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US-12625517-B2 - Clamshell housing for human-machine interface (HMI)

US12625517B2US 12625517 B2US12625517 B2US 12625517B2US-12625517-B2

Abstract

Provided is a clamshell housing for a human-machine interface comprising a plastic “C” cover assembly and a plastic “D” cover assembly, the plastic “C” cover assembly comprising a plastic keyboard cover or palm rest, having a plurality of snap fittings thereon for attachment to a plastic “D” cover assembly, a keyboard having a keyboard connector electrically connecting the keyboard to a printed circuit board (PCB), a trackpad having a trackpad connector electrically connecting the trackpad to the printed circuit board (PCB). The housing of the invention may be easily disassembled for repair or recycling.

Inventors

  • Mark Bondi
  • Anthony Immormino
  • Joel Matsco

Assignees

  • COVESTRO LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20231004
Priority Date
20221128

Claims (13)

  1. 1 . A clamshell housing for a human-machine interface (HMI) comprising a plastic “C” cover assembly and a plastic “D” cover assembly, a plastic “C” cover assembly comprising a plastic keyboard cover or palm rest, ( 202 ) having a plurality of snap fittings ( 203 ) thereon for attachment to a plastic “D” cover assembly, a keyboard ( 204 ) having a keyboard connector ( 222 ) electrically connecting the keyboard to a printed circuit board (PCB) ( 220 ), a trackpad ( 206 ) having a trackpad connector ( 224 ) electrically connecting the trackpad to the printed circuit board (PCB) ( 220 ), wherein the keyboard ( 204 ) and the trackpad ( 206 ) are each attached to the plastic “C” cover assembly and attached through a stamped metal plate ( 226 ) to the printed circuit board (PCB) ( 220 ) with a plurality of preformed plastic heat stakes ( 232 ), wherein a minimal plastic surround ( 210 ) is mounted beneath the stamped metal plate ( 226 ) onto the plurality of preformed plastic heat stakes ( 232 ), wherein the printed circuit board (PCB) ( 220 ) is attached at a plurality of plastic threaded inserts ( 227 ) to the minimal plastic surround ( 210 ) with a plurality of plastic “Christmas tree” fasteners ( 235 ); and wherein a plastic spring ( 233 ) is formed in the minimal plastic surround ( 210 ) to hold the trackpad ( 206 ) in tension, and wherein the plastic “C” cover assembly is attached through a plurality of metal screws ( 256 ) to the plastic “D” cover assembly; and the plastic “D” cover assembly comprising a vent mesh ( 750 ) attached to the plastic “D” cover by the plurality of metal screws ( 756 ), an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material ( 752 ) attached to the plastic “D” cover assembly by a plurality of preformed plastic heat stakes ( 754 ), a power source ( 753 ), and a plurality of press-in rubber feet ( 760 ) inserted into slots ( 759 ) of the plastic “D” cover assembly.
  2. 2 . The clamshell housing according to claim 1 further including one or more electronic devices pinned to the stamped metal plate ( 226 ) with a plastic “Christmas tree” fastener ( 230 ).
  3. 3 . The clamshell housing according to claim 2 , wherein the one or more electronic devices rest on foam ( 230 ) for vibration reduction.
  4. 4 . The clamshell housing according to claim 1 , wherein the minimal plastic surround ( 210 ) has a plastic spring ( 233 ) formed therein.
  5. 5 . The clamshell housing according to claim 1 , wherein the plastic comprises a thermoplastic.
  6. 6 . The clamshell housing according to claim 5 , wherein the thermoplastic comprises polycarbonate.
  7. 7 . The clamshell housing according to claim 6 , wherein the polycarbonate is homopolycarbonate.
  8. 8 . The clamshell housing according to claim 6 , wherein the polycarbonate contains a filler selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, carbon fibers, cellulosics, graphite, graphene, carbon nanotubes, chalk, quartz powder, titanium dioxide, silicates, talc, wollastonite, montmorillonite, kaolin, zeolite, vermiculite, aluminium oxide, silica, and mixtures of these.
  9. 9 . The clamshell housing according to claim 1 , wherein the plastic keyboard cover ( 202 ) has a molded in groove ( 645 ) formed in its underside which is sized and shaped to hold a foam pad ( 640 ) in place.
  10. 10 . The clamshell housing according to claim 1 , wherein the plastic keyboard cover ( 202 ) has a plurality of preformed heat stakes ( 642 ) on its underside.
  11. 11 . The clamshell housing according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material ( 752 ) is selected from the group consisting of metals, conducting plastics, and conducting polymers.
  12. 12 . The clamshell housing according to claim 1 , wherein the human-machine interface (HMI) is included in one selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a television, a gaming device, an advertising display, a battery, a monitor, a camera, a server, an access control, point of sale equipment, an e-reader, a projector, a thermostat, a home automation portal, a kitchen appliance, an automotive part, a healthcare device, a surgical device, a smart hub, a mobile phone, a GPS receiver, a transceiver, a remote control, a head lamp, control electronics, a router-WLAN or LAN, a wired or wireless access point, and an electrical power source.
