JP3766451B2

JP3766451B2 - Cap for portable device and portable device having cap

Info

Publication number: JP3766451B2
Application number: JP16337395A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 誠長谷川
Original assignee: Kyocera Corp
Current assignee: Kyocera Corp
Priority date: 1995-06-29
Filing date: 1995-06-29
Publication date: 2006-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-12
Also published as: JPH0918165A

Description

【０００１】
【産業上の利用分野】
本発明は、携帯電話、ポータブルＣＤプレーヤー、電子スチルカメラ、ビデオカメラ等の携帯機器に設けた信号入出力用コネクター、外部電源供給用端子、オーディオ端子、イヤホンジャック、アンテナジャック等といった外部接続用の端子（以下、外部端子）を配置したハウジングの開口を、外部端子を使用していない状態で塞ぐためにゴムや樹脂で一体成形したキャップの構造に関する。
【０００２】
【従来技術】
従来より、携帯用に小型化された機器には、外部端子の使用時以外は、外部端子を配置したハウジングの開口にゴムや樹脂で一体成形したキャップを嵌めて保護しているものがある。
【０００３】
そして、キャップには機器から完全に取り外すタイプとキャップの一部が機器に固定されて取り外せないようにされたタイプがある。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、これらの従来技術では、前者の場合はキャップを紛失し易い。後者の場合はキャップを必要以上の力で引っ張ると機器に固定している接続部が剪断されてしまう恐れがあるが、破損等した場合に簡単に交換できない。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は、これらの課題を解決するために、携帯機器のハウジングに設けられた外部端子用開口を塞ぐ携帯機器用キャップであって、前記外部端子用開口に嵌入されるキャップ部と、前記ハウジングに設けられた係止用開口へ取り付けられる係止部と、該係止部の一端部と、前記キャップ部のうち前記係止部の一端部と向かい合う端部とを連結する連結部とからなる携帯機器用キャップにおいて、前記係止部は、係止用開口のうち当該係止用開口と前記外部端子用開口とを結ぶ方向における幅と略等しい幅で前記ハウジング内に突出し、前記係止部の他端部には、ハウジング外のキャップ部方向に引っ張り力が加えられても係止部の外れを防ぐように第１の長さ（Ｌ２）で前記キャップ部側に突出する引っ掛け部と、前記ハウジング外からハウジング内への圧入を可能とする第２の長さ（Ｌ３）で前記キャップ部とは反対側に突出する圧入部とを有し、前記引っ掛け部と前記圧入部とは前記ハウジングの内壁に横架して前記係止用開口へ取り付けられるものであって、前記第１の長さ（Ｌ２）を前記第２の長さ（Ｌ３）よりも長くしたことを特徴とする。
また、ハウジングに設けられた外部端子用開口を塞ぐキャップを備えた携帯機器において、前記キャップは、前記外部端子用開口に嵌入されるキャップ部と、前記ハウジングに設けられた係止用開口へ取り付けられる係止部と、該係止部の一端部と、前記キャップ部のうち前記係止部の一端部と向かい合う端部とを連結する連結部とを有し、前記係止部は、係止用開口のうち当該係止用開口と前記外部端子用開口とを結ぶ方向における幅と略等しい幅で前記ハウジング内に突出し、前記係止部の他端部には、ハウジング外のキャップ部方向に引っ張り力が加えられても係止部の外れを防ぐように第１の長さ（Ｌ２）で前記キャップ部側に突出する引っ掛け部と、前記ハウジング外からハウジング内への圧入を可能とする第２の長さ（Ｌ３）で前記キャップ部とは反対側に突出する圧入部とを備え、前記引っ掛け部と前記圧入部とは前記ハウジングの内壁に横架して前記係止用開口へ取り付けられると共に、前記第１の長さ（Ｌ２）を前記第２の長さ（Ｌ３）よりも長くしてあることを特徴とする。
【０００６】
【実施例】
以下、図を用いて本発明の一実施例を説明する。
図１（ａ）は本発明の一実施例を説明するキャップ裏面側の斜視図、図１（ｂ）はその側面図を示す。キャップは機器の外部端子を保護するキャップ部１に、連結部２、係止部３がゴムで一体成形されたものである。係止部３はキャップ部１の方向に引っ掛け部３ａが、そしてその反対方向に圧入部３ｂが設けられている。キャップ部１は外部端子用に設けられたハウジングの開口に嵌め入れるためその開口と同寸法に形成されている。また、ハウジングには係止部３を固定するための係止用開口が外部端子用開口からＬ１の距離に設けられており、キャップの連結部２は長さＬ１に設定されている。また、係止部３は係止用開口とほぼ同寸法に形成されている。そして、その引っ掛け部３ａは連結部２の長さＬ１以下の長さＬ２にされている（Ｌ１とＬ２の関係を厳密に定義する必要はないが、実際の製品では、Ｌ２≦Ｌ１もしくはＬ１≒Ｌ２（引っ掛け部３ａの先端部をキャップ部１に重なるようにしてもよい）の関係が適当である）。さらに圧入部３ｂは、僅かに長さＬ３（＜Ｌ２）突出させ、ほぼ全長にわたって楔型（圧入を容易にする）にされている。
【０００７】
係止部３は係止用開口に差し込んで嵌める（挿嵌）。すなわちこのキャップの機器への取り付けは、係止用開口にはじめに引っ掛け部３ａを外部端子用開口方向に向けて差し込み、つづいて圧入部３ｂを係止用開口に楔型の傾斜面を係止用開口の縁に抗して押し込んで、係止部３を開口内に嵌め、取り付ける。このとき、係止部３は開口に嵌まり、かつ引っ掛け部３ａと圧入部３ｂはハウジング内壁に横方向に架け渡された状態（横架）になっている。
【０００８】
図２は本発明の機能を説明するための一実施例を示すキャップの係止部３を機器の係止用開口に挿嵌した状態を示す要部断面図で、（ａ）はキャップ部１を外部端子用開口に嵌入した状態、（ｂ），（ｃ）はそれぞれキャップ部１を外部端子用開口から外した状態を示す。なお図において１１は機器のハウジングを、１２は外部端子用開口を、１３は係止用開口、Ａはキャップ部１の取り外し方向（正常な引っ張り方向）、Ｂは取り外しとは関係ない引っ張り方向、Ｃは圧入部３ｂの撓み方向、Ｄは引っ掛け部３ａの撓み方向を示す。
【０００９】
図２（ｂ）の状態で、Ｂ方向にキャップ部１を引っ張ると圧入部３ｂが撓み、Ｂ方向に許容範囲以上の力が加わると係止部３は係止用開口２から抜ける。Ｂ方向はキャップ部１を外部端子用開口１２から取り外した際に力が加わる正常な引っ張り方向ではない。したがって、Ｂ方向を係止部３を開口１３から抜き取り、キャップを機器から完全に取り外すための引っ張り方向にした。そのため、圧入部３ｂはわずかに突出させる程度にし、比較的小さな力で係止部３を開口１３から取り外すことができるようにした。この引っ張りによって、連結部２と係止部３の接続部が延伸等の変形及び剪断等の破損を生ずる前に、係止部３が係止用開口１３から抜ける。
【００１０】
図２（ｃ）の状態からさらにＡ方向にキャップ部１を引っ張ると引っ掛け部３ａが撓み、許容範囲以上の力で係止部３は係止用開口１３から抜ける。Ａ方向は、キャップ部１を外部端子用開口１２から取り外した際に力が加わる正常な引っ張り方向であるから、キャップ部１がＡ方向に引っ張られた際、簡単に係止部３が係止用開口１３から外れることのないように、引っ掛け部３ａは多少長めに設定している。さらに、この設定は、引っ張りによって、連結部２と係止部３の接続部が延伸等の変形及び剪断等の破損を生ずる前に、係止部３が係止用開口１３から抜けるようにされている。
【００１１】
【発明の効果】
以上のように本発明の構造によれば、通常の使用ではキャップが機器から簡単に抜けることがなく、紛失する恐れがない。また、キャップを許容範囲以上の力で引っ張った場合には、キャップに変形や破損が生じる前に、機器からキャップが完全に外れる。しかも機器への取り付けが極めて簡単なので容易に再使用することができる。また、通常の使用ではキャップが簡単に抜けることはないが、特定の方向に引っ張ることにより比較的簡単にキャップを抜くことができるので、引っ張り以外の要因等、何らかの原因で万一キャップに破損等が生じた場合は、簡単にキャップの交換ができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】（ａ）は本発明の一実施例を示すキャップ裏面側の斜視図、（ｂ）は本発明の一実施例を示すキャップの側面図。
【図２】本発明の機能を説明するための一実施例を示すキャップの係止部を機器の係止用開口に挿嵌した状態を示す要部断面図で、（ａ）はキャップ部を外部端子用開口に嵌入した状態、（ｂ），（ｃ）はそれぞれキャップ部を外部端子用開口から外した状態を示す。
【符号の説明】
１：キャップ部
２：連結部
３：係止部
３ａ：引っ掛け部
３ｂ：圧入部
１１：ハウジング
１２：外部端子用開口
１３：係止用開口[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention is for external connection such as a signal input / output connector, an external power supply terminal, an audio terminal, an earphone jack, an antenna jack, and the like provided in a portable device such as a mobile phone, a portable CD player, an electronic still camera, and a video camera. The present invention relates to a cap structure integrally formed with rubber or resin in order to close an opening of a housing in which terminals (hereinafter referred to as external terminals) are arranged without using the external terminals.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a device that is miniaturized for portable use, except when an external terminal is used, in which a cap integrally formed with rubber or resin is fitted and protected in an opening of a housing in which the external terminal is arranged.
