protective shell

Abstract

The utility model discloses a protective shell, through with the main frame of side frame of axle protection spare integral moulding, for example through one injection moulding process integral moulding, and the connecting portion can be made of relatively soft material such as TPU, TPE for example, and the axle protection spare can realize the rotation with the main frame through the deformation of connecting portion, and it is not necessary to additionally increase the pivot and the hinge structure, compared with the prior art, the protective shell provided in the application is more simple in structure, and through one injection moulding technology, the axle protection spare can be injection moulded at the same time of manufacturing the main frame, and the connection of the axle protection spare and the main frame is realized without additional process, thereby effectively reducing the production cost of the product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electronic device accessories technology, and in particular to a protective case. Background Technology

[0002] Foldable screen electronic devices increase the usable screen area through their foldable design. Compared to flat-screen electronic devices, the larger screen area allows for more operations, more application scenarios, and a better user experience. However, due to the foldable screen design, protective case designs suitable for flat-screen electronic devices are no longer compatible with foldable screen devices, especially regarding the protection of the central axis of foldable screen devices. Existing protective cases for flat-screen electronic devices lack this structure and cannot provide adequate protection for the central axis.

[0003] To better protect the central axis, existing protective cases for foldable screen electronic devices typically include a central axis protective cover. This central axis protective cover needs to connect to the main body via a hinge, allowing it to adapt to the unfolding and folding of the electronic device when the main body is fitted onto it. Achieving rotation between the central axis protective cover and the main body via a hinge requires additional metal structures such as the hinge and hinges, increasing the overall weight of the protective case. Furthermore, the hinge structure involves riveting, hinge, and hinge assembly processes, which increases production costs to some extent. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application discloses a protective shell for a foldable screen electronic device, including a back panel and side frames connected around the back panel. The back panel includes two short sides and two long sides arranged opposite each other. The side frames include a main frame and a central axis protective member integrally formed with the main frame. The main frame includes a first side frame, a second side frame, a third side frame, and a connecting portion. The first side frame and the third side frame are respectively connected to the two short sides of the back panel, and the connecting portion and the second side frame are respectively connected to the two long sides of the back panel. The central axis protective member is integrally formed with the connecting portion and is rotatable relative to the main frame.

[0005] Compared with the prior art, this application has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0006] The protective shell provided by this utility model integrally molds the central axis protective component with the main frame of the side frame, for example, through injection molding. The connecting part can be made of relatively soft materials such as TPU or TPE. The central axis protective component can rotate with the main frame through the deformation of the connecting part, without the need for additional pivot and hinge structures. Compared with the existing structure, the protective shell provided by this application is more concise in structure. Furthermore, through the injection molding technology, the central axis protective component can be injection molded at the same time as the main frame is manufactured, without the need for additional processes to connect the central axis protective component with the main frame, effectively reducing the production cost of the product. Attached Figure Description

[0007] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this application, the drawings used in the application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0008] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a protective shell provided in this application;

[0009] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows the exploded structure of the protective shell.

[0010] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of the image;

[0011] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 The cross-sectional view of the protective shell shown;

[0012] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A magnified view of a portion of the image;

[0013] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The front view of the cross-sectional view of the protective shell shown;

[0014] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A magnified view of a portion of the image;

[0015] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the protective shell from another angle;

[0016] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 The diagram shows the exploded structure of the protective shell. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0018] In this application, the terms "upper," "inner," "outer," "middle," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated device, element, or component to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0019] Furthermore, in addition to indicating location or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in some cases to indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0020] Furthermore, the terms "provided with" and "connected" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0021] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are primarily used to distinguish different devices, elements, or components (which may be the same or different in specific type and construction), and are not intended to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, elements, or components. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0022] The technical solution of this application will be further described below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0023] See Figures 1-2This application provides a protective shell for mounting on a foldable screen electronic device to protect it. The protective shell includes a back plate 1 and side frames 2 connected to the four sides of the back plate 1. The back plate 1 is rectangular in shape, including two short sides 11 and two long sides 12 arranged opposite each other. In other embodiments, the back plate 1 can also be square. The side frames 2 include a main frame 21 and a central axis protective member 22 integrally formed with the main frame 21. The main frame 21 includes a first side frame 211, a second side frame 212, a third side frame 213, and a connecting part 214. The first side frame 211 and the third side frame 213 are respectively connected to the two short sides 11 of the back plate 1, and the connecting part 214 and the second side frame 212 are respectively connected to the two long sides 12 of the back plate 1. The central axis protective member 22 is integrally formed and connected with the connecting part 214, and the central axis protective member 22 can rotate relative to the main frame 21. In this application, "integrated molding" refers to molding in one process step without the need for secondary processing. For example, the central axis protective component 22 and the connecting part 214 are injection molded from the same material in one step. The material can be TPU. Since TPU has a certain deformation capability after molding, and the connecting part 214 is relatively thin while the central axis protective component 22 is relatively thicker, the central axis protective component 22 can rotate relative to the main frame 21 by utilizing the deformation of the connecting part 214 to adapt to the unfolding and folding of the foldable screen electronic device.

