Patent Publication Number: US-2022217852-A1

Title: Protective shell and electronic device with the protective shell

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Patent Application No. 110100184 in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Jan. 4, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a protective shell, and in particular, to a drop-proof protective shell and an electronic device with the protective shell. 
     Related Art 
     Electronic devices such as a power supply, a connector, or a hard disk are commonly used in modern society. Generally, when the electronic device is impacted, an internal circuit board is likely to collide with an upper cover or a lower cover, causing fracture of the upper cover or the lower cover to break, or fracture of a position where the upper cover is engaged with the lower cover. Therefore, people have relative demands for a drop-proof function of electronic devices. 
     Conventionally, an overall drop-proof capability of an electronic device is strengthened by increasing a thickness of a shell. However, increasing the thickness of the shell does not necessarily improve the drop-proof capability of the electronic device, and is likely to increase manufacturing costs. 
     In view of this, the inventors finally complete a protective shell and an electronic device with the protective shell of the present invention by making improvements through study for deficiencies of a conventional technology, which can effectively improve the drop-proof performance and overcome the deficiencies of the conventional technology. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is mainly intended to provide a drop-proof protective shell and an electronic device with the protective shell, to improve a drop-proof capability of the electronic device. 
     In order to achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides an embodiment of an electronic device. The electronic device includes a first shell, a second shell, and a circuit board. The first shell includes a first ring-shaped retaining wall and a resisting portion. An upper end face of the first ring-shaped retaining wall has a butting portion, and the first ring-shaped retaining wall has a first notch. The resisting portion is located inside the first ring-shaped retaining wall and adjacent to the first notch, and a height of the resisting portion is greater than that of the first ring-shaped retaining wall. The second shell includes a second ring-shaped retaining wall. An upper end face of the second ring-shaped retaining wall has a matching element, and the second ring-shaped retaining wall has a second notch. The first notch corresponds to the second notch, and the butting portion is engaged with the matching element to form an accommodating space between the first shell and the second shell. The circuit board is located in the accommodating space, and the resisting portion is adjacent to the circuit board. 
     According to the above electronic device, in an embodiment, the resisting portion is adjacent to the second ring-shaped retaining wall. 
     According to the above electronic device, in an embodiment, the resisting portion includes a body and a protrusion. The body is connected to one side of the protrusion, the protrusion extends toward a side surface of the circuit board, and the protrusion has a resisting surface. A distance between the resisting surface and the circuit board is smaller than a distance between the body and the circuit board. 
     According to the above electronic device, in an embodiment, the resisting portion further includes a supporting arm connected to another side of the protrusion. The supporting arm extends toward the side surface of the circuit board and protrudes from a surface of the protrusion. 
     According to the above electronic device, in an embodiment, the first shell further includes a protruding rib and a bottom plate. The first ring-shaped retaining wall and the resisting portion are connected to the bottom plate, and the protruding rib is attached to the resisting portion. One end of the protruding rib is connected to the bottom plate, and another end of the protruding rib extends to an inner side of the second ring-shaped retaining wall. 
     According to the above electronic device, in an embodiment, the first shell further includes a supporting wall. The supporting wall is attached to the body, and one end of the supporting wall is connected to the bottom plate. 
     According to the above electronic device, in an embodiment, the resisting portion includes a first resisting wall and a second resisting wall. The first resisting wall is connected to an inner side of the first ring-shaped retaining wall, and the first resisting wall is spaced from the second resisting wall. The second resisting wall includes a resisting wall portion and a bulge portion. The bulge portion is connected to the resisting wall portion, extends toward a side surface of the circuit board, and has a resisting surface. A distance between the resisting surface and the circuit board is smaller than a distance between the resisting wall portion and the circuit board. 
     According to the above electronic device, in an embodiment, the resisting portion further includes a partition wall located between the first resisting wall and the second resisting wall and connected to the first resisting wall and the second resisting wall. 
     According to the above electronic device, in an embodiment, the first shell further includes a reinforcing wall and a bottom plate. The reinforcing wall extends toward the resisting portion from the bottom plate and is connected to the resisting portion. 
     According to the above electronic device, in an embodiment, the electronic device further includes a connecting assembly. When the first shell and the second shell are engaged with each other, the first notch and the second notch form an opening. The connecting assembly is located in the opening and connected to the circuit board. 
     The present invention further provides an embodiment of a protective shell. The protective shell includes a first shell and a second shell. 
