Device comprising an assembly of several components with a fibrous-material component

Abstract

A device (10) comprising an assembly of at least three components, the at least three components comprising a first component (11), a second component (12), and a fibrous-material component (13), the first component (11) and the second component (12) bearing against the fibrous-material component (13), one on each side of the fibrous-material component (13), such that the fibrous-material component (13) is clamped between the first component (11) and the second component (12).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Device comprising an assembly of several components with a component made of fibrous material.

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of equipment, in particular computer and / or electronic equipment, and in particular payment terminals.

[0004] It is known to use plastic materials to form part of the structure of equipment, particularly computer and / or electronic equipment, which may have a long service life and which must withstand mechanical environmental conditions which may be variable.

[0005] However, it is desirable to limit the use of plastic materials and to replace at least part of these materials with fibrous materials, for example natural materials for environmental reasons or with artificial materials containing fibers to increase the strength of the device. For example, the use of bamboo, instead of plastic, is interesting because bamboo is a bio-sourced material, which also has good mechanical resistance.

[0006] However, since the lifespan of the equipment in question is important, it must be repairable. However, fibrous materials are usually fixed with screws and therefore withstand a limited number of assembly / disassembly cycles. Indeed, a disassembly / assembly cycle causes rapid and irreversible wear of the thread formed in fibrous materials. For example, bamboo can be fixed with small wood screws. On the other hand, bamboo or other types of natural fibrous materials are "living" materials, which can be sensitive to humidity and undergo small deformations in situations of mechanical stress; this can pose problems for a structural part, especially if safety elements are connected to it, such as false keys.

[0007] The invention therefore aims to propose a solution to all or part of these problems.

[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to a device comprising an assembly of at least three components, the at least three components comprising a first component, a second component, and a component made of fibrous material, the first component and the second component bearing on said component made of fibrous material, on either side of said component made of fibrous material, so that said component made of fibrous material is pinched between the first component and the second component.

[0009] According to these provisions, the method of fixing the fibrous material component is reversible, and does not weaken the fibrous material component by the introduction into the fibrous material of a fixing means, a screw for example.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the invention comprises one or more of the following features, alone or in a technically acceptable combination.

[0011] Alternatively, the fibrous material comprises a natural fibrous material, such as wood, for example bamboo, or an agglomerated component comprising natural fibers and at least one binder, such as for example a resin or glue.

[0012] Alternatively, the fibrous material is a material comprising artificial material fibres, in particular glass fibres or carbon fibres. The fibrous material may also comprise a binder, such as a resin or an adhesive.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the fibrous material component is a structural part of the assembly, configured to ensure mechanical strength of the assembly.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the support of the first component, respectively of the second component, on the component made of fibrous material, exerts pressure on the component made of fibrous material in a direction transverse to a plane of a main extension of the component made of fibrous material, said pressure being distributed over an extended part of the component made of fibrous material in the plane of the main extension of the component made of fibrous material.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the first component and / or the second component has a main extension in another plane, the direction transverse to the plane of the main extension of the component made of fibrous material also being transverse to the other plane.

[0016] According to these provisions, the forces on the part made of fibrous material are distributed all the better, as the part of the main extension, on which the support is distributed, is extended. This makes it possible to avoid strong stress on the part made of fibrous material, and to limit the effects of moisture absorption, such as twisting of the part, which is particularly harmful for detecting fraudulent opening or dismantling of the device.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the first component and the second component are mechanically held together by a means for fixing the second component to the first component. According to one embodiment, the fixing means comprises at least one screw, and wherein the first component comprises at least one screw shank or at least one thread, the at least one screw shank or the at least one thread being configured to receive the at least one screw, and wherein the second component is configured to accommodate the head of the at least one screw.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the at least one screw is a self-tapping screw, adapted to the material of the first component.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the material of the first component comprises a plastic material!

[0020] According to one embodiment, the first component is a touch screen.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the component made of fibrous material comprises a first face on a first side of the plane of the main extension of the component made of fibrous material, the first face being configured to receive the first component bearing on a portion of the first face, the component made of fibrous material comprising a border around the first face on the portion of the first face, projecting in a direction transverse to the plane of the main extension of the component made of fibrous material, the first component being encapsulated in a volume delimited by said projecting border, said volume being formed in a hollow inside the first face, said projecting border being arranged around the first component.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the material of the second component comprises a plastic material.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the second component is a cover, configured to form with the touch screen a closed volume containing the assembly of the device. According to one embodiment, the assembly comprises a third component, the third component being an electronic card comprising a processing unit, the touch screen being configured to provide the interface with the processing unit, the electronic card being further configured to be inserted between the second component and the component made of fibrous material, the third component bearing on at least a portion of the component made of fibrous material, such that the third component is also pinched between the component made of fibrous material and the second component.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the component made of fibrous material comprises a second face which bears on a part of the second component located in a plane parallel to the plane of the main extension of the second component, said part of the second component comprising an edge of the second component configured to at least partially encircle an edge of the second face.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the device is a computer or electronic terminal, for example an electronic payment terminal.

