EP1737630A1

EP1737630A1 - Casing structure of compressed wood

Info

Publication number: EP1737630A1
Application number: EP05710461A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tatsuya Suzuki
Original assignee: Olympus Corp
Current assignee: Olympus Corp
Priority date: 2004-03-03
Filing date: 2005-02-15
Publication date: 2007-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-15
Also published as: US20050194283A1; DE602005005656T2; JP4257233B2; HK1097484A1; EP1737630B1; CN100522525C; CN1925955A; WO2005084899A1; DE602005005656D1; JP2005246737A

Abstract

In a casing structure (10) that holds a predetermined object between a plurality of compressed wood pieces, each of a front panel (11) and a rear panel (12) of the compressed wood includes a main surface portion (11a, 12a) and side surface portions (11b - 11e, 12b - 12e) formed integrally around all the peripheral edges of the main surface portion and non-parallel therewith, and wood fiber directions in the main surface portion and the side surface portions of the front and rear panels are substantially symmetrical with respect to an opposing surface between the front and rear panels.

Description

DESCRIPTION

CASING STRUCTURE OF COMPRESSED WOOD

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a casing structure using compressed wood, and more particularly, to a casing structure which is composed of a mutual combination of a plurality of compressed wood pieces and has a space formed between the respective compressed wood pieces to hold electronic device or other arbitrary object therein. This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-059271 , filed on March 3, 2004; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, light metals (for example, aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, and magnesium) and synthetic resins (for example, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, and acrylic resins) are used as a material of a casing for electronic device (for example, a digital camera, a mobile phone, and an IC recorder). A casing formed of the above materials has a relatively small expansion/contraction rate when it absorbs and discharges moisture, and the expansion/contraction rate thereof is approximately the same in all directions since such a casing is isotropic. However, when the casing is evaluated as an exterior packaging member, the casing is disadvantageous in that it has no individual characteristics because it has almost no individual difference. Further its design property is deteriorated because scratches and discoloring occur over a long term use. To solve the above problems, the inventor has conceived of forming a casing with wood. The use of wood is advantageous in that it can provide an appropriate individual difference because of grains that differ from one another and further in that the change of surface color over a long term use serves to enhance a design property.

However, when wood is used as the casing material as described above, the rigidity of the casing may not be good enough compared with the casings of the light metal and the synthetic resin. Although the thickness of the casing may be increased to compensate the deterioration of the rigidity, this is not suitable for a casing for electronic device in which downsizing is particularly required. One conventionally known method to improve the strength of wood material is compression processing. According to the method, wood is softened through water absorption and compressed while being fixed in a predetermined shape, and sliced in a direction of compression to be a plate-like primary fixed product. Subsequently, the primary fixed product is shaped into a product with a predetermined three-dimensional shape while being heated and made to absorb water, and fixed in the predetermined three-dimensional shape to be a final product (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3078452). According to another known method, softened wood is compressed and fixed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11 -77619). Accordingly, when these methods are used, the strength of wood might be enhanced without the increase in wall thickness.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, when a casing is composed of compressed wood, a new problem arises in addition to the deterioration of rigidity. Wood has a large expansion/contraction rate when it absorbs or discharges moisture although it has a very small coefficient of thermal expansion, and its maximum expansion and contraction is about 10%. Further, since the wood has anisotropy, it does not expand and contract uniformly in all directions. Further, the expansion/contraction rate of compressed wood may become larger than that of non-compressed wood. Most casings for electronic device are composed of a plurality of exterior packaging members joined with each other. Accordingly, when the respective exterior packaging members greatly expand or contract by absorbing or discharging moisture, the relative positions of exterior packaging members may shift to deteriorate the design property, or to create gaps in the casing. Further, an excessive stress applied on a joint portion due to the expansion or contraction may create cracks in the joint portion. When an electronic device includes a high voltage unit (for example, an electronic flash unit in a digital camera), it may be difficult to insulate the high voltage unit from the exterior of the device. In particular, when the gaps are generated in the casing, a creepage distance for insulation (shortest distance along a surface of an insulator between two conductive components) is shortened between the high voltage unit and the exterior of the device, which is not preferable because it may make it difficult to secure a predetermined creepage distance for insulation regulated by a safety standard.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been achieved in order to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a casing structure of compressed wood that can maintain an appropriate casing structure even when compressed wood expands and/or contracts. To solve the above problems and to achieve the above object, in claim 1 according to the present invention, there is provided a casing structure of compressed wood that holds a predetermined object between a plurality of compressed wood pieces, wherein each of the compressed wood pieces has a main surface portion and side surface portions formed integrally around the entire peripheral edges of the main surface portion and non-parallel therewith, and wood fiber directions in the main surface portions of the compressed wood pieces are substantially symmetrical with respect to an opposing surface between the compressed wood pieces. In claim 2 according to the present invention, there is provided a casing structure of compressed wood pieces that holds a predetermined object between a pair of compressed wood pieces, wherein each of the compressed wood pieces has a main surface portion formed in a substantially square shape and side surface portions formed integrally around the four peripheral edges of the main surface portion and non-parallel therewith, and wood fiber directions in the main surface portions of the pair of compressed wood pieces are substantially symmetrical with respect to an opposing surface between the pair of compressed wood pieces. In claim 3, according to claim 1 or 2, the wood fiber directions in the main surface portions are substantially parallel with the longitudinal directions of the main surface portions. In claim 4, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the grains of the main surface portions are substantially symmetrical with respect to the opposing surface between the compressed wood pieces. In claim 5, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a part of a compressed wood piece is formed as a detachable unit detachably mounted on the compressed wood piece, and the wood fiber direction of the detachable unit is substantially in coincidence with the wood fiber direction of the compressed wood piece on which the detachable unit is mounted.

