Abstract:
A housing assembly for an electronic device includes a mounting assembly, an engaging assembly, a first housing, and a guiding member. The mounting assembly includes an accommodation room having an opening therein. The engaging assembly includes a first elastic member and a first engaging member mounted in the accommodation room. The first engaging member includes a first force receiving portion and a first engaging portion corresponding to the opening. The first housing is coupled with the mounting assembly and includes an assembling portion to be connected with the first engaging portion. The guiding member has a first guiding portion corresponding to the first force receiving portion. When the first guiding portion of the guiding member is applied by a force to move the first force receiving portion of the first engaging member to a position, the first engaging member is disengaged from the assembling portion of the first housing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a housing assembly, and more particularly, to a housing assembly for a portable electronic device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Generally speaking, housing assembly for an electrical device depends on screws to connect the housing assembly together and the quality of assembly for the electrical device, such as the connection between the parts of the housing assembly depends on the proper installation of the screws. However, it is a time consuming task to install the screws one by one and once the threads of the holes in the parts of the housing assembly are rounded or damaged, the screws can easily disengage from the parts. Therefore, another improved housing assembly for an electrical device is developed. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,395 to Petrella et al., discloses a “Housing assembly for an electronic device”, U.S. Pat. No. 7,116,780 to Sun, discloses a “Housing assembly for a portable electronic device”, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,149,306 to Pan, discloses a “Housing assembly of portable electronic device”, all of the prior art are hereby disclosed for reference. 
         [0004]    The housing assembly disclosed by Petrella et al. includes a first housing having multiple hooks on a side thereof and a second housing with multiple hook acceptors on a side thereof, the hooks are engaged with the hook acceptors. Multiple tabs and a slidable element are located between the first and second housings. The slidable element includes multiple notches so as to be engaged with protrusions on the first and second housings to connect the first and second housings together. 
         [0005]    The housing assembly disclosed by Sun includes multiple parts and each part includes multiple protrusions and a U-shaped slidable element so as to connect the multiple parts together. The slidable elements include multiple protrusions which are engaged with the protrusions on the parts. However, when disengaging these protrusions, the parts are separated so that this type of assembly is not suitable for the housing assembly that allows the user to replace a single part. The housing assembly by Pan discloses a similar structure as that of Sun. 
         [0006]    All of the prior arts mentioned above cannot provide a proper housing assembly that allows the users to quickly disengage the parts of the housing assembly for electronic devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention intends to provide a housing assembly for a portable electronic device and the housing assembly can be quickly assembled and manufactured at low cost, the users can conveniently replace the housings of the housing assembly. 
         [0008]    The present invention relates to a housing assembly for a portable electronic device and comprises a mounting assembly having a first part and a second part which is connected to the first part. The combination of the first and second parts defines a slot and multiple accommodating rooms, and each accommodating room has an opening. Multiple engaging assemblies each have a first elastic member and a first engaging member received in the accommodating room of the mounting assembly. The first engaging member includes a first force receiving portion and a first engaging portion located corresponding to the opening of the accommodating room. A first housing is connected to the mounting assembly and includes multiple assembling portions and each assembling portion is located corresponding to the first engaging portion of the first engaging member. Multiple guiding members each have a first guiding portion corresponding to the first force receiving portion of the first engaging member. A connection member is connected with the guiding members and includes a release portion which is located corresponding to the slot of the mounting assembly. The first engaging portion of the first engaging member is engaged with the assembling portion of the first housing by a force of the first elastic member. When a force is applied to the first guiding portion of the guiding member, the first force receiving portion of the first engaging member is moved to a position, and the first engaging member is disengaged from the assembling portion of the first housing. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the first and second parts define multiple side rooms and a path, wherein the multiple side rooms are located corresponding to the accommodating rooms and the path is located corresponding to the side rooms. The guiding members are installed in the side rooms and the connection member is installed in the path. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the first part includes a board and multiple lugs extend from the board. The second part includes multiple reception holes with which the lugs are engaged. 
