Case structure

Abstract

To provide a case structure that makes it possible to eject heat generated in the inside.SOLUTION: A case 2 of an instrument device has a space S, and vent holes 21-28 for enabling the outside of the case 2 and the internal space S to communicate are provided at an edge of the space S. The vent holes 21-24 are disposed upward of the space S in a state in which the case 2 is installed and the vent holes 25-28 are disposed downward of the space S in a state in which the case 2 is installed. Furthermore, the vent hole 21, for example, has ribs 211, 212 that are formed protruding from the inner wall of the vent hole 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a case structure for an instrument device such as a meter installed in a vehicle or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] An instrument device such as a meter installed in a vehicle or the like includes a case, a dial, etc. The case is formed with a space for accommodating an internal unit for driving the indicating instrument, a space for providing an LCD (liquid crystal display), etc. (For example, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-013996 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional instrument structures, there was no mechanism for dissipating heat generated within the space of the instrument, such as the case, so that the temperature difference between the outside air and the inside of the instrument could cause parts of the instrument to become cloudy or water droplets to adhere to it.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a case structure that is capable of discharging heat generated inside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention made to solve the above-mentioned problems is a case structure for an instrument device, the case having an internal space and an air vent provided therein connecting the internal space with the outside of the case, the air vent having a first air vent provided at one end of the internal space and a second air vent provided at the other end, and further, the air vent having a rib formed thereon protruding from an inner wall of the air vent. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the case is provided with a vent hole, so that heat generated inside can be discharged, and the rib can prevent dust from entering the case from the outside through the vent hole. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a case structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vent shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 3 is a perspective view showing a cover portion for covering the opening of the ventilation hole shown in FIG. 2. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a case structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, for convenience, the direction along the long side of the rectangular case shape is defined as the left-right direction, and the direction along the short side of the rectangle is defined as the up-down direction. The left-right direction corresponds to the width direction of the vehicle when an instrument device having the case of Fig. 1 is installed in the vehicle. The up-down direction corresponds to the height direction of the vehicle when the instrument device is installed in the vehicle.

[0010] An instrument device having the case structure shown in FIG. 1 is provided, for example, on an instrument panel in front of the driver's seat of a vehicle.

[0011] The case 2 is a one-piece molded resin product having a substantially rectangular outer shape. The case 2 is formed with a space S in which an LCD and the like are placed, and a recess capable of accommodating electronic components mounted on a circuit board (not shown). In FIG. 1, the space S is open on the front and back sides (the front and back sides of the page), but when assembled into the instrument device 1, it becomes a closed space (internal space) due to the LCD, back case, circuit board, etc.

[0012] 1, the case 2 has ventilation openings 21, 22, 23, and 24 formed at an upper (one) end of the space S. And ventilation openings 25, 26, 27, and 28 formed at a lower (other) end of the space S. The ventilation openings 21 to 28 connect the space S to the outside of the case 2. Moreover, the ventilation openings 21 and 25 are formed so as to be substantially linear in the vertical direction. Similarly, the ventilation openings 22 and 26, the ventilation openings 23 and 27, and the ventilation openings 24 and 28 are also formed so as to be substantially linear in the vertical direction.

[0013] That is, the ventilation holes 21, 22, 23, and 24 are first ventilation holes, and the ventilation holes 25, 26, 27, and 28 are second ventilation holes.

[0014] By providing the vents in this manner, heat generated in space S by electronic components such as LCDs can be used to create convection in which outside air is drawn in through the lower vents 25-28 and expelled through the upper vents 21-24.

[0015] Next, the above-mentioned ventilation holes 21 to 28 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the ventilation hole 21. The ventilation holes 21 to 24 have the same configuration, and the ventilation hole 21 will be described as a representative example.

[0016] The ventilation hole 21 communicates the space S with the outside of the case 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the ventilation hole 21 has a rib 211 protruding from an inner wall 21a. The rib 211 is provided such that a tip 211a thereof is inclined toward an opening 21c to the outside of the case 2. In other words, the tip 21a of the rib 211 is inclined in a direction toward the outside of the case 2.

[0017] Further, the ventilation opening 21 is provided with a rib 212 protruding from the inner wall 21b facing the inner wall 21a. The rib 212 is provided lower (closer to the space S) than the rib 211. The rib 212 is provided such that its tip 212a is inclined toward the opening 21c on the outside of the case 2. The ribs 211 and 212 are inclined toward the opening 21c to prevent dust from falling into the space S from the opening 21c, which is on the upper side when the instrument device 1 is installed.

[0018] The ribs 211 and ribs 212 are provided as described above, so that they are provided alternately inside the ventilation opening 21, forming a labyrinth structure as a gas exhaust path.

[0019] That is, of the ribs 211 and 212, the rib 211 (first rib) protrudes from the inner wall 21a (first inner wall), and the rib 212 (second rib), which is provided at a position closer to the space S than the rib 211 (first rib), protrudes from the inner wall 21b (second inner wall) that faces the inner wall 21a (first inner wall).

