Patent Publication Number: US-2009219675-A1

Title: Electronic device with interchangeable frame

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to an electronic device having an interchangeable frame. 
     2. General Background 
     Electronic devices, such as digital photo frames, can be operated to change content displayed easily. Yet, the appearance of the electronic device is always the same, and therefore is not appealing to users who may wish a change. 
       FIG. 4  shows an electronic device with an interchangeable frame. The electronic device includes a main body  2  and a frame  3 . The frame  3  receives the main body  2 . Screws  4  connect the main body  2  and the frame  3 . Applying different frames  3  can vary the appearance of the electronic device, but removing and replacing screws  4  is tedious and time consuming. Furthermore, the main body  2  must define screw holes, thus, the frame  3  is not suitable for an electronic device without properly configured screw holes. 
     Thus, what is needed is an electronic device with conveniently changeable appearance, and a frame which can be applied to various electronic devices. 
    
    
     
       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 a schematic, exploded view of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic, isometric view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of  FIG. 2 , taken along the line II-II in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic, exploded view of a conventional electronic device of the related art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an electronic device  10  is disclosed. The electronic device  10  includes a main body  20  and a frame  21 . The frame  21  includes a back part  30  and a front part  40 . 
     The back part  30  defines a front surface  31 , a back surface  32 , a first inner surface  33 , and a second inner surface  34 . The first and second inner surfaces  33 ,  34  face to each other. Shoulders  35 ,  36  extend face to face from the boundaries of the first inner surface  33 , the second inner surface  34 , respectively, and the back surface  32 . A width between the first and second inner surfaces  33 ,  34  is greater than a width of the main body  20 . A width between the shoulders  35 ,  36  is less than the width of the main body  20 . A resilient means  50  is disposed on the first inner surface  33 . The resilient means  50  includes an elastic piece  51  and a spring  52 . The front part  40  may be attached to the front surface  31  of the back part  30  by screws, glues, or other connection means. Appearance of the front part  40  can be varied if desired, such as designing in different shapes, textures and colors. 
     When the electronic device  10  is assembled, first, an end of the main body  20  is pushed to enter into the frame  21  through an opening between the shoulders  35 ,  36 , and to compress the resilient means  50 . Then an opposite end of the main body  20  enters into the frame  21  through the opening between the shoulders  35 ,  36 . Then, a pushing force applied to the main body  20  is removed and the resilient means  50  restores to push the opposite end of the main body  20  to contact with the second inner surface  34 . In this way, the main body  20  and the frame  21  are assembled together. The shoulders  35 ,  36  and the front part  40  keep the main body  20  in the frame  21 . 
     When the electronic device  10  is disassembled, first, the main body  20  is pushed to compress the resilient means  50 , an end of the main body  20  far from the resilient means  50  moves to leave from the second inner surface  34  and the shoulder  36  correspondingly. Then the end of the main body  20  goes out of the frame  21  through the opening between the shoulders  35 ,  36 . In this way, the electronic device  10  is disassembled. 
     The main body  20  and the frame  21  can be assembled and disassembled easily, to exchange the frame  21  with another frame having a different configuration, thus appearance of the electronic device  10  can be easily changed and the frame  21  can be applied to other electronic device having similar shape as the electronic device  10 . 
     Moreover, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.