U.S. patent application number 14/671440 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-16 for electronic device and a casing used therefor.
The applicant listed for this patent is NEC Corporation. Invention is credited to Shinichi Kamiya, Toshinobu Ogatsu.
Application Number | 20150201512 14/671440 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37683547 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150201512 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ogatsu; Toshinobu ; et
al. |
July 16, 2015 |
ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND A CASING USED THEREFOR
Abstract
In an electronic device in which a component connecting portion
is mounted inside a case, a protective cover is mounted to the case
to be rotatable and covers the component connecting portion. The
protective cover has elastically deformable hooks facing a
direction parallel to a rotation center line thereof. On the other
hand, the case has hook receivers engageable with an disengageable
from the hooks. The protective cover may be removable from the case
or may be loosely connected thereto.
Inventors: |
Ogatsu; Toshinobu; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Kamiya; Shinichi; (Shizuoka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NEC Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
37683547 |
Appl. No.: |
14/671440 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11996843 |
May 15, 2008 |
8995135 |
|
|
PCT/JP2006/315345 |
Jul 27, 2006 |
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14671440 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/660 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 292/702 20150401;
H05K 5/03 20130101; H05K 5/0217 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H05K 5/03 20060101
H05K005/03; H05K 5/02 20060101 H05K005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 27, 2005 |
JP |
2005-217292 |
Claims
1. A cover comprising: a first flat portion having a first
principal surface and a side surface; a first hook projecting from
a first end portion of the first flat portion in a surface
direction of the first principal surface; and a first engagement
portion projecting from a free end of the first hook in the surface
direction that is different from a projecting direction of the
first hook; and a lib projecting from an end portion, opposite to
the first flat portion, of the second flat portion in a surface
direction of the second principal surface.
2. The cover according to claim 1, further comprising: a second
hook projecting from the first end portion in the surface
direction; and a second engagement portion projecting from a free
end of the second hook in the surface direction that is different
from the projecting direction of the second hook.
3. The cover according to claim 2, wherein the first and the second
engagement portions are directed to reverse mutually.
4. The cover according to claim 1, further comprising an additional
hook at an end portion of the second flat portion.
5. A casing comprising: the cover according to claim 1; and a case
provided with the cover.
6. The casing according to claim 5, wherein the cover is put on the
case so that a flat surface including the projection directions of
the first hook and the first engagement portion faces an upper wall
or a side wall of the case, the lib is engaged with the case, and
the case has a hook receiver for engaging the first engagement
portion.
7. The casing according to claim 6, wherein the cover is rotatable
around a rotation center line which is produced by engaging the lib
with the case, and the first hook is provided at its end portion
which is apart from the rotation center line.
8. The casing according to claim 6, wherein the case has a recess
adapted to fit the first hook, and the hook receiver is formed on
an end portion of the recess.
9. The casing according to claim 5, wherein the case comprises: An
additional hook at an end portion of the second flat portion; and
An additional hook receiver adapted to be engaged with the
additional hook.
10. The casing according to claim 9, wherein the flange has a
cutout portion for receiving the additional hook receiver.
11. The casing according to claim 5, wherein the case has an open
portion, and the cover is placed over the open portion.
12. The casing according to claim 11, wherein the case has a flange
provided to at least a portion of a periphery of the open portion,
the cover is placed on the flange.
13. The casing according to claim 5, wherein the case and the cover
are connected to each other through a flexible material.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to an electronic device, such as a
digital camera or a portable music player.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In an electronic device, such as a digital camera or a
portable music player, a memory card is used. In recent years, the
memory card is also used in some mobile phones. In order to enable
the use of the memory card, the electronic device has a memory card
connector mounted therein. The memory card connector is covered by
a protective cover. When the memory card is inserted into or
removed from the memory card connector, the protective cover is
opened.
[0003] The electronic device of this type having the protective
cover is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2003-218549. Referring to FIG.
1, the electronic device will briefly be described.
[0004] The electronic device includes an upper case 1, a lower case
2, and a protective cover 5. In a space between the upper case 1
and the lower case 2, a panel 3 is provided and a memory card
connector (not shown) is mounted on the panel 3. A memory card (not
shown) can be inserted into or removed from the memory card
connector.
[0005] The protective cover 5 has a rectangular shape in plan view
and a generally L shape in section. The protective cover 5 has
insertion ribs 51 formed on both ends of a long side edge and
generally L-shaped hooks 54 formed in the vicinity of both ends of
short side edges.
