Patent Description:
A thermal transfer device is to laminate layers and thermosets on transfer paper to printing stock under pressure using heat generated by hot plate assembly. The working principle is that it transfers patterns, text, etc. on transfer paper to printing materials by using heat generated by hot plate assembly under a certain pressure, temperature, and time.

The thermal transfer device provided in the present invention is a manual force type, and the pressure required for thermal transfer is applied by the user. Previous thermal transfer devices, such as the solution disclosed in <CIT>, featured a handle arranged on the upper side of the main body. The user applied pressure to the main body through the handle with both hands, so the force-applying structure was affected by main body volume, leading to poor space and comfort when gripping with hands, affecting the use experience and thermal transfer effect. Therefore, the manufacturer has designed a side grip scheme where grip grooves are arranged on the opposite sides of the main body for comfortable grip and easy force applying. Grip grooves are formed on a cover. Openings are arranged on the opposite sides of the main body for holding grip grooves. The cover is connected by snap joints, and is easily pulled out due to deformation when force is applied. <CIT> discloses a heat press with side grips forming a groove allowing the hands of a user to grip inside and to perform downward pressure on the heat press.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve complex assembly connection of the existing side grip groove cover and poor firmness by arranging snap-on structures in grip covers and side openings, and designing inserting and positioning structures between grip covers and top cover.

The side grip structure comprises the side openings arranged on the opposite sides of the housing of the thermal transfer device, wherein a plurality of snap joints are arranged on the edge of the side openings; the grip covers assembled in the side openings, wherein the grip cover comprises a ring mouth portion and a cover wall of the grip groove that is connected to the rear side of the ring mouth portion and concave inward, a plurality of hooks detachably connected to the plurality of snap joints are arranged on the inner side of the ring mouth portion, at least one positioning groove is arranged on the top outside of the cover wall; and at least one inserting portion arranged on the top cover of the top side of the housing and fitted to the positioning groove.

Compared with the prior art, the grip covers of the side grip structure provided in the present invention are detachably connected to the side openings through the snap-on structures, featuring fast and convenient assembly. The grip covers are firmly connected to the top cover through the inserting and positioning structures between them, and will not be deformed and pulled out when force is applied.

Preferably, the step portion is arranged on the outer ring edge of the side opening, the ring mouth portion is fitted to the step portion, and the hook avoidance opening is arranged on the step portion. The step portion can hold the ring mouth portion, exhibiting a better appearance, and the avoidance opening can avoid the position of the hooks.

Preferably, to improve the positioning effect, the underside of the positioning groove and the inserting portion are designed to uptilt along the inner side from the opening. This arrangement facilitates the user to place hands in.

Preferably, the lines structure is arranged on the inner surface of the cover wall. This arrangement increases the friction between the hands and the cover wall.

Preferably, the top cover is detachably connected to the top side of the housing by snap-on structures. The use of this connection structure can avoid a connection hole structure via screwed connection, exhibiting the product with better integrity and appearance.

The thermal transfer device comprises the base frame, the housing, the grip covers, wherein the top cover and the hot plate assembly are arranged on the base frame, the side openings are arranged on the opposite sides, and a plurality of snap joints are arranged on the edge of the side openings; the grip cover comprises the ring mouth portion and the cover wall of the grip groove that is connected to the rear side of the ring mouth portion and concave inward, a plurality of hooks detachably connected to the plurality of snap joints are arranged on the inner side of the ring mouth portion, at least one positioning groove is arranged on the top outside of the cover wall; the top cover is detachably connected to the top side of the housing, at least one inserting portion fitted to the positioning groove is arranged on the edge, and the inserting mouth for the inserting portion to pass through is arranged on the top side of the housing; heat required for thermal transfer printing is generated from the underside of the hot plate assembly when energized.

Preferably, the cover ring is mounted on the upper end of the housing, and the sinking platform holding the top cover is arranged on the inner edge of the cover ring. The use of the above structure achieves more tight connection, better appearance, and more flexible shape.

Preferably, the top cover is detachably connected to the housing by snap-on structures.

Preferably, the concave area is arranged in the middle part of the housing, the handle bases connected on its both ends are arranged in the concave area, the avoidance opening relative to the concave area, and the handle top covering the upper side of the handle base are arranged in the middle part of the top cover; the snap-on structures comprise the first snap-on structure arranged between the edge of the top cover and the top edge of the housing, the second snap-on structure between the edge of the avoidance opening and that of the concave area, and the third snap-on structure between the top of the handle and the handle base. Due to the adoption of the above structure, the user can apply force as required through the top handle or the side grip structure. The top cover is more tightly and stably connected to the housing by the first, second and third snap-on structures.

Referring to <FIG>, the thermal transfer device provided in this embodiment comprises: base frame <NUM>, housing <NUM>, grip cover S, top cover <NUM>, and hot plate assembly H. The side grip structure comprises: the side openings <NUM> arranged on the opposite sides of the housing <NUM> of the thermal transfer device, wherein a plurality of snap joints <NUM> are arranged on the edge of the side openings <NUM>; the grip covers S assembled in the side openings <NUM>, wherein the grip cover S comprises the ring mouth portion S1 and the cover wall S2 of the grip groove S3 that is connected to the rear side of the ring mouth portion S1 and concave inward, a plurality of hooks S1. <NUM> detachably connected to the plurality of snap joints <NUM> are arranged on the inner side of the ring mouth portion S1, at least one positioning groove S1. <NUM> is arranged on the top outside of the cover wall S2; and at least one inserting portion <NUM> arranged on the top cover <NUM> of the top side of the housing <NUM> and fitted to the positioning groove S1. <NUM>, wherein the inserting mouth <NUM> for the inserting portion <NUM> to pass through is arranged on the top side of the housing <NUM>, and the inserting portion <NUM> is detachably inserted into the positioning groove S1. <NUM> through the inserting mouth <NUM>. The step portion <NUM> is arranged on the outer ring edge of the side opening <NUM>, the ring mouth portion S1 is fitted to the step portion <NUM>, and the hook S1. <NUM> avoidance opening <NUM> is arranged on the step portion <NUM>. The step portion <NUM> can hold the ring mouth portion, exhibiting a better appearance, and the avoidance opening can avoid the position of the hooks.

