GB2220524A - A casing for electronic or electrical components - Google Patents

Abstract

A casing (1, 2) for electronic or electrical equipment has a wiring entry/exit opening and closure means (10-19) for closing the opening. The closure means comprise a first member (10) having a first surface and a second member (13) having a second surface and being movable relative to the first member (10) into and out of a closure position in which said first and second surfaces are in spaced apart facing relationship. The gap between the spaced apart first and second surfaces allows wiring to pass therethrough and is filled with compressible resilient material (19) covering one or both of the first and second surfaces. <IMAGE>

Description

A CASING FOR ELECTRONIC OR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS This invention relates to a casing for electrical or electronic equipment, e.g. for electronic eauipment of television signal receiving installations.

In installations of the above type, certain parts thereof are located in the open. When these parts consist of electronic components, the equipment formed therewith must be mounted in protective casings which are fixed on a support mast or surface. However, the casings used for the above purposes pose a series of problems with respect to the quality of the protection offered to the equipment mounted within, the ease of access thereto and the ease of fixing the casing to the support mast or surface.

The provision of openings for the passage of cables or wiring through the walls of the casing, for the electrical connection of housea electrical components, often gives rise to a loss or reduction in protection for these components.

On the other hand, the casings are generally designed for fixing on a specific support so that when the configuration or characteristics of said support vary a different casing has to be used.

An aim of the present invention is the construction of a casing offering good protection for components housed within it.

According to the present invention there is provided a casing for electronic or electrical eauipment as set out in the ensuing claim 1.

The resiliently deformable covering means, for example of spongy material, such as foam rubber, closes the gap between the first and second surfaces and permits the connecting wiring or cables to pass through. therebv ensuring the total closure of the casing and the protection of components mounted therein.

The casing conveniently comprises an open-topped receptacle and a lid. Conveniently the lid is sildablY mounted on the receptacle and may be provided on its inner surface with two projections of small height. These projections are separated from one another bY a distance which is approximately equal to the thickness of the perimeter of a rear wall of the receptacle and determine points of interlocking between the receptacle and the lid in the position of maximum opening of the casing.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, bY way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view from the front and above of a casing according to the invention, in an open position.

Figure 2 is a view from the rear and below of the casing of Figure 1, also in the open position, Figure 3 is a plan of the receptacle of the casing shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a section taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a transverse section of the lid of the casing, along the line V-V of Figure 1, and Figures 6 and 7 are an elevation and profile view of a hatch which closes the front wall of the casing shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As can be seen from the drawings, the casing consists of a receptacle generally designated by the reference numeral 1, and a lid generally designated by the reference numeral 2. The receptacle 1 has an open top spaced apart side walls 4 and 5~and a rear wall. The lid 2 has a top 2a, two side walls and a rear wall, which walls depend from the top 2a and are designated by the reference numeral 3.

The side walls 4 and 5 and rear wall of the receptacle 1 are provided with a rim or peripheral flange 6 adjacent to their free upper edges. For its part, the lid 2 has.

on the inner surface of each of its side and rear walls, a channel 7 adJacent to the top 2a. This construction makes it possible to slidably mount the lid 2 on the receptacle 1 with the flanges 6 received in the channels 7 (see Figure 5).

Figure 5 also shows that the lid 2 is provided, on the inside of its top 2a, with two projections E and 9 which are separated from each other by a distance approximately equal to the width of the flange 6. The projection 8 is formed adjacent the free front edge of the top 2a of the lid and has a height which decreases towards this free front edge. The projections 8 and 9 provide a groove whicn defines the maximum opening between receptacle and lid, preventing the receptacle 1 from being able to separate itself accidentally from the lid 2. As can be seen in Figures 1, 3 and 4, a pair of spaced apart front walls 4a and 5a extend inwardly towards each other from the side walls 4 and 5. respectively, and define a longitudinal access opening therebetween at the front of the receptacle 1.The walls 4a and 5a are provided with two opposing channels 12 formed perpendicular to the base of the receptacle. A platform 10 runs between spaced apart partitions 11 which extend forwardly of the front walls 4a and 5a.

A closure hatch 13 is arranged to close the access opening and comprises an elongate rectangular panel 15 having end extensions 16 and a shorter elongate rectangular pane; 14 which extenas torwardlv of. and perpencicuiar to.

the panel 15 between the end e > :tensions 16 thereot. A pivot pin 17 Projects from one Ot tne end extensions 1r and. when that extension 16 is received in one of the grooves 1. the pivot pin 17 is located at the bottom of an upwardly open groove 18 formed in the front wall 5a. In this manner the closure hatch 13 is pivotally mounted for pivoting movement between a closed position. in which both end extensions 16 are received in their respective channels 12 and an open position. (Figure 1 shows the hatch 13 in an intermediate position between the closed and fully open positions.

The upper surface of the platform 10 and lower surface of the panel 14 are spaced from each other in the closed position of the hatch 1 but are provided with coverings 19 of resilient. e.g. spongy, material such as foam rubber material or expanded plastics material. These coverings 19 serve to close the gap between the panel 14 and platform 10 in the closed position of the ha-ch 13 whilst allowing tne passage of connecting wiring or ables (not shown) into the interior of the receptacle 1 through the access opening without losing efficiency in closure and protection for these components.

