Patent Publication Number: US-2023144918-A1

Title: Casing assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a casing assembly and, more particularly, to a casing assembly for accommodating a stylus. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     With the progress and development of technology, tablet computers are commonly used by people in the daily lives or for work. In general, a tablet computer may be used selectively with a stylus to perform operations such as writing, manipulating and drawing. 
     A current common tablet computer is provided with an accommodation recess for placing a stylus. When the stylus is not in use, the stylus may be stored in the accommodation recess and be prevented from being lost. In order to prevent the stylus stored from unexpectedly disengaging from the accommodation recess, the stylus is secured in the accommodation recess by a fixing means, and a user needs to pick the stylus by a finger in order to get the stylus out of the accommodation recess. However, if the stylus is secured too tightly in the accommodation recess, it may be difficult for the user to pick the stylus out of the accommodation recess. More particularly, when a user wears gloves, picking the stylus out of the accommodation recess by a finger may become even more difficult under the influence of the thickness of the gloves. Therefore, manufacturers of tablet computers are dedicated to improving such issue. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a casing assembly that allows a stylus to be easily taken out of an accommodation recess. 
     A casing assembly for accommodating a stylus is disclosed by an embodiment of the present invention. The casing assembly includes a casing and a button. The casing has an accommodation recess and an opening in communication with each other. The accommodation recess has a first end and a second end opposite to each other on a longitudinal axis thereof, and accommodates the stylus. The opening extends from the first end to the second end. The button includes an operation portion and a pushing portion connected to each other. The operation portion is pivotally disposed at the casing so as to be pivotable between an initial position and a released position. The pushing portion is located in the accommodation recess. When the operation portion is pivoted from the initial position to the released position, the pushing portion in the accommodation recess is moved toward the opening so as to push the stylus out of the accommodation recess. 
     A casing assembly for accommodating a stylus is further disclosed by another embodiment of the present invention. The casing assembly includes a casing and a button. The casing has a groove. The button is movably disposed in the groove of the casing so as to be movable between an initial position and a released position. The button has a pushing portion, and an accommodation recess and an opening that are in communication with each other. The accommodation recess has a first end and a second end opposite to each other on a longitudinal axis thereof, and accommodates the stylus. The opening extends from the first end to the second end. When the button moves from the initial position to the released position, the pushing portion approaches the opening from the accommodation recess so as to push the stylus out of the accommodation recess. 
     According to the casing assembly disclosed by the embodiments above, the pushing portion of the button is enabled to push the stylus out of the accommodation recess by operating the operation portion of the button. Thus, compared to a conventional approach of picking a stylus by a finger, the design of operating the button to withdraw the stylus from the accommodation recess provides a more convenient stylus pick-up operation. In particular, even when a user wears gloves, the user is still able to easily press the button to push the stylus out of the accommodation recess and then directly take the stylus. 
     The description related to the details of the present invention and the description of the embodiments below are examples for illustrating and explaining the principles of the present invention, and provide further interpretation with respect to the scope of claims of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a casing assembly and a stylus disclosed according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded schematic diagram of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the stylus in  FIG.  3    disengaged from the accommodation recess; 
         FIG.  5    is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a casing assembly and a stylus disclosed according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  6    is an exploded schematic diagram of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of  FIG.  5   ; and 
         FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the stylus in  FIG.  7    disengaged from the accommodation recess. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Refer to  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  1    shows a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a casing assembly and a stylus disclosed according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG.  2    is an exploded schematic diagram of  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of  FIG.  1   . 
     In this embodiment, a casing assembly  1   a  is for accommodating a stylus  2 . The casing assembly  1   a  includes a casing  10   a  and a button  20   a . Moreover, the casing assembly  1   a  may further include a magnetic member  30   a  and two elastic members  40   a.    