[0020] The ribs 211, 212 preferably have their tips inclined toward the opening 21c, but may protrude in a substantially horizontal direction. It is also preferable to provide a plurality of ribs 211, 212, but only one of them may be provided. Alternatively, three or more ribs may be provided.

[0021] The ventilation holes 25 to 28 basically have the same configuration as the ventilation holes 21 to 24. However, since the ventilation holes 25 to 28 have openings on the outside side of the case 2 provided on the lower side, the inclination direction of the ribs is also inclined toward the opening. In other words, the ribs are inclined downward (see FIG. 1).

[0022] 1, the ventilation holes 25-28 may have only one rib. This is because the ventilation holes 25-28 have openings facing downwards, so dust will not fall into them, and the intrusion of dust can be prevented to some extent without providing multiple ribs. However, the ventilation holes 25-28 may also have multiple ribs, just like the ventilation holes 21-24.

[0023] 3, a cover portion 31 may be provided to cover the opening 21c of the ventilation hole 21. This cover portion 31 may be formed, for example, on an inside cover (reference numeral 3) provided on the front side of the case 2. Alternatively, it may be formed on a component provided on the rear side of the case 2. In other words, the cover portion 31 may be provided on another component attached to the case 2.

[0024] The cover portion 31 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the opening 21c. In other words, the cover portion 31 is spaced at a distance that does not hinder the discharge of gas and the like from the opening 21c.

[0025] According to this embodiment, the case 2 of the instrumentation device has a space S, and ventilation openings 21-28 are provided at the ends of the space S to communicate the outside of the case 2 with the space S. The ventilation openings 21-24 are provided above the space S when the instrumentation device is installed, and the ventilation openings 25-28 are provided below the space S when the instrumentation device is installed. Furthermore, for example, the ventilation opening 21 has ribs 211, 212 protruding from the inner wall of the ventilation opening 21.

[0026] With this case structure, the case 2 is provided with the ventilation holes 21-28, so that heat generated inside can be discharged. Also, the ribs 211 and 212 can prevent dust from entering the case 2 from the outside through the ventilation hole 21, for example.

[0027] In addition, for example, the vent 21 provided at the top and for example, the vent 25 provided at the bottom are provided in a straight line. In this way, the heat generated in the space S can be used to draw in outside air through the vent 25 and expel it through the vent 21, making the temperature inside the space S and the outside closer to uniform.

[0028] In addition, since multiple pairs are provided, such as the vents 21 and 25, the vents 22 and 26, the vents 23 and 27, and the vents 24 and 28, heat can be discharged more efficiently.

[0029] Furthermore, for example, the rib 211 is provided with the tip 211a inclined in a direction toward the outside of the case 2, so that dust that has entered the ventilation opening 21 from the outside can be prevented from entering the space S.

[0030] In addition, ribs 211 and 212 are provided in the ventilation opening 21, the ribs 211 protruding from the inner wall 21a, and the ribs 212, which are provided at a position closer to the space S than the ribs 211, protruding from the inner wall 21b opposite the inner wall 21a. In this way, the ribs are provided alternately in the ventilation opening 21, and a labyrinth structure can be formed as a gas exhaust path. Therefore, the intrusion of dust into the space S can be more effectively prevented.

[0031] In addition, cover portion 31 that covers opening 21c of ventilation hole 21 at a predetermined distance is provided on other components such as the endpaper, so that intrusion of dust into ventilation hole 21 itself can be prevented.

[0032] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In other words, a person skilled in the art can implement the present invention by modifying it in various ways in accordance with conventional knowledge without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as the case structure of the present invention is still provided even after such modification, it is of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 2 Cases 21 Vent (First Vent) 21a Inner wall (1st inner wall) 21b Inner wall (second inner wall) 211 Rib (First Rib) 212 Rib (2nd Rib) 22 Vent (First Vent) 23 Vent (First Vent) 24 Vent (First Vent) 25 Vent (Second Vent) 26 Vent (Second Vent) 27 Vent (Second Vent) 28 Vent (Second Vent) 31 Cover part

Claims

1. A structure for a case of an instrument device, comprising: The case has an internal space and is provided with a vent hole that communicates the internal space with the outside of the case, The ventilation opening includes a first ventilation opening provided at one end of the internal space and a second ventilation opening provided at the other end of the internal space, Furthermore, the ventilation hole has a rib protruding from an inner wall of the ventilation hole. A case structure characterized by:

2. The case structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first ventilation hole and the second ventilation hole are arranged in a straight line.

3. 3. The case structure according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of pairs of the first ventilation hole and the second ventilation hole are provided.

4. 2. The case structure according to claim 1, wherein the rib is provided with a tip that is inclined in a direction toward the outside of the case.

5. A plurality of the ribs are provided, The case structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, among the plurality of ribs, a first rib protrudes from a first one of the inner walls, and a second rib, which is provided at a position closer to the internal space than the first rib, protrudes from a second inner wall opposite the first inner wall.

6. 6. The case structure according to claim 1, wherein another component attached to the case is provided with a cover portion that covers the opening of the ventilation hole at a predetermined interval.

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