Waterproof structure

Abstract

To provide a waterproof structure that, when water droplets enter a gap in an exterior member, can discharge the water droplets to the outside.SOLUTION: A waterproof structure comprises: an operating member that moves according to user's operation; and a holding member that includes a second surface facing a first surface of the operating member and holds the operating member. The first surface includes a configuration to discharge, to the outside, water droplets entering a gap formed between the first surface and the second surface according to the operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a waterproof structure. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, portable electronic devices are required to have high waterproof performance in anticipation of situations in which they will be used in the rain or near water. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which each of the opposing end faces is provided with a microstructure molded to have liquid repellency. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-166448 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the configuration of Patent Document 1, if water droplets enter a gap formed between the end faces, the water droplets cannot be discharged to the outside, and there is a possibility that the water droplets will enter the inside of the housing.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof structure capable of discharging water droplets to the outside when the water droplets enter a gap formed in an exterior member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A waterproof structure as one aspect of the present invention has an operating member that moves in response to a user's operation, and a holding member that holds the operating member and has a second surface opposite a first surface of the operating member, and is characterized in that the first surface includes a configuration that expels water droplets that have entered a gap formed between the first surface and the second surface in response to operation to the outside. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a waterproof structure capable of discharging water droplets to the outside when the water droplets enter the gaps in the exterior member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 2 is a rear view of an imaging device that is an example of a waterproof structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is an enlarged image of the surface of a resin part to which a micromachined shape has been transferred. [Figure 6] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. 3. [Figure 7] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same components, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a rear view of an imaging device 100, which is an example of a drip-proof structure (waterproof structure) according to an embodiment of the present invention. A housing 1 is an exterior cover of the imaging device 100. An operation member 2 is provided on the housing 1. The operation member 2 is a circular dial operation member, and is rotatable around a rotation center A. The circular shape includes not only a strictly circular shape, but also a substantially circular shape (approximately circular shape). The rotatable movement includes a 360-degree rotatable movement and a predetermined angle rotatable movement (a reciprocating movement within a predetermined angle range). In this embodiment, the operation member 2 is configured to be rotatable, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operation member 2 may be configured to be rectilinearly movable. The present invention is not limited to the imaging device 100, and can be applied to other portable electronic devices.

[0011] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 1. The holding member 3 holds the operating member 2. The holding member 3 is fixed to the housing 1 at a connection portion 3a by a screw or the like (not shown). If the housing 1 and the holding member 3 are brought into contact at a portion other than the connection portion 3a, the positional accuracy in the vertical direction of the paper surface of FIG. 2 will deteriorate. For this reason, the housing 1 and the holding member 3 are configured so as not to come into contact at a portion other than the connection portion 3a. With this configuration, a gap d1 is formed between the mating surfaces 1a, 3b that face each other and are provided on the housing 1 and the holding member 3, respectively.

[0012] Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the holding member. Water droplets 4 and 5 are water droplets about to enter a gap d1 formed between mating surfaces 1a and 3b and water droplets that have entered the gap d1, respectively.

[0013] Figure 5 is an enlarged image of the surface of a resin part that was molded using a mold that had been micromachined on the surface by irradiating a femtosecond laser, and to which the micromachined shape was transferred. It is known that the contact angle of a liquid droplet on a micromachined surface is larger than the contact angle on a surface that has not been micromachined, and that the micromachined surface has a water-repellent effect. Note that the micromachined shape in Figure 5 is a convex shape that is periodically arranged with a pitch of about 40 micrometers, but a water-repellent effect can also be imparted to other micromachined shapes.

[0014] In this embodiment, at least one of the mating surfaces 1a, 3b is subjected to the water-repellent treatment by the above-mentioned micromachining. The contact angle of the liquid droplet on the surface that has been subjected to the water-repellent treatment is larger than the contact angle on the other surfaces, and a force acts on the water droplet 4 to move it to the outside of the gap d1 (to prevent it from entering the gap d1). This makes it possible to prevent the water droplet 4 from entering the inside of the housing 1. In addition, it is not necessary to adopt a configuration in which the gap d1 is filled with a sealing member or the like, and it is possible to suppress an increase in size of the imaging device 100. Note that the gap d1 is preferably 0.05 mm or more and 0.4 mm or less, and the narrower the gap d1, the higher the water-repellent effect.

[0015] In this embodiment, the housing 1 and the holding member 3 are produced by molding using a mold, and the mold is previously subjected to microfabrication for the water-repellent treatment. As a result, the microfabricated shape having a water-repellent function is transferred from the mold to the desired surface at the same time as the housing 1 and the holding member 3 are molded. In order to perform the water-repellent treatment on at least one of the mating surfaces 1a, 3b, it is preferable that at least one of the housing 1 and the holding member 3 is made of a resin material to which the microfabricated shape is easily transferred from the mold. In this embodiment, since the microfabricated shape is transferred from the mold, the number of work steps is reduced compared to a method of secondarily applying a water-repellent coating or the like to a part, and as a result, it is possible to perform the water-repellent treatment while suppressing the number of steps.