         [0011]    Preferably, each engaging assembly further comprises a second engaging member mounted in the accommodating room of the mounting assembly. The second engaging member includes a second force receiving portion and a second engaging portion located corresponding to the opening of the accommodating room. A second elastic member is located between the accommodating room and the second engaging member. The guiding member includes a second guiding portion which is located corresponding to the second force receiving portion of the second engaging member. A second housing is connected to the second part of the mounting assembly and includes multiple connection portions. Each connection portion is located corresponding to the second engaging portion of the second engaging member. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the connection portion of the second housing includes an engaging hole and the second engaging portion of the second engaging member includes a second engaging inclined surface which guides the connection portion of the second housing to be connected with the second engaging portion of the second engaging member. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the first force receiving portion of the first engaging member has a first force receiving inclined surface and the first guiding portion of the guiding member has a first guiding inclined surface which is slidably engaged with the first force receiving inclined surface to move the first engaging member relative to the guiding member. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the second force receiving portion of the second engaging member has a second force receiving inclined surface and the second guiding portion of the guiding member has a second guiding inclined surface which is slidably engaged with the second force receiving inclined surface to move the second engaging member relative to the guiding member. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the assembling portion of the first housing has an engaging hole and the first engaging portion of the first engaging member has a first engaging inclined surface which is located corresponding to the assembling portion of the first housing so as to guide the assembling portion of the first housing to be connected with the first engaging portion of the first engaging member. 
         [0016]    Preferably, a third elastic member is located between the first part and the first housing. 
         [0017]    Preferably, a fourth elastic member is located between the second part and the second housing. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the first and second engaging members include first and second guiding slots and first and second force receiving portions respectively. A guiding member is movably connected to the connection member and includes a first cam and a second cam, wherein the first cam is located corresponding to the first force receiving portion of the first engaging member and the second cam is located corresponding to the second force receiving portion of the second engaging member. The first and second cams include first and second shafts which respectively extend through the first and second guiding slots of the first and second engaging members and are pivotally connected to the mounting assembly. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the release portion includes a pivoted end and an operation end opposite to the pivoted end. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the release portion includes a first portion and a second portion, and a sliding member is connected to the connection member and includes a first inclined surface which is located corresponding to the first portion and a second inclined portion which is located corresponding to the second portion. 
         [0021]    The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of  FIG. 2  according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a top cross sectional view according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a side view according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a front view showing a first operational status according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the first operational status according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a top view showing that the first engaging member is moved and the first housing can be disengaged from the first part according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a front view showing a second operational status according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the second operational status according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a top view showing that the second engaging member is moved and the second housing can be disengaged from the second part according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view showing the engaging assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view showing the engaging assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  is an exploded view showing the engaging assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  is a schematic view showing that the release portion of the connection member of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is moved toward the first direction; 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  is a schematic view showing that the release portion of the connection member of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is moved toward the second direction; 
           [0038]      FIG. 17  is a schematic view showing the operation of the release portion according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 18  is a schematic view showing the release portion and the sliding member according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 19  is a schematic view showing the operation of the release portion according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 20  is a schematic view showing the release portion, the first piece and the second piece according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, and 
           [0042]      FIG. 21  is an assembled view according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a housing assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a mounting assembly  1 , multiple engaging assemblies  30 , a first housing  50 , a second housing  60 , multiple guiding members  70 , and a connection member  80 . 
         [0044]    The mounting assembly  1  has a first part  10  and a second part  20  which is connected to the first part  10 . The first part  10  includes a first wall  11 , a second wall  12  located corresponding to the first wall  11 , a third wall  13  connected between the first and second walls  11 ,  12 , and a fourth wall  14  located corresponding to the third wall  13  and connected between the first and second walls  11 ,  12 . The first and second walls  11 ,  12  are located on two sides of the first part  10  and the third and fourth walls  13 ,  14  are located on two ends of the first part  10 . A board  16  is connected with the first, second, third and fourth walls  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 , and multiple lugs  18  extend from the board  16 . The second part  20  and the first to fourth walls  11  to  14  of the first part  10  define multiple accommodating rooms  22 . At least one pair of the walls of the mounting assembly  1  is formed with the accommodating rooms  22 . Each accommodating room  22  has an opening  23  and multiple side rooms  24  located corresponding to the accommodating rooms  22  and a slot  26 . A path  28  is defined between the first and second parts  10 ,  20  and the path  28  is located corresponding to the side rooms  24 . In this embodiment, the second part  20  includes multiple reception holes  29  with which the lugs  18  are engaged. 
