COVER MEMBER

Abstract

A cover member to be attached to an electronic device formed into a rectangular parallelepiped-like shape, and including a display section in at least one surface of the rectangular parallelepiped comprises a flat plate-like main cover configured to cover the surface of the electronic device, the surface including the display section formed therein, holding parts provided on both side surfaces of the main cover, and configured to hold the electronic device between the holding parts and the main cover; and an upper cover, and a lower cover provided on both end faces of the main cover.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-073443, filed Mar. 29, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cover member to be attached to a housing of a portable electronic device such as a smartphone, electronic book or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a transparent cover member of a display section of a portable electronic device such as a smartphone, electronic book or the like, glass or resin is used. Recently, scratch-resistant chemical tempered glass is used for a cover member. The manufacturing method of a cover glass is publicly known (see Japanese patent publication: Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2013-28510).

In the aforementioned cover member, there has been a problem that a complicated structure is required, bonding positions are increased, manufacturing processes are increased, and so on in order to firmly fix the cover member to the housing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a cover member a structure which is not complicated, and which can be manufactured at low cost by reducing the bonding process as much as possible when the cover member is attached to the housing, and which can improve the facility of assembly.

In order to achieve the objective, according to the present invention, a cover member to be attached to an electronic device formed into a rectangular parallelepiped-like shape, and including a display section at least in one surface of the rectangular parallelepiped comprises a flat plate-like main cover configured to cover the surface of the electronic device, the surface including the display section formed therein, holding parts provided on both side surfaces of the main cover, and configured to hold the electronic device between the holding parts and the main cover; and an upper cover, and a lower cover provided on both end faces of the main cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an attaching process of attaching a cover member according to a first embodiment of the present invention to an electronic device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the attaching process.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the cover member is attached to the electronic device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modification example of the cover member.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an essential part of the cover member.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another modification example of the cover member.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an attaching process of attaching a cover member according to a second embodiment of the present invention to an electronic device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the attaching process.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an attaching process of attaching a cover member according to a third embodiment of the present invention to an electronic device.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the electronic device to which the cover member is attached.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where a lower cover is removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an attaching process of attaching a cover member 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention to an electronic device W, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the attaching process, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the cover member 10 is attached to the electronic device W. Note that W denotes the electronic device, Wa denotes a display surface on which a liquid crystal panel or the like is provided, Wb denotes a side surface, and Wc denotes an end face.

The cover member 10 is wholly formed of a glass material, includes a main body part 20 to be attached to the electronic device W, upper cover 30, and lower cover 40 which are to be attached to an upper end, and lower end of the main body part 20, respectively, and the main body part 20, upper cover 30, and lower cover 40 are integrated by means of an adhesive (see FIG. 3).

The main body part 20 includes a main cover 21 opposed to the display surface Wa, a pair of side covers 22 formed integral with the main cover 21, and opposed to the side surfaces Wb, and turned-up parts 23 each of which is folded back from the side cover 22 toward the backside of the display surface Wa. It should be noted that a holding part is formed between the side cover 22 and turned-up part 23.

The cover member 10 configured in this manner is attached to the electronic device W in the following manner. First, the upper cover 30 is attached to the electronic device W. Next, the cover member 10 is fitted on the electronic device W in such a manner that the electronic device W is held between the main cover 21 and turned-up parts 23 of the cover member 10.

Next, an adhesive is applied to a contact part of the main cover 21, the contact part being brought into contact with the upper cover 30, thereby bonding the main cover 21 and upper cover 30 together. Next, the lower cover 40 is positioned on the end face Wc, and an adhesive is applied to a contact part of the main cover 21, the contact part being brought into contact with the lower cover 40, thereby bonding the main cover 21 and lower cover 40 together. Thereby, the cover member 10 is attached to the electronic device W.

As described above, according to the cover member 10 associated with this embodiment, the cover member 10 has no complicated structure, and there are only two bonding positions required when the cover member 10 is assembled, and thus the cover member 10 can be manufactured at low cost, and the ease of assembly is improved.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a cover member 10A according to a modification example of the aforementioned cover member 10, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an essential part of the cover member 10A. It should be noted that the same functional parts as FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference symbols as those in FIGS. 1 to 3, and their detailed descriptions are omitted.

