TWM658664U - Engaging structure - Google Patents

Abstract

An engaging structure includes a first housing, a second housing, and an elastic member. The first housing includes a first engaging portion, and the first engaging portion includes a restriction post. The second housing includes a second engaging portion, the second engaging portion has a restriction hole, and the restriction post is disposed in the restriction hole. The elastic member is disposed between the second engaging portion and the first housing. The first housing and the second housing are coupled to each other by the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, the restriction post and the restriction hole limit the relative movement of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion substantially in the plane, and the elastic member limits the relative movement of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion when they are engaged to each other in a perpendicular direction, the perpendicular direction being perpendicular to the plane.

Description

Snap-fit structure

This invention is about a snap-fit structure, and in particular about a snap-fit structure in which two shells can be coupled to each other.

A product is usually composed of several parts, so some snap-on methods are needed to combine and fix the parts, and the parts need to be removable for easy maintenance. The materials of several parts are not necessarily exactly the same, and different combination methods will be derived for different situations. For example, workpieces of the same or different materials can be combined with each other by screwing, riveting, welding, etc.

To this end, relevant researchers are committed to providing a snap-fit structure that can connect the two shells to each other.

This creation is about a snap-fit structure to connect two shells together.

According to one aspect of the invention, a clamping structure is proposed. The clamping structure includes a first shell, a second shell and an elastic member. The first shell includes a first clamping part, and the first clamping part includes a limiting column. The second shell includes a second clamping part, and the second clamping part has a limiting hole, and the limiting column is located in the limiting hole. The elastic member is arranged between the second clamping part and the first shell. The first shell and the second shell are mutually coupled by the first clamping part and the second clamping part, and the limiting column and the limiting hole limit the relative movement of the first clamping part and the second clamping part in the plane, and the elastic member limits the relative movement of the first clamping part and the second clamping part in the vertical direction when the first clamping part and the second clamping part are mutually coupled, and the vertical direction is perpendicular to the plane.

In order to better understand the above and other aspects of this creation, the following is a specific implementation example, and the attached diagrams are explained in detail as follows:

1: Electronic devices

11: First component

12: Second component

100: snap-fit structure

110: First shell

111: First engagement portion

111a: first contact surface

111A: Limiting cylinder

111B: Hook section

111s1: First guide surface

111s2: The third guide surface

112: First base plate

112a: first upper surface

112b: first lower surface

120: Second shell

121: Second engagement portion

121a: Second contact surface

121A: Support part

121B: buckle ring

121s: Second guide surface

122: Second base plate

122a: Second upper surface

122b: Second lower surface

123: Side wall

124: Strengthen the ribs

130: Elastic parts

140: Disassembly rod

N: Disassembly slot

N1: First gap

N2: Second gap

R: Depression

RH: Limit hole

S1: First side

S2: Second side

S3: Third side

S4: Fourth side

FIG. 1 shows an assembly diagram of the snap-fit structure of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 shows an exploded diagram of the snap-fit structure of FIG. 1; FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show schematic diagrams of the first shell of FIG. 1 at different viewing angles; FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show schematic diagrams of the second shell of FIG. 1 at different viewing angles; FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view along the cutting line 5-5' of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view along the cutting line 6-6' of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of disassembling the first shell and the second shell based on the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5; and FIG. 8 shows an application example of the snap-fit structure.

The following will disclose multiple implementations of this creation with diagrams. For the sake of clarity, many practical details will be described together in the following description. However, it should be understood that these practical details should not be used to limit this creation. In other words, in some implementations of this creation, these practical details are not necessary. In addition, in order to simplify the diagrams, some commonly used structures and components will be depicted in the diagrams in a simple schematic manner. And, unless otherwise indicated, the same component symbols in different diagrams can be regarded as corresponding components. These diagrams are depicted to clearly express the connection relationship between the components in these implementations, and do not depict the actual size or proportional relationship of the components.

In this article, similar terms such as "substantially" may be used to mean "at", "close to", "almost", "within 3~5%", "within the acceptable manufacturing tolerance range" or any logical combination thereof. For example, the term "substantially perpendicular" may include the range of "within 3~5%" of the perpendicular direction. In addition, the terms "face to face" or "back to back" described in this article do not mean that two objects or two planes must be parallel to each other unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 shows an assembly diagram of the locking structure 100 of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 shows an exploded diagram of the locking structure 100 of FIG. 1.

