CN214900240U - Elastic material portable power source - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides an elastic material portable power source, portable power source have the casing and center on the peripheral elastomeric material who extends of casing, the casing has: an upper portion having a peripheral edge; and a lower portion having a peripheral edge; elastomer material inwards and outwards extends to the peripheral edge on upper portion and the peripheral edge of lower part from the casing, the utility model provides an elastomer portable power source can greatly reduce the damage that portable power source received under the condition that drops.

Description

Elastic material portable power source

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a portable power source field especially indicates an elastic material portable power source.

Background

The use of portable electronic devices has increased dramatically over the last two decades, with most people carrying cell phones. In addition to smart phones, a wide variety of other portable electronic devices also exist: two-way radio, range finder, video recording device, wireless headset, portable internet hotspot, portable gaming device, tablet computer, GPS device, electronic camera, and MP3 player. All of these devices require power, and when one attempts to charge a device that is exhausted or is about to be exhausted, one typically crowds around power outlets in airports and other public places, and requires the use of a mobile power source to charge the device when there is no outlet around it.

Due to the widespread use of portable electronic devices, the use of portable mobile power sources has also increased. Many portable mobile power sources include a battery and at least one power port. For many portable electronic devices, power is provided through a USB port and a USB cable is used to connect the electronic device to a portable mobile power source. A portable mobile power supply will typically include a battery having a higher storage capacity than the battery of a single portable electronic device. Therefore, the portable mobile power source can charge the mobile phone, the notebook computer and the like for a plurality of times after being charged once. Thus, a personal portable mobile power source can charge one or more devices multiple times without having to look for and wait at a power outlet. There are also other types of portable mobile power supplies that may include only a small battery that can provide a single charge and is more portable.

A common problem with portable mobile power supplies is power supply damage. As with portable electronic devices, portable mobile power sources can be carried in a variety of situations. Some people use the portable mobile power supply when traveling, and the power supply can be damaged due to collision, falling and the like; some people use portable electronic devices in remote areas, such as hunting, camping, fishing, etc., where the power source may be damaged by water and other environmental factors; still others use portable mobile power sources and the like at locations where power may be lacking, such as construction sites. In all of these environments, portable power supplies may be damaged by falling on hard surfaces, falling into water or mud, splashing liquid thereon, being left on a shelf, and the like.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The utility model discloses an above-mentioned defect among the prior art is overcome to main aim at, provides an elastic material portable power source, can greatly reduce the damage that portable power source received under the condition that drops.

The utility model adopts the following technical scheme:

an elastomeric mobile power source having a housing and an elastomeric material extending around a periphery of the housing, the housing having: an upper portion having a peripheral edge; and a lower portion having a peripheral edge; the elastomeric material extends inwardly and outwardly from the shell to an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge.

In particular, the upper portion and the lower portion are connected by a snap fit.

In particular, the elastomeric material has a plurality of protrusions disposed at corners of the housing.

In particular, the elastic material forms at least one power button.

In particular, the shell thereof has a lateral surface and the elastomeric material extends with a first thickness along said lateral surface, while at the projection the elastomeric material has a second thickness greater than said first thickness.

Specifically, the method further comprises the following steps: a circuit board having thereon an electric circuit connected to the battery through a plurality of leads, and a sealing member provided around the leads in the form of a coating or grommet; and the waterproof layer is arranged above the circuit on the circuit board.

Specifically, a plurality of ports are formed in the housing adjacent to the circuit board.

Specifically, a resilient door connected to the housing is also included, the resilient door configured to seal the plurality of ports.

In particular, the resilient door comprises at least one protrusion for sealing closing the at least one port.

The utility model also provides an elastic material portable power source, include:

a lower portion having an upwardly extending sidewall and an upper portion having a downwardly extending sidewall, a gasket being present between the sidewall of the lower portion and the sidewall of the upper portion, the lower portion and the upper portion forming a housing having a periphery, and at least one of the upper portion and the lower sidewall comprising an elastomeric film;

the elastomeric material extends from a location inside the periphery of the housing to a location outside the periphery of the housing, the elastomeric material forming at least one button.

