes a first assembling surface1111, which partially recesses to define a first latching member1112therein. The first latching member1112is a loop groove surrounding the bottom wall112.

Also referring toFIG. 3, the lower housing12is approximately a rectangular board and has a second latching member121defined at its peripheral portion and corresponding to the first latching member1112. The second latching member121is a loop groove having a shape and a size similar to that of the first latching member1112.

Also referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 5, the protecting component13is a gasket made of elastic materials such as rubber, resin or silicone. Also referring toFIG. 7andFIG. 8, the protecting component13includes a main portion131, a first latching portion1313and a second latching portion1314. The main portion131is approximately a rectangular frame having a first surface1311and an opposite second surface1312. The first latching portion1313is a loop protrusion formed on the first surface1311. A shape of the first latching portion1313corresponds to that of the first latching member1112, and a size of the first latching portion1313is larger than that of the first latching member1112. The second latching portion1314is a loop protrusion formed on the second surface1312. A shape of the second latching portion1314corresponds to that of the second latching member121, and a size of the second latching portion1314is larger than that of the second latching member121.

In assembly, the first latching portion1313of the protecting component13is facing towards the first latching member1112of the upper housing11and inserted into the first latching member1112. The second latching portion1314of the protecting component13is facing towards the second latching member121of the lower housing12and inserted into the second latching member121. In this way, the first latching portion1313and the second latching portion1314are deformed, and then respectively engage the first latching member1112and the second latching member121. The upper housing11and the lower housing12are then assembled together via bolting. Thus, the protecting component13is assembled between upper housing11and the lower housing12. The first latching portion1313and the second latching member1314respectively cooperates with the first latching member1112and the second latching member121to assemble the upper housing11, the lower housing12and the protecting component13together forming the housing10.

Understandably, when the upper housing11and the lower housing12are driven towards each other, the first latching portion1313and the second latching portion1314respectively engaging in the first latching member1112and the second latching member121are pressed and deformed to fill the first latching member1112and the second latching member121. In this way, an aperture (not labeled) between the upper housing11and the lower housing12is sealed by the protecting component13.

Furthermore, cross sections of the first latching portion1313and the second latching portion1314can be in different shapes, such as rectangular, triangular, semicircular, trapezoidal, etc. The first latching member1112and the second latching member121can also be defined in the protecting component13. Correspondingly, the first latching portion1313and the second latching portion1314can be respectively formed on the upper housing11and the lower housing12.

In the present housing10, the protecting component13is located between the upper housing11and the lower housing12to seal the aperture formed therebetween, thus outside dusts and vapor is prevented from entering. In this way, the housing10is dustproof and waterproof.