[0026] For a better understanding, an embodiment and / or implementation of the invention is described with reference to the attached drawings representing, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment or implementation respectively of a device and / or a method according to the invention. The same references in the drawings designate similar elements or elements whose functions are similar.

[0027] [Fig. 1] is a perspective and sectional view of a device according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0028] [Fig. 2] is a sectional view of an enlargement of a portion of the device of Figure 1 [Fig. 3] is a top perspective view of the device according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0029] [Fig. 4] is a bottom perspective view of the device of Figure 3

[0030] [Fig. 5] is a perspective top view of a fibrous material component of the device of Figure 3

[0031] [Fig. 6] is a bottom perspective view of the fibrous material component of Figure 5

[0032] [Fig. 7] is a perspective top view of a first component of the device of Figure 3

[0033] [Fig. 8] is a bottom perspective view of the first component of Figure 7

[0034] [Fig. 9] is a top perspective view of a second component of the device of Figure 3

[0035] [Fig. 10] is a bottom perspective view of the second component of Figure 9

[0036] [Fig. 11] is a top perspective view of a third component of the device of Figure 3

[0037] [Fig. 12] is a bottom perspective view of the third component of Figure 11

[0038] The invention relates to a device 10 comprising an assembly of at least three components: a first component 11, a second component 12, and a component made of fibrous material 13, the first component 11 and the second component 12 bearing on said component made of fibrous material 13, on either side of said component made of fibrous material 13, such that said component made of fibrous material 13 is pinched between the first component 11 and the second component 12.

[0039] Thus, the method of fixing the fibrous material component is reversible, and does not weaken the fibrous material component by introducing a fixing means, such as a screw, into the fibrous material. Figure 1 represents a perspective and sectional view along a sectional plane of an exemplary embodiment of the device 10 which will be described in more detail later.

[0040] Figures 3 and 4 represent another perspective view, respectively seen from above and seen from below, of the device 10 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0041] The fibrous material component 13 may in particular be a structural part of the assembly, that is to say configured to ensure mechanical resistance of the assembly, i.e. mechanical maintenance of the assembly.

[0042] In particular, the first component 11 and / or the second component 12 has a main extension in one plane, and the fibrous material component 13 has a main extension in another plane, substantially parallel to the plane of the main extension of the first component 11 and / or the second component 12; the support of the first component 11, respectively of the second component 12, on the fibrous material component 13, exerts pressure on the fibrous material component 13 in a direction transverse to the plane of the main extension of the fibrous material component 13, said pressure being distributed over at least a portion of the plane of the main extension of the fibrous material component 13.

[0043] Thus, the forces on the fibrous material part are distributed all the better, the more the part of the main extension, on which the pressure is distributed, is extended. This makes it possible to avoid strong stress on the fibrous material part, and to limit the effects of moisture absorption, such as for example twisting of the fibrous material component, which would be particularly harmful for detecting fraudulent opening or disassembly of the device. To ensure the pinching of the fibrous material component 13 between the first component 11 and the second component 12, the first component 11 and the second component 12 are mechanically held together by a fixing means, such as for example one or more screws.

[0044] In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the first component 11 may comprise at least one screw barrel 15, 16 or at least one thread, the at least one screw barrel 15, 16 or the at least one thread being configured to receive the at least one screw 17, 18, the second component 12 being configured to accommodate the head of the at least one screw 17, 18.

[0045] More particularly, the screw 17, 18 is a self-tapping screw, adapted to the material of the first component 11, which may be, for example, a plastic.

[0046] According to an exemplary embodiment of the device 10, the first component 11 is a touch screen, configured for example to provide an interface with an electronic processing unit. An exemplary embodiment of a touch screen 11 is shown schematically in a perspective view from above in Figure 7, and in a view from below in Figure 8.

[0047] According to a particular embodiment of the device 10, illustrated in Figure 1 and in Figure 2 in enlargement, as well as in Figures 5 and 6 in which an embodiment of a component made of fibrous material 13 is shown, the component made of fibrous material 13 comprises a first face 23 on a first side of the plane of the main extension of the component made of fibrous material 13, the first face 23 being configured to receive the first component 11, for example the touch screen 11, resting on a part 20 of the first face 23; the component made of fibrous material 13 further comprises a border 19 around the first face 23 on the part 20 of the first face 23;said edge 19 forms a projection on the part 20 in a direction transverse to the plane of the main extension of the component made of fibrous material 13, so that the first component 11 is encapsulated in a volume 24 delimited by said projecting edge 19, said volume 24 being formed in a hollow inside the first face 23, said projecting edge 19 being arranged around the first component 11.;

[0048] The second component 12 is for example a cover which is fixed onto the first component 11, by pinching the component made of fibrous material 13 between the first component 11 and the second component 12. Said cover is for example configured to form with the first component 11, for example the touch screen 11, a closed volume enveloping the assembly of the device 10. An exemplary embodiment of a cover 12 is shown schematically in a perspective view from above in Figure 9, and in a view from below in Figure 10.

