JPH1079582A - Structure of case - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize shock resistance and water-proof performance for a display section in the structure of a case for a portable electronic device or the like. SOLUTION: A structure of a case is realized by using an outer elastic member 4 made of elastomer or urethane rubber to absorb at least an external force, and a transparent member 5 made of polycarbonate or the like in the inside of the member 4. An opening 15 is made of the outer elastic member 4 to expose externally partially the transparent member in the inside. The outer elastic member 4 and the inner transparent member 5 are formed integrally. Furthermore, joints 21 of the outer elastic member 4 are three-dimensionally formed together.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a housing structure having excellent impact resistance and waterproofness suitable for portable electronic equipment and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a wristwatch, there is a wristwatch in which an elastic member for absorbing an external force is coated on an outer surface of the wristwatch in order to enhance impact resistance. In addition, as a waterproof measure in portable electronic devices such as a pager or a device such as a camera, a device in which a packing of a separate component is attached to a joint of a housing and a device in which a packing is provided by integral molding with a housing are provided. is there. In addition, as a waterproof measure that does not use packing, for example,
When a display plate or the like is attached to a display window of a housing, sticking using a double-sided tape is common. That is, when the display panel is attached to the display window, the attachment strength and the waterproofness are maintained by sticking with a double-sided tape. Furthermore, in order to maintain high reliability, it is stuck with a special double-sided tape.

[0003]

However, a device which satisfies both the impact resistance and the waterproofness of the entire housing has not been put to practical use yet. In addition, regarding the waterproof surface of the display unit, when sticking with a special double-sided tape to maintain high reliability as described above, the sticking operation needs to be performed under sufficiently controlled conditions, There was a problem that the cost was increased.

An object of the present invention is to provide both a shock resistance and a waterproofness of a display unit in a housing structure of a portable electronic device or the like.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to the first aspect of the present invention is directed to an outer elastic member made of a cushioning material such as an elastomer or urethane rubber which absorbs at least an external force and a polycarbonate inside the outer elastic member. And the like, and a transparent member such as a transparent member, wherein the elastic member partially exposes the transparent member inside thereof to the outside, for example, by forming an opening for a display unit or the like. Configuration.

As described above, since the housing structure has at least the outer elastic member for absorbing the external force and the opening for partially exposing the inner transparent member to the outside, the external elastic member absorbs the external force. Impact resistance is obtained by the function, and furthermore, by partially exposing the inner transparent member to the outside from the opening formed in the outer elastic member, the waterproofness against the opening such as the display unit is also made by the transparent member. It is possible to eliminate the need for a waterproof double-sided tape.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the casing structure according to the first aspect, wherein the elastic member has a three-dimensional structure such as a packing shape or a labyrinth shape for waterproofing a joint portion between the elastic members. It is characterized in that it is formed in a shape.

As described above, the outer elastic member according to the first aspect has a housing structure in which the joints of the outer elastic members are formed in a three-dimensional shape for waterproofing. And the packing can be made unnecessary.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing structure comprising an inner transparent elastic member for absorbing an impact force and an opaque member on the outer side thereof, wherein the opaque member is provided on the inner side thereof. For example, a configuration in which an opening for a display unit or the like is formed to partially expose the transparent elastic member to the outside,
It is characterized by.

As described above, since the outer opaque member is provided with the opening for partially exposing the inner transparent elastic member for absorbing the impact force to the outside, the housing is formed by the inner transparent elastic member. The shock absorption function provides shock resistance inside the housing, and furthermore, by partially exposing the inner transparent elastic member to the outside from the opening formed in the opaque member on the outside, the opening of the display unit and the like can be obtained. The waterproofness of the part is also obtained by the transparent elastic member, and the waterproof double-sided tape can be eliminated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the casing structure according to the third aspect, wherein the transparent elastic member and the opaque member are each provided with a waterproof joint, for example, in a packing shape or the like. It is characterized in that it is formed in a three-dimensional shape such as a labyrinth shape.

