Patent Publication Number: US-2007109728-A1

Title: Electronic device with fixing devices

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to electronic devices, and particularly to an electronic device with a fixing device for attaching a panel to a circuit board.  
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
      As electronic devices have improved rapidly, they have included more and more functions. Accordingly, more and more controlling buttons are needed on a front bezel of each electronic device to facilitate the customers operating the electronic device. Meanwhile, the controlling buttons must be connected to a circuit board. Generally, the front bezel is mounted to the circuit board via screws.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , a conventional electronic device  50  is shown. The electronic device  50  comprises a circuit board  52  defining a pair of receiving portions  520  at an end thereof, and a front panel  54  defining a pair of threaded-holes  520  corresponding to the receiving portions  520 . In assembly, two screws  60  are mounted in the threaded-holes  520  via the receiving portions  520  for securing the circuit board  52  and the front panel  54  together. However, the method of the assembly of the circuit board  52  and the front panel  54  is unduly cumbersome and time consuming.  
      Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In an exemplary embodiment, an electronic device includes a circuit board and a panel. The circuit board includes at least one receiving portion, a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The panel includes a main portion and at least one fixing member extending from the main portion. The at least one fixing member includes a protruding portion and a guiding portion. Whereby, in assembly, the guiding portion guides the protruding portion to be received in the at least one receiving portion so as to attach the panel to the circuit board.  
      Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of an electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the electronic device including a panel and a circuit board;  
       FIG. 2  is a partly, cut-away, assembled view of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of circle portion III of  FIG. 2 ; and  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded, perspective view of a conventional electronic device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary electronic device  10  in accordance with the invention comprises a panel  20  and a circuit assembly like a circuit board  30 .  
      Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the panel  20  comprises a main portion  22 , and a pair of fixing members  24  extending from opposite ends of the main portion  22  respectively. A plurality of apertures  220  is defined in the main portion  22 , for receiving buttons or connectors (not shown). Each fixing member  24  comprises a main body  240 , a first clipping portion  242 , and a second clipping portion  244  opposite to the first clipping portion  242 . The first clipping portion  242  and the second clipping portion  244  horizontally extend from opposite sides of the main body  240  respectively. A distance between the first clipping portion  242  and the second clipping portion  244  is generally equal to a thickness of the circuit board  30 . A length of the second clipping portion  244  is slightly greater than that of the first clipping portion  242 . The second clipping portion  244  comprises a protruding portion  246  generally formed in a middle thereof protruding toward the first clipping portion  242 , and a guiding portion  245  formed at an end thereof and bent back relative to the first clipping portion  242 . The guiding portion  245  is used for guiding a movement of the protruding portion  246 . The main body  240  extends from a middle of an end of the main portion  22  of the panel  20 . A protrusion  248  is stamped from a middle of the main body  240  projecting toward the circuit board  30 , thereby a groove  249  is defined in the main body  240  corresponding to the protrusion  248 . The protrusions  248  are used for reinforcing the first clipping portion  242  and the second clipping portion  244 .  
      The circuit board  30  comprises a first surface  32 , a second surface  34  opposite to the first surface  32 , and a pair of receiving portions  36  corresponding to the fixing members  24  of the panel  20 . Each receiving portion  36  extends through the first surface  32  and the second surface  34 . The fixing members  24  of the panel  20  and the receiving portions  36  of the circuit board  30  cooperatively are designated as a fixing device for attaching the panel  20  to the circuit board  30 . As an alternative embodiment, the receiving portion  36  can be a recess defined in the first surface  32 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , in assembly, the first clipping portion  242  and the second clipping portion  244  of the panel  20  clamp the end  38  of the circuit board  30 . The panel  20  is pushed toward the circuit board  30  with the protruding portion  246  being received in the receiving portion  36  by virtue of the guidance of the guiding portions  245 . Thus, the panel  20  is stably mounted to the circuit board  30 . In disassembly, the protruding portion  246  is removed from the receiving portion  36  via pressing the first clipping portion  242  and the second clipping portion  244 , so that the panel  20  is disengaged from the circuit board  30 . Therefore, assembly and disassembly of the electronic device is simple.  
      Because the guiding portion  245  guides the movement of the protruding portion  246 , the protruding portion  246  is easily received in the receiving portion  36 . Accordingly, the panel  20  is easily attached to the circuit board  30 .  
      To assemble or disassemble the electronic device using the fixing device is simple for a user. In mass manufacture, a process of assembly (or disassembly) does not necessarily require a professional operator, and thus production costs may be reduced.  
      As an alternative embodiment, the main body  22  of the panel  20  comprises a fixing member  24  positioned in a middle thereof. Simultaneously, the circuit board  30  defines a receiving portion  36  corresponding to the fixing member  24 .  
      As another alternative embodiment, the first clipping portion  242  also comprises a protruding portion  246  and a guiding portion  245 . Correspondingly, the circuit board defines a pair of receiving portions  36  extending through the first surface  32  and the second surface  34 , or comprises two pairs of receiving portions defined in the first surface and the second surface symmetrically.  
      While exemplary embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.