Handset device

A handset device (10) includes a housing (20) and a battery cover (30) mounted on the housing. The housing includes a front wall (24), a rear wall (22), two sidewalls (26), and at least one bay cooperatively surrounded by the front wall, the rear wall, and the sidewalls. The front wall includes at least one first receiving portion (240) including a wedge-shaped first slidable groove (242) having a first inclination angle and a recessed portion (244) communicating with the first slidable groove. The rear wall includes at least one receiving groove (220). The battery cover includes at least one fastening protrusion (34) corresponding to the first receiving portion and at least one protrusion (32) received in the receiving groove. The fastening protrusion has an inclination angle equal to the first inclination angle and includes a hook located at an end thereof, abutting the recessed portion.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to handset devices, and particularly to a handset device with a battery cover.

2. Description of Related Art

Batteries are widely used in portable electronic devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones. A battery is removably mounted in a housing of the electronic device. A battery cover is mounted on the housing to protect the battery. When the battery is damaged, dead, or needs to be recharged, the battery cover is removed from the housing so that the battery can be taken out and later replaced.

Typically, a fixing mechanism couples a battery cover with a housing of the portable electronic device. Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, a conventional fixing mechanism for mounting a battery cover50on a housing60is shown. The fixing mechanism includes a blocking mechanism, an opening56, a latching mechanism, a pair of slots62, and a cutout64. The battery cover50forms the blocking mechanism comprising two rearward claws52, two central claws54and two front claws58, and defines the opening56. The housing60defines the slots62and the cutout64. The latching mechanism includes a block40, a pair of springs42, a slider44having a blocking part, and a holder46fixed to the housing50. The slider44is slidably attached on the holder46. The block40is fixed on the slider44and extends through the cutout54and the opening56. The blocking mechanism of the cover50engages in the slots62of the housing60and with the blocking part of the slider44. Two ends of each spring42are attached to the holder46and the slider44, respectively. The engagement between the battery cover50and the housing60is secure. However, the configuration of the fixing mechanism is very complex and costly, thereby increasing the overall cost of the portable electronic device.

Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to overcome the described limitations.

SUMMARY

In an exemplary embodiment, a handset device includes a housing and battery cover mounted on the housing. The housing includes a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of sidewalls, and at least one bay for accommodating a battery. The front wall, the rear wall and the sidewalls cooperatively surround the bay. The front wall includes at least one first receiving portion including a wedge-shaped first slidable groove, which has a first inclination angle, and a recessed portion communicating with the first slidable groove. The rear wall includes at least one receiving groove. The battery cover includes at least one fastening protrusion corresponding to the first receiving portion and at least one protrusion received in the receiving groove. The at least one fastening protrusion has an inclination angle equal to the first inclination angle and includes a hook located on an end thereof, abutting the recessed portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is an exploded, isometric view of a handset device10of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The handset device10comprises a housing20and a battery cover30mounted on the housing20. In the embodiment, the handset device10is a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or other. The handset device10has a curved shape.

The housing20typically accommodates electronic elements such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), batteries, electronic cards, etc. The housing10is generally a frame and comprises a rear wall22, a front wall24, and a pair of opposite sidewalls26. The rear wall22, the front wall24, and the sidewalls26are mechanically connected, and collectively surround several bays accommodating the electronic elements. In the embodiment, the housing10comprises two bays, one accommodating a battery and the other accommodating a subscriber identity module (SIM) card.

In other embodiments, the rear wall22, the front wall24, and the sidewalls26can be formed together from a single piece with the housing20comprising a bay accommodating a battery.

The rear wall22comprises a pair of receiving grooves220positioned atopposite distal ends thereof. The receiving grooves220are symmetrical about a longitudinal central line of the housing20.

The front wall24comprises a pair of first receiving portions240positioned at two ends thereof, each adjacent to the sidewall26. The first receiving portions240are symmetrical about the longitudinal central line of the housing20. Each of the first receiving portions240comprises a first slidable groove242and a recessed portion244communicating with the first slidable groove242. A bottom of the first slidable groove242is angled, such that the first slidable groove242is a wedge-shaped groove having a first inclination angle.

