Leather Coating Structure for a Case and Method for Manufacturing Thereof

Abstract

A leather coating structure for a case includes a supporting plate with a top surface and a bottom surface assembled onto a upper cover of a portable electronic apparatus, and a leather coating layer with a top portion which covers the top surface and a extended portion which extends from the top portion to cover a portion of the bottom surface. The manufacturing method for the leather coating structure is also disclosed. A leather coating layer is attached onto a supporting plate to form a leather coating structure, the leather coating layer is bent at the edge of the supporting plate to cover a portion of the bottom surface, and then the leather coating structure is assembled onto an upper cover of a portable electronic apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the conventional upper cover of a laptop computer;

FIG. 2A is an exploded view of the leather coating structure of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the leather coating structure of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of the disclosed leather coating structure and an electronic apparatus before the assembly;

FIG. 3B is a schematic view of the disclosed upper cover and an electronic apparatus after the assembly;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3B along the A-A line;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3B along the B-B line;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the disclosed leather coating structure according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the disclosed method for manufacturing the upper cover.

Claims

1. A leather coating structure for a case of a portable electronic apparatus, the leather coating structure comprising: a supporting plate having a top surface and a bottom surface; anda leather coating layer having a top portion covering the top surface and an extended portion extending from edges of the top portion folded and covering a portion of the bottom surface.

2. The leather coating structure of claim 1, wherein the supporting plate is made of a plastic material.

3. The leather coating structure of claim 1, wherein the supporting plate is made of a metal.

4. The leather coating structure of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the extended portion is thinner than the thickness of the top portion.

5. The leather coating structure of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer located between the supporting plate and the leather coating layer for adhering thereof.

6. The leather coating structure of claim 1 further comprising a coating frame and the top portion having an inner opening, wherein the coating frame covers the edge of the inner opening.

7. A laptop computer, comprising: a case, providing outer shielding for the laptop computer;an upper cover, assembling onto the case; anda leather coating structure, assembling inside the upper cover, comprising: a supporting plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and the supporting plate for assembling the upper cover; anda leather coating layer having a top portion covering the top surface and a extended portion extending from the edge of the top portion folded and covering a portion of the bottom surface, the extended portion locating on the inner side of the supporting plate.

8. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the supporting plate is made of a plastic material.

9. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the supporting plate is made of a metal.

10. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the thickness of extended portion is thinner than the thickness of the top portion.

11. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an adhesive layer located between the supporting plate and the leather coating layer for adhering thereof.

12. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the supporting plate is located onto the laptop computer top plate.

13. The laptop computer as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a coating frame and the top portion having an inner opening, wherein the coating frame covering the edge of the inner opening.

14. A method for manufacture the laptop computer as claimed in claim 12, comprising assembling the supporting plate onto the laptop computer upper cover by adhesion, screwing, thermal fusion, hooking, or interfering.

15. A method of manufacturing a leather coating structure used for a portable electronic apparatus having a supporting plate with a bottom surface inside an upper cover of the portable electronic apparatus and a leather coating layer, the method comprising the steps of: attaching the leather coating layer to the supporting plate to form the leather coating structure;bending the leather coating layer at the edge of the supporting plate forming an extended portion to cover a portion of the bottom surface; andassembling the leather coating structure onto the upper cover of the portable electronic apparatus.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the attaching step uses an adhesive.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of thinning the extended portion to reduce the protrusion at the edge.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of using a coating frame to cover an inner opening edge of the leather coating layer.