TERMINAL DEVICE AND TERMINAL DEVICE INSTALLATION METHOD

A terminal device and a terminal device installation method are provided. The terminal device includes a machine body, a detachable cover with two side walls, and at least two coupling mechanisms arranged symmetrically. The machine body includes a front board, a rear board opposite to the front board, and two side boards connected between the front board and the rear board. Each coupling mechanism includes a coupling portion located at one side wall, a front track and a rear track respectively having a front opening and a rear opening opposite to the front opening and both located at one side board. As each coupling portion is coupled to each front track, the cover is assembled with the machine body and covers the front board, and as each coupling portion is coupled with each rear track, the cover is assembled to the machine body and covers the rear board.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 111138315, filed on Oct. 7, 2022. The entire content of the above identified application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a device and a method of installing the device, and more particularly, to a terminal device and a terminal device installation method.

Description of Related Art

With the advancement of technology, mobile networks are widely used in everyday life, and as internet of things (IOT) becomes a norm, electronic devices and electrical apparatus like mobile phones and home appliances can all be connected to the internet or network. Therefore, terminal devices like customer premises equipment (CPE) can be installed at a location to transform mobile communication signals like 4G and 5G or wired broadband signals into wired or wireless local network signals for use or connection by apparatus at the location.

Generally speaking, the terminal device includes a housing with electrical components inside, and because the electrical components generate heat during operation, the terminal device is equipped with a cooling board to enhance heat dissipation. Since the temperature of the cooling board could be quite high, a cover is used to cover the cooling board for safety reason so as to prevent users from coming in contact and to improve the overall look of the terminal device.

However, when the terminal device is installed outdoor, the temperature of the cooling board may rise even higher due to heat or high temperature in the outdoor environment, and the shielding of the cover instead affects the heat dissipation of the terminal device.

In view of this, how to improve the structure of a terminal device so it is suitable for installation in different environments is an issue to be resolved by the related industry.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a terminal device that includes a machine body, a cover, and at least two coupling mechanisms. The machine body includes a front board, a rear board opposite to the front board, and two side boards connected between the front board and the rear board. The cover is configured to detachably cover the machine body and includes two side walls. The at least two coupling mechanisms are arranged symmetrically, each of the at least two coupling mechanisms includes a coupling portion, a front track and a rear track, the coupling portion is located at one of the side walls, the front track is located at one of the two side boards and has a front opening, the rear track is located at the one of the two side boards and has a rear opening, and the front opening and the rear opening are in reverse directions. When each of the coupling portions is coupled to each of the front tracks, the cover is assembled with the machine body and covers the front board, and when each of the coupling portions is coupled to each of the rear tracks, the cover is assembled with the machine body and covers the rear board.

It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a terminal device that includes a machine body, a cover, and at least two coupling mechanisms. The machine body includes a front board, a rear board opposite to the front board, and two side boards connected between the front board and the rear board. The cover is configured to detachably cover the machine body and includes two side walls. The at least two coupling mechanisms are arranged symmetrically, each of the coupling mechanisms includes at least one coupling portion and a track, the at least one coupling portion is located at one of the two side boards, the track is located at one of the two side wall and has an opening, and the track is configured to correspond to the at least one coupling portion. The cover is configured to cover the front board by moving toward the front board along a first movement direction so that each of the coupling mechanisms is in a coupled state to assemble the cover with the machine body. The cover is configured to cover the rear board by moving toward the rear board along a second movement direction so that each of the coupling mechanisms is in the coupled state to assemble the cover with the machine body.

It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a terminal device installation method that includes a cover detachment step and a cover reattachment step. The cover detachment step includes moving a cover of a terminal device relative to a machine body of the terminal device along a detachment direction before moving the cover away from the machine body so that a coupling mechanism of the terminal device is in a detached state, and the cover is detached from a first side of the machine body. The cover reattachment step includes moving the cover toward a second side of the machine body before moving the cover relative to the machine body along a coupling direction so that the coupling mechanism changes from the detached state to a coupled state, and the cover is assembled with the second side of the machine body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG.1andFIG.2,FIG.1is one combined schematic perspective view of a terminal device1000according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.2is a schematic exploded view of the terminal device1000inFIG.1, and the terminal device1000includes a machine body1200, a cover1100, and at least two coupling mechanisms1300.

The machine body1200includes a front board1210, a rear board1220, and two side boards1230. The rear board1220is opposite to the front board1210, and the two side boards1230are connected between the front board1210and the rear board1220. The cover1100is configured to detachably cover the machine body1200and includes two side walls1110.