Each of the sidewalls26comprises a pair of second receiving portions260spaced apart from each other and adjacent to the front wall24or the rear wall22. Each of the second receiving portions260comprises a second slidable groove262and a fixing portion264positioned over the second slidable groove262. A bottom of the second slidable groove262is angled, such that the second slidable groove262is a wedge-shaped groove having a second inclination angle. The fixing portion264comprises a first hook265located at an end thereof.

In the embodiment, the first inclination angle of the first slidable groove242exceeds the second inclination angle of the second slidable groove262. The receiving groove220, the first slidable grooves242and the second slidable grooves are designated as grooves.

In other embodiments, each of the sidewalls26can only comprise a second receiving portion260located at a middle thereof. The front wall24can only comprise a first receiving portion240located in the middle thereof.

The battery cover30is slidably mounted on the housing20covering the bays of the housing20. The battery cover30comprises a pair of protrusions32corresponding to the receiving grooves220, a pair of fastening protrusions34, each having a third inclination angle and corresponding to the first receiving portion240, and two pairs of L-shaped locking protrusions36, each having a fourth inclination angle and corresponding to the second receiving portion260. Each of the protrusions32protrudes from the inner surface of a rear end of the battery cover30. Each of the protrusions32is received in the corresponding receiving groove220to limit movement of the battery cover30longitudinally, horizontally, and vertically.

In the embodiment, the protrusions32, the fastening protrusions34, and the locking protrusions36are designated as protrusions.

The locking protrusions36are symmetrical about a longitudinal central line of the battery cover20. The locking protrusions36each extend from the inner surface of two opposite sides of the battery cover30towards the housing20. Each of the locking protrusions36and the inner surface of the battery cover20cooperatively surround a bay360. The fourth inclination angle of the locking protrusions36is generally equal to the second inclination angle of the second slidable groove262. In the embodiment, the locking protrusions36are received in the second slidable grooves262, respectively, and the first hooks265of the fixing protrusions abut a bottom of the bay360, respectively, to limit the movements of the battery cover30longitudinally, horizontally, and vertically.

The fastening protrusions34are symmetrical about the longitudinal central line of the battery cover20. Each of the fastening protrusions34extends from the inner surface of a front end of the battery cover30towards the housing20. An extending direction of each fastening protrusion34is the same as that of each locking protrusion36. The third inclination angle of the fastening protrusion34is generally equal to the first inclination angle of the first slidable groove242. Each of the fastening protrusions34comprises a second hook340located at an end thereof. In the embodiment, the fastening protrusions34are received in the corresponding first slidable groove242with the second hooks340abutting the recessed portion244, respectively, to limit the movements of the battery cover30longitudinally, horizontally, and vertically.

In other embodiments, the battery cover30can only comprise a pair of locking protrusions each protruding from the inner surface of the side thereof towards the housing20and located in a middle of the side. The battery cover30can only comprise a fastening protrusion34protruding from the inner surface of the front end thereof towards the housing20.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, in assembly, the protrusions32of the battery cover30are received in the corresponding receiving grooves220of the housing20, respectively, the fastening protrusions34of the battery cover30are received in the first slidable grooves242of the housing20, respectively, and the locking protrusions36of the battery cover30are received in the second slidable grooves262of the housing20, respectively. Subsequently, the battery cover30is moved in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal direction with the locking protrusions36sliding in the second slidable grooves262and the fastening protrusions34sliding in the first slidable grooves242until the protrusions32are completely received in the corresponding receiving grooves220of the housing20, respectively, the second hooks265of the housing20abut the bottom of the bays360of the battery cover30, respectively, and the second hooks340of the battery cover30abut the recessed portions244of the housing20, respectively. The battery cover30is mounted on the housing20.

When the battery in the bay of the housing20is to be removed, the battery cover30is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction with the protrusions32being detached from the receiving grooves220, respectively, the locking protrusions36being detached from the second receiving portions260, respectively, and the fastening portions34being detached from the first receiving portions240, respectively. As a result, the battery cover30can easily be disassembled from the housing20.

The protrusions of the battery cover30and the grooves of the housing20function the same as the fixing mechanism ofFIG. 4. Compared to the fixing mechanism ofFIG. 4, the configuration of the protrusions and the grooves of the present invention is simpler and more cost effective.

While embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.