[0006] The upper case 1 has hook receivers 14 formed inside one
long side in correspondence to the hooks 54 of the protective cover
5, respectively. Between the hooks 54 and an inner upper end of the
lower case 2, a space S is formed.
[0007] When the protective cover 5 is opened, an operation is
performed as follows. First, a concave portion (not shown) formed
on a right side surface of the protective cover 5 in FIG. 1 is
pulled up by a finger. Consequently, the hooks 54 are disengaged
from the hooks 14 of the upper case 1, respectively, and
elastically deformed leftwards within a range of the space S.
[0008] Subsequently, the protective cover 5 is rotated around the
insertion ribs 51 in a direction shown by an arrow. Accordingly,
the protective cover 5 is opened, so that the memory card can be
inserted into or removed from the memory card connector on the
panel 3.
[0009] In the above-mentioned electronic device, the hooks 54 of
the protective cover 5 are elastically deformed in a direction
perpendicular to a rotation center line (a line connecting the both
insertion ribs 51) of the protective cover 5, so that the
protective cover 5 is easy to be unintentionally opened from the
upper case 1 when touched by hand.
[0010] In order to prevent the protective cover 5 from being
unintentionally opened from the upper case 1, it is inevitable to
deepen a depth of engagement between the hooks 54 of the protective
cover 5 and the hooks 14 of the upper case 1. In this event, the
space S in FIG. 7 must be widened so that the upper case 1 and the
lower case 2 are increased in size in a left-to-right [transversal]
direction in FIG. 7. Thus, the electronic device itself is
increased in size.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an electronic device capable of preventing a protective
cover from being unintentionally opened from a case and capable of
achieving reduction in size.
[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
casing for use in the above-mentioned electronic device.
[0013] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an electronic device characterized by including a case, a
component connecting portion mounted inside the case, and a
protective cover mounted to the case to be rotatable around a
rotation center line and covering the component connecting portion,
the protective cover having an elastically deformable hook facing a
direction parallel to the rotation center line, the case having a
hook receiver engageable with and disengageable from the hook.
[0014] The electronic device may be arranged so that the case
includes an upper case and a lower case coupled with the upper
case, the protective cover and the hook receiver being disposed on
the upper case.
[0015] The electronic device may be arranged so that the case
includes an upper case and a lower case coupled with the upper
case, the protective cover being disposed on the upper case, the
hook receiver being disposed on the lower case.
[0016] The electronic device may be arranged so that the electronic
device further including a panel arranged inside the case, the
component connecting portion being mounted on the panel.
[0017] The electronic device may be arranged so that the protective
cover has an additional hook facing a direction reverse to the
hooks, the case having an additional hook receiver engageable with
and disengageable from the additional hook.
[0018] The electronic device may be arranged so that the case has
an edge portion formed on its upper surface and defining a cover
receiving opening, the protective cover being mounted so as to be
fitted to the cover receiving opening.
[0019] The electronic device may be arranged so that the case has a
flange formed on the edge portion, the protective cover being
supported by the flange.
[0020] The electronic device may be arranged so that the component
connecting portion is a connector for connecting a memory card.
[0021] The electronic device may be arranged so that the component
connecting portion is a connector for connecting an SIM card.
[0022] The electronic device may be arranged so that the component
connecting portion is a contact point for connecting an
exchangeable battery.
[0023] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a casing for an electronic device, characterized by
including a case incorporating a component connecting portion and a
protective cover mounted to the case to be rotatable around a
rotation center line and covering the component connecting portion,
the protective cover having an elastically deformable hook facing a
direction parallel to the rotation center line, the case having a
hook receiver engageable with and disengageable from the hook.
[0024] The casing may be arranged so that the case includes an
upper case and a lower case coupled with the upper case, the
protective cover and the hook receiver being disposed on the upper
case.
[0025] The casing may be arranged so that the case includes an
upper case and a lower case coupled with the upper case, the
protective cover being disposed on the upper case, the hook
receiver being disposed on the lower case.
[0026] The casing may be arranged so as to further include a panel
arranged inside the case, the component connecting portion being
mounted on the panel.
[0027] The casing may be arranged so that the protective cover has
an additional hook facing a direction reverse to the hooks, the
case having an additional hook receiver engageable with and
disengageable from the additional hook.
[0028] The casing may be arranged so that the case has an edge
portion formed on its upper surface and defining a cover receiving
opening, the protective cover being mounted so as to be fitted to
the cover receiving opening.