[0024] By integrally molding the central axis protector 22 with the main frame 21 of the side frame 2, the connecting part 214 can be made of relatively soft materials such as TPU or TPE. The central axis protector 22 can rotate with the main frame 21 through the deformation of the connecting part 214, without the need for additional pivot and hinge structures. Compared with the existing structure, the protective shell provided by this application is more concise in structure, and the central axis protector 22 can be injection molded at the same time as the main frame 21 is made through one-time injection molding technology, without the need for additional processes to connect the central axis protector 22 with the main frame 21, effectively reducing the production cost of the product.

[0025] In some embodiments, see Figure 3The connecting part 214 includes a first connecting part 214a and a second connecting part 214b. The first connecting part 214a surrounds one of the long side edges 12 of the back plate 1 and can be connected to the back plate 1 through a secondary injection molding process. For example, the side frame 2 can be made of relatively soft materials such as TPU or TPE, while the back plate 1 can be made of relatively hard materials such as PC. Although the two have different hardnesses, they can be connected through a secondary injection molding process, resulting in high connection strength and low molding difficulty. One side of the second connecting part 214b is connected to the first connecting part 214a, and the other side of the second connecting part 214b is connected to the central axis protection member 22. The central axis protection member 22 rotates relative to the main frame 21 through the deformation of the second connecting part 214b. By setting the connecting part 214 as the first connecting part 214a and the second connecting part 214b, a stable connection between the connecting part 214 and the back plate 1 is ensured. At the same time, the second connecting part 214b serves as the pivot when the central axis protection member 22 rotates. The width of the second connecting part 214b can be set reasonably according to actual needs to ensure smooth rotation of the central axis protection member 22 and not affect the normal use of the foldable screen electronic device.

[0026] In some embodiments, see Figure 4 and Figure 5 The second connecting portion 214b includes a main body portion 2141 and a corrugated portion 2142 disposed on the surface of the main body portion 2141. The corrugated portion 2142 forms multiple protrusions a1 on the surface of the main body portion 2141, and the multiple protrusions a1 are arranged sequentially along the width direction of the main body portion 2141. The boundary between the main body portion 2141 and the corrugated portion 2142 is shown by a dashed line in the figure. The arrangement of the corrugated portion 2142 makes the second connecting portion 214b present an orderly uneven state, which is more conducive to the deformation of the second connecting portion 214b. That is, the thickness of the second connecting portion 214b is thinner between two adjacent protrusions a1, making it easier to deform, while the thickness increases at the locations where protrusions a1 are located, effectively increasing the overall thickness of the second connecting portion 214b, preventing problems such as easy breakage due to excessive thinness. In this embodiment, the width direction of the main body 2141 refers to the direction from the side where the second connecting part 214b is connected to the first connecting part 214a to the side where the second connecting part 214b is connected to the central shaft protection member 22.

[0027] Furthermore, in some embodiments, see [reference] Figure 7The corrugated portion 2142 is cut along the width direction of the main body portion 2141 to obtain a protrusion a1 with a cross-sectional shape that is one or more of the following: arc, triangle, quadrilateral, or U-shape. The purpose of setting the corrugated portion 2142 is to allow for variations in the thickness of the second connecting portion 214b. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the protrusion a1 of the corrugated portion 2142 is not necessarily limited to an arc shape; other shapes that can vary the thickness of the second connecting portion 214b are acceptable, such as triangles, quadrilaterals, U-shapes, etc. Among these, setting the cross-sectional shape of the protrusion a1 to an arc shape will yield better results and make it easier to injection mold.

[0028] In some embodiments, continue reading Figure 1 and Figure 2 Each protrusion a1 of the corrugated portion 2142 extends along the length direction of the main body portion 2141 and extends from one end of the main body portion 2141 to the other end. This arrangement makes it easier for the second connecting portion 214b to deform at each position and provides sufficient strength, preventing problems such as breakage during repeated use.

[0029] For further information, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 5 ,exist Figure 5 In the illustrated embodiment, two corrugated portions 2142 are provided, one on the inner surface and the other on the outer surface of the main body 2141. The inner surface refers to the surface of the main body 2141 facing the foldable electronic device when the protective shell is fitted onto it, and the outer surface refers to the surface of the main body 2141 away from the foldable electronic device. Along the thickness direction of the main body 2141, the protrusions a1 of the two corrugated portions 2142 are positioned correspondingly. This arrangement results in a thinner second connecting portion 214b between adjacent protrusions a1, making it more prone to deformation, while the thickness of the second connecting portion 214b increases at the protrusions a1, ensuring its strength. In other embodiments, only one corrugated portion 2142 may be provided, for example, only on the inner surface. This keeps the outer surface flat and prevents dust accumulation, improving the overall appearance and user experience of the protective shell. Similarly, it may only be provided on the outer surface, making the inner surface flat and facilitating the attachment and protection of the foldable electronic device.

