Abstract:
According to an aspect of the invention, an electronic apparatus including: an outer case; an inner case corresponding to the outer case; an engagement nail having a first nail face directed to a first direction from the outer case toward the inner case and a second nail face directed to a second direction from the inner case toward the outer case, the engagement nail being extend from the outer case; and a resilient wire disposed on a certain position on the inner case along an edge of the inner case, the certain position corresponding to the engagement nail, wherein, at a first state, the resilient wire is movable in a third direction from the edge toward the resilient wire by the first nail face pushing the resilient wire, and wherein, at a second state, the resilient wire is movable in a fourth direction from the resilient wire toward the edge to run on the second nail face.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-208603, filed Aug. 13, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus such as a cell phone and a jig system and, more particularly, to the structure of fitting portions of an outer case and an inner case of the electronic apparatus. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In many cell phones, a changeable panel is attached to a cell phone main body through fitting using projections and recesses. An example of such cell phones is disclosed in JP-A-2002-125022 (paragraphs [0014] to [0037], FIGS. 1 and 5). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 of JP-A-2002-125022, a detachable decorative panel 14 is formed with first fitting projections 26 a  and 26 b,  second fitting projections 27 a  and 27 b,  and press-fit bosses 28 a  and 28 b.  A display main body 3 is formed with first fitting holes 19 a  and 19 b,  second fitting holes 20 a  and 20 b,  fixing holes 21 a  and 21 b,  and press-fit bushings 22 a  and 22 b.    
         [0006]    To attach the decorative panel 14, first, the user inserts the first fitting projections 26 a  and 26 b  into the first fitting holes 19 a  and 19 b  perpendicularly. Then, the user fits the nail-shaped second fitting projections 27 a  and 27 b  into the second fitting holes 20 a  and 20 b  in such a manner that a central portion of the decorative panel 14 is bent while the decorative panel 14 is rotated with the above first fitting portions as supporting points. Finally, the user press-fits the press-fit bosses 28 a  and 28 b  into the press-fit bushings 22 a  and 22 b.  To detach the decorative panel 14, an opposite procedure is followed. 
         [0007]    In the cell phone of JP-A-2002-125022, the second fitting projections 27 a  and 27 b  are fitted into the second fitting holes 20 a  and 20 b  in such a manner that a central portion of the decorative panel 14 is bent. However, depending on how the user bends the decorative panel 14, the second fitting projections 27 a  and 27 b  may rub against the second fitting holes 20 a  and 20 b.  Since the portions around the second fitting projections 27 a  and 27 b  and the second fitting holes 20 a  and 20 b  are made of resin, these portions wear as the decorative panel 14 is attached and detached repeatedly. This may result in a disadvantage that reliable fitting will not be secured. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including: an outer case; an inner case corresponding to the outer case; an engagement nail having a first nail face directed to a first direction from the outer case toward the inner case and a second nail face directed to a second direction from the inner case toward the outer case, the engagement nail being extend from the outer case; and a resilient wire disposed on a certain position on the inner case along an edge of the inner case, the certain position corresponding to the engagement nail, wherein, at a first state, the resilient wire is movable in a third direction from the edge toward the resilient wire by the first nail face pushing the resilient wire, and wherein, at a second state, the resilient wire is movable in a fourth direction from the resilient wire toward the edge to run on the second nail face. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    A general architecture that implements the various feature of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an appearance of a cell phone  300  according to a first embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a first body  100  according to the first embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3A to 3E  show the structure of the first body  100  according to the first embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4A to 4C  show the structure of one fitting portion  50  according to the first embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5A to 5C  illustrate a detaching system according to the first embodiment of. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the structure of fitting portions  50  and hinge members  150   a  according to a second embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a detaching operation according to the second embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. 
       Embodiment 1  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an appearance of a cell phone  300  (electronic apparatus) according to a first embodiment of the invention. The cell phone  300  has a structure that a first body  100  and a second body  200  are connected to each other by a hinge  150  so as to be opened and closed. The first body  100  is a body in which an earpiece and a main display unit (neither shown) are provided on a surface that is opposed to the second case  200  in a closed state. The second case  200  is a body in which a mouthpiece  71 , a ten-key unit  72 , etc. are provided on a surface that is opposed to the above-mentioned surface of the first body  100 . 
         [0019]    The first body  100  also has an outer case  10 , a changeable panel  11  (hatched in  FIG. 1 ), and an inner case  20 . The inner case  20 , which is a case as a base of the first body  100 , is fixed to the hinge  150  and mounted with various components. 
