Case joint structure

Abstract

To provide a case joint structure that can increase the strength of a joint where two cases are joined.SOLUTION: By joining joint surfaces 17, 27 of first and second cases 10, 20, a storage part 60 is formed inside and an opening 61 is formed at the top, and the opening 61 is blocked by a third case 70. A convex part 17a is provided on the joint surface 17 of the first case 10 that protrudes from the joint surface 17 toward the joint surface 27 of the second case 20. A convex part abutting surface 27b is provided on the joint surface 27 of the second case 20 that abuts on the outer side surface 17b of the convex part 17a of the first case 10. A second regulated part 31 is provided that protrudes from a position near the joint surface 27 of the second case 20 toward the third case 70, a pair of joint auxiliary parts 73, 75 are provided on the surface of the third case 70 that face the storage part 60, and the second regulated part 31 is positioned between the pair of joint auxiliary parts 73, 75.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a case joining structure suitable for use in preventing deflection of a joint where a plurality of case components are joined. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, for example, when an upper case (4) and a lower case (5) are integrated to form a single case, a configuration has been disclosed in which a step portion provided on the dividing surface of the upper case (4) is joined to a step portion provided on the dividing surface of the lower case (5), thereby ensuring a secure joining state between the upper case (4) and the lower case (5). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 2543404 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the joint structure of the upper case (4) and the lower case (5), if the thickness of the upper case (4) and the lower case (5) is reduced, the strength of the joint between the two cases is weakened, and the joint may bend when pressed from the outside. There is also the problem of a step occurring at the joint between the upper case (4) and the lower case (5).

[0005] These problems become particularly pronounced when there is no space available on the inner surface of the joint to provide a reinforcing rib or to fasten with screws.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and its purpose is to provide a case joining structure that can strengthen the joint where two cases are joined, so that the joint does not bend and no steps are created at the joint. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a case joining structure for cases in which a storage section is formed inside by joining the joining surfaces of a first case and a second case, and an opening formed in an upper part of the storage section is closed by a third case, wherein the joining surface of the first case is provided with a convex portion that protrudes from the joining surface toward the joining surface of the second case, and the joining surface of the second case is provided with a convex portion abutting surface that abuts against the outer side surface of the convex portion of the first case, a first restricted portion is provided that protrudes from a position near the joint surface of the first case toward the third case, a second restricted portion is provided protruding from a position near the joining surface of the second case toward the third case, and a pair of joining auxiliary portions is provided on a surface of the third case facing the storage portion; The pair of joining auxiliary portions of the third case sandwich the first and second restricted portions, which are arranged in parallel by joining the first and second cases, from the outside thereof. It is characterized by the following.

[0009] In addition to the above features, the present invention is characterized in that a support member is installed within the case, and the support member is provided with a support surface that abuts against a support member abutment surface, which is the surface of the first regulated portion provided in the first case that faces the storage portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the joint portion where the two cases are joined from bending and to prevent a step from occurring at the joint portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of a case K2 of an electronic device. [Figure 2] 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a joint surface 17 of the first case 10 (a cross-sectional view of the AA portion of FIG. 4). [Figure 3]5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a joint surface 27 of the second case 20 (a cross-sectional view of the BB portion of FIG. 4). [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the case K2. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which first and second cases 10 and 20 are joined together. [Figure 6] 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the positional relationship between a support member 100 and first and second cases 10 and 20. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a third case 70 as viewed from below. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of a joint portion between a first case 10 and a second case 20. FIG. [Figure 9] 1] FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part (schematic cross-sectional view taken along CC in FIG. 1) showing the positional relationship between a pair of joining auxiliary portions 73, 75, first and second restricted portions 19, 31, and a support surface 105. [FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main portion of a case K2 for an electronic device to which a case joining structure according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the case K2. As shown in these figures, the case K2 is configured to include a first case 10, a second case 20, a third case 70, and a support member 100. In the following description, "upper" refers to the direction in which the third case 70 is viewed from the first and second cases 10 and 20, and "lower" refers to the opposite direction. Furthermore, the side of the outer peripheral edge 101 of the support member 100 that forms the support surface 105 described below will be referred to as the front, and the opposite side will be referred to as the rear.

[0013] The first case 10 is a molded product made of synthetic resin and, as shown in FIG. 4, is formed into a shape that constitutes a portion of the case K2. It has a first opening 11 facing the second case 20 and a first opening 13 facing upward, i.e., toward the third case 70. The edge of the front surface A-1 of the first case 10 facing the second case 20 forms a mating surface 17 that is mated with a mating surface 27 (described below) of the second case 20. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view (a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 4) of the vicinity of the mating surface 17. As shown in the figure, the mating surface 17 of the first case 10 has a protrusion 17a that protrudes from the mating surface 17 toward the mating surface 27 of the second case 20 (described below). The protrusion 17a is formed on the rear side of the mating surface 17 in the width direction.

