Mobile terminal protection device and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

This invention belongs to the technical field of protective devices, specifically relating to a mobile terminal protective device and its manufacturing method. The mobile terminal protective device provided by this invention includes a support body and a buffer layer dispersed within the support body; the support body has a hollow structure with a porosity of 30-70%; the buffer layer has a porous structure with a pore diameter of 5-50 μm, a closed-pore ratio ≥90%, and a pore density of 10-1. 7 ~10 9 pcs / cm 3 The mobile terminal protective device provided by this invention has a high porosity, which reduces its density while increasing air permeability, achieving lightweight and breathable performance. Furthermore, the mobile terminal protective device provided by this invention has good cushioning properties, improving its drop resistance. The mobile terminal protective device provided by this invention can provide excellent protection for mobile terminals and extend their service life.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of protective device technology, specifically relating to a mobile terminal protective device and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] With the widespread adoption of mobile smart devices, protective accessories for laptops, tablets, and 2-in-1 tablets have become essential daily products. Existing traditional laptop bags, tablet cases, and 2-in-1 device protective structures generally suffer from the following technical shortcomings: 1. Insufficient protective performance: Traditional bags are mostly made of fabric or leather, relying on cotton padding for cushioning, resulting in poor energy absorption and weak drop and shock resistance; rigid protective shells are rigid and lack cushioning, making them prone to damage from drops; 2. Poor heat dissipation and breathability: Traditional protective structures are generally dense, which can easily cause overheating and sluggish operation over time, affecting the device's operational stability and lifespan. Therefore, developing a protective accessory with superior performance to extend the lifespan of mobile smart devices has significant technical value and market implications. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides a mobile terminal protection device. The mobile terminal protection device provided by the present invention has low density and good breathability and cushioning, which can better protect the mobile terminal and help extend the service life of the mobile terminal.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a mobile terminal protection device, including a support body and a buffer layer dispersed within the support body; The support body has a hollow structure, and the porosity of the support body is 30-70%. The buffer layer has a porous structure with a pore diameter of 5-50 μm, a closed-porosity of ≥90%, and a pore density of 10. 7 ~10 9 pcs / cm 3 .

[0005] Preferably, the wall thickness of the support is 0.5~2mm, the thickness of the buffer layer is 0.5~3mm, and the density of the buffer layer is 0.2~0.5g / cm³. 3 .

[0006] Preferably, the support body includes a bottom bearing part, an upper cover protection part, a side limiting part, and an integrated flexible linkage part; the bottom bearing part and the upper cover protection part achieve flexible linkage opening and closing through the integrated flexible linkage part.

[0007] Preferably, the hollow structure is a parameterized lattice structure, and the unit cell of the parameterized lattice structure includes one or more combinations of Gyroid lattice, diamond lattice, honeycomb lattice and columnar lattice.

[0008] Preferably, the parameterized lattice structure is a variable density lattice structure, and the lattice density at the four corners of the bottom support portion is 1.5 to 2 times that of the central region.

[0009] Preferably, the material of the support includes thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, thermoplastic polyester elastomer, PEBAX elastomer, nylon, or continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material.

[0010] Preferably, the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer has a Shore hardness of 70~95A, a tensile strength ≥30MPa, and an elongation at break ≥400%; the PEBAX elastomer has a Shore hardness of 35~72D.

[0011] The present invention also provides a method for preparing the mobile terminal protection device described in the above technical solution, comprising the following steps: Parametric modeling is performed based on the external dimensions of the mobile terminal to obtain a three-dimensional model of the support structure; The support is obtained by 3D printing based on a three-dimensional model of a flexible polymer material. The support is placed in a supercritical fluid foaming device for supercritical CO2 foaming to form a buffer layer, thus obtaining the mobile terminal protection device.

[0012] Preferably, the 3D printing method includes FDM filament printing, FDM particle printing, selective laser sintering, or 3D binder jet printing; the infill rate of the 3D printing is 20-100%.

