ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH MOUNTING APPARATUS

Abstract

An electronic device (10) includes a case (20), a circuit board (30) received in the case, a front panel (40) including a first groove (42), a gasket (50) including a hook (54), and a pair of fixing posts (60) for securing the gasket on the front panel. The front panel is mounted to the circuit board. The hook is received in the first groove. Each fixing post is received in respective ends of the first groove.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to electronic devices, and particularly to an electronic device with a mounting apparatus for fixing a gasket thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

The operation of electronic components received in an electronic device, such as a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), is often accompanied by the generation of electromagnetic interference (EMI). The EMI may cause significant problems for other surrounding electronic components, and may do harm to users of the electronic device. Thus, EMI sources need to be effectively shielded.

A conventional EMI shielding approach for solving this problem uses a compressible gasket made of conductive foam. The compressible gasket adheres to a front panel mounted to a circuit board received in the electronic device. Although the EMI may be shielded by the compressible gasket, the compressible gasket is difficult to disengage from the front panel later on if necessary. If the compressible gasket needs to be detached from the front panel, damage to the compressible gasket may be caused. When this happens, the shielding effect of the gasket may be degraded, and the effective performance of the electronic device may be interrupted or obstructed by EMI.

Another conventional EMI shielding approach for solving this problem uses a conductive gasket to shield the EMI. However, the conductive gasket is only a resilient sheet, which is engaged on the front panel mounted to the circuit board received in the electronic device, and the resilient sheet may slide along the front panel and become disengaged from the front panel, thereby becoming less effective. Furthermore, since the disengaged gasket may scratch the front panel and the circuit board, and may strike the electronic components in the electronic device, damage to the electronic device may occur. Besides, positioning of the conductive gasket is difficult. Adherence of the conductive gasket is not always reliable after repeated use.

Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention provides a mounting apparatus for fixing a gasket including a hook. The apparatus includes a front panel and a pair of fixing posts for securing the gasket on the front panel. The front panel includes a first groove for receiving the hook of the gasket. Each post is received in one of ends of the first groove respectively.

Another aspect of the invention provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a case, a circuit board received in the case, a front panel including a first groove, a gasket including a hook, and a pair of fixing posts for securing the gasket on the front panel. The front panel is mounted to the circuit board. The hook is received in the first groove. Each fixing post is received in one of ends of the first groove respectively.

Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a mounting apparatus, a gasket, and a circuit board of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a circle portion II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but viewed from another aspect;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, assembled view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of an electronic device of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrate an electronic device 10 of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 10 comprises a case 20, a plurality of circuit components like circuit boards 30, a plurality of front panels 40, a plurality of gaskets 50, and a plurality of fixing posts 60. One of the front panels 40 together with one pair of the fixing posts 60 forms a mounting apparatus for securing the gasket 50.

The case 20 comprises a top wall 22, a bottom wall 24 and a pair of side walls 26. The top wall 22 is parallel to the bottom wall 24 and perpendicular to the side walls 26. The side walls 26 connect with the top wall 22 and the bottom wall 24. The top wall 22, the bottom wall 24, and the side walls 26 cooperatively bound a cavity 28 for receiving the circuit boards 30. The circuit boards 30 are parallel to each other and parallel to the side walls 26.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the front panel 40, is mounted to an edge of the circuit board 30, and comprises a top portion 46 and a side portion 48. The side portion 48 comprises a first surface 45 perpendicularly connecting with the top portion 46, and a second surface 47 parallel to the top portion 46. The side portion 48 defines a first groove 42 in the first surface 45 adjacent to the top portion 46, and a second groove 44 in the second surface 47. The first groove 42 has a width slightly greater than that of the second groove 44, facilitating installation of the gasket 50 on the front panel 40. The extension direction of the first and second grooves 42, 44 is same as the forming direction of the front panel 40. For example, the extension direction is same as the forming direction of the front panel 40 when the front panel 40 is made of Aluminum through an extrusive process.

The gasket 50 is mounted to the corresponding front panel 60 for shielding the EMI emissions and has a symmetrical structure. The gasket 50 has an arcuate cross-section and comprises a pair of bent portions 52 and a pair of hooks 54. Each hook 54 is formed at an edge of each of the bent portions 52. The hooks 54 are received in the first groove 42 and the second groove 44 of the front panel 40 respectively.

