Navigation device front cover plate with impact protection
Through the design of a multi-layered protective structure, including high-strength tempered glass, buffer frame, shock-absorbing interlayer and airbag, the problem of cracking of the front cover of the navigator and damage to the touch screen during impact is solved, achieving a longer service life and higher reliability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ZHUHAI XINHAO PRECISION ENG TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing navigation devices are prone to having their front cover cracked and touchscreens damaged when subjected to impacts, increasing repair costs and affecting user experience.
It adopts a multi-layer protective structure, including components such as a high-strength tempered glass cover, a buffer frame, a shock-absorbing interlayer, elastic protrusions, and airbags. Through the synergistic effect of the honeycomb structure, gas springs, and flexible impact-resistant material layers, it disperses and absorbs impact forces.
It significantly reduces the probability of damage to the navigator and cover plate, extends service life, reduces maintenance costs, and improves reliability and user experience.
Smart Images
Figure CN224499510U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of navigation device accessories technology, and in particular to a navigation device front cover with impact protection effect. Background Technology
[0002] GPS navigators, as common navigation devices, are widely used in automobiles, ships, and outdoor adventures. However, during use, navigators inevitably suffer impacts such as collisions and drops, resulting in damage to the front cover and affecting normal operation. Currently, most existing navigator front covers are made of a single material with a relatively simple structural design and poor impact resistance. When subjected to impacts, they are prone to cracking and touchscreen damage, increasing repair costs and affecting the user experience. Utility Model Content
[0003] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model provides a front cover plate for a navigator with impact protection, thereby solving the problems mentioned in the background art, such as the navigator being prone to cracking and touchscreen damage when subjected to impacts, which not only increases maintenance costs but also affects the user experience.
[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: including a cover plate body and a navigator body, wherein the cover plate body is provided with a protective component for shock absorption and protection of the cover plate body and the navigator body;
[0005] The protective component includes a buffer frame set around the perimeter of the cover plate body. The buffer frame is made of elastic material. A shock-absorbing interlayer is set between the cover plate body and the navigator body. The shock-absorbing interlayer is filled with soft and elastic sponge. Elastic protrusions are set at the four corners of the buffer frame.
[0006] Preferably, the cover plate body is made of high-strength tempered glass, and the buffer frame is made of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer rubber or silicone.
[0007] Preferably, the cover plate body and the buffer frame are integrally formed.
[0008] Preferably, the buffer frame has a honeycomb structure inside, and the thickness of the buffer frame is 2-5mm.
[0009] Preferably, an air bladder is provided inside the shock-absorbing interlayer, and the air bladder is filled with inert gas.
[0010] Preferably, the elastic protrusion has a circular surface shape and an L-shaped edge.
[0011] Preferably, a shallow groove is provided on the outer edge of the cover plate body, and a flexible impact-resistant material layer is provided in the shallow groove. The flexible impact-resistant material layer is made of a flexible material containing a shear-thickening fluid.
[0012] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:
[0013] 1. In this utility model, the multi-layered protective structure of the protective components works synergistically to significantly reduce the probability of damage to the navigator and cover plate, avoiding frequent replacements of components such as the cover plate and navigator touchscreen, reducing costs associated with repairing or replacing the navigator and cover plate, alleviating the burden on users, and lowering operating costs. Simultaneously, it extends the overall lifespan of the navigator, reduces resource waste, and improves the product's cost-effectiveness.
[0014] 2. This utility model ensures the continuous and stable operation of the navigator, guaranteeing uninterrupted navigation functionality during driving, outdoor adventures, and other scenarios. It avoids issues such as route deviations and information delays caused by device damage, thus improving reliability. This enhances user experience and satisfaction, reduces inconvenience and frustration caused by device malfunctions, strengthens trust in the product, and ultimately increases market acceptance and reputation. Attached Figure Description
[0015] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments of this application and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:
[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the front cover of the navigator with impact protection function according to this utility model.
[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the buffer frame of this utility model;
[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention with the buffer border removed;
[0019] Figure 4 For practical purposes Figure 3 Enlarged diagram of part A in the middle.
[0020] In the diagram: 1. Cover plate body; 11. Shallow groove;
[0021] 2. Navigation device itself;
[0022] 3. Protective components; 31. Buffer frame; 32. Shock-absorbing interlayer; 33. Sponge; 34. Elastic protrusion; 35. Airbag;
[0023] 4. Flexible impact-resistant material layer. Detailed Implementation
[0024] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.
[0025] Example 1
[0026] Navigation devices are prone to breakage and touchscreen damage when subjected to impacts, which not only increases repair costs but also negatively impacts the user experience. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figures 1-4 This embodiment provides a front cover for a navigator with impact protection, comprising a cover body 1 and a navigator body 2. The cover body 1 is made of high-strength tempered glass, which has high hardness and strength, and can resist scratches and collisions during daily use. Furthermore, when subjected to a large impact, it will automatically break into small particles, reducing injury to the user. The cover body 1 is equipped with a protective component 3 for shock absorption and protection of itself and the navigator body 2.