Please refer to Figures 1 and 2, the snap-fit structure 100 includes a first shell 110, a second shell 120 and an elastic member 130. The first shell 110 includes a first snap-fit portion 111, and the second shell 120 includes a second snap-fit portion 121. The first snap-fit portion 111 and the second snap-fit portion 121 can snap-fit with each other, and the first shell 110 and the second shell 120 can be combined with each other through the first snap-fit portion 111 and the second snap-fit portion 121. The elastic member 130 is disposed between the second snap-fit portion 121 and the first shell 110, and has elasticity on the Y axis. Among them, the elastic member 130 can be a compressible elastic body, such as rubber or plastic.

Figures 3A and 3B respectively show schematic diagrams of the first housing 110 in Figure 1 at different viewing angles.

Please refer to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B , the first housing 110 may further include a first bottom plate 112. The first bottom plate 112 has a first upper surface 112a and a first lower surface 112b arranged opposite to each other. The first engaging portion 111 may be disposed on the first bottom plate 112, and is substantially perpendicular to the first bottom plate 112. In a specific embodiment, the first engaging portion 111 may include a limiting column 111A and a hook portion 111B. The limiting column 111A is vertically arranged and protrudes from the first upper surface 112a of the first bottom plate 112. The first engaging portion 111 is disposed on the first bottom plate 112 via the limiting column 111A. The hook portion 111B is connected to the limiting column 111A. In a specific embodiment, one end of the hook portion 111B can be connected to the limiting column 111A, and the other end can extend in the negative direction of the Z axis. In addition, in an embodiment, the first bottom plate 112 can have a recessed portion R. The recessed portion R is recessed in the first upper surface 112a of the first bottom plate 112, and the elastic member 130 is placed therein to assist in positioning the elastic member 130; the recessed portion R can be omitted in other embodiments. For example, the elastic member 130 can be fixed to the first upper surface 112a of the first bottom plate 112 by gluing.

Figures 4A and 4B respectively show schematic diagrams of the second housing 120 in Figure 1 at different viewing angles.

Please refer to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B , the second housing 120 may further include a second bottom plate 122. The second bottom plate 122 has a second upper surface 122a and a second lower surface 122b arranged opposite to each other. The second engaging portion 121 may be disposed on the second bottom plate 122, and is substantially perpendicular to the second bottom plate 122. In a specific embodiment, the second engaging portion 121 may include a supporting portion 121A and a buckle portion 121B. The supporting portion 121A is vertically disposed and protrudes from the second lower surface 122b of the second bottom plate 122. The second engaging portion 121 is disposed on the second bottom plate 122 via the supporting portion 121A. The buckle portion 121B is connected to the supporting portion 121A. In a specific embodiment, the buckle ring portion 121B may be in a closed ring shape to form a limiting hole RH. In addition, the second housing 120 may further include one or more reinforcing ribs 124. The reinforcing ribs 124 are disposed on the second bottom plate 122 and the supporting portion 121A to further enhance the structural strength of the second engaging portion 121.

Please refer to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. If the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are to be coupled to each other, the elastic member 130 is placed in the recessed portion R, and the first upper surface 112a of the first bottom plate 112 and the second lower surface 122b of the second bottom plate 122 are arranged face-to-face, so that the first engaging portion 111 and the second engaging portion 121 are engaged with each other. In one embodiment, the first upper surface 112a and the second lower surface 122b may be parallel to each other. In another embodiment, the first upper surface 112a and the second lower surface 122b are non-parallel to each other. The first engaging portion 111 may have a first guide surface 111s1, and the second engaging portion 121 may have a second guide surface 121s. The first guide surface 111s1 and the second guide surface 121s may be inclined surfaces or surfaces with curvature. The first guide surface 111s1 and the second guide surface 121s may be respectively disposed at the corresponding positions of the hook portion 111B and the buckle ring portion 121B. In the process of the first engaging portion 111 and the second engaging portion 121 approaching each other, the hook portion 111B is aligned with the limit hole RH and gradually approaches the buckle ring portion 121B. When the two contact each other, the hook portion 111B of the first engaging portion 111 and the buckle ring portion 121B of the second engaging portion 121 may push against each other, and a component force is generated during the pushing process through the first guide surface 111s1 and the second guide surface 121s, thereby driving the first engaging portion 111 to deform.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view along the cutting line 5-5' of Figure 1.

