WO2001071855A1

WO2001071855A1 - Terminal assembly with waterproof structure

Info

Publication number: WO2001071855A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/000430
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sung Gyun Eun
Original assignee: Sung Gyun Eun
Priority date: 2000-03-20
Filing date: 2001-03-19
Publication date: 2001-09-27
Also published as: AU2001242834A1; KR200198490Y1

Abstract

Disclosed is a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure. The terminal assembly comprises a case having a terminal opening passed therethrough, a housing protruded from the case by a predetermined height, the housing having at least two engaging projections, a sealing member brought into close contact with the circumference of the terminal opening of the housing, the sealing member having a projected portion and processing predetermined elasticit and a plate-shaped configuration, a conductive tip attached to the projected portion, a connecting member disposed in a depression defined on the sealing member so that the connecting member is electrically connected with the conductive tip by the medium of a bridge, a connection plate located on the sealing member so that the connection plate is supported by the sealing member, the connection plate having a slit so that connection flaps are elastically pendent from the connection plate toward the connecting member and being connected through a wire with electric elements, and a pressing member engaged by the engaging projections, for pressing the sealing member and the connection plate to then be closely contacted with the terminal opening.

Description

TERMINAL ASSEMBLY WITH WATERPROOF STRUCTURE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure, and more particularly, to a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure which effectively prevents electric devices such as a mobile phone or a battery for the mobile phone from being corroded or damaged due to permeation of water or adhesion of electrolytic substance through or to terminal parts exposed to the outside for allowing two electric devices to be electrically connected to each other.

Background Art Generally, terminal assemblies are provided to a variety of electric devices including a mobile communication unit, a battery for the mobile communication unit and the like, so as to allow two electronic devices to be electrically connected to each other.

FIG.1 is a schematic diagram showing a construction of a conventional terminal assembly. In the terminal assembly 10, a recess 14 is provided at a predetermined position on an outer surface of a case 12 of a mobile communication unit, a battery for the mobile communication unit and the like, the recess 14 being grooved inward by a predetermined depth.

Also, a terminal opening 16 having a predetermined size is provided at a predetermined position on a side wall of the recess 14, for communicating the interior and exterior of the case 12 with each other. A free end of a terminal 18 which is connected, using existing methods, with various elements (not shown for the sake of simplicity of drawing) arranged in the case 12, passes through the terminal opening 16 to then be bent into a predetermined shape inside the recess 14. Thus, the free end of the terminal 18 projects out of the outer surface of the case 12 with elasticity. The terminal 18 which is exposed to the outside of the case 12 in such a manner, is electrically connected with a corresponding terminal of another electric device, which is also exposed to the outside, thereby allowing the electric device to be supplied with electric power.

Here, a diversity of foreign contaminants such as water or electrolytic substance can permeate into the case 12 through the terminal opening 16 through which the terminal T R01/00

18 passes, to corrode, damage or break various elements including the terminal 18, which are arranged in the case 12. In order to cope with this problem, the size of the terminal opening 16 should be decreased to the minimum so long as the terminal 18 can pass through the terminal opening 16. However, due to the fact that a limitation is imposed on a precision with which the terminal opening 16 is formed, a probability of water or electrolytic substance to permeate into the case 12 is still substantial. Consequently, in the case that a mobile communication unit including a battery inadvertently falls into sea water or aqueous solution containing electrolytic substance, sea water or electrolytic substance can permeate into the case 12 through a gap between an edge surface defining the terminal opening 16 and the terminal 18, and damage the various elements which are arranged in the case 12.

Further, in the case of a charging battery for a mobile communication unit, if the terminal 18 which is exposed to the outside, is inadvertently immersed into aqueous solution containing electrolytic substance, such as sea water, an anode and a cathode of the terminal 18 are electrically connected with each other by the electrolytic substance and thereafter, the cathode of the terminal 18 and parts connected thereto are corroded by the electrolytic substance to then be deformed whereby it is impossible to reuse the battery.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure, which effectively prevents water or electrolytic substance from permeating through terminal parts into a case even when an electric device such as a mobile communication unit including a charging battery is immersed into water or aqueous solution containing electrolytic substance, thereby avoiding corrosion and damage of various elements arranged in the case.

