Patent Publication Number: US-7712621-B2

Title: Housing with hidden ventilation holes

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to housing of electronic device, and more particularly to two sides of an intermediate frame respectively secured by an upper shell and a lower shell which both having a plurality of spaced cavities formed along the edge thereof, and these cavities are concealed behind a flange that extended from outer edge of the intermediate frame, so as to form hidden ventilation holes. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This world has entered into a new era with information and electronic technologies being progressed rapidly. A wide variety of computer related advanced products and mobile communication products are commercially available. Moreover, network communication technology has known a fast development in recent years. Characteristics of these computer related advanced products and mobile communication products are comprised of compactness, multifunction, and low price, therefore people love to use these kinds of 3C products and even ask more from them. In the other aspect, continuous advancements of these electronic devices are desired by people. Advanced circuitry including a main processing unit is employed by these powerful electronic devices so as to provide more useful functionalities to users. An electronic component of relatively high operation speed produces relatively greater amount of energy (i.e., higher temperature due to high heat). Thus, excessive high working temperature may adversely affect a normal functioning of an electronic device if it does not have an effective heat dissipation means. To the worse, a useful product life of the electronic device may get shortened quickly. And in turn, it may greatly decrease sales of such electronic devices in the market. 
   Conventionally, as most common, cost effective means for dissipating heat generated by an electronic device, a plurality of large ventilation holes are provided on the housing of the electronic device. Hot air inside the electronic device is adapted to draw to outside of the electronic device through the ventilation holes and at the same time outside cooling air is circulated through the ventilation holes to effectively lower the inside temperature of the electronic device during operation. These ventilation holes formed on the housing of an electronic device are adapted for ventilation (i.e., heat removal). However, structural intension of the housing of the electronic device may be decreased significantly due to many ventilation holes. Thus, the structurally weak housing of such electronic device is subject to deformation or damage due to collision during transportation. Further, the provision of ventilation holes on the housing of an electronic device is not aesthetic as viewed by many designers of the art in consideration of the fast development of electronic devices. Thus, electronic devices produced by manufacturers of the art are required to have an effective heat dissipation means. Also, drawbacks (e.g., reduction of structural intension and being not aesthetic) associated with the provision of ventilation holes on the housing are required to be eliminated from an electronic device. Therefore, consumers may like to and are willing to buy these electronic devices. Another drawback of the provision of ventilation holes is that the ventilation holes, in accordance with the specifications of related rules, are required to be sufficiently small. Otherwise, sparks due to malfunction of circuitry of an electronic device may spread to the outside of the electronic device through the ventilation holes and may even cause accident. This potential danger is not desired. 
   Currently, a wide variety of network communication products are commercially available. Thus, whether network communication products to be produced having the advantage of ventilation holes (i.e., ventilation) and not having the disadvantages of ventilation holes (e.g., reduction of structural intension and being not aesthetic) will be an indicator to decide whether manufacturing technology related to network communication products of one company is more advanced than other competitive companies. Thus, it is desirable among manufacturers of the art to provide an electronic device having a novel housing with hidden ventilation holes having the advantages of reduced diameter, being aesthetic, and effective heat removal in order to fulfill the user needs and be more competitive in the market. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   After considerable research and experimentation, a housing of an electronic device having hidden ventilation holes according to the present invention has been devised so as to overcome the above drawbacks of the prior art housing. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a housing of an electronic device having a plurality of hidden ventilation holes comprising an intermediate frame, an upper shell, and a lower shell wherein the intermediate frame comprises an upright flange along its outer edges, the upper shell and the lower shell both have its edge secured to a inner edge inside the flange of the intermediate frame, the upper shell comprises a plurality of spaced first cavities formed along the lower edge, the lower shell comprises a plurality of spaced second cavities formed along the upper edge, and both the first and second cavities are concealed by and hidden behind the flange when the intermediate frame is assembled with the upper shell and the lower shell respectively. By utilizing this housing formed with hidden ventilation holes, the ventilation holes are concealed, a structural strength of the housing is maintained, and the housing is aesthetic. 
