Patent Publication Number: US-2013241371-A1

Title: Fastening structure and electronic device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to fastening structures, and particularly to a fastening structuring for fastening a nut, and an electronic device using the fastening structure. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A screw and a nut cooperatively forming a fastening structure to fasten an assembly member is widely used. For example, when an assembly member is fasten to an electronic device with a plastic housing by the above fastening structure, the nut is commonly secured to a plastic post of the housing by hot melting. However, the hot melting method is costly. Further, when the hot melting temperature is not high enough to make the post melt, the post is not properly formed and the nut is difficult to be secured to the housing. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following 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 embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an electronic device. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an electronic device in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a nut being assembled to the electronic device in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a view of a nut having been assembled to the electronic device in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electronic device  100  includes a housing  10 , an assembly member  30 , and two fastening structures  20  for securing the assembly member  30  to the housing  10 . The assembly member  30  defines two through holes  31  according to the fastening structures  20 . In another embodiment, the electronic device  100  includes a plurality of fastening structures  20 , and the assembly member  30  defines a plurality of through holes  31  according to the fastening structures  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each fastening structure  20  includes a nut  21 , a mounting member  22  positioned on the housing  10  for receiving the nut  21 , and a screw  23  cooperating with the nut  22  to fasten the assembly member  30 . The nut  21  is a hex nut. 
     The mounting member  22  protrudes from the housing  10 . The mounting member  22  includes a top wall  221  away from the housing  10 , a sidewall  223  around the top wall  221  and connected between the housing  10  and the top wall  221 , and a receiving groove  222  formed by the top wall  221  and the sidewall  223 . The receiving groove  222  is configured to detachably receive the nut  21 , such that the nut  21  is prevented from moving in the receiving groove  222 . The sidewall  223  defines an opening  224  communicating with the receiving groove  222 , such that the nut  21  is capable of being moved into the receiving groove  222 . The top wall  221  defines a mounting hole  220 , the mounting hole  220  communicates with the receiving groove  222 . The mounting hole  222  is concentric with the nut  21 . 
     Each fastening structure  20  further includes two sliding tracks  24 , two blocking members  26 , and a plurality of supporting members  25 . The sliding tracks  24 , the blocking members  26 , and the supporting members  25  protrude from the housing  10 , and connect to the mounting member  22 . 
     The two sliding tracks  24  are two strips, and parallel with each other. The sliding tracks  24  extend from inside of the receiving groove  222  toward outside of the receiving groove  22  via the opening  224 . The sliding tracks  24  are connected to two facing sides of the receiving groove  222 . The two sliding tracks  24  enable the nut  21  to slide into the receiving groove  222 . As a result, the nut  21  can easily be inserted into the receiving groove  222 . 
     The two blocking members  26  are planar boards protruding from the housing  10 , and connect to the sliding tracks  24  respectively. Each blocking member  26  is positioned on a side of one sliding track  24  and away from the other sliding track  24 . The blocking members  26  extend from the outside end of the sliding tracks  24  to the sidewall  223 . The blocking members  26  are capable of resisting against opposite side of the nut  21  when the nut  21  slides along the sliding tracks  24 . As a result, the nut  21  is prevented from falling off from the sliding tracks  24 . 
     The supporting members  25  are connected to the outside of the sidewall  223  to support the mounting member  22 . As a result, the mounting member  22  is robust. 
     The assembly member  30  is mounted to the housing  10 . First, the assembly member  30  is placed on the top wall  221  of the mounting member  22 , and the through hole  31  are concentric with the mounting hole  220 . Second, the screw  23  passes one through hole  31  and one mounting hole  220  in that order to engage with the nut  21 . At this time, the assembly member  30  is mounted to the housing  10 . 
     As described above, the electronic device  100  and the fastening structure  20  includes the mounting member  22  to secure the nut  21 . As a result, the nut  21  is easily secured to housing  10 . Further, the nut  21  can be detached from the mounting member  22  to use again. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though relevant information and the advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.