JP3384602B2 - Waterproof portable electric equipment with built-in battery - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waterproof portable electric device incorporating a battery of the present invention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The internal structure of a conventional waterproof type portable electric device is shown in FIGS. The electric equipment shown in these figures is a completely sealed electric toothbrush, and a battery case 2 is built in a main body case 1. Electric equipment used in an environment where water is used, such as an electric toothbrush, can be conveniently used by having a completely watertight structure. In addition, since water does not enter inside, there is a feature that breakdown due to water can be eliminated and the life of the device can be extended.

In the electric toothbrush shown in the figure, a secondary battery is housed in a battery case 2, and the battery case 2 is built in the main body case 1. The battery case 2 protects the secondary battery and prevents the secondary battery from coming into contact with water and corroding. Battery case 2
An outer O-ring 4 is sandwiched between the battery case 2 and the main body case 1 in order to block the water-tight structure.
The outer O-ring 4 prevents water from entering the main body case 1 through the gap between the main body case 1 and the lid case 5.
Furthermore, the outer O-ring 4 needs to block the gas generated inside the battery case 2. This is because if gas generated in the battery case 2 leaks into the main body case 1, there is a risk of ignition.

In the electric toothbrush shown in the figure, an exhaust window 6 is provided in the lid case 5 in order to exhaust the gas generated inside the battery case 2 to the outside of the main body case 1, and the exhaust window 6 is formed by the exhaust sheet 7. It is blocked. The exhaust sheet 7 is a sheet that is permeable to gas but impermeable to water. The electric toothbrush with this structure is designed to remove the gas generated inside the battery case 2,
The exhaust sheet 7 can be exhausted to the outside.

[0005]

However, in the electric toothbrush having this structure, if the outer O-ring is not completely sealed, gas in the battery case may leak to the main body case. Complete gas leakage of the outer O-ring is not easy. This is because the lead wire 8 is arranged on a part of the peripheral edge of the battery case 2 which holds the outer O-ring. The lead wire 8 is necessary for extracting electric power from the battery in the battery case to the main body case. The lead wire is provided in the groove 9 provided on the outer surface of the battery case, and the outer O-ring 4 is provided outside the lead wire. The outer O-ring 4 of this structure cannot completely adhere the entire inner circumference to the outer circumference of the battery case 2. Therefore, gas leakage occurs at the portion where the lead wire 8 is arranged. In order to prevent gas leakage at this portion, conventional electric equipment is coated with caulking material such as silicone rubber. For this reason, there is a drawback that manufacturing is troublesome. Further, if the caulking material is not applied well, gas leakage cannot be completely prevented, and there is a risk that the leaked gas may ignite and ignite electrical contacts in the main body case.

The present invention was developed with the object of solving this drawback. An important object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof portable electric device that can reliably prevent gas leakage from the battery case to the inside of the main body case and that has a built-in battery that can be efficiently mass-produced at low cost.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a waterproof portable electric device incorporating a battery of the present invention has the following configuration. The portable electric device having a waterproof structure has a battery case 2 built in a main body case 1. An outer O-ring 4 is arranged between the battery case 2 and the main body case 1. The outer O-ring 4 blocks the gap between the battery case 2 and the main body case 1 to prevent water from entering. Further, the battery 3 in the battery case 2 has a lead terminal plate 10 for extracting electric power from the battery 3.
Are connected. The battery case 2 has a terminal window 11 opened to draw the lead terminal plate 10 out of the battery case 2. The lead terminal plate 10 arranged in the terminal window 11 is configured to protrude from the inside of the battery case 2 into the main body case 1 so as to extract electric power from the battery 3.

Further, the waterproof portable electric device of the present invention has the following unique structure. An inner O-ring 12 is arranged along the peripheral edge of the terminal window 11. The inner O-ring 12 is hermetically attached to the peripheral edge of the terminal window 11 via the lead terminal plate 10. The inner O-ring 12 is sandwiched between the surface of the lead terminal plate 10 and the peripheral edge of the terminal window 11, and the lead terminal plate 10 hermetically closes the terminal window 11 of the battery case 2 via the inner O-ring 12.

The lead terminal plate 10 may have a through hole 10B for discharging gas from the battery case 2. Lead terminal board 10 having through holes 10B
Closes the through hole 10B with another member. Through hole 10B
The exhaust sheet 7 that allows gas to pass therethrough but does not allow water to pass therethrough is used as the member for closing the above.

[0010]

In the waterproof portable electric device of the present invention, the battery case 2 and the main body case 1 are closed in a watertight structure in an ideal state, and the lead terminal plate 10 is used to move the battery case 2 to the main body case. The electric power is supplied to a load such as a motor provided inside 1. Therefore, the outer O-ring 4 provided between the battery case 2 and the main body case 1 does not require a complete airtight structure between the battery case 2 and the main body case 1. The outer O-ring 4 may prevent water from entering the body case 1 from the outside. That is, in the waterproof portable electric device of the present invention, the outer O-ring 4 prevents water from entering the main body case 1, and the inner O-ring 1
2 and the lead terminal board 10 prevent gas leakage of the battery case 2.