     The casing assembly  1   a  is, for example, a casing of an electronic device. The casing  10   a  is, for example but not limited to, a backplate of a tablet computer. The casing  10   a  has an outer surface  11   a , an accommodation recess  12   a  and an opening  13   a . The accommodation recess  12   a  is formed as being recessed from the outer surface  11   a , and has a first end  121   a  and a second end  122   a  opposite to each other. The first end  121   a  and the second end  122   a  are respectively located on two opposite sides on a longitudinal axis P 1  of the accommodation recess  12   a . A plane where the opening  13   a  is located is, for example, coplanar with the outer surface  11   a  of the casing  10   a , and the opening  13   a  extends from the first end  121   a  to the second end  122   a  of the accommodation recess  12   a . The accommodation recess  12   a  is for accommodating the stylus  2 . 
     In this embodiment, the plane where the opening  13   a  is located is not limited to being coplanar with the outer surface  11   a  of the casing  10   a . In another embodiment, the plane where the opening is located may be non-coplanar with the outer surface of the casing, and may be, for example, higher than the outer surface of the casing. 
     The magnetic member  30   a  is, for example, embedded in the casing  10   a , and is near the accommodation recess  12   a . The magnetic member  30   a  is for magnetically attracting another magnetic member  3  disposed in the stylus  2 , and hence magnetically fixes the stylus  2  in the accommodation recess  12   a . The magnetic member  30   a  is not limited to being embedded in the casing  10   a . In another embodiment, the magnetic member may be exposed from an inner wall surface of the accommodation recess. In yet another embodiment, the magnetic member may be omitted from the casing assembly. 
     In this embodiment, the casing  10   a  may further include a button slot  14   a . The button slot  14   a  is formed as being recessed from an inner wall surface  123   a  of the accommodation recess  12   a , and is located between the first end  121   a  and the second end  122   a  of the accommodation recess  12   a . The button  20   a  includes an operation portion  21   a , a pushing portion  22   a  and a stopping portion  23   a . The pushing portion  22   a  and the stopping portion  23   a  are connected to two opposite sides of the operation portion  21   a , respectively, and the operation portion  21   a , the pushing portion  22   a  and the stopping portion  23   a  jointly form a groove  24   a . The groove  24   a  is for collaborating with the accommodation recess  12   a  to accommodate the stylus  2 . The operation portion  21   a  is in part located in the button slot  14   a  and the operation portion  21   a  is pivotally disposed at the casing  10   a , and the pushing portion  22   a  is located in the accommodation recess  12   a.    
     In this embodiment, the operation portion  21   a  is adapted to be pivotable between an initial position A 1  (as shown in  FIG.  3   ) and a released position A 2  (as shown in  FIG.  4   ). The two elastic members  40   a  are, for example, torsion springs. On of the elastic members  40   a  is disposed between one side of the operation portion  21   a  of the button  20   a  and the casing  10   a , and the other elastic member  40   a  is disposed between the other side of the operation portion  21   a  of the button  20   a  and the casing  10   a . The two elastic members  40   a  are for applying a force for pivoting the operation portion  21   a  from the released position A 2  to the initial position A 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , when the stylus  2  is accommodated in the accommodation recess  12   a  and the groove  24   a  and the operation portion  21   a  of the button  20   a  is located at the initial position A 1 , the pushing portion  22   a  is located on one side of the accommodation recess  12   a  away from the opening  13   a , and the stopping portion  23   a  is located at the opening  13   a  and extends to be diagonally above the accommodation recess  12   a , so as to limit the stylus  2  within the accommodation recess  12   a.    
     Next, refer to  FIG.  4   .  FIG.  4    shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the stylus in  FIG.  3    disengaged from the accommodation recess. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , to take the stylus  2  out of the accommodation recess  12   a , the operation portion  21   a  of the button  20   a  may be pressed by a finger, so that the operation portion  21   a  is pivoted from the initial position A 1  to the released position A 2 . During the process of the operation portion  21   a  moving from the initial position A 1  to the released position A 2 , the operation portion  21   a  causes the elastic members  40   a  to store an elastic restoring force, the stopping portion  23   a  is away from the opening  13   a , and the pushing portion  22   a  moves from one side of the accommodation recess  12   a  away from the opening  13   a  toward the opening  13   a . As such, the thrust of the pushing portion  22   a  of the button  20   a  overcomes the magnetic attraction force between the two magnetic members  30   a  and  3 , and then pushes the stylus  2  (located in the accommodation recess  12   a ) out of the accommodation recess  12   a , allowing the stylus  2  to be taken directly. Once the finger moves away from the button  20   a , the elastic force of the elastic members  40   a  causes the operation portion  21   a  of the button  20   a  to return from the released position A 2  to the initial position A 1 . 