     The first shell includes a first ring-shaped retaining wall and a resisting portion. An upper end face of the first ring-shaped retaining wall has a butting portion, and the first ring-shaped retaining wall has a first notch. The resisting portion is located inside the first ring-shaped retaining wall and adjacent to the first notch, and a height of the resisting portion is greater than that of the first ring-shaped retaining wall. The second shell includes a second ring-shaped retaining wall. An upper end face of the second ring-shaped retaining wall has a matching element, and the second ring-shaped retaining wall has a second notch. The first notch corresponds to the second notch, and the butting portion is engaged with the matching element to form an accommodating space between the first shell and the second shell. 
     According to the above protective shell, in an embodiment, the resisting portion is adjacent to the second ring-shaped retaining wall. 
     According to the above protective shell, in an embodiment, the resisting portion includes a body and a protrusion. The body is connected to one side of the protrusion. The protrusion protrudes from a surface of the body, and the protrusion has a resisting surface. 
     According to the above protective shell, in an embodiment, the resisting portion further includes a supporting arm connected to another side of the protrusion and protrudes from a surface of the protrusion. 
     According to the above protective shell, in an embodiment, the first shell further includes a protruding rib and a bottom plate. The first ring-shaped retaining wall and the resisting portion are connected to the bottom plate, and the protruding rib is attached to the resisting portion. One end of the protruding rib is connected to the bottom plate, and another end of the protruding rib extends to an inner side of the second ring-shaped retaining wall. 
     According to the above protective shell, in an embodiment, the first shell further includes a supporting wall. The supporting wall is attached to the body, and one end of the supporting wall is connected to the bottom plate. 
     According to the above protective shell, in an embodiment, the resisting portion includes a first resisting wall and a second resisting wall. The first resisting wall is connected to the inner side of the first ring-shaped retaining wall, and the first resisting wall is spaced from the second resisting wall. The second resisting wall includes a resisting wall portion and a bulge portion. The bulge portion is connected to the resisting wall portion, protrudes from a surface of the resisting wall portion, and has a resisting surface. 
     According to the above protective shell, in an embodiment, the resisting portion includes a partition wall located between the first resisting wall and the second resisting wall and connected to the first resisting wall and the second resisting wall. 
     According to the above protective shell, in an embodiment, the first shell further includes a reinforcing wall and a bottom plate. The reinforcing wall extends toward the resisting portion from the bottom plate and is connected to the resisting portion. 
     The electronic device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention has the protective shell (the first shell and the second shell), and the resisting portion of the first shell is adjacent to the circuit board. When the electronic device drops with a side edge toward the ground, the resisting portion effectively supports the circuit board to prevent the circuit board from laterally colliding with the second shell, to prevent fracture of the second shell or a position where the first shell is engaged with the second shell. In an embodiment, the structure of the protective shell has the drop-proof capability of more than 10 times a shell structure of the prior art. Not only strength of the protective shell is increased, but also the accommodating space is increased because the protective shell is thinner than that of the prior art, facilitating a larger degree of thinness and miniaturization of electronic devices. In addition, manufacturing costs can be reduced. Therefore, the problems in the prior art can be effectively alleviated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic exploded view (I) of a first embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic exploded view (II) of a first embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial enlarged view of a first shell in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a relationship between a first shell and a circuit board in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic exploded view (I) of a second embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic exploded view (II) of a second embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial enlarged view of a first shell according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of a relationship between a first shell and a circuit board in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic exploded view (I) of a third embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic exploded view (II) of a third embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a partial enlarged view of a first shell in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram of a relationship between a first shell and a circuit board in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic exploded view (I) of a fourth embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic exploded view (II) of a fourth embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a partial enlarged view of a first shell in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic diagram of a relationship between a first shell and a circuit board in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram of an exterior of an embodiment of a protective shell according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic exploded view of a first embodiment of a protective shell according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic exploded view of a second embodiment of a protective shell according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a schematic exploded view of a third embodiment of a protective shell according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  is a schematic exploded view of a fourth embodiment of a protective shell according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are respectively schematic exploded views (I) and (II) of a first embodiment of an electronic device  100  according to the present invention.  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are shown in different perspectives.  FIG. 3  is a partial enlarged view of a first shell  11  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a relationship between the first shell  11  and a circuit board  13  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The electronic device  100  includes a first shell  11 , a second shell  12 , and a circuit board  13 . The electronic device  100  may be a connector or a power supply. 
     The first shell  11  includes a first ring-shaped retaining wall  111  and a resisting portion  112 . An upper end face of the first ring-shaped retaining wall  111  has a butting portion  111   a.  In this embodiment, the butting portion  111   a  is a groove. The first ring-shaped retaining wall  111  has a first notch  111   b.  As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the first notch  111   b  is substantially U-shaped. The resisting portion  112  is located inside the first ring-shaped retaining wall  111  and adjacent to the first notch  111   b.  A height of the resisting portion  112  is greater than that of the first ring-shaped retaining wall  111 . The first shell  11  and the second shell  12  may be made of plastic or metal (alloy), which is not limited in the present invention. 