         [0045]    Each engaging assembly  30  has a first elastic member  34  and a first engaging member  32  received in the accommodating room  22  of the mounting assembly  1 . The first elastic member  34  is located between the first engaging member  32  and the accommodating room  22 . A second engaging member  42  is received in the accommodating room  22  of the mounting assembly  1  and a second elastic member  44  is located between the second engaging member  42  and the accommodating room  22 . The first engaging member  32  includes a first force receiving portion  36  and a first engaging portion  38  located corresponding to the opening  23  of the accommodating room  22 . The first engaging portion  38  is pushed toward the opening  23  of the accommodating room  22  by the force of the first elastic member  34 . The second engaging member  42  includes a second force receiving portion  46  and a second engaging portion  48  located corresponding to the opening  23  of the accommodating room  22 . The second engaging portion  48  is pushed toward the opening  23  of the accommodating room  22  by the force of the second elastic member  44 . In this embodiment, the first force receiving portion  36  of the first engaging member  32  includes a first force receiving inclined surface, and the second force receiving portion  46  includes a second force receiving inclined surface. The first and second elastic members  34 ,  44  are compression springs. As shown in  FIG. 12  which shows a second embodiment of the present invention, the first and second elastic members  34   a ,  44   a  are plate springs, and the first and second engaging members  32   a ,  42   a  have an insertion hole  33   a ,  43   a  so as to receive an end of the first and second springs  34   a ,  44   a  respectively. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 13  which shows a third embodiment of the present invention, the first and second springs  34   b ,  44   b  are integral to the first and second engaging members  32   b ,  42   b.    
         [0046]    The first housing  50  is connected to first part  10  of the mounting assembly  1  and includes multiple assembling portions  52 . Each assembling portion  52  is located corresponding to the first engaging portion  38  of the first engaging member  32  so as to be connected to the first engaging member  32 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The assembling portion  52  of the first housing  50  has an engaging hole  53 , and the first engaging portion  38  of the first engaging member  32  has a first engaging inclined surface  39  which is located corresponding to the assembling portion  52  of the first housing  50  so as to guide the assembling portion  52  of the first housing  50  to be connected with the first engaging portion  38  of the first engaging member  32 . 
         [0047]    The second housing  60  is connected to the second part  20  of the mounting assembly  1  and includes multiple connection portions  62 . Each connection portion  62  is located corresponding to the second engaging portion  48  of the second engaging member  42  and is connected with the second engaging member  42 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The connection portion  62  of the second housing  60  has an engaging hole  63  and the second engaging portion  48  of the second engaging member  42  has a second engaging inclined surface  49  which guides the connection portion  62  of the second housing  60  to be connected with the second engaging portion  48  of the second engaging member  42 . 
         [0048]    The guiding members  70  are located in the side rooms  24  respectively and each guiding member  70  has a first guiding portion  72  and a second guiding portion  74 . The first guiding portion  72  is located corresponding to the first force receiving portion  36 . When the first guiding portion  72  is guided along the first force receiving portion  36  and moved to a first position, the first engaging member  32  is moved and compresses the first elastic member  34 , such that the first engaging portion  38  is disengaged from the assembling portion  52  of the first housing  50 . The second guiding portion  74  is located corresponding to the second force receiving portion  46  of the second engaging member  42 . When the second guiding portion  74  is guided along the second force receiving portion  46  and moved to a second position, the second engaging member  42  is moved and compresses the second elastic member  44 , so that the second engaging portion  48  is disengaged from the connection portion  62  of the second housing  60 . In this embodiment, the first guiding portion  72  of the guiding member  70  has a first guiding inclined surface which is slidably engaged with the first force receiving inclined surface of the first engaging member  32  to move the first engaging member  32  relative to the guiding member  70 . The second guiding portion  74  of the guiding member  70  includes a second guiding inclined surface which is slidably engaged with the second force receiving inclined surface of the second engaging member  42  to move the second engaging member  42  relative to the guiding member  70 . 
