WO2006123016A1

WO2006123016A1 - Cover provided with integrated display and method for its manufacture

Info

Publication number: WO2006123016A1
Application number: PCT/FI2006/050191
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anneli Ojapalo; Matti Huttunen; Mikko Silvennoinen
Original assignee: Perlos Oyj
Priority date: 2005-05-16
Filing date: 2006-05-15
Publication date: 2006-11-23

Abstract

A cover provided with an integrated display, comprising a cover part (2, 2'), at least an essential portion thereof being created by an injection moulding process, a display (4, 4'), and frame means (6, 6') attached to the display (4, 4'). The assembly constituted by the display (4, 4') and the frame means (6, 6') is attached to the cover part (2, 2') by using said injection moulding process associated with the creation of the cover part (2, 2').

Description

COVER PROVIDED WITH INTEGRATED DISPLAY AND METHOD FOR ITS MANUFACTURE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cover provided with an integrated display and to a method for its manufacture.

In accordance with the invention, a display is integrated into the cover of a device in such a manner that by exchanging the cover of the device, the display integrated therein is also exchanged. The integration of a display into the cover of a device is known in the art. For example, publication EP 1 345 392 discloses an interchangeable cover including an integrated display for a communication device.

The display is usually integrated into the cover part by gluing. The problem in said procedure is that the integration of the display into the cover part by gluing is a relatively complex process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a cover provided with an integrated display and a method for the manufacture of such a cover in a manner allowing the abovementioned problem to be solved. The object of the invention is achieved with a cover and a method that are characterized in what is stated in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on integrating the display into the cover part by the same injection moulding process by which at least an essential part of the cover part is accomplished. An advantage of the manufacturing method of the invention is its speed and simplicity. The use of the manufacturing method of the invention allows the display to be integrated into the cover in connection with the manufacturing process of the cover part, whereby no separate working phase for joining the display to the cover part is required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-section of a cover provided with an integrated display according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a cover provided with an integrated display according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of a cover comprising the compo- nents depicted in Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-section of a cover comprising a cover part 2 made by an injection moulding process, a display 4, and flexible frame means 6 fastened thereto. The frame means 6 are arranged to prevent or reduce the transfer of the bending stresses occurring in the cover part 2 to the display 4, thus protecting the display 4 from bending stresses during the installation of the cover and during use. The joint between the assembly constituted by the display 4 and the frame means 6 and the cover part 2 is provided by means of said injection moulding process associated with creating the cover part 2.

The frame means 6 can be fastened to the display 4 in connection with the manufacturing process of the display. Alternatively, the frame means 6 can be fastened to the display 4 after the manufacturing process of the display, but before the injection moulding process associated with creating the cover part 2. The frame means 6 can be integrally fastened to the display 4. The flexibility of the frame means 6 means that they prevent or reduce the transfer of the bending stresses occurring in the cover part 2 to the display 4. The flexibility of the frame means 6 can be provided for instance with metal spring elements. Herein, a cover refers to a component arranged to constitute at least part of the outer surface of the device associated therewith. The cover in Figure 1 is the cover of a mobile station. The cover of the invention can also be used in consumer electronics devices, cameras or other devices that are to be provided with a display integrated into the cover. The cover of the invention can be arranged as an exchangeable or a fixed cover. Herein, an exchangeable cover refers to a cover arranged to be exchanged by the user of the device. A fixed cover, in turn, refers to a cover that is not arranged to be exchanged by the user.

The entire cover part 2 of Figure 1 is made by one injection mould- ing process. Alternatively, one or more portions of the cover part 2 can be pre- fabricated before the injection moulding process by which the main portion of the cover part 2 is made, whereby the prefabricated portion or portions are attached to the main portion of the cover part 2 by means of said injection moulding process. The main portion of the cover part 2 can be manufactured for instance from plastic suitable for injection moulding, and the prefabricated portions of the cover part 2 can be made from metal, for example. The frame means 6 can be made from metal and/or plastic.

The cover is manufactured by placing the assembly constituted by the display 4 and the frame means 6 into a mould, wherein the cover part 2 is injection moulded. During the injection moulding process of the cover part 2, the display 4 is situated in an auxiliary chamber, which is in association with the actual mould and protects the display 4 from excessive temperature and/or pressure during the injection moulding of the cover part 2.

During the injection moulding process, the frame means 6, in turn, are situated in such a manner that at least part of their outer surface comes into contact with molten injection moulding material for achieving the joint between the frame means 6 and the cover part 2. The joint generated between the cover part 2 and the frame means 6 is thus provided by the injection moulding material, which, when becoming solidified, adheres to the frame means 6.

The auxiliary chamber protecting the display 4 during the injection moulding process is provided in connection with the manufacture of the cover of Figure 1 by means of the frame means 6, which encircle the display 4 circumferentially thus preventing the display 4 from coming into contact with the molten injection moulding material. Alternatively, a corresponding auxiliary chamber can be provided by shaping the actual mould.

In the cover of Figure 1 , the frame means 6 encircle the display 4 only circumferentially. If the intention in the injection moulding process is to cast material also behind the display, the rear surface of the display has to be protected from coming into contact with the molten injection moulding material. The rear surface of the display can be protected for instance by providing the frame means with a bottom part arranged for said purpose.

The cover of Figure 1 comprises a window element 8 for protecting the front surface of the display 4. The window element 8 is attached to the cover part 2 by using the injection moulding process associated with the creation of the cover part. The window element 8 may be an integrated part of the frame means 6.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a cover that is a modification of the cover depicted in Figure 1. The cover of Figure 2 comprises cover part 2', a display 4', flexible frame means 6' adapted to be fastened to the display 4', and a window element 8'. Frame means 6' are adapted to extend also behind the display 4'. A back element 12' of frame means 6' is connected to a perimeter element 14' of frame means 6' by plurality of spring elements 10'. In an assembled cover a back element 12' of frame means 6' extends behind the display 4', and a perimeter element 14' of frame means 6' extends circumferen- tially around the display 4'.