Effect of the Invention In the casing structure of the compressed wood according to the present invention, even if a plurality of compressed wood pieces expands or contracts, they can be kept to the same length because the wood fiber directions in the main surface portions of the compressed wood pieces are substantially symmetrical with respect to the opposing surface between the compressed wood pieces. Accordingly, the relative positional relation between the compressed wood pieces can be maintained, whereby the positional displacement and the like between the compressed wood pieces can be prevented. In the casing structure of the compressed wood according to the present invention, even if a pair of compressed wood pieces expands or contracts, the compressed wood pieces can be kept to the same length because the wood fiber directions in the main surface portions are substantially symmetrical with respect to the opposing surface between the compressed wood pieces, whereby the relative positional relation between the compressed wood pieces can be maintained. Accordingly, the positional displacement and the like between the pair of compressed wood pieces can be prevented. In the casing structure of the compressed wood according to the present invention, the wood fiber directions of the compressed wood pieces are substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the main surface portions. Accordingly, the wood fiber directions, in which the compressed wood pieces expand and contract least, can be in coincidence with the longitudinal direction of the casing in which the casing is most affected by the expansion and contraction of the compressed wood pieces, whereby the positional displacement and the like between the compressed wood pieces can be more effectively prevented. In the casing structure of the compressed wood according to the present invention, the compressed wood pieces are also substantially symmetrical with respect to the grains, therefore the relative positional relation between the compressed wood pieces can be more effectively maintained and a design property can be further enhanced. In the casing structure of the compressed wood according to the present invention, even if the compressed wood piece expands and contracts, the detachable unit expands and contracts at an approximately same expansion/contraction rate with the compressed wood piece. Hence, the relative positional relation between the compressed wood piece and the detachable unit can be maintained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS . Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device using a casing structure of compressed wood according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device shown in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the electronic device taken along a line A-A indicated by an arrow shown in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the electronic device 1 in an expanded/contracted state taken along the line A-A shown in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a joint portion shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a joint structure; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of shaping of wood piece according to the first embodiment; Fig. 8 is a plan view of shaping of the wood piece according to the first embodiment; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a compression process of the wood piece according to the first embodiment; Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view that sequentially depicts respective compression processes of the wood piece according to the first embodiment; Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view that sequentially depicts respective compression processes of the wood piece according to the first embodiment; Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view that sequentially depicts respective compression processes of the wood piece according to the first embodiment; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an electronic device using a casing structure of compressed wood according to a second embodiment; Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of shaping of wood piece according to the second embodiment; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of an electronic device using a casing structure of compressed wood according to a third embodiment when the electronic device is viewed from a rear surface direction; Fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device when a battery cover is removed; Fig. 18 is a perspective view of an electronic device using a casing structure of compressed wood according to a fourth embodiment when the electronic device is viewed from a rear surface direction; and Fig. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device when a battery cover is removed.

