Connecting member, housing assembly and electronic device

• US 10,394,276 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2018
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corporation Limited
• Original Assignee: Korea Mobile Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Lin, Yugui
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US15/869,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20180210497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 36167927, 36167955, 36167956, 4555753
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0054 Covers, e.g. for protection
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2011/0072 for the gap between hinge parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 3/06 with two or more pins E05D7/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/06 Buffers or stops limiting opening of swinging wings, e.g. floor or wall stopsE05F5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/606 for electronic devices
• 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 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683

Abstract

A connecting member is provided. The connecting member is configured to connect a first housing to a second housing and includes a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion and a body portion. The first connecting portion is configured to connect to the first housing. The second connecting portion is configured to connect to the second housing. The body portion defines a number of through holes therein. The body portion is located between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are close to each other by bending the body portion. A housing assembly and an electronic device are also provided.

Claims

1. A connecting member, being configured to couple a first housing to a second housing, the connecting member comprising:

a first connecting portion configured to be coupled to the first housing;

a second connecting portion configured to be coupled to the second housing; and

a body portion defining a plurality of through holes therein, the body portion being located between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion being close to each other by bending the body portion;

wherein the body portion comprises;

a first connecting side;

a second connecting side; and

the first connecting side and the second connecting side are opposite and located between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, the length of the first connecting portion is more than a length of each of the first connecting side and the second connecting side;

each of the plurality of through holes is strip-shaped, and a longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of through holes is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the body portion, the longitudinal direction of each of the through holes being parallel to the first connecting side and the second connecting side.

2. The connecting member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of through holes are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the body portion, and the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are located at two opposite sides of a longitudinal central line of the body portion.

3. The connecting member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of through holes are equally spaced.

4. The connecting member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body portion defines a plurality of welding holes therein, and the welding holes are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the body portion.

5. The connecting member as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of welding holes has a geometric center, and the geometric centers of the plurality of welding holes are arranged along the longitudinal central line of the body portion.

6. A housing assembly, comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing; and

a connecting member, comprising;

a first connecting portion being coupled to the first housing;

a second connecting portion being coupled to the second housing; and

a body portion defining a plurality of through holes therein, the body portion being located between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion being close to each other by bending the body portion;

wherein the body portion comprises;

a first connecting side;

a second connecting side; and

the first connecting side and the second connecting side are opposite and located between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, the length of the first connecting portion is more than a length of each of the first connecting side and the second connecting side;

each of the plurality of through holes is strip-shaped, and a longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of through holes is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the body portion, the longitudinal direction of each of the through holes being parallel to the first connecting side and the second connecting side.

7. The housing assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing assembly further comprises a coupling member, the coupling member is coupled between the first housing and the second housing, faces the connecting member, and is configured to support the connecting member.

8. The housing assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the housing assembly further comprises a positioning member, the positioning member is coupled between the connecting member and the coupling member, and is configured to prevent a movement of the coupling member along a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the body portion relative to the first connecting member.

9. The housing assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the body portion defines a plurality of welding holes therein, the positioning member comprises a plurality of raised portions coupled to the welding holes.

10. The housing assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of through holes are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the body portion, and the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are located at two opposite sides of a longitudinal central line of the body portion.

11. The housing assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the plurality of through holes are equally spaced.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing assembly, comprising;

a first housing;

a second housing; and

a connecting member, comprising;

a first connecting portion being coupled to the first housing;

a second connecting portion being coupled to the second housing; and

a body portion defining a plurality of through holes therein, the body portion being located between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion being close to each other by bending the body portion;

wherein the body portion comprises;

a first connecting side;

a second connecting side; and

the first connecting side and the second connecting side are opposite and located between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, the length of the first connecting portion is more than a length of each of the first connecting side and the second connecting side;

each of the plurality of through holes is strip-shaped, and a longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of through holes is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the body portion, the longitudinal direction of each of the through holes being parallel to the first connecting side and the second connecting side;

a flexible display panel positioned on the first housing, the second housing and the connecting member; and

an electronic component group positioned in the first housing and the second housing and electrically connected to the flexible display panel.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the housing assembly further comprises a coupling member, the coupling member is coupled between the first housing and the second housing, faces the connecting member, and is configured to support the connecting member.

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the housing assembly further comprises a positioning member, the positioning member is located between and coupled to the connecting member and the coupling member, and is configured to prevent a movement of the coupling member along a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the body portion relative to the first connecting member.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the body portion defines a plurality of welding holes therein, and the positioning member comprises a plurality of raised portions coupled to the welding holes.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the plurality of through holes are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the connecting member.

17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of welding holes has a geometric center, and the geometric centers of the plurality of welding holes are arranged along the longitudinal central line of the body portion.