[0003]
There are two types of caps: a type that is completely removed from the device and a type in which a part of the cap is fixed to the device so that it cannot be removed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in these conventional techniques, the cap is easily lost in the former case. In the latter case, if the cap is pulled with an excessive force, the connecting portion fixed to the device may be sheared, but cannot be easily replaced if it is damaged.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve these problems, the present invention provides a cap for a mobile device that closes an opening for an external terminal provided in a housing of the mobile device, the cap portion being fitted into the external terminal opening, and the housing A locking portion that is attached to the locking opening provided at the end, a first end portion of the locking portion, and a connecting portion that connects the end portion of the cap portion that faces the one end portion of the locking portion. In the cap for a portable device, the locking portion projects into the housing with a width substantially equal to a width in a direction connecting the locking opening and the external terminal opening among the locking openings, and the locking portion A hook portion protruding toward the cap portion with a first length (L2) so as to prevent the locking portion from coming off even when a pulling force is applied in the direction of the cap portion outside the housing; From outside the housing A press-fit portion that protrudes to the opposite side of the cap portion with a second length (L3) that enables press-fitting into the ging, and the hook portion and the press-fit portion are lateral to the inner wall of the housing. The first length (L2) is longer than the second length (L3), and is attached to the locking opening.
Further, in the portable device provided with a cap for closing the external terminal opening provided in the housing, the cap is attached to the cap portion fitted into the external terminal opening and the locking opening provided in the housing. A locking portion, one end portion of the locking portion, and a connecting portion that connects an end portion of the cap portion that faces the one end portion of the locking portion. Of the opening for projecting into the housing with a width substantially equal to the width in the direction connecting the opening for locking and the opening for external terminals, and the other end of the locking portion is in the direction of the cap portion outside the housing. A hook portion that protrudes toward the cap portion with a first length (L2) so as to prevent disengagement of the locking portion even when a tensile force is applied, and a first portion that allows press-fitting from the outside of the housing into the housing. With a length of 2 (L3) A press-fitting portion that protrudes on the opposite side of the cap portion, and the hook portion and the press-fitting portion are attached to the locking opening across the inner wall of the housing and have the first length. (L2) is longer than the second length (L3).
[0006]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view of the back side of a cap for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (b) is a side view thereof. The cap is formed by integrally forming a connecting portion 2 and a locking portion 3 with rubber on a cap portion 1 that protects an external terminal of the device. The locking part 3 is provided with a hook part 3a in the direction of the cap part 1 and a press-fitting part 3b in the opposite direction. The cap portion 1 is formed in the same size as the opening for fitting into the opening of the housing provided for the external terminal. The housing is provided with a locking opening for fixing the locking portion 3 at a distance L1 from the external terminal opening, and the connecting portion 2 of the cap is set to a length L1. Moreover, the latching | locking part 3 is formed in the substantially same dimension as the opening for latching. The hook portion 3a has a length L2 that is equal to or shorter than the length L1 of the connecting portion 2 (the relationship between L1 and L2 is not strictly defined, but in an actual product, L2 ≦ L1 or L1≈ L2 (the front end portion of the hook portion 3a may be overlapped with the cap portion 1) is appropriate). Further, the press-fitting portion 3b slightly protrudes by a length L3 (<L2) and has a wedge shape (to facilitate press-fitting) over almost the entire length.
