Patent Application
20140202916
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Chinese Patent Application No. 201310027942.4, filed Jan. 24, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a structure of an enclosure of a portable electronic device, especially a structure of a glass enclosure of a portable electronic device having desired color and pattern decoration as well as durable impact resistance, and a process of preparing the structure of an enclosure.
2. Description of Related Art
Personal portable electronic devices such as mobile-phone, smart phone, tablet-PC, note book-PC, e-book reader had been commonly used now a days. As the market became mature and comparative, design of such device appearance has been diversified and demands to apply various materials such as plastic, metal, wood and glass became overt. Among such materials, there is a demand for glass especially for high grade models because of the superior aesthetic.
Colored glass can be made by adding additives to a glass composition, and it is also possible to make the glass opaque by crystallization of glass by adding proper chemical substances. However it is difficult to make variation of colors with economical ways.
Another issue was durability, especially the application to portable devices, which requires the strength against impact (such as falling down to floor). Chemically toughened glass is usually used for this type of applications. However, compositions of the chemically toughened glass are limited, giving difficulty for obtaining a glass composition that meets other requirement such as appearance.
The present invention gives a glass enclosure article with color and pattern decoration, which has the desired color or texture appearance and also a durable impact resistance. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of the glass enclosure article with a simple and economical way.
According to one embodiment, the glass enclosure article of the present invention comprises a glass enclosure having an inner surface, an outer surface and a rim and a coating, wherein the coating is made of a thermoplastic elastic material, the thermoplastic elastic material being preferably colored thermoplastic elastic material, and wherein the coating covers a whole or a part of the inner surface of the glass enclosure.
In another embodiment, the coating covers a whole or a part of the edge of rim, ensuring mechanical insulation between the glass enclosure and other flaming structure.
In another embodiment, a notch formed along the rim of the glass enclosure, and the coating extends to and fills the notch.
In another embodiment, the glass used in the glass enclosure is chemically or thermally toughened.
In another embodiment, the process of preparing the glass enclosure article of the present invention comprises the following steps: placing a glass enclosure having an inner surface shaped in concave onto a first mold which has surface suitable for covering the convex outer surface of the glass enclosure; placing a second mold at a position over the glass enclosure which makes a space between the second mold and the glass enclosure; and injecting the colored thermoplastic elastic material into the space between the second mold and the glass enclosure.
In another embodiment, the process of preparing the glass enclosure article of the present invention comprises the following steps: printing solid color or texture or pattern on a film; placing a glass enclosure having an inner surface shaped in concave onto a first mold which has surface suitable for covering the convex outer surface of the glass enclosure; placing the printed film onto the glass enclosure, wherein an unprinted side of the film is brought into contact with the glass enclosure; placing a second mold at a position over the printed film which makes a space between the second mold and the film; injecting the thermoplastic elastic material into the space between the second mold and the film; detaching the film from shaped thermoplastic elastic material; placing the shaped thermoplastic elastic material in a direction corresponding to the glass enclosure, and in contacting with the, printed texture; pressing the thermoplastic elastic material with the second mold; and heating the glass enclosure and the thermoplastic elastic material.
Additional features and advantages of the embodiments described herein will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments described herein.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description describe various embodiments and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed subject matter. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate the various embodiments described herein, and together with the Description serve to explain the principles and operations of the claimed subject matter.
In the present description, the term “glass” represents glass, toughened glass.
In the present description, the term “colored thermoplastic elastic material” represents a thermoplastic elastic material having the desired color through selected or colored thermoplastic elastic material.
In the present description, the term “article” represents an article having a colored thermoplastic elastic material on the inner surface of the glass enclosure. With reference to the inner surface of the glass enclosure covered by a colored thermoplastic elastic material, the term “a whole” indicates that all the inner surfaces (faces and edges) of the glass enclosure are covered by the colored thermoplastic elastic material. The term “a part” indicates that a part of the selected region (faces and edges) of the inner surface of the glass enclosure is covered by the colored thermoplastic elastic material.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
While
In the embodiments of the glass enclosure article described in the present invention, the glass enclosure 10 may have a thickness of 0.2 mm to 5.0 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm.