As described above, the inner transparent elastic member and the outer opaque member according to the third aspect have a housing structure in which the respective joints are formed in a three-dimensional shape for waterproofing. The waterproofness of the parts can be obtained by the three-dimensionally shaped parts of the outer opaque member and the inner transparent elastic member, and the packing can be eliminated.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a housing structure according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

<First Embodiment> First, FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pager as a first embodiment of an electronic apparatus to which a housing structure of the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line AA of FIG. 1, showing a housing structure. 1 and 2, 1 is an upper case, 2 is a lower case, 3 is a battery cover, 4 is an elastic member,
Is a transparent member, 6 is a battery case, 7 is a display module holder, 8 is a switch holder, 9 is a protective seal, 11 is a battery, 12, 13 are substrates, 14 is a display module, 15 is an opening (display window), 16 Is a display board (acrylic sheet), 1
7 is an LED window, 18 is an LED, 19 is an input switch, 2
Reference numerals 1, 22, and 23 denote a three-dimensional shape portion, 24 denotes a battery lid packing, and 25 denotes a fixing screw.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the housing of this pager comprises an upper case 1, a lower case 2, and a battery cover 3, and these upper case 1, lower case 2, and battery cover 3 In each case, an opaque elastic member 4 that is appropriately colored with a buffer material such as an elastomer or urethane rubber on the outside and a transparent member 5 made of a polycarbonate hard resin on the inside are integrally formed. A battery case 6, a display module holder 7, a switch holder 8, and the like made of the same material as the elastic member 4 are arranged inside the above-described housing, and a battery 11, a substrate 12, a substrate 13, a display module 14, and the like are arranged. It is stored. Note that a protective seal 9 is attached to the mounting hole of the lower case 2.

The elastic member 4 outside the upper case 1
As shown in FIG. 1, a display window 15 which is a horizontally long opening is formed, and an acrylic thin plate serving as a display plate is provided on a portion of the inner transparent member 5 exposed to the outside from the display window 15. 16 is affixed. Therefore, the display screen of the display module 14 inside the housing can be seen from the outside through the inner transparent member 5 and the acrylic thin plate 16 on the surface of the display window 15 of the elastic member 4 outside the upper case 1. ing. The display screen of the display module 14 displays information such as a telephone number of a call destination and a message. Here, in FIG. 1, the outer elastic member 4 is represented by the same hatched area as the sectional view of FIG. 2, and the inner transparent member 5 is represented by the same hatched area as the sectional view of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, an LED window 17 is formed on the elastic member 4 on the outer side of the upper case 1, and from the LED window 17, the inner transparent member 5 is passed. The light emitted from an LED (light emitting diode) 18 that is stored in the camera and notifies the incoming of a call signal of the user by emitting light can be seen from the outside. Further, the upper case 1 is provided with two input switches 19, 19, as shown in FIG. 1, and the input switch 19 is, as shown in FIG. It is penetrated through the opening of the inner transparent member 5 and is held watertight by a switch holder 8 joined to the inner surface of the inner transparent member 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the joint between the outer elastic member 4 of the upper case 1 and the outer elastic member 4 of the lower case 2 is formed by a three-dimensional part 21 having a labyrinth shape such as packing. The joint between the transparent member 5 inside the upper case 1 and the transparent member 5 inside the lower case 2 is also formed in the same three-dimensional shape part 22. Further, in the embodiment, the joint between the elastic member 4 outside the upper case 1 and the battery case 6 is also formed in the same three-dimensional shape portion 23. Also, the battery case 6
A battery cover 24 is provided in the packing groove of the mating surface of the battery cover 3, and the transparent member 5 inside the battery cover 3 is brought into close contact with the battery cover packing 24.

Note that, as shown in FIG.
Are attached to the display module holder 7 fixed to the transparent member 5 inside the upper case 1 and to the transparent member 5 inside the lower case 2.
Is fixed to the upper case 1 by screwing the fixing screw 25 from the coupling boss formed in the upper case 1. Such a fixing screw 2
A protective seal 9 is affixed to a mounting hole formed in the elastic member 4 outside the lower case 2 for screwing in the screw 5 after fixing with a fixing screw 25.