     In this embodiment, the pushing portion  22   a  of the button  20   a  is enabled to push the stylus  2  out of the accommodation recess  12   a  by pressing the operation portion  21   a  of the button  20   a . Thus, compared to a conventional approach of picking the stylus  2  by a finger, the design of operating the button  20   a  to withdraw the stylus  2  from the accommodation recess  12   a  provides a more convenient stylus pick-up operation. In particular, even when a user wears gloves, the user is still able to easily press the button  20   a  to push the stylus  2  out of the accommodation recess  12   a  and then directly take the stylus  2 . 
     Moreover, the stylus  2  is pushed out of the accommodation recess  12   a  by the pushing portion  22   a  of the button  20   a , in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis P 1  of the accommodation recess  12   a , but not in a direction of the longitudinal axis P 1  of the accommodation recess  12   a . Thus, it is not necessary for the accommodation recess  12   a  of the casing  10   a  to extend to the edge of the casing  10   a , hence minimizing the influence of a reduced internal space of the casing  10   a  caused by the accommodation recess  12   a  provided and further benefiting the utilization of the internal space of the casing  10   a.    
     Next, to place the stylus  2  back to the accommodation recess  12   a , in a state where the operation portion  21   a  of the button  20   a  is at the released position A 2 , the stylus  2  is first placed in the groove  24   a , and the stylus  2  is brought back to the accommodation recess  12   a  by the button  20   a , while the operation portion  21   a  of the button  20   a  is pivoted back to the initial position A 1  by the elastic force of the elastic members  40   a . Alternatively, in a state where the operation portion  21   a  of the button  20   a  is at the initial position A 1 , the stylus  2  is directly fitted into the accommodation recess  12   a  and the groove  24   a.    
     In this embodiment, when the button  20   a  is not pressed, the stylus  2  in the accommodation recess  12   a  is limited by the stopping portion  23   a . Thus, even if the casing  10   a  receives an unexpected external impact (such as falling onto the ground), it is ensured that the stylus  2  does not disengage from the accommodation recess  12   a.    
     In this embodiment, the number of the elastic members  40   a  is not limited to being two. In another embodiment, the casing assembly may include only one elastic member. In another embodiment, the elastic member may be omitted from the casing assembly. In such configuration, the button may be kept at the initial position by an appropriate structure or element when no external force is exerted thereon. 
     Next, refer to  FIG.  5    to  FIG.  7   .  FIG.  5    shows a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a casing assembly and a stylus disclosed according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  FIG.  6    shows an exploded schematic diagram of  FIG.  5   .  FIG.  7    shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of  FIG.  5   . 
     In this embodiment, a casing assembly  1   b  is for accommodating a stylus  2 . The casing assembly  1   b  includes a casing  10   b  and a button  20   b . Moreover, the casing assembly  1   b  may further include two elastic members  41   b  and  42   b.    
     The casing  10   b  is, for example, a backplate of a tablet computer. The casing  10   b  has a receiving slot  11   b . The receiving slot  11   b  has, for example, a first receiving portion  111   b  and two second receiving portions  112   b . The first receiving portion  111   b  is located between the two second receiving portions  112   b , and is in communication with the two second receiving portions  112   b . A length L 1  of the first receiving portion  111   b  is greater than a length L 2  of the two second receiving portions  112   b.    