     The second shell  12  includes a second ring-shaped retaining wall  121 . An upper end face of the second ring-shaped retaining wall  121  has a matching element  121   a  that may be engaged with the above butting portion  111   a.  In the first embodiment, the matching element  121   a  is a protruding structure that may be snap-fitted into the groove. Certainly, the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the butting portion  111   a  may be a protruding structure, and the matching element  121   a  is a groove. The second ring-shaped retaining wall  121  has a second notch  121   b,  which is also substantially U-shaped. The first notch  111   b  corresponds to the second notch  121   b.  When the butting portion  111   a  is engaged with the matching element  121   a,  the first notch  111   b  and the second notch  121   b  form an opening  14  (see  FIG. 17 ), and an accommodating space S (see  FIG. 18 ) is formed between the first shell  11  and the second shell  12 . A circuit board  13 , a capacitor, and other electronic assemblies may be disposed in the accommodating space S. 
     The circuit board  13  is located in the accommodating space S, and the resisting portion  112  is adjacent to the circuit board  13 . In some embodiments, the first shell  11  and the second shell  12  are engaged with each other through ultrasonic welding. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. By virtue of the structure, when the electronic device  100  drops with a side edge toward the ground, the resisting portion  112  may support the circuit board  13  to protect the circuit board  13 , so as to prevent the circuit board  13  from colliding with the second shell  12 , thereby preventing the second shell  12  from fracturing as a result of the collision. In some embodiments, a gap between the resisting portion  112  and the circuit board  13  ranges from 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. 
     In some embodiments, heights of the first shell  11  and the second shell  12  are determined according to requirements of a user, and the resisting portion  112  is disposed adjacent to the second ring-shaped retaining wall  121 . This is not limited in the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 , there are two resisting portions  112  respectively located on both sides of the first notch  111   b.  The resisting portion  112  includes a body  112   a  and a protrusion  112   b.  The body  112   a  is connected to one side of the protrusion  112   b,  the protrusion  112   b  extends toward a side surface of the circuit board  13 , and the protrusion  112   b  has a resisting surface. A distance W 1  between the resisting surface and the circuit board  13  is smaller than a distance W 2  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) between the body  112   a  and the circuit board  13 . By virtue of the structural design, fracture of the second shell  12  caused by lateral collision of the circuit board  13  with the second shell  12  can be effectively prevented when the electronic device  100  drops. In addition, in this embodiment, the resisting portion  112  further includes a supporting arm  112   c  connected to another side of the protrusion  112   b.  The supporting arm  112   c  extends toward the side surface of the circuit board  13  and protrudes from a surface of the protrusion  112   b,  and the supporting arm  112   c  can reinforce a side edge of the first ring-shaped retaining wall  111 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 3 , the first shell  11  further includes a protruding rib  113  and a bottom plate  114 . The first ring-shaped retaining wall  111  and the resisting portion  112  are connected to the bottom plate  114 . The protruding rib  113  is attached to the resisting portion  112 . One end of the protruding rib  113  is connected to the bottom plate  114 , and another end of the protruding rib  113  extends to an inner side of the second ring-shaped retaining wall  121 . The protruding rib  113  is disposed for reinforcing the side edge of the first ring-shaped retaining wall  111 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are respectively schematic exploded views (I) and (II) of a second embodiment of an electronic device  100  according to the present invention.  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are shown in different perspectives.  FIG. 7  is a partial enlarged view of a first shell  11  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of a relationship between the first shell  11  and a circuit board  13  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     A difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the first shell  11  further includes a supporting wall  115 . The supporting wall  115  is attached to the body  112   a,  and one end of the supporting wall  115  is connected to the bottom plate  114 . The supporting wall  115  is disposed for reinforcing the side edge of the first ring-shaped retaining wall  111  and enhancing a drop-proof capability. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9  to  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  are respectively schematic exploded views (I) and (II) of a third embodiment of an electronic device  100  according to the present invention.  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  are shown in different perspectives.  FIG. 11  is a partial enlarged view of a first shell  11  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram of a relationship between the first shell  11  and a circuit board  13  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     In this embodiment, there are two resisting portions  112  disposed on both sides of a first notch  111   b,  and the resisting portions  112  have a form different from that of the above embodiment. The resisting portion  112  includes a first resisting wall  1121  and a second resisting wall  1122 . The first resisting wall  1121  is connected to an inner side of the first ring-shaped retaining wall  111 , and the first resisting wall  1121  is spaced from the second resisting wall  1122 . The second resisting wall  1122  includes a resisting wall portion  1122   a  and a bulge portion  1122   b.  The bulge portion  1122   b  is connected to the resisting wall portion  1122   a,  the bulge portion  1122   b  extends toward a side surface of the circuit board  13 , and the bulge portion  1122   b  has a resisting surface. A distance W 1  between the resisting surface and the circuit board  13  is smaller than a distance W 2  between the resisting wall portion  1122   a  and the circuit board  13 . Similarly, the resisting portion  112  is disposed for the following purpose. When the electronic device  100  drops with a side edge (for example, the first notch  111   b ) toward the ground, the resisting portion  112  may support the circuit board  13  to protect the circuit board  13 , so as to prevent the circuit board  13  from colliding with the second shell  12 , thereby preventing the second shell  12  from fracturing as a result of the collision. 
