The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to a shell for at least one electronic device and method for manufacturing the same.
A shell of an electronic device is mostly made of metal or plastic. The shell can be easily deformed, its appearance may be affected after being handled for a long period of time, and if the device is dropped.
Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.
Implementations of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of embodiments only, with reference to the attached figures.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and the proportions of certain portions may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”
The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like.
In
The shell 10 may further includes buttons, cameras, and other electronic components not shown in the
The shell 10 is made of a memory metal. The memory metal restores to its original shape after being deformed by pressure or impact. So, the shell 10 can restore to its original shape by being heated after being deformed.
Furthermore, the shell 10 does not need to be heated if the external force is small and in a range of self-restoring force.
Furthermore, the memory metal being hyperelastic, the shell 10 has a high degree of resilience when squeezed or dropped.
The memory metal may be nickel-titanium-based memory alloy, copper-based shape memory metal alloy, iron-based shape memory metal alloy, or gold-cadmium alloy.
The nickel-titanium based memory alloy may be titanium-nickel alloy, nickel-titanium-niobium alloy, or titanium-nickel-palladium alloy.
The copper-based shape memory metal alloy may be copper-gold-tin alloy, copper-aluminum alloy, or copper-tin alloy.
The iron-based shape memory metal alloy may be iron-palladium alloy or iron-manganese-silicon alloy.
In at least one embodiment, the frame 101 is formed from a single metal strip 1011 which is bent into a rectangle shape. Two ends of the metal strip 1011 can be joined together by one of riveting, nanometer injection molding, die casting, welding, and on the like, to obtain a closed frame 101.
In other embodiments, a shape of the frame 101 is not limited to being rectangular, it can be various other shapes according to the actual needs of the user.
In other embodiments, the frame 101 can be made from two or three or four metal strips 1011 joined together to form a closed frame 101.
As in
Referring to
At block 601, a plate is provided, the plate is made of memory metal.
The memory metal may be nickel-titanium based memory alloy, copper-based shape memory metal alloy, iron-based shape memory metal alloy, or gold-cadmium alloy. The nickel-titanium based memory alloy may be titanium-nickel alloy, nickel-titanium-niobium alloy, or titanium-nickel-palladium alloy. The copper-based shape memory metal alloy may be copper-gold-tin alloy, copper-aluminum alloy, or copper-tin alloy. The iron-based shape memory metal alloy may be iron-palladium alloy or iron-manganese-silicon alloy.
At block 602, the plate is cut to obtain at least one metal strip 1011.
In at least one embodiment, there is one metal strip 1011.
In other embodiments, there may be two, three, or four metal strips 1011.
At block 603, the at least one metal strip 1011 is bent to form various shapes, such as rectangular, oval, or trapezoidal shape.
At block 604, the metal strip 1011 after being bent is treated for shaping and shape memory to give a memory to the metal strip 1011.
In at least one embodiment, the metal strip 1011 after being bent is put into a shaping mold (not shown in
The shell 10 can be heated to restore to its original shape after being deformed. The higher the treatment temperature, the higher is the restoration heating temperature.
At block 605, two ends of the metal strip 1011 are joined together to form a closed frame 101 and further form the shell 10.
The two ends of the metal strip 1011 can be joined together by riveting, nanometer injection molding, die casting, or welding, to obtain the frame 101.
In at least one embodiment, the two ends of the metal strip 1011 are joined together by nanometer injection molding.
The frame 101 has a thickness ranging from 0.8 millimeter to 1.2 millimeters.
In at least one embodiment, the frame 101 is rectangular.
With the above configuration, the frame 101 of the shell 10 is made of memory metal, so the shell 10 has a memory function. That is, the shell 10 can be heated to restore to its original shape after deformation. The memory metal being hyperelastic, the shell 10 is very resilient against everyday impact and mishandling in any event.
The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a shell for at least one electronic device. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been positioned forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes can be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above can be modified within the scope of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201810757689.0 | Jul 2018 | CN | national |