Anther object of the present invention is to provide a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure, which effectively prevents an anode and a cathode of an exposed terminal of a charging battery for a mobile communication unit, from being electrically connected with each other thereby avoiding corrosion and damage of the terminal due to abnormal electrical connection.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure comprising: a case having a terminal opening passed therethrough; a housing protruded from the case by a predetermined height, the housing having at least two engaging projections provided at a center position of an upper end surface thereof; a sealing member brought into close contact with the circumference of the terminal opening of the housing, the sealing member having a projected portion which is fitted through the terminal opening and possessing predetermined elasticity and a plate-shaped configuration; a conductive tip attached to an end surface of the projected portion of the sealing member; a connecting member disposed in a depression defined on an upper surface of the sealing member in a manner such that the connecting member is electrically connected with the conductive tip by the medium of a bridge; a connection plate located on the sealing member so that the connection plate is supported by the sealing member, the connection plate having a slit at a center position thereof in a manner such that connection flaps are elastically pendent from the connection plate toward the connecting member, and being connected through a wire with electric elements which are arranged in the case; and a pressing member engaged by the engaging projections of the housing, for pressing the sealing member and the connection plate to then be closely contacted with the circumference of the terminal opening, the pressing member possessing a plate-shape configuration.

Here, it is preferred that at least one bead portion having a closed loop-shaped contour is formed on the housing around the terminal opening so that sealing efficiency of the sealing member can be advanced. Also, it is preferred that the terminal assembly further comprises an airtightness maintaining member interposed between the connection plate and the pressing member in a manner such that the airtightness maintaining member is squeezed against a side wall of the housing when the pressing member presses the connection plate in a state in which the pressing member is engaged by the engaging projections, so as to further improve the sealing efficiency of the terminal assembly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above object and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a construction of a P R 1/00430

conventional terminal assembly;

FIG. 2 is a partially broken-away exploded perspective view illustrating a construction and an assembling pattern of a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled state of the terminal assembly shown in FIG. 2, viewed along a line HI -HI .

Best mode for carrying out the Invention

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is a partially broken-away exploded perspective view illustrating a construction and an assembling pattern of a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled state of the terminal assembly shown in FIG. 2, viewed along a line HI-HI . Detailed statements for structural parts which are overlapped with those of the conventional terminal assembly will be avoided.

In the terminal assembly 20 with a waterproof structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, a terminal opening 24 which has predetermined width and contour, is provided at a predetermined position on a side wall of a case 22 in which a variety of electric elements are arranged. At least more than one bead portion 26 which have closed loop-shaped contour protruded along the circumference of the terminal opening from the inside wall of the case 22, respectively, are formed on an inner surface of the case 22 around the circumference of the terminal opening 24, the bead portions 26 being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

A housing 28 is integrally coupled to the side wall of the case 22, is separated apart from an outermost bead portion 26 by a predetermined distance and is protruded from the case 22 by a predetermined height. The housing 28 has a predetermined height. At least two engaging projections 30 are provided at the center portion of an upper end surface of the housing 28.

A sealing member 32 is brought into close contact with the inner surface of the case 22 inside the housing 28.

The sealing member 32 is made of material having excellent elasticity and adherence, such as rubber, silicon, urethane, or the like. A projected portion 34 which is to be fitted through the terminal opening 24, is formed on a lower surface of the sealing member 32 corresponding to the terminal opening 24.

Further, a conductive tip 36 is attached to a lower end surface of the projected portion 34 of the sealing member 32. The conductive tip 36 is made of metallic material and is plated with gold (Au). The sealing member 32 is defined, on an upper surface thereof, with a depression which has a predetermined depth. A connecting member 38 which has predetermined cross-sectional area and thickness, is disposed in the depression of the sealing member 32. The conductive tip 36 and the connecting member 38 are electrically connected with each other by the medium of a bridge 40 which extends through the sealing member 32. The bridge 40 is made of metallic material having high conductivity.