In the embodiments of the glass enclosure article described in the present invention, the glass enclosure 10 is preferably colorless and transparent or translucent. All the standard soda-lime glass, aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass or other glasses industrially available can be used, and toughened glass can also be used.
In one embodiment, the glass enclosure is formed from glass purchased from markets, for example SCHOTT LAS80.
That the inner surface of the glass enclosure article of the present invention is covered by a coating formed from a colored thermoplastic elastic material renders the article of the present invention the desired color appearance and also a durable impact resistance.
It can be selected the color of the thermoplastic elastic material of the present invention according to requirements, or the thermoplastic elastic material is colored to obtain a desired color. The desired color can be available by mixing pigments or colored pigments onto the thermoplastic elastic material.
In one specific embodiment, the colored thermoplastic elastic material of the present invention may be black by adding black carbon particles to acrylic resin.
The thermoplastic elastic material used in the glass enclosure article of the present invention is commercially available. Specifically, the thermoplastic elastic material can be selected from acrylic polymer, polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyolefin and combination thereof, whereas the present invention is not limited within the above listed materials.
Referring to
After cooling, the glass enclosure article made by the above device has the desired color appearance and luster, hardness, and smoothness since the glass enclosure is transparent and the colored thermoplastic elastic material has the desired color. When the glass enclosure article is immobilized into the structure of an electronic device, the glass enclosure is insulated from other members due to the thermoplastic elastic material between the glass enclosure and other members to be installed, and thus the impact applied to the glass enclosure can be absorbed.
Herein the mold can be made of one from metals such as stainless steel, Titanium or ceramics like aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon-carbide or silicon-nitride.
The thermoplastic elastic material is selected from acrylic polymer, polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyolefin and combination thereof.
Further, in order to obtain not only a solid color appearance of the thermoplastic elastic material but also diversified color and texture or pattern such as geometric feature, geometric leather or geometric pattern, the following treatment is introduced.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The distance between the glass enclosure 12 and the second mold 44 not including the printed film thickness is 0.02 mm-1.0 mm, preferably 0.2 mm-0.4 mm.
The thermoplastic elastic material is heated to the temperature which the material to have plasticity and fluidness, and the thermoplastic elastic material is injected into the space via a channel 62. Whole mold and article are cooled down the temperature the thermoplastic elastic material loose fluidness and the article is separated from mold. The film 71 is detached by peeling off from shaped thermoplastic elastic material. The shaped thermoplastic elastic material with print material on surface is placed in a direction corresponding to the glass enclosure and the glass enclosure contacts with the printed texture. The second mold 44 is immobilized in contact to the shaped thermoplastic elastic material at the position no gap is made between the second mold and the glass enclosure. Molds and the glass enclosure article are heated to the temperature which the thermoplastic elastic material has plasticity and fluidness and thermoplastic elastic material is pressed with the second mold and adhere to glass enclosure article. The shape of the thermoplastic elastic material is stabilized by cooling mold and article.
Herein the mold can be made of one from metals such as stainless steel, Titanium or ceramics like aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon-carbide or silicon-nitride.
The film can be made of one from polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyester, acrylic resin, polyvinyl chloride or metal foil such as aluminum foil, copper foil, or complexes of each of the above materials and the release layer can be coated on the surface of above film to improve separation of the sheet from glass enclosure.
The thermoplastic elastic material is selected from acrylic polymer, polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyolefin and combination thereof.
The glass enclosure article made by the process shown in
As unlimited examples, the glass enclosure article of the present invention can be used as an enclosure of an electronic device, such as mobile phones, tablet computers, notebook computers, personal music players, electronic book readers, handheld calculators, computer mouse top covers, and the like.
