U.S. patent application number 11/309028 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for electronic device with mounting apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to MING-CHIEN CHIU, YU-CHUN HUANG.
Application Number | 20070137140 11/309028 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37879268 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070137140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HUANG; YU-CHUN ; et
al. |
June 21, 2007 |
ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH MOUNTING APPARATUS
Abstract
An electronic device (10) includes a case (20), a circuit board
(30) received in the case, a front panel (40) including a first
groove (42), a gasket (50) including a hook (54), and a pair of
fixing posts (60) for securing the gasket on the front panel. The
front panel is mounted to the circuit board. The hook is received
in the first groove. Each fixing post is received in respective
ends of the first groove.
Inventors: |
HUANG; YU-CHUN;
(Tu-Cheng,Taipei Hsien, TW) ; CHIU; MING-CHIEN;
(Tu-Cheng,Taipei Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. CHENG-JU CHIANG JEFFREY T. KNAPP
458 E. LAMBERT ROAD
FULLERTON
CA
92835
US
|
Assignee: |
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO.,
LTD.
66,CHUNG SHAN ROAD
Tu-Cheng
TW
|
Family ID: |
37879268 |
Appl. No.: |
11/309028 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/750 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/1425 20130101;
H05K 9/0016 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/750 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/00 20060101
E04B001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 15, 2005 |
CN |
200510037327.7 |
Claims
1. A mounting apparatus for fixing a gasket comprising a hook, the
mounting apparatus comprising: a front panel defining a first
groove for receiving the hook; and a pair of fixing posts for
securing the gasket on the front panel, each post being received in
respective ends of the first groove.
2. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front
panel further comprises a top portion and a side portion connected
with the top portion.
3. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the side
portion comprises a first surface perpendicularly connecting with
the top portion, and a second surface parallel to the top
portion.
4. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the front
panel further defines a second groove.
5. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the gasket
further comprises another hook received in the second groove.
6. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first
groove is defined in the first surface adjacent to the top portion,
while the second groove is defined in the second surface away from
the top portion.
7. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a width of
the first groove is greater than that of the second groove.
8. An electronic device, comprising: a circuit board received in
the case; a front panel mounted to the circuit board, the front
panel defining a first groove; a gasket comprising a hook, the hook
being received in the first groove; and a pair of fixing posts for
securing the gasket on the front panel, each post being received in
respective ends of the first groove.
9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the front
panel further comprises a top portion and a side portion connected
with the top portion.
10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the side
portion comprises a first surface perpendicularly connecting with
the top portion, and a second surface parallel to the top
portion.
11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the front
panel further defines a second groove.
12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
gasket further comprises another hook received in the second
groove.
13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the
gasket has an arcuate cross-section and comprises two bent
portions, each bent portion connecting with the corresponding hook
of the gasket at a distal end.
14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first
groove is defined in the first surface adjacent to the top portion,
while the second groove is defined in the second surface away from
the top portion.
15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a width
of the first groove is greater than that of the second groove.
16. An electronic device comprising: a case of said electronic
device enclosing said electronic device and defining a cavity
therein; a circuit component removably installable in said cavity
of said case to have at least an edge of said circuit component
exposable out of said case from a side of said case; a panel
attachable to said edge of said circuit component and extending
therealong to shield said circuit component along said side of said
case; and a gasket removably attachable to a side portion of said
panel along a first direction parallel to said edge of said circuit
component for further electrical engagement along a second
direction away from said side portion of said panel to provide
electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection for said circuit
component in said case, said gasket mechanically engagable with
said side portion of said panel to be limited from moving along
said second direction after said gasket moves to installably attach
to said side portion of said panel along said first direction.
17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said
panel is extendably formed along said first direction during a
forming process of said panel.
18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said side
portion of said panel defines at least one groove extending along
said first direction to engage with said gasket.
19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least
one fixing post is removably installable to said side portion of
said panel to block said attached gasket from moving along said
first direction.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to electronic devices, and
particularly to an electronic device with a mounting apparatus for
fixing a gasket thereto.
[0002] DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0003] The operation of electronic components received in an
electronic device, such as a Digital Subscriber Line Access
Multiplexer (DSLAM), is often accompanied by the generation of
electromagnetic interference (EMI). The EMI may cause significant
problems for other surrounding electronic components, and may do
harm to users of the electronic device. Thus, EMI sources need to
be effectively shielded.
[0004] A conventional EMI shielding approach for solving this
problem uses a compressible gasket made of conductive foam. The
compressible gasket adheres to a front panel mounted to a circuit
board received in the electronic device. Although the EMI may be
shielded by the compressible gasket, the compressible gasket is
difficult to disengage from the front panel later on if necessary.
If the compressible gasket needs to be detached from the front
panel, damage to the compressible gasket may be caused. When this
happens, the shielding effect of the gasket may be degraded, and
the effective performance of the electronic device may be
interrupted or obstructed by EMI.