[0027] The protective component 3 includes a buffer frame 31 set around the perimeter of the cover body 1. The buffer frame 31 is made of an elastic material, such as thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer rubber (TPU) or silicone. These materials have good elasticity and impact resistance, and can absorb and disperse impact force through their own deformation when the navigator is impacted. The buffer frame 31 has a honeycomb structure inside, and its thickness is 2-5mm. The honeycomb structure is composed of numerous hexagonal cells. This structure can evenly distribute the impact force to each cell, and absorb a large amount of impact energy through the deformation of the cells, thereby further improving the shock absorption effect of the buffer frame 31. At the same time, the honeycomb structure can also reduce the weight of the buffer frame 31 while ensuring the buffer performance, making the front cover of the navigator lighter. The thickness of the honeycomb structure buffer frame 31 needs to be determined in combination with the overall size of the navigator and the usage scenario, and is usually suitable for 2-5mm. This thickness range will not result in insufficient buffering capacity due to being too thin, nor will it increase the overall size and weight of the navigator due to being too thick, affecting the user experience. The cover plate body 1 and the buffer frame 31 are integrally formed, ensuring the stability of the connection between them. A shock-absorbing interlayer 32 is provided between the cover plate body 1 and the navigator body 2, containing a soft and elastic sponge 33. Elastic protrusions 34 are provided at the four corners of the buffer frame 31. The surface of each elastic protrusion 34 is circular, with L-shaped edges. This L-shape better covers the corners. When the navigator is dropped or subjected to a side impact, these protrusions first contact the ground or the impacting object, dispersing the impact force onto the frame and preventing direct force on the corners, thus avoiding breakage. When the cover plate body 1 is impacted, the multi-layered protective structure of the honeycomb-structured buffer frame 31 and the shock-absorbing interlayer 32 works synergistically to disperse the impact energy, significantly reducing the impact force transmitted to the cover plate body 1 and the navigator body 2, thereby significantly reducing the risk of breakage. Reduce costs associated with repairing or replacing the navigator and its cover, alleviating the burden on users and lowering operating costs. Extend the overall lifespan of the navigator, reduce resource waste, and improve the product's cost-effectiveness.
[0028] Considering that relying solely on the honeycomb-structured buffer frame 31 and the sponge 33 in the shock-absorbing interlayer 32 for cushioning and shock absorption would still result in some impact force being easily transmitted to the cover plate body 1 and the navigation device body 2, further cushioning and shock absorption measures are needed. (See also...) Figures 1-4An airbag 35, filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen, is installed within the shock-absorbing interlayer 32. Upon impact, the airbag 35 forms a gas spring structure through the compressibility of the internal inert gas, providing a graded buffering effect against impacts of varying intensities. Under mild impacts, the airbag 35 compresses only slightly, absorbing energy through friction between gas molecules. Under medium to high-intensity impacts, the airbag 35 contracts significantly, using the rapid increase in gas pressure to disperse the impact force. Furthermore, the inert gas is stable and does not react with the airbag material, ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the airbag 35. The airbag 35 complements the sponge 33 within the shock-absorbing interlayer 32. While the sponge 33 primarily absorbs low-frequency, continuous impacts through material deformation, the airbag 35 is more effective at absorbing high-frequency, instantaneous impacts. For example, when the navigator falls, the impact force transmitted by the cover plate 1 is initially attenuated by the sponge 33, and the remaining energy is further weakened by the airbag 35 through gas compression. The combination of these two factors significantly reduces the impact force transmitted to the touchscreen. The independent encapsulation design of the airbag 35 enables localized cushioning. Even if a certain area of the shock-absorbing interlayer 32 is damaged due to an impact, the unaffected airbag 35 can still maintain its cushioning function, preventing overall protection failure. At the same time, the inert gas filled in the airbag 35 has stable chemical properties and will not experience performance degradation due to temperature changes or long-term use, such as expansion or contraction. This ensures the long-term stability of the cushioning effect and effectively extends the service life of the shock-absorbing interlayer 32. The airbag 35 and the sponge 33 together constitute the shock-absorbing interlayer 32. The sponge 33 provides basic cushioning and support, while the airbag 35 further enhances the shock absorption effect through the compression of the internal inert gas. Together, they form a multi-level buffer system. When impacted, the sponge 33 first absorbs some of the energy, and then the airbag 35 disperses the remaining impact force through compression, thereby more effectively reducing the impact transmitted to the cover plate body 1 and the navigation device body 2 and improving the protection performance.
