Patent Publication Number: US-2011050053-A1

Title: Device housing

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to four co-pending U.S. patent applications, application Ser. No. ______, with Attorney Docket No. US28911 and US28913, and both entitled “DEVICE HOUSING,” application Ser. No. ______, with Attorney Docket No. US28912, and entitled “FASTENER AND DEVICE HOUSING USING THE SAME,” application Ser. No. ______, with Attorney Docket No. US28914, and entitled “METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING DEVICE HOUSING.” 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 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 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 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. 
         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 III-III. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a device housing. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded, isometric view of the device housing of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section of the device housing of  FIG. 4  taken along line VI-VI. 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a third embodiment of a device housing. 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of a device housing. 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a commonly used device housing. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-section of the device housing of  FIG. 9  taken along line X-X. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a first embodiment of a 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  can be formed by molding (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the side frame  311  is substantially rectangular. The plastic frame  31  is comprised of 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 assembly holes  337  arranged side by side. A chamfer angle  338  is formed on an edge of the first surface  331  and the second surface  332  to enhance structural integrity of the glass plate  33 . 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 (exceeding about 60 degrees Celcius), 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 . 
     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; injecting melted plastic material to the side surface  333  of the glass plate  33  to form the plastic frame  31 , and the adhesive member  35  generating adhesion in damp and high temperature conditions; cooling the device housing  30  and the plastic frame  31  contacting the glass plate  33  with no gap, with the adhesive member  35  sandwiched between the plastic frame  31  and the glass plate  33  to enhance connection strength therebetween. 
     Since the plastic frame  31  and the glass plate  33  are integrally formed via the injection mold, no gap is formed therebetween and a top surface of the glass plate  33  can align with a top surface of the plastic frame  31 . Thus, the device housing  30  presents an unspoiled appearance. In addition, the adhesive member  35  is printed on the glass plate  33  and the device housing  30  is integrally formed, thus manufacturing efficiency is greatly improved. 
     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. In addition, the chamfer angle  338  may be formed on an edge of the first surface  331  or the second surface  332 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 through 6 , a second embodiment of a device housing  50  is integrally formed by a plastic frame  51 , a glass plate  53 , an adhesive member  55 , and a plurality of fastening members  57 . The plastic frame  51 , the glass plate  53 , and the adhesive member  55  have a similar structure to the first embodiment of the plastic frame  31 , the glass plate  33 , and the adhesive member  35  of the device housing  30  respectively. 
     Each fastening member  57  includes a main body  571  and a hook portion  573  extending from an end of the main body  571 . Each fastening member  57  defines one or more connecting holes  575 . The one or more connecting holes  575  is configured for allowing molten plastic material therethrough in an injection process. The connecting holes  575  are filled with plastic material after the melted plastic material cools. 
     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 fastening members  57  in the injection mold, the fastening members  57  corresponding to the edge of the glass plate  53 , and the hook portion  573  attached to the adhesive member  55 ; injecting melted plastic material to the side surface  533  of the glass plate  53  and the fastening members  57  to form the plastic frame  51 , and the adhesive member  55  generating adhesion in damp and high temperature conditions; cooling the device housing  30 , with the plastic frame  31  connecting the glass plate  33  and the fastening members  57  with no gap, and the adhesive member  35  sandwiched between the plastic frame  31 , the glass plate  33 , and the fastening members  57  to enhance a connecting strength therebetween. The device housing  50  also presents an unspoiled appearance, and is easily manufactured. The fastening members  57  can engage other components of the electronic device. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the fastening members  57  can be positioned in the injection mold with a certain distance between the adhesive member  55  and the fastening members  57 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a third embodiment of a device housing  70  is integrally formed by a plastic frame  71 , a glass plate  73 , an adhesive member  75 , and a plurality of fastening members  77 . The device housing  70  differs from the device housing  50  of the second embodiment only in that the glass plate  73  defines an annular receiving groove  735  on an edge of a second surface  732 . The adhesive member  75  is received in the receiving groove  735 . A thickness of the device housing  70  can be less than that of the device housing  50  because the adhesive member  75  is received in the receiving groove  735 . Alternatively, the glass plate  73  can define the receiving groove  735  in the side surface. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a fourth embodiment of a device housing  90  is integrally formed by a plastic frame  91 , a glass plate  93 , an adhesive member  975 , and a plurality of fastening members  97 . The device housing  90  differs from the device housing  50  of the second embodiment only in that the glass plate  93  forms a connecting surface  935  on an edge of a first surface  931 . The plastic frame  91  forms a connecting portion  919  on the connecting surface  935 . In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting surface  935  is angled. Structural integrity of the device housing  90  is better than that of housing  50  of the second embodiment because the plastic frame  91  has a connecting portion  919  positioned on the connecting surface  935  of the glass plate  93 . 
     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.