From the above description of the present invention, compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

(1) the utility model provides an elastic material portable power source has two casings in upper portion and lower part, and upper portion and lower part are made by rigid material to surround elastomeric material again with the casing outside, elastomeric material can be used to improve portable power source ability not impaired under the condition that drops.

(2) The elastomeric material has a plurality of protrusions disposed at the corners of the housing, and the use of protrusions at the corners reduces the likelihood of damage to the housing by falling onto a hard surface.

(3) The elastomeric material has a second thickness at the protrusion that is greater than the first thickness, and by increasing the thickness of the elastomeric material at the protrusion, the likelihood of damage to the housing due to dropping can be further reduced.

(4) A resilient door is provided that is connected to the housing such that in the event the housing is dropped, the door provides additional damping structure against the impact of the housing. In addition, the door and the remainder of the elastomeric material may be formed as a single piece, thereby reducing assembly costs and simplifying construction of the portable mobile power supply.

(5) The elastomeric material extends inwardly and outwardly from the shell to the upper and lower peripheral edges, making the shell more resistant to damage and corrosion due to dropping and leakage of liquids and other contaminants.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an elastomeric mobile power supply provided by the present invention, fig. 1(a) showing a top perspective view of a portable mobile power supply made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; FIG. 1(b) illustrates a bottom perspective view of the portable, mobile power supply of FIG. 1 (a);

fig. 2 shows a plan view of a portable mobile power supply;

FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged detail view of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3(a) illustrates a cross-sectional view of the portable mobile power supply taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing a battery portion of the portable mobile power supply; FIG. 3(b) illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of the elastomeric material and the edge of the shell of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged detail view of FIG. 3, wherein FIG. 4(a) is a cross-sectional view of the portable power supply taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3(a) showing a circuit portion of the portable power supply; FIG. 4(b) shows a cross-sectional view of the elastomeric material forming the power button;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 (a);

FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of one embodiment of a circuit board and mounting structure disposed in a housing;

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative construction of a door for closing a power port in the housing;

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view of another alternative construction of a door for closing a power port in an enclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a plan view of another configuration of a lower portion of a housing having a power source of elastomeric material;

FIG. 10 illustrates a plan view of another configuration of an upper portion of a housing having a power source of elastomeric material;

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic diagram of a housing of the power supply, and FIG. 11(a) illustrates a plan view of the housing of the power supply; FIG. 11(b) illustrates a side cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 10; FIG. 11(c) illustrates a side cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 11 showing a snap-fit connection; fig. 11(d) shows a cross-sectional view of the power button.

The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the following drawings and specific examples.

Detailed Description

The following description includes various representative embodiments and specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative description of the present disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will understand and practice the methods and apparatus described below without employing these specific details, or they may be used for purposes other than those described herein. Indeed, they may be modified and used in conjunction with products and techniques known to those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure. Reference in the specification to "one configuration," "one embodiment," or "an aspect" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the configuration may be included in at least one configuration and need not be in any particular configuration with the particular feature, structure, or characteristic described herein. Not necessarily all refer to the same configuration and certain elements of the invention may not be included in a single configuration, but rather the elements may be included in other or all configurations discussed herein.

The present invention and the accompanying figures will now be discussed with reference to the numerals provided therein to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. The drawings and description are intended to illustrate various aspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims. Further, it is to be understood that the figures may illustrate aspects of the invention separately and that elements from one figure may be used in combination with elements illustrated in other figures.

Furthermore, the features, structures, or characteristics of the configurations of the invention described in the specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more configurations. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of products or manufacturing techniques that may be used, to provide a thorough understanding of the construction of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the configurations or embodiments described in the present disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth; in other instances, structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail.

Before discussing a particular configuration, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to any particular structure, process step, or material discussed or disclosed herein, but may be extended to include equivalents thereof as recognized by one of ordinary skill. It is also to be understood that the terminology contained herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the aspects or configurations shown, unless otherwise specified. Likewise, discussion of any particular aspect of the invention should not be understood as requiring that such aspect be present unless explicitly recited in the claims.

