Patent Publication Number: US-2011048627-A1

Title: Method for manufacturing device housing

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to four co-pending U.S. patent applications, application Ser. Nos. [to be determined], with Attorney Docket No. US28910, US28911 and US28913, and all entitled “DEVICE HOUSING,” application Ser. No. [to be determined], with Attorney Docket No. US28912, and entitled “FASTENER AND DEVICE HOUSING USING THE SAME.” The co-pending applications have the same assignee as the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates generally to device housings and, more particularly, to a method for manufacturing a device housing for an electronic devices. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With developments in technology, electronic devices such as mobile phones are not only required to perform many functions, but also provide an appearance appealing to the user. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a frequently used housing  10  for a mobile phone  10  includes a frame  11  and a glass plate  12  received therein. The frame  11  is substantially rectangular, and forms a positioning portion  113  on an inner surface. During assembly of the device housing  10 , the adhesive  20  is coated on the positioning portion  113 . The glass plate  12  is received in the frame  11 , and attached to the positioning portion  113 . Thus, the glass plate  12  and the frame  11  are glued together. The adhesive  20  is generally epoxy resin glue, which can only be used once. 
     However, a gap may form between the glass plate  12  and the frame  11 , out of which the adhesive  20  may overflow, affecting appearance. Furthermore, the adhesive  20  may not uniformly cover the positioning portion  113 , such that a top surface of the glass plate  12  may misalign with a top surface of the frame  11 . The appearance of the device housing  10  is again affected. 
     Therefore, a method for manufacturing a device housing overcoming the described limitations is desirable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a device housing manufactured by a first embodiment of a method for manufacturing the device housing. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the device housing of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-section of the device housing of  FIG. 1  taken along line 
         FIG. 4  shows the device housing of  FIG. 1  manufactured by an injection mold. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a device housing manufactured by a second embodiment of a method for manufacturing housing. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded, isometric view of the device housing of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section of the device housing of  FIG. 5  taken along line VII-VII. 
         FIG. 8  shows the device housing of  FIG. 5  manufactured by an injection mold. 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a typical housing. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-section of the device housing of  FIG. 9  taken along line II-II. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a first embodiment of a method for manufacturing a first embodiment of a device housing  30  is provided. The device housing  30  is integrally formed by a plastic frame  31 , a glass plate  33 , and an adhesive member  35 . In the illustrated embodiment, the device housing  30  is used for an electronic device (not shown). 
     The plastic frame  31  includes a side frame  311  and an annular positioning portion  312  formed on an inner surface of the side frame  311 . The plastic frame  31  is formed by an injection mold  40  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the side frame  311  is substantially rectangular. The plastic frame  31  comprises nylon and fiberglass. 
     The glass plate  33  includes a first surface  331 , a second surface  332  opposite to the first surface  331 , and a side surface  333  connecting the first surface  331  with the second surface  332 . A periphery of the first surface  331  is coated with printing ink to form a light shielding portion  335  and a light guiding portion  336  surrounded by the light shielding portion  335 . An end of the glass plate  33  defines three assembling holes  337  arranged side by side. A chamfer angle  338  formed on an edge of the first surface  331  and the second surface  332  strengthens the glass plate  33  considerably. In the illustrated embodiment, the glass plate  33  is substantially rectangular. 
     The adhesive member  35  is polyurethane glue in this embodiment. The polyurethane glue can be liquefied to provide adhesion in damp and high temperature conditions, above about 60° C., and solidified to provide adhesion in dry and normal temperature conditions. Thus, the adhesive member  35  can be used repeatedly. In the illustrated embodiment, the adhesive member  35  is substantially a rectangular ring corresponding to the positioning portion  312  of the plastic frame  31 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the device housing  30  can be integrally formed by molding as follows: printing the adhesive member  35  on the edge of the glass plate  33  and drying the adhesive member  35 ; positioning the glass plate  33  in the injection mold  40 ; injecting molten plastic material to the side surface  333  of the glass plate  33  to form the plastic frame  31  by the injection mold  40 , the adhesive member  35  providing adhesion; and cooling the device housing  30 , wherein the adhesive member  35  is sandwiched between the plastic frame  31  and the glass plate  33 . 
     Since the plastic frame  31  and the glass plate  33  are integrally formed via the injection mold  40 , there is no gap between the plastic frame  31  and the glass plate  33 , and a top surface of the glass plate  33  aligns with a top surface of the plastic frame  31 . Thus, the device housing  30  provides a good appearance. In addition, the adhesive member  35  is printed on the glass plate  33 , and the device housing  30  is integrally formed, with manufacturing efficiency greatly enhanced. 
     It should be pointed out that the plastic frame  31  and the glass plate  33  may be other shapes, for example, the glass plate  33  may be an ellipse, and the plastic frame  31  an ellipsular ring. The chamfer angle  338  may be formed on only an edge of the first surface  331  or the second surface  332 . In addition, the adhesive member  35  can be positioned on the edge of the glass plate  33  by other means, such as smearing. A temperature of the injection mold  40  is preferably above about 60° C. when the molten plastic material is injected. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 through 7 , a second embodiment of a method for manufacturing a second embodiment of device housing  50  is provided. The device housing  50  is integrally formed by a plastic frame  51 , a glass plate  53 , an adhesive member  55 , and a plurality of metal members  57 . The plastic frame  51 , the glass plate  53 , and the adhesive member  55  are structured similar to the first embodiment of a plastic frame  31 , the glass plate  33 , and the adhesive member  35  of the device housing  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the metal members  57  are stainless steel. 
     Each metal member  57  includes a main body  571  and a hook portion  573  extending from an end of the main body  571 . Each metal member  57  defines one or more connecting holes  575 . The connecting hole  575  allows molten plastic material therethrough during injection. The connecting holes  575  are filled with plastic material after the molten plastic material is cooled. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the device housing  50  can be integrally formed by molding as follows: printing the adhesive member  55  on the edge of the glass plate  53  and drying the adhesive member  55 ; positioning the glass plate  53  and the metal members  57  in an injection mold  60 , the metal members  57  corresponding to the edge of the glass plate  53 , and the hook portion  573  attached to the adhesive member  55 ; injecting molten plastic material to the side surface  533  of the glass plate  53  and the metal members  57  to form the plastic frame  51  by the injection mold  60 , the adhesive member  55  providing adhesion; and cooling the device housing  50 , wherein the plastic frame  51  connects the glass plate  53  and the metal members  57 , and the adhesive member  55  is sandwiched between the plastic frame  51 , the glass plate  53 , and the metal members  57 . The device housing  50  provides an unspoiled appearance, and is easily manufactured. The metal members  57  can also engage with other components of the electronic device. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the metal members  57  can be positioned in the injection mold with a certain distance between the adhesive member  55  and the metal members  57 . 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages.