Cap assembly and lid

Abstract

To provide a cap assembly including a lid which is easy to attach and detach and which has good fitability by fitting.SOLUTION: A cap assembly that closes a connector portion accommodated inside through an opening of an electronic equipment housing includes a cylindrical holder having a groove that fits into the opening on the outer periphery, an outer fitting portion that projects to the outside of the groove, and a communication hole that extends from the outer fitting portion to the internal connector portion and communicates with the connector portion, and a flexible lid body having a hollow protruding portion with a taper on the distal end side, which protrudes from a cover portion into the communicating hole and closes the communicating hole, and the hollow protruding portion of the lid includes a flange portion facing the cover portion. The holder has, on the inner surface of the communication hole, a crank portion that has a complementary shape to the flange portion of the lid and can come into close contact with the flange portion of the lid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap assembly and a lid structure of a lid that cover a connector portion housed inside an electronic device housing and have waterproofness and dust resistance.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a waterproof cap structure for preventing foreign matter from being caught between a waterproof packing provided with an annular elastomer member and a housing in a waterproof cap for an electrical connector. Patent Document 2 describes a waterproof cap structure in which a waterproof cap that independently covers two openings provided side by side to prevent a decrease in the dust and drip prevention function during operation is attached to a boss provided between those openings. Patent Document 3 describes a waterproof cap structure in which an engaging portion between a fixing portion and a lid portion is formed so as to prevent an incorrect operation of grasping the waterproof lid at the same time when the connector is removed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the waterproof cap structures described in these patent documents, if the fitting force of the waterproof cap to the housing is increased, the waterproofness can be maintained permanently, but since the fitting force is strong, it becomes difficult to remove. Conversely, if the fitting force is weakened, the waterproof cap can be easily removed with a weak force, but the sealing force decreases and the waterproofness becomes weak. Thus, there was also a problem that the waterproofness (fitting force) and the detachability of the waterproof cap were in a trade-off relationship.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a cap assembly and a lid body in which the lid body, that is, a waterproof cap, is easily detachable and the fitting property by fitting is improved.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The cap assembly according to the present invention is a cap assembly that closes a connector portion housed inside through an opening of an electronic device housing, and has a groove that fits into the opening on the outer periphery, an outer fitting portion that protrudes to the outside of the groove, and a cylindrical holder having a communication hole that extends from the outer fitting portion to the internal connector portion and communicates with the connector portion, a cover portion having a cover peripheral edge portion that fits on the outer periphery of the outer fitting portion, and a flexible lid body having a hollow protruding portion with a taper on the tip side that protrudes into the communication hole and closes the communication hole. The hollow protruding portion of the lid body has a flange portion facing the cover portion, and the holder has a crank portion on the inner surface of the communication hole that has a shape complementary to the flange portion of the lid body and can be in close contact with the flange portion of the lid body. In the lid body, when the cover peripheral edge portion is deformed by stress applied to at least one of the two farthest ends of the cover peripheral edge portion of the lid body, a recess having a bottom wall with a thickness thinner than that of the cover peripheral edge portion is formed in the cover portion on the opposite side of the base of the hollow protruding portion so that the cover peripheral edge portion comes off from the outer fitting portion of the holder and the flange portion of the hollow protruding portion comes off from the crank portion of the holder. It is characterized by this.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] The cap assembly of the present invention In the body According to this, In the lid body, when the cover peripheral edge portion is deformed by stress applied to at least one of the two farthest ends of the cover peripheral edge portion of the lid body, the cover Since a recess having a bottom wall with a thickness thinner than the peripheral edge portion is formed in the cover portion on the opposite side of the base of the hollow protruding portion, The it is possible to obtain a cap assembly and a lid body in which the lid body is easily detachable and the fitting property by fitting is enhanced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] The cap assembly of the first embodiment according to the present invention will be described below. In the following description and the accompanying drawings, substantially the same or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Example

[0011] (Electronic device housing) As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a connector portion 1a mounted on a printed circuit board 1b fixed on a spacer SP inside a housing 1 is arranged to face an opening 1d of the housing 1 so as to be accessible from the outside of the housing 1.

[0012] (Cap assembly) The cap assembly of this embodiment closes the opening 1d of the electronic device housing 1 and the connector portion 1a housed inside, and is composed of a cap 2 which is a waterproof cap (a lid body composed of a cover portion 2a and a hollow protruding portion 2b protruding therefrom) and a holder 3 of a cylindrical body closed by the cap 2 (that is, a waterproof cap holder).

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, when attaching the cap 2 to the holder 3 attached to the opening 1d of the electronic device housing 1, when the hollow protruding portion 2b of the cap 2 is pushed into the first opening OP1 of the holder 3 from the cover portion 2a side, the conical tapered surface 2q serves as a guide and the hollow protruding portion 2b enters the communication hole 3i, resulting in a closed state as shown in FIG. 2. When inserting this hollow protruding portion 2b, as shown in FIG. 3, the cap 2 enters the communication hole 3i of the holder 3 while the conical tapered surface 2q is elastically deformed by the edge of the first opening OP1 of the holder 3.

[0014] The cap 2 is formed of an elastomer softer than the material of the holder 3. Examples of the materials of the cap assembly include cases where the holder 3 is made of a material such as resin or hard rubber like plastic, and the cap 2 is made of a soft rubber material with a lower hardness than the holder 3.

[0015] (Holder) As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the holder 3 has an annular groove 3g formed on the outer peripheral surface close to the outer side of its cylindrical body, and by fitting the groove 3g to the opening 1d (inner peripheral edge portion) of the housing 1, that is, by fitting the groove 3g into the opening 1d, it is pre-attached to the electronic device housing 1.

[0016] Further, the holder 3 includes an outer fitting portion 3h that protrudes to the outer end side of the groove 3g, that is, the outer side of the housing 1, and has a first opening OP1.

[0017] The holder 3 has an inner wall 3n on the inner end side, that is, the inner side of the housing 1, and the inner wall 3n is provided with a second opening OP2 for exposing the connector portion 1a.

[0018] Further, the holder 3 has a communication hole 3i that extends from the outer fitting portion 3h on the outer end face side to the connector portion 1a on the inner end face side and communicates with the first opening OP1 and the second opening OP2.

[0019] That is, in the communication hole 3i of the holder 3 and on the inner surface of the communication hole 3i near the groove 3g and the outer fitting portion 3h, there is provided a crank portion 3p having a shape complementary to the flange portion 2s of the cap 2 and capable of being in close contact with the flange portion 2s.

[0020] Furthermore, on the outer peripheral surface of the outer fitting portion 3h of the holder 3, a first tapered surface 3ha that tapers in the direction of the second opening OP2 of the holder 3 is provided over the entire circumference.

[0021] (Cap) The cap 2 is a member integrally formed from a flexible material and is composed of a cover portion 2a that covers the outer fitting portion 3h of the holder 3 and a hollow protruding portion 2b that protrudes therefrom. In the center of the main body of the cover portion 2a, a hollow protruding portion 2b having an open hollow portion 2i is disposed, and a cover peripheral edge portion 2c is disposed on the peripheral edge of the cover portion 2a.

[0022] The cover peripheral edge portion 2c of the cap 2 fits onto the outer peripheral surface of the outer fitting portion 3h of the holder 3 (outer fitting). The hollow protruding portion 2b of the cap 2 closes the communication hole 3i, that is, fits into the communication hole 3i of the holder 3 (inner fitting).

[0023] (Outer fitting) An annular recess having a second tapered surface 2ca that intersects the outer surface of the housing 1 is formed in the cover peripheral edge portion 2c of the cap 2, and the second tapered surface 2ca has a complementary shape such that it is in liquid-tight contact with the first tapered surface 3ha on the outer peripheral surface of the outer fitting portion 3h of the holder 3. As a result, when the cap 2 is fitted onto the holder 3, the first tapered surface 3ha and the second tapered surface 2ca are in a liquid-tight fitting state.