The sealing member 32 is formed as described below. That is to say, upper and lower molds (not shown) are assembled with each other in a manner such that a space which is defined between them, corresponds to a desired configuration of the sealing member 32. Then, the conductive tip 36 and the connecting member 38 are centrally positioned in the space in a state in which they are connected with each other by the bridge 40. Thereafter, by pouring fused synthetic resin such as rubber, silicon, urethane or the like, into the space, the sealing member 32 is prepared. In this way, a forming procedure of the sealing member 32 and an assembling procedure of the conductive tip 36 and the connecting member 38 can be implemented with ease.

A connection plate 42 is located on the sealing member 32 inside the housing 28, so that the connection plate 42 is supported by side edges of the sealing member 32 on which the connecting member 38 is formed. The connection plate 42 is bent in such a way as to have predetermined length and configuration.

A slit 44 having a contour which is curved or bent several times, such as of S, W and M, is defined at a center portion of the connection plate 42, in a manner such that connection flaps 46 are elastically pendent from the connection plate 42 toward the connecting member 38. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connection flaps 46 are crossed with each other and elastically curved from the connection plate 42 so that lower ends of the connection flaps 46 approach the connecting member 38 with a predetermined separation.

The connection plate 42 is connected through a wire W with the variety of electric elements (not shown for the sake of simplicity of drawing) which are arranged in the case 22. An airtightness maintaining member 48 is placed on the connection plate 42 in a manner such that the airtightness maintaining member 48 is squeezed against a side wall of the housing 28 so as to ensure airtightness of the entire terminal assembly 20. The airtightness maintaining member 48 is made of synthetic resin having elasticity, such as rubber, silicon, urethane, or the like. Although, the wire W which connects the connection plate 42 to the variety of electric elements extends through the airtightness maintaining member 48, airtightness is maintained between the wire W and an edge surface of the airtightness maintaining member 48, the edge surface defining a hole through which the wire W extends, thanks to a material characteristic of the airtightness maintaining member 48. A pressing member 50 is positioned on the airtightness maintaining member 48 in a manner such that the sealing member 32, the connection plate 42, the airtightness maintaining member 48 and the pressing member 50 are sequentially stacked one up another.

The pressing member 50 functions to press the sealing member 32, the connection plate 42 and the airtightness maintaining member 48 which are sequentially stacked on the housing 28. The pressing member 50 is engaged adjacent to both ends thereof by the engaging projections 30 of the housing 28 to then be supported.

At this time, as can be readily seen from FIG. 3, by force which presses the sealing member 32 against the inner surface of the housing 28, the sealing member 32 is elastically deformed on the bead portions 26 which are formed on the inner surface of the case 22 around the terminal opening 24, whereby the sealing member 32 is brought into closed contact with the bead portions 26 and the inside wall of the housing 28.

The connection plate 42 transmits pressing force of the pressing member 50 to edge portions of the sealing member 32. The connection flaps 46 of the connection plate 42 are maintained at the predetermined separation from the connecting member 38 which is disposed in the depression defined on the upper surface of the sealing member 32.

As a consequence, in the terminal assembly 20 according to this embodiment of the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, due to the fact that the sealing member 32 is brought into close contact with the bead portions 26, the inner surface of the case 22 and the inside wall of the housing 28, it is possible to prevent water or various electrolytic substance from permeating through the terminal opening 24 into the case 22. Also, due to the fact that the connecting member 38 which is electrically connected with the conductive tip 36 by the medium of the bridge 40, is held disconnected from the connection plate 42, two conductive tips 36 of two terminal assemblies 20 which respectively constitute an anode and a cathode cannot be electrically connected with each other unless the two terminal assemblies 20 are normally used. Further, in the case that the above-described construction of the terminal assembly

