RADIO COMMUNICATION APPARATUS

Abstract: The invention provides a radio communication apparatus of the waterproof type comprising an apparatus body and a waterproof cover member mounted on the body, in which when the apparatus body and the cover member are made integral a secure waterproof condition can be attained without the need for any kill. The apparatus body (2) is formed, in an outer peripheral surface (6) to be covered by the cover member (3), with continuous grooves (7) and (8) or continuous steps. Packing elements (4) and (5) are fitted in the continuous grooves (7) and (8) or the continuous steps. The packing elements are so arranged, when the apparatus body and the cover member are made integral, to project from the outer peripheral surface (6) of the apparatus body (2) in a direction perpendicular to an axis (16) of the body to thereby abut an inner surface (18) of the cover member (3).

Description: Radio Communication Apparatus. The present invention relates generally to a radio communication apparatus of the waterproof type which is for the marine use and/or for the use in rainy weather, and more particularly to improvement for ensuring the waterproof feature of a body of such an apparatus. Conventionally, in a radio communication apparatus lb having such a structure that a tubular waterproof cover member 3b is slid over an apparatus body 2b to be mounted thereon to cover an outer peripheral surface 6b of the body for the waterproofing, an annular packing member 4b has been arranged to be attached to a rear surface 9b of the apparatus body 2b as shown in Fig. 6. In the radio communication apparatus lb, in order to unite the cover member 3b and the apparatus body 2b by sliding the member 3b (in the direction indicated by an arrow Ab) over the body 2b to be fitted thereon and to maintain the united state, a plurality of screws (not shown) are inserted in the direction of the sliding in holes (not shown) formed in the rear portion of the cover member 3b and then threaded into the female screws (not shown) formed in the rear surface portion 9b of the apparatus body 2b in the sliding direction. In the above case, the direction of threadedly tightening by the plurality of screws is the same as the direction of wateφroof effect by the packing 4b, and when pressing forces exerted by the threadedly tightened screws upon the packing 4b are even, deformation of the packing 4b by these pressing forces is annularly uniform, whereby watertight condition between the apparatus 2b and the cover member 3b is ensured. However, when the tightening forces of the plurality of screws are not even, the deformation of the packing 4b due to the pressing forces by the screws is also uneven. This makes the packing effect uneven, causing a problem that a gap develops between the apparatus body 2b and the cover member 3b, whereby the watertight condition is lost. Particularly, the radio communication apparatus lb of the wateφroof type is often used in hazardous environment such as on the sea and in rainy weather. Therefore, when the wateφroof condition is not sufficient, serious problems may result. To solve this problem, one may conceive that the screws be tightened uniformly so that the pressing forces against the packing are even. However, this will cause another problem that skills in tightening the screws will be needed. In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a radio communication apparatus which is easy to handle in respect of its wateφroofhess and in which wateφroof of the apparatus body can surely be attained. The present invention is directed to a radio communication apparatus in which packing members, when mounted on the apparatus body, are inteφosed between the apparatus body and the cover member so as to project from an outer peripheral surface of the body in a direction peφendicular to an axis of the body to abut an inner surface of the cover member. Specifically, the delivered object is achieved with the radio communication apparatus according to the invention, which comprises an apparatus body, a cover member for being slid over the apparatus body and mounted thereon to thereby cover an outer peripheral surface of the apparatus body, and a packing element inteφosed between the apparatus body and the cover member for preventing water from entering the apparatus body, and which is, characterized in that the apparatus body is formed, in its outer peripheral surface on which the cover member is mounted, with a continuous groove or a continuous step in which the packing element is fitted, the packing element being so arranged, when fitted in the continuous groove or the continuous step, to project from the outer peripheral surface of the apparatus body in a direction peφendicular to an axis of the apparatus body to thereby abut an inner surface of the cover member. With the radio communication apparatus having such a structure, the packing members abut the wateφroof cover member at their outer sides in a direction peφendicular to the axis of the outer peripheral surface of the apparatus body, so that pressing force at the abutting portion is uniform and is not susceptible to the threading of the screws. The above-mentioned and other aspects of the invention are apparent form and will be elucidated, by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. It should be noted that these embodiments are not intended to restrict the scope of the present invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention taken along line I-I of Fig. 4; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 viewed from the front; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 viewed from the rear wherein the packing elements have been mounted; Fig. 4 is a perspective general view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 viewed from the front; Fig. 5 is an illustration showing a second embodiment of the invention in a manner corresponding to Fig. 1 ; and Fig. 6 is an illustration showing a prior art in a manner corresponding to Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a radio communication apparatus 1 comprises an apparatus body 2, a cover member 3 for wateφroofing, and packing members 4 and 5. The apparatus body 2 comprises