[0024] (Inner fitting) The hollow protruding portion 2b of the cap 2 has a flange portion 2s that faces (e.g., faces parallel to) the cover portion 2a, and the flange portion 2s is configured to be able to contact, i.e., fit into, the crank portion 3p of the communication hole 3i of the holder 3. That is, the flange portion 2s of the hollow protruding portion 2b of the cap 2 has a complementary shape that fits liquid-tightly into the crank portion 3p of the holder 3. Thus, when the cap 2 is fitted onto the holder 3, the flange portion 2s and the crank portion 3p are in a state of liquid-tight contact.

[0025] (Cover recess) Also, the cap 2 has a recess such as a rectangular slit 2t formed on the surface of the bar portion 2a on the outer operation surface side, i.e., on the opposite side of the base of the hollow protruding portion 2b. The slit 2t is a recess having a bottom wall with a thickness thinner than that of the cover peripheral edge portion 2c. As shown in FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c), when the cover peripheral edge portion 2c is elastically deformed by a stress applied to at least one of the two farthest ends of the cover peripheral edge portion 2c by a human finger (not shown) or the like when removing the cap 2, the cover peripheral edge portion 2c is disengaged from the outer fitting portion 3h of the holder 3 and further the flange portion 2s of the hollow protruding portion 2b is disengaged from the crank portion 3p of the holder 3, that is, the elastic deformation of the cover portion 2a is facilitated. The slit 2t is formed in the cover portion 2a at a depth (thickness of the thin bottom wall) shallower than that of the cover peripheral edge portion 2c.

[0026] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the slit 2t is formed in the cover portion 2a across the hollow protruding portion 2b so as to extend longer than the width D2 of the cylindrical portion of the hollow protruding portion 2b and across both ends of the cover peripheral edge portion 2c. The slit 2t has a width S such that when the cover peripheral edge portion 2c is elastically deformed, the long side portions L (see FIG. 6) facing each other of the slit 2t approach while elastically deforming, and the cover peripheral edge portion 2c of the cover portion 2a is disengaged from the outer fitting portion 3h of the holder 3 and the flange portion 2s of the hollow protruding portion 2b is disengaged from the crank portion 3p of the holder 3.

[0027] In other words, the width S of the slit 2t is larger than the difference between the outer diameter D2 of the cylindrical portion of the hollow protruding portion 2b of the cap 2 shown in FIG. 7 and the inner diameter X of the first opening OP1 of the holder 3, that is, approximately twice the width of the flange portion 2s of the hollow protruding portion 2b of the cap 2 (the difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the flange portion).

[0028] (Deformation relaxation portion) Also, a deflection prevention ring 2f is loaded on the inner surface of the hollow protruding portion 2b of the cap 2. The deflection prevention ring 2f is a deformation relaxation portion that prevents elastic deformation of the cylindrical portion of the hollow protruding portion 2b, reinforces the flexibility of the cap 2, and prevents a decrease in waterproof performance due to deformation and deflection during fitting. The deflection prevention ring 2f is formed of a hard material such as resin or metal that is harder than the material of the cap 2. In addition, the deformation relaxation portion may be formed in a disk shape in addition to the ring-shaped deflection prevention ring 2f. The outer diameter R of the deflection prevention ring 2f is set smaller in consideration of the outer diameter D2 of the cylindrical portion of the hollow protruding portion 2b of the cap 2 than the inner diameter X of the first opening OP1 of the holder 3 shown in FIG. 7.

[0029] The hollow protruding portion 2b of the cap 2 has a deflection prevention ring 2f that relaxes the deformation of the flange portion 2s at a ring mounting portion 2h (a groove that fits on the outer periphery of the deflection prevention ring 2f) located on the side of the connector portion 1a rather than the opening portion 1d of the electronic device housing 1 on the inner surface of the hollow portion 2i.

[0030] (Annular rib) Furthermore, the hollow protruding portion 2b of the cap 2 is provided with a conical tapered surface 2q that tapers from the cylindrical portion toward the tip, and an annular rib 2r at the foremost tip. The conical tapered surface 2q functions as a guiding surface of the cap 2 to the first opening OP1 of the holder 3, and the annular rib 2r at the tip abuts against the inner wall 3n of the communication hole 3i of the holder 3 and has a waterproof function of surrounding the connector portion 1a.

[0031] The holder 3 holds the hollow protrusion 2b for fitting the cap 2 and functions to guard against fingers and foreign objects from entering the device through the second opening OP2 adapted to the outer shape of the connector portion 1a. Since there is a crank portion 3p for preventing the cap 2 from coming off near the opening 1d of the holder 3, when the cap 2 is inserted into the holder 3, as shown in FIG. 4, the flange portion 2s of the cap 2 is caught by the crank portion 3p, so that it can be sealed liquid-tightly to ensure waterproof performance.

[0032] In this embodiment, the dimensions of the corresponding contact portion of the cap 2 are made slightly smaller than the dimensions of the outer fitting portion 3h of the holder 3 that is externally fitted to the cap 2. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the dimensional relationship between the hollow protrusion 2b of the cap 2 and the inside of the holder 3 is such that the distance H3 between the crank portion 3p and the inner wall 3n of the holder 3 is shorter than the distance H2 between the flange portion 2s of the hollow protrusion 2b of the cap 2 and the tip of the annular rib (H3 < H2). Further, the width D3 of the communication hole 3i of the holder 3 is set to be narrower than the width D2 of the portion of the hollow protrusion 2b of the cap 2 that contacts it (D3 < D2).

[0033] In this way, by making the distance H2 between the flange portion 2s and the tip of the annular rib 2r of the cap 2 slightly larger than the distance H3 between the crank portion 3p and the inner wall 3n of the holder 3, and making the outer diameter D2 (width) of the cylindrical portion of the hollow protrusion 2b of the cap 2 slightly larger than the inner diameter D3 (width) of the inner surface of the communication hole 3i into which it fits, when the cap 2 is inserted into the holder 3, the cap 2 receives the reaction force given by the inner wall 3n of the holder 3 at the catching portion between the crank portion 3p and the flange portion 2s, so as to enhance the waterproof performance. Further, by making the width S of the slit 2t larger than the catching dimension (D2 - X, see FIG. 7) between the crank portion 3p and the flange portion 2s, the catching of the flange portion 2s by the crank portion 3p can be released.

[0034] (Description of operation) In the removal operation of the cap 2 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, when the cover portion 2a is elastically deformed so as to crush the slit 2t of the cap 2, the engagement between the crank portion 3p and the flange portion 2s is released, and the cap 2 can be removed.

[0035] As described above, according to this embodiment, while having a strong fitting force for ensuring waterproof performance, the cap 2 can be removed by a simple operation of elastically deforming the cover portion 2a so as to crush the slit 2t.

[0036] Further, when inserted into the holder 3, the crank portion 3p can receive the force that the cap 2 tries to pop out of the device due to the reaction force received from the holder 3, thereby ensuring high waterproof performance.

[0037] By loading the anti-flexure ring 2f inside, the anti-flexure ring reinforces the elastic deformation of the rubber due to the reaction force received by the cap 2 from the holder 3, thereby avoiding a decrease in waterproof performance.

[0038] Since the waterproof performance is ensured in a strong fitting state where the fitting shape (crank portion 3p and flange portion 2s) of the cap 2 and the holder 3 are in strong contact, a force greater than the fitting force is required for removal, so the cap 2 that is difficult to remove is set to a predetermined slit width (S), thereby releasing the crank portion 3p and the outer fitting portion 3h and enabling the cap 2 to be easily removed.

[0039] (Modification example) FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a cap of a cap assembly which is a modification example according to this embodiment. Although the case where the slit 2t formed in the cap 2 has a rectangular recess has been described in this embodiment, the slit may be a recess having a bottom wall thinner than the cover peripheral edge portion 2c. As a modification example, the oval slit 2t shown in FIG. 8(a) or the circular recess 2tb shown in FIG. 8(b) is also included in the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cap of a cap assembly which is a modification according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the case where the anti-flexure ring 2f is loaded as a deformation-relaxing portion provided on the inner surface of the hollow protruding portion 2b of the cap 2 has been described. However, the deformation-relaxing portion may be any portion that relaxes the deformation of the flange portion 2s. As a modification, as shown in FIG. 9, in the hollow protruding portion 2b of the cap 2, an integrally formed filling portion 2fa that relaxes the deformation of the flange portion 2s may be provided so as to be disposed on the side of the connector portion (the side of the annular rib 2r) rather than the opening portion 1d (flange portion 2s) of the electronic device housing 1 in the hollow portion 2i.

[0041] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cover peripheral edge portion 2c of a part of the cap 2 of a cap assembly which is a modification according to the present embodiment.

[0042] In the present embodiment, the case where the outer fitting portion 3h of the holder 3 and the cover peripheral edge portion 2c of the cap 2 are fitted outside the housing by the first tapered surface 3ha and the second tapered surface 2ca has been described. However, the outer fitting may be such that the outer periphery of the outer fitting portion 3h of the holder 3 and the outer periphery of the cover peripheral edge portion 2c of the cap 2 that contacts therewith have uneven surfaces having complementary shapes. As a modification, as shown in FIG. 10(a), the case where the first cylindrical surface 3hb of the outer fitting portion 3h of the holder 3 and the second cylindrical surface 2cb of the cover peripheral edge portion 2c of the cap 2, which are complementary in shape, are fitted outside the housing, or as shown in FIG. 10(b), the case where the annular concave surface 3hc of the outer fitting portion 3h of the holder 3 and the annular convex surface 2cc of the cover peripheral edge portion 2c of the cap 2, which are complementary in shape, are fitted outside the housing, or as shown in FIG. 10(c), the case where the annular convex surface 3hd of the outer fitting portion 3h of the holder 3 and the annular concave surface 2cd of the cover peripheral edge portion 2c of the cap 2, which are complementary in shape, are fitted outside the housing are also included in the present invention.

Embodiment

[0043] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a cap of a housing of an electronic device according to a second embodiment. The second embodiment is a cap 2 of a lid body, which omits the holder 3 of the first embodiment and only the cap 2 closes the opening 1d of the electronic device housing 1 and the connector portion 1a housed inside. Instead of fitting into the first opening OP1 of the holder 3, the cap 2 is directly fitted into the opening 1d of the electronic device housing 1, the crank portion is the opening 1d, and the hollow protruding portion 2b has a closed end portion 2ra at its tip that contacts the periphery of the connector portion 1a so as to surround the periphery, instead of the annular rib 2r at the tip of the hollow protruding portion 2b. It is the same as the first embodiment except for this.

[0044] The cap 2 of the present embodiment is a flexible lid body that closes the connector portion 1a housed inside through the opening 1d of the housing 1 of the electronic device. The cap 2 includes a cover portion 2a that contacts and covers the outer surface of the housing 1 around the opening 1d, a flange portion 2s that protrudes on the opening 1d side of the cover portion 2a and fits into the opening 1d at the outer periphery of its base, and a hollow protruding portion 2b having a taper on its tip side.

[0045] The cover portion 2a of the cap 2 and the flange portion 2s of the hollow protruding portion 2b are configured to close the opening 1d.

