Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6400333
-
Patent Number
6,400,333
-
Date Filed
Thursday, February 22, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 4, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 343 840
- 343 786
- 343 872
- 343 772
- 343 780
- 343 784
- 333 21 R
- 333 21 A
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
According to a case construction of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the present invention, air from the outside can enter and exit from a housing through a filter by way of a hole. Accordingly, a case and a sealing member can be prevented from being destroyed because of the expansion and contraction of air in the housing and, at the same time, water such as rain entering a cavity through the hole can be prevented from entering the housing deeper by the filter.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waterproofing case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 9
, a conventional case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter will be described. The satellite-broadcast receiving converter
21
comprises a body
23
including a cabinet
22
, in which a receiving circuit is accommodated, and a coaxial connector
24
mounted to the body
23
to take electric signals out.
A case
25
comprises first and second molded case members
26
,
27
made of synthetic resin. With the body
23
being accommodated in the housing
25
a
, which is formed by combining the first and second case members
26
,
27
, the connector
24
is provided so as to project outwardly through a hole
26
a
of the first case member
26
. Further, the case is so constructed that the hole
26
a
between the connector
24
and the first case
26
is filled with a sealing member
28
, the housing
25
a
made up of the first and second cases
26
,
27
is completely sealed, and the air does not flow into the housing
25
a
from the outside.
Thus, by completely sealing the housing
25
a
in the case
25
, water is prevented from entering the housing
25
a
from the outside.
The satellite-broadcast receiving converter having such construction is brought into an inspection device, and the pressure of the air in the inspection device is increased or reduced to check if the housing
25
a
of the case
25
has leakage of air.
Then, the accepted satellite-broadcast receiving converter under the inspection is put on the market, set outdoors, and used.
However, when a satellite-broadcast receiving converter with the housing
25
a
completely sealed is used outdoors, particularly in summer, at high outdoor temperatures, the air inside the housing
25
a
would expand to destroy the case
25
or the sealing member
28
.
The conventional satellite-broadcast receiving converter is so constructed as to completely seal the housing
25
a
of the case
25
. Therefore, it has such problems that, particularly in summer, when the outdoor temperature gets higher, the air inside the housing
25
a
expands and destroys the case
25
or the sealing member
28
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter in which the case or the sealing member is not destroyed and waterproofing of the housing is possible.
As a first embodiment to solve the above problems, the case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter comprises a satellite-broadcast receiving converter having a body and a connector, and a case having a housing to accommodate the body; wherein the connector of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter projects outwardly from the case while an entire portion of the body being covered with the case, a portion of the case includes a cavity provided between an inner part and an outer part of the case, a closing part so formed as to close the outer part of the cavity and a hole so made in the closing part as to provide communication between the outside of the case and the cavity, and the inner part of the cavity is closed with a waterproofing and gas-permeable filter.
Further, as a second embodiment, the filter is disposed so as not to oppose a face of the closing part.
Further, as a third embodiment, the closing part is formed of a thin wall.
Further, as a fourth embodiment, the closing part is formed on the outer surface of the case and the filter is provided on the inner surface of the case.
Further, as a fifth embodiment, the filter is affixed to the case by adhesive.
Further, as a sixth embodiment, the filter is supported by a cabinet making up the body of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter.
Further, as a seventh embodiment, a face of the closing part is disposed perpendicularly to the projecting direction of the connector from the case.
Further, as an eighth embodiment, the closing part is positioned in the vicinity of the connector.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a front view of a case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to a first example.
FIG. 2
is a side view of the case construction of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to the first example.
FIG. 3
is a reverse-side view of the case construction of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to the first example.
FIG. 4
is an underneath view of the case construction of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to the first example.
FIG. 5
is a sectional view of a principal part of the case construction, as viewed sideways, of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to the first example.
FIG. 6
is an enlarged sectional view of a principal part of detail A of FIG.
5
.
FIG. 7
is an enlarged sectional view of a principal part of a case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to a second example.
FIG. 8
is an enlarged sectional view of a principal part of a case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to a third example.
FIG. 9
is a sectional view of a principal part showing a case construction of a conventional satellite-broadcast receiving converter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Now, the drawings for a case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1
is a front view of a case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter according to a first example.
FIG. 2
is a side view of the case construction of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to the first example.
FIG. 3
is a reverse-side view of the case construction of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to the first example.
FIG. 4
is an underneath view of the case construction of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to the first example.
Further,
FIG. 5
is a sectional view of a principal part of the case construction, as viewed sideways, of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to the first example.
FIG. 6
is an enlarged sectional view of a principal part of A-portion of FIG.
5
.
