US20060284523A1

US20060284523A1 - High strength frame structure

Info

Publication number: US20060284523A1
Application number: US11/156,828
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsiang Chen; Tien-Ming Chan
Original assignee: Inventec Corp
Current assignee: Inventec Corp
Priority date: 2005-06-20
Filing date: 2005-06-20
Publication date: 2006-12-21

Abstract

A high strength frame structure of a portable computer is disclosed, comprising a main structure frame including at least an “L” shaped column, a bracket disposed on the “L” shaped column and used for supporting a touchpad and a keyboard, a metal foil bonded onto the bracket and a lower cover frame served as a base for supporting the main structure frame, wherein the “L” shaped column has a cylinder bump disposed thereon at a rear end, the cylinder bump being fastened to a fastener hole by means of a bolt or a hinge so that a mainframe and a display panel of the portable computer may be connected together, and the metal foil being bonded in a replaceable manner, having capability of electromagnetic interference (EMI) isolation and saving a later electroplating process. The high strength frame structure may be manufactured in a simple form and strength of upper and lower covers of the frame structure may be enhanced.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high strength frame structure and particularly to a high strength frame structure of a portable computer having a particular form made of materials of high strength.
2. Descriptions of the Related Art
With the rapid development of information technology, various digital electronic products have been born continually, such as portable computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), flash drives and electronic books. Such digital electronic products have become important aids for human's work and life. Among them, the portable computers can be the most important since they possess the best operation processing capability and the largest storage space. Therefore, more attention are deserved to be paid to appearance of the portable computers so that consumers on the market may be appealed more.
Although the portable computers have been greatly improved in volume and weight, from being clumsy and large at early time to featuring miniature and compactness today, frame strength of the portable computers is relatively less paid attention. For the recently, there are some technologies associated with vibration and pressure-resistant designs for the portable computer frames set forth continually. Generally, the frames of the portable computers are formed by rigid plastic or compound materials and an upper cover and a lower cover thereof are coated with lacquer or protection materials for isolation of electromagnetic interferences (EMIs). Therefore, these frames have been improved particularly in high structure strength and EMIs prevention capability.
In seeking a better frame strength, metal or plastic materials are generally adopted as the material for the main structure of the portable computer. Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of titanium alloy-based thin cover of the portable computer illustrating an assembly method of the covers is depicted therein. The thin cover 11 is made of titanium alloy. A plurality of fasteners 12 is disposed on four sides of a base 10 so that the thin cover 11 may be firmly fastened to the base 10. As such, the frame strength of the portable computer may be enhanced and assembly difficulty of the portable computer may be reduced.
Although the high rigid titanium alloy is provided circumferentially with respect to the base, only edges of the portable computer may be protected from damage and destruction and a keyboard and a touchpad therein may not be efficiently protected. In addition, since the fasteners are provided circumferentially with respect to the portable computer, damage on the central portion of the portable computer brought by the external may not be protected. In addition, the generally used rigid and strong materials often do not contribute to improved frame structure designs for stress elimination.
In view of this, the present invention provides an enhanced portable computer frame structure through which various internal and external stresses at peripheral and central positions may be resisted. Since such frame structure is provided with a main structure having a firmer base, the shortcomings as mentioned above may be well overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a high strength frame structure through which a portable computer may be simplified in structure, cover strength of a main structure thereof may be enhanced and manufacturing process and cost therefor may be reduced.
To achieve the above object, the high strength frame structure of a portable computer comprises a main structure frame comprising at least an “L” shaped column, a bracket disposed on the “L” shaped column and used for supporting a touchpad and a keyboard thereon, a metal foil bonded onto the bracket and a lower cover served as a base for supporting the main structure frame, wherein the “L” shaped column has a cylinder bump disposed thereon at a rear end, the cylinder bump being fastened to a fastener hole by means of a bolt or a hinge so that a mainframe and a display panel of the portable computer may be connected together, and the metal foil being bonded in a replaceable manner and having capability of electromagnetic interferences (EMIs) isolation.
According to the present invention, the high strength frame structure is formed through an improved frame design created. Further, the frame structure is manufactured in an integral form so that a simplified frame design and an enhanced main structure may be achieved. In addition, the replaceable disposed metal foil may provide isolation of EMIs.