Description of Notations 1 electronic device

10, 60, 70, 80 casing

11 , 61 , 71 , 81 front panel

11 a, 12a, 61 a, 62a, 71 a, 72a, 81 a, 82a main surface portion 11 b-11 e, 12b-12e, 61 b-61 e, 62b-62e, 71 b-71 e, 72b-72e, 81 b-81 e, 82b-82e side surface portion

11 f, 102 mortise portion

12, 62, 72, 82 rear panel 12f, 101 tenon portion

13 lens hole

14 monitor hole

15 shutter hole

16 terminal hole

20 electronic unit

21 imaging lens 22 shutter button

30 raw wood

31 wood piece

32 grain 40 lower mold frame

40a concave portion

41 upper mold frame

41 a convex portion

72f opening 90, 100 battery cover

91 locking portion

92, 103 battery

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Exemplary embodiments of a casing structure of compressed wood according to the present invention are explained below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is by no means limited by the embodiments. (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the casing structure of compressed wood according to the present invention is first explained. General features of the casing structure according to the first embodiment reside in that: (1 ) each of a plurality (a pair) of compressed wood pieces has a main surface portion, which is formed in a substantially square shape, and side surface portions, which are formed integrally to four peripheral edges of the main surface portion and non-parallel therewith, wherein the wood fiber directions in the main surface portions of compressed wood pieces are substantially symmetrical with respect to an opposing surface between the compressed wood pieces; and that (2) the wood fiber direction in the main surface portion is substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the main surface portion. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic device using the casing structure of the compressed wood according to the first embodiment. In Fig. 1 , the electronic device 1 is a digital camera including a casing 10 and an electronic unit 20. The casing 10 accommodates the electronic unit 20 as an object to be held in a holding space formed therein. The casing 10 holds the electronic unit

20 integrally therein as well as protects the electronic unit 20 from the outside of the casing 10. The casing 10 also serves as an exterior packaging member of the electronic device 1 through exposing the outer surface thereof to the outside. The electronic unit 20 causes the electronic device 1 to implement necessary electronic functions and includes, for example, an imaging lens 21 , a shutter button 22, a liquid crystal monitor, an image pickup device, a drive circuit for various devices, and terminals to be connected to external equipment. Fig. 1 depicts only the imaging lens