     In addition, in this embodiment, in order to reinforce the overall structure of the resisting portion  112 , the resisting portion  112  further includes a partition wall  1123  located between the first resisting wall  1121  and the second resisting wall  1122  and connected to the first resisting wall  1121  and the second resisting wall  1122 . In addition, in this embodiment, the first shell  11  further includes a reinforcing wall  116  and a bottom plate  114 . The reinforcing wall  116  extends toward the resisting portion  112  from the bottom plate  114  and is connected to the resisting portion  112 . The reinforcing wall  116  is disposed for reinforcing the side edge of the first ring-shaped retaining wall  111 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13  to  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  are respectively schematic exploded views (I) and (II) of a fourth embodiment of an electronic device  100  according to the present invention.  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  are shown in different perspectives.  FIG. 15  is a partial enlarged view of a first shell  11  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 16  is a schematic diagram of a relationship between the first shell  11  and a circuit board  13  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     In the fourth embodiment, there are two resisting portions  112 , which are respectively located on opposite sides of the first notch  111   b  and respectively in the forms of the resisting portions  112  shown in the second embodiment and the third embodiment. For the description of the resisting portion  112 , refer to the above description again. Certainly, the first shell  11  may also adopt the resisting portions  112  shown in the first embodiment and the second embodiment or the first embodiment and the third embodiment. In other words, a type of the resisting portion  112  is not limited in the present invention, and the resisting portion  112  is disposed according to requirements (for example, a type of a circuit board  13  that is adopted) of a user. In addition, in the above embodiment, two resisting portions  112  are adopted, which is not limited in the present invention. In some embodiments, only one resisting portion  112  may be disposed by the user, which is located on one side of the first notch  111   b  and may be adjacent to the first notch  111   b  or away from the first notch  111   b . When the electronic device  100  drops with a side edge (for example, the first notch  111   b ) toward the ground, the circuit board  13  is supported to prevent the circuit board from colliding with the second shell  12 , thereby preventing the second shell  12  from fracturing as a result of the collision. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 16  again, in the embodiments, the electronic device  100  further includes a connecting assembly  15 . When the first shell  11  and the second shell  12  are engaged with each other, the first notch  111   b  and the second notch  121   b  form an opening  14 , and the connecting assembly  15  is located in the opening  14  and connected to the circuit board  13 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 17  to  FIG. 21 ,  FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram of an exterior of an embodiment of a protective shell  1  according to the present invention.  FIG. 18  to  FIG. 21  are respectively schematic exploded views of a first embodiment to a fourth embodiment of the protective shell  1  according to the present invention. The protective shell  1  includes a first shell  11  and a second shell  12 . For description of the first shell  11 , the resisting portion  112 , and the second shell  12 , refer to the above description as well as  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 16 . Details are not described herein again. 
     The protective shell  1  of the present invention may be applied to the electronic device  100  such as a connector or a power supply, which is not limited in the present invention. In some embodiments, the protective shell  1  may be applied to a hard disk. 
     The electronic device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention has the protective shell (the first shell and the second shell), and the resisting portion of the first shell is adjacent to the circuit board. When the electronic device drops with a side edge toward the ground, the resisting portion effectively supports the circuit board to prevent the circuit board from laterally colliding with the second shell, to prevent fracture of the second shell or a position where the first shell is engaged with the second shell. In an embodiment, the structure of the protective shell has the drop-proof capability of more than 10 times a shell structure of the prior art. Not only strength of the protective shell is increased, but also the accommodating space is increased because the protective shell is thinner than that of the prior art, facilitating a larger degree of thinness and miniaturization of electronic devices. In addition, manufacturing costs can be reduced. Therefore, the problems in the prior art can be effectively alleviated.