FIG. 7
is an enlarged sectional view of a principal part of a case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to a second example.
FIG. 8
is an enlarged sectional view of a principal part of a case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention according to a third example.
Referring to
FIGS. 1
to
6
, the first example of the case construction of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter of the invention will be described. The satellite-broadcast receiving converter
1
comprises a body
2
and a coaxial connector
8
mounted to the body
2
.
The body
2
comprises a frame
3
made up of a metal plate and a cover
4
made up of a metal plate. It further comprises a box-shaped cabinet
5
accommodating a receiving circuit, a tubular waveguide
6
projecting perpendicularly from the cabinet
5
, and a feeder
7
made of an insulating material mounted on a tip of the waveguide
6
.
The coaxial connector
8
is mounted to an end face of the cabinet
5
so as to take electric signals out.
The case
9
comprises a first and second molded case members
10
,
11
made of synthetic resin. Further, with the body
2
being accommodated in the housing
9
a
, which is formed by combining the first and second case members
10
,
11
, the connector
8
is provided so as to project outwardly through a hole
9
b
in the case
9
.
The first case member
10
covers the feeder
7
, the waveguide
6
and a front portion of the cabinet
5
, and the second case member
11
covers a rear portion of the cabinet
5
. Further, the hole
9
b
between the connector
8
and the case
9
is filled with the sealing member
12
, and the housing
9
a
made up of the first and second case members
10
,
11
is sealed.
Further, a portion of the second case member
11
includes a cavity
11
a
provided between an inner part or the housing
9
a
of the case
9
and an outer part or an outer portion of the case
9
, and a closing part
11
b
made up of a thin wall provided so as to close the outer part of the cavity
11
a.
Further, the closing part
11
b
is provided in the vicinity of the connector
8
and on the outer surface of the second case member
11
. Also, a face of the closing part
11
b
is disposed perpendicularly to the projecting direction of the connector
8
of the case
9
.
The filter
13
is made of waterproofing and gas-permeable material such as, for example, a porous material made of polytetrafluoro-ethylene resin. Adhesive (not shown) is applied on one face of the filter
13
, and the filter is affixed to the inner surface of the case
9
, or the inner side of the cavity
11
a
, in such a way that it closes the cavity
11
a.
Then, the inner surface of the affixed filter
13
is in contact with the cabinet
5
, and the filter
13
is supported while being pressed to the case
9
by the cabinet
5
.
The face with an affixed filter
13
closing the cavity
11
a
and the closing part
11
b
provided outside are disposed perpendicularly with each other, and the filter
13
is disposed so as not to oppose the face of the closing part
11
b.
Then, a small hole
11
c
is made in the closing part
11
b
made up of a thin wall with a pointed jig (not shown). Thus, the outside of the case
9
and the cavity
11
a
are in communication through the hole
11
c.
Since the filter
13
is disposed so as not to oppose the face of the closing part
11
b
, the jig does not contact the filter
13
when a hole is opened with it. Therefore, the filter
13
is prevented from being damaged by the jig.
Further, be cause of the hole
11
c
, air from the outside can enter and exit from the housing
9
a
through the filter
13
. Accordingly, the case
9
and the sealing member
12
can be prevented from being destroyed by the expansion and contraction of the air in the housing
9
a
. Also, water such as rain entering the cavity
11
a
through the hole
11
c
is prevented from entering the housing
9
a
by the filter
13
.
Further, in the case when the hole
11
c
is not provided, the case is constructed such that the housing
9
a
is completely sealed and the exterior air does not enter the housing
9
a.
In an inspection process, a satellite-broadcast receiving converter, of which case is without the hole
11
c
, is brought into an inspection device. Then, by increasing and reducing the pressure to the air in the inspection device, leakage of air in the housing
9
a
of the case
9
is checked.
A small hole
11
c
is made by a jig in the closing part
11
b
of the accepted satellite-broadcast receiving converter under the inspection so that the air can freely move between the housing
9
a
and the outside through the filter
13
.
Thus, in the case of using the satellite-broadcast receiving converter outdoors, even when air in the housing
9
a
expands, particularly in summer, the air moves through the hole
11
c
in the filter
13
to prevent the case
9
and the sealing member
12
from being destroyed. Also, the housing
9
a
can be waterproofed by means of the filter
13
.
When setting the satellite-broadcast receiving converter
1
outdoors, the feeder
7
is mounted so as to face the direction of a satellite with the connector
8
underside. Therefore, if the face of the closing part
11
b
is provided perpendicularly to the projecting direction of the connector
8
of the case
9
, the closing part
11
b
is positioned underside, preventing water such as rain from entering deeper through the hole
11
c.