As described above, each of the upper case 1, the lower case 2, and the battery cover 3, which constitute the housing of the pager, is made of an opaque elastic member 4 made of an outer cushioning material such as elastomer or urethane rubber, and an inner polycarbonate. In particular, the elastic member 4 on the outer side with respect to an external force can absorb the impact force, and therefore can have impact resistance. Moreover, by exposing the inner transparent member 5 to the outside from the display window 15 of the outer elastic member 4 in the upper case 1, the transparent member 5
Accordingly, the waterproof property for the display window 15 can be obtained, and therefore, the conventional waterproof double-sided tape can be eliminated.

Since the outer elastic member 4 and the inner transparent member 5 of the upper case 1, the lower case 2, and the battery lid 3 forming the housing are integrally formed, the elastic member 4 and the transparent member 5 are combined. Since the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced as compared with those obtained as separate parts, the cost can be reduced and the accuracy of the housing can be ensured. A joint between the elastic member 4 outside the upper case 1 and the elastic member 4 outside the lower case 2; a joint between the transparent member 5 inside the upper case 1 and the transparent member 5 inside the lower case 2; Since the joints between the elastic member 4 and the battery case 6 outside the upper case 1 are all three-dimensionally shaped portions 21, 22, and 23, waterproofness of the joints of the housing can be ensured. By using the battery cover packing 24, packing at the joint of the housing can be omitted.

The LED window 17 may be made to diffuse the light of the LED 18 to the outside by mixing a light diffusing member in advance in the transparent member (polycarbonate) 5 inside the LED window 17. The display window 15 and the LED window 17 of the transparent member 5 inside the upper case 1 are also provided.
May be processed into a lens shape in advance.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 3 is a front view showing a pager as a second embodiment of an electronic apparatus to which the housing structure of the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 4 shows a structure and is a cross-sectional view along the line BB of FIG. 3. 3 and 4, 31 is an upper case, 32 is a lower case, 33 is a battery cover, 34 is an opaque member, 35 is a transparent elastic member, 36 is a battery case, 37 is a display module holder, and 38 is a switch holder. , 39 is a protective seal, 41 is a battery, 42 and 43 are substrates, 44 is a display module, 45 is an opening (display window), 46 is a display plate (acrylic thin plate), 47 is an LED window, 48 is an LED,
9 is an input switch, 51 is a spacer, 52, 53, 5
4, 55, 56, 57 are electronic components, 61, 62, 63,
64 and 65 are three-dimensional parts, 66 is a battery lid packing, 6
7 is a fixing screw.

That is, in the second embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 4, the case of the pager is an upper case 3
1, a lower case 32, and a battery cover 33. These upper case 31, lower case 32, and battery cover 33
In each of the examples, an outer opaque member 34 made of a hard resin colored appropriately and an inner transparent elastic member 35 made of a transparent cushioning material such as a transparent resin or rubber having elasticity are integrally formed. is there. A battery case 36 and a display module holder 37 made of a cushioning material (elastic member) such as an elastomer or urethane rubber are arranged inside the above-mentioned housing, and a battery 41, a substrate 42, a substrate 43, a display module 44, Spacer 51 and electronic components 52, 53, 5
4, 55, 56, 57, etc. are stored.

Here, the spacer 51 is made of a cushioning material (elastic member) such as an elastomer or urethane rubber, and has the substrate 42 on which the electronic components 52, 53, 54 are mounted and the electronic components 55, 56, 57 mounted thereon. It is interposed between the substrate 43. By providing such a spacer 51, the electronic components 54 on the substrate 42 and the electronic components 55 and 5 on the substrate 43 are provided.
6, 57 interference and rattling can be effectively suppressed. The switch holder 38 is formed integrally with the transparent elastic member 35 inside the upper case 41.
A protective seal 39 is attached to the mounting hole of the lower case 32.

