HOUSING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME

Abstract

An exemplary housing mechanism (100) for an electronic device includes a front cover (10), a back cover (20), and an elastic sealing element (12). The front cover has a projecting edge (18) defined thereon. The back cover has a recessed edge (26) defined therein. The elastic sealing element has a tip portion (122) and is formed or sealed together with the front cover. The projecting edge of the front cover and the tip portion of the elastic sealing element are configured to be press fit into the recessed edge of the back cover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the housing mechanism can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present housing mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, schematic view of a housing mechanism, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the housing mechanism in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an assembled, schematic view of the housing mechanism of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the present housing mechanism, as taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a portable electronic device incorporating the present housing mechanism.

Claims

1. A housing mechanism for an electronic device, comprising: a front cover having a projecting edge defined thereon;a back cover having a grooved edge defined therein; andan elastic sealing element having a tip portion, the elastic sealing portion being one of formed together with the front cover and sealingly attached thereto;wherein the projecting edge of the front cover and the tip portion of the elastic sealing element are configured to be press fit into the grooved edge of the back cover.

2. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front cover has a concave portion adjacent to the projecting edge.

3. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elastic sealing element is positioned in the concave portion of the front cover.

4. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the concave portion has two perpendicular surfaces.

5. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip portion of the elastic sealing element is adjacent to the projecting edge of the front cover.

6. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grooved edge of the back cover has two side surfaces and a bottom surface.

7. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic sealing element is made of an elastomeric material.

8. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic sealing element is made of one of material chosen from the group consisting of rubber materials and thermoplastic urethanes (TPU).

9. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of the projecting edge plus a width of the tip portion is slightly larger than that at an equivalent location within the grooved edge of the back cover.

10. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front cover and the back cover are made of a plastic material.

11. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front cover and the back cover are locked together by screws.

12. A method for making a housing mechanism for an electronic device, comprising the steps of: providing a front cover, the front cover having a projecting edge;one of integrally forming and sealingly attaching an elastic sealing element on the front cover, the elastic sealing element having a tip portion;forming a back cover having a grooved edge; andpress fitting the projecting edge of the front cover and the tip portion of the elastic sealing element together into the grooved edge of the back cover.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the front cover and the back cover are made of a plastic material.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the elastic sealing element is made of an elastomeric material.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the elastic sealing element is made of a material chosen from the group consisting of natural and synthetic rubber materials and thermoplastic urethanes (TPU).

16. A portable electronic device including a housing mechanism and at least one of a display and a keypad carried by the housing mechanism, the housing mechanism comprising: a front cover having a projecting edge defined thereon;a back cover having a grooved edge defined therein; andan elastic sealing element having a tip portion, the elastic sealing portion being one of formed together with the front cover and sealingly attached thereto;wherein the projecting edge of the front cover and the tip portion of the elastic sealing element are configured to be press fit into the grooved edge of the back cover.

17. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the front cover has a concave portion adjacent to the projecting edge, and the elastic sealing element is positioned in the concave portion of the front cover.

18. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein a width of the projecting edge plus a width of the tip portion is slightly larger than that at an equivalent location within the grooved edge of the back cover.