[0029] The casing may be arranged so that the case has a flange
formed on the edge portion, the protective cover being supported by
the flange.
[0030] The casing may be arranged so that the component connecting
portion is a connector for connecting a memory card.
[0031] The casing may be arranged so that the component connecting
portion is a connector for connecting an SIM card.
[0032] The casing may be arranged so that the component connecting
portion is a contact point for connecting an exchangeable
battery.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0033] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a characteristic part of a
conventional electronic device;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an electronic device
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the electronic device
together with a memory card in a state where a protective cover is
removed therefrom;
[0036] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic
device together with the memory card;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along a line V-V in FIG.
2;
[0038] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along a line VI-VI in FIG.
2;
[0039] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic
device, together with a memory card, according to a second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an electronic device,
together with a memory card, according to a third embodiment of the
present invention in a state where a protective cover is removed
therefrom;
[0041] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing a state where the
protective cover is opened; and
[0042] FIG. 10 is a schematic bottom view of an upper cover showing
a state where the protective cover is closed.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 2 through 6, an electronic device
according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be
described.
[0044] In FIGS. 2 through 6, the electronic device includes a case
including an upper case 1 and a lower case 2 coupled thereto. The
upper case 1 is provided with a protective cover 5. Inside the
case, a circuit board or a panel 3 is provided between the upper
case 1 and the lower case 2. Herein, a combination of the upper
case 1, the lower case 2, the panel 3, and the protective cover 5
is called a casing for an electronic device.
[0045] On an upper surface of the panel 3, a memory card connector
31 is mounted as a component connecting portion. A memory card 4
can be inserted into or removed from the memory card connector 31.
Inside the case, in addition to the memory card 4, an internal
mechanism (not shown in the figure) for a mobile phone, a digital
camera, or a portable music player is provided by the use of the
panel 3 or the like.
[0046] In plan view, the protective cover 5 has a rectangular shape
extended in a first direction (left-to-right direction) A1 and in a
second direction (back-and-forth direction) A2 perpendicular to the
first direction. The protective cover 5 has a generally L-shaped
section along a plane perpendicular to the first direction A. The
protective cover 5 has, at an end portion in the second direction
A2, i.e., at a rear end, a pair of insertion ribs 51 separated from
each other in the first direction A1. Further, the protective cover
5 has, at its front end, a pair of hooks 52 separated from each
other in the first direction A1. As apparent from FIG. 5, both of
the hooks 52 are formed to face outward in the first direction A1.
In addition, the protective cover 5 is provided with a concave
portion 53 at the center of the front end.
[0047] The upper case 1 has an edge portion la defining a cover
receiving opening 12 which has a shape substantially congruent with
that of the protective cover 5. The cover receiving opening 12
extends from an upper surface to a front surface of the upper case
1. The edge portion 1a is provided with a flange 13 formed at its
rear side. The protective cover 5 is mounted so as to be fitted to
the cover receiving opening 12. In this event, the protective cover
5 is supported by the flange 13 to be prevented from dropping into
the case through the cover receiving opening 12.
[0048] The edge portion 1a of the upper case 1 has, at its front
side, hook holes 11 separated from each other in the first
direction A1 and formed in one-to-one correspondence to the hooks
52. Each of the hook holes 11 is provided with a hook receiver 11a
formed at its inner part. The hook receivers 11a are formed to face
inward in the first direction A1 so as to be engaged with the hooks
52, respectively.
[0049] The memory card 4 in a state shown in FIG. 3 is inserted
into the memory card connector 31. Next, the insertion ribs 51 of
the protective cover 5 are engaged with an inner surface of a rear
part of the edge portion 1a of the upper case 1. Subsequently, the
protective cover 5 is rotated rightward around the insertion ribs
51 by approximately 90 degrees toward a position shown in FIG. 2 to
close the protective cover 5. In this event, a straight line
connecting the insertion ribs 51 is a rotation center line of the
protective cover 5. Therefore, this rotation center line extends in
the first direction A1.
[0050] When the protective cover 5 is closed, the hooks 52 of the
protective cover 5 are inserted into the hook holes 11 of the upper
case 1, respectively. Eventually, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the
hooks 52 of the protective cover 5 are slightly bent inward in the
first direction A1 and go over convex portions 11b to be engaged
with the hook receivers 11a, respectively. Thus, as shown in FIG.
2, the protective cover 5 in a closed state is firmly retained by
the upper case 1.