  13. 13 . A process of recycling the clamshell housing according to claim 1 , the process comprising disassembling the clamshell housing, removing any non-plastic parts, mechanically shredding the clamshell housing, at least one of cleaning, sanitizing, sorting the clamshell housing, subjecting the clamshell housing to at least one of pyrolysis and chemolysis to obtain a product, repelletizing the product, and including the product in a polymer production process as a feedstock.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT/US2023/075934, filed Oct. 4, 2023, which claims benefit of EP Application Serial No. 22209775.0, filed Nov. 28, 2022, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/420,130, filed Oct. 28, 2022, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to human-machine interface (HMI) housings and more specifically to, a recyclable thermoplastic notebook computer cover, which is easily assembled and disassembled for recycling of its thermoplastic components. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Most electronic devices, especially mobile devices like traditional laptops are constructed from materials and by processes that are unsatisfactory for sustainability and recycling. As those skilled in the art are aware, the A and B covers of a laptop are typically joined using one-way snap fits, adhesive tapes, adhesives, and many screws and metal screw bosses. The joining method changes based on the cost of the laptop. Before recycling can begin, these metal parts including metal-threaded inserts must be removed from the part into which it is embedded. Difficulty in removing these metal connectors causes major drawbacks to the streamlined recycling of such assemblies. U.S. Pat. Pub. 2011/199728 in the name of Reyes discloses an enclosure for an electronic device comprising a top wall operably connected to a bottom wall via side walls, a front wall operably connected to a rear wall via the side wall, a locking mechanism operably connected to the side walls, and a mechanism for operably connecting an internal component to the enclosure, wherein the mechanism is operably connected to at least one of the walls of the enclosure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,808,863 issues to Radloff et al., provides a computer system, or other electronic device, having two parts that are easily attached and quickly detached. One of the parts has a plurality of stakes projecting from one surface thereof, and the other part has a plurality of through openings for receiving the stakes, and a plurality of slots extending adjacent the stakes. The stakes are formed over the other part adjacent the openings to attach the second part to the first part, and a blade can be inserted in the slots to force the second part away from the first part and break the stakes to quickly detach the parts. WO/2022/152560 in the name of Zhu et al., discloses a housing assembly based on polycarbonate material, of which at least the front cover and the back cover are easily recyclable due to its separability into different parts for all components which are attached to the front cover or the back cover and which cannot be recycled together with the front cover or the back cover, respectively. Snap-fits, interference-fits, predetermined breaking points and other means are used for an easily detachable, but for use safe connection of the single parts. To reduce or eliminate problems, therefore, a need exists in the art for electronic device parts, such as laptop parts, to contain a greater amount of homogenous plastic and fewer metal connectors, so they may be more quickly removed and repaired or recycled than those made according to the state of the art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention reduces or eliminates problems inherent in the art by removing metal parts while maintaining electronic device part integrity during use through intelligent design and the use of polycarbonate. As those skilled in the art are aware, polycarbonate excels in satisfying this demand given its robust property profile. The present invention minimizes the amount of metal parts in the electronic device design through use of more homogenous plastic and incorporation of “breakaway features” for those metal parts that remain. It is understood that the invention disclosed and described in this specification is not limited to the embodiments summarized in this Summary. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The present invention will now be described for purposes of illustration and not limitation in conjunction with the figures, wherein: FIG. 1 shows the C and D cover assemblies, with plastic “C” cover and plastic “D” cover of the laptop housing of the invention; FIG. 2 depicts the plastic “C” cover in greater detail: FIG. 3 illustrates use of plastic push-in fasteners instead of metal screws for attaching various components to the laptop; FIG. 4 illustrates a plastic threaded insert designed with a “break-away” feature; FIG. 5 demonstrates the plastic threaded insert of FIG. 4 being removed at its weak points. FIG. 6 shows the underside of the plastic “C” cover with a foam pad for tolerance take up: FIG. 7 provides an enlarged view of the plastic “D” cover of FIG. 1: FIG. 8 is a closer view of the replacement of adhesives by attaching the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material to the plastic “D