In order to hermetically close the battery case 2 with the inner O-ring 12, the inner O-ring 12 is arranged along the peripheral edge of the terminal window 11 opened in the battery case 2. The inner O-ring 12 is hermetically attached to the peripheral edge of the terminal window 11 by the lead terminal plate 10. In other words, the lead terminal plate 10 sandwiches the inner O-ring 12 to hermetically close the terminal window 11 of the battery case 2.
In this way, the lead terminal board 10 and the inner O-ring 12 are
Like the conventional portable electric device, the portable electric device of the present invention capable of closing the battery case 2 in a completely airtight structure by applying a caulking material between the outer O-ring 4 and the battery case 2 as in the conventional portable electric device. You don't have to.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the examples described below are examples of waterproof portable electric devices for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention provides waterproof portable electric devices as follows. Not specified.

Further, in this specification, for easy understanding of the claims, the numbers corresponding to the members shown in the embodiments are referred to as "claims column", "action column", and "action column". It is added to the members shown in the section of "Means for Solving the Problems". However, the members shown in the claims are
It is by no means specific to the members of the examples.

3 and 4 show a specific example in which the portable electric device having a waterproof structure is an electric toothbrush. The electric toothbrush shown in these figures has an elongated outer shape as shown in FIGS. The electric toothbrush has a charging stand 1 as shown in FIG.
9 is set to charge the built-in secondary battery. In the electric toothbrush, which is a portable electric device, the bottom of the body case 1 is closed by a lid case 5. A toothbrush is connected to the upper part. Although not shown, the main body case 1 has a mechanism for reciprocating the toothbrush and a motor for driving the mechanism.

A secondary battery 3 is built in the main body case 1 for rotating the motor. The secondary battery 3 is housed in the battery case 2 and built in the main body case 1. The body case 1 and the battery case 2 are plastic molded products. The structure in which the secondary battery is built in the main body case 1 is shown in FIGS. In the portable electric device shown in this figure, a battery case 2 in which a battery 3 is airtightly housed is built in a main body case 1. The battery case 2 has a cylindrical shape with an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the main body case 1, and a gap is provided between the battery case 2 and the main body case 1. An outer O-ring 4 is arranged in the gap between the battery case 2 and the main body case 1.

The outer O-ring 4 is arranged at the boundary with the lid case 5 to prevent water from entering through the boundary with the lid case 5. A ridge 13 for preventing the outer O-ring 4 from rising is formed on the outer periphery of the battery case 2. On the inner surface of the lid case 5, the outer O-ring 4
The step portion 14 that presses is formed. The stepped portion 14 of the lid case 5 and the ridge 13 of the battery case 2 press the outer O-ring 4 to fix it in a predetermined position. Outer O
The ring 4 is in close contact with the lower edge of the body case 1 to prevent water from entering from the lid case 5.

A lead terminal plate 10 is connected to the positive electrode of the secondary battery housed in the battery case 2. In order to pull out the lead terminal plate 10 to the outside of the battery case 2, the battery case 2 has a terminal window 11 opened at the lower end. The terminal window 11 is formed on the cylindrical peripheral wall 15. The peripheral wall 15 is formed in a shape having a step on the inner surface of the upper end, and a sandwiching base 16 for closely contacting the inner O-ring 12 is formed. Further, the peripheral wall 15 having the terminal window 11 is provided with a cutout portion 15A for pulling out the protruding portion 10A of the lead terminal plate 10 to the outside.
The depth of the notch 15A is determined by pressing the inner O-ring 12 with the lead terminal plate 10 into which the protrusion 10A is fitted.
Inserting the inner O-ring 12 between the sandwiching stand 16 and the lead terminal board 10
It is designed so that it can be in close contact with the outer circumference.

The inside of the upper portion of the battery case 2 is thickly formed to form the step portion 24. The seal O-ring 17 is inserted in the step portion 24. The seal O-ring 17 inserted here is in close contact with the outer periphery of the upper secondary battery and the inner surface of the battery case 2, and hermetically closes the secondary battery and the inner surface of the battery case 2. Therefore, the gas generated in the battery case 2 is discharged downward from the terminal window 11 at the lower end without leaking upward from the battery case 2.

Lead wires 8 are fixed on opposite sides of the battery case 2. Grooves 9 are provided on both surfaces of the battery case 2 to fix the lead wires 8. One lead wire 8 fitted in the groove 9 (lead wire on the left side in FIG. 3)
Is connected to the lead terminal plate 10 which is connected to + of the secondary battery. The other lead wire 8 (the lead wire on the right side in FIG. 3) passes through a gap between the battery case 2 and the main body case 1 to supply electric power to the motor provided on the upper part of the main body case 1.

