Housing, and a mobile device incorporating same

• US 8,588,872 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Honma, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US13/416,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20120172092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.8, 455/575.1, 455/575.3
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit

Abstract

In the present invention, a rear cover 1 of a display part is made of at least a resin material, and a rear cover 4 of an operation part is made of a metal material. Respective plane portions of a front case 2 of the display part and a front case 3 of the operation part are made mainly of a metal material, and at least hinge parts 2c and 3c, which are formed on the front case 2 of the display part and the front case 3 of the operation part, are made of a resin material.

Claims

1. A housing, comprising:

a metal structure member which has a first plate, a second plate parallel to the first plate, and a first side plate intersecting with the first plate and the second plate, the first plate and the second plate, in the metal structure member, which is integrally connected through the first side plate, and

an armoring body which is made of resin, and is formed in contact with the first plate,

wherein the metal structure member and the armoring body together form an integrally molded unit with the metal structure member integrally molded to the armoring body, and

wherein at least part of the metal structure member is exposed on the outside of the armoring body.

2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein:

a pair of the first plate and the first side plate are respectively provided on opposing both ends of the second plate, and face each other,

the armoring body is respectively formed on said opposing both ends.

3. The housing according to claim 2, wherein:

the armoring body is formed in contact with the pair of the first plate and the second plate.

4. The housing according to claim 1, wherein:

the armoring body is formed in such a way as to extend across the first plate and the first side plate.

5. The housing according to claim 1, wherein:

the metal structure member further has a second side plate which intersects with main surfaces of the first plate and the second plate, at another end of the second plate that differs from one end at which the first side plate is provided, the second side plate being integrally connected to the second plate.

6. The housing according to claim 5, wherein:

the first side plate and the second side plate of the metal structure member, which are connected to the ends of the second plate, are integrally connected by sides which are adjacent each other.

7. The housing according to claim 5, wherein:

the metal structure member further has a third plate which is parallel to the second plate, at another end of the second plate that differs from one end at which the second plate is connected.

8. The housing according to claim 2, wherein:

the armoring body is formed in such a way as to extend across the first plate and the first side plate.

9. The housing according to claim 5, wherein:

the armoring body is further formed in contact with the second side plate.

10. The housing according to claim 5, wherein:

the armoring body has an aperture that exposes an opposite surface which is opposite to the side of the second plate at which the first side plate and the second side plate are arranged.

11. The housing according to claim 1, wherein:

the metal structure member has a plurality of the first plates, and at least one of the plurality of the first plates is positioned at the outside of main surface of the second plate,

the metal structure member further has a third side plate which is parallel to the first side plate, at another end of the first plate that differs from one end at which the first side plate is connected, the third side plate being integrally connected to the first plate.

12. The housing according to claim 11, wherein:

the armoring body is formed in such a way as to extend across the first side plate and/or the first plate and the third side plate.

13. The housing according to claim 1, wherein:

at least part of the second plate is exposed on the outside of the armoring body.

14. A mobile device comprising:

a housing according to claim 1.

15. The mobile device according to claim 14, wherein:

an operation part is provided on the position that is opposite to the second plate.

16. The mobile device according to claim 14, wherein:

a display part is provided on the position that is opposite to the second plate.

20. The housing according the claim 1, wherein the armoring body is formed along an outer periphery circumference of the second plate.

21. The housing according to claim 11, wherein, resin comprising the armoring body is filled between the first side plate and the third side plate.

17. A housing, comprising:

a metal structure member having i) a first plate at a first elevation, ii) a second plate parallel to the first plate and at a second elevation different from the first elevation, and iii) a first side plate, extending from the first elevation to the second elevation, intersecting with the first plate and the second plate,

wherein the first plate and the second plate are integrally connected through the first side plate, the metal structure member defining a main display holding part; and

an armoring resin body in contact with the first plate,

the metal structure member and armoring resin body defining a case part of a display part of a foldable mobile phone, and

wherein the metal structure member and the armoring resin body together form an integrally molded unit with the metal structure member integrally molded to the armoring body, and

wherein at least part of the metal structure member is exposed on the outside of the armoring body.

18. The housing according to claim 17, wherein the metal structure member further comprises

iv) a third plate located at the first elevation and parallel to the second plate, v) a second side plate, extending from the first elevation to the second elevation, intersecting with and integrally connected to each of the second plate and the third plate,

wherein the first and third plates are joined to intersecting edges of the second plate.

19. The housing according to claim 17, wherein the metal structure member further comprises

vi) a third side plate integrally connected to the first plate, the third side plate from the first elevation toward the second elevation.