Electronic apparatus with a watertight housing

• US 5,610,655 A
• Filed: 09/28/1993
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ogiro, Kenji, Wakabayashi, Manabu
• Primary Examiner(s): Razavi, Michael T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHALWALA, BIPIN H
• Application Number:
  US08/128,003
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 354/64, 348/373, 348/81, 348/82, 348/207
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details

Abstract

A video camera recorder having a watertight housing including a housing body, a housing bottom and a closure for closing an opening of the housing. The opening is watertightly closed by a watertight structure including an annular bead formed in the housing and a packing provided to the closure. An electronic view finder is watertightly isolated in a space defined between a partition wall, arranged within the housing, and the housing. A cover is provided between the closure and an electronic equipment, such as a video deck, disposed within the housing, and a packing is arranged between the housing and the cover so that the space surrounded by the cover and the housing is held watertightly. Alternatively, the gap between a portion of a video deck disposed in the housing and a housing is watertightly sealed, the portion of the video deck projecting from the housing the opening. A water absorbent or a water sensor is disposed in a recess formed in the housing.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a watertight housing having first opening defining means for defining a first opening in the housing and second opening defining means for defining a second opening in the first opening of the housing,

a first closure member adapted for movement for covering said first opening defining means,

electronic equipment provided in said housing,

a second closure member provided between said first closure member and said electronic equipment and adapted for movement for covering said second opening defining means,

water sealing means provided between said second closure member and said housing, and

press means provided between said first closure member and said second closure member or between said housing and said second closure member for forcing said second closure member towards said housing with said water sealing means therebetween to establish water tightness therebetween,

wherein said press means comprises said first closure member and a cover holder interposed between said first and said second closure member such that a force, with which said first closure member is closed, acts to press said second closure member against said housing with said cover holder therebetween.

4. An electronic apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic equipment comprises a video deck.

5. An electronic apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic equipment comprises a video camera.

6. An electronic apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising water absorbing means for absorbing leakage water, said water absorbing means are disposed within a recess provided between said first opening defined by said first opening defining means and said second opening defined by said second opening defining means, and wherein said water absorbing means comprises a water absorptive polymer.

2. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a watertight housing having first opening defining means for defining a first opening in the housing and second opening defining means for defining a second opening in the first opening of the housing,

a first closure member adapted for movement for covering said first opening defining means,

electronic equipment provided in said housing,

a second closure member provided between said first closure member and said electronic equipment and adapted for movement covering said second opening defining means,

water sealing means provided between said second closure member and said housing, and

press means provided between said first closure member and said second closure member or between said housing and said second closure member for forcing said second closure member towards said housing with said water sealing means therebetween to establish water tightness therebetween,

wherein said press means comprises a locking mechanism provided between said watertight housing and said second closure member such that a force, with which said locking mechanism is set, acts to press said second closure member against said housing.

9. An electronic apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the electronic equipment comprises a video deck.

10. An electronic apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the electronic equipment comprises a video camera.

3. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a watertight housing having first opening defining means for defining a first opening in the housing and second opening defining means for defining a second opening in the first opening of the housing,

a first closure member adapted for movement for covering said first opening defining means,

electronic equipment provided in said housing said electronic equipment including a cassette holder,

a second closure member provided between said first closure member and said electronic equipment and adapted for movement for covering said second opening defining means, wherein said second closure member comprises a cover for said cassette bolder,

water sealing means provided between said second closure member and said housing, and

press means for forcing said second closure member towards said housing with said water sealing means therebetween to establish water tightness therebetween when a cassette is inserted into said cassette holder.

7. An electronic apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the electronic equipment comprises a video deck.

8. An electronic apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the electronic equipment comprises a video camera.