METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A COVER FOR MOBILE PHONES

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing the cover (2) of a mobile phone, in which a protective lens (1) for the display (5) is fastened to the front cover by means of a soft and elastic bonding agent (3), such as TPE plastic material, the material forming at the same time a sealing surface (4) between the cover (2) and the display (1).

Description: Method for manufacturing a cover for mobile phones This invention relates to a method for manufacturing a cover for a mobile phone, in which a protective display lens is fastened to the front cover. The protective display lens of a mobile phone is usually fastened by means of a double adhesive tape fitted between the lens and the cover, or by a glue layer. A sealing frame is fastened inside the cover with adhesive tape to seal the display in the mobile phone cover. The fastening of the mobile phone lens and the sealing of the display require two adhesive surfaces and a sealing frame. The solution of the invention is intended to replace the adhesive surfaces and the sealing frame with one single material solution. The method of the invention is characterised by the protective lens being fastened to the cover by means of a soft and elastic bonding agent, such as TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) plastic so that the substance simultaneously forms a sealing surface between the cover and the display. Owing to the invention, the adhesive surfaces and the sealing frame are thus replaced with one single substance and a fastening reat- ment of the lens. The method for manufacturing a mobile phone cover yields notably reduced costs for manufacturing the cover. A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterised by the fact that, while the plastic material is being positioned into contact with the cover, an annular sealing is fitted in the cover, at the earphone, the sealing being made of the same plastic material as the bonding agent of the protective lens. A second embodiment of the invention is characterised by the fact that an annular sealing made of the same plastic material as the bonding agent of the protective lens is fitted in the cover at the microphone. A third embodiment of the invention is characterised by the fact that the keyboard of the mobile phone is made of the same plastic material as the bonding agent of the protective lens, so that the keyboard is formed of elastic keys tightly fitted into the holes in the keyboard. By additionally fastening to the edge of the mobile phone cover a sealing border made of the same plastic material as the bonding agent of the protective lens, a mobile phone is achieved which is completely waterproof and dustproof . The invention is described below by means of an example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which figure 1 shows the fastening of a lens known per se and the sealing of a display in a mobile phone cover, figure 2 shows a lens fastened to a mobile phone cover with the method of the invention for manufacturing a mobile phone cover, figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a couple of keys in a mobile phone key- board known per se, figure 4 shows a key fastened to a mobile phone cover with the manufacturing method of the invention, and figure 5 shows the solution for sealing an earphone or a microphone in a mobile phone cover. The protective lens 1 of the mobile phone is fastened to the cover 2 with a soft and elastic TPE plastic material 3 so that the material simultaneously forms a sealing surface between the cover 2 and the display 5. An annular seal 7 made of the same plastic material as the bonding agent of the protective lens is fitted in the cover at the earphone 6, and if necessary, also at the microphone, at the same time as the plastic material 3 is fitted into contact with the cover. Figure 4 shows a key 8 made of the same plastic material as the bonding agent of the protective lens in the mobile phone keyboard. When a sealing joint also made of the same plastic material is further formed at the edge of the cover 2, a waterproof and dustproof mobile phone is achieved. All of the TPE plastic materials mentioned above can be fastened to the cover 3 in one and the same process step. The costs for manufacturing the front cover of the mobile phone are notable reduced compared to prior art manufacturing costs.

Claims: Claims 1. A method for manufacturing a mobile phone cover (2), in which a protective lens (1) for the display (5) is fastened to the front cover, characterised in that the pro- tective lens (1) is fastened to the cover by means of a soft and elastic bonding agent (3), such as a TPE plastic material, so that the material simultaneously forms a sealing surface (4) between the cover (2) and the display (1). 2. A method as defined in claim 1, characterised in that an annular sealing (7) made of the same plastic material as the bonding agent of the protective lens is fitted in the cover, at the earphone (6), at the same time as the plastic material is fitted into contact with the cover (2). 3. A method as defined in claim 2, characterised in that an annular sealing made of the same plastic material as the bonding agent of the protective lens is fitted in the cover (2) at the microphone. 4. A method as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the keyboard (8) of the mobile phone is made of the same plastic material as the bond- ing agent of the protective lens, the keyboard being thus formed of elastic keys tightly fitted into the keyboard holes. 5. A method as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a sealing border made of the same plastic material as the bonding agent of the protective lens is fastened to the edge of the mobile phone cover (2).

Inventors: RUUTTU JARI, TOERNROOS FILIP, RUUTTU, JARI, TOERNROOS, FILIP
Applicants: IT INNOVATIONS FINLAND OY, RUUTTU JARI, TOERNROOS FILIP, RUUTTU, JARI, TOERNROOS, FILIP
Application year: 2001
Main classification: H04M1
IPC codes: H04M1