The at least two coupling mechanisms1300are arranged symmetrically to each other. Each coupling mechanism1300includes a coupling portion1330, a front track1310, and a rear track1320, the coupling portion1330is located at one of the two side walls1110, the front track1310is located at one of the two side boards1230and has a front opening1312(labeled inFIG.3), the rear track1320is located at the same side board1230and has a rear opening1322(labeled inFIG.3), and the rear opening1322and the front opening1312are in reverse directions. When each coupling portion1330couples with each front track1310, the cover1100is assembled to the machine body1200and covers the front board1210, and when each coupling portion1330couples with each rear track1320, the cover1100is assembled to the machine body1200and covers the rear board1220.

Hence, through the arrangement of the coupling mechanisms1300, the same cover1100is able to cover the front end or the back end of the machine body1200, so as to adapt to different installation environments with a simple structure change.

In specific, the machine body1200is approximately a rectangular case having the front board1210, the rear board1220, and the two side boards1230. The front board1210, the rear board1220, and the two side boards1230enclose and define an accommodation space for placing circuit boards and electrical components. The cover1100has a shape that matches the machine body1200, so as to cover the machine body1200, and can selectively cover the front board1210or the rear board1220of the machine body1200depending on the installation environment. The machine body1200can further include a heat dissipation board1240(labeled inFIG.5), and the heat dissipation board1240is disposed at the rear board1220and includes a plurality of cooling fins1241(labeled inFIG.3andFIG.5) to improve heat dissipating capability.

In this embodiment, one coupling mechanism1300consists of a coupling portion1330, a front track1310, and a rear track1320. When there are two coupling mechanisms1300, one coupling mechanism1300is located at the left side of the machine body1200relative to the vertical center line, and the other coupling mechanism1300is located at the right side of the machine body1200relative to the vertical center line. The two coupling mechanisms1300are the same height-wise along the vertical direction, and, in other words, the two coupling mechanisms1300are mirror symmetrical with reference to the vertical center line of the machine body1200. As such, the cover1100can cover the front end and the back end of the machine body1200through the two left and right symmetrical coupling mechanisms1300.

As shown inFIG.2, a number of at least two coupling mechanisms1300is four, and a number of the coupling portions1330is also four. Two coupling portions1330of two of the four coupling mechanisms1300are disposed at one side wall1110with an interval, and two coupling portions1330of the other two of the four coupling mechanisms1300are disposed at the other side wall1110with an interval. Two front tracks1310of two coupling mechanisms1300are disposed at one side board1230with an interval, and two rear tracks1320of two coupling mechanisms1300are disposed at the same side board1230with an interval. Two front tracks1310of the other two coupling mechanisms1300are disposed at the other side board1230with an interval, and two rear tracks1320of the other two coupling mechanisms1300are disposed at the same other side board1230with an interval. In other words, two coupling portions1330on the same side are spaced apart vertically, and so are the two front tracks1310on the same side, as well as the two rear tracks1320on the same side.

Referring toFIG.3, which is a partial schematic perspective side view of the machine body1200of the terminal device inFIG.1, each front track1310further includes at least one first slanted side1311, and each rear track1320further includes at least one second slanted side1321. More particularly, a number of at least one first slanted side1311of each front track1310is two, and the two first slanted sides1311face each other and taper toward the rear board1220. A number of at least one second slanted side1321of each rear track1320is two, and the two second slanted sides1321face each other and taper toward the front board1210.

As shown inFIG.3, one front track1310and one rear track1320are arranged on the same side board1230at the same altitude (height) but opposite to each other. Each front track1310further includes a first tapering section1314and a first restricting section1315, and the two first slanted sides1311of each front track1310taper to from a first guiding section1313. Each first guiding section1313is connected to each front opening1312, and each first tapering section1314is connected between each first restricting section1315and each first guiding section1313. Similarly, each rear track1320further includes a second tapering section1324and a second restricting section1325, and the two second slanted sides1321of each rear track1320taper to form a second guiding section1323. Each second guiding section1323is connected to each rear opening1322, and each second tapering section1324is connected between each second restricting section1325and each second guiding section1323.