[0049] According to an additional embodiment, the assembly comprises a third component 14, the third component 14 being an electronic card 14 which comprises a processing unit, the touch screen 11 being configured to provide the interface with the processing unit; the electronic card 14 is further configured to be inserted between the second component 12 and the component made of fibrous material 13, so that the third component 14 bears on at least a portion of the component made of fibrous material 13, and the third component 14 is also pinched between the component made of fibrous material 13 and the second component 12.

[0050] An exemplary embodiment of an electronic card 14 is shown schematically in a perspective view from above in Figure 11, and in a view from below in Figure 12.

[0051] According to a more particular embodiment, the component made of fibrous material 13 comprises a second face 25, opposite the first face 23, which bears on a part 21 of the second component 12, said part 21 being located in a plane parallel to the plane of the main extension of the second component 12; the part 21 of the second component 12 further comprises an edge 22 of the second component 12 configured to at least partially encircle an edge of the second face 25 of the component made of fibrous material 13.

[0052] The device 10 according to one of the exemplary embodiments described above may be a computer or electronic terminal, for example an electronic payment terminal. According to one possibility, the fibrous material presented is bamboo.

[0053] Alternatively, the material may comprise another natural fibrous material, such as wood, or an agglomerated component comprising natural fibers and at least one binder, such as a glue. Alternatively, the fibrous material is a material comprising glass fibers or carbon fibers.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Device (10) comprising an assembly of at least three components, the device (10) being a computer or electronic terminal, the at least three components comprising a first component (11), a second component (12), and a component made of fibrous material (13), the first component (11) and the second component (12) bearing on said component made of fibrous material (13), on either side of said component made of fibrous material (13), so that said component made of fibrous material (13) is pinched between the first component (11) and the second component (12), characterized in that the fibrous material is a natural fibrous material.

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, in which the fibrous material component (13) is a structural part of the assembly, configured to ensure mechanical resistance of the assembly.

3. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, in which the support of the first component (11), respectively of the second component (12), on the component made of fibrous material (13), exerts a pressure on the component made of fibrous material (13) in a direction transverse to a plane of a main extension of the component made of fibrous material (13), said pressure being distributed over an extended part of the component made of fibrous material (13) in the plane of the main extension of the component made of fibrous material (13), the first component (11) and the second component (12) being held mechanically integral by a means for fixing the second component (12) to the first component (11).

4. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first component (11) and / or the second component (12) has a main extension in another plane, the direction transverse to the plane of the main extension of the fibrous material component (13) also being transverse to the other plane.

5. Device (10) according to claim 5, wherein the fixing means comprises at least one screw (17, 18), and wherein the first component (11) comprises at least one screw barrel (15, 16) or at least one thread, the at least one screw barrel (15, 16) or the at least one thread being configured to receive the at least one screw (17, 18), and wherein the second component (12) is configured to accommodate the head of the at least one screw (17, 18).

6. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the first component (11) is a touch screen.

7. Device (10) according to claim 7, as dependent on claim 3, wherein the fibrous material component (13) comprises a first face (23) on a first side of the plane of the main extension of the fibrous material component (13), the first face (23) being configured to receive the first component (11) bearing on a portion (20) of the first face (23), the fibrous material component (13) comprising a border (19) around the first face (23) on the portion (20) of the first face (23), projecting in a direction transverse to the plane of the main extension of the fibrous material component (13), the first component (11) being encapsulated in a volume (24) delimited by said projecting border (19), said volume (24) being formed hollow inside the first face (23), said projecting border (19) being arranged around the first component (11).

8. Device (10) according to one of claims 7 or 8, in which the second component (12) is a cover (12), configured to form with the touch screen (11) a closed volume containing the assembly of the device (10).

9. Device (10) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the assembly comprises a third component (14), the third component (14) being an electronic card (14) comprising a processing unit, the touch screen (11) being configured to provide the interface with the processing unit, the electronic card (14) being further configured to be inserted between the second component (12) and the component made of fibrous material (13), the third component (14) bearing on at least a portion of the component made of fibrous material (13), so that the third component (14) is also pinched between the component made of fibrous material (13) and the second component (12).

10. Device (10) according to claim 10, wherein the fibrous material component (13) comprises a second face (25) which bears on a part (21) of the second component (12) located in a plane parallel to the plane of the main extension of the second component (12), said part (21) of the second component (12) comprising an edge (22) of the second component (12) configured to at least partly encircle an edge of the second face (25).

11. Device (10) according to one of claims 10 or 11, in which the device is an electronic payment terminal.

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