The glass enclosure article of the present invention may have the desired color and pattern appearance by covering the whole or a part of the inner surface of the glass enclosure with a colored thermoplastic elastic material, and the glass enclosure is insulated from other members by having a thermoplastic elastic material between the glass enclosure and the members to be installed, and thus the impact applied to the glass enclosure can be absorbed.
The glass enclosure article of the present invention combines the beneficial properties of glass and thermoplastic elastic material in the same article. Specifically, glass has beautiful appearance and smooth feeling but various colors and/or patterns cannot be obtained easily through economical ways; whereas a thermoplastic elastic material can have the desired color readily by selecting appropriate components. To have a thermoplastic elastic material on the inner surface of the glass enclosure renders the obtained glass enclosure article the desired color and/or pattern, and also the beautiful appearance and smooth feeling of the glass. Further, the glass enclosure is insulated from other members by having a thermoplastic elastic material between the glass enclosure and the members to be installed, and thus the impact applied to the glass enclosure can be absorbed, and the glass enclosure article has a durable impact resistance.
It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Thus it is intended that the modifications and variations of the various embodiments described herein are within the scope of protection of the present invention provided such modification and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Glass enclosure was shaped by casting melted Schott LAS80 glass to have dimension of 100 mm×60 mm rectangle shape with curved corner of radius 5 mm and 3 mm depth concave with uniform thickness of 1.0 mm.
One set of mold is made with stainless-steel SUS420 by Numerical Control machining. First mold has concave which corresponds to the outer dimension of above glass enclosure. Second mold has convex shape and it is made to give uniform distance of 1 mm from the inner surface of above glass enclosure when two mold and glass enclosure are combined.
Acrylic resin and black carbon powder was mixed with 99:1 ratio for black colored thermoplastic elastic material by roll mill.
Glass enclosure was fixed in the concave on first mold by vacuum via hole through mold body. Then second mold was fixed on the first mold to make space between second mold and glass enclosure. The molds and glass enclosure were heated up to 110 degree C. and the colored thermoplastic elastic material was heated up to 120 degree C. and injected into the space between the second mold and the glass enclosure by pumping system through the injection channel made through the second mold. The molds and glass enclosure were cooled down to 70 degree C. and second mold was removed.
The Glass enclosure prepared in Example is used. Colored layer printed film was prepared as following process. 100 um thick polyethylene terephthalate film was used as a base film. Release layer was made by coating silicone resin on the film surface. Ink made of acrylic resin and color dye was coated by offset printing on the film to make colored decoration pattern.
The glass enclosure was set on first mold and fixed with vacuum and above printed film was positioned to cover the glass enclosure with direction which the printed side opposite to glass enclosure and base film surface facing to glass enclosure. Second mold was set over the glass enclosure and printed film and the film was fixed with two molds in the whole area out of glass mold. The molds and glass enclosure were heated up to 110 degree C. and the thermoplastic elastic material was heated up to 120 degree C. and injected into the space between the second mold and the glass enclosures by pumping system through the injection channel made through the second mold. The molds and glass enclosure were cooled down to 70 degree C. and second mold was removed. The thermoplastic elastic material has shape to correspond to the inner surface of glass enclosure and removed from glass enclosure by pulling up printed film. The base film of printed film was removed from the thermoplastic elastic material easily from release layer on it and decoration texture remained on the surface of shaped elastic article.
The elastic material was placed on the glass enclosure on the first mold, and the printed side of the elastic material is brought into contact with the glass enclosure. The second mold was placed on the glass enclosure and the first mold. Molds, glass enclosure and elastic article were heated up to 120 degree Celsius and softened ink layer became adhesive to glass enclosure. Whole set was cooled down to ambient temperature and the glass enclosure was separated by compressed air applied through hole in first mold. The obtained glass enclosure had desired color and texture when observed from outer side through glass and covered whole area and edge by thermoplastic elastic material.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201310027942.4 | Jan 2013 | CN | national |
