JP2002039388A - Sealing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide sealing structure causing less deterioration in water proofing performance. SOLUTION: The clearance between a first casing 11 and a second casing 12 which are connected to each other is sealed by means of a sealing member 13. The sealing member 13 has a first sealing section 14 engaged with the first casing 11, a second sealing section 15 engaged with the second casing 12 and an absorption section 16 connecting the first and second sealing sections 14 and 15 to each other and formed so as to be able to displace.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seal structure for sealing between two casings connected to each other using a seal member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various electronic devices have been proposed in which electronic components are arranged in two housings connected to each other, for example, a space defined between a case and a lid. In such electronic devices, a seal structure may be provided between two housings in order to have a waterproof function.

An example of a conventional seal structure will be described with reference to FIG. The seal structure of FIG. 7 includes a seal member 3 such as an O-ring disposed in a concave groove 2 provided in one of the case and the lid. When the lid is closed, the other surface of the case and the lid is pressed against the seal member 3, and the seal member 3 is sandwiched between the case and the lid. Thus, a waterproof function is provided to the electronic device.

Another example of the conventional seal structure will be described with reference to FIG. In the seal structure shown in FIG. 8, a concave groove 6 is provided in one of the case and the lid, a convex rib 8 is provided in the other 7, and the seal member 9 has a concave shape. This sealing structure
Watertightness is provided by the close contact between both inner side walls of the concave groove 6 and the concave outer side walls of the seal member 9 and the close contact between both outer side walls of the convex rib 8 and the concave inner side walls of the seal member 9. .

[0005]

In the former seal structure, since the seal member is pressed between the case and the lid, the repulsive force is always received. This repulsive force causes the case or the lid to be deformed, and causes a reduction in waterproof performance. In order to prevent deformation of the case and the lid, it is necessary to increase their rigidity. However, this results in a complicated structure and high cost. Also, since the case and lid are constantly receiving a strong repulsion,
It is feared that the waterproof performance may deteriorate due to aging.

According to the latter sealing structure, no repulsive force acts between the case and the lid to open the lid. However, a high dimensional accuracy is required for the concave groove and the convex rib of the case and the lid, and when the dimensional accuracy is low, a gap is generated between the case or the lid and the seal member, and the waterproof performance is reduced. is there.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a seal structure which is less likely to cause a decrease in waterproof performance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device having excellent waterproofness.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in a seal structure for sealing between a first and a second case to be connected to each other by using a seal member, the seal member includes a first case and a second case. A first seal portion engaging with the body, a second seal portion engaging with the second housing, and the first and second seals;
And an absorbing portion formed so as to be displaceable and to connect between the sealing portions.

[0010] The absorbing portion may absorb a relative displacement between the first and second housings.

The first and second housings may each have a groove for receiving the first and second seal portions, and a tapered portion may be formed in the groove to widen the entrance.

Further, according to the present invention, the first interconnecting parts are connected.
And a second housing, an electronic component disposed in a space defined between the first and second housings, and a seal between the first and second housings. An electronic device characterized by including a seal structure is obtained.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A seal structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The illustrated seal structure has a first interconnecting structure.
Is sealed using a sealing member 13 between the housing 11 and the second housing 12. The seal member 13 is made of an elastic member such as rubber, and has a first seal portion 14 for engaging with the first housing 11 and a second seal portion 15 for engaging with the second housing 12. And the first and second seal portions 1
And an absorbing portion 16 which connects between 4 and 15 and is displaceable.

The first and second housings 11 and 12 correspond to a lid and a case which are abutted on each other in the first direction A1. The first housing 11 has a concave groove 17 on its abutting surface for receiving the first seal portion 14. A tapered portion 18 is formed in the concave groove 17 to widen the entrance. The second housing 12 has a concave groove 21 on its abutting surface for receiving the second seal portion 15.
A tapered portion 22 is formed in the concave groove 21 to widen the entrance. Therefore, the first and second seal portions 14 and 15 can be easily inserted into the concave grooves 17 and 21.

Next, a case in which the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are sealed using the sealing member 13 will be described.

First, the first seal portion 14 of the seal member 13 is inserted into the concave groove 17 of the first housing 11. In this state, the seal projections 14a, 14b of the first seal portion 14
Has a groove 1 in a second direction A2 orthogonal to the first direction A1.
7 is pressed into engagement with the inner wall.

Next, the second housing 12 is abutted against the first housing 11 in the first direction A1. At this time, the second housing 1
The second seal portion 15 of the seal member 13 is inserted into the second groove 21. In this state, the seal projections 15a and 15b of the second seal portion 15 are pressed against the inner wall of the concave groove 21 in the second direction A2.