As shown in FIG. 3, the opaque member 34 outside the upper case 31 is formed with a display window 45 which is a horizontally long opening. An acrylic thin plate 46 serving as a display plate is attached to the transparent elastic member 35 so as to be embedded in the concave portion. Accordingly, the display screen of the display module 44 inside the housing is visible from the outside through the inner transparent elastic member 35 and the acrylic thin plate 46 on the surface of the display window 45 of the opaque member 34 outside the upper case 31. Has become. Here, in FIG. 3, the outer opaque member 34 is represented by the same hatched area as the sectional view of FIG. 4, and the inner transparent elastic member 35 is represented by the same hatched area as the sectional view of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, an LED window 47 is formed in the opaque member 34 outside the upper case 31. From the LED window 47, an inner transparent elastic member 35 is passed. The light emitted from the LED 48 housed inside is visible from the outside. Further, the upper case 31 is provided with two input switches 49, 49, as shown in FIG.
The opaque member 34 outside the upper case 31 as shown in FIG.
Further, it penetrates through the opening of the inner transparent elastic member 35 and is held watertight by a switch holder 38 integrally formed on the inner surface of the inner transparent elastic member 35.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, a joint between the opaque member 34 outside the upper case 31 and the opaque member 34 outside the lower case 32 is formed by a three-dimensional part 61 having a labyrinth shape such as packing. The joint between the transparent elastic member 35 inside the upper case 31 and the transparent elastic member 35 inside the lower case 32 is also formed in the same three-dimensional shape part 62. Further, in the embodiment, the joint between the opaque member 34 outside the upper case 31 and the opaque member 34 outside the battery lid 33 is formed in the same three-dimensional shape portion 63, and the inside of the upper case 31 is formed. The joint between the transparent elastic member 35 and the transparent elastic member 35 inside the battery lid 33 is also formed in the same three-dimensional shape portion 64, and the transparent elastic member 35 inside the upper case 31 and the battery case 36 Is also formed in the same three-dimensional shape portion 65. Further, a battery cover packing 66 is provided in a packing groove on the mating surface of the battery case 36, and the transparent elastic member 35 inside the battery cover 33 is adhered to the battery cover packing 66.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG.
The fixing screws 6 are attached to the display module holder 37 fixed to the transparent elastic member 35 inside the upper case 31 from the coupling boss formed on the transparent elastic member 35 inside the lower case 32.
7 is fixed to the upper case 31 by screwing. In order to screw in such a fixing screw 67, the lower case 32
A protective seal 39 is affixed to the mounting hole formed in the opaque member 34 on the outside after fixing by the fixing screw 67.

As described above, all of the upper case 31, the lower case 32 and the battery cover 33 forming the housing of the pager have the outer opaque member 34 made of a hard resin colored appropriately and the inner elasticity. Since it is constituted by the transparent elastic member 35 made of a transparent buffer material such as a transparent resin or rubber, it is possible to obtain the impact force absorbing function of the inner transparent elastic member 35 with respect to the impact force, and therefore, it has impact resistance. can do. Moreover, in the upper case 31, by exposing the inner transparent elastic member 35 to the outside from the display window 45 of the outer opaque member 34, the transparent elastic member 35 can also provide waterproofness to the display window 45. The conventional waterproof double-sided tape can be eliminated.

Since the outer opaque member 34 and the inner transparent elastic member 35 are integrally formed in each of the upper case 31, the lower case 32, and the battery cover 33 forming the housing, the opaque member 34 and the transparent elastic member are formed. Since the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced as compared with the case where 35 is a separate part, the cost can be reduced and the accuracy of the housing can be ensured. Also, a joint between the elastic member 34 outside the upper case 31 and the elastic member 34 outside the lower case 32, and a joint between the transparent elastic member 35 inside the upper case 31 and the transparent elastic member 35 inside the lower case 32. Part, opaque member 3 outside upper case 31
4 and the opaque member 34 outside the battery lid 33, the junction between the transparent elastic member 35 inside the upper case 31 and the transparent elastic member 35 inside the battery lid 33, and the transparent elastic inside the upper case 31. Regarding the joint between the member 35 and the battery case 36, the three-dimensionally shaped portions 61, 62, 63, 6
4, 65, the waterproofness of the joint of the housing can be ensured. Therefore, the packing of the joint of the housing can be made unnecessary only by using the battery lid packing 66.