[0013] Preferably, the conditions for supercritical CO2 foaming include: temperature 60~120℃, pressure 10~30MPa, pressure holding time 2~12h, and gradient depressurization rate 0.1~0.5MPa / min.

[0014] This invention provides a mobile terminal protection device, comprising a support body and a buffer layer dispersed within the support body; the support body has a hollow structure with a porosity of 30-70%; the buffer layer has a pore structure with a pore diameter of 5-50 μm, a closed-pore ratio ≥90%, and a pore density of 10. 7 ~10 9 pcs / cm 3 The mobile terminal protective device provided by this invention has a high porosity, which reduces its density while increasing air permeability, achieving lightweight and breathable performance. Furthermore, the mobile terminal protective device provided by this invention has good cushioning properties, improving its drop resistance. The mobile terminal protective device provided by this invention can provide excellent protection for mobile terminals and extend their service life. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1A schematic diagram of the overall manufacturing process of mobile terminal protection devices; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the closed state of the laptop protective device in Example 1; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the laptop protective device in the open and in use state, as shown in Example 1. Figure 2 , 3 In the middle: 1—Upper cover protective part; 2—Bottom bearing part; 3—Side limiting part; 4—Integrated flexible linkage part; 5—Buffer layer. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The present invention provides a mobile terminal protection device, including a support body and a buffer layer dispersed within the support body.

[0017] In this invention, the support body may include a bottom bearing portion, an upper cover protective portion, a side limiting portion, and an integrated flexible linkage portion; the bottom bearing portion and the upper cover protective portion achieve flexible linkage opening and closing through the integrated flexible linkage portion. The protective device provided by this invention is completely fitted and fixed to the mobile terminal body, and the screen opens simultaneously when the upper cover protective portion is lifted, allowing for direct use without removing the device. In this invention, the bottom bearing portion supports the bottom of the mobile terminal and adopts a hollow lattice structure to achieve full-area ventilation and heat dissipation; the upper cover protective portion covers the outer side of the device screen, resisting impact and scratches; the side limiting portion is a semi-enclosed fitting structure that precisely matches the contour of the mobile terminal body, without obstructing interfaces, buttons, cameras, and heat dissipation areas, and can limit the shaking and displacement of the device within the device. In this invention, the integrated flexible linkage portion has no metal hinges, no zippers, no adhesives, and no seamless structure, allowing for repeated 360° bending without breakage or fatigue.

[0018] In this invention, the support body is a hollow structure with a porosity of 30-70%, specifically 40%, 50%, or 60%. The hollow structure can be a parametric lattice structure, where the unit cells can include one or more combinations of Gyroid lattices, diamond lattices, honeycomb lattices, and columnar lattices, specifically Gyroid, diamond, honeycomb, or columnar lattices. In this invention, the parametric lattice structure can be a variable-density lattice structure, with the lattice density at the four corners of the bottom support portion being 1.5-2 times that of the central region. In this invention, thickened lattice reinforcement structures are provided at the four corners of the bottom support portion to enhance drop impact absorption capacity, achieving no equipment damage after a 1.2m drop.

[0019] In this invention, the material of the support body may include thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU), thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE), PEBAX elastomer, nylon, or continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material; the nylon may be PA11 flexible nylon or PA12 flexible nylon; the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer may be medical-grade TPU, and the Shore hardness of the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer may be 70~95A, specifically 75A, 80A, 85A, or 90A; the tensile strength of the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer may be ≥30MPa, specifically 30MPa, 35MPa, 40MPa, or 50MPa; the elongation at break of the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer may be ≥400%, specifically 450% or 500%; the Shore hardness of the PEBAX elastomer may be 35~72D, specifically 40D, 50D, 60D, or 70D.

[0020] In this invention, the wall thickness of the support can be 0.5~2mm, specifically 1mm or 1.5mm.