Compared with the prior art, the grip covers S of the side grip structure provided in the present invention are detachably connected to the side openings <NUM> through the snap-on structures, featuring fast and convenient assembly. The grip covers S are firmly connected to the top cover <NUM> through the inserting and positioning structures between them, and will not be deformed and pulled out when force is applied. The user can pull out the grip covers S through the inserting mouth <NUM> using a tool.

In one embodiment, to improve the positioning effect, more than two sets of positioning grooves S1. <NUM> and inserting portions <NUM> are arranged. In this embodiment, two sets of positioning grooves S1. <NUM> and inserting portions <NUM> are arranged.

In one embodiment, the underside of the cover wall S2 is designed to uptilt along the inner side from the opening. This arrangement facilitates the user to place hands in.

In one embodiment, the lines structure is arranged on the inner surface of the cover wall S2. This arrangement increases the friction between the hands and the cover wall.

In one embodiment, the top cover <NUM> is detachably connected to the top side of the housing <NUM> by snap-on structures. The use of this connection structure can avoid a connection hole structure via screwed connection, exhibiting the product with better integrity and appearance.

Referring to <FIG>, the thermal transfer device comprises: base frame <NUM>, housing <NUM>, grip cover S, top cover <NUM>, and hot plate assembly H; the housing <NUM> is mounted on the base frame <NUM>, the side openings <NUM> are arranged on the opposite sides, wherein a plurality of snap joints <NUM> are arranged on the edge of the side openings <NUM>; the grip cover S comprises the ring mouth portion S1 and the cover wall S2 of the grip groove S3 that is connected to the rear side of the ring mouth portion S1 and concave inward, a plurality of hooks S1. <NUM> detachably connected to the plurality of snap joints <NUM> are arranged on the inner side of the ring mouth portion S1, at least one positioning groove S1. <NUM> is arranged on the top outside of the cover wall S2.

The top cover <NUM> is detachably connected to the top side of the housing <NUM>, at least one inserting portion <NUM> fitted to the positioning groove S1. <NUM> is arranged on the edge, the inserting mouth <NUM> for the inserting portion <NUM> to pass through is arranged on the top side of the housing <NUM>, and the inserting portion <NUM> is detachably inserted into the positioning groove S1. <NUM> through the inserting mouth <NUM>; the hot plate assembly H is mounted on the underside of the base frame <NUM>, and generates heat required for thermal transfer printing when energized.

The avoidance opening <NUM> is arranged on the upper end of the housing <NUM> relative to the positioning groove S1.

The cover ring <NUM>' is arranged on the upper end of the housing <NUM>, and the sinking platform <NUM>'. <NUM> holding the top cover <NUM> is arranged on the inner edge of the cover ring <NUM>'. The use of the above structure achieves more tight connection, better appearance, and more flexible shape. The cover ring <NUM>' is fixed to the upper end of the housing <NUM> by the screw <NUM>'.

In one embodiment, the top cover <NUM> is detachably connected to the housing <NUM> by snap-on structures. Specifically, the concave area <NUM> is arranged in the middle part of the housing <NUM>, the handle bases <NUM> connected on its both ends are arranged in the concave area <NUM>, the avoidance opening <NUM> relative to the concave area <NUM>, and the handle top <NUM> covering the upper side of the handle base <NUM> are arranged in the middle part of the top cover <NUM>; the snap-on structures comprise the first snap-on structure (L11, L12) arranged between the edge of the top cover <NUM> and the top edge of the housing <NUM>, the second snap-on structure (L21, L22) between the edge of the avoidance opening <NUM> and that of the concave area <NUM>, and the third snap-on structure (L31, L32) between the top of the handle <NUM> and the handle base <NUM>. With the above structure, the user can apply force as required through the top handle or the side grip structure. The top cover <NUM> is more tightly and stably connected to the housing <NUM> by the first snap-on structure (L11, L12), the second snap-on structure (L21, L22) and third snap-on structure (L31, L32).

Claim 1:
A side grip structure, characterized in that it comprises:
side openings (<NUM>) arranged on opposite sides of a housing (<NUM>) of a thermal transfer device, wherein a plurality of snap joints (<NUM>) are arranged on edges of the side openings (<NUM>);
grip covers (S) assembled in the side openings (<NUM>), wherein each of the grip covers (S) comprises a ring mouth portion (S1) and a cover wall (S2) of a grip groove (S3) that is connected to a rear side of the ring mouth portion (S1) and concave inward, a plurality of hooks (S.<NUM>) detachably connected to the plurality of snap joints (<NUM>) are arranged on an inner side of the ring mouth portion (S1), at least one positioning groove (S <NUM>) is arranged on an outside of a top of the cover wall (S2);
at least one inserting portion (<NUM>) arranged on a top cover (<NUM>) of a top side of the housing (<NUM>) and fitted to the positioning groove (S <NUM>), wherein the inserting portion (<NUM>) is detachably inserted into the positioning groove (S <NUM>);
wherein a step portion (<NUM>) is arranged on outer ring edges of the side openings (<NUM>), the ring mouth portion (S1) is fitted to the step portion (<NUM>), and a hook (S <NUM>) avoidance opening (<NUM>) is arranged on the step portion (<NUM>).