Manufacturing method and cover for electronic device

1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to covers for electronic devices and methods for manufacturing the covers.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electronic devices (e.g. mobile phones) may include a front cover and a display window. The front cover and the display window are respectively molded by injection molding, and are latched as a whole by typical latches. However, the mounting assembly is time-consuming, the mounted latch may be unlatched under a large external force.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Many aspects of the exemplary cover for electronic device and method for manufacturing same can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the various drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary cover for electronic device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the diagrams.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are isometric views of a display window of a cover for an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are isometric views of a cover for an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the cover shown in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cover in FIG. 5 , taken along line VI-VI.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of the area VII shown in FIG. 6 .

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cover 100 including a display window 10 and a cover body 20 injection molded with the display window 10 .

In FIGS. 1-2 and 7 , the display window 10 includes a window body 12 and protruding portions 14 projecting from the window body 12 . The window body 12 includes a front surface 122 , a rear surface 124 opposite to the front surface 122 , a peripheral surface 126 connecting the rear surface 124 , and a wedge surface 128 connecting the front surface 122 and the peripheral surface 126 . The front surface 122 and the wedge surface 128 define a first angle labeled “α” shown in FIG. 7 . The first angle α is in a range from about 90 degrees to about 180 degrees for preventing the molten thermosetting plastic from leaking and molding onto the front surface 122 during molding of the cover body 20 . The protruding portions 14 are fixed on the peripheral surface 124 . Some of the protruding portions 14 define fixing holes 142 . The fixing holes 142 fix the display window 10 to an injection molding machine for molding.

FIGS. 4-7 , the cover body 20 includes two opposite side walls 22 , a main wall 24 connecting the side walls 22 , and ribs 26 projecting from the side walls 22 . The ribs 26 resist against the display window 10 . Some of the protruding portions 14 are secured between the main wall 24 and the ribs 26 , securing the display window 10 and the cover body 20 in a fixed position. The main wall 24 has a portion covering the wedge surface 128 and defines a flange 242 . The end of the flange 242 and the front surface 122 define a second angle labeled “β” shown in FIG. 7 . The second angle β is a supplementary angle of the first angle α. The end of the flange 242 completely mates with and resists against the wedge surface 128 . The resistance of the flange 242 against the wedge surface 128 further prevents the display window 10 and cover body 20 from detaching relative to each other. The main wall 24 defines a main surface 244 . The main surface 244 and the front surface 122 cooperatively form a seamless surface of the cover 100 .

A method for making the cover 100 may include providing an injection molding machine. The injection molding machine includes a molding chamber. The display window 10 is positioned in the second molding chamber. Molten thermosetting plastic is injected into the molding chamber to mold the cover body 20 on the display window 10 . The thermosetting plastic is one or more materials selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and polystyrene.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the system and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.