Top cover fixing structure

A top cover fixing structure for fixing opposing sidewalls of a top cover to respective opposing sidewalls of a bottom chassis with a single screw for each sidewall, thus reducing the number of parts and thereby reducing the man-hours for assembling, while maintaining the strength of the top cover and improving the design appearance. Screw insertion holes 2e are bored in recessed portions 2c provided in the front part of the right and left sidewalls 2a and 2b of the top cover 2, with screws 3 inserted into the screw insertion holes to fix the top cover to the bottom chassis 1, while recessed portions 2d provided in the rear of the right and left sidewalls 2a and 2b of the top cover 2 are in contact with rear portions of the right and left sidewalls 1a and 1b of the bottom chassis 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a top cover fixing structure in which a bottom chassis is covered with a top cover to be fixed thereto with a screw.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In a conventional top cover fixing structure, screws are inserted into insertion holes in recessed portions provided in the front and rear of the right and left sidewalls of a top cover, and then screwed in the right and left sidewalls of a bottom chassis to fix the top cover to the bottom chassis. This requires two front and rear screws, suffering from a problem that the number of parts and thereby the man-hours for fixing work are increased. In addition, fixing with two front and rear screws suffers from a problem of poor appearance.

InFIG. 7is shown a first prior art cabinet. As shown inFIG. 7, in order to provide a shielding effect by bringing a top cover101and a bottom cover102, which are made of metal plates, into conductive contact with each other on the side surfaces of the VTR, a fitting portion for the top cover101is provided in the bottom cover102, whereby the covers101and102are brought into conductive contact with each other, and then fixed to a chassis103with screws104screwed from the rear side of the VTR (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8-221970 for example).

However, thus fixing the covers101and102to the chassis103with screws from the rear side suffers from a problem of unstable lateral positioning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a top cover fixing structure capable of fixing the right and left sidewalls of a top cover to, respectively, the right and left sidewalls of a bottom chassis with a single screw for each sidewall, and thus to reduce the number of parts and thereby the man-hours for assembling, and maintaining the strength of the top cover against external forces as well as improving the design appearance.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-described problems, and the invention provides a top cover fixing structure in which a bottom chassis is covered with a top cover to be fixed thereto with a screw and then a front panel is fixed to the front end portion thereof, characterized in that screw insertion holes are bored in recessed portions provided in the front part of the right and left sidewalls of the top cover, which cover, respectively, the right and left sidewalls of the bottom chassis, screws being inserted into the screw insertion holes to be fixed to the bottom chassis, while recessed portions provided in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the top cover are in contact with the rear part of the external surface of the right and left sidewalls of the bottom chassis, and that nail portions or hole portions are provided in recessed portions provided in the vicinity of the front end of the right and left sidewalls of the bottom chassis, and insertion pieces to be inserted into spaces between the bottom chassis and the front panel are provided in the right and left sidewalls of the front panel, hole portions or nail portions to be engaged with the nail portions or the hole portions of the bottom chassis being provided in the insertion pieces.

In another aspect, the invention provides a top cover fixing structure in which a bottom chassis is covered with a top cover to be fixed thereto with a screw, characterized in that screw insertion holes are bored in recessed portions provided in the front part of the right and left sidewalls of the top cover, which cover, respectively, the right and left sidewalls of the bottom chassis, screws being inserted into the screw insertion holes to be fixed to the bottom chassis, and that the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the bottom chassis, with which recessed portions provided in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the top cover are to be brought into contact, is formed with an engaging shape.

In one embodiment recessed portions, with which the recessed portions in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the top cover are to be engaged, are formed in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the bottom chassis.

In another embodiment fitting holes, in which the recessed portions in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the top cover are to be fitted, are formed in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the bottom chassis.

In yet another embodiment small protruding portions protruding inward are provided in the central part of the recessed portions in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the top cover, while small holes, in which the small protruding portions provided in the recessed portions in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the top cover are to be fitted, are provided in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the bottom chassis.

In a further embodiment engaging holes are formed in the central part of the recessed portions in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the top cover, while raised portions to be fitted in the engaging holes formed in the recessed portions in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the top cover are provided in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the bottom chassis.