21 and the shutter button 22 among the components of the electronic unit 20. As shown by arrows in Fig. 1 , in the following explanation, a direction X along the long side of the electronic device 1 is called a longitudinal direction, a direction Y along a short side of the electronic device 1 and orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the electronic device 1 is called a lateral direction, and a direction Z orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction is called a thickness direction. A dimension of the electronic device in the longitudinal direction is called a long size, a dimension thereof in the lateral direction is called a short size, and a dimension thereof in the thickness direction is called a thickness. The wood fiber direction is a direction in which a wood grows in a wood growing process (direction from a root of the wood to an extreme end thereof), that is, a direction which is substantially parallel with a flat grain surface and a straight grain surface, and substantially orthogonal to an end grain surface. Grain is generally a visible pattern formed by the gradation of wood fiber density. However, the term "grains" used herein indicates a distribution of wood fiber densities irrespective of the visibility. A specific structure of the casing 10 is explained next. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device shown in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the electronic device shown in Fig. 1 taken along a line A-A indicated by an arrow in Fig. 1 , and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the electronic device 1 shown in Fig. 1 in an expanded/contracted state taken along the line A-A indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The electronic unit is not shown in Fig. 2. As shown in the respective drawings, the casing 10 is composed of a plurality of compressed wood pieces combined with each other. In the first embodiment, the casing 10 is a combination of a pair of compressed wood pieces, that is, a front panel 11 and a rear panel 12. The front panel 11 and the rear panel 12 are formed and processed into a shape corresponding to the shape of the object to be held therein. In particular, the front panel 11 has a lens hole 13 for exposing the imaging lens 21 to the outside, and the rear panel 12 has a monitor hole 14 for exposing the liquid crystal monitor. Further, the front panel 11 and the rear panel 12 have a shutter hole 15 for exposing the shutter button 22 and a terminal hole 16 for allowing the connection terminal to be connected to the external equipment, respectively. The front panel 11 has a flat main surface portion 11 a and side surface portions 11 b to 11 e formed around the peripheral edges of the main surface portion 11 a, and the rear panel 12 has a flat main surface portion 12a and side surface portions 12b to 12e formed around the peripheral edges of the main surface portion 12a. The side surface portions 11 b to 11 e and 12b to 12e are formed around all the peripheral edges of the main surface portions 11 a and 12a, respectively. Since the main surface portions 11 a and 12a are formed in a square shape and have the peripheral edges in four directions, the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e and 12b to 12e are formed around the four peripheral edges of the main surface portions 11 a and 12a, respectively. The side surface portions 11 b to 11 e and 12b to 12e are formed non-parallel with the main surface portions 11 a and 12a, respectively. Specifically, the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e of the front panel 11 are arranged to rise toward the rear panel 12, and the side surface portions 12b to 12e of the rear panel 12 are arranged to rise toward the front panel 11. The angles between the main surface portions 11 a and the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e and the angles between the main surface portions 12a and the side surface portions 12b to 12e can be set to arbitrary angles other than zero degree as long as they are non-parallel with each other. In the first embodiment, the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e and 12b to 12e are substantially orthogonal to the main surface portions 11 a and 12a, respectively. In particular, the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e and 12b to 12e are formed integrally with the main surface portions 11 a and 12a, respectively. In other words, the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e and 12b to 12e are formed while continuously bending the wood fibers which are contained in the main surface portions 11 a and 12a, in a non-parallel state therewith, respectively, by the pressure applied by a press or the like so that the wood fibers are not made discontinuous. In this regard, the casing 10 is essentially different from a conventional wooden box, a canoe which is formed by scraping, or the like. The wood fiber directions of the front and rear panels 11 and 12 are explained next. Assume that an imaginary opposing surface P exists between the front panel 11 and the rear panel 12 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Then, the respective wood fiber directions of the main surface portions 11 a and 12a, and the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e and 12b to 12e are substantially symmetrical with respect to the opposing surface P. Specifically, the respective wood fibers of the main surface portions 11 a and 12a and the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e and 12b to 12e are oriented along the longitudinal direction. In other words, the surfaces which confront with each other, that is, the main surface portions 11 a and 12a, the side surface portions 11 b and 12b, the side surface portions 11 c and 12c, the side surface portions 11 d and 12d, and the side surface portions 11 e and 12e, are formed to have the wood fibers along substantially the same direction (although the sections of the front and rear panels 11 and 12 are shown by hatching in Figs. 3 and 4, they do not represent either actual wood fibers or grains, and this is also applied to Fig. 5 described later). A method of forming the front and rear panels 11 and 12 as described above is explained later. The state of the casing 10 at expansion and contraction is explained next. As shown in Fig. 3, the long size Lf of the front panel 11 is approximately the same as the long size Lr of the rear panel 12. It is assumed here that the front and rear panels 11 and 12 expand or contract through moisture absorption or discharge. As shown in Fig. 4, here, an amount of expansion/contraction of the front panel 11 in the longitudinal direction at the expansion/contraction is indicated by ΔLf, and an amount of expansion/contraction of the rear panel 12 in the longitudinal direction at the expansion/contraction is indicated by ΔLr. Here, since the compressed wood piece has anisotropy, the expansion/contraction rates are different among respective directions. More specifically, the expansion/contraction rates differ depending on the wood fiber directions. As described above, the wood fiber directions of the front and rear panels 11 and 12 are substantially symmetrical with respect to the opposing surface P therebetween. Accordingly, the amount of expansion/contraction ΔLf of the front panel 11 in the longitudinal direction is equal to the amount of expansion/contraction ΔLr of the rear panel 12 in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, after the front and rear panels 11 and 12 expand/contract, the long size Lf+ΔLf of the front panel 11 is equal to the long size Lr+ΔLr of the rear panel 12 as shown in Fig. 4. The same relations also hold for the lateral direction. Before the front and rear panels 11 and 12 expand/contract, the short size of the front panel 11 is equal to the short size of the rear panel 12. After the front and rear panels 11 and 12 expand/contract, the short size of the front panel 11 is equal to the short size of the rear panel 12. Accordingly, even if the front and rear panels 11 and 12 expand/contract, they can be kept in of the same length, and thus the relative positional relation therebetween can be maintained. As a result, the relative positional displacement between the front and rear panels 11 and 12 can be prevented, the design property thereof can be maintained, generation of gaps in the casing 10 can be prevented, and further generation of cracks and the like in joint portions can be prevented as the application of excessive stress thereto through the expansion/contraction can be avoided. Further, since generation of gaps in the casing 10 can be prevented, a necessary creepage distance can be secured even if a high voltage unit is included in the electronic unit 20. In particular, in the first embodiment, the wood fiber directions of the main surface portions 11 a and 12a are substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction thereof, respectively, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. I n general, it is known that the expansion and contraction of a wood is minimum in the wood fiber direction. Accordingly, when the wood fiber direction is substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction as in the first embodiment, the wood fiber direction in which the expansion or contraction of the main surface portions 11 a and 12a is minimum can be i n coincidence with the longitudinal direction, which is most affected by the expansion and contraction, of the main surface portions 11 a and 12a, whereby the mutual positional displacement and the like between the front and rear panels 11 and 12 can be more effectively prevented. A joint structure of the front panel 11 and the rear panel 12 is explained next. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a joint portion shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the joint structure. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a tenon portion 12f is formed around the entire periphery of the surface of the rear panel 12 facing the front panel 11. On the other hand, a mortise portion 11f, which has a shape corresponding to the tenon portion 12f, is formed around the entire periphery of the surface of the front panel 11 facing the rear panel 12. The front panel 11 is joined to the rear panel 12 through the insertion of the tenon portion 12f into the mortise portion 11f. The relative positional relation between the front panel 11 and the rear panel 12 is maintained as described above even if such a strong joint structure is employed, whereby generation of cracks and the like can be prevented in the joint portion. Note that any joint structure may be employed between the front and rear panels 11 and 12, and a water-proof structure using a rubber packing may be employed. A method of forming the front and rear panels 11 and 12 is explained next. Since the front and rear panels 11 and 12 can be formed in the same manner, a method of forming the front panel 11 is explained below. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of shaping of a wood piece according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 7, first, a wood piece 31 is shaped from an uncompressed raw wood 30. The wood piece 31 is shaped in such a manner that the longitudinal direction thereof is in coincidence with the wood fiber direction Lw of the raw wood 30. The wood piece 31 includes the main surface portion 11 a and the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e of the front panel 11 integrally, and the main surface portion 11 a is connected to the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e through smooth curved surfaces. In Fig. 7, the grains of the raw wood 30 are denoted by a reference numeral 32. Fig. 8 is a plan view of shaping of the wood piece according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 8, the wood piece 31 which is shaped from the raw wood 30 can be a wood piece 31 -1 , a wood piece