[0021] In this invention, the buffer layer has a porous structure, wherein the pore diameter is 5~50μm, specifically 3μm, 5μm, 10μm, 15μm, 20μm, 30μm, or 40μm; the closed-pore ratio of the porous structure is ≥90%, specifically 93%, 95%, or 98%; and the pore density of the porous structure is 10. 7 ~10 9 pcs / cm 3 Specifically, it can be 10 8 pcs / cm 3 .

[0022] In this invention, the thickness of the buffer layer can be 0.5~3mm, specifically 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm or 2.5mm; the density of the buffer layer can be 0.2~0.5g / cm³. 3 Specifically, it can be expressed as 0.4 g / cm³. 3 .

[0023] The mobile terminal protective device provided by this invention has the advantages of integrated opening and closing, lightweight, high breathability, strong drop resistance, and flexibility and durability. The mobile terminal protective device provided by this invention is seamless, requires no assembly, and has no hardware parts. It fits and is fixed to the mobile terminal completely, truly achieving no need to remove the device and can be used immediately after opening.

[0024] The present invention also provides a method for preparing the mobile terminal protection device described in the above technical solution, comprising the following steps: Parametric modeling is performed based on the external dimensions of the mobile terminal to obtain a three-dimensional model of the support structure; The support is obtained by 3D printing based on a three-dimensional model of a flexible polymer material. The support is placed in a supercritical fluid foaming device for supercritical CO2 foaming to form a buffer layer, thus obtaining the mobile terminal protection device.

[0025] This invention uses parametric modeling based on the external dimensions of a mobile terminal to obtain a three-dimensional model of the support structure. In this invention, the mobile terminal may include a laptop computer, tablet computer, 2-in-1 tablet, or tablet keyboard combination device. This invention does not have any particular limitation on the parametric modeling method; conventional methods in the art can be used. This invention establishes an integrated, fully laminated lattice three-dimensional model based on the external dimensions of the mobile terminal.

[0026] After obtaining the three-dimensional model of the support, this invention uses a flexible polymer material as raw material to 3D print the support according to the three-dimensional model to obtain the support. In this invention, the flexible polymer material can be thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU), thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE), PEBAX elastomer, nylon (PA11 / PA12 flexible nylon), or continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material; the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer can be medical-grade TPU, and the Shore hardness of the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer can be 70~95A, specifically 75A, 80A, 85A, or 90A; the tensile strength of the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer can be ≥30MPa, specifically 30MPa, 35MPa, 40MPa, or 50MPa; the elongation at break of the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer can be ≥400%, specifically 450% or 500%; the Shore hardness of the PEBAX elastomer can be 35~72D, specifically 40D, 50D, 60D, or 70D.

[0027] In this invention, the 3D printing method may include FDM filament printing, FDM particle printing, selective laser sintering (SLS), or 3D binder jet printing; this invention does not have special requirements for the 3D printing conditions and parameters, and conventional methods in the art can be used.

[0028] In this invention, the infill rate of the 3D printing can be 20-100%, specifically 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% or 80%.

[0029] After obtaining the support body, the present invention places the support body in a supercritical fluid foaming device for supercritical CO2 foaming to form a buffer layer, thereby obtaining the mobile terminal protection device. In the present invention, the conditions for supercritical CO2 foaming may include: temperature 60~120℃, pressure 10~30MPa, pressure holding time 2~12h, and gradient pressure relief rate 0.1~0.5MPa / min; the temperature may specifically be 70℃, 80℃, 90℃, 100℃ or 110℃; the pressure may specifically be 15MPa, 20MPa or 25MPa; the pressure holding time may specifically be 2h, 3h, 5h, 7h, 8h, 10h or 11h; and the gradient pressure relief rate may specifically be 0.2MPa / min, 0.3MPa / min or 0.4MPa / min. This invention forms a micron-sized closed-pore structure through supercritical CO2 fluid foaming, which has lightweight, high elasticity, energy absorption and buffering properties, forming a dual protection system with external support and internal buffer with the external lattice.

