Patent Abstract:
A drop test apparatus includes a base panel, at least one height adjustment member attached to the base panel, and at least one angle adjustment member pivotally attached to the at least one height adjustment member. The at least one height adjustment member has a portion protruding upward from the base panel. A height of the portion is variable. The at least one angle adjustment member is configured for supporting a device thereon and capable of rotating to different angles.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to device testing, and more particularly to a drop test apparatus. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]    In drop testing, a container filled with varying contents is dropped from a preset height onto a rigid surface to determine whether the container and its contents can resist the impact. A typical drop test apparatus employed for this purpose includes a support platform and a control device for adjusting a height of the support platform. After the container reaches the predetermined height, the control device withdraws the support platform and the container falls. The container and its contents are checked fro damage. Such a drop test apparatus controls the height from which the container drops, but cannot control the angle at which the container falls. 
         [0003]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within this art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references 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 embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is an isometric and exploded view of a drop test apparatus in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but shows angle adjustment members of the drop test apparatus at another height and angle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. 
         [0009]    In the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
         [0010]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a drop test apparatus includes a base panel  10 , a pair of first angle adjustment members  20 , a pair of second angle adjustment members  30 , two pairs of height adjustment members  40 , four pairs of threaded retainers  50 , and four pivot mounting members  60 . A pair of longitudinal slots  12  is defined in the base panel  10  for mounting the height adjustment members  40 . The longitudinal slots  12  are parallel. 
         [0011]    Each of the first angle adjustment members  20  includes a first support panel  22 , a backrest panel  24  extending upward from the first support panel  22 , and a wedge-shaped mounting block  221  extending from a bottom side of the first support panel  22 . The backrest panel  24  and the mounting block  221  are at opposite ends of the first support panel  22 . A pivot mounting slot  2212  is defined in the mounting block  221  for receiving the pivot mounting member  60 . 
         [0012]    Each of the second angle adjustment members  30  includes a second support panel  32  and a side panel  34  extending downwardly from a side edge of the second support panel  32 . Each of the second support panel  32  and the side panel  34  has a rectangular shape. An angled slot is defined in the side panel  34 . 
         [0013]    Each of the height adjustment members  40  includes a threaded post  42  and a mounting piece  44  protruding from a top thereof. A pivot hole  441  is defined in a top portion of the mounting piece  44 . 
         [0014]    Each of the pivot mounting members  60  includes a pivot shaft  62  and a V-shaped head  64  connected to a distal end of the pivot shaft  62 . 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , during assembly, the threaded post  42  of each of the height adjustment members  40  is received in one of the longitudinal slots  12  of the base panel  10 . A lower portion of the threaded post  42  of each of the height adjustment members  40  extends from a lower side of the base panel  10  via the longitudinal slot  12 . A pair of threaded retainers  50  is secured to the threaded post  42  of each of the height adjustment members  40 . The pair of threaded retainers  50  secured to each of the height adjustment members  40  respectively resist upper and lower surfaces of the base panel  10 . Thus, each of the height adjustment members  40  can be secured to the base panel  10 , and has a portion with a predetermined height protruding upwardly from the base panel  10 . The pivot holes  441 , of two of the height adjustment members  40 , are aligned with the pivot mounting slots  2212  of the first angle adjustment members  20 . Two of the pivot mounting members  60  are inserted into the pivot holes  441  and the pivot mounting slots  2212 , for pivotally mounting the first angle adjustment members  20  to the height adjustment members  40 . The pivot holes  441  of two of the height adjustment members  40  align with predetermined portions of the angled slots  341  of the second angle adjustment members  30 . Two of the pivot mounting members  60  are inserted into the pivot holes  441  and the angled slots  341  for pivotally mounting the second angle adjustment members  30  to the height adjustment members  40 . 
         [0016]    To perform a drop test on a device (e.g., a cuboid casing with an electronic device packaged therein), the first angle adjustment members  20  and the second angle adjustment members  30  are rotated until reaching a predetermined angle and fixed at the predetermined angle by static friction. At the predetermined angle, the support panels  22  of the first angle adjustment members  20  and the support panels  32  of the second angle adjustment members  30  locate at a same plane. The device is placed on first angle adjustment members  20  and the second angle adjustment members  30 . The backrest panels  24  of the first angle adjustment members  20  resist and maintain the position of the device until the drop test begins. The drop test apparatus is quickly withdrawn in a horizontal direction by a control machine. The device loses support and falls to a rigid surface below. Faces, edges, and corners of the device are checked for damage by the impact. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, a height of each of the height adjustment members  40  is adjustable by a manner of adjusting a length of the each of height adjustment members  40  or adjusting a vertical position of each of the height adjustment members  40 . Furthermore, the pivot mounting members  60  can be received in the angled slots  341  of the second angle adjustment members  30  in different positions, which can also change the height of the second angle adjustment members  30 . Thus, the device can fall from various heights. The first angle adjustment members  20  and the second angle adjustment members  30  can rotate to different angles to support the device. Thus, the device can be dropped from various angles. The drop test apparatus of the present disclosure can perform various drop tests on the device. The less it improves test accuracy and reliability. 
         [0018]    While the present disclosure has been illustrated by the description of preferred embodiments thereof, and while the preferred embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6