   The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of housing of an electronic device according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the assembled housing; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the intermediate frame; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a portion of the housing; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the housing; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the housing with the upper shell removed to show its interior details; and 
       FIG. 7  is a view of a portion of the upper shell from an inside perspective to show details thereof. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a housing of an electronic device having hidden ventilation holes in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The housing comprises an upper shell  1 , a lower shell  2 , and an intermediate frame  3 . The intermediate frame  3  is hollow and is mounted between the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2 . The intermediate frame  3  comprises an U-shaped upright flange  31  along outside of its three edges. Edges of both the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  are secured to top and bottom edges inside of the flange  31  respectively. The upper shell  1  comprises a plurality of first fastening members (e.g., latches as shown)  10  extended downward from the edge of the upper shell  1  to be proximate to the lower shell  2 . Correspondingly, the lower shell  2  comprises a plurality of second fastening members (e.g., risers having an aperture as shown)  20  extended upward from the edge of the lower shell  2  to be proximate to the upper shell  1 . The second fastening members  20  and the first fastening members  10  are mating members each other, so as the second fastening members  20  are able to be secured to the first fastening members  10 . Also the first fastening members  10  and the second fastening members  20  are secured at a position proximate an inner surface of the intermediate frame  3 . As a result, the intermediate frame  3  is securely fastened by both the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2 . This has the effect of enhancing a structural strength of the assembled housing. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3  in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the intermediate frame  3  is presented U-shaped. The intermediate frame  3  further comprises a ramp  32  at either end of the flange  31 . The ramp  32  is disposed between the end of the flange  31  and the inner edge of the intermediate frame  3 . A plurality of spaced first cavities  11  are formed along either bottom face of a peripheral flange of the upper shell  1 . A plurality of spaced second cavities  21  are formed along either top face of a peripheral flange of the lower shell  2 . Both the first and second cavities  11  and  21  are concealed by the flange  31  and hidden behind the flange  31  when the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  are assembled with the intermediate frame  3  as referring to  FIG. 4 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the cooling air outside is adapted to draw through the first and second cavities  11  and  21  by passing the ramps  32  at ends of the flanges  31 . A user can see a ventilation hole formed by two adjacent first and second cavities  11  and  21  by tilting the electronic device a predetermined angle. To the contrary, a user only can see the flange  31  of the intermediate frame  3  rather than both the first and second cavities  11  and  21  when the eyes of the user and the electronic device are at the same elevation (see  FIG. 2 ). Thus, a user has to tilt the electronic device a predetermined angle prior to seeing either the first cavity  11  (see  FIG. 5 ) or the second cavity  21 . It is contemplated by the invention that a plurality of ventilation holes are formed on the housing, the ventilation holes are concealed, structural strength of the housing is maintained, and the housing is aesthetic. Referring to  FIG. 1  again, each of the first and second cavities  11  and  21  are both presented to a half-elliptic shape. Hence, both the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  can be mass produced easily. This is a contrast to a small amount of molding which involves complicated molds such as runners as experienced by the prior art. As a result, the invention can simplify manufacturing processes, save labor, and reduce manufacturing cost. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3  again, for assembling the intermediate frame  3  with a larger size of electronic device, the length of the intermediate frame  3  is required to increase. However, it may occur deformation of the intermediate frame  3  and even hinder a removal of the intermediate frame  3  from a mold in an injection molding process. For solving this problem, a connection rib  34  is formed for interconnecting both ends of the intermediate frame  3 . The connection rib  34  also can increase a structural strength of the intermediate frame  3 , resulting less of possibility of deformation in the injection molding process. Further, the connection rib  34  can be clamped while the intermediate frame  3  is subjected to spray-painting. Thus, to facilitate the process of spray-painting. Furthermore, the connection rib  34  is capable to ease the intermediate frame  3  to position between the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  in assembly. Because the connection rib  34  occupies little space, width and thickness of the connection rib  34  are adapted to change according to different sizes of the electronic devices. 
