Waterproof structure

A waterproof structure, comprising:

• a casing including
• a first case member having a first facing surface, and
• a second case member having a second facing surface,
• the first and second facing surfaces facing one another,
• the first facing surface having
• a first upper surface,
• a first lower surface, and
• a first middle surface,
• the first lower surface being positioned below the first upper surface,
• the first upper and lower surfaces forming a first step,
• the first middle surface being positioned between the first upper and lower surfaces,
• the second facing surface having
• a second upper surface,
• a second lower surface, and
• a second middle surface,
• the second lower surface being positioned below the second upper surface,
• the second upper and lower surfaces forming a second step,
• the second middle surface being positioned between the second upper and lower surfaces and facing the first middle surface,
• the second upper surface facing the first upper surface and being positioned above the first lower surface, the second lower surface facing the first lower surface;
• a gap defined between the first and second facing surfaces;
• and
• a water repellent slit provided in each of the first upper surface, the first lower surface, the second upper surface, and the second lower surface, the water repellent slit extending in a direction in which each of the first and second facing surfaces extends, the direction in which the water repellent slit extends being perpendicular to a direction of liquid droplet ingress, the water repellent slit having unidirectional fine recesses and protrusions that make water repellency anisotropic,
• wherein distal ends of the protrusions on the first upper surface are above distal ends of the protrusions on the second upper surface,
• wherein the unidirectional fine recesses and the protrusions extend from the gap defined between the first and second facing surfaces, and
• wherein positions of the protrusions on the first upper surface are offset with respect to positions of the protrusions on the second upper surface when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first upper surface, and
• wherein positions of the protrusions on the first lower surface are aligned with respect to positions of the protrusions on the second lower surface along the direction in which the water repellent slit extends when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first lower surface.

A waterproof casing, comprising:

• a first case member having a first facing surface and a second case member having a second facing surface, the first and second facing surfaces facing one another,
• the first facing surface having a first upper surface, a first lower surface, and a first middle surface, the first lower surface being below the first upper surface, the first upper and lower surfaces forming a first step, the first middle surface being between the first upper and lower surfaces,
• the second facing surface having a second upper surface, a second lower surface, and a second middle surface, the second lower surface being below the second upper surface, the second upper and lower surfaces forming a second step, the second middle surface being between the second upper and lower surfaces and facing the first middle surface, the second upper surface facing the first upper surface and being above the first lower surface, the second lower surface facing the first lower surface,
• each of the first upper surface, a first lower surface, the second upper surface, and the second lower surface having a multiplicity of annular grooves therein that form recesses and protrusions that make water repellency anisotropic,
• wherein distal ends of the protrusions on the first upper surface are above distal ends of the protrusions on the second upper surface, the distal ends on the first and second upper surfaces defining a gap therebetween that extends linearly across an entirety of the first and second upper surfaces, and
• wherein positions of the protrusions on the first upper surface are offset with respect to positions of the protrusions on the second upper surface when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first upper surface, and
• wherein positions of the protrusions on the first lower surface are aligned with respect to positions of the protrusions on the second lower surface along the annular grooves in the first lower surface when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first lower surface.