Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles, and in particular to a snap-in fastener, a metal housing and an electronic device.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicle-mounted electronic devices need to be snapped on brackets in a vehicle. In general, snap-in fasteners will be provided on the outside of the housing of an electronic device, to snap it on a bracket.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides a snap-in fastener, comprising an L-shaped part, wherein the angle of the L-shaped part is greater than 90°. The resilience force of the L-shaped part rotates the second branch of the L-shaped part toward the outside of the snap-in fastener. The snap-fit portion at the end of the second branch engages with a snap-fit portion of an external bracket.

[0004] The present invention provides a snap-in fastener, comprising an L-shaped part and a connecting part, wherein the connecting part is used for connecting the snap-in fastener to an external metal housing, the L-shaped part comprises a first branch and a second branch, the angle between the first branch and the second branch is greater than 90°, the first branch is fixedly connected to a first fixing surface of the connecting part. The end of the second branch is provided with a snap-fit portion. [0005] Further, the snap-fit portion comprises a first arm and a second arm that extend from two sides of the second branch of the L-shaped part toward the inside of the snap-in fastener, wherein the sides of the first arm and the second arm intersecting with the end of the second branch are used to engage with a snap-fit portion of an external bracket.

[0006] Further, the sides of the first arm and the second arm intersecting with the end of the second branch are saw toothed.

[0007] Further, the free end of the first arm and the free end of the second arm are provided with a first stop portion, used to limit the rotation of the second branch of the L-shaped part toward the outside of the snap-in fastener.

[0008] Further, the snap-in fastener further comprises an unlocking portion extending from the first stop portion, and the unlocking portion is a U-shaped structure, wherein the bottom of the U-shaped comprises a force bearing surface, and, when a force toward the first branch of the L-shaped part is applied on the force bearing surface, the second branch of the L-shaped part rotates toward the first branch, and the snap- in fastener is unlocked.

[0009] Further, the connecting part is also provided with a second stop portion, used to limit the rotation of the second branch of the L-shaped part toward the first branch.

[0010] The present invention also provides a metal housing, and the snap-in fastener described above is provided on the outside thereof. [0011] The present invention also provides an electronic device, comprising a panel, a PCB, and the metal housing described above.

[0012] Further, through holes are provided on the panel and the PCB at positions matching the unlocking portion of the snap-in fastener on the metal housing.

[0013] Further, the electronic device is an instrument, an infotainment system, a display device, or an electronic control unit.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the snap-in fastener, metal housing and electronic device provided by the present invention have the following benefits: they comprise an L- shaped part, wherein the angle between the first branch and the second branch is greater than 90°, the resilience force of the L-shaped part rotates the second branch of the L-shaped part toward the outside of the snap-in fastener, and the snap- fit portion at the end of the second branch engages with a snap-fit portion of an external bracket.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] Figure 1 is an exploded view of the display device of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 is a perspective view (from the back) of the display device shown in Figure 1.

[0017] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the snap-in fastener.

[0018] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the L-shaped part of the snap-in fastener. [0019] Figure 5 is a top view of the L-shaped part of the snap-in fastener.

[0020] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the snap-in fastener.

[0021] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the engaged snap- in fastener.

[0022] Figure 8 is a sectional view of the display device shown in Figure 1 fixed on an external bracket.

[0023] Figure 9 is a perspective sectional view of the display device shown in Figure 1 fixed on an external bracket.

[0024] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the display device shown in Figure 1 fixed on an external bracket.

[0025] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the unlocking operation of the snap-in fastener.

[0026] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the unlocked snap- in fastener.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0027] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 9, the electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a display device. In other embodiments, it may also be an instrument, an infotainment system, or an electronic control unit.

[0028] The display device comprises a panel 1, a display screen 8, a frame 2, a bracket 3, a PCB 4, an energy-absorbing module 5 and a rear cover 6, wherein the bracket 3 is used to mount the PCB 4 in the frame 2.

[0029] In this embodiment, the rear cover 6 is a metal housing.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2, four snap-in fasteners 61 are provided on the outside of the rear cover 6, which are used to fix the display device on a bracket mounted in a vehicle.

[0031] As shown in Figure 3, the snap-in fastener 61 comprises an L-shaped part 613 and a connecting part 612, wherein the connecting part 612 is used to connect the snap- in fastener 61 to an external metal housing (here referring to the metal housing-rear cover 6 outside the snap-in fastener).

[0032] As shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, the L-shaped part 613 comprises a first branch 6131 and a second branch 6132. The first branch 6131 is provided with a fixing hole 61311. The first branch 6131 is connected to a first fixing surface of the connecting part 612 through the fixing hole 61311 by riveting. The L-shaped part 613 is fixed on the connecting part 612, and the other holes on the first branch 6131 are used for positioning. In other embodiments, screws may also be used for the fixing.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the angle between the first branch 6131 and the second branch 6132 is greater than 90°. In this embodiment, in the free status, the angle is 106°. When the snap-in fastener 61 is mounted in place, the angle is 100.7°. It may be compressed to 90°.

[0034] A snap-fit portion is provided at the end of the second branch 6132. The snap-fit portion comprises a first arm 6133 and a second arm 6134 that extend from two sides of the second branch 6132 of the L-shaped part 613 toward the inside of the snap-in fastener 61. The sides 61331 and 61341 of the first arm 6133 and the second arm 6134 intersecting with the end of the second branch 6132 are used to engage with a snap- fit portion of an external bracket, as shown in Figure 7.