[0016] Furthermore, since the micromachined surface is weak and brittle against external forces, there is a risk that the micromachined shape will be destroyed and the water repellency will decrease if the mating surfaces 1a and 3b come into contact with each other. Therefore, in this embodiment, the mating surface 3b is provided so as to be inclined (not parallel) to the mating surface 1a. As a result, even if the mating surfaces 1a and 3b come into contact with each other, the mating surface 1a comes into contact only at the vertices 3c and 3d of the mating surface 3b, so that the micromachined shape can be prevented from being destroyed. The inclination of the mating surface 3b with respect to the mating surface 1a is set so that the gap d1 is within a range of 0.05 mm to 0.4 mm.

[0017] Moreover, the inclination of the mating surface 3b with respect to the mating surface 1a is set so that the gap d1 narrows toward the outside (external side) of the housing 1. As a result, a force that expels the water droplets 5 that have entered the gap d1 from the inside of the housing 1 to the outside works due to capillary action, and the water droplets 5 move to the outside of the housing 1. As a result, even if the water droplets enter the gap d1, a force that expels the water droplets from the inside of the housing 1 to the outside works, making it possible to suppress the water droplets from entering the inside of the housing 1.

[0018] Moreover, it is preferable that the mating surface 3b includes two or more inclined surfaces having different inclination angles with respect to the mating surface 1a. In this embodiment, the mating surface 3b includes a first inclined surface 31b and a second inclined surface 32b. With this configuration, even if water droplets penetrate into the gap d1 formed between the mating surface 1a and the first inclined surface 31b, when the water droplets try to penetrate into the gap d1 formed between the mating surface 1b and the second inclined surface 32b, a force that prevents the water droplets from penetrating due to the water repellency acts on the water droplets. This makes it possible to further suppress the penetration of the water droplets into the inside of the housing 1.

[0019] In addition, it is preferable to subject the surface 3e provided on the outer side of the mating surface 3b to a hydrophilic treatment, which acts to pull water droplets outward from the gap d1, thereby further preventing the water droplets from entering the gap d1.

[0020] According to the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to ensure the waterproof performance at the joint between the housing 1 and the holding member 3 connected to the housing 1 while suppressing an increase in the number of steps. Even if the mating surfaces 1a and 3b come into contact due to an impact, the actual contact area is small, and the destruction of the micromachined shape is suppressed, so that the deterioration of the water repellency can be suppressed. Even if water droplets enter the gap d1 formed between the mating surfaces 1a and 3b, the capillary phenomenon acts on the water droplets to expel them from the housing 1, making it possible to suppress the water droplets from entering the inside of the housing 1.

[0021] Hereinafter, a configuration will be described in which, when water droplets enter a gap formed between the mating surfaces, the water droplets are discharged to the outside of the housing 1 in response to normal operation of the operating member 2 by the user.

[0022] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the operating member 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the operating member 2 and the holding member 3 each have a mating surface (first surface) 2a and a mating surface (second surface) 3f that face each other. The mating surfaces 2a, 3f are continuously provided along the circumferential direction of the operating member 2. A gap d2 is formed between the mating surfaces 2a, 3d. The water droplets 6 are water droplets that have entered the gap d2.

[0023] At least one of the mating surfaces 2a, 3f is subjected to the water-repellent treatment by the above-mentioned micromachining. The contact angle of the liquid droplet on the surface subjected to the water-repellent treatment is larger than the contact angle on the other surfaces, and a force acts on the water droplet to move it to the outside of the gap d2 (not to enter the gap d2). This makes it possible to prevent the water droplet from entering the inside of the housing 1. In addition, it is not necessary to adopt a configuration in which the gap d2 is filled with a sealing member or the like, and it is possible to suppress the size of the imaging device 100 from increasing. Note that the gap d2 is preferably 0.05 mm or more and 0.4 mm or less, and the narrower the gap, the higher the water-repellent effect. In addition, in this embodiment, the outside of the gap d2 is the side opposite to the side of the rotation center A of the operating member 2 in the radial direction of the operating member 2.

[0024] In this embodiment, the operation member 2 and the holding member 3 are produced by molding using a mold, and the mold is previously subjected to microfabrication for water repellency. As a result, the microfabricated shape having water repellency is transferred from the mold to the desired surface at the same time as the operation member 2 and the holding member 3 are molded. In order to perform water repellency on at least one of the mating surfaces 2a, 3f, it is preferable that at least one of the operation member 2 and the holding member 3 is made of a resin material to which the microfabricated shape is easily transferred from the mold. In this embodiment, since the microfabricated shape is transferred from the mold, the number of work steps is reduced compared to a method of secondarily providing a water repellent coating or the like on a part, and as a result, it is possible to perform water repellency while suppressing the number of steps.

