WATERPROOF ELECTRONIC APPLIANCE

• US 20090211775A1
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCNT LLC
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Shingo, YAMAGUCHI, Shigeru
• Granted Patent: US 8,265,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/50.500
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence

Abstract

A waterproof electronic appliance has a casing including a bottom panel, a top panel, and a side wall which is divided into an upright wall adjacent to the bottom panel and a vertical wall adjacent to the top panel. A first double-sided adhesive tape is adhered on a top end surface of the upright wall. A second double-sided adhesive tape is adhered on a bottom end surface of the vertical wall. A cable including signal lines and a tube covering the signal lines, extends from inside to outside of the casing through the upright wall and the vertical wall. The first and second double-sided adhesive tapes adhere to an outer surface of the tube sandwiched between the upright wall and the vertical wall, and the adhesive tapes adhere to each other in an area adjacent to the sandwiched tube.

Claims

1. A waterproof electronic appliance, comprising:

a casing including a bottom panel, a top panel, and a side wall, at least a part of the side wall being divided into an upright wall adjacent to the bottom panel and a vertical wall adjacent to the top panel, the side wall surrounding the bottom panel and the top panel and forming an inner space together with the bottom panel and the top panel;

a first double-sided adhesive tape, a surface of which is stuck on a top end surface of the upright wall, the first double-sided adhesive tape extending along the top end surface of the upright wall;

a second double-sided adhesive tape, a surface of which adheres to a bottom end surface of the vertical wall, the second double-sided adhesive tape extending along the bottom end surface of the vertical wall; and

a cable extending from inside to outside of the casing through the upright wall and the vertical wall, the cable including signal lines, and

a tube disposed at least at a part of the cable sandwiched between the upright wall and the vertical wall, the tube covering the signal lines and having a flat shape extending in a direction in which the top end surface of the upright wall and the bottom end surface of the vertical wall extend,

wherein the first and second double-sided adhesive tapes adhere to an outer surface of the tube at the part of the cable sandwiched between the upright wall and the vertical wall, and the adhesive tapes adhere to each other in an area adjacent to the sandwiched part.

2. The waterproof electronic appliance according to claim 1, wherein the cable further includes a restraining member surrounding a portion of the signal lines disposed in the tube at the part of the cable sandwiched between the upright wall and the vertical wall, the restraining member restraining the portion of the signal lines into a flat shape.

3. The waterproof electronic appliance according to claim 1, wherein each of the upright wall and the vertical wall has a recess in a part of the wall through which the cable extends and the height of the wall at the recess is smaller than the height of parts of the wall adjacent thereto.

4. The waterproof electronic appliance according to claim 1, wherein the tube is made of a soft waterproof material.

5. The waterproof electronic appliance according to claim 1, wherein a backing of the double-sided adhesive tape is made of a material whose thickness is reduced when pressed.

6. A waterproof electronic appliance, comprising:

a casing including a bottom panel, a top panel, and a side wall, the side wall being divided into an upright wall adjacent to the bottom panel and a vertical wall adjacent to the top panel;

a first double-sided adhesive tape being adhered on a top end surface of the upright wall;

a second double-sided adhesive tape being adhered on a bottom end surface of the vertical wall; and

a cable including signal lines and a tube covering the signal lines, the cable extending from inside to outside of the casing through the upright wall and the vertical wall;

wherein the first and second double-sided adhesive tapes adhere to an outer surface of the tube sandwiched between the upright wall and the vertical wall, and the adhesive tapes adhere to each other in an area adjacent to the sandwiched tube.

7. A method of waterproofing an electronic appliance, comprising:

providing a casing including a bottom panel, a top panel, and a side wall;

dividing at least a part of the side wall into an upright wall adjacent to the bottom panel and a vertical wall adjacent to the top panel;

surrounding the bottom panel and the top panel with the side wall;

forming an inner space with the side wall, the bottom panel, and the top panel;

adhering a surface of a first double-sided adhesive tape to a top end surface of the upright wall;

extending the first double-sided adhesive tape along the top end surface of the upright wall;

adhering a surface of a second double-sided adhesive tape to a bottom end surface of the vertical wall;

extending the second double-sided adhesive tape along the bottom end surface of the vertical wall;

providing a cable including signal lines;

extending the cable from an inside to an outside of the casing through the upright wall and the vertical wall;

sandwiching the cable between the upright wall and the vertical wall;

providing a tube having a flat shape extending in a direction in which the top end surface of the upright wall and the bottom end surface of the vertical wall extend;

disposing the tube at a part of the cable sandwiched between the upright wall and the vertical wall;

covering the signal lines with the tube;

adhering the first and second double-sided adhesive tape to an outer surface of the tube at the part of the cable sandwiched between the upright wall and the vertical wall; and

adhering the adhesive tape to each other in an area adjacent to the sandwiched part.