31 -2, and a wood piece 31 -3 that differ in the positions with respect to the grains 32. In the present embodiment, the wood piece 31 is cut as the wood piece 31 -1 so that the wood fiber direction is substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the main surface portion 11 a. However, the position in which the wood piece 31 is cut may be arbitrarily determined as far as the advantageous effect of the embodiment particularly described herein can be achieved with respect to the wood fiber direction. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a compression process of the wood piece according to the first embodiment, and Figs. 10 to 12 are longitudinal sectional views that sequentially depict respective compression processes of the wood piece according to the first embodiment. To briefly explain, the front panel 11 , which includes the mai n surface portion 11 a and the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e integrally therewith, is formed through the pressing of the wood piece 31 between a lower mold frame40 and an upper mold frame 41 as shown in Fig. 9. A shape of the wood piece 31 is explained first. The wood piece 31 is lumbered in a shape to which the volume of the wood piece 31 to be reduced by compression is previously added. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 10, the main surface portion 11 a is shaped so as to have a th ickness W1 to which the volume thereof reduced by compression is previously added, and the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e are shaped so as to have a thickness W2 and a height T1 to which the volume thereof reduced by compression is previously added, respectively. The front panel 11 is shaped to have a width H1 as a whole. The thickness W1 of the main surface portion is made larger than the thickness W2 of the side surface portions. The relation between the shape of the wood piece 31 and the shapes of the lower and upper mold frames 40 and 41 is explained next. As shown in Figs. 10 to 12, the relation between the radius of curvature of an outside curved surface RO of the wood piece 31 and the radius of curvature of a curved surface RA of a concave portion 40a of the lower mold frame 40 opposing the curved surface RO is shown by RO>RA. On the other hand, the relation between the radius of curvature of a curved surface Rl of the wood piece 31 and the radius of curvature of a curved surface RB of a convex portion 41 a of the upper mold frame 41 is shown by_.RI>RB. Further, as shown in Fig. 11 , a space which is formed between the lower mold frame 40 and the upper mold frame 41 when they are combined with each other, has a shape corresponding to the shape of the front panel 11 after the compression of the wood piece 31. A specific forming method is explained next. First, as shown in Fig. 10, the wood piece 31 is placed between the lower mold frame 40 and the upper mold frame 41. At the same time, the wood piece 31 is placed in a water vapor atmosphere of high temperature and high pressure for a predetermined time so that it is softened by excessive absorption of moisture. Next, as shown in Fig. 11 , the upper mold frame 41 is fitted into the lower mold frame 40 to compress the wood piece 31. Then, the wood piece 31 is left as it is for a predetermined period of time in a state that a compression force is applied thereto. Finally, the wood piece 31 is released from the water vapor atmosphere of high temperature and high pressure, and the thus formed front panel 11 is taken out by separating the upper mold frame 41 from the lower mold frame 40 as shown in Fig. 12. The taken-out front panel 11 has been compressed so that the main surface portion 11 a and the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e have substantially uniform thicknesses W1 ' and W2¹, respectively, and the side surface portions 11 b to 11 e have a height T1 '. Further, curved portions 1 c are compressed obliquely. The front panel 11 is compressed to have a width H1¹ as a whole. The front panel 11 , which is formed by compression as described above, is provided with a high strength in its entirety because the fiber density thereof is increased.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the casing structure of the compressed wood according to the present invention is explained next. A main feature of the second embodiment is such that the grains of the main surface portions thereof are substantially symmetrical with respect to an opposing surface between compressed wood pieces, in addition to the feature of the first embodiment. Note that a structure and a method of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment described above unless explained otherwise, and like reference numerals designate like components as those of the first embodiment. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an electronic device using the casing structure of the compressed wood according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device shown in Fig. 13 (electronic unit is not shown in Fig. 14). As shown in the drawings, a casing 60 is composed of a pair of compressed wood pieces, that is, a front panel 61 and a rear panel 62 combined with each other. The front panel 61 has a flat main surface portion 61 a and side surface portions 61 b to 61 e integrally formed around the four peripheral edges of the main surface portion 61 a non-parallel therewith, and the rear panel 62 has a flat main surface portion 62a and side surface portions 62b to 62e integrally formed around the four peripheral edges of the main surface portion 62a non-parallel therewith. The wood fiber directions of the main surface portions 61 a and 62a and the side surface portions 61 b to 61 e and 62b to 62e are substantially symmetrical with respect to an opposing surface P (not shown) between the front and rear panels 61 and 62. Accordingly, even if the front and rear panels 61 and 62 expand or contract, they can be kept in of the same length, whereby the relative positional relation thereof is maintained. In particular, in the second embodiment, the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62 are formed so that the grains thereof are symmetrical with respect to the opposing surface P therebetween. That is, the distribution of wood fiber density in the front panel 61 is substantially the same as that in the rear panel 62 across the opposing surface P. This relation holds almost commonly for all the distributions of wood fiber density in the side surface portions 61 b to 61 e and 62b to 62e. Accordingly, even if the front and rear panels 61 and 62 expand/contract, the relative positional relation thereof can be more effectively maintained. Further, since the grains are in coincidence with each other, a visually continuous casing structure is provided by the front and rear panels 61 and 62, therefore a design property can be further enhanced. A method of forming the front and rear panels 61 and 62 is explained next. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of shaping of wood pieces according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 15, wood pieces 31 and 31 ' for forming the front and rear panels 61 and 62 are shaped from the raw wood 30 at positions symmetrical with respect to the center C thereof. The front and rear panels 61 and 62 can be formed through the compression of the wood pieces 31 and 31 ' in a water vapor atmosphere of high temperature and high pressure using a lower mold frame 40 and an upper mold frame 41 like the first embodiment. However, the front and rear panels 61 and 62 may be formed by any arbitrary method as long as they are formed symmetrical with respect to the opposing surface P therebetween as to also the grains thereof.