It should also be noted that when the term "spring" or "damping structure" is referred to herein, one or more such springs or damping structures may be included. The term "substantially", as used herein, refers to the complete or near complete extent of an action, feature, property, state, structure, item, or indicated result. For example, an "essentially" closed object means that the object is completely closed or nearly completely closed. In some cases, the exact degree of allowable deviation from absolute integrity may depend on the particular situation, such that even if the distal end of the structure surrounding the lumen is gapped, almost all of the length of the lumen is encompassed. The use of "substantially" is equally applicable when used in a negative sense to refer to the complete or near complete absence of an action, feature, characteristic, state, structure, item, or result. For example, a structure that has "substantially no" bottom will have no bottom at all, or will have almost no bottom at all, and thus the effect will be the same as if there were no bottom at all. The term "about" is used herein to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be "slightly above" or "slightly below" the endpoint while still performing the function associated with it. For convenience, the description uses terms that present items such as structural elements, compositional elements, and materials in a common list, however, each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member.

Concentrations, amounts, proportions and other numerical data are presented herein in a range format, it being understood that such range format is used merely for convenience and brevity. And thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values recited as limitations of the ranges, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range. For example, a numerical range of "about 1 to about 5" should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Accordingly, each value included in the numerical range, for example, 2, 3, and 4; and sub-ranges, such as 1-3, 2-4, and 3-5, etc.; and l, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The same principle applies to ranges reciting only a single numerical minimum or maximum value, regardless of the breadth or character of the range so described.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to fig. 1, a perspective view of a portable, portable power supply, generally designated 10, is shown. The portable mobile power supply 10 includes a housing 14 having an upper wall or portion 18 and a lower wall or portion 22. The upper and lower portions 18, 22 may be attached to one another in various ways. For example, as will be discussed in more detail below, the upper and lower portions 18, 22 may be ultrasonically welded together. Other attachment structures may be used, such as by a snap-fit connection as described below. The upper and lower portions 18, 22 may be made of a variety of common rigid materials, such as polycarbonate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC-ABS). In general, rigid means that the material is resistant to bending, rather than the material not bending at all, other generally rigid materials may be used. The upper and lower portions 18, 22 may also be smooth or may include a tactile surface 24 to promote tightness on the housing 14 to reduce the risk of the portable mobile power source falling.

The elastomeric material 26 is disposed about the periphery of the housing 14, and the elastomeric material 26 may be made from several pieces, with it being presently contemplated that the elastomeric material may be made in a single piece. This provides a number of benefits, as described below. The elastomeric material 26 may be made of a variety of elastomeric materials, such as thermoplastic elastomers, which provide a shock or vibration energy dampening structure the elastomeric material 26 may be sized such that some of the elastomeric material extends inwardly from the peripheral edges 18a and 22a of the upper and lower portions 18 and 22, respectively, and such that the elastomeric material extends outwardly beyond the maximum distance of the peripheral edge upper and lower portions. For example, along the sides and ends of the housing 14. The elastomeric material 26 may, for example, extend 1-32 inches/inch (0.079 to 0.635cm) beyond the peripheral edges 18a, 22a of the upper and lower portions 18, 22.

As shown in fig. 1, the elastomeric material 26 may also be formed to define a power button 30, the power button 30 extending beyond the peripheral edges 18a, 22a of the upper and lower portions 18, 22, respectively. The elastomeric material 26 will deform when pushed so that the internal structure engages a power source (not shown) to activate or deactivate the portable mobile power supply 10. Other configurations, such as multiple buttons for different actuations, may be used as described below. (see discussion of FIG. 9 below). The elastomeric material 26 extends beyond the periphery of the upper and lower portions 18, 22 and extends inwardly beyond the periphery to provide a desirable damping structure for absorbing shock if the portable mobile power supply 10 is dropped. Little if any damage is done if the portable power bank 10 is dropped on the upper portion 18 or the lower portion 22. However, when the portable mobile power supply 10 falls and lands on an end or a side, the impact often damages the upper and lower portions of the case. By using the elastomeric material 26 around the middle portion of the portable mobile power supply 10, the impact on the ends or sides engages the elastomeric material 26, the risk of damage to the upper portion 18 or lower portion 22 can be significantly reduced.