Outwardly of the spaced aDart partitions 11. (which limit the length of the platform 10). there are two holes 20 through which it is possible to introduce, as can be seen in Figure 4. screws 21 for fixing the casing to a surface.

The platform 10 is also provided with an upwardly opening longitudinal channel 26 in the base of which two pairs of symmetrical orifices are formed. The inner pair of orifices 22 serve for the passage of a retaining band or strip 23, and the outer pair of orifices 24. of elongate form, serve for the passage of the lateral branches of a clasp 25. The screws 21. band or straD 23 andior clasp 25 are used selectively for fixinq the casing to a surface or mast. in the case where the clasp 25 and,'or strap 2 is used these mav be housed in the channel 2 below the spongy covering i9: In Figure 2 the bottom opening of the orifices 20. 22 and 24 can be seen.Prolections 26 immediately inside the pair of orifices 22 are also shown to facilitate coupling of the casing to a mast.

Studs 27 project from the base of the receptacle 1 and serve for fastening to the receptacle any plate carrying the electronic components.

As previously mentioned the covering 19 on the platform 10 may conceal the orifices 22 and 24 and in this case the covering will not be permanently attached. e.g.

adhered, to the platform 1 (although such covering 19 could be permanently attached to the platform 10 after the casing has been secured in its desired osltion). The other covering 19 for the panel 14 may or may not be permanently attached e.g. adhered, to the panel 14.

Although two coverings 19 have been ascribed for the casing it will be appreciated that only one of the panel 14 and platform need be provided with such a resiliently compressible covering 19.

Claims (18)

1. A casing for electronic or electrical equipment having a wiring entry /exit opening and closure means for closing said wiring entry opening, the closure means comprising a first closure member having a first surface, a second closure member having a second surface, the second closure member being movable relative to the first closure member into and out of a closure position in which said first and second surfaces are in spaced apart facing relationship allowing wiring to pass therebetween for entry into, and/or access out of, said casing, and resiliently deformable covering means arranged to cover at least one of said first and second surfaces, whereby, when the second closure member is in its closure position, the said covering means is able to deform resiliently around any wiring passing between said spaced apart first and second surfaces and to at least substantially fill the remaining space between the first and second surfaces.

2. A casing according to claim 1, in which separate covering means are provided for each of said first and second surfaces.

3. A casing according to claim 1 or 2. in which said covering means comprises a spongy material, e.g. an expanded plastics material or foam rubber material.

4. A casing according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second closure member is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the first closure member.

5. A casing according to claim 4. in which opposite end portions of the second closure means are received in spaced apart channels when the second closure means is in its closed position.

6. A casing according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an open-topped receptacle having a side wall in which said wiring entry opening is formed and a lid coo#erable with the open-topped receptacle.

7. A casing according to claim 6, in which said lid is slidably mounted on the receptacle for sliding between a top-closing position and open position.

8. A casing according to claim 7, in which the lid when positioned in its top-closing position, is arranged to retain the second closure member in its closure position.

9. A casing according to claim 7 or 8, in which the underside of the lid has projection means for cooperating with a rear wall of the receptacle to releasably retain the lid in its open position.

10. A casing according to claim 9, in which the projection means define a wall-receiving recess.

11. A casing according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one pair of through holes is formed in the said first closure member to enable securing means to pass through said holes for fixing the casing in a desired position, the or one of the said covering means associated with the first closure means covering the said first surface.

12. A casing according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said first rigid closure member comprises a platform defining said first surface and the second closure member comprises a first panel arranged substantially perpendicular to the said first surface and a second panel extending perpendicularly to the second panel and defining the said second surface.

13. A casing according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means for fixing a board carrying electronic or electrical equipment within the casing.

14. A casing for electronic or electrical equipment substantially as herein described with reference to, and as il-lustrated in, Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A casing for electronic equipment comprising an open-topped receptacle having an access opening in a side wall thereof, a lid for closing the top of said receptacle, and hatch means for partially closing said access opening, wherein the access opening is limited on the outside by a platform adjacent to the base of the receptacle which runs along the entire length of the recess between two lateral partitions, and wherein the said platform and the said hatch means are movable relative to each other into and out of a closure position in which opposing surfaces of the platform and the hatch means are separated from one another, at least one of said opposing surfaces bearing a covering of spongy material, such as foam rubber-, which closes the gap between the opposing surfaces.

16. A casing according to claim 15, in which the said platform has two circular orifices located symmetrically outside the partitions, one on each side, for the passage of retaining screws.

17. A casing according to claim 15 or 16, in which, between the partitions, said platform has a longitudinal channel in whose base at least one pair of symmetrical orifices are provided for receiving casing securing means.

18. A casing according to claim 15, 16 or 17, in which the said hatch means comprises a first panel having opposite end portions which may be introduced into spaced apart channels defined by spaced apart wall means extending perpendicularly to the base of said receptacle and a second panel extending forwardly and perpendicularly to the first panel and providing one of said opposing surfaces. the said first panel being pivotally mounted on one of said wall means to provide an articulation for said hatch means.