The electric toothbrush shown in FIG. 3 has an induction coil 18 for electromagnetic induction built in the lid case 5. The induction coil 18 is a drive coil (not shown) provided on the charging stand 19.
AC is induced from. The alternating current induced in the induction coil 18 is rectified and converted into direct current to charge the secondary battery.
Therefore, the induction coil 18 is a diode (not shown).
Connected to the secondary battery via. As for the induction coil 18, when the electric toothbrush is set on the charging stand 19 as shown in FIG. 7, an alternating current is induced from the drive coil of the charging stand 19. The charging stand 19 shown in FIG. 7 has a cylindrical detachable support column 20 into which the lower end of the electric toothbrush is inserted and set. When the lower end of the electric toothbrush is inserted into the detachable support 20, the charging stand 1
An alternating current is induced in the induction coil 18 of the electric toothbrush from the drive coil incorporated in the battery 9, and the secondary battery is continuously charged. As described above, the electric device that charges the secondary battery by inducing an alternating current in the induction coil 18 by electromagnetic induction has a feature that the main body case 1 can be an ideal waterproof structure as a completely sealed structure.

The lead terminal plate 10 provided in the terminal window 11 of the battery case 2 is a metal plate cut into a disk shape, and has projecting portions 10A at two locations on the outer circumference. Lead terminal board 1
0 is fitted and disposed inside the peripheral wall 15 of the terminal window 11. Therefore, the lead terminal board 10 is cut into a disk-shaped outer shape that is slightly smaller than the inner shape of the peripheral wall 15. The protruding portion 10 </ b> A of the lead terminal board 10 is provided with the cutout portion 15 of the peripheral wall 15.
It is arranged at a position fitted in A. Lead terminal board 1
The center of 0 is bent upward and is elastically pressed against the + pole of the secondary battery housed in the battery case 2. Gas in the battery case 2 is discharged through the through hole 10B at the center of the lead terminal plate 10.

An exhaust sheet 7 is laminated below the lead terminal plate 10 in order to close the through hole 10B of the lead terminal plate 10. The exhaust sheet 7 is a thin sheet material that is permeable to gas but impermeable to water. The exhaust sheet 7 is cut into a disk shape that is larger than the through hole 10B and smaller than the outer shape of the lead terminal plate 10 so that the through hole 10B of the lead terminal plate 10 can be closed. The exhaust sheet 7 has an exhaust hole 23 formed in the lid case 5 by the lead terminal plate 10.
Be in close contact with.

The lid case 5 has a cylindrical shape with a closed lower end,
A female screw is formed inside the upper end of the main body case 1 so as to be screwed into and fixed to the lower end opening. Body case 1
The lower end of is formed with a male screw that can be connected by screwing the female screw of the lid case 5. Further, the lid case 5 has an inner cylinder 21 formed on the bottom surface thereof to form a concave portion opened downward. An induction coil 18 wound around a bobbin 22 is incorporated outside the inner cylinder 21. An exhaust hole 23 is opened at the center of the upper end of the inner cylinder 21. Further, a ring 25 is formed on the upper end surface of the inner cylinder 21. The outer diameter of the ring 25 is formed to be substantially equal to the inner diameter of the inner O-ring 12 that presses the lower surface of the lead terminal plate 10. Further, a groove for guiding the exhaust sheet 7 is formed on the inner periphery of the upper surface of the ring 25.

The bobbin 22 is formed by molding plastic into a cylindrical shape, and the induction coil 18 is wound around the lower end of the bobbin 22.
Separated from the top and bottom, the two collars are integrally molded. Bobbin 2
As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG.
It is formed into a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter into which the peripheral wall 15 at the lower end of is inserted.

The lid case 5 of this structure is screwed into the main body case 1 and, as shown in FIG.
Then, the lead terminal board 10 and the exhaust sheet 7 are fixed at predetermined positions. The electric toothbrush shown in this figure has a lid case 5
At the upper end of the inner cylinder 21 of the lower inner O-ring 12,
The exhaust sheet 7 and the lead terminal plate 10 are closely attached. The lead terminal plate 10 is sandwiched between the upper and lower inner O-rings 12 to seal the terminal window 11 of the battery case 2 in a watertight manner. In this way, the inner O-ring 1 is placed above and below the lead terminal board 10.
The structure of sandwiching with 2 has a feature that the terminal window 11 of the battery case 2 can be more surely closed. However, the lead terminal board 10
The inner O-ring 12 on the lower surface of is not necessarily required. This is because the inner O-ring 12 on the upper surface of the lead terminal plate 10 is in close contact with the terminal window 11 so that the terminal window 11 can be watertightly closed.