The cover member 10A is wholly formed of a glass material, includes a main body part 50 to be attached to the electronic device W, and upper cover 30, and lower cover 40 which are to be attached to an upper end, and lower end of the main body part 50, respectively, and the main body part 50, upper cover 30, and lower cover 40 are integrated by means of an adhesive.

The main body part 50 includes a main cover 51 opposed to the display surface Wa, and a pair of side covers (holding parts) 52 formed integral with the main cover 51, and opposed to the side surfaces Wb.

As shown in FIG. 5, the side cover 52 is formed into an arc-like shape in cross section, and is formed within a range of 90° to 180° when the position of the main cover 51 is used as a criterion.

The cover member 10A configured in this manner is attached to the electronic device W in the following manner. First, the upper cover 30 is attached to the electronic device W. Next, the cover member 10A is fitted on the electronic device W in such a manner that the electronic device W is held between the inner side parts of the arc-like parts of the side covers 52.

Next, an adhesive is applied to a contact part of the main cover 51, the contact part being brought into contact with the upper cover 30, thereby bonding the main cover 51 and upper cover 30 together. Next, the lower cover 40 is positioned on the end face Wc, and an adhesive is applied to a contact part of the main cover 51, the contact part being brought into contact with the lower cover 40, thereby bonding the main cover 51 and lower cover 40 together. Thereby, the cover member 10A is attached to the electronic device W.

In this modification example as well, the same advantage as the aforementioned cover member 10 can be obtained.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a cover member 10B according to a modification example of the aforementioned cover member 10. It should be noted that the same functional parts as FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference symbols as those in FIGS. 1 to 3, and their detailed descriptions are omitted.

The cover member 10B is wholly formed of a glass material, includes a main body part 60 to be attached to the electronic device W, and upper cover 30, and lower cover 40 which are to be attached to an upper end, and lower end of the main body part 60, respectively, and the main body part 60, upper cover 30, and lower cover 40 are integrated by means of an adhesive.

The main body part 60 includes a main cover 61 opposed to the display surface Wa, and turned-up parts (holding parts) 62 each of which is formed integral with the main cover 61, and is folded back toward the side surface Wb side. The turned-up part 62 is formed within a range of 270° to 315° from the outside when the position of the main cover 61 is used as a criterion.

The cover member 10B configured in this manner is attached to the electronic device W in the following manner. First, the upper cover 30 is attached to the electronic device W. Next, the cover member 10B is fitted on the electronic device W in such a manner that the electronic device W is held between the inner side parts of the turned-up parts.

Next, an adhesive is applied to a contact part of the main cover 61, the contact part being brought into contact with the upper cover 30, thereby bonding the main cover 61 and upper cover 30 together. Next, the lower cover 40 is positioned on the end face Wc, and an adhesive is applied to a contact part of the main cover 61, the contact part being brought into contact with the lower cover 40, thereby bonding the main cover 61 and lower cover 40 together. Thereby, the cover member 10B is attached to the electronic device W.

In this modification example as well, the same advantage as the aforementioned cover member 10 can be obtained.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an attaching process of attaching a cover member 10C according to a second embodiment of the present invention to an electronic device W, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the attaching process.

The cover member 10C is wholly formed of a glass material, includes a main body part 20 to be attached to the electronic device W, upper cover 30A, and lower cover 40 which are to be attached to an upper end, and lower end of the main body part 20, respectively, and the main body part 20, upper cover 30A, and lower cover 40 are integrated by means of an adhesive (see FIG. 3).

The main body part 20 includes a main cover 21 opposed to the display surface Wa, a pair of side covers 22 formed integral with the main cover 21, and opposed to the side surfaces Wb, and turned-up parts 23 each of which is folded back from the side cover 22 toward the backside of the display surface Wa. It should be noted that a holding part is formed between the side cover 22 and turned-up part 23.

The cover member 10C configured in this manner is attached to the electronic device W in the following manner. The cover member 10C is fitted on the electronic device W in such a manner that the electronic device W is held between the main cover 21 and turned-up parts 23 of the cover member 10C.

