Cover removal fixture

Abstract

A method and apparatus for disassembling a set top box is disclosed. The method includes providing the set top box including: a top cover, a base, and cover retention clips, wherein the cover retention clips are V or U shaped for securing the top cover to the base, providing a release fixture including a retention clip release finger, inserting the release fixture into the set top box, disengaging the cover retention clips using the retention clip release finger, and removing the top cover from the base.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a first wall having clips on an interior surface of the first wall; a second wall having retainers on an inner surface of the second wall, the inner surface of the second wall facing the interior surface of the first wall, the interior and inner surfaces defining an interior space; wherein the respective clips and retainers are engaged with one another such that all of the respective clips and retainers are adapted to simultaneously disengage by a plurality of decoupling members having lock rubbers thereon; wherein the decoupling members have an alignment corresponding to the respective clips and retainers and adapted to be moved in unison; wherein the lock rubbers are adapted to grasp and hold the second wall down as the first wall is lifted upward away from the second wall.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clips and retainers define a series of locks between the first wall and second wall.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wall or second wall have apertures distributed therein to permit decoupling members to enter therethrough for disengagement of the plurality of clips and retainers that lock the first wall and second wall together.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is an electronic apparatus and at least one electronic component is contained therein.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electronic apparatus is a set-top box.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wall or second wall have apertures distributed therein to permit the decoupling members to enter therethrough for disengagement of a plurality of clips and retainers locking the first wall and second wall together, wherein the apertures are adapted to permit a release fixture having a plurality of decoupling members extending from a plate to simultaneously disengage the clip receiving members.

7. An apparatus comprising: a top having an interior surface and a plurality of coupling clips extending from the interior surface; and a base having an inner surface and a plurality of clip receiving members extending from the inner surface, the clip receiving members reversibly engaging the coupling clips to secure the top to the base, the base further including at least one aperture adapted to permit a release fixture having a plurality of decoupling members extending from a plate to simultaneously disengage the clip receiving members; wherein the decoupling members have lock rubbers which align with the respective clip receiving members and coupling clips and the decoupling members are adapted to be moved in unison; wherein the lock rubbers are adapted to grasp and hold the base as the top is lifted when the decoupling members are inserted the at least one aperture.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the coupling clips have grasping portions engaging receiving members.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the grasping portions are at distal ends of inwardly extending portions that extend from the top.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises: the clip receiving members including inwardly extending parts extending from the inner surface and shoulders at distal ends of inwardly extending parts, and portions of the coupling clips laterally and vertically overlapping the shoulders.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clip receiving members extend from the base and have shoulders at distal ends of inwardly extending parts, and the grasping portions being snapped into the clip receiving members by having the respective shoulders of the grasping portions extending passed the shoulders of the clip receiving members and having the respective shoulders overlap and being contact with each other or in proximity to each other, thereby securing the top to the base.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one grasping portion have a sloped side that extends from an end of the shoulder and at least part of the sloped side forms an acute angle with the shoulder.

13. A method comprising: providing a set top box; providing a release fixture having decoupling members; aligning and inserting the decoupling members to a base of the set top box having a top connected to the base, wherein grasping portions of coupling clips of the top are engaged with clip receiving members of the base to lock the top to the base; applying a linear force to the release fixture to cause the decoupling members in apertures of the base, wherein lock rubbers on each decoupling members wedge against the apertures of the base, thereby coupling the base to the release fixture, and wherein the decoupling members simultaneously contact grasping portions and laterally reposition the grasping portions of the coupling clips to disengage the grasping portions from the clip receiving members; and lifting off the top, whereby the base remains on the fixture.

14. A release fixture comprising: a plate; decoupling members on the plate; each of the decoupling members comprises: a base portion on the plate; an ejector pin head at a distal end and an intermediate core portion between the base portion and the ejector pin head; and a lock rubber surrounding the intermediate core portion.

15. The release fixture of claim 14 wherein the lock rubber is oriented vertically with respect to the plate and has a vertical through hole that contains the intermediate core portion; and the lock rubber has two opposing tapered deformable gripping surfaces.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A more detailed understanding can be had from the following description, given by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to WO2010008360A1 in a disassembled condition;

(3) FIGS. 2A and 2B are views of the coupling clips of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a coupling clip engaged in a clip receiving member of the assembled apparatus according to WO2010008360A1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another coupling clip engaged in a clip receiving member of the assembled apparatus according to WO2010008360A1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled apparatus and a release fixture according to WO2010008360A1;

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the apparatus and release fixture according to WO2010008360A1 during various steps of disassembly of the apparatus;

(8) FIG. 7 is another cross-section of the apparatus and release fixture according to WO2010008360A1 during various steps of disassembly of the apparatus;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the assembled set top box or the like is being placed on the release fixture according to the invention;

(10) FIG. 9 shows perspective views of the decoupling member and its components on the release fixture according to the invention;

(11) FIG. 10 shows perspective views in which the set top box or the like is fully placed on the release fixture and is in condition for disassembly according to the invention;

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view in which the set top box or the like is disassembled with the aid of the release fixture according to the invention; and

(13) FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of an example method for disassembling a set top box using a disengagement fixture according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the present disclosure in which the assembled set top box 801 or the like is being placed on the release fixture 802. The release fixture can include a plurality of decoupling members 803 which help to hold the base of the set top box on the fixture as the top cover of the set top box is lifted up. It should be pointed out the other types of the decoupling members 40 such as the conventional ones shown in FIG. 5 can be included on the fixture with the novel members, such that the designer can use many locks to enhance the security of the set top box. In other words, only a small number of decoupling members 803 in FIG. 8 are necessary for holding the base down and conventional members 40 can be included to unlock other coupling clips 30. Ideally, four decoupling members 803 are used.