[0046] When the peripheral edge of the cover portion 2a is deformed by a stress applied to at least one of the two farthest ends of the peripheral edge of the cover portion 2a, the flange portion 2s at the base of the hollow protruding portion 2b comes off from the opening 1d of the housing 1. A slit 2t as a recess having a bottom wall thinner than the peripheral edge of the cover portion 2a is formed in the cover portion 2a on the opposite side of the base of the hollow protruding portion 2b. As described above, according to the second embodiment, substantially the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained, and a configuration with fewer parts than the first embodiment and closing the connector portion 1a of the housing 1 of the device can be achieved.

[0047] In any of the embodiments, it is preferable to ensure that the outer diameter of the cover portion 2a of the cap 2 is sufficiently larger than the distance from the flange portion 2s to the cover portion 2a due to the margin of elastic deformation of the cover portion 2a.

Description of Symbols

[0048] 1 Housing 1a Connector part 1b Printed circuit board 1d Opening 2 Cap 2a Cover part 2b Hollow protrusion 2c Cover peripheral edge 2ca Second conical surface 2f Anti-ring 2h Ring mounting part 2i Hollow part 2q Conical taper surface 2r Annular rib 2s Flange part 2t Slit 3 Holder 3g Groove 3h Outer fitting part 3i Communication hole 3n Inner wall 3p Crank part 3ha First conical surface OP1 First opening OP2 Second opening 10 Cap assembly

Claims

1. A cap assembly for closing a connector portion housed inside through an opening of an electronic device housing, a cylindrical holder having a groove fitted to the opening on its outer periphery, an outer fitting portion protruding to the outside of the groove, and a communication hole extending from the outer fitting portion to the internal connector portion and communicating with the connector portion; a cover portion having a cover peripheral edge fitted to the outer periphery of the outer fitting portion, and a flexible lid having a hollow protruding portion with a taper on the tip side that protrudes into the communication hole and closes the communication hole; the hollow protruding portion of the lid has a flange portion facing the cover portion; the holder has a crank portion on the inner surface of the communication hole, which has a shape complementary to the flange portion of the lid and can be in close contact with the flange portion of the lid; in the lid, when the cover peripheral edge is deformed by a stress applied to at least one of the two farthest ends of the cover peripheral edge of the lid, the cover peripheral edge comes off the outer fitting portion of the holder and the flange portion of the hollow protruding portion comes off the crank portion of the holder, a recess having a bottom wall thinner than the cover peripheral edge is formed in the cover portion on the opposite side of the base of the hollow protruding portion; A cap assembly characterized by the above.

2. The recess is a slit formed in the cover portion intersecting the hollow protruding portion and extending longer than the width of the hollow protruding portion. When the cover peripheral edge is deformed, the long side portions facing each other of the slit are deformed and approach each other, and the flange portion of the hollow protruding portion has a width that comes off the crank portion of the holder. The cap assembly according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The width of the slit has a width larger than the difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the flange portion of the hollow protruding portion of the lid. The cap assembly according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. The hollow protruding portion of the lid has a deformation relaxation portion for relaxing the deformation of the flange portion on the side of the connector portion rather than the flange portion on the inner surface of the hollow portion thereof. The cap assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

5. The crank portion of the holder is formed by the inner diameter of the communication hole in the outer fitting portion being smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion on the connector portion side. The cap assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that.

6. The holder has an inner wall provided with an opening for exposing the connector portion on the connector portion side of the communication hole, The hollow protruding portion of the lid body has an annular rib at its tip that contacts the inner wall and surrounds the connector portion The cap assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that.

7. The lid body is formed of an elastomer softer than the material of the holder The cap assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that.

8. The outer periphery of the outer fitting portion of the holder and the outer periphery of the cover peripheral edge portion of the lid body that contacts it have uneven surfaces with complementary shapes to each other The cap assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that.

9. The distance between the crank portion of the holder and the inner wall is shorter than the distance between the flange portion of the hollow protruding portion of the lid body and the tip of the annular rib, The width of the communication hole of the holder is narrower than the width of the portion of the hollow protruding portion of the lid body that contacts the communication hole The cap assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that.

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