         [0020]    The outer case  10  is attached to the inner case  20  in such a state that the changeable panel  11  is partially located inside the outer case  10 . The user can switch the changeable panel  11  in a desired manner by detaching the outer case  10  from the inner case  20  and then attaching the former to the latter. A detailed attaching operation will be described later with reference to  FIG. 2  and following figures. 
         [0021]    The changeable panel  11  has a sub-display window  12  through which a sub-display unit  12  mounted on the inner case  20  is seen. 
         [0022]    A changeable-panel- 11 -side surface (i.e., outer-case- 10 -side surface), an inner-case- 20 -side surface, and two side surfaces of the first body  100  will be called a main surface, a back surface, and side surfaces, respectively. In the following, members of the outer case  10  will be given reference symbols that are in the tens and members of the inner case  20  will be given reference symbols that are in the twenties. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the first body  100  according to the first embodiment of the invention. The first case  100  is composed of the outer case  10 , the changeable panel  11 , the inner case  20 , a blind panel  22 , etc. 
         [0024]    The blind panel  22  is attached to the inner case  20  to blind the various components on the inner case  20  when the outer case  10  is disengaged from the inner case  20 . 
         [0025]    Next, a description will be made of fitting portions  50  (one fitting portion is indicated by broken-line circles in  FIG. 2 ) which serve to attach the outer case  10  to the inner case  20 . The outer case  10  is provided with four sets of a wire-engagement nail  13  and a projection  14  adjacent to the side surfaces (one set is indicated by a broken-line circle). 
         [0026]    The inner case  20  is provided with four sets of a resilient wire  23  and a recess  24  (one set is indicated by a broken-line circle). Wires  23  are located at such positions as to be opposed to the respective wire-engagement nails  13  in the direction from the main surface to the back surface, and the recesses  24  are located at such positions as to be opposed to the respective projections  14  in the same direction. Each wire  23  extends parallel with the longitudinal direction of the associated side surface. 
         [0027]    When the outer case  10  is pushed toward the inner case  20 , the wires  23  are engaged with the respective wire-engagement nails  13  and the projections  14  are fitted into the respective recesses  24 . The invention is characterized by engagement portions each having a wire-engagement nail  13  and a wire  23 , which will be described below in more detail. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 3A to 3E  show the structure of the first body  100  according to the first embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 3A  shows the main surface and  FIG. 3B  shows one side surface.  FIGS. 3C ,  3 D, and  3 E are sectional views taken along lines X 1 -X 1 , X 2 -X 2 , and X 3 -X 3 , respectively, in one fitting portion  50  of  FIG. 3A . The outer case  10  is attached to the inner case  20  so as to cover the latter from outside. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 3C  which is the X 1 -X 1  cross section, the projection  14  is fitted in the recess  24 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 3D  which is the X 2 -X 2  cross section, the wire-engagement nail  13  is engaged with the wire  23  in such a manner that the wire  23  is pressed against the main-surface-side surface of the wire-engagement nail  13  (i.e., toward the back surface side). The outer case  10  is formed with a guide recess  15  between the side wall and the wire-engagement nail  13 . The inner case  20  is formed with a guide projection  25  at such a position that it is opposed to the guide recess  15 . The guide projection  25  is thus fitted in the guide recess  15 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 3 ) which is the X 3 -X 3  cross section, the inner case  20  is provided with a stopper  26  on which one end portion of the wire  23  is locked by the urging force of the wire  23  so that the wire is not moved toward the main surface side or the back surface side. The end portion of the wire  23  can be moved toward the other side surface. 
         [0032]    Since the outer case  10  is configured in such a manner as to cover the inner cover  20  from outside, an outer case side wall end portion  10   a  of the outer case  10  is located outside an inner case side wall end portion  20   a  of the inner case  20 . To detach the outer case  10  from the inner case  20 , the outer case side wall end portion  10   a  is lifted up toward the main surface side with a jig. The details of this operation will be described later with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0033]    Next, action of the engagement portion having the wire-engagement nail  13  and the wire  23  of each fitting portion  50  will be described in detail. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 4A to 4C  show the structure of one fitting portion  50  according to the first embodiment of the invention in which the wire-engagement nail  13 , the wire  23 , and related members are shown mainly.  FIG. 4A  is a perspective view.  FIG. 4B  is a sectional view taken along line Y-Y in  FIG. 4A  and corresponds to  FIG. 4D  (X 2 -X 2  cross section).  FIG. 4C  is a sectional view taken along line X-X in  FIG. 4A . 
         [0035]    The outer case  10  is formed with the wire-engagement nail  13  and the guide recess  15 . The inner case  20  is provided with the wire  23  and the guide projection  25  which are located at such positions as to be opposed to the wire-engagement nail  13  and the guide recess  15 , respectively. The inner case  20  is also provided with stoppers  26 ,  27 , and  28  on which the wire  23  is locked. The stopper  27  has a cylindrical shape. Each of the stoppers  26  and  28  has walls on the side surface side and the main surface side. 
