Mobile phone with interchangeable housing

A mobile phone with an interchangeable housing. The mobile phone includes a body, a front housing, a rear cover, a battery cover, and a battery pack. The body includes an engaging member. The front housing is detachably disposed on the body via the engaging member. The rear cover is detachably disposed on the body via the engaging member. The battery cover is detachably disposed on the body. The body is covered by the front housing, the rear cover, and the battery cover. The battery pack is disposed on the body, and includes a projecting portion. The projecting portion is abutted by the engaging member so as to move the engaging member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a mobile phone; in particular, to a mobile phone with an interchangeable housing.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, mobile phones have become an indispensable tool for communication. However, the shapes of compact mobile phones have rarely satisfied users. For example, it is important for a user to be able to change the cover of the mobile phone to satisfy his personal taste.

In view of this, the mobile phones with special shapes or colors have been provided by mobile phone manufacturers. Furthermore, the housing of some mobile phones can be changed based on the choice of the user. In addition, the color of the housing of some mobile phones can be changed in a different view or by different light so as to show the personal character of the user. Since personalized products are more popular recently, the market for mobile phones with interchangeable housings will probably increase.

There are many ways to change the housing of the mobile phone. For example, the housings of some mobile phones are partially changeable. That is, only the front or rear housing are changeable. In some mobile phones, both the front and rear housing are changeable. When the housing is disassembled in most mobile phones, however, both the front and rear housing are changeable by physical manipulation. Thus, the circuit or component assembly inside the mobile phone may be damaged during the disassembly of the housing, and the structure of the housing may also be deformed due to improper application of force after repeated replacements. As a result, the structure of the entire mobile phone may be unstable after re-assembly. In addition, some manufacturers encourage the user to bring the mobile phone to the original retail sales outlet so that the housing of the mobile phone can be changed by a professional, which may be inconvenient. Furthermore, even if the housing is changed by a professional, the mobile phone may be damaged by the replacement process.

In addition, in some mobile phones with interchangeable housing, an additional removing device is disposed on its housing so as to assist in disassembly. However, since the removing device is exposed, the appearance of the mobile phone may be aesthetically unattractive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of this, the invention provides a mobile phone with a conveniently interchangeable housing.

In this invention, a mobile phone with an interchangeable housing is provided. The mobile phone includes a body, a front housing, a rear cover, a battery cover, and a battery pack. The body includes an engaging member. The front housing is detachably disposed on the body via the engaging member. The rear cover is detachably disposed on the body via the engaging member. The battery cover is detachably disposed on the body. The body is housed by the front housing, the rear cover, and the battery cover. The battery pack is disposed on the body, and includes a projecting portion. The projecting portion is abutted by the engaging member so as to move the engaging member.

In a preferred embodiment, the body includes a guide rail for the engaging member to move thereon.

Furthermore, the engaging member is formed with a concave portion, and the guide rail includes a protrusion corresponding to the concave portion. Thus, the engaging member can be positioned at a predetermined position on the guide rail by engaging the protrusion with the concave portion.

In another preferred embodiment, the engaging member is formed with a groove, and the front housing includes a first hook corresponding to the groove. The front housing is positioned on the body by engaging the first hook with the groove.

In another preferred embodiment, the rear cover includes a second hook corresponding to the groove. The rear cover is positioned on the body by engaging the second hook with the groove.

In another preferred embodiment, the projecting portion includes a first inclined surface abutted by the engaging member, and the engaging member includes a second inclined surface abutted by the projecting portion. Thus, the engaging member can be smoothly moved by the battery pack.

In another preferred embodiment, the battery cover includes a pressed member, and the body includes an elastic member corresponding to the pressed member. The battery cover is positioned on the body by engaging the pressing member with the elastic member.

In another preferred embodiment, the body is formed with a hole, and the front housing includes a fixed member. The front housing is positioned on the body by engaging the fixed member with the hole.

In another preferred embodiment, the shape of the front housing corresponds to the rear cover and the battery cover.

Another preferred embodiment provides two engaging members, and a spring is disposed between the engaging members.

In this invention, an assembly for assembling a mobile phone is provided. The mobile phone includes a body, a front housing, a rear cover, and the assembly includes an engaging member, a first hook, and a second hook. The engaging member is disposed on the body in a manner such that the engaging member moves between a first position and a second position. The first hook, corresponds to the engaging member, and is disposed on the front housing. The second hook corresponds to the engaging member, and is disposed on the rear cover. When the engaging member is located at the first position, the engaging member is engaged with the first hook and the second hook so that the front housing and the rear cover are combined with the body. When the engaging member is located at the second position, the engaging member is disengaged from the first hook and the second hook so that the front housing and the rear cover are separated from the body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows a mobile phone1, with an interchangeable housing, as disclosed in this invention. The mobile phone1includes a body10, a front housing20, a rear cover30, and a battery cover40. The body10includes two engaging members11, a guide rail12, a battery pack13, an elastic member14, a hole15, an antenna (not labeled), a printed circuit board (not shown), and other components.

