Electronic device having a waterproof structure

• US 9,839,151 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Arao, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US15/199,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20160381820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/06 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/10 Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2013/066 using bellows
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/026 Guiding or lubricating nylon
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/08 composed of different parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/002 sealed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/04 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/04 the interference being caused by substantially sinusoidal oscillations, e.g. in a receiver or in a tape-recorder
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 Waterproofing of transmission device
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/069 Other details of the casing, e.g. wall structure, passage for a connector, a cable, a shaft

Abstract

An electronic device according to the present invention comprises a main body including a pair of body chassis, a pair of cover panels disposed to cover the front face and the back face of the main body, a switch unit disposed on the side part of the main body, an operation button which is held between the pair of cover panels and has a pusher projecting therefrom, a housing recess which is formed on at least one of the body chassis and recessed on a joint surface with the other body chassis to form a housing chamber for the switch unit, a through hole penetrating the one body chassis from the side face toward the housing recess, and a bag-like waterproof packing member which is attached to the through hole and recessed toward the switch unit to house the pusher of the operation button. The pusher of the operation button passes through the through hole toward the switch unit, and the end of the waterproof packing member is pressed against the switch unit to fixedly hold the switch unit inside the housing recess.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus that is longer in one direction, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a display located on a front face of the electronic apparatus;

a body chassis housing the display, the body chassis including a first through hole located on a side face of the body chassis;

a first switch located in the body chassis, and facing the first through hole;

a first operation button for pressing the first switch, the first operation button being exposed from a side face of the electronic apparatus;

a first waterproof member including a part interposed between the first switch and the first operation button, such that no part of the first operation button directly contacts the first switch, the first waterproof member sealing an opening of the first through hole;

a plurality of hardware buttons located at a lower end portion of the front face of the electronic apparatus, the plurality of hardware buttons being aligned along a short-side direction of the electronic apparatus; and

a back cover covering a back face of the body chassis,

wherein the front face of the electronic apparatus includes a speaker hole located below the plurality of hardware buttons,

wherein the back cover is a single member, and the back cover includes a part continuously extending along a whole circumference of the back face of the body chassis,

wherein the first operation button includes a rib engaging with the back cover, the rib being formed on a peripheral part of the first operation button.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first through hole is located on an upper side face of the body chassis, and the first operation button is exposed from an upper side face of the electronic apparatus.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the body chassis includes a second through hole located on the upper side face of the body chassis, the electronic apparatus further comprising:

a second switch located in the body chassis, and facing the second through hole;

a second operation button for pressing the second switch, the second operation button being exposed from the upper side face of the electronic apparatus; and

a second waterproof member including a part interposed between the second switch and the second operation button, the second waterproof member sealing an opening of the second through hole.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body chassis includes a front body chassis and a back body chassis.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a speaker is located on a back face of the front body chassis, and sound from the speaker is output outside of the electronic apparatus through the speaker hole.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a front cover covering a front face of the body chassis.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the front cover includes a part continuously extending along an upper end of the front face of the body chassis.