GB2106249A - Protective instrument mounting for carrying case - Google Patents

Abstract

A mounting is provided for instruments in a carrying case, so as to protect an instrument so mounted from impact shock, vibration, dust and moisture even when the case cover is removed to allow access to the instrument panel meters, controls, and so forth. The mounting includes a fitting 30 for the top of the wall 11 of the carrying case, which fitting includes a bracket 36 mounting a laminate 40, 42, 44, which provides simultaneously for a moisture, splash and dust barrier, together with an impact shock and vibration barrier. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Protective instrument mounting for carrying case BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an instrument carrying cases which carrying case is arranged to provide protection for the instrument contained therein.

More particularly, this invention relates to a particular mounting between the carrying case and the instrument so as to provide, simultaneously, a dust and moisture barrier, and shock and vibration resistance for the instrument while mounted in the carrying case.

Instruments such as testing, monitoring and measuring instruments, are routinely carried from place to place during use, and as such, are exposed to adverse environmental and handling conditions which lead to the deterioration in the condition and performance of the instrument.

Arrangements are well known for overcoming these conditions by having a sealed instrument case with a cooperating cover which consists of a case body having a frame which is secured and sealed onto the case wall edge. The cooperating cover, which may have a carrying handle, is also provided with a mating frame secured and sealed onto the cover edge in a similar mating fashion.

Generally, the case frame will have a protruding mounting ledge which forms a continuous, flat rectangularsurface without voids. Both the case and the cooperating cover are held together and secured, when the instrument is not in use, by means of a number of upper and lower cooperating locking latches.

While such instrument carrying cases have provided, in the past, protection for splash and immersion, in order to maintain a moisture barrier integrity for the instrument in the carrying case, or alternatively, a shock and vibration protection mounting, one will not provide for the protection of the other. That is, generally, the arrangements for protecting against moisture and providing a moisture barrier have a substantially rigid construction which will not provide proper shock vibration protection. Alternatively, those arrangements which provide proper shock and vibration protection do not maintain a moisture barrier integrity.

With this convention, by contrast, such a mounting is provided which includes, simultaneously, protection for impact shock and vibration protection together with providing a dust and/or moisture barrier.

Specifically, the invention includes a mounting bracket cooperating with the top edge of the case frame which bracket includes an extending support for the shock and moisture barrier of the invention. The barrier of the invention is arranged between this supporting bracket and the front panel of the instrument to be protected. The mounting of the invention includes a shock and vibration absorber upon which a rigid panel mounting frame is arranged. On the rigid panel mounting frame is an elastomeric sealing gasket which receives the bottom face of the front panel of the instrument. The configuration of the invention is such that the mounting frame provides a sturdy support for the instrument panel and chassis system of the instrument without prestressing the shock and vibration absorbing support frame.Thus, the full shock and vibration resistance properties of the shock and vibration absorbing support frame are maintained for absorbing any shocks applied to the carrying case for protecting the instrument mounted thereon. In addition, this laminated construction provides the required sealing integrity necessary for preventing moisture, dust or liquid penetration into the instrument.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a carrying case illustrating the invention; Fig. 2 is a view, partially in section, taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view of a further embodiment of mounting frame of the invention, which may be taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views thereof, Fig. 1 shows an instrument case 10 for use as a carrying case for an instrument 24 mounted therein, with case 10 having a cooperating cover 12. A handle 14 is mounted on cover 12 for carrying the instrument carrying case. Cover 12 has a plurality of locking handles 22 rotatable on pivot mountings 21 on cover 12, which cooperate with latches 1 6 disposed on bracket portion 56 supported on case 10 as described in detail below.

As shown in Fig. 2, a mounting support frame 30, U-shaped in cross section, is shown mounted on the upper edge 32 of wall 11 of case 10. Frame 30 is held in place on top 32 by a sealing compound 34 which may be adhesive Number 1 300L manufactured by the 3M Company. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the U-shaped support frame 30 includes cooperating legs 54, 56 extending along each side edge of wall 11. Leg 54 includes an integral outwardly extending arm 36, and support frame 30 with arm 36 extends around the entire periphery of wall 11.

Shock and vibration absorbing frame 40 is mounted directly on support 36 and is comprised of a relatively soft elastomer, such as a natural or synthetic rubber, Neoprene, or polyurethane.

Frame 40 may be comprised of a plurality of strips of elastomeric material bonded together. Frame 40 has, preferably, a durometer hardness of less than 40. The thickness of this elastomeric frame may be, for example, about 0.625 inches.

Supported on elastomeric frame 40 is a rigid panel mounting frame 42 which may be comprised of a metal such as steel, or a high impact rigid resin material providing a rigid support.

Supported on rigid support frame 42 is an elastomeric sealing gasket 44. Preferably, this material will have a durometer of within the range of between about 40 and 50, and is utilized to provide a moisture barrier between the bottom face of front panel 26 of instrument 24, and metal support frame 42.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, front panel 26 of instrument 24 is bolted to rigid support frame 42 by a plurality of spaced apart screws 50 cooperating with spaced apart tapped bores 62 in panel mounting frame 42 and screw clearance bores 68 in front panel 26. Locking washers 52 may be used to hold screws 50 in place. The shock absorbing frame 40 may include partial bores 60 for receiving the end of screws 50.

Screws 50 have the effect of compressing sealing gasket 44 for enhancing the moisture barrier properties of the mounting.

