Patent Publication Number: US-2013250526-A1

Title: Electronic device with cable securing mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an electronic device with a cable securing mechanism. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many electronic devices, digital video disc (DVD) players, for example, include one or more connectors for electrical connection. During the assembly of the electronic device, the operator inserts one end of the cable into the jack of the connector, and then layouts the cable with a tension force according to need. However, the end of the cable inserted into the jack of the connector may be loosen from the jack, and what is worse, may be broken, since the tension force applied on the cable is hard to handle, which brings problems during the assembly. The operator may need to re-assemble the end of the cable to the connector, and the efficiency of the assembly is decreased. For what is worse, the reliability of the connector lowers when the disentanglement of the cable is not noticed in time. 
     Therefore, what is needed is an electronic device with a cable securing mechanism to overcome the limitations described above. 
    
    
     
       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 this disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another perspective. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 , with a groove cover of a front cover and a cable omitted for clarity. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 , with a groove cover of a front cover omitted for clarity. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  show an exemplary electronic device  100  of the disclosure. The electronic device  100  includes a housing  10 , a display panel  20  fixed in the housing  10 , a circuit board  30 , a connector  40  fixed on the circuit board  30 , and a cable  50  with one end connected to the connector  40  via a connection terminal  51 . The housing  10  includes a cable securing mechanism for preventing the cable  50  from disengaging from the connector  40 . In the embodiment, the electronic device  100  is a DVD player. In other embodiments, the electronic device  100  can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a music player, or other electronic devices with cables that connect to connectors. The display panel  20  is a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. 
       FIGS. 2 and 4  show that the housing  10  includes a front cover  11  and a rear cover  12  coupled to the front cover  11 . A first post  121  and a second post  122  protrude from the inner surface of the rear cover  12 . In the embodiment, the length of the first post  121  is smaller than the length of the second post  122 . 
     The outer surface of the front cover  11  defines a receiving groove  110  and a groove cover  111  is detachably coupled to the front cover  11  to cover the receiving groove  110 . The bottom of the receiving groove  110  defines an opening  112  for the cable  50  to pass therethrough. A restriction element  113  protrudes from the bottom of the receiving groove  110 . The restriction element  113  and a sidewall  114  of the receiving groove  110  cooperatively define a space  115  for retainably receiving the cable  50 . In the embodiment, the restriction element  113  is a hollow semi-cylinder sleeved on the first post  121 . The smallest distance between the sidewall  114  of the receiving groove  110  and the restriction element  113  is slightly smaller than the diameter of the cable  50 . As such, the cable  50  is held firmly in position between the sidewall  114  and the restriction element  113 . In an alternative embodiment, the shape of the restriction element  113  can be varied, as long as the smallest distance between the sidewall  114  and the restriction element  113  is smaller than the diameter of the cable  50 , such that the cable  50  can be pressed into the space  115 . 
     In the embodiment, the restriction element  113 , the receiving groove  110  and its sidewall  114  forms a cable securing mechanism of the electronic device  100 , for securing the cable  50  to prevent the cable  50  from disengaging from the connector  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the electronic device  100  further includes a panel fixing mechanism  21  for fixing the LCD panel  20  in the inner surface of the front cover  11 . In the embodiment, the panel fixing mechanisms  21  are a couple of symmetrical fixing mechanisms positioned corresponding to the lower left and lower right of the circuit board  30 . The couple of symmetrical fixing mechanisms  21  are fixed to the circuit board  30  via screws (not shown). The circuit board  30  is then fixed to the inner surface of the front cover  11  via screws, thus to fix the LCD panel  20  on the inner surface of the front cover  11 . 
       FIGS. 3-5  show that the electronic device  100  further includes a guiding element  60  fixed to the second post  122  and partially received in the receiving groove  110 . The guiding element  60  defines a circular through hole  61  for the cable  50  to pass through. The guiding element  60  is used for guiding the direction of the cable  50 , and further helping to prevent the cable  50  from disengaging from the connector  40 . 
     In assembly, the connection terminal  51  of the cable  50  is inserted into the connector  40 , and the other, free end (the end away from the connection terminal  51 ) of the cable  50  is caused to pass through the opening  112  from the inner side of the front cover  11 . The cable  50  is then pressed into the space  115  between the sidewall  114  of the receiving groove  110  and the restriction element  113 . The free end of the cable  50  is caused to pass through the through hole  61  of the guiding element  60 , and connected to another component of the electronic device  100 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the cable  50  is partially clasped in the space  115 , and is partially received in the through hole  61 , thus, there is no need to worry about the tension force applied on the cable  50  during the assembly, which improves the efficiency of assembly and saves the production expense. 
     Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the embodiments thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.