In specific, the two first slanted sides1311approach each other toward the rear board1220and form the first guiding section1313having a trumpet shape, and the front track1310further includes a first bend segment1316and a first arc segment1317. The first bend segment1316is integrally connected to the first slanted side1311below and extends upward to form the first tapering section1314with the first slanted side1311above, and one end of the first arc segment1317is connected to a distal end of the first slanted side1311while the other end is connected to the first bend segment1316to form the first restricting section1315having a circular notch structure. Similarly, the two second slanted sides1321approach each other toward the front board1210to form the second guiding section1323having a trumpet shape, and the rear track1320further includes a second bend segment1326and a second arc segment1327to form the second tapering section1324and the second restricting section1325. In other embodiments, a number of the first slanted side and a number of the second slanted side are both one, and the first slanted side and the second slanted side are on the upper position where the other side is a horizontal side, but the present disclosure is not limited there to.

In this embodiment, a distance D1from the outer surface of the front board1210to the first restricting section1315is equal to a distance D2from the outer surface of each cooling fin1241to the second restricting section1325. The distance D1is particularly measured from the outer surface of the front board1210to the center of the first restricting section1315, also being known as the center point of the first arc segment1317, and the distance D2is particularly measured from the outer surface of each cooling fin1241to the center of the second restricting section1325, also being known as the center point of the second arc segment1327. Thus, the cover1100can cover the machine body1200at the front end or the back end.

Referring toFIG.4andFIG.5,FIG.4is a partial schematic side view of the machine body1200and a coupling portion1330of the terminal device1000inFIG.1, andFIG.5is another combined schematic perspective view of the terminal device1000inFIG.1. To cover the front board1210, the cover1100approaches the front board1210along a first movement direction A1such that each coupling portion1330enters each front opening1312and then moves along a first coupling direction B1to couple each coupling portion1330with each front track1310, thereby assembling the cover1100to the machine body1200. Each coupling portion1330enters each first guiding section1313through each front opening1312by moving along the first movement direction A1and enters the first restricting section1315after passing the first tapering section1314by moving along the first coupling direction B1to put the coupling mechanism1300in a coupled state. The outer diameter of each coupling portion1330is greater than the width of the first tapering section1314, so that the coupling portion1330is prevented from disengaging from the first restricting section1315after entering therein. As shown inFIG.5, the cover1100then covers the front end of the machine body1200, and the front board1210is covered while the rear board1220and the heat dissipation board1240are exposed, which adapts to outdoor environment with high temperature that requires heat dissipation.

To cover the rear board1220as shown inFIG.1, the cover1100approaches the rear board1220along a second movement direction parallel to the first movement direction A1but reverse in direction so that each coupling portion1330enters each rear opening1322and then moves along a second coupling direction, which is the same direction as the first coupling direction B1, so that each coupling portion1330couples with each rear track1320, thereby assembling the cover1100and the machine body1200. In other words, the first coupling direction B1and the second coupling direction are identical. Each coupling portion1330enters each second guiding section1323through each rear opening1322by moving along the second movement direction and enters the second restricting section1325after passing the second tapering section1324by moving along the second coupling direction, thereby placing the coupling mechanism1300in the coupled state. The outer diameter of each coupling portion1330is greater than the width of each second tapering section1324, so as to prevent the coupling portion1330from disengaging from the second restricting section1325after the coupling portion1330entering the second restricting section1325.

In this embodiment, each coupling portion1330is a hollow column, which is advantageous in deforming to pass through the first tapering section1314and the second tapering section1324and in returning to original shape to be restricted in the first restricting section1315and the second restricting section1325. In other embodiments, the coupling portion can be a solid column made of elastic material, and the present disclosure is not limited thereby.

The terminal device1000is configured to operate with and held by a holder. As shown inFIG.1andFIG.2, the machine body1200further includes at least one slot1250located at one of the side boards1230and configured to work with an arm of the holder. The cover1100includes at least one push point1120located at one side wall1110and corresponding to the arm of the holder, and when the push point1120is pressed, the arm disengages from the slot1250. A number of slot1250and a number of push point1120can both be two, but the present disclosure is not limited thereby.

In another embodiment, each coupling mechanism includes at least one coupling portion and one track corresponding to the coupling portion. The at least one coupling portion is located at one side board, and the track is located at one side wall and has an opening. The cover covers the front board by approaching or moving toward the front board along a first movement direction to place each coupling mechanism in a coupled state, thereby assembling the cover and the machine body. The cover approaches or moves toward the rear board along a second movement direction to cover the rear board and place each coupling mechanism in the coupled state, so as to assemble the cover and the machine body. In other words, besides the arrangements inFIG.1toFIG.5, the coupling mechanism can have the track located at the side wall of the cover and the coupling portion located at the side board of the machine body. It is to be noted that a number of such track in the coupling mechanism is one, and so it is not necessary to split the track into the front track1310and the rear track1320as shown inFIG.1toFIG.5.