[0029] Considering that the honeycomb structure's buffer frame 31 and shock-absorbing interlayer 32 cannot effectively buffer the impact force generated by a high-speed collision, the cover plate body 1 and the navigation device body 2 may be directly impacted, easily causing damage. (See also...) Figures 1-4A shallow groove 11 is formed around the outer edge of the cover plate body 1. A flexible impact-resistant material layer 4 is placed within the groove 11. This layer is made of a flexible material containing a shear-thickening fluid (STF). Due to the high hardness and brittleness of tempered glass, the shallow groove 11 is processed using laser cutting to avoid glass breakage during machining. The shallow groove 11 is continuously distributed along the edge of the cover plate body 1, with rounded corners at the junction of the groove bottom and the groove wall to reduce stress concentration. During processing, it is necessary to ensure that the depth of the shallow groove 11 is uniform and that the groove wall is perpendicular to the surface of the cover plate body 1, avoiding tilting or burrs to prevent scratching the flexible impact-resistant material layer 4 during installation. The edge of the flexible impact-resistant material layer 4 is designed as a flange structure corresponding to the position of the shallow groove 11. The width of the flange is 0.1–0.2 mm smaller than the width of the shallow groove 11, and the thickness is 0.1 mm smaller than the depth of the shallow groove 11, ensuring a small gap to accommodate a small amount of adhesive during insertion. The embedding depth is 2 / 3 to 3 / 4 of the depth of the shallow groove 11, so that the edge of the flexible impact-resistant material layer 4 is both limited by the shallow groove 11 and does not restrict its own deformation by completely filling the shallow groove 11. After embedding, a low-viscosity elastic adhesive, such as silicone rubber adhesive, is injected into the remaining space of the shallow groove 11. After the adhesive cures, it forms an elastic connection, which enhances the fixing effect without affecting the dynamic response of the material layer. The flexible impact-resistant material layer 4 needs to cover the main area of the cover plate body 1 facing the external environment, especially the area corresponding to the screen display, to ensure that it can play a full protective role in the event of a frontal impact. The edge can be connected with the buffer frame 31 to form a continuous protective structure. Under normal conditions, STF is in a soft fluid state, which does not affect the thin and light design and operation feel of the cover plate body 1; however, when it encounters a high-speed impact with an impact speed of ≥1m / s, the material will instantly harden to form a rigid protective layer, and the viscosity will increase sharply to hundreds of times that of the normal state. It can directly block and absorb a large amount of impact energy. This characteristic of becoming stronger when encountering strong forces can specifically resist sudden external forces. Once the external force is removed, it will return to its original soft state, which can effectively improve the impact resistance of the front cover.
[0030] This material layer is located on the outside of the cover plate body 1, forming the first protective barrier. Compared to relying on the strength of the cover plate body 1 itself or the internal buffer structure, it can pre-dissipate the impact force before it is transmitted to the cover plate body 1, significantly reducing the risk of tempered glass cover plate breakage. For example, when the navigator falls, the flexible impact-resistant material layer 4 can first offset most of the impact force through phase change hardening, reducing the energy transmitted to the cover plate body 1 to within a safe threshold. The structure, together with the buffer frame 31 and the elastic protrusion 34, forms a synergistic system of external rigidity and internal flexibility. The external impact is first initially blocked by the flexible impact-resistant material layer, and the remaining energy is transmitted to the buffer frame 31 through the cover plate body 1. Then, it is further dispersed by the elastic material and honeycomb structure, and finally, the airbags 35 and sponges 33 of the internal shock-absorbing interlayer 32 complete the final buffering, achieving graded attenuation of the impact force and significantly improving the overall impact resistance level.
[0031] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within this invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A front cover for a navigation device with impact protection, comprising a cover body (1) and a navigation device body (2), characterized in that: The cover plate body (1) is provided with a protective component (3) to provide shock absorption protection for itself and the navigation body (2). The protective component (3) includes a buffer frame (31) provided around the perimeter of the cover body (1). The buffer frame (31) is made of elastic material. A shock-absorbing interlayer (32) is provided between the cover body (1) and the navigator body (2). A soft and elastic sponge (33) is provided inside the shock-absorbing interlayer (32). Elastic protrusions (34) are provided at the four corners of the buffer frame (31).
2. The navigator front cover with impact protection effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cover plate body (1) is made of high-strength tempered glass, and the buffer frame (31) is made of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer rubber or silicone.
3. A navigator front cover with impact protection effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cover plate body (1) and the buffer frame (31) are integrally formed.
4. A navigator front cover with impact protection effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The buffer frame (31) has a honeycomb structure inside, and the thickness of the buffer frame (31) is 2-5mm.
5. A navigator front cover with impact protection effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: An airbag (35) is provided inside the shock-absorbing interlayer (32), and the airbag (35) is filled with inert gas.
6. A navigator front cover with impact protection effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic protrusion (34) has a circular surface shape and an L-shaped edge.
7. A navigator front cover with impact protection effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cover plate body (1) has a shallow groove (11) on one side edge facing outward. A flexible impact-resistant material layer (4) is provided in the shallow groove (11). The flexible impact-resistant material layer (4) is made of a flexible material containing shear thickening fluid.