[0030] The present invention can obtain the mobile terminal protection device by cooling the product after supercritical CO2 foaming to room temperature; the room temperature can be 20~35℃ or 25~30℃.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall manufacturing process of a mobile terminal protection device. The preparation method provided by this invention has strong process versatility and is suitable for small-batch customization and large-scale production.

[0032] This invention achieves synergistic optimization of "support strength + buffer performance" by first printing a variable-density lattice (thickened at the bottom) to form a support body, and then performing supercritical foaming to form a buffer layer. This solves the problem that a single structure cannot simultaneously meet the requirements of lightweighting and drop protection. The "semi-enclosed side-limiting + bottom four-corner thickened lattice" structure of this invention can achieve 1.2m height protection without blind spots, and does not obstruct equipment interfaces and heat dissipation areas. This invention limits specific 3D printing infill rate, foaming temperature / pressure / decompression rate parameters, and achieves uniform and controllable microporous structure of the buffer layer, improving buffer efficiency by more than 30%.

[0033] In the process of preparing the mobile terminal protective device, the present invention first uses 3D printing to form an integral lattice structure (support body), and then uses supercritical foaming to achieve lightweight, flexibility and cushioning reinforcement, without the need for assembly, sewing, bonding and post-processing.

[0034] To further illustrate the present invention, the technical solutions provided by the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0035] Example 1 Mobile terminal: 14-inch laptop; Cell structure: Gyroid lattice, with the lattice density at the four corners of the bottom support being twice that of the central region; Support material: Medical-grade TPU, with a Shore hardness of 80A, tensile strength of 40MPa, and elongation at break of up to 400%; Process: FDM filament 3D printing + supercritical CO2 foaming.

[0036] Parametric modeling was performed based on the external dimensions of the mobile terminal to obtain a three-dimensional model of the support. Using medical-grade TPU as raw material, FDM filament 3D printing was performed according to the three-dimensional model of the support (the infill rate of 3D printing was 50%) to obtain a support with a wall thickness of 1mm and a porosity of 50%.

[0037] The support was placed in a supercritical fluid foaming device for supercritical CO2 foaming to form a structure with a thickness of 1 mm and a density of 0.4 g / cm³. 3 It has a closed-cell rate of 95% and a pore density of 10. 8 pcs / cm 3 The buffer layer is cooled to room temperature (25℃) to obtain the mobile terminal protection device; the conditions for supercritical CO2 foaming are: temperature 85℃, pressure 20MPa, pressure holding time 2h, and gradient pressure relief rate 0.3MPa / min.

[0038] The finished protective device weighs 240g, with a closed-cell rate of 95% and an air permeability of 85%. The drop performance test procedure follows GB / T31247-2014. The mobile terminal equipped with this device is dropped freely from a height of 1.2m onto a cement ground in three postures: screen, side, and back. Each posture is repeated 5 times. After the test, the device has no problems such as shell dents, screen cracks, or internal circuit damage.

[0039] In this embodiment, a 50% 3D printing fill rate corresponds to a native porosity of 50% for the support. After supercritical CO2 foaming, the native open-cell channels undergo cell growth and pore wall fusion to form a high-closed-cell buffer layer with a pore density of 10. 8 pcs / cm 3 The foaming temperature, pressure, and depressurization rate are coordinated and controlled, and the highly closed-cell structure achieves a balance between buffering and air permeability.

[0040] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the closed state of the laptop protective device in Example 1; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the laptop protective device in the open and in use state in Example 1; wherein: 1—top cover protective part; 2—bottom support part; 3—side limiting part; 4—integrated flexible linkage part; 5—buffer layer.

[0041] Example 2 Mobile terminal: 13-inch tablet computer; Cell structure: diamond lattice structure, with the lattice density at the four corners of the bottom support being twice that of the central region; Support material: PEBA elastomer with a Shore hardness of 50D; Process: selective laser sintering (SLS) + supercritical CO2 foaming.