In the LED window 47, for example, the light of the LED 48 may be diffused outside by mixing a light diffusion member in advance in the transparent elastic member 35 inside the LED window 47. Further, a portion corresponding to the display window 45 and the LED window 47 of the transparent elastic member 35 inside the upper case 31 may be processed into a lens shape in advance.

In each of the above embodiments,
Although the case structure of the pager was adopted, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a compact camera, a calculator,
The housing structure of other portable electronic devices or the like may be used.
Also, the materials and shapes of the elastic member and the transparent member constituting the housing are arbitrary, and it goes without saying that the specific detailed structure and the like can be appropriately changed.

[0034]

As described above, according to the housing structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, the opening that partially exposes the inner transparent member to the outside is formed in the outer elastic member.
It is possible to provide impact resistance by the external force absorbing function of the outer elastic member, and further, by partially exposing the inner transparent member to the outside from the opening of the outer elastic member, the opening of the display unit or the like can be provided. The waterproof member can also be provided with a transparent member, so that a waterproof double-sided tape can be eliminated.

According to the housing structure of the second aspect of the present invention, the joint between the outer elastic members is formed in a three-dimensional shape for waterproofing. In addition, the waterproofness of the joint portion of the housing can be provided by the three-dimensional shape portion of the outer elastic member, so that an advantage that packing is not required can be obtained.

According to the casing structure of the third aspect of the present invention, since the opening for partially exposing the inner transparent elastic member to the outside is formed in the outer opaque member, the inner transparent elastic member is formed. The shock-absorbing function can provide impact resistance, and furthermore, by partially exposing the inner transparent elastic member to the outside from the opening of the outer opaque member, it is waterproof against the opening of the display unit and the like. The transparent elastic member can also provide the waterproof property, so that the waterproof double-sided tape can be eliminated.

According to the housing structure of the present invention, the joint portions of the inner transparent elastic member and the outer opaque member are formed in a three-dimensional waterproof shape, respectively. In addition to the effect obtained by the invention described in the third aspect, the waterproofness of the joint portion of the housing can be provided by the three-dimensional shape portions of the outer opaque member and the inner transparent elastic member, so that no packing is required. There is an advantage that it can be

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pager as a first embodiment of an electronic apparatus to which a housing structure of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 shows a housing structure of the present invention, and is indicated by an arrow A in FIG.
It is sectional drawing which followed the -A line.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a pager as a second embodiment of an electronic apparatus to which the housing structure of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 shows a housing structure of the present invention, which is indicated by an arrow B in FIG.
It is sectional drawing which followed the -B line.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 4 elastic member 5 transparent member 14 display module 15 opening (display window) 21, 22, 23 three-dimensional shape portion 34 opaque member 35 transparent elastic member 44 display module 45 opening (display window) 51 spacer 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 3D shape part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A housing structure comprising at least an outer elastic member that absorbs an external force and a transparent member inside the outer elastic member, wherein the transparent member inside the elastic member is partially exposed to the outside. A housing structure, characterized in that an opening is formed. 2. The housing structure according to claim 1, wherein said elastic members have a joint portion formed in a three-dimensional shape for waterproofing. 3. A housing structure comprising an inner transparent elastic member for absorbing an impact force and an opaque member on the outer side thereof, wherein the opaque member is partially provided with the inner transparent elastic member on the outside. A housing structure, characterized in that an opening for exposing the housing is formed. 4. The housing structure according to claim 3, wherein said transparent elastic member and said opaque member are each formed in a three-dimensional shape for waterproofing.