Rugged enclosure with pass through energy management ribs
US6719381B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29C45/1676
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A protective enclosure is disclosed that provides protection and energy management for a sensitive or fragile part or device that can be enclosed. The enclosure comprises one or more rigid structural components and one or more soft touch surface components from which one or more ribs originate and pass through the rigid structural component(s) to provide the energy management for the part or device when it is enclosed. The soft touch surface and rib material can be a low modulus, plastic material such as a thermoplastic elastomer and can optionally be foamed to provide further softness for the soft touch surface effect and/or for the energy management needs in the pass through ribs. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a particularly suitable thermoplastic. It has also been found that the protective enclosure can be designed to utilize the soft touch component to provide a substantially continuous liquid and dust resistant seal for any moveable or removable structural components. Preferably the pass through ribs and the soft touch surface are molded onto the first rigid component(s) by molding them onto the first component using a two shot molding, insert molding or overmolding proc…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.