HVAC case having equalized sealing force tongue and groove joint
First Claim
1. A heating and ventilation and air conditioning system comprising:
- a case including a first case section and second case section mating along a mating axis and defining an interior of said case;
a groove in and extending along said first case section; and
a tongue extending from and along said second case section into said groove for sealing said first case section and said second case section together to prevent leakage of air out of said case between said tongue and said groove;
wherein said groove includes a groove inner wall proximal to said interior of said case, a groove outer wall distal from said interior of said case, and a groove bottom wall joining said groove inner wall to said groove outer wall;
wherein said tongue extends from a tongue base end to a tongue free end and includes a tongue inner wall proximal to said interior of said case, a tongue outer wall distal from said interior of said case, and a tongue end wall joining said tongue inner wall to said tongue outer wall, said tongue free end being in contact with said groove inner wall and spaced apart from said groove outer wall and said tongue base end being in contact with said groove outer wall and spaced apart from said groove inner wall, thereby forming diagonally opposing areas of contact between said tongue and said groove;
wherein said tongue outer wall includes a lead-in section proximal to said tongue free end and spaced apart from said groove outer wall, an interference section proximal to said tongue base end and in contact with said groove outer wall, and a transition section which joins said lead-in section to said interference section, wherein said transition section is inclined to said mating axis; and
wherein said transition section is in contact with said groove outer wall when said tongue is being inserted into said groove and wherein said transition section is spaced apart from said groove outer wall when said tongue is inserted completely into said groove.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A case includes a first case section and a second case section defining an interior. The first case section includes a groove extending along the first case section. The second case section includes a tongue extending along the second case section into the groove. The groove includes a groove inner wall proximal to the interior of the case and a groove outer wall distal from the interior of the case. The tongue extends from a tongue base end to a tongue free end and includes a tongue inner wall proximal to the interior of the case and a tongue outer wall distal from the interior of the case. The tongue free end is in contact with the groove inner wall and spaced apart from the groove outer wall and the tongue base end is in contact with the groove outer wall and spaced apart from the groove inner wall.
19 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A heating and ventilation and air conditioning system comprising:
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a case including a first case section and second case section mating along a mating axis and defining an interior of said case; a groove in and extending along said first case section; and a tongue extending from and along said second case section into said groove for sealing said first case section and said second case section together to prevent leakage of air out of said case between said tongue and said groove; wherein said groove includes a groove inner wall proximal to said interior of said case, a groove outer wall distal from said interior of said case, and a groove bottom wall joining said groove inner wall to said groove outer wall; wherein said tongue extends from a tongue base end to a tongue free end and includes a tongue inner wall proximal to said interior of said case, a tongue outer wall distal from said interior of said case, and a tongue end wall joining said tongue inner wall to said tongue outer wall, said tongue free end being in contact with said groove inner wall and spaced apart from said groove outer wall and said tongue base end being in contact with said groove outer wall and spaced apart from said groove inner wall, thereby forming diagonally opposing areas of contact between said tongue and said groove; wherein said tongue outer wall includes a lead-in section proximal to said tongue free end and spaced apart from said groove outer wall, an interference section proximal to said tongue base end and in contact with said groove outer wall, and a transition section which joins said lead-in section to said interference section, wherein said transition section is inclined to said mating axis; and wherein said transition section is in contact with said groove outer wall when said tongue is being inserted into said groove and wherein said transition section is spaced apart from said groove outer wall when said tongue is inserted completely into said groove. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification