Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – With electrical device
Patent
1996-02-09
1997-12-23
Kincaid, Kristine L.
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
With electrical device
220 35, H01R 13502
Patent
active
057009767
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic device having an essentially two-part housing which can be used as a hand-held unit.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In automation engineering, particularly in numerical control systems, external control panels, which are often used for inputting control commands, are typically connected to the control system by a flexible cable. This is advantageous when a programmer has to move around often, e.g., in order to observe travel positions when working with a robot, or when the configuration of a control system is ergonomically unfavorable or not readily accessible because of space reasons. However, the disadvantages entailed by the portability of such a control panel are, first of all, that it can easily fall on the floor and become damaged and, secondly, that it is necessary to place it on a stationary support surface or to hold it fast with one hand for operator control. In many cases, therefore, it would be preferable to have a stationary-mounted control panel instead of the portable control panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device with a housing which can be operated both as a portable, as well as a stationary-mounted device and which can be easily converted from one method of operation to the other.
The present invention provides an electronic device with a housing comprising a front housing part including a front surface, side walls and a rim, the rim adjoining the front surface of the front housing part and extending out from the side walls of the front housing part; and a cup-like rear housing member including side walls, the rear housing member being adapted to mate with the front housing part so that upon assembly, the side walls of the rear housing member surround the side walls of the front housing part, the rear housing member further including at least one attachment element for securing the rear housing member to the front housing part so that the electronic device housing of the present invention can be assembled as a hand-held unit, wherein front edges of the side walls of the rear housing member abut a rear surface of the rim of the front housing part upon assembly of the front housing part and the rear housing member, and so that the electronic device housing of the present invention can also be installed in a suitable opening of a plate, wherein the plate is captured between the front edges of the side walls of the rear housing member and the rear surface of the rim of the front housing part upon assembly of the front housing part and the rear housing member.
The present invention has the advantage that when installing an electronic device that had previously been operated as a hand-held unit, no additional parts are needed nor are any parts left over. This rules out the inconvenience entailed in losing any such parts during long-term use under the same method of operation. A circumferential seal on the rear side of the rim on the front part of the housing advantageously prevents the ingress of dust or moisture into the electronic device. Operator-control and display elements can be accommodated quite visibly and favorably in terms of ergonomics on the front side of the front part of the housing. To secure the rear wall of the housing to the front part of the housing, standard commercial screws can be used, which can be manipulated without a special tool.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of an embodiment of an electronic device in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In an exploded view, FIG. 1 shows a front part of a housing 1, a rear housing member 2, attachment elements 3, and a plate 4. Since the front part 1 of the housing of the electronic device is partly hidden by the plate 4, a second housing front part 5 is depicted next to it with dashed lines, in order to make all elements visible. The two housing front parts 1 and 5 are identical and there is actually only one in an electronic d
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Hahn Karl-Heinz
Saisila Chartchai
Kincaid Kristine L.
Reichard Dean A.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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