Supports: cabinet structure – With movable components – With wiper or seal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-01
2001-10-02
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Supports: cabinet structure
With movable components
With wiper or seal
C220S378000, C220S806000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296336
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water-proof structure for use with a frame body, in particular, this invention relates to a water-proof structure having a packing element. Such kind of a water-proof structure is effective when being used with a frame body which is usually installed in an outdoor environment.
In the past, a waterproof structure for use in protecting an equipment is a type as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (JP-A) No. 17359 of 1992, which is constructed for the purpose of performing a water-cooling type of heat radiation for a semiconductor apparatus.
FIGS. 1A and 1B
are views schematically indicating an example of a water-proof structure made according to a prior art. In the drawings, a heat radiator
35
has a water path (now shown) which is formed to allow the flowing of water therethrough, so that the heat from a semiconductor within a cover
33
is allowed to conduct through a metal base
34
so as to be transferred to the outside. Further, the heat radiator
35
has a frame-like sealing element
31
secured on one surface thereof. Such a sealing element
31
has a certain elasticity so that the sealing element
31
itself may be pressingly secured on the cover
33
close to the lower edge projection
32
thereof formed along the lower edge of the cover
33
. In this manner, a water drop
3
A attached on the heat radiator
35
may be prevented from invading into the cover
33
.
However, the above conventional waterproof structure has some problems in relation to a durability and external appearance, thus it is not suitable for use in a portable apparatus, nor is it appropriate to be used in an outdoor environment. As a result, such kind of a water-proof structure can not be used in the field of the present invention.
Further, another conventional water-proof structure for use in a portable apparatus or in an outdoor environment, is constructed by embedding a frame cover into a frame main body with a packing element interposed therebetween, so as to obtain a desired water-proof structure.
FIGS. 2A and 2B
are views schematically indicating an example of a waterproof structure involving the use of packing element. As shown in
FIGS. 2A and 2B
, this is a waterproof structure formed by embedding a frame cover
21
into a main frame body
22
with a packing element
24
interposed therebetween. In detail, a groove
23
having a square frame configuration is formed on the sealing edge portion of the main frame body
22
, a packing element
24
having a similar square frame configuration is inserted in the groove
23
, the cover
21
is then engaged on to the sealing edge portion of the main frame body
22
. Finally, four screws
25
are used to fix the cover
21
on the main frame body
22
, thereby obtaining and maintaining a desired water-proof structure. However, such a packing element
24
is apt to accidentally move out of the groove
23
when the cover
21
is closed on or taken off the main frame body
22
. If the packing element
24
has left the groove
23
, a desired water-proof property will be lost. In addition, another problem with the water-proof structure shown in
FIGS. 2A and 2B
is that an operation for the insertion of the packing element
24
into the groove
23
is relatively difficult.
On the other hand, a water-proof structure formed by interposing a packing element between the main frame body and the frame cover has been disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (JP-A) No. 31598 of 1983, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication (JP-U) No. 94516 of 1991, and Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication (JP-U) No. 45479 of 1985, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (JP-A) No. 34467/1996, and Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication (JP-U) No. 13780 of 1985.
As discussed above, there are some problems associated with a water-proof structure involving the use of a packing element. A first problem is that, since a packing element is likely to be absorbed toward the frame cover when the frame cover is closed on or taken off the main frame body, causing the packing element to move away from the groove, resulting in a trouble that the packing element is only sandwiched between the main frame body and the frame cover, but losing a desired water-proof property. The loss of water-proof property is caused due to the following fact. Namely, the width of the groove formed on the sealing edge portion of the main frame body has a size including a packing width and a clearance. If the packing element has moved out of the groove and is simply sandwiched between the main frame body and the frame cover, a desired contact between the packing element and the groove wall will be lost, hence losing a desired water-proof property. Further, since the depth of the groove is less than the height of the packing element, a problem associated therewith is that the packing element is apt to move away from the groove. A second problem is that the packing element is difficult to be inserted into the groove formed on the sealing edge portion of the main frame body. Accordingly, an operation for assembling such a water-proof structure is hard to be performed with a high efficiency. As a result, there is a possibility that the packing element can be inserted into the groove with a wrong manner, making it difficult to maintain a desired water-proof property. A reason responsible for the second problem is that it is difficult to vertically insert the packing element into the groove formed on the sealing edge portion of the main frame body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a water-proof structure for use with a frame body, which is capable of preventing an undesired movement of a packing element away from the frame body during the opening and closing thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a water-proof structure for use with a frame body, which allows a packing element to be easily attached in position in a correct manner.
According to the present invention, there is provided a frame body water-proof structure, having a main frame body, a frame cover, a loop-shaped elastic packing element, and securing means for fixing the frame cover on to the main frame body. Further, a wall portion is formed along a periphery edge portion on an engaging surface of the main frame body, and a shoulder portion is formed continuously in connection with the wall portion. In particular, the packing element is attached around the outer periphery surface of the wall portion and mounted on the shoulder portion. Moreover, a recess portion is formed on the inner side of the periphery edge portion on an engaging surface of the frame cover, the recess portion also including a shoulder portion. In this way, when the recess portion of the frame cover is engaged on to the outer periphery surface of the wall portion of the main frame body, a space for accommodating the packing element is formed as defined by the recess portion of the frame cover, the outer periphery surface of the wall portion, and the shoulder portion of the main frame body, such that as soon as the frame cover is fixed on to the main frame body by the securing means, the packing element is elastically deformed so as to seal the space.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4854476 (1989-08-01), Serio, Jr.
patent: 4881659 (1989-11-01), Uchiyama et al.
patent: 5875916 (1999-03-01), Crockett, Sr. et al.
patent: 58-31598 (1983-02-01), None
patent: 60-13780 (1985-01-01), None
patent: 60-45479 (1985-03-01), None
patent: 3-94516 (1991-09-01), None
patent: 4-17359 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 8-34467 (1996-02-01), None
Foley & Lardner
Friedman Carl D.
NEC Corporation
Wilkens Kevin D.
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