[0025] A water droplet discharge protrusion (structure, convex portion) 2b for discharging the water droplet 6 to the outside (outside the gap d2) is provided on the mating surface 2a of the operation member 2. The water droplet discharge protrusion 2b has a slope (third surface) 2c that applies a force to the water droplet 6 to discharge the water droplet 6 to the outside. In response to the operation of the operation member 2 by the user, the water droplet discharge protrusion 2b moves relative to the holding member 3 in the direction of the arrow B or the direction of the arrow C. In response to the movement of the water droplet discharge protrusion 2b, the water droplet 6 comes into contact with the slope 2c. At this time, a force is applied to the water droplet 6 to move it to the outside of the gap d2 (to be discharged from the gap d2), and the water droplet 6 moves to the outside of the gap d2. As a result, even if the water droplet enters the gap d2, a force is applied to the water droplet to discharge it from the inside of the housing 1 to the outside in response to the operation of the operation member 2 by the user, and the intrusion of the water droplet into the inside of the housing 1 can be suppressed.

[0026] When viewed from a direction perpendicular to a plane including the rotation direction of the operating member 2, the inclined surface 2c is preferably inclined at 45 degrees or more with respect to the radial direction Z of the operating member 2. This can improve the efficiency of discharging the water droplets 6 to the outside of the gap d2. Note that when the inclined surface 2c is inclined at 45 degrees or more with respect to the radial direction Z of the operating member 2, this includes not only the case where it is inclined strictly at 45 degrees or more, but also the case where it is inclined substantially at 45 degrees or more (approximately 45 degrees or more).

[0027] Moreover, it is preferable that the tip 2d of the inclined surface 2c is located outside the end 3g of the mating surface 3f of the holding member 3 in the radial direction of the operating member 2. This allows the water droplets 6 to be reliably discharged from the gap d2.

[0028] In this embodiment, the number of the water droplet discharging projection 2b is one, but it may be two or more.

[0029] As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment, when water droplets 6 enter the gap d2 formed between the mating surfaces 2a and 3f, the water droplets 6 can be discharged to the outside of the gap d2 in response to a user's operation of the operating member 2. This makes it possible to prevent the water droplets 6 from entering the inside of the housing 1.

[0030] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration. (Configuration 1) An operating member that moves in response to a user's operation; a holding member that holds the operation member and that has a second surface facing the first surface of the operation member, A drip-proof structure characterized in that the first surface includes a configuration for discharging to the outside water droplets that have entered a gap formed between the first surface and the second surface in response to the operation. (Configuration 2) The drip-proof structure according to configuration 1, further comprising a third surface that exerts a force on the water droplet to expel the water droplet to the outside. (Configuration 3) 3. A drip-proof structure according to configuration 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is subjected to a water-repellent treatment by microfabrication. (Configuration 4) The drip-proof structure according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein the operating member is rotatably movable. (Configuration 5) The configuration includes a third surface that applies a force to the water droplet to cause the water droplet to be discharged to the outside, The operating member has a circular shape, A drip-proof structure as described in configuration 4, characterized in that when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a plane including the rotation direction of the operating member, the third surface is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees or more with respect to the radial direction of the operating member. (Configuration 6) The configuration includes a third surface that applies a force to the water droplet to cause the water droplet to be discharged to the outside, A drip-proof structure as described in configuration 4 or 5, characterized in that when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a plane including the rotation direction of the operating member, in the radial direction of the operating member, the end portion on the outer side of the third surface is located closer to the outer side than the end portion on the outer side of the second surface. (Configuration 7) 3. The drip-proof structure according to claim 1, wherein the operating member is capable of moving linearly.

[0031] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 2a Mating surface (first surface) 2b Water droplet discharge protrusion (configuration) 3 Retaining member 3f Mating surface (2nd surface) 6 water drops d2 Gap

Claims

1. An operating member that moves in response to a user's operation; a holding member that holds the operating member and that has a second surface opposed to a first surface of the operating member, A drip-proof structure characterized in that the first surface includes a configuration for discharging water droplets that have entered a gap formed between the first surface and the second surface in response to the operation to the outside.

2. 2. The drip-proof structure according to claim 1, wherein the configuration further comprises a third surface that exerts a force on the water droplet such that the water droplet is expelled to the outside.

3. 3. The drip-proof structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is subjected to a water-repellent treatment by microfabrication.

4. 3. The drip-proof structure according to claim 1, wherein the operating member is rotatably movable.

5. The configuration includes a third surface that applies a force to the water droplet to cause the water droplet to be discharged to the outside, The operating member has a circular shape, 5. The drip-proof structure according to claim 4, wherein the third surface is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees or more with respect to a radial direction of the operating member when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a plane including a rotation direction of the operating member.

6. The configuration includes a third surface that applies a force to the water droplet to cause the water droplet to be discharged to the outside, A drip-proof structure as described in claim 4, characterized in that when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a plane including the rotation direction of the operating member, in the radial direction of the operating member, the end portion on the outer side of the third surface is located closer to the outer side than the end portion on the outer side of the second surface.

7. 3. The drip-proof structure according to claim 1, wherein the operating member is capable of moving linearly.

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