[0035] The sides 61331 and 61341 of the first arm 6133 and the second arm 6134 intersecting with the end of the second branch 6132 are saw-toothed, so that the sides 61331 and 61341 are more firmly engaged with the snap-fit portion.

[0036] The rear cover 6 is provided with an insert 611 extending outside, and a snap-mount portion 6111 is provided at the end of the insert 611. The snap-mount portion 6111 is provided with a V-shaped structure that can be snap-mounted at the connecting part 612 of the snap-in fastener 61. The V- shaped structure is snapped in a through hole on the first fixing surface (away from the rear cover 6) of the connecting part 612, and the V-shaped structure is compressed toward the two sides to firmly fix the connecting part 612 on the rear cover 6. Refer to Figure 3 for the status after the snap mounting.

[0037] The insert 611 also has a protrusion 6113, used to increase the strength of the insert 611.

[0038] The free end of the first arm 6133 and the free end of the second arm 6134 are provided with first stop portions 61332 and 61342, used to limit the rotation of the second branch 6132 of the L-shaped part 613 toward the outside of the snap-in fastener 61. As shown in Figure 6, the first stop portions 61332 and 61342 are snapped on a bent portion 614 on the rear cover 6. When the snap-in fastener 61 is mounted in place, the first stop portions 61332 and 61342 are snapped on the bent portion 614, and the angle between the first arm 6133 and the second arm 6134 at this point is smaller than that in the free status, i.e., 100.7°.

[0039] As shown in Figure 8, Figure 9 and Figure 10, the display device is assembled in the following process:

[0040] During the contacting process between the four snap- in fasteners 61 and the snap-fit portion 71 of the external bracket 7, the snap-fit portion 71 compresses the L-shaped part 613, the second branch 6132 of the L-shaped part rotates toward the inside of the snap-in fastener 61, and the included angle of the L-shaped part decreases (to 90° as the minimum), so that the snap-in fastener 61 can go into the mounting hole of the external bracket 7.

[0041] Once the snap-fit portion (the sides 61331 and 61341) of the L-shaped part passes the snap-in portion 71 of the external bracket 7, the resilience force of the L-shaped part 613 rotates its second branch 6132 toward the outside of the snap-in fastener 61, the snap-fit portion of the L-shaped part engages with the snap-fit portion 71 of the external bracket 7, and the display device is fixed on the external bracket 7.

[0042] As shown in Figure 8 and Figure 10, the four snap-in fasteners 61 are positioned such that each pair of them are opposite to each other, and the second branches 6132 of the L- shaped parts both face the outside and are engaged on the two sides, to engage with the snap-fit portion 71 of the external bracket 7 more firmly.

[0043] As shown in Figure 4 and Figure 11, the snap-in fastener 61 is further provided with an unlocking portion 6135 extending from the first stop portion 61332 or the first stop portion 61342. The unlocking portion 6135 is in a U-shaped structure, and the bottom of the U shape comprises a force bearing surface 61351, as shown in Figure 5.

[0044] As shown in Figure 11, when a force toward the first branch 6131 of the L-shaped part 613 (along direction A) is applied on the force bearing surface 61351, the second branch 6132 of the L-shaped part 613 rotates toward the first branch 6131 (along direction B). The angle between the first branch 6131 and the second branch 6132 decreases. When the snap-fit portion (the sides 61331 and 61341) of the L-shaped part 613 is no longer engaged with the snap-fit portion 71 of the external bracket 7, the snap-in fastener 61 can exit from the mounting hole of the external bracket 7, and the snap-in fastener 61 is unlocked, i.e., the display device may be removed from the external bracket 7.

[0045] Accordingly, through holes are provided on the panel 1 and the PCB 4 at positions matching the unlocking portion 6135 of the snap-in fastener 61, so that a tool that applies the force for unlocking can be inserted for the unlocking operation.

[0046] As shown in Figure 12, the connecting part 612 is also provided with a second stop portion 6121, used to limit the rotation of the second branch 6132 of the L-shaped part 613 toward the first branch 6131.

[0047] In addition, a bent portion 6112 is provided on a side of the insert 611, as shown in Figure 3, which can also limit the rotation of the second branch 6132 of the L-shaped part 613 toward the first branch 6131. [0048] The present invention provides a snap-in fastener, an L-shaped part and a connecting part, wherein the L-shaped part comprises a first branch and a second branch, the first branch is fixedly connected to a fixing surface of the connecting part, the angle between the first branch and the second branch of the L-shaped part is greater than 90°, and the end of the second branch of the L-shaped part is provided with a snap-fit portion. The present invention provides a metal housing and an electronic device. The snap-in fastener, metal housing and electronic device provided by the present invention comprise L-shaped parts. The angle between the first branch and the second branch is greater than 90°. The resilience force of the L-shaped part rotates the second branch of the L-shaped part toward the outside of the snap-in fastener. The snap-fit portion at the end of the second branch engages with a snap- fit portion of an external bracket.

[0049] Although the present invention has been disclosed above through preferred embodiments, it is by no means limited to these. Various changes and modifications made by any of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention shall be included in the scope of the present invention, and therefore the scope of the present invention shall be that defined by the claims.