transmission and reception means (not shown) for effecting radio communication. The apparatus body 2 is formed with two continuous annular grooves 7 and 8 in its outer peripheral surface 6 and with four female screws 10 in its rear portion 9. The apparatus body 2 is further provided with an operation portion 11 and a display portion 12 at its front and with a radiator fin unit 13 on its rear surface portion 9. The cover member 3 is tubular and serves as a member which is slid over the apparatus body 2 and mounted thereon to cover the outer peripheral surface 6 of the apparatus body 2 for wateφroofing. The cover member 3 is formed with through holes 14 at those portions thereof which oppose the female screws 10 of the apparatus body 2 when the cover member is united with the apparatus body 2. Shown at 15 are screws which are inserted in the holes 14 and threaded in the female screws 10 of the apparatus body 2 to unite the apparatus body 2 and the cover member 3 together and to keep the united state. The packing members 4 and 5 are inteφosed between the apparatus body 2 and the cover member 3 and serve to prevent water from entering the apparatus body 2. The packing members 4 and 5 are both annular and take fixed positions with respect to the apparatus body 2 when fitted respectively in the continuous grooves 7 and 8 of the apparatus body 2. Thus, the packing members 4 and 5 are adapted to project from the outer peripheral surface 6 of the apparatus body 2 in a direction peφendicular to an axis 16 of the body 2 to abut an inner surface of the cover member 3 when fitted respectively in the continuous annular grooves 7 and 8 of the apparatus body 2. Shown at 17 is a rubber ring which is inteφosed between engaging portions of the apparatus body 2 and the cover member 3. The radio communication apparatus 1 is arranged as described above. Hereinafter, description will be made of the assembling and use of the radio communication apparatus 1. Firstly, the operation portion 11 and the display portion 12 are mounted integrally on a die-cast base of the apparatus body 2 at its front and a radiating fin unit 13 is attached to the body 2 at the rear portion 9. Then, the packing members 4 and 5 are fitted respectively in the continuous grooves 7 and 8 formed in the apparatus body 2. In this case, outer peripheral edges of the packing members 4 and 5 project from the outer peripheral surface 6 of the apparatus body 2 in the direction peφendicular to the axis 16 of the body 2. Subsequently, the cover member 3 is slid over the apparatus body 2 (in the direction indicated by the arrow A) so as to cover in a coaxially surrounding manner the outer peripheral surface 6 of the apparatus body 2 and then mounted on the apparatus body 2. At this point, the screws 15 are inserted in the holes 14 and further threaded into the female screws 10 of the apparatus body 2, whereby the apparatus body 2 and the cover member 3 are united and kept in the united state. In this situation where the apparatus body 2 and the cover member 3 have been united, the packing members 4 and 5 project from the outer peripheral surface 6 of the apparatus body 2 in the direction peφendicular to the axis 16 (in the direction indicated by the arrow B) between the apparatus body 2 and the cover member 3 and thus abut that surface of the cover member 3 opposing the outer peripheral surface 6 of the apparatus body 2, i.e., an inner surface 18 of the cover member 3. Because of the packing members 4 and 5 being continuous and annular, those portions of the packing members 4 and 5 which project peφendicularly to the axis 16 and abut the inner surface 18 of the cover member 3 are also continuous and annular, so that a wateφroof condition is obtained at the portion of the outer peripheral surface 6 of the apparatus body 2 between the two packing members 4 and 5. Since the packing members 4 and 5 abut the wateφroof cover member 3 at their outer sides with respect to the axis 16 of the outer peripheral surface 6 of the apparatus body 2, the pressing force exerted at any positions where the packing members 4 and 5 abut the inner surface 18 of the cover member 3 is uniform and does not differ in dependence on the extent to which the respective crews 5 are tightened. Thus, in the radio communication apparatus 1, the wateφroof condition of the outer peripheral surface 6 of the apparatus body 2 is obtained by the face that the packing members 4 and 5 abut the inner surface 18 of the cover member 3 when the apparatus body 2 and the cover member 3 are made integral, and this wateφroof condition of the apparatus body 2 will not be deteriorated even when the screws 15 are threaded into the female screws 10 to keep the integral state. Wateφroofing of the outer peripheral surface 6 of the apparatus body 2 are ensured in this manner. Also, there will arise no such problem that skills in tightening the screws 15 are needed to obtain the above-described wateφroof condition. Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 corresponds to Fig. 1 for the description of the first embodiment. A radio communication apparatus la is provided, similarly to the radio communication apparatus 1, with an apparatus body 2a, a cover member 3 a for the wateφroofing and packing members 4a and 5 a. The apparatus body 2a is formed at its outer peripheral surface 6a with a continuous annular step 7a and a continuous annular groove 8a, and at its rear portion 9a with four female screws (not shown). These four female screws have an identical structure to the female screws 10 in the first embodiment. The apparatus body 2a is provided at its front with a control portion 11a and a display portion 12a and at its rear portion 9a with radiator fins 13 a. The cover member 3 a is tubular and serves as a member which is slid over the apparatus body 2a and mounted thereon to coaxially cover the outer peripheral surface 6a of the apparatus body 2a for wateφroofing. The cover member 3 a is formed with through holes (not shown) at those portions thereof which oppose the female screws of the apparatus body 2a when the cover member 3a is united with the apparatus body 2a. These through holes have the same structure as the through holes 14 in the first embodiment. It