20 is employed in an electric charger or a battery, as the terminal assembly 20 is mated with a complementary terminal, the conductive tip 36 is pressed inward. By this, the connecting member 38 which is electrically connected with the conductive tip 36 by the medium of the bridge 40, is elastically connected, by the sealing member 32, with the connection flaps 46 of the connection plate 42 which is electrically connected through the wire W with the variety of electric elements which are arranged in the case 22. For example, when charging is completed, the connecting member 38 can be electrically disconnected from the connection flaps 46 of the connection plate 42 by returning force which is developed in the depression of the sealing member 32. As a result, the terminal assembly with a waterproof structure according to the present invention provides advantages as described below. That is to say, since the terminal assembly is configured in a manner such that a sealing member, a connection plate and a pressing member are sequentially stacked one up another in a housing to airtightly close a terminal opening, even in the case that an electric device such as a mobile communication unit including a charging battery, or the like, is immersed into water or aqueous solution containing electrolytic substance, the water or electrolytic substance is prevented from permeating through the terminal opening into a case by the sealing member, whereby corrosion and damage of various elements arranged in the case is avoided.

Moreover, in the case of a charging battery of a mobile communication unit, in a state wherein pressure is not applied from the outside to a connecting member and connection flaps of the connection plate, the connecting member and the connection flaps are held separated from each other, and thereby terminal assemblies which are exposed to the outside, are prevented from being electrically connected with each other, whereby corrosion and damage of terminals is avoided.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included with the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability

The terminal assembly with a waterproof structure according to the present invention effectively can be employed in a variety of electric devices including a mobile communication unit such as a mobile phone or a battery for the mobile communication unit and prevents the electric devices from being corroded or damaged due to permeation of water or adhesion of electrolytic substance through or to terminal parts exposed to the outside for allowing two electric devices to be electrically connected to each other.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A terminal assembly with a waterproof structure, comprising: a case having a terminal opening provided thereon; a sealing member brought into close contact with the circumference of the terminal opening, and including a projected portion made of conductive substance which is fitted through the terminal opening and a connecting member disposed on a surface faced to the projected portion and electrically connected with the projected portion; and a connection plate located on the sealing member so that the connection plate is supported by an upper end surface of the sealing member and a rear wall of the case, the connection plate including connection flaps elastically pendent from the connection plate toward the connecting member, wherein in a case that the projected portion of the sealing member is pressed, the connecting member and the connection plate are connected with each other by the elasticity of the sealing member, to then electrically the projected portion, the connecting member and the connection plate.

2. The terminal assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one bead portion having a closed loop-shaped contour is formed on the inner surface of the case around the terminal opening so that sealing efficiency of the sealing member is improved.

3. A terminal assembly with a waterproof structure, comprising: a case having a terminal opening passed therethrough; a housing protruded from the case by a predetermined height, the housing having at least two engaging projections provided at a center position of an upper end surface thereof; a sealing member brought into close contact with the circumference of the terminal opening of the housing, the sealing member having a projected portion which is fitted through the terminal opening and possessing predetermined elasticity and a plate-shaped configuration; a conductive tip attached to an end surface of the projected portion of the sealing member; a connecting member disposed in a depression defined on an upper surface of the sealing member in a manner such that the connecting member is electrically connected 1 30

with the conductive tip by the medium of a bridge; a connection plate located on the sealing member so that the connection plate is supported by the sealing member, the connection plate having a slit at a center position thereof in a manner such that connection flaps are elastically pendent from the connection plate toward the connecting member, and being connected through a wire with electric elements which are arranged in the case; and a pressing member engaged by the engaging projections of the housing, for pressing the sealing member and the connection plate to then be closely contacted with the circumference of the terminal opening, the pressing member possessing a plate-shaped configuration.

4. The terminal assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one bead portion having a closed loop-shaped contour is formed on the housing around the terminal opening so that sealing efficiency of the sealing member can be advanced

5. The terminal assembly as claimed in claim 3 further comprising an airtightness maintaining member interposed between the connection plate and the pressing member in a manner such that the airtightness maintaining member is squeezed against a side wall of the housing when the pressing member presses the connection plate in a state in which the pressing member is engaged by the engaging projections, so as to further improve the sealing efficiency of the terminal assembly.