To enable the above and other objects, features and advantages to be more apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention will be described in more detail taken from the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of titanium alloy based thin cover of a conventional portable computer illustrating an assembly method of the cover;
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view schematically depicting a high strength frame structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows a top view of the high strength frame structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 shows a side view of the high strength frame structure according to the present invention; and
FIG. 5 shows another side view of the high strength frame structure according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view schematically showing a high strength frame structure is depicted therein. The high strength frame structure, particularly for a portable computer, comprises a main structure frame 2, including at least an “L” shaped column 21. The “L” shaped column 21 has a cylinder bump 22 at a rear end. On the cylinder bump 22, a fastener hole 221 is on the cylinder bump 22 for fixing a bolt or hinge. The bolt or hinge is provided for a tight connection between a mainframe and a display panel of the portable computer. In this manner, it may be avoided that the mainframe and the display panel separate with each other when being in use or carried. On the main structure frame 2, a bracket 23 is disposed for supporting a keyboard and a touchpad. A replaceable metal foil 231 (such as an aluminum foil and a tin foil) is bonded onto the bracket 231. This metal foil 231 is bonded for saving electroplating work on a cover of the portable computer, which is conducted in the conventional portable computer manufacturing process at a later stage for prevention of electromagnetic interferences (EMIs). After a long use of the portable computer, a user may remove this metal foil 231 and replace it with a new metal foil 231 in a simple manner. As such, promoted work efficiency and time saving may be achieved. In addition, a lower cover 31 is made of a rigid material and has a single unit construction as a base to support the main structure frame 2 so that the base may provide a sufficient strength for edges of the frame.
Referring to FIG. 3, a top view of the high strength frame structure according to the present invention is shown therein. The main structure frame 2 is made of a metal or plastic material. At two sides of the lower cover 31 is seated a bridge structure, the bridge structure having two cylinder bumps which may be fastened. As also mentioned above, the bracket 23 is located between the two cylinder bumps for support of the keyboard and the touchpad. On the bracket 23, the metal foil 231 is bonded, which may be provided in compliance with an EMI standard. As such, the surface supporting the keyboard and the touchpad is not required to be electroplated at a subsequent manufacturing stage in the portable computer manufacturing process.
Referring to FIG. 4, a side view of the high strength frame structure according to the present invention is shown therein. The lower cover 31 is used as the base of the main structure frame 2, which has a single unit construction, and may enhance strength of the main structure. An upper cover is formed in a simplified manner so that cost therefor may be reduced. On the lower cover 31, the bracket 23 is a single unit construction, as mentioned above. On the bracket 23, a metal foil 231 may be bonded so as to prevent EMIs.
Referring to FIG. 5, another side view of the high strength frame structure according to the present invention is shown therein. The lower cover 31 may be replaced in a modular form so that cost therefor may be reduced and diversity in design may be achieved. Further, manufacturing of the overall portable computer may be performed in a more efficient manner. The bracket 23 seated on the lower cover 31 has four legs and a platen, and is used for support of the touchpad 232 and the keyboard 233, as above mentioned.
From the description made above, it may be demonstrated that the high strength frame structure of a combination of particular forms may actually achieve the efficacy that improves poor stress-resistant ability and main structure of the conventional frame structure, particularly used for a portable computer.
While this invention has thus far been described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof, it will readily be possible for those skilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various other manners without departing from the scope set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A frame structure of a portable computer, comprising:

a main structure frame, comprising:

at least an “L” shaped column;

a bracket disposed on said “L” shaped column;

a metal foil bonded onto said bracket; and

a lower cover frame served as a base for supporting said main structure frame.

2. The frame structure according to claim 1, wherein said “L” shaped column has a cylinder bump disposed thereon at a rear end and wherein said cylinder bump has a fastener hole disposed thereon for a tight connection of a mainframe and a display panel of the portable computer.

3. The frame structure according to claim 1, wherein said main structure frame is made of a metal.

4. The frame structure according to claim 1, wherein said main structure frame is made of a plastic material.

5. The frame structure according to claim 1, wherein said lower cover is a single unit construction.

6. The frame structure according to claim 2, wherein said connection is achieved by a bolt fastened to said fastener hole.

7. The frame structure according to claim 2, wherein said connection is achieved by a hinge fastened to said fastener hole.

8. The frame structure according to claim 1, wherein said metal foil is an aluminum foil.

9. The frame structure according to claim 1, wherein said metal foil is a tin foil.

10. The frame structure according to claim 1, wherein said bracket includes four legs and a platen.