Shield case for electronic equipment

Details Shield case for electronic equipment Shield case for electronic equipment

2001-03-27

2003-05-06

Weiss, John G. (Department: 3629)

Supports: cabinet structure

For particular electrical device or component

C220S089200, C312S263000, C312S257100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06557957

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shield case for an electronic equipment, such as a receiver, an electronic tuner, and amplifier and so on, which is composed of a plurality of thin metal plates assembled to one another in a box-like shape, having an interior in which circuit boards carrying thereon electronic elements, integrated circuit elements, etc., electronic components and so on are contained.
Generally, in the electronic equipment such as the receiver, the electronic tuner, the amplifier and so on, the circuit boards carrying thereon the electronic elements, the integrated circuit elements, etc., the electronic components and so on are contained in a shield case which is constructed by assembling thin metal plates. The electronic equipment is so constructed that influences of electromagnetic wave noises from outside and occurring inside may be restrained, and mechanical protection can be obtained by the shield case.
As shown in
FIG. 5
, a related shield case
100
is composed of constituent plates such as a front plate
101
, side plates
102
, a top plate
104
, and a bottom plate (not shown) which are assembled to one another into a box-like shape. In the related shield case
100
, the top plate
104
is assembled, after the circuit boards, the electronic components and so on have been received in a state where the top plate
104
is open.
Each of the side plates
102
is integrally provided with a stopper projection
105
by a stamping process or the like at a position adjacent to an upper edge of its outer face in a projecting manner. Similarly, the rear plate
103
is integrally provided with a click projection
106
in a semispherical shape at a position adjacent to an upper edge of its outer face in a projecting manner.
The top plate
104
is integrally provided with side face holding pieces
107
and a rear face holding piece
108
which are respectively bent downward substantially at the right angle along both side edges and a rear face side edge thereof. Each of the side face holding pieces
107
is divided into a plurality of strips by a plurality of slits
109
which open at its lower end edge. As shown in
FIG. 6
, a lower end portion of the side face holding piece
107
is bent inwardly in a substantially V-shape to form a holding projection
110
.
As shown in
FIG. 5
, the side face holding piece
107
is provided with a guide groove
111
which opens wide in a vertical direction at a position corresponding to the stopper projection
105
of the side plate
102
. An open edge
112
at a forward side of the guide groove
111
consists of a slanted edge portion
112
a
whose open width becomes gradually larger toward the forward side and a vertical edge portion
112
b
continuing from the slanted edge portion
112
a.
The rear face holding piece
108
is also divided into a plurality of strips by a plurality of slits which open at its lower end edge, although not shown in the drawing, and as shown in
FIG. 5
, a lower end portion of the rear face holding piece
108
is bent inwardly in a substantially V-shape to form a holding projection
113
.
The top plate
104
which has been constructed as described above is assembled to the side plates
102
and the rear plate
103
so as to cover these plates. The holding projection
113
of the rear face holding piece
108
is adapted to climb over the click projection
106
and elastically contact with an outer face of the rear plate
103
thereby to lock the top plate
104
. Moreover, when the holding projection
113
of the rear face holding piece
108
climbs over the click projection
106
, the entire top plate
104
moves backward to bring the stopper projection
105
into alignment with the guide groove
111
and allows the stopper projection
105
to enter into the guide groove
111
. After the holding projection
113
has climbed over the click projection
106
, the entire top plate
104
moves forward thereby to bring the stopper projection
105
into contact with the vertical edge portion
112
b
of the guide groove
111
.
The holding projections
110
of the side face holding pieces
107
and the holding projection
113
of the side face holding piece
108
are respectively assembled to the outer faces of the side plates
102
and the rear plate
103
in elastic contact. By locking the holding projection
113
of the rear face holding piece
108
with the click projection
106
, the top plate
104
is retained. The top plate
104
is so constructed as to be retained even in such a shield case as having no holding piece at its forward side, because the stopper projection
105
is abutted against the vertical edge portion
112
b
of the guide groove
111
of the side face holding piece
107
by elastic force of the rear face holding piece
108
.
Accordingly, the shield case
100
is so constructed that the constituent members can be assembled to one another by an extremely simple way without employing any fastening means such as screws, welding, deposition, etc. Thus, influence of electromagnetic wave noise can be restrained and mechanical protection for the circuit boards and the electronic components contained therein can be obtained by the shield case
100
.
As described, in the related shield case
100
which cannot be provided with a holding piece at its forward side, the stopper projection
105
is abutted against the vertical edge portion
112
b
of the guide groove
111
of the side face holding piece
107
, and the rear face holding piece
108
is locked by the click projection
106
under the elastic forces of the side face holding pieces
107
and the rear face holding piece
108
, thereby maintaining the top plate
104
in the assembled state to the side plates
102
and the rear plate
103
. The related shield case
100
has such a characteristic that it is flexible in a direction of its thickness, since the holding pieces are provided only at the rear face and the side faces of the top plate
104
, and the shield case
100
is formed of thin metal plates.
Therefore, in the case where the shield case
100
has been subjected to a serious impact such as falling down, or a pressure has been applied to the top plate
104
, a phenomenon of deformation or flexure occurs in the top plate
104
or the other constituent members in a direction of their thickness. This will force the side face holding pieces
107
and the rear face holding piece
108
to be opened outward, and holding forces for the side plates
102
and the rear plate
103
will be lost. As a result, there may arise a problem that the top plate
104
is disengaged or displaced, and a reliable shield performance cannot be obtained.
It has been considered that the constituent members may be formed of thick metal plates, for example. However, this will lead to a problem that an overall cost will be increased because cost for material, changes in manufacturing steps of the components and in control steps, etc. are required. There will be a further problem that the shield case
100
may become larger in size and heavier in weight by employing such a countermeasure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shield case for an electronic equipment in which the top plate is prevented from being detached, even in the case where an impact has been applied, and the shielding performance can be reliably maintained.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention, there is provided a shield case for housing an electronic equipment therein, comprising:
a plurality of metal plates including a top plate, a bottom plate, a front plate, a rear plate, a pair of side plates, which are assembled to one another in a box-like shape;
a projection, formed on an outer face of the rear plate;
a stopper projection, formed on an outer face of each side plate;
a rear face holding piece, downwardly extending from a rear edge of the top plate, the rear face holding piece formed with a holding member at a lower end portion thereof, the holding member el

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