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of the casing structure of the compressed wood according to the present invention is explained next. A main feature of the third embodiment is such that a part of a compressed wood piece is formed as a detachable unit that is detachably mounted on the compressed wood piece, and the wood fiber direction of the detachable unit is substantially in coincidence with that of the compressed wood piece on which the detachable unit is mounted, in addition to the features of the first and the second embodiments. Note that a structure and a method of the third embodiment are the same as those of the second embodiment described above unless explained otherwise, and like reference numerals designate like components as those of the second embodiment. Fig. 16 is a perspective view from the back of an electronic device using the casing structure of the compressed wood according to the third embodiment, and Fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device when a battery cover is removed. As shown in the drawings, a casing 70 is composed of a pair of compressed wood pieces, that is, a front panel 71 and a rear panel 72 combined with each other. The front panel 71 has a flat main surface portion 71 a and side surface portions 71 b to 71 e integrally formed around the four peripheral edges of the main surface portion 71a non-parallel therewith, and the rear panel 72 has a flat main surface portion 72a and side surface portions 72b to 72e integrally formed around the four peripheral edges of the main surface portion 72a non-parallel therewith. The wood fiber directions of the main surface portions 71 a and 72a and the side surface portions 71 b to 71 e and 72b to 72e are substantially symmetrical with respect to an opposing surface P (not shown) between the front and rear panels 71 and 72. Accordingly, even if the front and rear panels 71 and 72 expand or contract, they can be kept in of the same length, thereby maintaining the relative positional relation thereof. The rear panel 72 is provided with a battery cover 90 as a detachable unit which is detachably mounted thereon. A part of the main surface portion 72a of the rear panel 72 is cut in square to form the battery cover 90. The battery cover 90 is detachable from the main surface portion 72a by locking/unlocking of locking portions 91 formed on both sides of the battery cover 90 to/from the side edges of an opening 72f of the main surface portion 72a. A known structure can be employed as a specific locking structure. A battery 92 can be replaced by detaching the battery cover 90 from the main surface portion 72a as shown in Fig. 17. The wood fiber direction of the battery cover 90 is substantially in coincidence with that of the main surface portion 72a on which the battery cover 90 is detachably mounted. In other words, as shown by an arrow in Fig. 16, the battery cover 90 is formed and disposed so that the wood fiber direction of the battery cover 90 is substantially in coincidence with the longitudinal direction of the main surface portion 72a. Accordingly, even if the main surface portion 72a expands or contracts, the battery cover 90 expands or contracts at the same expansion/contraction rate as that of the main surface portion 72a, whereby the relative positional relation between the main surface portion 72a and the battery cover 90 is maintained.