is so arranged that, when the apparatus body 2a and the cover member 3 a are too be united, screws (not shown) are inserted in the holes of the cover member 13a and threaded in the female screws of the apparatus body 2a to keep the united condition of the apparatus body 2a and the cover member 3 a. The packing members 4a and 5 a are both annular and are arranged to be fitted in the continuous step 7a and the continuous groove 8a to take fixed positions with respect to the apparatus body 2a. With such arrangement, the packing members 4a and 5 a are inteφosed between the apparatus body 2a and the cover member 3 a and serve to prevent water from entering the apparatus body 2a. Thus, when fitted in the annular continuous grooves 7a, 8a of the apparatus body 2a, the packing members 4a and 5a are adapted to project from the outer peripheral surface 6a of the apparatus body 2a in a direction peφendicular to an axis 16 of the body 2 (in the direction indicated by an arrow Ba) to abut an inner surface 18a of the cover member 3a. The packing member 4a is formed to have a cross-section of a combination of square and circular shapes so that the wateφroofing of the apparatus body 2a is performed twofold by both of the square cross-section portion and the circular cross-section portion of this packing member. Shown at 17a is a rubber ring which is inteφosed between engaging portions of the apparatus body 2a and the cover member 3a. The radio communication apparatus la is arranged as described above. The packing members 4a and 5a project from the outer peripheral surface 6a of the apparatus body 2a in a continuous manner in the direction peφendicular to the axis 16a (in the direction indicated by the arrow Ba) between the apparatus body 2a and the cover member 3 a and thus abut the inner surface 18a of the cover member 3 a. In this situation, because of the packing members 4a and 5 a being continuous and annular, those portions of the packing members 4a and 5a which project peφendicularly to the axis 16a and abut the inner surface 18a of the cover member 3a are also continuous and annular, so that a wateφroof condition is obtained at the portion of the outer peripheral surface 6a of the apparatus body 2a between the two packing members 4a and 5a. Since the packing members 4a and 5a peφendicularly abut the wateφroof cover member 3 a at their outer sides with respect to the axis 16a of the outer peripheral surface 6a of the apparatus body 2a, the pressing force exerted at any positions where the packing members 4a and 5a abut the inner surface 18a of the cover member 3a is uniform and does not differ in dependence on the extent to which the respective crews are tightened for keeping the apparatus body 2a and the cover member 3 a united. Thus, in the radio communication apparatus la, the wateφroof condition of the outer peripheral surface 6a of the apparatus body 2a is obtained by the face that the packing members 4a and 5a abut the inner surface 18a of the cover member 3a when the apparatus body 2a and the cover member 3a are united in the same manner as in the radio communication apparatus 1, and this wateφroof condition of the apparatus body 2a will not be deteriorated even when the screws are threaded to unite the apparatus body 2a and the cover member 3a together to keep such state. Wateφroofing of the outer peripheral surface 6a of the apparatus body 2a is ensured in this manner. Also, there will arise no such problem that skills in tightening the screws for keeping the apparatus body 2a and the cover member 3 a integral are needed to obtain the above-described wateφroof condition. Although the packing members 4 and 5 for the radio communication apparatus 1 and the packing members 4a and 5a for the radio communication apparatus la have a circular shape, any suitable shape such as a square shape and an elliptical shape may alternatively be selected therefor in correspondence with the shape of the continuous grooves 7, 8 and 8a and the continuous step 7a. Rubber and synthetic resin may be taken as examples of the material for the packing members 4 and 5 for the radio communication apparatus 1 and the packing members 4a and 5a for the radio communication apparatus la. It will be preferable that requirements for the material such as the degree of curing of rubber and the kind of synthetic resin be chosen based on the durability, corrosion resistivity and environment. With the radio communication apparatus according to the invention, by the provision of the annular packing members which project from the outer peripheral surface of the apparatus body in a direction peφendicular to the axis of the body and abut the inner surface of the cover member when the apparatus body and the wateφroof cover member are made integral, a secure wateφroof condition can be attained without being affected by the degree of tightening the screws for keeping the apparatus body and the cover member integral and without the need for skills in handling the apparatus when the apparatus body and the wateφroof cover member are made integral.

Claims: CLAIM: 1. A radio communication apparatus comprising an apparatus body, a cover member for being slid over said apparatus body and mounted thereon to thereby cover an outer peripheral surface of said apparatus body, and a packing element inteφosed between said apparatus body and said cover member for preventing water from entering said apparatus body, said radio communication apparatus, characterized in that said apparatus body is formed, in its outer peripheral surface on which said cover member is mounted, with a continuous groove or a continuous step in which said packing element is fitted; said packing element being so arranged, when fitted in said continuous groove or said continuous step, to project from said outer peripheral surface of said apparatus body in a direction peφendicular to an axis of said apparatus body to thereby abut an inner surface of said cover member.

Inventors: OGAWA YUTAKA, OGAWA, YUTAKA
Applicants: KONINKL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, OGAWA YUTAKA, KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V., OGAWA, YUTAKA
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H04B1
IPC codes: H04B1, H04M1