[0005] Another conventional EMI shielding approach for solving this
problem uses a conductive gasket to shield the EMI. However, the
conductive gasket is only a resilient sheet, which is engaged on
the front panel mounted to the circuit board received in the
electronic device, and the resilient sheet may slide along the
front panel and become disengaged from the front panel, thereby
becoming less effective. Furthermore, since the disengaged gasket
may scratch the front panel and the circuit board, and may strike
the electronic components in the electronic device, damage to the
electronic device may occur. Besides, positioning of the conductive
gasket is difficult. Adherence of the conductive gasket is not
always reliable after repeated use.
[0006] Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the
industry to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies and
inadequacies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] One aspect of the invention provides a mounting apparatus
for fixing a gasket including a hook. The apparatus includes a
front panel and a pair of fixing posts for securing the gasket on
the front panel. The front panel includes a first groove for
receiving the hook of the gasket. Each post is received in one of
ends of the first groove respectively.
[0008] Another aspect of the invention provides an electronic
device. The electronic device includes a case, a circuit board
received in the case, a front panel including a first groove, a
gasket including a hook, and a pair of fixing posts for securing
the gasket on the front panel. The front panel is mounted to the
circuit board. The hook is received in the first groove. Each
fixing post is received in one of ends of the first groove
respectively.
[0009] Other advantages and novel features will become more
apparent from the following detailed description of preferred
embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a mounting
apparatus, a gasket, and a circuit board of an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a circle portion II of FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but viewed from another
aspect;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, assembled view of FIG. 1; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is an assembled view of an electronic device of an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrate an electronic device 10 of an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The electronic
device 10 comprises a case 20, a plurality of circuit components
like circuit boards 30, a plurality of front panels 40, a plurality
of gaskets 50, and a plurality of fixing posts 60. One of the front
panels 40 together with one pair of the fixing posts 60 forms a
mounting apparatus for securing the gasket 50.
[0016] The case 20 comprises a top wall 22, a bottom wall 24 and a
pair of side walls 26. The top wall 22 is parallel to the bottom
wall 24 and perpendicular to the side walls 26. The side walls 26
connect with the top wall 22 and the bottom wall 24. The top wall
22, the bottom wall 24, and the side walls 26 cooperatively bound a
cavity 28 for receiving the circuit boards 30. The circuit boards
30 are parallel to each other and parallel to the side walls
26.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the front panel 40, is mounted
to an edge of the circuit board 30, and comprises a top portion 46
and a side portion 48. The side portion 48 comprises a first
surface 45 perpendicularly connecting with the top portion 46, and
a second surface 47 parallel to the top portion 46. The side
portion 48 defines a first groove 42 in the first surface 45
adjacent to the top portion 46, and a second groove 44 in the
second surface 47. The first groove 42 has a width slightly greater
than that of the second groove 44, facilitating installation of the
gasket 50 on the front panel 40. The extension direction of the
first and second grooves 42, 44 is same as the forming direction of
the front panel 40. For example, the extension direction is same as
the forming direction of the front panel 40 when the front panel 40
is made of Aluminum through an extrusive process.
[0018] The gasket 50 is mounted to the corresponding front panel 60
for shielding the EMI emissions and has a symmetrical structure.
The gasket 50 has an arcuate cross-section and comprises a pair of
bent portions 52 and a pair of hooks 54. Each hook 54 is formed at
an edge of each of the bent portions 52. The hooks 54 are received
in the first groove 42 and the second groove 44 of the front panel
40 respectively.
[0019] The fixing posts 60 are received in respective ends of the
first groove 42 to secure the gasket 50 on the front panel 40. Each
fixing post 60 has a narrowed end facilitating insertion into the
respective end of the first groove 42. A diameter of each fixing
post 60 away from the narrowed end is slightly greater than the
width of the first groove 42. The fixing posts 60 can be formed
through injection molding and made of plastic. As an alternative
embodiment, the fixing posts 60 can be made of other material. As
an alternative embodiment, the narrowed end of each fixing post 60
can be instead be rounded.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 4, in assembly, the front panel 40 is
mounted to an edge of the circuit board 30. The hooks 54 of the
gasket 50 are received in the first groove 42 and the second groove
44 of the front panel 40 respectively. The fixing posts 60 are
received in the two ends of the first groove 42 to prevent the
gasket 50 from disengaging. Thus, the gasket 50 is firmly secured
on the front panel 40. Furthermore, the fixing posts 60 are easily
removed from the first groove 42 with a tool for disengaging the
gasket 50 from the front panel 40 when necessary.
[0021] With the end of each fixing post 60 being narrowed, or
alternatively the end of each fixing post 60 being rounded, the
fixing posts 60 are easily inserted into the first groove 42. In
addition, with the diameter of the portion of each fixing post 60
away from the narrowed end being slightly greater than the width of
the first groove 42, the fixing posts 60 are firmly fixed in the
first groove 42 stably securing the gasket 50 on the front panel
40. Thus, during operation, transportation, or some other
situation, the gasket 50 cannot become accidentally disengaged from
the front panel 40. Thereby damage is prevented from the gasket 50
being loose and striking objects within electronic devices and EMI
shield integrity is maintained.
[0022] While exemplary embodiments have been described above, it
should be understood that they have been presented by way of
example only and not by way of limitation. Thus, the breadth and
scope of the present invention should not be limited by the
above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only
in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *