Method for fabricating a thin metal shell having connecting components

• US 20010015005A1
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Published: 08/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metal Industries Research and Development Centre
• Original Assignee: Metal Industries Research and Development Centre
• Inventors: Kuo, Tzu-Chen, Chung, Chi-Keung
• Granted Patent: US 6,694,594 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/458
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/00 Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/086 Assembled boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0049 being metallic containers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49805 Shaping by direct application of fluent pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49906 Metal deforming with nonmetallic bonding

Abstract

A method for fabricating a thin metal shell that has connecting components is disclosed. This method comprises the following steps: forming a metal plate by plastic forming technologies into a thin shell with a plurality of bonding bases thereon; applying a structure adhesive on the bonding bases; disposing connecting components on the bonding bases with the structural adhesive; and curing the structural adhesive which bonds the shell and connecting components.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating a thin metal shell having connecting components, comprising the following steps:

forming a metal plate by plastic forming technologies into a thin shell with a plurality of bonding bases thereon;

applying a structural adhesive on the bonding bases;

disposing connecting components on the bonding bases with the structure adhesive; and

curing the structural adhesive which bonds the shell and connecting components.

2. The method as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the metal plate is made of the material selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cu, Al, Mg, Ni, Sn, Zn, Ti, stainless steel metals and alloys composed thereof.

3. The method as claimed in

claim 2

, wherein the thickness of the metal plate is less than 2 mm.

4. The method as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the plastic forming technologies include stamping, forging, drawing, extruding, progressive cold forming or superplastic forming technology.

5. The method as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the bonding base is concave.

6. The method as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the bonding base is convex.

7. The method as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the connecting components are the same or different material with the thin metal shell, and are selected from the group consisting of outer screw pillar, inner screw pillar, slot, positioning pin, press fit pin and fastener as fitting components for connecting, positioning, quick locking/unlocking.

8. The method as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the structural adhesive is applied by dispensing.

9. The method as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the structural adhesive is applied by the surface-mount technology.

10. The method as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the connecting components are disposed on the bonding bases applied with structural adhesives thereon by using automatic inserting technology.

11. The method as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the curing process is baked in the curing oven.

12. The method as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the curing process is at the room temperature.

13. A method for fabricating a thin metal shell having connecting components, comprising the following steps:

forming a metal plate by plastic forming technologies into a thin shell with a plurality of bonding bases thereon;

disposing connecting components on the bonding bases with the structural adhesive; and

bonding the shell and connecting components.

14. The method as claimed in

claim 13

, wherein the metal plate is made of the material selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cu, Al, Mg, Ni, Sn, Zn, Ti, stainless steel metals and alloys composed thereof.

15. The method as claimed in

claim 13

, wherein the thickness of the metal plate is less than 2 mm.

16. The method as claimed in

claim 13

, wherein the thin metal shell and the connecting components are bonded by structural adhesives.

17. The method as claimed in

claim 13

, wherein the thin metal shell and the connecting components are bonded by spot welding.

18. The method as claimed in 13, wherein the thin metal shell and the connecting components are bonded by laser welding.

19. The method as claimed in 13, wherein the thin metal shell and the connecting components are bonded by ultrasonic welding.