[0026]

Industrial Applicability The portable electric device of the present invention, which has a built-in battery and has a waterproof structure, has features that it can surely prevent gas leakage from the battery case into the main body case and can be mass-produced inexpensively and efficiently. This is because the ingress of water into the body case is blocked by the outer O-ring, and the gas leakage from the battery case is blocked by the lead terminal plate and the inner O-ring.
The structure in which the inner O-ring is brought into close contact with the terminal window of the battery case and the lead terminal plate is brought into close contact with the O-ring has a feature that gas leakage from the terminal window of the battery case can be reliably prevented. This structure has a feature that the terminal window of the battery case can be closed to an airtight structure that does not leak gas even though the lead terminal plate is projected outside from the battery case. Therefore, the portable electric device of the present invention has a feature that it can be used safely without the risk of gas leakage from the battery case to the body case and ignition.

Further, in the portable electric device of the present invention, the terminal window of the battery case is hermetically closed by the inner O-ring and the lead wire to prevent gas leakage. Therefore, it is not necessary to prevent gas leakage from the battery case. Therefore, it is not necessary to fill the gap between the outer O-ring and the lead wire with the caulking material to prevent gas leakage. This simplifies the manufacturing process and realizes the feature that mass production can be performed efficiently. In addition, the conventional portable electric device that prevents gas leakage by coking has a drawback that gas leaks when the coking condition is poor. In particular, in the structure in which the battery case and the outer O-ring are caulked and hermetically closed, there is a gap between the lead wire and the surface of the battery case, and the lead wire and the O
Since there is also a gap between the rings, great care must be taken to hermetically close both gaps. On the other hand, the portable electric device of the present invention has a feature that it is not necessary to caulk, and the terminal window can be reliably and airtightly closed by the inner O-ring and the lead wire. Therefore, the waterproof portable electric device of the present invention can be mass-produced easily and easily, efficiently and inexpensively, and realizes an ideal feature that ignition caused by gas leakage can be extremely reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional portable electric device having a waterproof structure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a portable electric device having a waterproof structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a lower portion of a portable electric device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the portable electric device shown in FIG.

5 is a front view showing the entire electric toothbrush which is the portable electric device shown in FIG.

6 is a side view showing the entire electric toothbrush which is the portable electric device shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state where the electric toothbrush which is the portable electric device shown in FIG. 3 is set on the charging stand.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body case 2 ... Battery case 3 ... Battery 4 ... Outer O-ring 5 ... Lid case 6 ... Exhaust window 7 ... Exhaust sheet 8 ... Lead wire 9 ... Groove 10 ... Lead terminal board 10A ... Projection part 10
B ... Through hole 11 ... Terminal window 12 ... Inner O-ring 13 ... Convex strip 14 ... Step 15 ... Peripheral wall 15A ... Notch 16 ... Clamping stand 17 ... Seal O-ring 18 ... Induction coil 19 ... Charging stand 20 ... Detaching support 21 ... Inner cylinder 22 ... Bobbin 23 ... Exhaust hole 24 ... Step 25 ... Ring

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A main body case (1) includes a battery case (2) containing a battery (3), and a lid case (5) for closing the bottom of the main body case (1). Between the battery case (2) and the body case (1), the body case (1)
An outer O-ring (4) is disposed at the boundary between the lid case (5) and the lid case (5).
The gap between (2) and the body case (1) is blocked, and the lead terminal plate (10) is connected to the battery (3) in the battery case (2). There is a terminal window (11) that opens the lead terminal plate (10) to the outside of the battery case (2).
A lead terminal plate (10) arranged in the terminal window (11) and having a through hole 10B in the center is projected from the inside of the battery case (2) to take out electric power from the battery (3). In a portable electric device having a waterproof structure, the inner O-ring (12) is provided along the periphery of the terminal window (11).
The inner O-ring (12) is hermetically adhered to the periphery of the terminal window (11) through the lead terminal plate (10), and the surface of the lead terminal plate (10) and the terminal window The upper inner O-ring (12) is sandwiched between the peripheral edge of (11) and the lead terminal plate (10) opens the terminal window (11) of the battery case (2) through the upper inner O-ring (12). The lid case (5) is airtightly closed, and the exhaust hole (23) is formed at the center of the bottom surface side.
And a ring (25) is formed inside the bottom side, and the lower inner O-ring (12) is the ring of the lid case (5).
A portable electric device of a waterproof structure having a built-in battery (3), which is in close contact between the (25) and the back surface of the lead terminal plate (10). 2. The battery (3) according to claim 1, wherein an exhaust sheet (7) which is permeable to gas but impermeable to water is in close contact with the exhaust hole (23) of the lid case (5). A portable electric device with a built-in waterproof structure.