When assembling the bottom chassis and the top cover, the recessed portions provided in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls of the top cover are brought into contact with the rear part of the external surface of the right and left sidewalls of the bottom chassis, whereby it is not necessary to fix the contacting parts with screws. Therefore, it is possible to fix the right and left sidewalls of the top cover to, respectively, the right and left sidewalls of the bottom chassis with a single screw for each sidewall, and thus to reduce the number of parts and thereby the man-hours for assembling. It is also possible to maintain the strength of the top cover against external forces as well as to improve the design appearance. Further, the hole portions or the nail portions in the insertion pieces provided in the right and left sidewalls of the front panel are adapted to be engaged with the nail portions or the hole portions in the recessed portions provided in the vicinity of the front end of the right and left sidewalls of the bottom chassis, which allows screws for fixing the front panel to be omitted, resulting in a reduction of the number of parts and thereby the man-hours for assembling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of a top cover fixing structure according to the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a perspective view showing a top cover fixing structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state where a recessed portion in a sidewall of the top cover is in contact with the external surface of a sidewall of the bottom chassis.

In the top cover fixing structure according to the first embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1, screw insertion holes2eare bored in recessed portions2cprovided in the front part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2, which cover, respectively, the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1, screws3being inserted into the screw insertion holes2eto be fixed to the bottom chassis1. Also, recessed portions2dprovided in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2are adapted to be in contact with the rear part of the external surface of the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1(refer toFIG. 2).

In addition, nail portions1dare provided in recessed portions1cprovided in the vicinity of the front end of the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1, and insertion pieces5to be inserted into spaces between the bottom chassis1and a front panel4are provided in the right and left sidewalls4aand4bof the front panel4. In the insertion pieces5are provided hole portions5ato be engaged with the nail portions1dof the bottom chassis1. Also, the back wall of the top cover2is arranged to be fixable to the bottom chassis1with four screws3.

Accordingly, when assembling the bottom chassis1and the top cover2, the recessed portions2dprovided in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2are brought into contact with the rear part of the external surface of the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1, whereby it is not necessary to fix the contacting parts with screws. Therefore, it is possible to fix the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2to, respectively, the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1with a single screw to remove one screw for each sidewall, and thus to reduce the number of parts and thereby the man-hours for assembling.

It is also possible to maintain the strength of the top cover2against external forces as well as to improve the design appearance. Further, the hole portions5ain the insertion pieces5provided in the right and left sidewalls4aand4bof the front panel4are adapted to be engaged with the nail portions1din the recessed portions1cprovided in the vicinity of the front end of the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1, which allows screws for fixing the front panel4to be removed, resulting in a reduction of the number of parts and thereby the man-hours for assembling. It will be appreciated that hole portions may be provided in the bottom chassis1, while nail portions may be provided in the insertion pieces5of the front panel4.

FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view showing a substantial part of a top cover fixing structure according to a second embodiment.

In the top cover fixing structure according to the second embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3, recessed portions1e, with which the recessed portions2din the rear part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2are to be engaged, are formed in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1.

Accordingly, the recessed portions2din the rear part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2are engaged with the recessed portions1ein the rear part of the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1, which can facilitate the positioning of the top cover2against the bottom chassis1, and also prevent the friction of the top cover2.

FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view showing a substantial part of a top cover fixing structure according to a third embodiment.

In the top cover fixing structure according to the third embodiment, as shown inFIG. 4, fitting holes1fare formed, in which the recessed portions2din the rear part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2are to be fitted.

Accordingly, the recessed portions2din the rear part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2are fitted in the fitting holes1fin the rear part of the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1, which can facilitate the positioning of the top cover2, and also prevent the friction of the top cover2.

FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view showing a substantial part of a top cover fixing structure according to a fourth embodiment.

In the top cover fixing structure according to the fourth embodiment, as shown inFIG. 5, small protruding portions2fprotruding inward are provided in the central part of the recessed portions2din the rear part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2, while small holes1g, in which the small protruding portions2fprovided in the recessed portions2din the rear part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2are to be fitted, are provided in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1.

Accordingly, the small protruding portions2fprovided in the recessed portions2din the rear part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2are fitted in the small holes1gin the rear part of the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1, which can prevent the friction of the top cover2, and also maintain the strength of the top cover2against external forces.

FIG. 6is a cross-sectional view showing a substantial part of a top cover fixing structure according to a fifth embodiment.

In the top cover fixing structure according to the fifth embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6, engaging holes2gare formed in the central part of the recessed portions2din the rear part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2, while raised portions1hto be fitted in the engaging holes2gformed in the recessed portions2din the rear part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2are provided in the rear part of the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1.

Accordingly, the raised portions1hin the rear part of the right and left sidewalls1aand1bof the bottom chassis1are fitted in the engaging holes2gprovided in the recessed portions2din the rear part of the right and left sidewalls2aand2bof the top cover2, which can facilitate the positioning of the top cover2, and further prevent the friction of the top cover2.