The most vulnerable place to damage due to dropping is the corner of the housing 14. The upper and lower portions are often broken if an unprotected corner hits the floor or the like. However, it has been found that the use of the projections 34 at the corners reduces the likelihood of damage to the housing 14 due to dropping on a hard surface. Further, in the illustrated construction, the projections 34 are approximately 1.5 to 3 times the width of the elastomeric material 26 along the sides of the housing 14. Thus, in the event that the portable mobile power supply 10 is dropped at a corner, an additional damping structure is provided.

In addition, the portion of elastomeric material 26 forming the tab 34 may also be thicker (1/6-15 inches, 0.847-1.27cm) than the elastomeric material (15-13 inches) disposed along the sides. As shown in the figure. As shown in fig. 1(a) and 1(b), the upper portion 18 and the lower portion 22 may each include a raised portion 18b and 22 b. Respectively adjacent the corners such that the distance between the peripheral edge 18a of the upper portion 18 and the peripheral edge 22a of the lower portion 22 is greater at the corners than along the sides or ends. Fig. 1-4, 1(a) and 1(b) also illustrate a plurality of fasteners 36 that may extend through the projections 34. The fasteners 36 may be screws, rivets, etc. and may be used to hold the upper portion 18 to the lower portion 22 or may simply be for decorative purposes.

Perspective view of fig. 1(a) also shows access receptacles or ports 40, 44 and 48 of the portable, mobile power supply 10. The portable mobile power supply 10 may include, for example: a socket or port 40 designed to receive a USB plug, such as a USB micro or USB micro, for charging a battery (not shown in fig. 1) of the portable mobile power supply 10. The micro-plug of the UBS cable is placed in the socket or port 40 and the USB plug at the other end is placed in the USB port of a computer, wall outlet, etc., and the electrical energy flowing through the USB cable is stored in the battery for later use.

The portable mobile power supply 10 may also include a pair of standard USB receptacles or ports 44 and 48 (which may run protocols 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, etc.) in which standard USB plugs of a USB cable are selectively disposed. The opposite end of the cable includes a USB-mini, USB-micro or other configured plug for placement in an electronic device to be charged or powered by a portable mobile power source. By providing two standard USB ports, the portable mobile power supply 10 can simultaneously power two different devices. In other configurations, the portable mobile power supply may provide more USB ports. Fig. 1-4 fig. 1(a) and 1(b) also illustrate a door 52 for selectively closing the ports or receptacles 40, 44, 48 in the portable, mobile power supply 10. The door 52 may thus include a plurality of projections 54, 56 and 58 nested within the receptacles 40, 44. 48 and 48 provide a seal to prevent contaminants from entering the container. The door 52 may also form a tab 60 that assists in moving the door to the open positions 1(a) and 1(b) shown in fig. 1 and 2.

As shown in fig. 1-4, referring to fig. 1(a) and 1(b), the door 52 may be formed of the elastomeric material 26 such that in the event the housing 14 is dropped, the door provides additional damping structure against the impact of the housing 14. Additionally, the door 52 and the remainder of the elastomeric material 26 may be formed as a single piece, thereby reducing assembly costs and simplifying construction of the portable mobile power supply 10. The door may also be formed from any other suitable type of material, such as a rigid plastic door with a pin hinge, according to another configuration described below.

To allow the door 52 to move from the open position shown in fig. 1 and 2, as shown in fig. 1(a) and 1(b), a portion of the elastomeric material 26 forms a compliant hinge 62 about which the remainder of the door 52 can pivot. Although shown as extending along a portion of the length of the door 52, the compliant hinge 62 may extend along the length of the door or may be disposed at either end of the door 52 perpendicular to the long axis. Additionally, a single piece of elastomeric material may be used to make two or more doors so that containers 40, 44, and 48 may be opened or covered individually. It will be appreciated that when charging an electronic device, the USB plug from its cable will be disposed in one of the ports 44 or 48, and will therefore provide some protection to that port. For a single door, the other two ports may be closed, thereby preventing spilled beverages and the like from entering the container. In addition, this will extend the life of the hinge since the door will be opened when that particular container is required.