         [0049]    The connection member  80  is connected with the guiding members  70  and includes a release portion  82  which is located corresponding to the slot  26  of the mounting assembly  1 . When the user operates the release portion  82 , the connection member  80  is moved to move the guiding members  70 . In this embodiment, the connection member  80  is a rope located in the path  28  of the mounting assembly  1 . 
         [0050]    After the parts mentioned above are assembled together, between the first housing  50  and the first part  10 , the force of the first elastic member  34  pushes the first engaging member  32  so that the first engaging portion  38  of the first engaging member  32  is engaged with the assembling portion  52  of the first housing  50 . Between the second housing  60  and the second part  20 , the force of the second elastic member  44  pushes the second engaging member  42  so that the second engaging portion  48  is engaged with the assembling portion  62  of the second housing  60 . 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 to 8 , the first housing  50  can be disengaged from the first part  10  of the mounting assembly  1 . In this embodiment, the user operates the release portion  82  or the connection member  80  from an initial position toward a first direction as indicated by F 1 , and moves it to a first position, the connection member  80  moves the guiding member  70  so that the first guiding portion  72  of the guiding member  70  is guided along the first force receiving portion  36  and the first engaging member  32  is moved and compresses the first elastic member  34 , such that the first engaging portion  38  of the first engaging member  32  is disengaged from the assembling portion  52  of the first housing  50 . Therefore, the first housing  50  can be easily disengaged from the first part  10  of the mounting assembly  1 , or a new first housing  50  can be replaced. In other words, when a force is applied to the first guiding portion  72  of the guiding member  70  and moves along the first force receiving portion  36 , the first engaging member  32  is disengaged from the assembling portion  52  of the first housing  50 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the connection member  80  as a loop is connected to the guiding members  70  which are moved with the first engaging members  32 . 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIGS. 9 to 11 , the second housing  60  can be disengaged from the second part  20  of the mounting assembly  1 . In this embodiment, the user operates the release portion  82  or the connection member  80  from an initial position toward a second direction as indicated by F 2 , and moves it to a second position, the connection member  80  moves the guiding member  70  so that the second guiding portion  74  of the guiding member  70  is guided along the second force receiving portion  46  and the second engaging member  42  is moved and compresses the second elastic member  44 , such that the second engaging portion  48  of the second engaging member  42  is disengaged from the assembling portion  62  of the second housing  60 . Therefore, the second housing  60  can be easily disengaged from the second part  20  of the mounting assembly  1 , or a new second housing  60  can be replaced. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the connection member  80  as a loop is connected to the guiding members  70  which are moved with the second engaging members  42 . 
         [0053]      FIGS. 14 to 16  show a fourth embodiment of the present invention, which includes a first engaging member  32   c  and a second engaging member  42   c . The first and second engaging members  32   c ,  42   c  include first and second guiding slots  33   c ,  43   c  and first and second force receiving portions  36   c ,  46   c , respectively. The first force receiving portion  36   c  tilts towards the same direction as that of the first engaging portion  38   c . The second force receiving portion  46   c  tilts towards the same direction as that of the second engaging portion  48   c . A guiding member  70   c  is movably connected to the connection member  80 . As shown in the drawings, the connection member  80  has a connecting block  81  which is movably connected to the guiding member  70   c . The guiding member  70   c  includes a first cam  71   c  and a second cam  72   c . The first cam  71   c  is located corresponding to the first force receiving portion  36   c  of the first engaging member  32   c , and the second cam  72   c  is located corresponding to the second force receiving portion  46   c  of the second engaging member  42   c . The first and second cams  71   c ,  72   c  include first and second shafts  73   c ,  74   c  which respectively extend through the first and second guiding slots  33   c ,  43   c  of the first and second engaging members  32   c ,  42   c  and are pivotally connected to the mounting assembly  1 . The first and second shafts  73   c ,  74   c  can be two ends of a single shaft which extends through the guiding member  70   c . In this embodiment, the first and second guiding slots  33   c ,  43   c  provide the first and second engaging member  32   c ,  42   c  a travel distance relative to the first and second shafts  73   c ,  74   c  of the guiding member  70   c . When the user operates the release portion  82  or the connection member  80  from an initial position toward the first direction as indicated by F 1  in  FIG. 15 , the connection member  80  rotates the guiding member  70   c  whose first cam  71   c  pushes the first force receiving portion  36   c  of the first engaging member  32   c , so that the first engaging member  32   c  moves and compresses the first elastic member  34  to release the first engaging member  32   c . On the contrary, when the user operates the release portion  82  or the connection member  80  toward the second direction as indicated by F 2  in  FIG. 16 , the connection member  80  rotates the guiding member  70   c  whose second cam  72   c  pushes the second force receiving portion  46   c  of the second engaging member  42   c , so that the second engaging member  42   c  moves and compresses the second elastic member  44  to release the second engaging member  42   c.    
