Leather Coating Structure for Portable Electronic Device Cases
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods of attaching leather to portable electronic devices, such as laptops, often result in distorted shapes, rough edges, and peeling issues, leading to damage and the need for entire cover replacement when improper attachment occurs.
Innovation Solution
A separable leather coating structure featuring a reduced thickness extended portion and a coating frame to cover inner openings, preventing edge exposure and peeling, with the option to replace the leather coating without abandoning the entire upper cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If leather is directly attached onto the upper cover using conventional methods, then the leather can be applied to the surface, but the leather is likely to be peeled off or damaged due to rough edges and improper attachment
Solution Approach 1:
A supporting plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the leather coating layer and the upper cover. The supporting plate provides a stable base that prevents the leather from peeling off, eliminating the need for complex cutting and attachment processes while improving attachment durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The leather coating structure is segmented into distinct components: the leather coating layer, the supporting plate, and the extended portion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the supporting plate handling structural integrity and the leather layer providing aesthetic function.
2Ease of manufacture
If the leather coating layer has uniform thickness, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the extended portion protrudes from the edge of the supporting plate causing rough edges
Solution Approach 1:
The leather coating layer exhibits local quality variation through its different portions: the top portion maintains sufficient thickness for durability, while the extended portion has reduced thickness to prevent protrusion. This localized thickness variation ensures both manufacturing simplicity and edge smoothness.
3Reliability
If the entire upper cover is replaced when leather damage occurs, then the device functionality is restored, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The leather coating structure is designed as a separable module consisting of the leather coating layer and supporting plate that can be detached and replaced independently from the upper cover. This modular design allows replacement of only the damaged leather module rather than the entire upper cover, significantly reducing replacement costs while restoring device functionality.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A
AI summary
A leather coating structure for a case includes a supporting plate with a top surface and a bottom surface assembled onto a upper cover of a portable electronic apparatus, and a leather coating layer with a top portion which covers the top surface and a extended portion which extends from the top portion to cover a portion of the bottom surface. The manufacturing method for the leather coating structure is also disclosed. A leather coating layer is attached onto a supporting plate to form a leather coating structure, the leather coating layer is bent at the edge of the supporting plate to cover a portion of the bottom surface, and then the leather coating structure is assembled onto an upper cover of a portable electronic apparatus.