(Fourth Embodiment) A fourth embodiment of the casing structure of the compressed wood according to the present invention^' is explained next. A main feature of the fourth embodiment is such that the wood fiber direction of a detachable unit is substantially in coincidence with that of the compressed wood piece on which the detachable unit is mounted like the third embodiment. Note that a structure and a method of the fourth embodiment are the same as those of the third embodiment described above unless explained otherwise, and like reference numerals designate like components as those of the third embodiment. Fig. 18 is a perspective view of an electronic device using the casing structure of the compressed wood according to the fourth embodiment as viewed from the rear surface direction, and Fig. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device when the battery cover is removed. As shown in the drawings, a casing 80 is composed of a pair of compressed wood pieces, that is, a front panel 81 and a rear panel 82 combined with each other. The front panel 81 has a flat main surface portion 81 a and side surface portions 81 b to 81 e integrally formed around the four peripheral edges of the main surface portion 81 a non-parallel therewith, and the rear panel 82 has a flat main surface portion 82a and side surface portions 82b to 82e integrally formed around the four peripheral edges of the main surface portion 82a non-parallel therewith. The wood fiber directions of the main surface portions 81 a and 82a and the side surface portions 81 b to 81 e and 82b to 82e are substantially symmetrical with respect to an opposing surface P (not shown) between the front and rear panels 81 and 82. Accordingly, even if the front and rear panels 81 and 82 expand or contract, they can be kept in of the same length, whereby the relative positional relation thereof is maintained. The rear panel 82 is provided with a battery cover 100 as a detachable unit detachably mounted thereon. One end of the rear panel 82 is divided to form the battery cover 100. In particular, the battery cover 100 is composed of parts of the main surface portion 82a and the side surface portions 82b and 82d of the rear panel 82 and the entire side surface portion 82c thereof. A tenon portion 101 is formed on the surface of the front panel