[0051] In case where the protective cover 5 is opened from the
state of FIG. 2, an operation is performed as follows. The concave
portion 53 of the protective cover 5 is pulled up by a finger
engaged therewith. Then, the hooks 52 of the protective cover 5 are
disengaged from the hook receivers 11a of the upper case 1,
respectively. Therefore, the protective cover 5 can easily be
opened.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 7, an electronic device according to a
second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Similar portions are designated by the like reference numerals and
description thereof is omitted.
[0053] The upper case 1 shown in FIG. 7 does not have those
components corresponding to the hook holes 11 and the hook
receivers 11a of the electronic device shown in FIGS. 2 through 6.
Instead, on a front surface of the lower case 2, a pair of hook
grooves 21 separated from each other in the first direction A1 and
hook receivers 21a formed outside thereof and projecting forward
are formed. As a matter of course, each set of the hook groove 21
and the hook receiver 21 is disposed in correspondence to each of
the hooks 52 of the protective cover 5.
[0054] In this electronic device, when the protective cover 5 is
closed, the hooks 52 of the protective cover 5 are inserted into
the hook grooves 21 of the lower case 2, respectively. The hooks 52
of the protective cover 5 are engaged with the hook receivers 21a
in a vertical direction with slight inward bend in the first
direction A1. Thus, the protective cover 5 in a closed state is
firmly retained by the case. Incidentally, an operation of opening
the protective cover 5 is carried out in a manner similar to the
electronic device shown in FIGS. 2 through 6.
[0055] According to the electronic device in FIG. 7, the cover
receiving opening 12 of the upper case 1 has a simplified
structure. Further, a molding die used in manufacturing the upper
case 1 can be simplified.
[0056] In the electronic device shown in FIG. 3 or 7, the
protective cover 5 can be completely separated from the upper case
1. However, for the sake of usability, the protective cover 5 may
be loosely connected to the upper case 1 by a rubber component or
the like.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 8 through 10, an electronic device
according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be
described. Similar components are designated by the same reference
numerals and description thereof is omitted.
[0058] In the electronic device shown in FIGS. 8 through 10, the
protective cover 5 is connected to the upper case 1 by a connecting
member 6 made of rubber having flexibility. Therefore, in this
case, it may be said that the protective cover 5 is an
openable/closable cover.
[0059] The upper case 1 has a stopper portion 13 formed on a lower
surface thereof. The protective cover 5 has a projection 54 formed
on a lower surface thereof. The connecting member 6 generally has a
U shape and includes a fixed portion 61 fixed to the projection 54
of the protective cover 5 and a pair of leg portions 62 extending
in parallel with each other from the fixed portion 61. Each of the
leg portions 62 has an engaging portion 63 to be engaged with the
stopper portion 13 of the upper case 1 in the first direction A2.
Thus, disengagement of the protective cover 5 from the upper case 1
is prevented. In a state where the protective cover 5 is normally
mounted to the upper case 1, the engaging portions 63 are
preferably separated from the stopper portion 13.
[0060] The hooks 52 are released from the upper case 1 and the
protective cover 5 is slightly moved forward in the second
direction A2 and raised along a third direction (vertical
direction) A3 perpendicular to the first direction A1 and the
second direction A2. Consequently, the protective cover 5 can
easily be opened. Incidentally, an operation of closing the
protective cover 5 is carried out in a manner similar to the
electronic device shown in FIGS. 2 through 6.
[0061] According to the electronic device shown in FIGS. 8 through
10, the protective cover 5 is connected to the upper case 1 in a
relatively loose state to be prevented from disengagement.
Therefore, upon opening and closing the protective cover 5,
usability is good.
[0062] Each of the above-mentioned electronic devices has two sets
of combination of the hook and the hook receiver but may be
modified into a configuration with only one set. Further, in the
foregoing, the case of using the memory card has been described.
However, not being limited to the memory card, this invention is
also applicable to a case where an SIM card or an exchangeable
battery is used. In case where the SIM card is used, an SIM card
connector is used as the component connecting portion. In case
where the exchangeable battery is used, a contact point for
connecting the battery is used as the component connecting
portion.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0063] In order to realize easy insertion and removal of the memory
card, the SIM card, or the exchangeable battery, a complicated lock
mechanism using a spring is often used. However, by employing the
present invention, the above-mentioned mechanism is unnecessary and
reliability of the electronic device can be achieved by inexpensive
alternative means.
* * * * *