[0007]
The locking part 3 is inserted and fitted into the locking opening (insertion). In other words, the cap is attached to the device by first inserting the hook portion 3a in the direction of the external terminal opening into the locking opening, and then locking the wedge-shaped inclined surface into the locking opening 3b. Pushing against the edge of the opening, the locking portion 3 is fitted into the opening and attached. At this time, the locking portion 3 is fitted into the opening, and the hook portion 3a and the press-fit portion 3b are in a state of being spanned in the horizontal direction on the inner wall of the housing (horizontal mounting).
[0008]
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing a state in which the cap locking portion 3 showing an embodiment for explaining the function of the present invention is inserted into the locking opening of the device. FIG. Are inserted into the external terminal opening, and (b) and (c) show the cap part 1 removed from the external terminal opening, respectively. In the figure, 11 is a housing of the device, 12 is an opening for external terminals, 13 is an opening for locking, A is a removing direction of the cap part 1 (normal pulling direction), B is a pulling direction not related to removal, C indicates the bending direction of the press-fit portion 3b, and D indicates the bending direction of the hook portion 3a.
[0009]
In the state of FIG. 2B, when the cap portion 1 is pulled in the B direction, the press-fitting portion 3 b bends, and when a force exceeding an allowable range is applied in the B direction, the locking portion 3 comes out of the locking opening 2. The B direction is not a normal pulling direction in which a force is applied when the cap portion 1 is removed from the external terminal opening 12. Therefore, the direction B was taken out from the opening 13 of the locking portion 3 and set as a pulling direction for completely removing the cap from the device. For this reason, the press-fitting portion 3b is slightly protruded so that the locking portion 3 can be removed from the opening 13 with a relatively small force. By this pulling, the engaging portion 3 comes out of the engaging opening 13 before the connecting portion between the connecting portion 2 and the engaging portion 3 undergoes deformation such as stretching and breakage such as shearing.
[0010]
When the cap portion 1 is further pulled in the A direction from the state of FIG. 2C, the hook portion 3a is bent, and the locking portion 3 comes out of the locking opening 13 with a force exceeding the allowable range. Since the A direction is a normal pulling direction in which a force is applied when the cap unit 1 is removed from the external terminal opening 12, the locking unit 3 can be easily locked when the cap unit 1 is pulled in the A direction. The hook portion 3a is set to be slightly longer so as not to be detached from the opening 13 for use. Further, this setting is made so that the locking portion 3 is pulled out from the locking opening 13 before the connecting portion between the connecting portion 2 and the locking portion 3 is deformed by stretching or damaged by shearing due to pulling. ing.
[0011]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the structure of the present invention, the cap is not easily removed from the device under normal use, and there is no risk of losing it. Further, when the cap is pulled with a force exceeding an allowable range, the cap is completely removed from the device before the cap is deformed or damaged. Moreover, it can be easily reused because it is very easy to attach to equipment. Also, the cap does not come off easily during normal use, but the cap can be pulled out relatively easily by pulling in a specific direction. If this occurs, the cap can be easily replaced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the back side of a cap showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the cap showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a state in which a locking portion of a cap showing an embodiment for explaining the function of the present invention is inserted into a locking opening of the device, wherein (a) shows the cap portion; A state where the cap portion is inserted into the external terminal opening, and FIGS.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: cap part 2: connecting part 3: locking part 3a: hooking part 3b: press-fitting part 11: housing 12: opening for external terminal 13: opening for locking

