Patent Publication Number: US-2010108682-A1

Title: Waterproof cover assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a waterproof cover assembly, especially to a waterproof cover assembly for protecting electronic devices on yachts. 
     2. Description of the Prior Arts 
     The electronic devices such as stereos used on the yachts usually needs waterproof cover assembly to keep the electronic devices from being splashed. A conventional waterproof cover assembly as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,965, which is incorporated herein by reference, comprises a waterproof cover pivotally attached to the stereo-mounting frame. To keep the cover to maintain at predetermined open angle, the frame has a polygonal socket and the waterproof cover has a polygonal stub. With the engagement between the socket and the stub, the cover is selectively maintained at three opening angles. However, when the stub is pivoted relative in the socket, the sharp around the sidewall of the polygonal stub abrades the inner wall of the polygonal socket. After long time use, the sharp of the polygonal stub is worn down. Therefore the conventional waterproof cover assembly does not provide engagement to maintain the opening angle after long-term use. 
     To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a waterproof cover assembly to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main objective is to provide a waterproof cover assembly that provides a long-term positioning function. 
     The waterproof cover assembly has a frame and a lid. The frame has a pivoting recess and two mounting notches. The mounting notches are formed respectively in ends of the pivoting recess. Each mounting notch has a polygonal pivoting hole, an opening and an extending slot. The opening and the extending slot are formed oppositely in the corresponding end of the pivoting recess and align to each other. The lid is connected pivotally to the frame and has a pintle with two polygonal positioning ends. The polygonal positioning ends are mounted rotatably in the polygonal pivoting holes of the mounting notches. When the lid is pivoted and the positioning ends and the pivoting holes match to each other, the engagement between the positioning ends and the pivoting holes holds the lid at a predetermined opening angle. When the lid is pivoted and the positioning ends and the pivoting holes are unmatched to each other, the openings and the extending slots are expanded to allow the pivoting holes and the positioning ends not tightly abutting each other. Therefore, the pivoting holes and the positioning ends are kept from being worn down to provide long-term positioning function. 
     Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a waterproof cover assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the waterproof cover assembly in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view in partial section of the waterproof cover assembly in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an operational perspective view of the waterproof cover assembly in  FIG. 1  showing the lid is opened; 
         FIG. 5  is an operational side view in partial section of the waterproof cover assembly in  FIG. 1  showing the lid is opened; and 
         FIG. 6  is an operational perspective view of another embodiment of a waterproof cover assembly in accordance with the present invention showing the lid is opened. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a waterproof cover assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a frame ( 10 ), a lid ( 20 ), a bottom gasket ( 30 ) and a middle gasket ( 40 ). 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the frame ( 10 ) has a top surface, a bottom surface, a pivoting side, a holding side, a mounting space, a pivoting recess ( 12 ), two mounting notches ( 13 ) and a holding recess ( 14 ). The holding side is opposite to the pivoting side. 
     The mounting space is formed in the top surface. The mounting space may be a through hole ( 11 ). With further reference to  FIG. 6 , the mounting space may be a receiving room ( 11 A). 
     The pivoting recess ( 12 ) is formed in the pivoting side through the top surface of the frame ( 10 ) and has two ends. 
     The mounting notches ( 13 ) are formed respectively in the ends of the pivoting recess ( 12 ). each mounting notch ( 13 ) has a pivoting hole ( 131 ), an opening ( 132 ) and an extending slot ( 133 ). The pivoting hole ( 131 ) is polygonal and is formed in the corresponding end of the pivoting recess ( 12 ). The opening ( 132 ) is formed in the top surface of the frame ( 10 ), is formed in the corresponding end of the pivoting recess ( 12 ) and communicates with the pivoting hole ( 131 ). The extending slot ( 133 ) is formed in the corresponding end of the pivoting recess ( 12 ) near the bottom surface of the frame ( 10 ), communicates with the pivoting hole ( 131 ) and aligns with the opening ( 132 ). 
     The holding recess ( 14 ) is formed in the pivoting side through the top and bottom surfaces of the frame ( 10 ). 
     The lid ( 20 ) is connected pivotally to the frame ( 10 ) and has a roof ( 21 ), a ring ( 22 ), a pintle ( 23 ) and a pawl ( 24 ). The roof ( 21 ) is mounted on and covers the top surface of the frame ( 10 ). The roof ( 21 ) may be transparent (as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 ) or opaque (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) and has an annular edge ( 211 ). The ring ( 22 ) is formed transversely around the annular edge ( 211 ) of the roof ( 21 ) and has a bottom surface. The pintle ( 23 ) is formed on the bottom surface of the ring ( 22 ), corresponds to and is mounted in the pivoting recess ( 12 ) of the frame ( 10 ) and has two positioning ends ( 231 ). The positioning ends ( 231 ) are polygonal and correspond to and are respectively mounted rotatably in the pivoting holes ( 131 ) of the mounting notches ( 13 ). The pawl ( 24 ) is formed on the bottom surface of the ring ( 22 ) and selectively engages the holding recess ( 14 ) of the frame ( 10 ). 
     The bottom gasket ( 30 ) is mounted on the bottom surface of the frame ( 10 ) around the mounting space. 
     The middle gasket ( 40 ) is mounted between the top surface of the frame ( 10 ) and the ring ( 22 ) of the lid ( 20 ). The middle gasket ( 40 ) may be attached securely on the bottom surface of the ring ( 22 ), or may be attached securely on the top surface of the frame ( 10 ). 
     The waterproof cover assembly as described is used to protect an electronic device on a yacht from splashing. The roof ( 21 ) covers the electronic device to keep the electronic device from being splashed. The electronic device is received in the mounting space of the frame ( 10 ). The electronic device may be a stationary device such as a stereo that is mounted in the through hole ( 11 ). The electronic device may be a portable device such as an MP3 player that is mounted in the receiving room ( 11 A). 
     With further reference to  FIG. 5 , the lid ( 20 ) is pivoted. When the polygonal positioning ends ( 231 ) match with the polygonal pivoting holes ( 131 ), the engagement between the polygonal positioning ends ( 231 ) and the polygonal pivoting holes ( 131 ) provides the positioning function to hold the lid ( 20 ) at a predetermined opening angle. When the positioning ends ( 231 ) of the pintle ( 23 ) is rotated to be unmatched with the pivoting holes ( 131 ), the openings ( 132 ) and the extending slots ( 133 ) are expanded. Because the extending slots ( 133 ) and the openings ( 132 ) allow the pivoting holes ( 131 ) to be expanded widely enough, the pivoting holes ( 131 ) and the positioning ends ( 231 ) do not tightly abut each other. Therefore, the pivoting holes ( 131 ) and the positioning ends ( 231 ) are kept from being worn down. Thus, the waterproof cover assembly as described provides long-term positioning function. 
     Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.