81 facing the battery cover 100, and a mortise portion 102 having a shape corresponding to that of the tenon portion 101 is formed on the surface of the battery cover 100 facing the front panel 81 . The battery cover 100 can be mounted as shown in Fig. 18 by sliding it while inserting the tenon portion 101 into the mortise portion 102. A known structure can be employed as a specific mounting structure. A battery 103 can be replaced by detaching the battery cover 100 from the rear panel 82 as shown in Fig. 19. The wood fiber direction of the battery cover 100 is substantially in coincidence with that of the rear panel 82. That is, the battery cover 100 is formed and disposed so that the wood fiber direction thereof is substantially in coincidence with the longitudinal direction of the rear panel 82. Accordingly, even if the rear panel 82 expands or contracts, the battery cover 100 expands or contracts at substantially the same expansion/contraction rate as that of the rear panel 82, whereby the relative positional relation between the rear panel 82 and the battery cover 100 is maintained. Finally, a possibility of modifying the above embodiments is explained. The specific structures and methods of the above embodiments according to the present invention described above can be arbitrarily modified and improved within the range of the technical spirits of inventive concept defined in the appended claims. Further, the problem to be solved by the present invention and the effect achieved by the present invention are not limited to those described above, and it is possible to solve a problem that is not described above and to achieve an effect that is not described above, and it is also possible to solve only a part of the problem described and to achieve only a part of the effect described above. For example, the electronic device is not limited to the digital camera described above and may be arranged as a mobile phone, an IC recorder, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable television, a portable radio, a remote controller for various home electric appliances. In the above explanation, the terms such as "parallel" and "orthogonal" are used to describe the structure. These descriptions, however, do not mean strictly parallel and orthogonal, and the structures described as such may be non-parallel and non-orthogonal to an extent that would allow the structures to exert the advantageous function of the invention. In particular, since wood, which is a natural material, is used in the structures, at least an error which may occur in an ordinary processing of wood is permitted. Further, the sizes and the rates of the various portions explained in the particular embodiments are only examples, and the respective portions may be formed to have any arbitrary sizes and rates different from those described above. The casing structure may be composed of any arbitrary number of compressed wood pieces, and it may be composed of, for example, two to four compressed wood pieces combined together. Further, the compressed wood pieces may be formed in any arbitrary shape, and the casing composed of a combination of the compressed wood pieces may be formed in any arbitrary shape such as a cylindrical shape or an egg shape. The method of forming the compressed wood piece is not limited to the method explained above, and, for example, compression and forming of upwardly curved side surface portions may be simultaneously performed on a wood piece which is cut off in a flat shape, through the application of pressure thereon between the mold frames. Alternatively, the wood may be compressed in a direction other than the direction described above or may be compressed from a plurality of directions. Further, the casing may be formed by indirectly combining the compressed wood pieces, except by directly combining them. For example, a plurality of the compressed wood pieces may be combined with each other with other metal or resin member fitted therebetween. Further, the detachable unit detachably mounted on the compressed wood piece is not limited to the battery cover as described in the third and the fourth embodiments, and it may be arranged as a detachable unit for achieving an arbitrary function.

Claims

1. A casing structure of compressed wood that holds a predetermined object between a plurality of compressed wood pieces, wherein each of the compressed wood pieces has a main surface portion and side surface portions formed integrally around entire peripheral edges of the main surface portion and non-parallel with the main surface portion, and wood fiber directions in the main surface portions of the compressed wood pieces are substantially symmetrical with respect to an opposing surface between the compressed wood pieces.

2. A casing structure of compressed wood that holds a predetermined object between a pair of compressed wood pieces, wherein each of the compressed wood pieces has a main surface portion formed in a substantially square shape and side surface portions formed integrally around four peripheral edges of the main surface portion and non-parallel with the main surface portion, and wood fiber directions in the main surface portions of the pair of compressed wood pieces are substantially symmetrical with respect to an opposing surface between the pair of compressed wood pieces.

3. The casing structure of compressed wood according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wood fiber directions in the main surface portions are substantially parallel with longitudinal directions of the main surface portions.

4. The casing structure of compressed wood according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein grains of the main surface portions are substantially symmetrical with respect to the opposing surface between the compressed wood pieces.

5. The casing structure of compressed wood according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a part of a compressed wood piece is formed as a detachable unit detachably mounted on the compressed wood piece, and the woqd fiber direction of the detachable unit is substantially in coincidence with the wood fiber direction of the compressed wood piece on which the detachable unit is mounted.