Waterproof structure

• US 7,941,196 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Company Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Baba, Takeru, Yamaguchi, Tsutomu, Kato, Shigeru, Murakami, Toshiyuki, Kawasaki, Yasuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Dean; Raymond S
• Application Number:
  US11/900,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20080081679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.8, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 379/428.01, 379/433.01, 379/437
• US Class Current: 455/575.8
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0249 Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly
• 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 structure for a casing has a first casing, a second casing to be put together with the first casing, and a waterproof member formed of an elastic material to prevent water from penetrating between the first casing and the second casing. The second casing has a recess. The waterproof member has a peripheral part which, when fitted into the recess, prevents penetration of water. The peripheral part is provided at the periphery of the waterproof member, which is laid out all around space between the first casing and the second casing. A projection engages with a dent. A restriction part of the first casing, provided at a position facing the peripheral part and protruding toward the second casing, prevents the peripheral part from coming out.

Claims

1. A waterproof structure for a casing of a portable device, the waterproof structure comprising:

a first casing;

a second casing to be put together with the first casing, the second casing having a recess; and

a waterproof member formed of an elastic material to prevent water from penetrating between the first casing and the second casing,

wherein the waterproof member comprises a peripheral part laid out all around a space between the first casing and the second casing, when the peripheral part is brought into contact with the recess, the peripheral part being press fitted in the recess in a horizontal direction without exerting an elastic force to the second casing in a vertical direction;

wherein the first casing comprises a restriction part configured to prevent the peripheral part from coming out of the recess, the restriction part being located at a position opposite to the peripheral part, after the peripheral part is pressed fitted in the recess of the waterproof member;

wherein the waterproof member comprises a circumferential wall part and a metal plate, the circumferential wall part bending inwardly from the peripheral part and standing upright toward the first casing, the metal plate being formed integrally in the waterproof member and bent inside the waterproof member from a flat part of the waterproof member in a direction toward the second casing, the flat part placed between the first casing and the second casing; and

wherein the circumferential wall part is guided by the first casing and the second casing.

2. The waterproof structure according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof member is a film covering between the first casing and the second casing.

3. The waterproof structure according to claim 1, wherein the second casing is provided with a support which supports an end face of the circumferential wall part of the waterproof member.

4. The waterproof structure according to claim 2, wherein a part of the waterproof member is transparent, and a mount part where a light guide plate is mounted is provided at the transparent part.

5. The waterproof structure according to claim 2, further comprising an electromagnetic shield integrally formed on an internal side of the waterproof member.

6. The waterproof structure according to claim 1, wherein the metal plate has a protruding part at a part of a flat surface of the metal plate.

12. The waterproof structure according to claim 5, wherein the electromagnetic shield is a silver sheet formed on the internal side of the waterproof member.

13. The waterproof structure according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential wall of the waterproof member is located outside the recess in the second casing.

14. The waterproof structure according to claim 1, wherein the flat part of the waterproof member is located outside the recess in the second casing.

15. The waterproof structure according to claim 1, wherein the flat part of the waterproof member overlaps substantially an entire inside surface of the first casing.

7. A waterproof structure for a casing of a portable device, the structure comprising:

a first casing;

a second casing to be put together with the first casing, the second casing having a recess with a dent in which a projection is insertable; and

a waterproof member formed of an elastic material to prevent water from penetrating between the first casing and the second casing, the waterproof member having a protruding seal part which, when fitted into the recess, prevents penetration of water and has a projection engageable with the dent when being inserted in the dent;

wherein the waterproof member has a circumferential wall part standing upright toward the first casing from the protruding seal part, and partially has a metal plate provided at a position extending approximately horizontally from the circumferential wall part,

wherein the metal plate has a first hook which is bent toward the second casing at a position inward of an end portion of the metal plate by a predetermined distance, and is bent toward the first casing at a position slightly outward of the inward-bent position, the first hook having an end portion protruding from the circumferential wall part; and

wherein the second casing has a second hook engageable with the first hook.

8. The waterproof structure according to claim 7, wherein the waterproof member has a flat part extending approximately horizontally from the circumferential wall part, and the metal plate is adhered to a second casing side of the flat part.

9. The waterproof structure according to claim 8, wherein the metal plate is provided with a first opening, and the first casing is provided with a second opening at a position facing the first opening with the waterproof member in between.

10. The waterproof structure according to claim 7, wherein the metal plate is provided with a first opening in which a seal formed of an elastic material is fitted, and the first casing is provided with a second opening which exposes the seal.

11. The waterproof structure according to claim 9, wherein the first opening and the second opening are circular or elliptic.