     The button  20   b  is movably disposed in the receiving slot  11   b  of the casing  10   b . More specifically, the button  20   b  has an accommodation recess  21   b , an arc inner wall surface  22   b , an opening  23   b , a through hole  24   b  and a pushing portion  25   b . The accommodation recess  21   b  is formed by the arc inner wall surface  22   b , and has a first end  211   b  and a second end  212   b  opposite to each other on a longitudinal axis P 2  of the accommodation recess  21   b . The opening  23   b  and the through hole  24   b  are located on two opposite sides of the accommodation recess  21   b  and are both in communication with the accommodation recess  21   b , and the opening  23   b  extends from the first end  211   b  to the second end  212   b . The accommodation recess  21   b  is for accommodating the stylus  2 . The first receiving portion  111   b  of the receiving slot  11   b  has a slot opening  1111   b  and a slot bottom surface  1112   b , wherein the slot bottom surface  1112   b  faces the slot opening  1111   b . The pushing portion  25   b  is, for example, a column, and the pushing portion  25   b  is connected to the slot bottom surface  1112   b  of the first receiving portion  111   b  and is insertedly disposed in the through hole  24   b.    
     Further, the button  20   b  includes a receiving portion  26   b , a first stopping portion  27   b , a second stopping portion  28   b , a first operation portion  29   b  and a second operation portion  30   b . The first stopping portion  27   b  and the first operation portion  29   b  are connected to one side of the receiving portion  26   b , and extend toward different directions, respectively. The second stopping portion  28   b  and the second operation portion  30   b  are connected to the other side of the receiving portion  26   b , and extend toward different directions, respectively. Different portions of the arc inner wall surface  22   b  forming the accommodation recess  21   b  are located at the receiving portion  26   b , the first stopping portion  27   b  and the second stopping portion  28   b , respectively. That is to say, the accommodation recess  21   b  is jointly formed by the receiving portion  26   b , the first stopping portion  27   b  and the second stopping portion  28   b . The receiving portion  26   b  is located at the first receiving portion  111   b  of the receiving slot  11   b , and the first operation portion  29   b  and the second operation portion  30   b  are located at the two second receiving portions  112   b  of the receiving slot  11   b , respectively. 
     In this embodiment, the button  20   b  is adapted to be movable between an initial position B 1  (as shown in  FIG.  7   ) and a released position B 2  (as shown in  FIG.  8   ) relative to the casing  10   b . The two elastic members  41   b  and  42   b  are, for example, compression springs. The two elastic members  41   b  and  42   b  are located at the two second receiving portions  112   b  of the receiving slot  11   b , respectively, two opposite ends of the elastic member  41   b  are connected to the first operation portion  29   b  of the button  20   b  and the casing  10   b , respectively, and two opposite ends of the elastic member  42   b  are connected to the second operation portion  30   b  of the button  20   b  and the casing  10   b , respectively. The two elastic members  41   b  and  42   b  are for applying a force for moving the button  20   b  from the released position B 2  to the initial position B 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , when the button  20   b  is located at the initial position B 1  and the stylus  2  is accommodated in the accommodation recess  21   b , the stylus  2  is limited by the first stopping portion  27   b  and the second stopping portion  28   b  and is hence fixed in the accommodation recess  21   b . At this time point, the pushing portion  25   b  of the button  20   b  is, for example, slightly protruding from the arc inner wall surface  22   b  of the button  20   b , and is located on one side of the accommodation recess  21   b  away from the opening  23   b.    
     Next, refer to  FIG.  8   .  FIG.  8    shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the stylus in  FIG.  7    disengaged from the accommodation recess. 
     To take the stylus  2  out of the accommodation recess  21   b , the first operation portion  29   b  and the second operation portion  30   b  of the button  20   b  may be pressed by two fingers, such that the button  20   b  moves from the initial position B 1  to the released position B 2 . During the process of the button  20   b  moving from the initial position B 1  to the released position B 2 , the receiving portion  26   b  of the button  20   b  moves toward the slot bottom surface  1112   b  of the first receiving portion  111   b  of the casing  10   b , such that the pushing portion  25   b  protrudes even more from the arc inner wall surface  22   b  and approaches the opening  23   b  of the button  20   b  along a radial direction of the arc inner wall surface  22   b , and overcomes the limitation posed by the first stopping portion  27   b  and the second stopping portion  28   b  so further push the stylus  2  out of the accommodation recess  21   b . When the fingers move away from the button  20   b , the elastic force of the elastic members  41   b  and  42   b  causes the button  20   b  to return from the released position B 2  to the initial position B 1 . 
