Patent · US Expired

Enclosure with spill-resistant ventilation for electronic equipment

US5458408A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
5References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 6, 1993
Grant dateOct 17, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 6, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05K7/20009
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An enclosure for electronic equipment is disclosed having a series of vents arranged for ventilating the enclosure while minimizing flowing of spilled liquid into the enclosure through the vents. A series of vent pockets is formed in a side wall of the enclosure, extending downward from a top surface of the enclosure so that spilled liquid flows downward into the vent pockets. The vent pockets have a generally u-shaped configuration with an aperture extending through one of the side walls for ventilation. The apertures thus are formed in a plane substantially orthogonal to the top surface and the side wall of the enclosure. A liquid flow path through the vent pocket diverts the spilled liquid away from the aperture, so as to minimize flow of the liquid through the aperture into the enclosure. Another aspect of the invention is a low-cost method of making the enclosure by injection molding.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.