   Another consideration of the invention to prevent both the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  from excessively clamping the intermediate frame  3  in assembly, one or more of the upper shell  1 , the lower shell  2 , and the intermediate frame  3  may be deformed. Once deformed, edges of the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  are misaligned with the edges of intermediate frame  3  (see  FIG. 4 ). This in turn can increase the manufacturing cost of assembling the housing of an electronic device. Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  6 , and  7  a plurality of spaced first risers  12  are formed along either bottom face of a peripheral flange of the upper shell  1  in which each first riser  12  is formed between two adjacent first cavities  11 . A plurality of spaced second risers  22  are formed along either top face of a peripheral flange of the lower shell  2  in which each second riser  22  is formed between two adjacent second cavities  21 . Both the first and second risers  12  and  22  are tightly engaged with top and bottom faces of the intermediate frame  3 . A first trough  13  is formed on each of at least one first riser  12  of the upper shell  1 . Also, a second trough  23  is formed on each of at least one second riser  22  of the lower shell  2 . The intermediate frame  3  further comprises a positioning rib  33  provided between the first trough  13  and the second trough  23 . The positioning ribs  33  are mated with the first troughs  13  or the second troughs  23 . The upper shell  1  further comprises a first stop member  15  projected downward from each of at least one first riser  12 . The lower shell  2  further comprises a second stop member  25  projected upward from each of at least one second riser  22 . Both the first and second stop members  15  and  25  are securely engaged with upper and lower inner edges inside the flange  31  when the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  are assembled with the intermediate frame  3  (see  FIG. 4 ). This can prevent the intermediate frame  3  from shifting beyond the first and second troughs  13  and  23  into both the first upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2 . Also, it ensures that both the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  are securely engaged with the intermediate frame  3 . The positioning ribs  33  are precisely engaged with both the first and second troughs  13  and  23  when both the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  are assembled with the intermediate frame  3 . A correct positioning of the positioning ribs  33  with both the first and second troughs  13  and  23  is carried out. As an end, both inward and outward forces exerted on the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  are eliminated and an outward deformation of the intermediate frame  3  is thus prevented. 
   Moreover, preferably, thickness of the intermediate frame  3  between two adjacent positioning ribs  33  is decreased to an optimum as long as it does not detract from its external appearance. This has the benefit of increasing a section of each of the ventilation holes, resulting in an increase of air circulation. By configuring the ventilation arrangement of the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  as above, only a small number of ventilation holes can be seen externally and thus it is possible of preserving the electronic device&#39;s appearance. Moreover, air circulation through the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  are designed according to the principles of fluid mechanics. 
   Typically, it is not easy to conceal or decorate vertical gaps exposed on an electronic device. Thus, a poor design may much detract from an external appearance of the housing of an electronic device. For solving this problem, it typically involves a complicated design comprising a plurality of tabs in one member and a plurality of mated holes in the other member. It is thus possible of concealing or decorating exposed vertical gaps by inserting the tabs into the holes. Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6  a projection  36  can extend from either end of the intermediate frame  3  (see  FIG. 3 ). Also, a front panel  4  is provided to conceal an opening formed by the upper shell  1 , the lower shell  2 , and the U-shaped intermediate frame  3 . The panel  4  comprises two protrusions  41  each proximate either end of the intermediate frame  3 . The protrusions  41  are adapted to engage with the projections  36 . As such, the panel  4  is adapted to cover the intermediate frame  3  to conceal the opening of the intermediate frame  3 . The panel  4  further comprises a pair of third fastening members  411  facing both the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  and are disposed proximate the projection  36  and the protrusion  41  respectively. The upper shell  1  further comprises a plurality of first corner wells  16  each facing the intermediate frame  3  and being proximate the positioning rib  33  of the projection  36 . The lower shell  2  further comprises a plurality of second corner wells (no shown but having the same shape of the first corner wells  16 ) each facing the intermediate frame  3  and being proximate the third fastening member  411 . The first and second corner wells  16  are adapted to receive the positioning ribs  33  and one ends of the third fastening members  411 . As such, the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  are secured to tops and bottoms of the intermediate frame  3  and the panel  4  respectively when the upper shell  1 , the lower shell  2 , and the intermediate frame  3  are assembled with the panel  4 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6  again, vertical gaps formed between both ends of the panel  4  and the intermediate frame  3  are flared outward slightly when the upper shell  1  is not covered on the lower shell  2  and the intermediate frame  3 . Next, assemble the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  with the intermediate frame  3 . In this position, the first and second corner wells  16  are adapted to push the positioning ribs  33  and both ends of the third fastening members  411  inward in order to decrease the vertical gaps between both ends of the panel  4  and the intermediate frame  3 . Next, the energized positioning ribs  33  and both ends of the third fastening members  411  expand outward to tightly engage with the first and second corner wells  16 . As such, the upper shell  1  and the lower shell  2  are secured by the positioning ribs  33  and both ends of the third fastening members  411 . As an end, an accidental opening of either the upper shell  1  or the lower shell  2  is made impossible. 
   While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.