Next, the upper cover 30A is positioned on one end face Wc, and an adhesive is applied-to a contact part of the main cover 21, the contact part being brought into contact with the upper cover 30A, thereby bonding the main cover 21 and upper cover 30A together. Next, the lower cover 40 is positioned on the other end face Wc, and an adhesive is applied to a contact part of the main cover 21, the contact part being brought into contact with the lower cover 40, thereby bonding the main cover 21 and lower cover 40 together. Thereby, the cover member 10C is attached to the electronic device W.

As described above, in the cover member 10C according to this embodiment as well, the same advantage as the aforementioned cover member 10 can be obtained.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an attaching process of attaching a cover member 10D according to a third embodiment of the present invention to an electronic device W, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the electronic device W to which the cover member 10D is attached, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where a lower cover 72 is removed.

The cover member 10D is wholly formed of a glass material; includes a main body part 70 to be attached to the electronic device W, upper cover 71, and lower cover 72 which are to be attached to an upper end, and lower end of the main body part 70, respectively, and the main body part 70, upper cover 71, and lower cover 72 are integrated by means of an adhesive. Mesh holes 71a used for a speaker provided in the electronic device W are provided in the upper cover 71. Further, mesh holes 72a used for a microphone Wm (see FIG. 11) provided in the electronic device W are provided in the lower cover 72.

The main body part 70 includes a main cover 70a opposed to the display surface Wa, and a pair of side covers 70b formed integral with the main cover 70a, and opposed to the side surfaces Wb.

The cover member 10D configured in this manner is attached to the electronic device W in the following manner. That is, the upper cover 71 is positioned on one end face Wc, and an adhesive is applied to a contact part of the main cover 70a, the contact part being brought into contact with the upper cover 71, thereby bonding the main cover 70a and upper cover 71 together. Next, the lower cover 72 is positioned on the other end face Wc, and an adhesive is applied to a contact part of the main cover 70a, the contact part being brought into contact with the lower cover 72, thereby bonding the main cover 70a and lower cover 72 together. Thereby, the cover member 10D is attached to the electronic device W.

As described above, in the cover member 10D according to this embodiment as well, the same advantage as the aforementioned cover member 10 can be obtained.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments. For example, although in the aforementioned examples, glass is used as the material for the cover member, tempered glass or plastic may also be used. Further, regarding the coupling between the main body part, and upper cover/lower cover, screws or the like may also be used in addition to an adhesive. Furthermore, a hole or holes to be used for a speaker, microphone, camera, and various types of switches may appropriately be provided in the main cover, upper cover, and lower cover of the cover member. The hole part may be in an opened state or may be covered with a mesh. Furthermore, part of the members (a lower cover or the like) may previously be formed integral with the electronic device. Of course the present invention can be variously modified and implemented within the scope of the present invention without deviating from the gist of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cover member to be attached to an electronic device formed into a rectangular parallelepiped-like shape, and including a display section in at least one surface of the rectangular parallelepiped comprising:

a flat plate-like main cover configured to cover the surface of the electronic device, the surface including the display section formed therein;

holding parts provided on both side surfaces of the main cover, and configured to hold the electronic device between the holding parts and the main cover; and

an upper cover, and a lower cover provided on both end faces of the main cover.

2. The cover member according to claim 1, wherein

each of the holding parts includes a flat plate-like side cover formed to be opposed to the side surface of the electronic device, and a turned-up part formed by folding back part of the side cover toward the backside of the main cover, i.e., toward the backside of the display section.

3. The cover member according to claim 1, wherein each of the holding parts is a side cover formed to be opposed to the side surface of the electronic device, and formed into an arc-like shape in cross section within a range of 90 to 180°.

4. The cover member according to claim 1, wherein each of the holding parts is formed to be opposed to the side surface of the electronic device, and is formed within a range of 270° to 315° from the outside when the position of the main cover is used as a criterion.

5. A cover member to be attached to an electronic device formed into a rectangular parallelepiped-like shape, and including a display section in at least one surface of the rectangular parallelepiped comprising:

a flat plate-like main cover configured to cover the surface of the electronic device, the surface including the display section formed therein; and

an upper cover, and a lower cover which are each formed into a cap-like shape, are provided on both end faces of the main cover, and are fitted on an upper part, and a lower part of the electronic device, respectively.