[0042] Parametric modeling was performed based on the external dimensions of the mobile terminal to obtain a three-dimensional model of the support. Using PEBA elastomer as raw material, SLS 3D printing was performed according to the three-dimensional model of the support (the infill rate of the 3D printing was 50%) to obtain a support with a wall thickness of 1.5mm and a porosity of 45%.

[0043] The prefabricated support was fed into a supercritical CO2 foaming equipment. The foaming process parameters were: temperature 90℃, pressure 30MPa, pressure holding time 2h, and gradient pressure relief rate 0.4MPa / min. After foaming, the material was cooled to room temperature (25℃) to obtain a flat protective device. The foamed buffer layer had a thickness of 2mm and a density of 0.5g / cm³. 3 Closed-cell rate 93%, pore density 10 8 pcs / cm 3 .

[0044] The drop test was conducted in accordance with GB / T 31247-2014. The 13-inch tablet equipped with the protective device was dropped from a height of 1.2m onto a cement ground in three positions: screen, frame, and back. Repeated tests showed no damage to the equipment.

[0045] In this embodiment, the SLS printing fill rate of 50% corresponds to the original porosity of the support body of 45%. Compared with FDM molding, the original porosity of SLS powder sintering is smaller. Therefore, the overall density of the buffer layer after foaming is slightly higher. By increasing the foaming pressure to 30MPa, the same pore density is ensured, which is suitable for the protection needs of large-size flat panels.

[0046] Example 3 Mobile terminal: 15.6-inch 2-in-1 tablet; Cell structure: honeycomb lattice + columnar lattice composite structure, with the lattice density at the four corners of the bottom support part being twice that of the central region; Support material: PA11 flexible nylon; Process: FDM particle printing + supercritical CO2 foaming.

[0047] Parametric modeling was performed based on the external dimensions of the mobile terminal to obtain a three-dimensional model of the support. Using PA11 flexible nylon as raw material, FDM particles were 3D printed according to the three-dimensional model of the support (the infill rate of the 3D printing was 50%) to obtain a support with a wall thickness of 2mm and a porosity of 50%.

[0048] The prefabricated support was fed into a supercritical fluid foaming equipment for CO2 supercritical foaming treatment. The foaming process parameters were: temperature 90℃, pressure 30MPa, pressure holding time 2h, and gradient pressure relief rate 0.4MPa / min. After foaming, the support was cooled to room temperature of 25℃ to form a structure with a thickness of 2mm and a density of 0.5g / cm³. 3 Closed-cell rate 93%, pore density 10 8 pcs / cm 3 The buffer composite layer is used to obtain a mobile terminal protection device.

[0049] In this embodiment, the FDM particle printing fill rate of 50% corresponds to a native porosity of 50% in the support structure. After supercritical CO2 foaming at 90℃ and 30MPa, the native open-cell channels melt and fuse to form uniform closed-cell bubbles, resulting in a stable 10... 8 pcs / cm 3 A buffer layer with pore density and 93% closed-cell ratio; the PA11 nylon substrate has moderate melt flowability, which can balance the foaming ratio and structural rigidity.

[0050] Performance testing process: Drop test according to GB / T 31247-2014, the terminal equipped with protective shell is dropped freely from 1.2m from the screen, side and back in multiple postures, and repeated tests show no equipment damage; heat dissipation performance according to ASTM D5470 thermal conductivity test standard, the thermal conductivity of the buffer layer is 0.23W / (m·K), which can quickly dissipate the terminal's working heat; tensile strength according to GB / T 1040, the overall tensile strength of the shell is ≥32MPa, the finished product has high structural strength, the whole machine fits firmly, and the comprehensive performance of heat dissipation and buffer protection is excellent.

[0051] Example 4 Mobile terminal: 11-inch tablet computer; Cell structure: Gyroid composite diamond lattice, with the lattice density at the four corners of the bottom support being twice that of the central region; Support material: PA12 flexible nylon; Process: 3D adhesive jet printing + supercritical CO2 foaming.