[0030] In some embodiments, see Figure 6 and Figure 7The main body 2141, the corrugated part 2142, the first connecting part 214a, and the central shaft protection part 22 are integrally formed by a one-time injection molding process, ensuring the stability of the connection between them within a limited space. Furthermore, the thickness L2 of the main body 2141 ranges from 0.3mm to 0.45mm to ensure that the main body 2141 has better deformation capacity and strength.

[0031] In some embodiments, continue reading Figure 6 and Figure 7 The inner surface b1 of the second connecting part 214b is lower than the inner surface b2 of the first connecting part 214a. Here, "inner surface" refers to the surface of each component facing the electronic device when the protective shell is fitted onto the electronic device. The central shaft protector 22, the first connecting part 214a, and the second connecting part 214b together form a clearance groove b3. The two opposing surfaces of the first connecting part 214a and the central shaft protector 22 are the sides of the clearance groove b3, and the inner surface b2 of the second connecting part 214b is the bottom surface of the clearance groove b3. When the two sides of the clearance groove b3 are parallel, as... Figure 7 As shown, the distance L1 between the two sides ranges from 1.5mm to 3mm. This distance ensures that the second connecting part 214b can deform normally, driving the central axis protection part 22 to rotate relative to the main frame 21, while also ensuring that the second connecting part 214b is within a suitable range and will not affect the unfolding and folding of the foldable screen electronic device. Simultaneously, because the inner surface b1 of the second connecting part 214b is lower than the inner surface b2 of the first connecting part 214a, meaning the second connecting part 214b is recessed along its thickness direction compared to the first connecting part 214a, the thickness of the second connecting part 214b is reduced, making it easier for the second connecting part 214b to deform. Furthermore, the above configuration also makes it easier to mold the first connecting part 214a and the second connecting part 214b in a single injection molding process.

[0032] In some embodiments, the side frame 2 further includes a coating that covers the surfaces of the central axis protector 22, the first connecting portion 214a, and the second connecting portion 214b. This coating may be, for example, an outer surface, an inner surface, or both. The coating may be, for example, an anti-scratch layer, an anti-yellowing layer, or an anti-fingerprint layer, to protect the central axis protector 22, the first connecting portion 214a, and the second connecting portion 214b. The coating may also be a hardening layer to enhance the overall strength of the central axis protector 22, the first connecting portion 214a, and the second connecting portion 214b, preventing breakage or other problems after repeated rotations.

[0033] In some embodiments, see Figure 8 and Figure 9The central axis protective component 22 includes a central axis protective body 221 and a reinforcing member 222 embedded in the central axis protective body 221. The inner surface of the central axis protective body 221 has a recessed receiving groove 221a, which is used to accommodate the central axis portion of the foldable screen electronic device and protect it. Furthermore, a groove 221b is provided at the bottom of the receiving groove 221a, and the reinforcing member 222 is embedded in the groove 221b. As mentioned in the above embodiments, the central axis protective component 22 and the connecting part 214 are integrally formed through a one-time injection molding process. To ensure that the connecting part 214 has a certain deformation capacity, materials such as TPU and TPE are usually used for injection molding. This results in the central axis protective body 221 being relatively soft and easily deformed, causing the two to easily detach after the central axis protective component 22 is fitted onto the central axis of the foldable screen electronic device, affecting the user experience. Therefore, by setting a groove 221b on the central axis protection body 221 and embedding a reinforcing member 222 in the groove 221b, the reinforcing member 222 can be made of a relatively hard material (i.e., the hardness of the reinforcing member 222 is greater than the hardness of the central axis protection body 221), such as PC, aluminum alloy, etc., to improve the overall strength of the central axis protection member 22, so that the central axis protection member 22 is more securely fitted on the foldable screen electronic device and will not fall off.

[0034] In some embodiments, the reinforcing member 222 and the central axis protection body 221 can be connected through a secondary injection molding process. For example, the central axis protection body 221 may be made of TPU material, and the reinforcing member 222 may be made of PC material. Although the two have different hardnesses, they can be connected through a secondary injection molding process, resulting in high connection strength and low molding difficulty. In other embodiments, the reinforcing member 222 and the central axis protection body 221 can also be detachably connected, for example, by setting a detachable structure such as a buckle or magnetic attraction between them to achieve the connection.