     In this embodiment, the pushing portion  25   b  of the button  20   b  is enabled to push the stylus  2  out of the accommodation recess  21   b  by pressing the first operation portion  29   b  and the second operation portion  30   b  of the button  20   b . Thus, compared to a conventional approach of picking the stylus  2  by a finger, the design of operating the button  20   b  to withdraw the stylus  2  from the accommodation recess  21   b  provides a more convenient stylus pick-up operation. In particular, even when a user wears gloves, the user is still able to easily press the button  20   b  to push the stylus  2  out of the accommodation recess  21   b  and then directly take the stylus  2 . 
     Moreover, the stylus  2  is pushed out of the accommodation recess  21   b  by the pushing portion  25   b  of the button  20   b , in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis P 2  of the accommodation recess  21   b , but not in a direction of the longitudinal axis P 2  of the accommodation recess  21   b . Thus, it is not necessary for the accommodation recess  21   b  to extend to the edge of the casing  10   b , hence minimizing the influence of a reduced internal space of the casing  10   b  caused by the accommodation recess  21   b  provided and further benefiting the utilization of the internal space of the casing  10   b.    
     Next, to place the stylus  2  back to the accommodation recess  21   b , in a state where the button  20   b  is at the initial position A 1 , the stylus  2  is directly fitted into the accommodation recess  21   b  of the button  20   b.    
     In this embodiment, when the button  20   b  is not pressed, even if the casing  10   b  receives an unexpected external impact (such as falling onto the ground), it is ensured that the stylus  2  located in the accommodation recess  21   b  is still limited by the first stopping portion  27   b  and the second stopping portion  28   b , and is kept in the accommodation recess  21   b.    
     In this embodiment, the number of the elastic members  41   b  and  42   b  is two; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the casing assembly may include only one elastic member. In yet another embodiment, the elastic member may be omitted from the casing assembly. 
     When the button  20   b  is at the initial position B 1 , the pushing portion  25   b  is not limited to being slightly protruding from the arc inner wall surface  22   b  of the button  20   b . In another embodiment, when the button is at the initial position B 1 , one end of the pushing portion may be aligned with the arc inner surface of the button or be withdrawn into the arc inner surface of the button. 
     In this embodiment, the button  20   b  has a through hole  24   b  for the pushing portion  25   b  to pass through; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the button may exclude such through hole. In such configuration, the pushing portion may be located next to one of the two opposite ends of the receiving portion of the button. When the button moves from the initial position to the released position, the pushing portion is still able to push the stylus out of the accommodation recess. 
     In this embodiment, the surface forming the accommodation recess  21   b  is the arc inner wall surface  22   b ; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the surface forming the accommodation recess may be a surface with angles and corners. 
     In this embodiment, the button  20   b  includes two operation portions (the first operation portion  29   b  and the second operation portion  30   b ); however, the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the button may include only one operation portion. 
     In the casing assembly according to the embodiments above, the pushing portion of the button is enabled to push the stylus out of the accommodation recess by operating the operation portion(s) of the button. Thus, compared to a conventional approach of picking the stylus by a finger, the design of operating the button to withdraw the stylus from the accommodation recess provides a more convenient stylus pick-up operation. In particular, even when a user wears gloves, the user is still able to easily press the button to push the stylus out of the accommodation recess and then directly take the stylus. 
     In addition, when the button is not pressed, even if the casing receives an unexpected external impact (such as falling onto the ground), it is ensured that the stylus located in the accommodation recess is still limited by the stopping portion(s), and is kept in the accommodation recess. 
     Moreover, the stylus is pushed out of the accommodation recess by the pushing portion of the button, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the accommodation recess, but not in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the accommodation recess. Thus, it is not necessary for the accommodation recess to extend to the edge of the casing, hence minimizing the influence of a reduced internal space of the casing caused by the accommodation recess provided and further benefiting the utilization of the internal space of the casing. 
     Although the present invention is disclosed by way of the preferred embodiments above, the embodiments are not to be construed as limitations to the present invention. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, slight changes and modifications may be made by a person skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be defined by the appended claims of the application.