         [0036]    The wire  23  is a resilient wire such as a piano wire or a stainless steel (SUS) wire and has a central loop portion  23   b  as shown in the leftmost view (stand-along state) of  FIG. 4C . In the stand-alone state, end portions  23   a  and  23   c  of the wire  23  are free and the wire  23  forms an acute angle. The cylindrical stopper  27  is inserted into the loop portion  23   b  and the end portions  23   a  and  23   c  are pressed against and locked on the respective stoppers  26  and  28 . 
         [0037]    Therefore, the end portion  23   a  of the wire  23  always exerts rightward urging force as indicated by arrows in  FIG. 4C  (i.e., toward the associated side surface). The end portion  23   a  is free leftward in  FIGS. 4B and 4C  (i.e., toward the other side surface) because no stopper wall exists on the left of the end portion  23   a,  though this movement is against the urging force. 
         [0038]    The wire-engagement nail  13  has a back-surface-side, slant hitting portion  13   a  to hit the wire  23  and a main-surface-side lock portion  13   b.    
         [0039]    Next, a procedure for attaching the outer case  10  to the inner case  20  will be described. According to this procedure, as shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4C , the wire  23  is moved from an initial position P 1  to an engagement position P 3  past an intermediate position P 2 . 
         [0040]    The initial position P 1  corresponds to a state that the user has put the outer case  10  on the inner case  20 . In this state, the hitting portion  13   a  and the wire  23  are opposed to each other in the vertical direction. The guide recess  15  and the guide projection  25  are also opposed to each other in the vertical direction. The end portions  23   a  and  23   c  of the wire  23  are locked on the respective stoppers  26  and  28 , which is an initial state before attachment. 
         [0041]    Then, the user pushes the outer case  10  toward the inner case  20 , whereby the hitting portion  13   a  hits the wire  23  and the wire  23  is pushed leftward (i.e., in the direction from the associated side surface to the other side surface) from the initial position P 1  to the intermediate position P 2  (shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4C ) along the hitting portion  13   a  against the urging force. 
         [0042]    The user further pushes the outer case  10  toward the inner case  20 , whereby the outer case  10  is somewhat bent so as to be located somewhat on the back-surface side of its position shown in the rightmost view of  FIG. 4B  in which the wire  23  is located at the engagement position P 3 . The wire  23  goes onto the lock portion  13   b  because of the rightward urging force of its own (acting toward the associated side surface). If the user releases the outer case  10  in this state, the outer case  10  returns upward from the state that is somewhat bent downward and the wire  23  is lifted up to the final position (engagement position) P 3  (see  FIGS. 4B  and C) which is located above the initial position P 1 . The attaching operation is thus completed. 
         [0043]    Since at the engagement (final) position P 3  the wire  23  is located above (i.e., on the main-surface side of) the initial position P 1 , the outer case  10  is urged downward by the downward urging force (acting toward the back surface side) and no play is caused. Always exerting the rightward urging force (acting toward the associated side surface), the wire  23  exerts force of pushing the wire-engagement nail  13  and the outer case  10  rightward (toward the associated side surface). However, since the guide projection  25  is fitted in the guide recess  15 , the wire-engagement nail  13  and the outer case  10  do not project rightward. 
         [0044]    As described above, the end portion  23   a  of the wire  23  can move freely with the stopper  27  as a supporting point. Furthermore, having a circular cross section, the wire  23  is moved relatively freely when the wire-engagement nail  13  hits the wire  23 . Therefore, the wire  23  can be engaged with the wire-engagement nail  13  without damaging it. 
         [0045]    Next, a detaching method will be described. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 5A to 5C  illustrate a detaching system according to the first embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5A  shows an appearance of the cell phone  300 ,  FIG. 5B  shows an appearance of a panel switching jig  400 , and  FIG. 5C  is a sectional view, taken along line X-X in  FIG. 5A , of the cell phone  300  as mounted with the panel switching jig  400 . 
         [0047]    The cell phone  300  shown in  FIG. 5A  is the same as shown in  FIG. 1  and hence will not be described here. 
         [0048]    The panel switching jig  400  shown in  FIG. 5B  is provided as an accessory of the cell phone  300 . The panel switching jig  400  generally assumes an H shape in the X-X cross section and has a first step portion  81  as a central member. Second step portions  82  located at both ends are steps that rise from the first step portion  81  to the main-surface side. 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 5C  which shows a mounted state, the first step portion  81  has such a length as to house the inner case  20  (the width dimension between its two side surfaces) of the cell phone  300 . The outer case side wall end portions  10   a  of the outer case  10  of the cell phone  300  are placed on the respective second step portions  82 . 