         [0054]    Furthermore, in a fifth embodiment as disclosed in  FIG. 17 , the release portion  82   a  includes a pivoted end and an operation end opposite to the pivoted end, so that the release portion  82   a  can be operated to swing toward the first direction F 1  or the second direction F 2  so as to move the connection member  80 . The guiding member  70  moves the second engaging member  42  or the first engaging member  32  to be engaged with the second housing  60  or the first housing  50 . In a sixth embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 18 to 20 , the release portion  82   b  includes a first portion  84   b  and a second portion  86   b , and a sliding member  88   b  connected to the connection member  80 . The sliding member  88   b  includes a first inclined surface  90   b  which is located corresponding to the first portion  84   b  and a second inclined portion  92   b  is located corresponding to the second portion  86   b . When the release portion  82   b  is moved toward a third direction F 3  by a force, the first portion  84   b  will be moved along the first inclined surface  90   b  of the sliding member  88   b  to move the sliding member  88   b  upward and then to move the connection member  80 . Alternatively, when the release portion  82   b  is moved toward a fourth direction F 4  by a force, the second portion  86   b  will be moved along the second inclined surface  92   b  of the sliding member  88   b  to move the sliding member  86   b  downward and then to move the connection member  80 . By this way, the guiding member  70  moves and drives the second engaging member  42  or the first engaging member  32  to disengage from the second housing  60  or the first housing  50 . In the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 20 , the sliding member  88   b  includes a first piece  89   b  and a second piece  91   b . The first piece  89   b  includes a first inclined surface  90   b  and multiple protrusions  93   b . The second piece  91   b  includes a second inclined surface  92   b  and multiple recesses  94   b  which are located corresponding to the protrusions  93   b . The engagement between the protrusions  93   b  and the recesses  94   b  connects the first and second pieces  89   b ,  91   b.    
         [0055]    The housing assembly of the present invention allows the manufacturers to assemble the housing assembly without using tools especially the screw drives and can assemble the housing assembly quickly to reduce the time required and to reduce the assembling cost. Especially, the users can easily replace the first and second housings. 
         [0056]    An electronic unit (not shown) can be installed between the first and second parts  10 ,  20 . 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 21 , a third elastic member  96  is provided between the first part  10  and the first housing  50  to securely connect the first housing  50 . When the assembling portion  52  of the first housing  50  is disengaged from the first engaging member  32 , the first housing  50  can be separated from the first part  10  by the force of the third elastic member  96 . Furthermore, a fourth elastic member  98  is provided between the second part  20  and the second housing  60  to securely connect the second housing  60 . When the assembling portion  62  of the second housing  60  is disengaged from the second engaging member  42 , the second housing  60  can be separated from the second part  20  by the force of the fourth elastic member  98 . 
         [0058]    The present invention allows the users to replace or disassemble the first and second housing and the electronic unit is an electronic communication unit, especially to the cellular phone. By the replaceable first and second housings, the users can enjoy the change of the facing plate of the cellular phones to show the variety of appearances of the portable communication products. 
         [0059]    While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.