Each spring element 10' comprises two substantially parallel strip portions, and an inclined strip portion connecting the two parallel strip portions. The first one of the parallel strip portions is connected to the back element 12', and the second one of the parallel strip portions is connected to the perimeter element 14'. The back element 12' and the perimeter element 14' are substantially planar, and the planes defined by them are substantially parallel. The incline strip portion of each spring element 10' is at an angle to the planes of back element 12' and perimeter element 14'. The plane of the back element 12' and the plane of the perimeter element 14' are spaced apart. During the assembly of the cover of Figure 2, the display 4' is fastened to the back element 12' of the frame means 6', and the cover part 2' is fastened to the perimeter element 14' of the frame element 6' by injection moulding process.

The spring elements 10' of the frame means 6' are adapted to pre- vent the transfer of the bending stresses occurring in the cover part 2' to the display 4', thus protecting the display 4' from bending stresses during the installation of the cover and during use.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of a cover comprising the components depicted in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows how an auxiliary chamber 16' is formed for the injection moulding process by a first injection moulding member 18' and a second injection moulding member 20'. The locations of the first injection moulding member 18' and the second injection moulding member 20' are shown by dashed lines.

The auxiliary chamber 16' forms a space that is separated from the actual mould. The display 4' is located in the auxiliary chamber 16' during the injection moulding process. The auxiliary chamber 16' formed by the first injec- tion moulding member 18' and the second injection moulding member 20' protects the display 4' from excessive heat and pressure during the injection moulding process.

The pressing surface of the first injection moulding member 18' is adapted to be pressed against an outer edge of the upper surface of the window element 8'. The pressing surface of the second injection moulding member 20' is adapted to be pressed against a lower surface of the perimeter element 14'. The first injection moulding member 18' and the second injection moulding member 20' press the window element 8' and the frame means 6' towards each other with such a force, that molten injection moulding material cannot get into the auxiliary chamber 16' during the injection moulding process.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 the injection moulding material adheres to the upper and lower surfaces of the outermost portion of the pe- rimeter element 14'. The injection moulding material also adheres to the perimeter element 14' from the radial direction, but this adhesion surface is small since the frame means are formed of relatively thin plate.

The surface area of the window element 8' is smaller than the surface area of the frame means 6'. Therefore the frame means 6' extend radially further than the window element 8'. The injection moulding material adheres to the window element 8' only radially.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown), the window element is located entirely inside the auxiliary chamber during injection moulding process, wherein molten injection moulding material cannot get into contact with the window element. During injection moulding process of such an alternative embodiment, the frame means may be the only component that is pressed between the first injection moulding member and the second injection moulding member, wherein the frame means is the only component that adheres to cover part during the formation thereof. In another alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown), the window element acts as frame means, wherein before the injection moulding process the display is fastened to the back surface of the window element, and the window element is fastened to the cover part by using the injection moulding process associated with the creation of the cover part. The display may be fastened to the window element by using silicone, for example, by applying silicone on the outer edge of the upper surface of the display. The silicone layer between the display and the window element acts as a plurality of spring elements, thereby reducing the transfer of the bending stresses occurring in the cover part and in the window element to the display.

In the above, a term 'window element' means component placed on the upper surface (i.e. front surface) of the display, the window element comprising a transparent portion through which the display can be seen. The window element protects the display against scratching.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in a variety of ways. The invention and its em- bodiments are thus not limited to the above examples, but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A cover provided with an integrated display, comprising a cover part (2, 2'), at least an essential portion thereof being created by an injection moulding process, and a display (4, 4'), characterized in that the cover also comprises frame means (6, 6') attached to the display (4, 4'), and in that the assembly constituted by the display (4, 4') and the frame means (6, 6') is attached to the cover part (2, 2') by using said injection moulding process associated with the creation of the cover part (2, 2').

2. A cover as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the frame means (6, 6') are arranged to protect the display (4, 4') from excessive temperature and/or pressure during the manufacturing process of the cover, and/or to protect the display (4, 4') from bending stresses during the installation of the cover and during use.

3. A cover as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover is the cover of a mobile station, a consumer electronics device or a camera.

4. A cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame means (6, 6') are integrally fastened to the display (4, 4').

5. A method of manufacturing a cover provided with an integrated display, the method comprising the steps of achieving a cover part (2, 2') and a display (4, 4'), characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of achieving frame means (6, 6'), fastening the frame means (6, 6') to the display (4, 4') and attaching the frame means (6, 6') to the cover part (2, 2'), the step of attaching the frame means (6, 6') to the cover part (2, 2') comprising an injection moulding process, by which also at least an essential portion of the cover part (2, 2') is provided.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that during said injection moulding process, the frame means (6, 6') are situated in such a manner that at least part of the outer surface of the frame means (6, 6') comes into contact with molten injection moulding material for achieving a joint between the frame means (6, 6') and the cover part (2, 2').

7. A method as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that during said injection moulding process, the display (4, 4') is situated in a cooled and/or essentially non-pressurized auxiliary chamber (16') that is sepa- rated from the actual mould for protecting the display (4, 4') from excessive heat and/or pressure.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the separation between the auxiliary chamber (16') and the actual mould is pro- vided at least partly with the frame means (6, 6¹).

9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, characterize d in that the frame means (6, 6') are formed in association with the manufacturing process of the display (4, 4') for achieving an integrated assembly constituted by the display (4, 4') and the frame means (6, 6').