Claims

A cap for a portable device for closing an external terminal opening provided in a housing of the mobile device, wherein the cap portion is fitted into the external terminal opening, and the latch is attached to the latching opening provided in the housing. A cap for a mobile device comprising: a connecting portion that connects a first end portion of the locking portion and an end portion of the cap portion facing the one end portion of the locking portion; The locking opening projects into the housing with a width substantially equal to the width in the direction connecting the locking opening and the external terminal opening, and the other end of the locking portion has a cap portion direction outside the housing. A hook portion that protrudes toward the cap portion with a first length (L2) so as to prevent the locking portion from coming off even when a tensile force is applied to the cap portion, and allows press-fitting from the outside of the housing into the housing. Second length L3) in and a press-fitting portion which protrudes on the side opposite to the cap portion, and the hook portion and the press-fitting portion is a one that is attached to the locking opening and laterally placed on the inner wall of the housing The cap for a portable device, wherein the first length (L2) is longer than the second length (L3).

In a portable device provided with a cap for closing an external terminal opening provided in the housing, the cap is attached to a cap portion fitted into the external terminal opening and a locking opening provided in the housing. A locking part, and a connecting part that connects one end part of the locking part and an end part of the cap part facing the one end part of the locking part, the locking part being a locking opening Of the locking portion and the external terminal opening are projected into the housing with a width substantially equal to the width in the direction connecting the opening and the external terminal opening, and the other end of the locking portion has a tensile force in the direction of the cap portion outside the housing. A hook portion that protrudes toward the cap portion with a first length (L2) so as to prevent the locking portion from being disengaged even if a second is applied, and a second portion that allows press-fitting from the outside of the housing into the housing. The length (L3) A press-fit portion that protrudes on the opposite side of the top portion, and the hook portion and the press-fit portion are attached to the locking opening so as to run horizontally on the inner wall of the housing, and the first length. (L2) is made longer than said 2nd length (L3), The portable apparatus provided with the cap characterized by the above-mentioned.