The leads of the USB socket 40, 44 or 48 may be made of a corrosion resistant alloy or may be plated with a corrosion resistant coating such as gold, nickel, tin or zinc. During use, one or more of the outlets 40, 44 or 48 may be exposed when the device is powered or when the portable power bank 10 is being charged expect. The corrosion resistance prevents the power supply from being damaged if the portable power supply 10 falls into water, etc.

Turning now to fig. 2, a plan view of the portable mobile power supply is shown. The lower portion 22 is surrounded by an elastomeric material 26. The elastomeric material 26 may have a first width (e.g., 1.8 to 1.4 inches, 0.3175-0.635 centimeters, or 1.16 to 4 inches, 0.158-0.635 centimeters), a second greater width (e.g., 1.4 to 1.2 inches, 0.635-1.27 centimeters) along the sides of the tab 34, or 1.4 to 3.4 inches (0.635-1.9 centimeters) per corner. At the ends, the elastomeric material 26 may have the same thickness as the sides, or may be contoured to hold a structure such as a retaining ring 70 by which the portable mobile power source 10 may be attached to a backpack or other carrying device. The retaining ring 70 may be formed of any suitable material, and may also be integrally formed with the elastomeric material 26, the housing 14, such that the retaining ring is an extension of the elastomeric material 26, the housing 14.

The projections 34 may be rounded, as shown in fig. 2, and they may have a flat curvature or a substantially flat surface 34 (a). The three generally flat surfaces 34(a) on each projection help protect the corners of the housing 14 from damage in the event of a fall by providing a wide impact area. In addition, the protrusion 34 may have a hole or void 72 formed therein. The voids 72 may be used in combination with the elastomeric material 26 for a damping structure.

Fig. 2 also provides a good view of the door 52 and the projections 54, 56 and 58 nested in the USB or other power outlets 40, 44 and 48 at the end of the housing 14. The flexible hinge 62 provides flexibility to allow the door to be pivoted to the position of fig. 5 to be pivoted to the closed position when desired by the user. Although shown as three separate projections 54, 56 and 58, the bottom of the device may be configured with a slot or channel so that a single projection fills the void to provide protection for the containers 40, 44 and 48.

One of the upper portion (not shown) and the lower portion 22 includes one or more walls 74 that extend downwardly or upwardly, respectively, to engage the opposing portion. The wall 74 may engage a complementary wall on the opposing portion, thereby forming a chamber. To help reduce the risk of contaminants entering the components in the housing, the walls may be sealed together by adhesive, snap-fit, or by other processes (e.g., ultrasonic welding). The wall 74 may subdivide the housing 14 into two or more compartments, an electronic circuit compartment 76 and a battery compartment 78. The battery compartment 78 may house a battery 80 or similar device for storing and dispensing energy. Although not required, the compartment will typically be large to accommodate batteries and the like, and to accommodate a large amount of energy for charging. Other configurations may not include a subdivision wall such that housing 14 forms a single compartment (see fig. 9 below). The electronic circuit compartment 76 may house circuitry 82 for regulating the charging and dissipation of energy from the battery 80 to the USB sockets 40, 44, and 48 and from the USB sockets 40, 44, and 48, in which the USB sockets 40, 44, and 48 may also be formed. The circuitry 82 may generally be disposed on a circuit board, the mounting of which will be discussed below. Thus, the wall forming the second compartment will typically have a plurality of openings 40a, 44(a) and 48a which form part of the containers 40, 44 and 48, respectively.

Communication between the battery 80 and the circuit 82 is typically accomplished by electrical leads 88 that pass through holes 90 in the wall 74 that separates the battery compartment 78 from the circuit compartment. To minimize the risk of water or other contaminants passing through the holes 90, the leads 88 may be coated with a coating that engages the wall 74 to form a hermetic seal or to bond to the wall during the sonic welding process. A grommet 92 may also be placed in the hole to allow the lead to extend therethrough while preventing or inhibiting water or other contaminants from entering the battery compartment. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the electrical circuit 82 is more likely to be in contact with water, other liquids, etc. due to the need for the containers 40, 44, and 48 and their proximity. To minimize the risk of damage, the circuitry may be coated with a water-resistant or water-proof, corrosion-resistant coating, for example to prevent corrosion or other damage when beverages are spilled on the portable, mobile power supply. The door 10 shown in fig. 10 is opened at the same time as the door 52 is opened. The coating may be a variety of materials and may be applied by any of a number of methods, such as parylene conformal coatings, liquid fluoropolymer coatings or chemical vapor deposition of suitable hydrophobic substances. In addition, the coating can be made very thin (e.g., 3-30 microns) so that the coating does not get trapped in excessive heat.

In addition to providing protection against impacts caused by dropping the portable mobile power supply 10, the elastomeric material 26 extending around the periphery of the housing 14 improves the grip of the user's hand on the device, thereby reducing the risk of the portable mobile power supply 10 being discarded. Also, the optional textured surfaces 24 (typically embossed) on the upper and lower portions 18, 22 may improve grip and reduce the risk of the device falling.

Also shown in fig. 2 is a power button 30, which may be formed as part of the elastomeric material. The power button 30 may include a protrusion or plunger portion 96 that extends through an aperture 98 in the wall 74 to activate or deactivate the circuit. Thus, the elastomeric material may form both a protrusion and a sealing structure, such as the annular rib 100. More material can be molded into the elastomeric material to drive the circuitry if desired. Other configurations of the power button 30 and plunger portion 96 are possible and contemplated herein; however, the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, although it is referred to as a "power button," the power button 30 may provide other functions on the circuitry in addition to turning the portable mobile power supply on and off.

Turning now to fig. 3, a cross-sectional view of the portable mobile power supply 10 through the battery compartment 78 of the portable mobile power supply 10 is shown. The battery compartment 78 may house one or more batteries 80 or batteries to provide power. The battery compartment 78 may be defined by walls 74 extending downwardly on the upper portion 18 and upwardly on the lower portion 22, with a tongue and groove connection system 104 formed at the junction of the walls.

Fig. 3 also illustrates elastomeric material 26, which elastomeric material 26 extends inwardly from peripheral edge 18a of upper portion 18 and peripheral edge 22a of lower portion 22. If desired, the elastomeric material may abut the walls 74 forming the battery compartment. Between the walls 74 and the tortuous path provided by the elastomeric material, the contents of the battery compartment 78 are protected from water or other liquids or contaminants that may corrode the battery.

Fig. 3(b) shows a close-up cross-sectional view of the elastomeric material 26 and its engagement with the edges 18a and 18b of the housing 14. The extension of the elastomeric material both inside and outside of the housing 14 makes the housing 14 more resistant to damage and corrosion due to dropping and leakage of liquids and other contaminants.

Fig. 4(a) shows a side cross-sectional view of the portable mobile power supply 10 taken through the circuit compartment 76. The elastomeric material extends outwardly from the peripheral (lateral) edge of the shell 14, including an upper peripheral edge 18 a. Lower peripheral edge 22 a. On the right hand side of the cross-sectional view, the elastomeric material 26 forms a power button 30. The power button 30 may include a head 108, a protrusion or plunger portion 96, and a seal, such as an annular rib 100 forming a rib.

Fig. 6 is a seal to prevent leakage of liquid or the like. Fig. 4(a) also shows a circuit board 82 having a pair of mounting posts 112 for securing an electronic device. As will be discussed in more detail below, the mounting posts may be overmolded or include a dampening structure to minimize impact on the circuit board 82, also shown in fig. 7. In fig. 4(a), the cross-section as the ports or containers 40, 44 and 48, and the projections 56 and 58 help seal the containers 44 and 48 closed when not in use.

Fig. 4(b) shows a close-up cross-sectional view of the elastomeric material forming the power button 30, which is numbered as described in fig. 3(a), and the power button 30 may include a head 108, a protrusion or plunger portion 96, and a seal, such as an annular rib 100 or the like, that forms a seal to prevent liquid leakage. One advantage of the present invention is that the elastomer 26 can mold the material 26 into one piece, including the power button and plunger portions-both reducing cost and providing a good seal around the housing 14.

Fig. 5 shows a side cross-sectional view of the portable mobile power supply 10. The cross-sectional view illustrates one end of the retaining member 70 held in place by the elastomeric material 26, and the open door 52, which may be integrally formed with the remainder of the elastomeric material 26, and includes the compliant hinge 62. Also included in fig. 5 may be a protrusion 60, which protrusion 60 assists in moving the door to the open position shown in fig. 5.

Turning now to fig. 6, a close-up cross-sectional view of the circuit board 82 and mounting posts 112 is shown, illustrated in accordance with the present disclosure. The mounting post 112a shown on the left side of fig. 1 is connected to the mounting post 112 a. In the embodiment shown in fig. 6, a damping structure 116 made of an elastomeric material (which may be any suitable material, such as an elastomer, a spring, etc.) is provided that dampens the transmission of the structure from the post to the circuit board 82. The other post 112 is provided with a molded material 120 that inhibits the transfer of vibrational energy. Either way, the damping structure helps reduce the transmission of vibrations, such as those caused by the housing 14 being dropped.

Fig. 7 illustrates another door configuration for closing a power port in the housing 14, rather than using a single door 52 as shown in fig. 1 and 2, a plurality of doors 52a, 52b, 52c are used as shown in fig. 1-6. Like the previous embodiments, the plurality of doors may be formed from a single piece of elastomeric material. This configuration allows for the closing of unused ports or receptacles and reduces the number of parts on either hinge.

It should be understood that the door may be formed in the open position or may be biased to the open position. In the alternative, a separate member or other structure may be used to place the hinge in a substantially closed position such that it is biased toward the closed position. Also, the hinge may have various lengths to control tension within the hinge.

In addition, other configurations of doors may be used. For example, fig. 8 illustrates a configuration in which the door 52d is formed of a hard plastic material, and the door 52a can be opened and closed by a pin hinge 130.

Fig. 9 illustrates an alternative configuration in which the upper and lower portions 18, 22 of the housing 14 are connected by a snap-fit connection. For clarity, fig. 9 shows only the lower portion 22 c. Any type of connection may be used, and other types of connections known in the art are contemplated. Additionally, the snap-fit connection described herein using notches that mate with protrusions is given by way of example, and other types of snap-fit joints and connections may be used. In addition to the snap-fit connection, the lower portion 22c may have one or more cut-outs 132, while the upper portion 18c generally has protrusions 134 that mate or interact with the cut-outs 132 of the lower portion. 22c of the housing. This may provide additional stability to the device and absorb shock, and may limit damage to the internal circuitry due to dropping or the like.

Additionally, a gasket 143 may be provided, and the lower portion 22c may include an upwardly extending wall 74(a) and the upper portion 18c may include a downwardly extending wall 74 (b). A gasket 143 may be placed between 74(b) of the upper portion 18c and 74 of the lower wall portion to form a tight seal between the upper portion 18c and the lower portion 22 c. Such gaskets may provide water protection and may also help absorb shock and vibration, such as may occur when the portable mobile power source may be discarded or disposed of roughly. The washer 143 may be formed of one continuous piece, or a plurality of washers 143 may be used.

The elastomeric material 26 additionally extending around the housing 14 may include one or more buttons 30a, 30b to actuate circuitry located within the portable mobile power supply 10. As shown in fig. 9, two such buttons are provided. In other configurations, one or more buttons may be provided as desired for the portable mobile power supply 10. For example, one button may be used to activate the circuit to determine the power level, another button may be used to turn on the flashlight and SOS functions, another may turn the power on and off, and so on. As shown in fig. 9, the elastomeric material 26 may be formed from the elastomeric material 26. The elastomeric material 26 will deform when pushed so that the internal structure engages the power source, thereby actuating functions within the portable mobile power source 10. The buttons 30a, b may be generally cylindrical in shape.

Turning now to fig. 10, the configuration of the upper portion 18c of the housing is shown which may be used to mate with the lower portion 22 c. Lower portion 22c includes a groove 135 in wall 74(a), while upper portion 18c may include a snap-fit projection 138 in wall 74 (b). As shown in fig. 2, a plurality of protrusions 138 may be provided. More snap tabs 138 or less may be used as shown in fig. 10. The snap tabs 138 of the upper portion 18c may snap into the recesses 135 of the lower portion 22c such that the male portion of the upper portion 18c mates with the female portion 135 of the lower portion 22 c. FIG. 11(b) shows a cross-sectional view of the upper portion 18c mated with the lower portion 22c, showing the snap-fit projection 138 of the upper portion 18c fitting into the recess 135 of the lower portion 22c, and also showing the gasket 143 in place between the upper portion 18c and the lower portion 22c, providing a sealing, damping structure.

Fig. 11 shows a schematic of the housing of the power supply, and fig. 11(a) shows the portable mobile power supply 10' with its upper portion 18c mated with the lower portion 22 c. Fig. 11(b) shows a section taken along line a-a of fig. 10. Fig. 11(a) shows the buttons 30a, b. Fig. 11(d) shows an enlarged view of detail C in fig. 11 (a). As can be seen from fig. 11 (b). As shown in fig. 11(b), when depressed, the button 30a may first engage the wall 74(b) of the upper portion 18c, which may have an elastomer 150 disposed in the wall 74(b) at the approximate location where the buttons 30a, b abut the wall. Pressing on the elastic membrane 150 may in turn press on the wall 74(a) of the lower portion 22c, which may have a cut 147 portion at the approximate location where the button 74(a), b and elastic membrane abut the wall of the lower portion 22 c. The cutout 147 may provide additional inward movement or bending of the wall 74(a) of the lower portion 22 c. The cutout 147 may also include an additional actuator portion 147a that extends into the housing 14. The actuator portion 147a may allow for easier actuation of the internal circuitry. Thus, pushing the elastic button 300 pushes the elastic membrane 150, and thus the cutout 147 having the actuator portion 147a, to actuate the circuit within the portable mobile power supply 10'. Fig. 11(c) shows a close-up cross-sectional view of a housing having an upper portion 18c, the upper portion 18c having an elastomeric membrane 150, a cut 147 of a lower portion 22c, and a button 30 a.

The above-mentioned be the utility model discloses a concrete implementation way, nevertheless the utility model discloses a design concept is not limited to this, and the ordinary use of this design is right the utility model discloses carry out immaterial change, all should belong to the act of infringement the protection scope of the utility model.

Claims (10)

1. An elastomeric mobile power source, the mobile power source having a housing and an elastomeric material extending around a periphery of the housing, the housing having: an upper portion having a peripheral edge; and a lower portion having a peripheral edge; the elastomeric material extends inwardly and outwardly from the shell to an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge.

2. The elastomeric mobile power source of claim 1, wherein said upper portion and said lower portion are connected by a snap fit.

3. The resilient material mobile power source of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material has a plurality of protrusions disposed at corners of the housing.

4. The elastomeric mobile power source of claim 1, wherein said elastomeric material forms at least one power button.

5. The elastomeric mobile power source of claim 3, wherein the housing has a side and the elastomeric material extends along the side at a first thickness, and wherein at the protrusion the elastomeric material has a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

6. The elastomeric mobile power source of claim 1, further comprising: a circuit board having thereon an electric circuit connected to the battery through a plurality of leads, and a sealing member provided around the leads in the form of a coating or grommet; and the waterproof layer is arranged above the circuit on the circuit board.

7. The elastomeric mobile power supply of claim 6, wherein a plurality of ports are formed in said housing adjacent said circuit board.

8. The elastomeric mobile power source of claim 1, further comprising an elastomeric door connected to the housing, the elastomeric door configured to seal the plurality of ports.

9. The elastomeric mobile power source of claim 8, wherein said elastomeric door comprises at least one protrusion for sealing closed at least one of said ports.

10. An elastic material mobile power source, comprising:

a lower portion having an upwardly extending sidewall and an upper portion having a downwardly extending sidewall, a gasket being present between the sidewall of the lower portion and the sidewall of the upper portion, the lower portion and the upper portion forming a housing having a periphery, and at least one of the upper portion and the lower sidewall comprising an elastomeric film;

the elastomeric material extends from a location inside the periphery of the housing to a location outside the periphery of the housing, the elastomeric material forming at least one button.

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