Abstract:
A flexible electronic device a bottom cover, an upper cover, and a positioning mechanism. The upper cover cooperates with the bottom cover to form a close space for receiving the positioning mechanism. The positioning mechanism bends with the flexible electronic device to form an angle by an external force. When the external force disappeares, the positioning mechanism keeps the flexible electronic device bent at the current angle.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to flexible electronic devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Flexible electronic devices in a straightened state as shown in  FIG. 6 , such as mobiles and tablet computers, includes a bottom cover  10 , an upper cover  20 , a display panel  4 . The bottom cover  10  cooperates with the upper cover  20  and the display panel to form a closed space. The bottom cover  10  and the upper cover  20  are all made of elastics material, and can be bent to form an angle by external force. When the external force disappears, the flexible electronic device automatically returns to the straightened state. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE 
         [0003]    The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiment of a flexible electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a flexible electronic device, according to an embodiment. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a partially disassembled isometric view of the flexible electronic device of  FIG. 1 ; the electronic device includes a position portion. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a partially disassembled isometric view of the positioning portion of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the flexible electronic device of  FIG. 1  being bent. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is isometric view of the positioning portion of  FIG. 2  being bent. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is isometric view of a flexible electronic device in a related art. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
         [0011]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a flexible electronic device  100  of the embodiment. The flexible electronic device  100  can be bent by external force, and is capable of remaining bent when the external force disappears. In one embodiment, the flexible electronic device  100  is a mobile phone or a tablet computer, for example. 
         [0012]    The flexible electronic device  100  includes a main body  1 , a positioning mechanism  3 , a base  4 , and a cooperation portion  5 . 
         [0013]    The main body  1  includes a bottom cover  10  and an upper cover  20 . The bottom cover  10  cooperates with the upper cover  20  to form a closed space (not labeled) for receiving other electronic components (not shown). In one embodiment, the main body  1  can be made of shape memory polymer. In other embodiments, the main body  1  can be made of other types of shape memory material. 
         [0014]    The bottom cover  10  can be substantially rectangular. The bottom cover  10  includes a bottom plate  11 , two first sidewalls  12 , and two second sidewalls  14 . The first sidewalls  12  and the second sidewalls  14  vertically extend from the four edges of the bottom plate  11 , and cooperate with each other to form a first rectangular opening  16 . The first sidewalls  12  are parallel with each other along a length direction. The second sidewalls  14  are parallel with each other along a width direction. 
         [0015]    The upper cover  20  defines a receiving space  21  facing the opening  16 . 
         [0016]    The positioning mechanism  3  arranged on the first sidewall  12  and the second sidewall  14 , and is sandwiched between the base  4  and the bottom cover  10 . The positioning mechanism  3  includes a plurality pairs of first positioning members  30 , two second positioning member  32 , and a retainer member  34 . The two second positioning members  32  are opposite to each other, and are connected with each other through the first positioning members  30  to form a second rectangular opening  36  facing the first opening  16 . In one embodiment, the first positioning member  30  and the second positioning member are made of shape memory material. In one embodiment, the positioning mechanism  3  includes seven pairs of the first positioning member  30 . 
         [0017]    The first positioning members  30  in the same pair are arranged on the opposite first sidewalls  12  respectively. The first positioning members  30  on the same first sidewall  12  are serially interconnected with each other. The first positioning member  30  includes a rotating portion  33  and a pivot  35 . The rotating portion  33  includes a connection portion  330 , a first arm  332 , and two second arms  334 . The connection portion  330  is a substantially plate shaped. The first arm  332  and the second arms  334  are vertically extended from opposite ends of the connection portion  330  along a same direction, and bent in two opposite directions. The second arms  334  are spaced apart by a distance from each other to form a receiving portion  337  for receiving the first arm  332  of the adjacent first positioning member  30 . The first arm  332  and the second arms  334  are substantially C-shaped. The first arm  332  defines a first through hole  336 , and the second arm  334  defines a second through hole  338 . The pivot  35  inserts through the first through hole  336  and the second through hole  338  while the receiving portion  337  formed by the two second arms  334  receives the first arm  332  of the adjacent first positioning member  30 . 
         [0018]    The second positioning member  32  is similar to the first positioning member  30 , but the connection portion  330  of the second positioning member  32  is substantially U-shaped. 
         [0019]    The retainer member  34  is substantially rectangular. The retainer member  34  is mounted on the first sidewalls  12  and the second sidewalls  34 , and is covered by the first positioning member  30  and the second positioning member  34 . The retainer member  34  defines a plurality of grooves  341  at the edge of the retainer  34  for decreasing the height of the retainer  34 . 
         [0020]    The base  4  is a substantially hollow rectangular member. The base  4  arranged on the bottom cover  20  touches the first sidewalls  12  and the second sidewalls  14  synchronously. The base  4  defines a plurality of grooves (not shown) facing the positioning mechanism  3  for receiving the second positioning member  32 . In one embodiment, the base  4  is made of shape memory alloy. In other embodiments, the base  4  is made of other types of shape memory material. 
         [0021]    The cooperation portion  5  is substantially rectangular, and is received in the receiving space  21 . The cooperation portion  5  is made of shape memory material. In one embodiment, the cooperation portion  5  is a flexible display panel. 
         [0022]    In other embodiment, the cooperation portion  5  can be a flexible crystal display panel, for example. 
         [0023]    In assembly, the base  4  is adhered to the main body  1 . The cooperation portion  5  is received in the receiving space  21 , and substantially coplanar with the upper cover  20 . The first arm  332  of the first positioning member  30  is inserted into the second arm  334  of the adjacent first positioning member  30  or the adjacent second positioning member  32 , and the first through hole  336  of the first arm  332  is coaxial to the second through holes  338  of the second arm  334  where the first arm  332  is inserted. The pivot  35  is inserted into the first through hole  336  and the second through holes  338  which are coaxial with each other. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 4-5  illustrate that the flexible electronic device  100  and the positioning mechanism  3  are bent simultaneously by an external force. When one pair of the first positioning members  30  is rotated about the axis of the corresponding pivot  35  in an anti-clockwise direction simultaneously. When the external force is removed, the bent angle of the flexible electronic device  100  remains based on a friction force between the rotated first positioning member  30  and the first positioning member  30  connected with the rotated pivot  35 . 
         [0025]    When one of the second positioning members  32  is rotated about the axis of the corresponding pivot  35  of the first positioning member  30  which is connected with the rotated second positioning member  32  in an anti-clockwise direction. When the external force is removed, the bent angle of the flexible electronic device  100  remains based on a friction force between the rotated second positioning member  32  and the adjacent first positioning member  30 . 
         [0026]    For straightening the bent flexible electronic device  100 , the rotated pair of the first positioning member  30  or the rotated second positioning member  32  rotates about the axis of the pivot  35  along a clockwise direction opposite by the external force. When the external force is removed after the positioning mechanism  3  is straightened, the retainer member  34  supports the first positioning member  30  and the second positioning member  32  for keeping the positioning mechanism  3  being straightened. 
         [0027]    As described, when the external force for bending the flexible electronic device  100  is removed, the flexible electronic device  100  remains bent by the positioning mechanism  3 . Therefore, the flexible electronic device  100  can be bent to different angle. 
         [0028]    While various exemplary and preferred embodiments have been described, the disclosure is not limited thereto. On the contrary, various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art) are intended to also be covered. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.