Waterproof casing structure for electronic equipment

• US 5,845,803 A
• Filed: 09/06/1995
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Koji, Inubushi, Toshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYLTON, ROBIN ANNETTE
• Application Number:
  US08/524,430
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 220/378, 220/578, 220/358, 220/222, 220/241, 220/804, 220/806, 215/231, 206/710, 206/711, 206/712, 92/245, 92/249
• US Class Current: 220/378
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/06 Hermetically-sealed casings specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing

Abstract

A waterproof casing for an electronic equipment includes a box-shaped case member and a plane-shaped cover member including a sheet-form sealing gasket extending from the overall periphery of the cover member. The cover member is inserted and fixed to the case member with the gasket sliding into and pressing against the inner surface of the case member to secure a tight waterproof seal. The cover member also can be partially plate-shaped and partially box-shaped. The waterproof casing structure reduces the size, particularly height, of the casing and simplifies assembly.

Claims

1. A waterproof casing for electronic equipment, comprising:

a case member and a cover member detachably engaged together to form a casing for accommodating electronic equipment,

said cover member having a base portion and a gasket member provided around the periphery of said base portion,

said gasket member having sliding contact with said case member along the circumference of an opening in said case member when said cover member is brought into detachable engagement with said case member, and

wherein said base portion of said cover member has a plate form and said gasket member has a gasket base portion joined to a vertical end surface of said plate form base portion and a sheet portion extending outward from said gasket base portion, said sheet portion imparting said sliding contact, and said case member including at least one projection to receive said cover member, and said cover member is secure to said projection.

2. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, wherein said case member has a box form with said opening at an upper side to receive said cover member.

3. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, wherein said plate form base portion has a projection extending into said gasket base portion.

4. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, wherein said sheet portion of said gasket member forms an oblique angle with respect to the surface of said plate form base portion.

5. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, wherein said base portion and said gasket member are integrally formed as one unit.

6. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, wherein said case member and said base portion of said cover member are formed of a thermoplastic resin, and said gasket member is formed of a thermoplastic elastic resin.

7. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, wherein said base portion and said gasket member are integrally molded as one unit.

8. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, wherein said vertical end surface is substantially flat from a top end to a bottom end thereof.

9. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, wherein the entire said gasket sheet portion extends outward beyond said cover member such that said cover member does not prevent bending of said gasket sheet portion.

10. The waterproof casing according to claim 9, wherein a cross section of said gasket member is L shaped.

11. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, further including electronic equipment within said casing.

12. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, wherein said at least one projection includes a threaded hole and said gasket includes a corresponding portion which extends inward over said base portion of said cover member from a periphery of the gasket to seal said cover member above said threaded hole.

13. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, wherein said gasket member extends outward around the entire periphery of said base portion.

14. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, wherein a smooth-transition round corner portion is provided between said gasket base portion and said sheet portion extending outward from said gasket base portion.

15. The waterproof casing according to claim 1, wherein said cover member includes a box-form member joined to said base portion, said gasket member being provided around a portion of the periphery of said base portion between said base portion and said opening in said case.

16. A waterproof casing for electronic equipment, comprising:

a case member and a cover member detachably engaged together to form a casing for accommodating electronic equipment,

said cover member having a base portion and a gasket member provided around the periphery of said base portion,

said gasket member having sliding contact with said case member along the circumference of an opening in said case member when said cover member is brought into detachable engagement with said case member, and

wherein said base portion of said cover member has a plate form with upper and lower major surfaces, and said gasket member is joined to one of said major surfaces of said plate form base portion and extends over the periphery of said plate-form base portion, and said case member including at least one projection to receive said cover member, and said cover member is secure to said projection.

17. The waterproof casing according to claim 16, wherein said base portion and said gasket member are integrally formed as one unit.

18. The waterproof casing according to claim 16, wherein said base portion and said gasket member are integrally molded as one unit.

19. The waterproof casing according to claim 16, wherein said case member and said base portion of said cover member are formed of a thermoplastic resin, and said gasket member is formed of a thermoplastic elastic resin.

20. The waterproof casing according to claim 16, wherein said case member has a box-form with said opening at an upper side to receive said cover member.

21. The waterproof casing according to claim 16, further including electronic equipment within said casing.

22. The waterproof casing according to claim 16, wherein said gasket member extends outward around the entire periphery said base portion.

23. The waterproof casing according to claim 16, wherein said cover member includes a box-form member joined to said base portion, said gasket member extending outward around a portion of the periphery of said base member between said base member and said opening in said case.