Based on this structure, a number of coupling portion of each coupling mechanism is one, and the distance from the outer surface of the front board to the coupling portion is equal to the distance from the outer surface of each cooling fin to the coupling portion, so that the cover is able to selectively cover the front end or the back end of the machine body. Moreover, each track further includes two slanted sides that taper toward a lid portion of the cover and have the same structure as the front track1310and the rear track1320as shown inFIG.1toFIG.5. In addition, the number of coupling portion of each coupling mechanism is two; when the cover is configured to cover the front board, the track couples with one of the two coupling portions, and when the cover is configured to cover the rear board, the track couples with the other one of the two coupling portion, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Referring toFIG.6,FIG.7A, andFIG.7B,FIG.6is a flow chart of a terminal device installation method2000according to another embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.7Ais a schematic perspective view illustrating an installation step according to the terminal device installation method2000inFIG.6,FIG.7Bis a schematic perspective view illustrating another installation step according to the terminal device installation method2000inFIG.6, and the terminal device installation method2000includes a cover detachment step2200and a cover reattachment step2300.

In the cover detachment step2200, a cover3100of a terminal device3000is moved relative to a machine body3200of the terminal device3000along a detachment direction and then along a direction that is away from the machine body3200to place a coupling mechanism of the terminal device3000in a detached state, so as to disassemble and detach the cover3100from a first side of the machine body3200.

In the cover reattachment step2300, the cover3100is moved in a direction approaching the machine body3200and then moved relative to the machine body3200along a coupling direction to place the coupling mechanism from the detached state to a coupled state, so as to assemble the cover3100to a second side of the machine body3200.

The terminal device3000used in the terminal device installation method2000has the same structure as the terminal device1000inFIG.1toFIG.5and includes the cover3100, the machine body3200, and four coupling mechanisms. The structure of the coupling mechanisms is the same as the coupling mechanism1300inFIG.1toFIG.5, but the coupling mechanism can also be the one with the track on the side wall and the coupling portion on the side board, the present disclosure is not limited thereby.

The terminal device installation method2000further includes a holder separation step2100and a holder reassembly step2400. In the holder separation step2100, the second side of terminal device3000is separated from the holder S1. In the holder reassembly step2400, the first side of the terminal device3000is assembled with the holder S1or another holder S2. The holder separation step2100is performed before the cover reattachment step2300, and the holder reassembly step2400is performed after the cover detachment step2200. In the holder separation step2100, at least one push point3120on the cover3100is pressed to release the coupling between the machine body3200and the holder S1. Therefore, in this embodiment, the holder separation step2100, the cover detachment step2200, the cover reattachment step2300, and the holder reassembly step2400are performed in sequence. However, in other embodiments, the cover detachment step can be performed first to disassemble the cover from the terminal device before performing the holder separation step to separate the terminal device from the holder, and similarly, the holder reassembly step can be performed first to assemble the terminal device and the holder before performing the cover reattachment step to assemble the cover, as long as the terminal device is separated from the holder before the reattachment of the cover as well as the cover is detached before the different side of the terminal device is assembled to the holder, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

As shown inFIG.6andFIG.7A, when the cover3100covers the first side (back end) of the machine body3200and the second side (front end) of the machine body3200is attached to the holder S1, the holder separation step2100can be performed by pressing the push point3120to disengage the coupling between the machine body3200and the arm S11of the holder S1, so that the terminal device3000is separated from the holder S1. Next, the cover detachment step2200is performed by moving the cover3100along the detachment direction (downward in the drawing) so the coupling portion disengages from the second restricting section of the rear track and by moving the cover3100in a direction away from the machine body3200so that the coupling portion leaves the rear track, thereby placing the coupling mechanism in the detached state. Hence, the cover3100is disassembled from the machine body3200.

Then, the cover reattachment step2300is performed by turning or flipping the machine body3200to another side and approaching the cover3100near the machine body3200until the coupling portion enters the front track and then moving the cover3100relative to the machine body3200along the coupling direction (upward in the drawing, i.e., the first coupling direction B1inFIG.4) so that the coupling portion is restricted by the first restricting section of the front track, thereby placing the coupling mechanism in the coupled state. The cover3100at this time covers the second side (front end) of the machine body3200.

Last, as shown inFIG.6andFIG.7B, the holder reassembly step2400is performed to assemble the terminal device3000and the holder S2.