AU2015249053B2

AU2015249053B2 - Two-part snap seal housing

Info

Publication number: AU2015249053B2
Application number: AU2015249053A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nicholas Dobson; Matthew James Harvey
Original assignee: OCEAN VISION ENVIRONMENTAL RES Pty Ltd; Ocean Vision Environmental Research Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Ocean Vision Environmental Research Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-10-28
Filing date: 2015-10-27
Publication date: 2021-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2035-10-27

Abstract

: A protective housing for small sensitive components comprises two identical tough, pressure-rated casings (1) with a central cavity (2), grooves (3) for a replaceable sealing O-ring and interlocking lugs (4) to clip the two casings together to form the housing. Four mounting holes (5) are provided in each casing for securing the housing. It may be secured by up to four screws, for example. -41 ac~oa

Description

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TITLE: TWO-PART SNAP SEAL HOUSING DESCRIPTION: FIELD:

[0001] The invention relates to the protection of small sensitive components from field environmental conditions including immersion in water, physical damage or tampering within a convenient, tough and cost-effective casing.

BACKGROUND:

[0002] Small sensitive components are from time to time exposed to harsh environment in which they are susceptible to damage. This may for example occur in the course of scientific testing or measurement, or in a wide range of other situations and circumstances. Without in any way limiting the application of the present invention, one common example relates components to measure and record temperature for various commercial and scientific purposes. One type of application (among many) where additional protection is needed is, for example, recording temperature in underwater shallow marine environments in which an IP67 rated enclosure is required.

[0003] In all such circumstances, sensitive components need improved protection. A housing in accordance with the present invention has been devised to provide such improved protection in a convenient and cost-effective manner.

[0004] The invention provides a cost effective, tough and convenient housing to protect small sensitive components in a range of environments in which immersion in shallow water occurs in the field or laboratory.

SUMMARY:

[0005] A housing for small sensitive components in accordance with this invention comprises two identical casings with a suitably shaped central cavity, a surrounding groove to enclose a replaceable sealing O-ring and interlocking lugs to clip the two casings together and thereby form the protective housing. The embodiment requires no further connectors to ensure the integrity of the housing and by design is self-sealing as the lugs interlock augmented by external pressure as depth increases, for example, underwater.

[0006] In the light of the description of the invention provided, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the basic inventive concepts.

[0007] The internal shape of the present embodiment is intended to house and protect a flat circular button-shaped component but numerous variations can be made, for example to vary the internal shape to house and protect numerous other devices.

[0008] The casings are preferably manufactured from tough, glass-fibre filled nylon, but could also be constructed from a wide range of metallic or other materials with sufficient modulus of elasticity to support the housing closure integrity.

[0009] The housing is preferably waterproof and pressure-rated for use in underwater environments, but may alternatively be constructed as a purely dustproof embodiment.

[0010] Special features may be incorporated into the casing design to give additional leverage in rotation of the casings to open the housing in circumstances when it may be tightly closed (e.g. after prolonged use underwater).

[0011] The present embodiment allows the housing to be verifiably secured closed with a cable tie for applications requiring security tagging or to prevent accidental opening of the housing while deployed.

[0012] The housing may be mounted in a variety of ways, including cable ties to a mooring rope or steel peg for underwater applications, surface mounted using up to four screws through mounting holes which are secret and inaccessible when the housing is closed. These screw fixing may take the form of countersunk head machine screws tightened from the mating surface side prior to assembly of the casing to form the housing, or alternatively could be tightened externally with the use of NylocTM nuts hand pressed into the hexagonal internal apertures provided in each casing.

[0013] As an alternative, the housing may be mounted temporarily to metal surfaces (e.g. in coolrooms) using an optional rare earth magnet attachment or, for example, by rare earth magnets shaped to be inserted internally within the casing - for instance, within the aforementioned hexagonal apertures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0014] Embodiments of the invention will now be described below with reference to the following drawings in which:

[0015] Figures 1 and 2 are isometric views of the casing showing the overall features of the present embodiment, with Figure 1 also including a detailed view of a typical interlocking lug.

[0016] Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the housing formed by clicking together two casings, including a partial cutaway view.