The fixing posts 60 are received in respective ends of the first groove 42 to secure the gasket 50 on the front panel 40. Each fixing post 60 has a narrowed end facilitating insertion into the respective end of the first groove 42. A diameter of each fixing post 60 away from the narrowed end is slightly greater than the width of the first groove 42. The fixing posts 60 can be formed through injection molding and made of plastic. As an alternative embodiment, the fixing posts 60 can be made of other material. As an alternative embodiment, the narrowed end of each fixing post 60 can be instead be rounded.

Referring to FIG. 4, in assembly, the front panel 40 is mounted to an edge of the circuit board 30. The hooks 54 of the gasket 50 are received in the first groove 42 and the second groove 44 of the front panel 40 respectively. The fixing posts 60 are received in the two ends of the first groove 42 to prevent the gasket 50 from disengaging. Thus, the gasket 50 is firmly secured on the front panel 40. Furthermore, the fixing posts 60 are easily removed from the first groove 42 with a tool for disengaging the gasket 50 from the front panel 40 when necessary.

With the end of each fixing post 60 being narrowed, or alternatively the end of each fixing post 60 being rounded, the fixing posts 60 are easily inserted into the first groove 42. In addition, with the diameter of the portion of each fixing post 60 away from the narrowed end being slightly greater than the width of the first groove 42, the fixing posts 60 are firmly fixed in the first groove 42 stably securing the gasket 50 on the front panel 40. Thus, during operation, transportation, or some other situation, the gasket 50 cannot become accidentally disengaged from the front panel 40. Thereby damage is prevented from the gasket 50 being loose and striking objects within electronic devices and EMI shield integrity is maintained.

While exemplary embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A mounting apparatus for fixing a gasket comprising a hook, the mounting apparatus comprising:

a front panel defining a first groove for receiving the hook; and

a pair of fixing posts for securing the gasket on the front panel, each post being received in respective ends of the first groove.

2. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front panel further comprises a top portion and a side portion connected with the top portion.

3. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the side portion comprises a first surface perpendicularly connecting with the top portion, and a second surface parallel to the top portion.

4. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the front panel further defines a second groove.

5. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the gasket further comprises another hook received in the second groove.

6. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first groove is defined in the first surface adjacent to the top portion, while the second groove is defined in the second surface away from the top portion.

7. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a width of the first groove is greater than that of the second groove.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a circuit board received in the case;

a front panel mounted to the circuit board, the front panel defining a first groove;

a gasket comprising a hook, the hook being received in the first groove; and

a pair of fixing posts for securing the gasket on the front panel, each post being received in respective ends of the first groove.

9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the front panel further comprises a top portion and a side portion connected with the top portion.

10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the side portion comprises a first surface perpendicularly connecting with the top portion, and a second surface parallel to the top portion.

11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the front panel further defines a second groove.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gasket further comprises another hook received in the second groove.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the gasket has an arcuate cross-section and comprises two bent portions, each bent portion connecting with the corresponding hook of the gasket at a distal end.

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first groove is defined in the first surface adjacent to the top portion, while the second groove is defined in the second surface away from the top portion.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a width of the first groove is greater than that of the second groove.

16. An electronic device comprising:

a case of said electronic device enclosing said electronic device and defining a cavity therein;

a circuit component removably installable in said cavity of said case to have at least an edge of said circuit component exposable out of said case from a side of said case;

a panel attachable to said edge of said circuit component and extending therealong to shield said circuit component along said side of said case; and

a gasket removably attachable to a side portion of said panel along a first direction parallel to said edge of said circuit component for further electrical engagement along a second direction away from said side portion of said panel to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection for said circuit component in said case, said gasket mechanically engagable with said side portion of said panel to be limited from moving along said second direction after said gasket moves to installably attach to said side portion of said panel along said first direction.

17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said panel is extendably formed along said first direction during a forming process of said panel.

18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said side portion of said panel defines at least one groove extending along said first direction to engage with said gasket.

19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least one fixing post is removably installable to said side portion of said panel to block said attached gasket from moving along said first direction.