[0035] In some embodiments, continue reading Figure 9 The central axis protective component 22 also includes multiple magnetic components 223. A mounting groove 222a is provided on the reinforcing component 222 to mount the magnetic components 223 within the mounting groove 222a. The magnetic components 223 are used to magnetically attract the hinge within the central axis portion of the foldable screen electronic device, thereby stably attaching the central axis protective component 22 to the central axis portion, further increasing the stability of the connection between the central axis protective component 22 and the central axis portion. Furthermore, the mounting groove 222a extends along the length of the reinforcing component 222, and the multiple magnetic components 223 are arranged sequentially within the mounting groove 222a to ensure that each position of the central axis protective component 22 is stably magnetically attracted to the central axis portion of the foldable screen electronic device.

[0036] In some embodiments, continue reading Figure 9The central axis protective component 22 also includes a protective layer 224, which is affixed around the opening of the mounting groove 222a. The protective layer 224 is used to cover the magnetic component 223, preventing the magnetic component 223 from being exposed and damaged after prolonged use. It also separates the magnetic component 223 from the central axis of the foldable screen electronic device. The protective layer 224 can be made of a soft material, such as Mylar or silicone, to prevent the magnetic component 223 from contacting the central axis and scratching it. Furthermore, the surface of the protective layer 224 is flush with or lower than the bottom of the receiving groove 221a to avoid affecting the central axis of the foldable screen electronic device being housed within the receiving groove 221a.

[0037] The above provides a detailed description of a protective shell disclosed in the embodiments of this application. This document uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand a protective shell and its core ideas. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. A protective case for foldable screen electronic devices, characterized in that, The device includes a back panel and side frames connected around the back panel. The back panel includes two short sides and two long sides arranged opposite each other. The side frames include a main frame and a central axis protector. The main frame includes a first side frame, a second side frame, a third side frame, and a connecting portion. The first side frame and the third side frame are respectively connected to the two short sides of the back panel, and the connecting portion and the second side frame are respectively connected to the two long sides of the back panel. The central axis protector is integrally formed and connected to the connecting portion, and the central axis protector can rotate relative to the main frame.

2. The protective shell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting part includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part. The first connecting part is arranged around one of the long sides of the back plate. One side of the second connecting part is connected to the first connecting part, and the other side of the second connecting part is connected to the central axis protection member. The central axis protection member rotates relative to the main frame through the deformation of the second connecting part.

3. The protective shell according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second connecting portion includes a main body portion and a corrugated portion disposed on the surface of the main body portion. The corrugated portion forms a plurality of protrusions on the surface of the main body portion, and the plurality of protrusions are arranged sequentially along the width direction of the main body portion.

4. The protective shell according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each of the protrusions extends along the length of the main body and from one end of the main body to the other end of the main body.

5. The protective shell according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cross-sectional shape of the protrusion is one or more of the following: arc, triangle, quadrilateral, or U-shape.

6. The protective shell according to claim 3, characterized in that, The corrugated portion is provided on one of the surfaces of the main body portion; Alternatively, the corrugated portion may include two corrugated portions, which are respectively disposed on the inner surface and the outer surface of the main body portion, and the protrusions of the two corrugated portions correspond to each other along the thickness direction of the main body portion.

7. The protective shell according to claim 3, characterized in that, The main body, the corrugated part, the first connecting part, and the central shaft protection component are integrally formed and connected, and the thickness of the main body ranges from 0.3mm to 0.45mm.

8. The protective shell according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner surface of the second connecting part is lower than the inner surface of the first connecting part. The central shaft protector, the first connecting part and the second connecting part together form a clearance groove. The two opposite sides of the first connecting part and the central shaft protector are the sides of the clearance groove. The inner surface of the second connecting part is the bottom surface of the clearance groove. When the two sides of the clearance groove are parallel, the distance between the two sides is 1.5mm to 3mm.

9. The protective shell according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The central axis protection component includes a central axis protection body and a reinforcing member embedded in the central axis protection body. The central axis protection body is integrally formed and connected with the connecting part. The inner surface of the central axis protection body is recessed with a receiving groove for accommodating the central axis part of the foldable screen electronic device. The bottom of the receiving groove is provided with a recess, and the reinforcing member is embedded in the recess.

10. The protective shell according to claim 9, characterized in that, The hardness of the reinforcing member is greater than that of the central axis protection body; the reinforcing member is detachably connected to the central axis protection body, or the reinforcing member is connected to the central axis protection body through secondary injection molding.

11. The protective shell according to claim 9, characterized in that, The central axis protective component also includes a protective layer and multiple magnetic components. The reinforcing component is provided with a mounting groove, which extends along the length of the reinforcing component. Multiple magnetic components are arranged sequentially in the mounting groove. The protective layer is attached to the perimeter of the opening of the mounting groove, and the protective layer covers the magnetic components.

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