[0017] Figure 4 is a plan of the casing looking at the mating surface and a detailed view of a typical mounting hole.

[0018] Figure 5 is an elevation or side view of the casing together with a sectional elevation, which in this case illustrates the mounting holes not yet fully drilled through to the outer surface.

[0019] Figure 6 is a plan of the casing looking at the outer surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

[0020] The embodiment of the housing in accordance with the present invention comprises two identical casings (1) each with a central cavity (2) surrounded by a groove (3) to house a replaceable sealing O-ring and four interlocking lugs (4) to clip the two casings together to form the housing.

[0021] Referring specifically to Figure 3, the mating faces of two casings (1) are brought together with the component to be protected, shown in a stylised button-shaped form (9), in place in the central cavity and a suitable O-ring in place in the groove (3) and rotated in opposite directions in such manner that the each pair of lugs (4) - one from each casing engage with one another, snap together and co-act to hold the housing so formed securely and tightly together.

[0022] Referring specifically to Figure 4, four mounting holes (5) are provided in the casing for screw mounting, as required, of one of the casings to an appropriate mounting bracket or mounting surface before the housing is assembled. Once the housing is assembled, the mountings screws or NylocTMnutsare secret (that is, not visible and inaccessible against tampering). The detailed view in Figure 4 illustrates the mounting hole including the hexagonal shape (6) to secure a NylocTM nut forsuitable mounting screw tightened from outside the casing, for example, and also the countersunk shape (7) for a suitable mounting screw tightened from the mating surface before housing assembly.

[0023] Figure 5 also shows sectional views of the hexagonal apertures (6) and the countersunk shapes (7), as discussed in the previous paragraph.

[0024] Referring specifically to Figure 5, the shape of the outer surface of the casing incorporates a series of what may be described as protrusions (8) which can be used as leverage points for use by hand or by such tools as a screwdriver shaft to gain additional leverage in counter rotation of the casings to aid in opening the housing in circumstances where it may be tightly closed.

[0025] Similarly, the mating surface of the casing is so shaped as to mate with the outer surface of an assembled housing, as an alternative method to gain additional leverage for opening the housing (with the aid of a spare casing mounted to a suitable handle attachment).

[0026] Figure 3 includes an illustration of one of several optional methods to mount the housing to an adjacent fixture, or to secure or tag the housing closed, e.g. by use of one or more cable ties (10).

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A housing comprising two identical casings and a sealing ring, each said casing with a central cavity surrounded by a peripheral surface incorporating a groove, the said casings arranged to cooperate together to provide a seal around the cavity and each with interlocking features to clip the said casings together to form a sealed protective housing to prevent physical damage, water ingress or particulate ingress of a sensitive device or component to be protected without requiring any further connectors to ensure the integrity of the housing.
2. The housing as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said interlocking features are in the form of lugs which, when rotated in opposite directions about the same central axis, engage with one another, snap together and co-act to hold the housing so formed securely and tightly together.
3. The housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said casings are made from glass-fibre filled nylon or metallic materials or other materials with sufficient modulus of elasticity to support the closure integrity of the said housing.
4. The housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said central cavity may be of various sizes or shaped in various forms to house and protect a variety of devices or components.
5. The housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the outer surface of the said casings incorporates a series of protrusions which can be used as leverage points for use by hand or by such tools as a screwdriver shaft to gain additional leverage in counter rotation of the said casings to aid in opening the said housing in circumstances where it may be tightly closed.
6. The housing as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 inclusive wherein the mating surface of the said casing is so shaped that an identical independent casing can mate with the outer surface of an assembled said housing, and be used as an alternative approach to gain additional leverage for opening the said housing (with the aid of said independent casing mounted to a suitable handle attachment).
7. A method of using the housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims to protect a sensitive device or component against physical damage, water ingress or particulate ingress by placing the device or component in said housing.
8. A method of using the housing as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 inclusive, specifically to separate the casings in order to remove a sensitive device or component from said housing, using the features as claimed in claim 5.
9. A method of using the identical independent casing as claimed in claim 6, specifically to open said housing in order to remove a sensitive device or component from said housing, using the features as claimed in claim 6.