[0052] Parametric modeling was performed based on the external dimensions of the mobile terminal to obtain a three-dimensional model of the support. Using PA12 flexible nylon as raw material, 3D adhesive jet printing was performed according to the three-dimensional model of the support (the infill rate of 3D printing was 50%) to obtain a support with a wall thickness of 1mm and a porosity of 60%.

[0053] The prefabricated support was fed into a supercritical CO2 foaming equipment. The foaming process parameters were: temperature 90℃, pressure 30MPa, pressure holding time 2h, and gradient pressure relief rate 0.4MPa / min. After foaming, the material was cooled to room temperature of 25℃ to obtain a flat protective device with a foamed buffer layer thickness of 2mm and a density of 0.5g / cm³. 3 Closed-cell rate 93%, pore density 10 8 pcs / cm3 .

[0054] In this embodiment, the adhesive jet printing fill rate is 50%, corresponding to a native porosity of 60% for the support. The Gyroid lattice itself has more interconnected pores, and higher native porosity can improve the gas permeation efficiency during foaming, achieving the same pore density parameters as in Example 3 under the same foaming process.

[0055] Performance testing process: Drop test and thermal conductivity test standards are the same as in Example 3; additional curved surface fit test is added, using a 3D contour scanner to check that the gap between the protective shell and the 11-inch tablet shell is ≤0.08mm; Gyroid hollow lattice has more hollow channels, and the overall heat dissipation efficiency is 12% higher than that of conventional diamond lattice, taking into account the requirements of thinness, buffer heat dissipation and curved surface fit.

[0056] Although the above embodiments have provided a detailed description of the present invention, they are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. People can obtain other embodiments based on these embodiments without creative effort, and these embodiments all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal protection device, characterized in that, Includes a support body and a buffer layer dispersed within the support body; The support body has a hollow structure, and the porosity of the support body is 30-70%. The buffer layer has a porous structure with a pore diameter of 5-50 μm, a closed-porosity of ≥90%, and a pore density of 10. 7 ~10 9 pcs / cm 3 .

2. The mobile terminal protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support has a wall thickness of 0.5~2mm, the buffer layer has a thickness of 0.5~3mm, and the buffer layer has a density of 0.2~0.5g / cm³. 3 .

3. The mobile terminal protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support body includes a bottom bearing part, an upper cover protection part, a side limiting part, and an integrated flexible linkage part; the bottom bearing part and the upper cover protection part achieve flexible linkage opening and closing through the integrated flexible linkage part.

4. The mobile terminal protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hollow structure is a parameterized lattice structure, and the unit cell of the parameterized lattice structure includes one or more combinations of Gyroid lattice, diamond lattice, honeycomb lattice and columnar lattice.

5. The mobile terminal protection device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The parameterized lattice structure is a variable density lattice structure, and the lattice density at the four corners of the bottom support portion is 1.5 to 2 times that of the central region.

6. The mobile terminal protection device according to claim 1, 4, or 5, characterized in that, The materials of the support include thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, thermoplastic polyester elastomer, PEBAX elastomer, nylon, or continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material.

7. The mobile terminal protection device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer has a Shore hardness of 70~95A, a tensile strength ≥30MPa, and an elongation at break ≥400%; the PEBAX elastomer has a Shore hardness of 35~72D.

8. A method for preparing the mobile terminal protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Parametric modeling is performed based on the external dimensions of the mobile terminal to obtain a three-dimensional model of the support structure; The support is obtained by 3D printing based on a three-dimensional model of a flexible polymer material. The support is placed in a supercritical fluid foaming device for supercritical CO2 foaming to form a buffer layer, thus obtaining the mobile terminal protection device.

9. The preparation method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The 3D printing methods include FDM filament printing, FDM particle printing, selective laser sintering, or 3D binder jet printing; the infill rate of the 3D printing is 20-100%.

10. The preparation method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The conditions for supercritical CO2 foaming include: temperature 60~120℃, pressure 10~30MPa, pressure holding time 2~12h, and gradient depressurization rate 0.1~0.5MPa / min.

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