(15) FIG. 9 shows perspective views of the decoupling member or ejector pin 803 with lock rubber 804 which are mounted on the top surface of the release fixture. FIG. 9A specifically shows the lock rubber 804, which can be oriented vertically with respect the top surface and can have a vertical through hole 807 surrounded by two opposing tapered side ends 806 and two opposing tapered deformable gripping surfaces 805. FIG. 9B specifically shows the ejector pin frame 808 that has (1) a base portion 810 that mounts onto the top surface of the release fixture, (2) an ejector pin head 811 at a distal end of the ejector frame, and (3) intermediate core portion 809 between the base portion 810 and the head 811. The ejector pin head 811 can include a top surface 812 and an angled contact surface 813 that extends from the top surface 812. The intermediate core portion 809 can be a horizontal groove surrounding the periphery of the member 803 and is intend to receive and hold the lock rubber 804 between lower shoulders of the head 811 and upper shoulders of the base portion 810 as shown in FIG. 9C.

(16) FIGS. 10A and 10B shows perspective views in which the set top box or the like is fully placed on the release fixture and is in condition for disassembly. These figures show the unlocking of one of the coupling clips 1030 from one of the clip receiving members 1020. The coupling clips 1030 can vertically extend downward from the bottom or interior surface of the top cover 1010. The clip receiving members 1020 can include an upwardly or inwardly extending part 1022 that extends from the base 1005 and can include a shoulder 1021 that faces the coupling clip 1030. The coupling clip 1030 can have a grasping portion 1031 at the distal end of its downwardly or inwardly extending portion 1032, which can be flexible. The grasping portion 1031 can have a sloped lower surface that faces the upwardly or inwardly extending part 1022 of the clip receiving member 1020 and forms an acute angle with the downwardly or inwardly extending portion 1032. The grasping portion 1031 further can include an upper ledge that protrudes from the extending portion 1032 and can form an acute angle with the sloped lower surface. It should be pointed out that the locking of the set top box is facilitated by the upper ledge of the grasping portion 1031 engaging and overlapping the shoulder 1021. The unlocking can be facilitated by a single linear motion 1070 of the set top box onto the release fixture such that the decoupling member enters an aperture in the base 1005 and the angled contact surface 813 of the decoupling member 803 contacts the sloped lower surface of the grasping portion 1031, thereby displacing the grasping portion such that the extending portion 1032 flexes away from the extending part 1022 and the upper ledge of the grasping portion 1031 and the shoulder 1021 no longer engage and no longer overlap. The angle contact surface 813 of the decoupling member 803 and the sloped lower surface of the grasping portion 1031 can have similar or the same slopes and face each upon contact. Concurrently, as the motion 1070 is completed, the angled contact surfaces 813 of the lock rubber 804 contact edges of the base 803 that surround the aperture of the base, thereby causing the surfaces to squeeze or deform at deformation or grasping regions 814 where the lock rubber 804 contact the edges. The squeezing or deformation 814 causes the lock rubber 804 and the base 1005 to couple or lock together.

(17) With the lock rubber 804 and the base 1005 coupled or locked together as shown in FIG. 10B, FIG. 11 shows that the top cover 1010 can be removed or displaced from the base 1005 by a single linear upward release motion 1071, wherein the base 1005 remains on the release fixtures. Although only one unlocking example is shown in FIG. 11, it should be understood that the similar action is concurrently occurring where there are other decoupling members 803.

(18) In sum, the disclosed disassembly jigs or release fixtures can permit the cover to remain positioned on the base or frame when detached. However, the release fixture can hold the base while the cover is removed which can be advantageous because there will be some friction or squeezing of the locking rubber around the aperture in the base.

(19) FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of an example method for disassembling a set top box using a disengagement fixture. FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of an example method for disassembling a set top box using a disengagement fixture. As illustrated in FIG. 12, a method for disassembling a set top box can include providing a set top box including a top cover, a base, and cover retention clips (1200). The method can further include providing a release fixture including a retention clip release finger (1205) having lock rubbers 804. The method can further include inserting the release fixture into the set top box (1210). The method can further include disengaging the cover retention clips using the retention clip release finger (1215). The method can further include removing the top cover from the base (1220) and concurrently holding the base on the fixture by the lock rubbers. After providing the set top box (1200), the method can include securing the top cover to the base by lifting the set top box up from the release by specifically lifting the base and not the cover, thereby removing the lock rubbers from the edges.

(20) While embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be appreciated that modifications of these embodiments are within the true spirit and scope of the invention. For example, a feature of the invention is that the set top box with the clips does not have any screws or bolts holding the cover to the frame. In some embodiments, two or more method steps can occur in a different order or simultaneously. These and other variations of the methods disclosed herein will be readily apparent, especially in view of the description of the method described herein, and are considered to be within the full scope of the invention.