Each of the engaging members11is movably disposed on the guide rail12. Referring toFIG. 1, each of the engaging members11is formed with a groove112at a side exposed by the body10. Furthermore, referring toFIG. 2aandFIG. 2b, each of the engaging members11is formed with a concave portion111at a surface abutted by the guide rail12. Furthermore, referring toFIG. 3aandFIG. 3b, each of the engaging members11includes an inclined surface113abutted by the battery pack13.

In this embodiment, each of the engaging members11is independently movable. However, it is not limited to this manner. For example, an additional spring (not shown) can be disposed between the engaging members11, and used as a transmission mechanism. Thus, when one engaging member is moved, the other engaging member is simultaneously moved.

The guide rail12is used for the engaging members11to move thereon. Referring toFIG. 2aandFIG. 2b, the guide rail12is formed with two protrusions121, corresponding to the concave portions111of the engaging members11, at a surface abutted by the engaging members11. Thus, the engaging members11can be positioned at a predetermined position on the guide rail12by engaging the protrusions121with the concave portions111.

Referring toFIG. 3aandFIG. 3b, the battery pack13is disposed on the body11, and includes a projecting portion131. The projecting portion131is abutted by the engaging members11so as to move the engaging members11and keep the engaging members11in position as shown inFIG. 3b. Furthermore, the projecting portion131includes an inclined surface131aabutted by the engaging members11. That is, the projecting portion131may be used as an abutting member. Thus, the engaging members11can be smoothly moved by the battery pack13so as to position the engaging members11on the guide rail12.

The front housing20is detachably disposed on the body10, and includes two first hooks21and a fixed member22as shown inFIG. 1. In this embodiment, the front housing20is used as a front panel assembly of the mobile phone20, and is provided with keys, a display, and other elements thereon. Furthermore, referring toFIG. 2b, each of the first hooks21is integrally formed with the front housing20, and corresponds to the groove112of the engaging member11respectively. When the engaging members11are able to move freely to a first position as shown inFIG. 4cfrom a second position as shown inFIG. 4dby the battery pack13, the protrusions121are engaged with the concave portions111as shown inFIG. 2b. Thus, the engaging members11are engaged with the first hooks21so that the front housing20is combined with the body10. In addition, the position of the fixed member22corresponds to the hole15of the body10. The front housing20can be positioned on the body10more stably by engaging the fixed member22with the hole15.

The rear cover30is detachably disposed on the body10, and covers the antenna of the body10and includes two second hooks31thereon. Referring toFIG. 2b, each of the second hooks31is integrally formed on the rear cover30, and corresponds to the groove112of the engaging member11respectively. The rear cover30is stably positioned on the body10by engaging the second hook31with the groove112.

The battery cover40is detachably disposed on the body10, and the shape of the front housing20corresponds to those of the rear cover30and the battery cover40. Thus, the body30may be completely housed by the front housing20, the rear cover30, and the battery cover40. Furthermore, the battery cover40is formed with a pressed member41corresponding to the elastic member14of the body10. Thus, the battery cover40can be positioned on the body10by engaging the pressing member41with the elastic member14.

The structure of the mobile phone1of this invention is described as above. Referring toFIGS. 4a–4f, the process for changing the housing of the mobile phone1is described as follows.

First, the pressed member41on the battery cover40is pressed down so that the pressed member41is separated from the elastic member14on the body10. At the same time, the battery cover40is moved downward along a direction as shown in an arrow ofFIG. 4aso that the battery cover40is separated from the body10as shown inFIG. 4b. Then, the battery pack13is removed from the body10as shown inFIG. 4c. It is noted that the engaging members11are located at the first position at this time. Since the engaging members11are not abutted by the projecting portion131of the battery pack13, the engaging members11can be moved freely to the second position from the first position so that the grooves111of the engaging members11are disengaged from the first hook21of the front housing20and the second hook31of the rear cover30as shownFIG. 4d. The rear cover30is sequentially removed as shown inFIG. 4e. Finally, the front housing20is separated from the body10as shown inFIG. 4fso that the entire housing is removed.

In contrast, the housing can be assembled on the body in a manner opposite to the disassembly. Specifically, the front housing20and the rear cover30are first disposed on the body10. Then, the engaging members11are moved to the first position so that the grooves112are engaged with the first hook21of the front housing20and the second hook31of the rear cover30. At this time, the protrusions121on the guide rail12are engaged with the concave portions111of the engaging members11so that the engaging members11are temporarily positioned at a predetermined position. The battery pack13is sequentially disposed on body10so that the engaging members11are abutted by the projecting portions131. Finally, the battery cover40is combined with the body10so as to complete the assembly of the housing.

It is understood that before the engaging members11are engaged with the first hook21of the front housing20, the front housing22can be temporarily positioned on the body10by the fixed member22of the front housing20inserting into the hole15on the body10.

In a mobile phone with a built-in antenna, the rear cover30can cover the antenna portion on the body10. In a mobile phone with a projecting antenna, the rear cover30can be used to encase the electronic component of the body10. That is, the design of this invention can be applied to both a mobile phone with a built-in antenna and a mobile phone with a projecting antenna.

By the design of this invention, the color or the keys of the housing can be changed, and the shape of the entire housing can also be changed. Furthermore, since the housing can be changed by the engaging member, it needs not be forcibly separated from the body by a tool. Thus preventing damage to the housing during replacement. As a result, the appearance of the mobile phone can be maintained.