Enclosure for housing electronic components

Abstract

An improved device for providing EMI/RFI shielding for a joint is disclosed comprising a compressible, resilient sealing element and a conductive shielding element bonded to the sealing element and positioned such that the shielding element provides a direct electrical contact across the joint. The disclosed invention further provides a cabinet which effectively utilizes such a device. The disclosed invention also includes an improved cabinet construction which minimizes the paths by which moisture and debris may enter the cabinet interior, while providing a cabinet which is transportable without violating the integrity of the cabinet structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cabinet comprising: a corner member having a plurality of brackets extending therefrom and positioned normal to one another.[...]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   a plurality of frame members corresponding to said plurality of brackets, one of said frame members being slidably positioned over each of said brackets and abutting said corner member;   .Iadd.a projection extending upwardly from said corner member, said projection having a lateral surface; .Iaddend.   .[.a.]. .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.flange extending upwardly from each of said plurality of frame members; and   a top panel .Iadd.having lateral edges and .Iaddend.having a downwardly extending lip formed around .Iadd.a portion of .Iaddend.its .Iadd.outer .Iaddend.periphery, said top panel being positioned atop said plurality of frame members such that said lip on said top panel is disposed exteriorly of said flange on said plurality of frame members such that said flange extends upwardly toward said top panel at a point inside .Iadd.the .Iaddend.outer periphery .Iadd.and said lateral surface of said projection abuts said lateral edges of said top panel.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said frame members are bonded to one another. 
     
     
       3. The cabinet of claim 1, further comprising a gasket attached to said flange on each of said plurality of frame members, a portion of said gasket extending between said top panel and said flange to effect a seal between said top panel and said flange. .[.4. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said top panel further comprises lateral edges, and wherein said corner member further comprise a projection extending upwardly therefrom and having a lateral surface abutting said lateral edges of said top 
     
     
        Panel..]. 5. The cabinet of claim .[.4.]..Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein said projection has a height substantially corresponding to the height of said 
     
     
        top panel. 6. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said top panel further comprises rectangular cutouts defined in each corner of said top panel, and wherein said .[.corner member further comprises a.]. projection .[.extending.]. .Iadd.extends .Iaddend.upwardly .[.therefrom.]. .Iadd.from said corner member .Iaddend.and .[.projecting.]. .Iadd.projects 
     
     
        .Iaddend.through .Iadd.one of .Iaddend.said cutouts in said top panel. 7. The cabinet of claim 3, wherein said gasket comprises: a sealing device including a compressible, resilient elongate head and a pair of legs extending downwardly from said elongate head, said flange being positioned between said legs; and   a conductive material disposed between said legs in contact with said flange and extending upwardly along the outer surface of one of said legs and a portion of said elongate head, such that said conductive material and said compressible resilient head may directly contact said panel for substantially shielding said joint against the passage of RF waves,   
     
     
        moisture and debris through said joint. 8. The cabinet of claim 6, wherein said rectangular cutouts define .Iadd.said .Iaddend.lateral edges .[.and said projection defines a lateral surface positioned to abut said lateral 
     
     
        edges.].. .Iadd.9.  A cabinet comprising: a corner member having three brackets extending therefrom and positioned normal to one another;   three hollow frame members corresponding to said plurality of brackets, one of said frame members being slidably positioned over each of said brackets and abutting said corner member;   each of said frame members defining a pair of elongate flanges extending outwardly from said frame member;   a plurality of nipples positioned between said frame members and the respective brackets on which the frame members are slidably positioned, said nipples forcing the frame members into a predetermined configuration wherein respective interior edges of the frame members abut one another to form three orthogonal lines of intersection;   each flange of each of said frame members meeting a flange of an adjacent frame member along one of the three orthogonal lines of intersection to form three flange corners;   a continuous weldment joining said adjacent frame members and their flange corners along said three orthogonal lines of intersection;   said flanges receiving uninterrupted gasket material extending around said three flange corners; and   three panels each having an inwardly extending lip formed along its periphery, said panels being positioned such that said lip of each of said panels is disposed exteriorly of one of said flanges such that said flanges extend outwardly toward said panels at a location inside the periphery of said panels;   said panels engaging said gasket material to effect seals between said flanges and said panels, said seals and said weldment isolating said   
     
     
        corner member from the interior of said cabinet. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10.  A cabinet comprising: a corner member having a plurality of brackets extending therefrom and positioned normal to one another;   a plurality of frame members corresponding to said plurality of brackets, one of said frame members being slidably positioned over each of said brackets and abutting said corner member;   a flange extending upwardly from each of said plurality of frame members; and   a top panel having a downwardly extending lip formed around its periphery and defining rectangular cutouts in each corner of said top panel, said top panel being positioned atop said plurality of frame members such that said lip on said top panel is disposed exteriorly of said flange on said plurality of frame members such that such flange extends upwardly toward said top panel at a point inside the outer periphery of said top panel; and   a projection extending upwardly from said corner member through one of said cutouts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The cabinet of claim 10, wherein said rectangular cutouts define lateral edges and said projection defines a lateral surface positioned to abut said lateral edges. .Iaddend.