As a result, the first housing 11 and the second housing 1
2 is sealed in the second direction A2. Since the absorbing portion 16 of the seal member 13 absorbs the relative displacement between the first and second housings 11 and 12, it is possible to prevent a decrease in waterproof performance without requiring high dimensional accuracy.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a seal structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Portions having similar operations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the illustrated seal structure, a convex rib 23 is provided in the concave groove 21 of the second casing 12 and a tapered surface 24 is formed at the tip thereof, while the second seal portion 15 of the seal member 13 is formed. The fork is branched into two, and the seal projection 15c is formed on the opposing surface.
15d is provided.

The first housing 1 is formed by using the sealing member 13.
When sealing between the first and second housings 12, first,
The first seal part 14 of the seal member 13 is inserted into the concave groove 17 of the first housing 11, and the seal protrusions 14a and 14b of the first seal part 14 are inserted into the inner wall of the concave groove 17 in the second direction A2. Pressing engagement.

Next, the second housing 12 is abutted against the first housing 11 in the first direction A1, and the second seal portion 15 of the seal member 13 is fitted to the outside of the convex rib 23. In this state, the seal projections 15c, 15c of the second seal portion 15
d is pressed against the side wall of the convex rib 23 in the second direction A2 in the second direction A2.

As a result, the first housing 11 and the second housing 1
2 is sealed in the second direction A2. Since the absorbing portion 16 of the seal member 13 absorbs the relative displacement between the first and second housings 11 and 12, it is possible to prevent a decrease in waterproof performance without requiring high dimensional accuracy.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. This electronic device has the seal structure shown in FIGS. Portions having similar operations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the illustrated electronic apparatus, the first
A circuit board 31 on which electronic components are mounted is arranged in a space defined between the case 11 and the second case 12 as a case. The circuit board 31 is fixed to the second housing 1 by screws 32.
Fixed to 2. A waterproof connector 33 for sending a signal to another electronic device or the like is attached to the second housing 12. The plurality of terminals of the waterproof connector 33 are connected to the pattern of the board 31 by soldering.

A part of the seal member 13 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is inserted into the concave groove 17 of the first housing 11. And
The first housing 11 is brought into contact with the open surface of the second housing 12. At this time, the other part of the seal member 13 is connected to the second housing 1.
2 is inserted into a concave groove (not shown, but corresponds to the concave groove 21 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) provided on the open side end surface of the second. Furthermore, the first and second housings 11 and 12 are mutually connected by engaging the locking holes 34 provided in the first housing 11 with the locking projections 35 provided in the second housing 12. Join.

According to this electric device, the inside is waterproofed by the seal structure including the seal member 13. Moreover, since the seal member 13 has the absorbing portion 16 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, errors in the mounting position of the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 Errors in the dimensions and positions of the grooves and in the dimensions of the seal member 13 itself can be absorbed.

In the above description, the seal structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been described. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be similarly implemented by providing the seal structure shown in FIGS.

Although the seal member 13 may be formed integrally, the first and second seal portions 14 and 15 and the absorber 1
6 may be made by two-color molding of different materials.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a seal structure that is less likely to cause a decrease in waterproof performance and an electronic device using the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view when a seal structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention is used.

FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view of the seal structure of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view when a seal structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention is used.

FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the seal structure of FIG. 3;

5 is an external perspective view of an electronic device using the seal structure of FIG.

6 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic device of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional seal structure.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a conventional seal structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 1st housing | casing 12 2nd housing | casing 13 sealing member 14 1st sealing part 14a, 14b Sealing projection 15 2nd sealing part 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d Sealing projection 16 Absorption part 17 Depression groove 18 Taper part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Concave groove 22 Taper part 23 Convex rib 31 Circuit board 32 Screw 33 Waterproof connector 34 Lock hole 35 Lock projection

Claims (4)

[Claims] In a seal structure for sealing between a first and a second housing to be connected to each other using a seal member, the seal member includes a first seal portion engaged with the first housing. A second seal portion that engages with the second housing;
A seal structure, comprising: an absorbent portion that connects the first and second seal portions and is formed to be displaceable. 2. The seal structure according to claim 1, wherein the absorbing section absorbs a relative displacement between the first and second housings. 3. The first and second housings are provided in the first housing.
And a groove for receiving the second seal portion, and a tapered portion is formed in the groove to widen an entrance.
The seal structure according to the above. 4. A first and second housing interconnected with each other,
The electronic component disposed in a space defined between the first and second housings, and a space between the first and second housings is sealed. An electronic device comprising: a sealing structure.