Sealed Enclosure with Tear-Away Drainage Plugs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic circuit boards are susceptible to dust and water ingress through cracks in enclosures, and existing solutions fail to effectively drain accumulated moisture while maintaining electrical connectivity.

Innovation Solution

A sealed enclosure design featuring a rear base with a vertical indented portion for pole attachment, a polymer membrane for sealing, and removable tear-away plugs for drainage, allowing water to exit while keeping the interior dry and maintaining electrical connections through sealed cable openings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a sealed enclosure is used to protect electronics from dust and water, then protection from environmental elements is improved, but moisture accumulation inside the enclosure cannot be drained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from dust and waterVSAvoidmoisture drainage capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates removable tear-away plugs at the lowest point of the enclosure interior before use. These plugs are pre-positioned to allow easy removal for drainage purposes, enabling users to drain accumulated moisture without complex mechanisms or tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tear-away plugs are designed to be discarded after a single use - once removed, they are discarded and cannot be reinstalled. This simple disposable approach provides an effective drainage solution while maintaining the sealed enclosure's protective function during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Ease of operation

If cable openings are provided to maintain electrical connectivity, then electrical connection is improved, but dust and water can penetrate through the openings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectivityVSAvoiddust and water ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses flexible grommets installed in the cable openings to seal around the cables while allowing them to pass through. These flexible membrane structures maintain the dust and water seal while accommodating the electrical cables for connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If a tight seal is used to prevent dust and water ingress, then environmental protection is improved, but condensation and moisture cannot escape

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal integrityVSAvoidcondensation accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the drainage function from the sealed enclosure by providing separate tear-away plug openings at the lowest point. This allows moisture and condensation to be removed from the enclosed space while maintaining the integrity of the main seal during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10129993B2Sealed enclosure for protecting electronics

Publication Date: 2018.11.13 INFINITE ELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A system and an enclosure for protecting one or more electronic devices and having a rear base defining a cavity for holding the electronic device. The enclosure has a front cover coupled to the rear base and moveable between an open position and a closed position and a removable tear-away plug that when removed allows water to drain out of the enclosure. The enclosure has a rear base external surface that has a vertical indented portion configured to receive a pole and a horizontal indented portion and a slot configured to receive a fastener for attachment to the pole.