FIG. 7
shows a second example of the present invention. In the example, the inner part of the cavity
11
b
closed by the filter
13
is made small to prevent the entering water in the cavity
11
b
from reaching the filter
13
directly. Since the rest of the construction is similar to the example described above, like numbers are given to like parts and the description for them is omitted here.
FIG. 8
shows a third example of the present invention. In the example, the filter
13
and the closing part
11
b
are opposed across the cavity
11
a
. In the rest of the construction, like numbers are given to like parts of the first example and the description for them is omitted here.
The case construction of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter according to the present invention comprises a cavity
11
a
provided in a portion of the case
9
between the inner part and the outer part of the case
9
, a closing part
11
b
formed so as to close the outer part of the cavity
11
a
, and a hole
11
c
made in the closing part
11
b
to provide communication between the outside of the case
9
and the cavity
11
a
. Also, the inner part of the cavity
11
a
is closed by the filter
13
, which is both waterproofing and gas-permeable and, by way of the hole
11
c
, the air from the outside can enter and exit from the housing
9
a
through the filter
13
. Thus, the case
9
and the sealing member
12
are prevented from being destroyed by the expansion and contraction of the air in the housing
9
a
and, at the same time, water such as rain entering the cavity
11
a
through the hole
11
c
is prevented from entering the housing
9
a
by the filter
13
.
Also, according to the construction such as described above, without altering the inspection method, leakage of air in the housing
9
a
of the case
9
can be checked by using a conventional inspection device.
Further, since the filter
13
is disposed so as not to oppose the face of the closing part
11
b
, a jig does not contact the filter
13
when making a hole
11
c
in the closing part
11
b
with it, and the filter
13
can be provided without being damaged by the jig.
Further, since the closing part
11
b
is formed of a thin wall, it is easy to make a hole
11
c
in it and the one with good workability can be provided.
Further, since the closing part
11
b
is formed on the outer surface of the case
9
and the filter
13
is provided on the inner surface, a distance between the filter
13
and the closing part
11
b
can be made long enough, and the filter
13
without being damaged by the jig can be provided.
Further, since the filter
13
is affixed to the case
9
by adhesive, mounting of the filter
13
is easy and, at the same time, the housing
9
a
adequately sealed by the filter
13
can be provided.
Further, since the filter
13
is supported by the cabinet
5
making up the body
2
of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter
1
, the filter
13
is prevented from coming off so that the filter
13
which does not peel off for a long time can be provided.
Further, since the face of the closing part
11
b
is disposed perpendicularly to the projecting direction of the connector
8
from the case
9
, the closing part
11
b
is positioned underside. Therefore, the construction in which water such as rain via the hole
11
c
is prevented from entering deeper can be provided.
Further, since the closing part
11
b
is provided in the vicinity of the connector
8
, the closing part
11
b
is close to the lowest portion of the case
9
. Thus, the construction in which water such as rain via the hole
11
c
is prevented from entering deeper can be provided.
Claims
- 1. A case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter, comprising: a satellite-broadcast receiving converter having a body and a connector, and a case having a housing to accommodate the body;wherein the connector of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter projects outwardly from the case while an entire portion of the body being covered with the case, a portion of the case includes a cavity provided between an inner part and an outer part of the case, a closing part so formed as to close the outer part of the cavity and a hole so made in the closing part as to provide communication between the outside of the case and the cavity, and the inner part of the cavity is closed with a waterproofing and gas-permeable filter.
- 2. A case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter according to claim 1, wherein the filter is disposed so as not to oppose a face of the closing part.
- 3. A case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter according to claim 1, wherein the closing part is formed of a thin wall.
- 4. A case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter according to claim 1, wherein the closing part is formed on the outer surface of the case and the filter is provided on the inner surface of the case.
- 5. A case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter according to claim 1, wherein the filter is affixed to the case by adhesive.
- 6. A case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter according to claim 5, wherein the filter is supported by a cabinet making up the body of the satellite-broadcast receiving converter.
- 7. A case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter according to claim 1, wherein a face of the closing part is disposed perpendicularly to the projecting direction of the connector from the case.
- 8. A case construction of a satellite-broadcast receiving converter according to claim 7, wherein the closing part is positioned in the vicinity of the connector.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2000-054351 |
Feb 2000 |
JP |
|
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Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4896163 |
Shibata et al. |
Jan 1990 |
A |
5982336 |
Wen et al. |
Nov 1999 |
A |
6127986 |
Wen et al. |
Oct 2000 |
A |
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Number |
Date |
Country |
10-190491 |
Jul 1998 |
JP |
11-186845 |
Jul 1999 |
JP |