Please refer to FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A and FIG. 5. The hook portion 111B may have a first contact surface 111a; correspondingly, the buckle portion 121B may have a second contact surface 121a. The normal vector direction of the first contact surface 111a points to the negative direction of the Y axis; the normal vector direction of the second contact surface 121a points to the positive direction of the Y axis, which is opposite to the normal vector direction of the first contact surface 111a. In addition, the first contact surface 111a is disposed opposite to the first guide surface 111s1, and the second contact surface 121a is disposed opposite to the second guide surface 121s. As mentioned above, after the hook portion 111B of the first engaging portion 111 pushes against the buckle portion 121B of the second engaging portion 121, the hook portion 111B returns to its original position, so that the first abutting surface 111a and the second abutting surface 121a abut against each other face to face. At this time, the first engaging portion 111 and the second engaging portion 121 are engaged with each other, and the elastic member 130 is compressed by the second engaging portion 121 and pressed between the buckle portion 121B and the first bottom plate 112, thereby limiting the relative movement of the first engaging portion 111 and the second engaging portion 121 in a vertical direction (such as the Y axis), so that the first engaging portion 111 and the second engaging portion 121 can be stably engaged with each other.

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view along the cutting line 6-6' of Figure 1.

Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. When the first engaging portion 111 and the second engaging portion 121 are engaged with each other, the limiting cylinder 111A is located in the limiting hole RH. The limiting cylinder 111A and the limiting hole RH can limit the relative movement of the first engaging portion 111 and the second engaging portion 121 substantially in a plane (such as an XZ plane). In one embodiment, the limiting hole RH can be a circular hole, and the outer contour of the limiting cylinder 111A can include a semicircular arc with an arc of π, and the radius of curvature of the semicircular arc substantially corresponds to the radius of curvature of the circular hole. Since the radius of curvature of the semicircular arc is substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the circular hole, the limiting cylinder 111A cannot be displaced relative to the buckle ring portion 121B in the XZ plane, so that the first engaging portion 111 and the second engaging portion 121 can be stably engaged with each other. However, the invention is not limited to this. For example, in another embodiment, the limiting hole RH can be a square hole, and the limiting column 111A can be a corresponding triangle, so that the limiting column 111A cannot be displaced relative to the buckle ring portion 121B in the XZ plane.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the disassembly of the first shell 110 and the second shell 120 based on the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5.

Please refer to Figures 1, 3A, 4B and 7. The second housing may further include a side wall 123. The side wall 123 may be connected to the second bottom plate 122 and extend toward the first bottom plate 112. A disassembly slot N may be provided between the side wall 123 and the first bottom plate 112. In a specific embodiment, an edge of the first bottom plate 112 may have a first notch N1, and the side wall 123 may have a second notch N2 on a side adjacent to the first bottom plate 112. The first notch N1 corresponds to the second notch N2, and the first notch N1 and the second notch N2 form a disassembly slot N. The disassembly slot N is adjacent to the first engaging portion 111, and the hook portion 111B of the first engaging portion 111 extends in a direction away from the disassembly slot N (i.e., the negative direction of the Z axis).

Furthermore, the first engaging portion 111 may further have a third guide surface 111s2. The third guide surface 111s2 may be an inclined surface or a surface with curvature. The third guide surface 111s2 may be disposed at the connection between the hook portion 111B and the limiting cylinder 111A, and may be disposed corresponding to the second guide surface 121s. In one embodiment, the third guide surface 111s2 and the first guide surface 111s1 may be located at the two ends of the hook portion 111B, respectively.

Please refer to Figure 7. If the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are to be released from the combined state, a disassembly rod 140 can be inserted into the disassembly slot N to push the first bottom plate 112 and the side wall 123 in a lever manner, so that the first engaging portion 111 rotates counterclockwise and the second engaging portion 121 rotates clockwise. The hook portion 111B can be separated from the buckle ring portion 121B by the third guide surface 111s2 and the second guide surface 121s to release the combined state of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120.