         [0050]    Next, a procedure for detaching the outer case  10  of the cell phone  300  from its inner case  20  will be described. The user puts the first step portion  81  of the panel switching jig  400  between the first body  100  and the second body  200  of the cell phone  300  in the vicinity of the hinge  150  and thereby establishes the state of  FIG. 5C . 
         [0051]    Then, the user holds end portions, opposite to the hinge  150 , of the first body  100  and the second body  200  and applies force in such a direction as to fold the cell phone  300 . As a result, whereas the inner case  20  receives downward force because it is fixed to the hinge  150 , the outer case  20  receives upward force because the outer case side wall end portions  10   a  of the outer case  10  are placed on the respective second step portions  82 . That is, the forces for separating the outer case  10  and the inner case  20  from each other act thereon. As a result, the wires  23  are moved laterally and disengaged from the respective wire-engagement nails  13  and the outer case  10  is detached from the inner case  20 . 
         [0052]    Then, the user removes the changeable panel  11  (partially located inside the outer case  10 ) from the outer case  10 , replaces it with a new changeable panel  11 , and attaches the outer case  10  to the inner case  20  again. 
         [0053]    In the first embodiment of the invention, the resilient wire is used in one part of each fitting portion. By virtue of the urging force of the wire, a high degree of freedom of its movement, and its cylindrical structure, the wire can smoothly be engaged with the resin wire-engagement nail. This prevents the engagement portions, in particular, the resin nails, from being degraded as engagement and disengagement are done repeatedly. 
       Embodiment 2 
       [0054]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the structure of fitting portions  50  and hinge members  150   a  according to a second embodiment of the invention. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that each hinge member  150   a  of the cell phone  300  is provided with a detaching structure and a detaching operation is performed without using a jig. 
         [0055]    The outer-case- 10 -side members of each fitting portion  50  are the same as in the first embodiment and hence will not be illustrated or described. As for the members on the inner case  20  side, an end portion  23   a  of each wire  23  extends to inside the associated hinge member  150   a.    
         [0056]    Each hinge member  150   a  has, inside, a hinge cap  151 , a folding spring  152 , and a hinge sleeve  153  at the outside end in the hinge axial direction.  FIG. 6  shows only one hinge member  150   a.  The hinge cap  151  is formed with a hole  154  which serves to house and lock the end portion  23  of the associated wire  23 . 
         [0057]    The hinge caps  151  originally serve to unfold the folding-type cell phone  300 . When the user pushes the hinge caps  151  (which are located at both ends of the hinge  150 ) toward the center along the axis of the hinge  150 , the cell phone  300  is unfolded. 
         [0058]    Next, a detaching operation will be described. 
         [0059]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a detaching operation according to the second embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 7A  is a sectional view taken along line X-X in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7B  is a sectional view taken along line Y-Y in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIG. 7A  which is the Y-Y cross section, a newly provided leaf spring  30  is fixed in such a manner as to be sandwiched between the outer case  10  and the inner case  20  and exerts urging force for separating the outer case  10  from the inner case  20 . 
         [0061]    In a state that the wire  23  is located at an engagement position P 3  (see  FIGS. 7A and 7B ), the outer case  10  is attached to the inner case  20 . When in this state the user pushes the hinge caps  151  inward along the axis of the hinge  150 , the end portion  23   a  of the wire  23  is pushed in the direction from the associated side surface to the other side surface and reaches an intermediate position P 2  (see  FIGS. 7A and 7B ). In this state, the end portion  23   a  of the wire  23  has been pushed leftward and is disengaged from the wire-engagement nail  13 . As a result, the outer case  10  is separated from the inner case  20  and lifted up by the urging forces of the leaf springs  30 . 
         [0062]    Then, the user removes the changeable panel  11  (partially located inside the outer case  10 ) from the outer case  10 , replaces it with a new changeable panel  11 , and attaches the outer case  10  to the inner case  20  again. 
         [0063]    The second embodiment of the invention provides, in addition to the advantages of the first embodiment, an advantage that it is not necessary to provide a detaching jig. 
         [0064]    The body according to the invention can be applied to cell phones, PHS phones, data terminals, etc. 
         [0065]    As described with reference to the embodiment, there is provided an electronic apparatus in which an outer case can be attached to an inner case reliably, a changeable panel can be switched easily, and fitting portions are high in durability, as well as a jig system for it. 
         [0066]    The above embodiment can provide an electronic apparatus in which an outer case can be attached to an inner case reliably, a changeable panel can be switched easily, and fitting portions are high in durability, as well as a jig system for it.