[0014] A first restricted portion 19 having a generally flat rectangular shape is provided so as to protrude upward (toward the third case 70) from the rear surface side of surface A-1 near the upper edge in the vicinity of the joining surface 17 of the first case 10. The rear surface of the first restricted portion 19 (the surface facing the storage section 60 described below) serves as a support member abutment surface 19a.

[0015] The second case 20 is a molded product of synthetic resin and, as shown in FIG. 4, is formed into a shape that constitutes a portion of the case K2. The second case 20 has a 2-1 opening 21 facing the first case 10 and a 2-2 opening 23 facing upward, i.e., toward the third case 70. The edge of the front surface A-2 of the second case 20 that faces the first case 10 forms a mating surface 27 that joins with the mating surface 17 of the first case 10. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view (a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 4) of the vicinity of the mating surface 27. As shown in the figure, a recess 27a is formed in the mating surface 27 of the second case 20 by cutting out a portion of the mating surface 27 (the rear portion in the width direction), and the rearward-facing surface of the recess 27a (the surface facing the storage compartment 60, described below) forms a protrusion abutting surface 27b. This protrusion abutment surface 27b abuts against the outer side surface 17b of the protrusion 17a of the first case 10 when the joining surface 27 is joined to the joining surface 17 of the first case 10.

[0016] A second restricted portion 31 having an approximately flat rectangular shape is provided so as to protrude upward (towards the third case 70) from the rear side of surface A-2 near the upper edge near the joining surface 27 of the second case 20.

[0017] The third case 70 is a molded product made of synthetic resin, and as shown in Fig. 4, is formed into a shape that constitutes a part of the case K2, and is formed into a shape that closes an opening 61 (see Fig. 5) of the storage section 60 described below that is formed when the first and second cases 10 and 20 are joined together. The bottom surface of the third case 70 forms an opening 71.

[0018] 7 is a perspective view of the main parts of the third case 70 as viewed from below. As shown in the figure, a pair of joint auxiliary portions 73, 75 protruding downward are formed on the surface of the third case 70 facing the storage section 60 (described below), i.e., on the underside of the third case 70, near positions facing the first and second regulated portions 19, 31. Both joint auxiliary portions 73, 75 are generally flat and protrude downward from the underside of the third case 70. Both joint auxiliary portions 73, 75 are arranged parallel to each other, and the distance between their opposing surfaces is set to a dimension that allows the first and second regulated portions 19, 31 of the joined first and second cases 10, 20 to be sandwiched from the outside, as described below.

[0019] Support member 100 is a metal plate that also serves as a ground plate, and has support portion 103 formed on its front outer peripheral side edge 101, protruding from outer peripheral side edge 101 and bending its base downward. The front surface of support portion 103 forms support surface 105. Although not shown, fixing holes are formed at desired positions on support member 100, through which screws are inserted to fix support member 100 to the underside of third case 70.

[0020] Next, to assemble the above case structure, first, in Fig. 4, the support member 100 is brought into contact with the underside of the third case 70 and fixed with fixing means such as screws (not shown). This reinforces the third case 70.

[0021] Next, the mating surface 17 of the first case 10 and the mating surface 27 of the second case 20 are joined with a packing member 130 (see FIG. 8) sandwiched between them, and the first and second cases 10, 20 are fixed together. This fixing is performed using various fixing means (not shown), such as screws. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the convex portion 17a of the first case 10 is inserted into the concave portion 27a of the second case 20 (see FIG. 3), and the outer side surface 17b of the first case 10 is brought into contact with the convex portion contact surface 27b of the second case 20. At the same time, the drip-proof packing member 130 is sandwiched between the mating surfaces 17, 27. The packing member 130 is made of a long rubber-like elastic body with a rectangular cross section, and is held between the side surface of the recess 27a of the second case 20 (the other side surface other than the protrusion abutment surface 27b) and the tip surface of the protrusion 17a of the first case 10, thereby fulfilling a drip-proof function. This forms a case K1 having a storage section 60 therein, as shown in Fig. 5. An opening 61 is formed in the upper part of the storage section 60.

[0022] Next, the third case 70 with the support member 100 attached thereto is attached so as to cover the opening 61 of the storage section 60. Attachment is performed using various fixing means (not shown), such as screws. This completes the assembly of the case K2 of the electronic device according to this embodiment. Note that the above assembly procedure is only one example, and it goes without saying that various other assembly procedures may be used for assembly.

[0023] Figure 6 is a schematic oblique view showing the positional relationship between the support member 100 and the first and second cases 10 and 20 in the assembled case K2, and Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a key part (schematic cross-sectional view CC in Figure 1) showing the positional relationship between a pair of joining auxiliary portions 73 and 75 of the third case 70 in the assembled case K2, the first and second regulated portions 19 and 31 of the first and second cases 10 and 20, and the support surface 105 of the support member 100.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 , the support surface 105 of the support portion 103 of the support member 100 abuts against the support member abutment surface 19a of the first restricted portion 19 of the first case 10, thereby supporting the first case 10 from its rear side. Also, as shown in FIG. 8 , the outer side surface 17b of the convex portion 17a of the first case 10 supports the convex portion abutment surface 27b of the second case 20 from its rear side. This double-support structure at the joint between the first case 10 and the second case 20 strengthens the strength of the joint and prevents it from bending even when pressed from the outside. Furthermore, this structure ensures that the surface A-1 of the first case 10 and the surface A-2 of the second case 20 are flush with each other, thereby reliably preventing the joint between the first case 10 and the second case 20 from separating front to back and creating a step.