Please refer to FIG. 8, which is an application example of the snap-fit structure 100. The snap-fit structure 100 can be applied to the structural design of the electronic device 1. In one embodiment, the electronic device 1 can be a notebook computer, which includes a first component 11 and a second component 12 that can pivot relative to each other. The snap-fit structure 100 can be applied to the second component 12. The second component 12 has a first side S1 and a second side S2 that are arranged opposite to each other, and a third side S3 and a fourth side S4 that are arranged opposite to each other. One or more snap-fit structures 100 can be arranged on at least one of the first side S1, the second side S2, the third side S3 and the fourth side S4, for example, FIG. 8 shows that they are arranged on the first side S1, the second side S2 and the third side S3. The location of the clamping structure 100 can be at the corner between the first side S1 and the fourth side S4, the corner between the first side S1 and the third side S3, the corner between the second side S2 and the third side S3, the corner between the second side S2 and the fourth side S4, or any non-corner location on the first side S1 to the fourth side S4. Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the first lower surface 112b of the first bottom plate 112 and the second upper surface 122a of the second bottom plate 122 can be the appearance surface of the second assembly 12. Through the clamping structure 100 provided by the embodiment, the first shell 110 and the second shell 120 do not need to be coupled to each other by any screw locking method, so the appearance surface can be a flat surface, which improves the overall aesthetics. Furthermore, since there is no need to fasten by screws, the assembly and disassembly of the locking structure 100 provided in the embodiment are very simple.

In summary, although the invention has been disclosed as an embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention. Those with common knowledge in the technical field to which the invention belongs can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the invention shall be subject to the scope of the patent application attached hereto.

100: snap-fit structure

110: First shell

111: First engagement portion

111a: first contact surface

111A: Limiting cylinder

111B: Hook section

111s1: First guide surface

112: First base plate

112b: first lower surface

120: Second shell

121: Second engagement portion

121a: Second contact surface

121A: Support part

121B: buckle ring

121s: Second guide surface

122: Second base plate

122a: Second upper surface

123: Side wall

130: Elastic parts

R: Depression

RH: Limit hole

Claims (10)

A clamping structure includes: a first housing, including a first clamping part, the first clamping part includes a limiting column; a second housing, including a second clamping part, the second clamping part has a limiting hole, the limiting column is located in the limiting hole; and an elastic member, arranged between the second clamping part and the first housing; wherein the first housing and the second housing are mutually coupled through the first clamping part and the second clamping part, the limiting column and the limiting hole limit the relative movement of the first clamping part and the second clamping part substantially in a plane, and the elastic member limits the relative movement of the first clamping part and the second clamping part in a vertical direction when they are mutually coupled, and the vertical direction is perpendicular to the plane. The clamping structure as described in claim 1, wherein the first clamping part further includes a hook part, the hook part is connected to the limiting column and has a first abutting surface, the second clamping part includes a buckle ring part, the limiting hole is formed by the buckle ring part, the buckle ring part has a second abutting surface, and the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface abut each other face to face. The snap-fit structure as described in claim 2, wherein the first snap-fit portion has a first guide surface, the second snap-fit portion has a second guide surface, and the first guide surface and the second guide surface are respectively arranged at corresponding positions of the hook portion and the buckle ring portion. The locking structure as described in claim 3, wherein the first guide surface is opposite to the first abutting surface, and the second guide surface is opposite to the second abutting surface. As described in claim 3, the first engaging portion further has a third guide surface, the third guide surface is arranged at the connection between the hook portion and the limiting column, and is arranged corresponding to the second guide surface. The clamping structure as described in claim 2, wherein the first housing further includes a first bottom plate, the first clamping portion is disposed on the first bottom plate via the limiting column; the second housing further includes a second bottom plate, the second clamping portion further includes a supporting portion, the buckle portion is connected to the supporting portion, and the second clamping portion is disposed on the second bottom plate via the supporting portion. The snap-fit structure as described in claim 6, wherein the elastic member is pressed between the buckle portion and the first bottom plate. The snap-fit structure as described in claim 6, wherein the second shell further includes a reinforcing rib disposed between the second bottom plate and the supporting portion. The locking structure as described in claim 1, wherein the limiting hole is a circular hole, the outer contour of the limiting cylinder includes a semicircular arc with a radius of π, and the curvature radius of the semicircular arc substantially corresponds to the curvature radius of the circular hole. The clamping structure as described in claim 6, wherein the second housing further includes a side wall, the side wall is connected to the second bottom plate and extends toward the first bottom plate, a disassembly groove is provided between the side wall and the first bottom plate, the disassembly groove is adjacent to the first clamping portion, one end of the hook portion is connected to the limiting column, and the other end extends in a direction away from the disassembly groove.

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