For adhering the various laminated portions of the mounting of the invention, in accordance herewith together, an adhesive, such as Number 1 300L mentioned above, may be utilized. The cooperating surfaces forming the interface between frame 40, frame 42 and gasket 44 may be first prepared with a cleaning solution such as Toluol our a solvent such as methyl ethyl ketone, prior to the application of the adhesive. As will be appreciated, instrument 24 may comprise a front panel, a chassis and may have a plurality of knobs, such as 28, or meters, depending upon the kind of instrument utilized for support in case 10. As will be appreciated, all components mounted to the front panel and requiring mounting holes have such holes sealed against water penetration, preventing water from flowing from the panel front side to its back face.Cooperating cover 12 of case 10 includes a depending wall 13 having a cooperating closure frame 25 mounted thereon by a sealing compound 27. Closure frame 25 has a cooperative indentation 64 therein for receiving a protrusion 66 on mounting support frame 30 mounted on the lower casing 10.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, upper cooperating latch 1 8 is integral with a support 20 rotatable on pivot mounting 21. A bushing 23 is arranged between mounting 20 and mounting 25. An integral handle 22 is utilized to rotate upper latch 1 8 to cooperate with lower latch 1 6 to lock cover 12 to casing 10, as will be understood.

Referring now to Fig. 3, a further embodiment of mounting support is shown in connection with a mounting support frame 30, mounted on the top edge of wall 11 of lower casing 10. In this embodiment, dual elastomeric frames 72, 74 are arranged above and below arm 36. With this arrangement, a greater degree of impact protection is given because lower elastomeric frame 72 absorbs the "bounce back" or return shock of elastomeric frame 74 with an equal and opposite absorption property. As in the embodiment of Fig. 1 , a gasket 82 similar to gasket 44 receives the bottom surface of the instrument face panel 26, followed by tapped metal frame 80 for receiving connecting screws 86.A standoff 84 receives screw 86 and extends through the layered structure to the opposite end thereof, which receives a screw 88 held in place by a lock washer 90, which bears against a metallic channel extrusion 70. Again, the mating surfaces may be adhered together with an appropriate adhesive, such as Number 1300L mentioned above.

This embodiment is particularly effective in absorbing impact forces when the instrument casing is dropped onto its top, or side.

Thus, as will be appreciated from the above, there is provided, in accordance herewith a carrying case mounting for testing, monitoring, measuring, communications and other types of mechanical and electronic instruments which are exposed to adverse environmental conditions and handling, and which require protection from moisture, immersion, shock, vibration and dust in order to prevent the deterioration of the performance and reliability thereof from such exposure. The arrangement provides protection even when the case cover is removed, allowing the front panel devices such as control knobs, meters, etc., to be exposed when using the instrument. The arrangement, in accordance herewith, provides for the simultaneous protection of such instruments from moisture by providing a closed or open instrument case moisture barrier property to the mounting in combination with a shock and vibration absorbing frame. The arrangement, is such that the shock and vibration absorbing frame is not placed under a pre-stress condition so that all of the absorbing properties thereof may be utilized for the shock and vibration protection required of it.

Claims (14)

1. An instrument mounting for a carrying case, characterized by (a) a mounting frame for mounting along the top edge of a carrying case wall; (b) a support arm extending from the mounting frame; (c) a laminated structure mounted on the support arm the laminated structure comprising (1) a shock absorbing frame positioned on the support arm; (2) a rigid panel mounting frame positioned on the shock absorbing frame; and (3) a sealing gasket positioned on the rigid panel mounting frame; and (d) securing means on the laminated structure for securing the front panel of an instrument to the rigid panel mounting frame.

2. A mounting according to claim 1, wherein the securing means includes a plurality of spaced apart screws extending through the laminated structure and a plurality of cooperating tapped holes in the panel mounting frame for receiving the screws.

3. A mounting according to claim 1 or2, wherein construction is effected using an adhesive on the laminated structure at the interface between the support arm and the shock absorbing frame, at the interface between the shock absorbing frame and the rigid panel mounting frame, and at the interface between the panel mounting frame and the sealing gasket.

4. A mounting according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the shock absorbing frame is comprised of an elastomeric material.

5. A mounting according to claim 4, wherein the elastomeric material has a durometer hardness of 40 or less.

6. A mounting according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the elastomeric frame is about 0.625 inches thick.

7. A mounting according to any preceding claim, wherein the sealing gasket is of an elastomeric material having a durometer hardness within the range of 40 to 50.

8. A mounting according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting frame is U-shaped with a pair of spaced apart legs for extending along each side of an upstanding carrying case wall.

9. A mounting according to any preceding claim, wherein the laminated structure further includes (4) a second shock absorbing frame positioned under the support arm; (5) a channel extrusion positioned under the second shock absorbing frame; and (6) second securing means extending through the laminated structure from the rigid panel mounting frame to the channel extrusion.

10. A mounting according to claim 9, wherein the second securing means includes, a standoff; a top screw extending through the rigid panel mounting frame and into the standoff; and a bottom screw extending through the channel extrusion and into the standoff.

11. An instrument carrying case, comprising (A) a bottom portion having upstanding walls for receiving the chassis of an instrument; (B) a top cover portion having depending walls; (C) cooperating mating tongue and groove means around the periphery of the depending walls and the upstanding walls for maintaining the carrying case closed; (D) spaced cooperating locking means on the bottom portion and the top cover portion for maintaining the carrying case locked; and (E) an instrument mounting as defined in any preceding claim, with the mounting frame along the top edge of the upstanding walls, and the support arm extending from the mounting frame internally of said carrying case.

12. A case according to claim 11, wherein the spaced apart locking means on the bottom portion are mounted on the mounting frame.

13. A case according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the cooperating tongue and groove means on the upstanding walls of the bottom portion are integral with the mounting frame.

14. A case according to claim 11, 12or13, with an instrument secured therein, the front panel of the instrument being secured to the rigid panel mounting frame.