[0025] At the same time, as shown in Fig. 9, a pair of joining auxiliary portions 73, 75 provided on the third case 70 sandwich the first and second regulated portions 19, 31 arranged in parallel on the joined first and second cases 10, 20 from the outside. This ensures that the joining surfaces 17, 27 of the first and second cases 10, 20 are tightly attached to each other from the left and right. In particular, in a configuration in which a packing member 130 is sandwiched between the joining surface 17 of the first case 10 and the joining surface 27 of the second case 20, as in this embodiment, the joining surfaces 17, 27 tend to open up to the left and right, but the pair of joining auxiliary portions 73, 75 reliably prevent this opening.

[0026] In addition, in this embodiment, the support member 100 is fixed to the underside of the third case 70, so that simply by attaching the third case 70 to the first and second cases 10 and 20, the support surface 105 of the support member 100 can be reliably abutted against and supported by the support member abutment surface 19a of the first case 10.

[0027] In this embodiment, a metal plate is used as the support member 100, which increases the strength of the support member 100. Even if the first and second cases 10 and 20 are constructed of thin, flexible plates made of synthetic resin, as in this embodiment, the support member 100 can reliably support them from the rear. Even if the weight of the various electronic components housed in the cases K1 and K2, which are formed by the first and second cases 10 and 20 (and the third case 70) and the accessories attached to the exterior of the cases K1 and K2, are heavy, the reinforcement provided by the support member 100 prevents the entire cases K1 and K2 from bending, allowing the various electronic components and accessories to be reliably housed and supported. In other words, the support member 100, which functions as a grounding plate and a reinforcing plate, also functions to prevent bending and unevenness of the first and second cases 10 and 20 by the support surface 105.

[0028] Although the above describes an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims and the technical concept described in the specification and drawings. Furthermore, any shape, structure, or material not directly described in the specification and drawings is within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention as long as it achieves the functions and effects of the present invention. For example, it goes without saying that various modifications are possible to the shape and structure of the first, second, and third cases 10, 20, and 70 and the support member 100. Furthermore, the shapes of the mating surfaces 17 and 27 of the first and second cases 10 and 20, respectively, may be any shape as long as they are shaped to join the two. Furthermore, the support member 100 may be made of various materials other than metal. In the above embodiment, a packing member 130 is sandwiched between the mating surfaces 17 and 27 for drip-proofing, but the packing member 130 may be omitted. In the above embodiment, the support member 100 is attached to the third case 70. However, the support member 100 may be attached to a component (not shown) other than the third case 70.

[0029] In addition, in the above embodiment, a recess 27a is provided on the joining surface 27 of the second case 20, and a convex abutment surface 27b is formed within the recess 27a, but it is also possible to not provide the recess 27a and instead use the rear surface of the second case 20 itself directly as the convex abutment surface.

[0030] Furthermore, the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings can be combined with each other as long as there is no contradiction in their purpose, configuration, etc. Furthermore, even a part of the description described above and the drawings can be an independent embodiment, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to a single embodiment combining the description described above and the drawings. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10. Case 1 17 Joint surface 17a Convex part 17b Lateral side 19 First Restricted Section 19a Support member contact surface 20 Second Case 27 Joint surface 27a Recess 27b Convex contact surface 31 Second Restricted Section 60 Storage area 61 Aperture 70 Third Case 73 Joining auxiliary part 75 Joining auxiliary part K1 Case K2 Case 100 support member 105 Support surface

Claims

1. A case joining structure for a case, in which a storage section is formed inside by joining the joining surfaces of a first case and a second case, and an opening formed in an upper part of the storage section is closed by a third case, a protrusion protruding from the joint surface of the first case toward the joint surface of the second case; a joint surface of the second case is provided with a convex portion abutting surface that abuts against an outer side surface of the convex portion of the first case; a first restricted portion is provided that protrudes from a position near the joint surface of the first case toward the third case, a second restricted portion is provided that protrudes from a position near the joining surface of the second case toward the third case, a pair of joining auxiliary portions are provided on a surface of the third case facing the storage portion, A case joining structure characterized in that the pair of joining auxiliary portions of the third case clamp the first and second restricted portions, which are arranged in parallel, from the outside by joining the first and second cases.

2. A case joining structure according to claim 1, a support member is installed in the case; A case joining structure characterized in that the support member is provided with a support surface that abuts against a support member abutment surface, which is the surface of the first regulated portion provided in the first case that faces the storage portion.

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