WO2002082876A1

WO2002082876A1 - Storage case

Info

Publication number: WO2002082876A1
Application number: PCT/JP2002/001814
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yukinari Inoue; Fujio Arai
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-03-30
Filing date: 2002-02-27
Publication date: 2002-10-17
Also published as: CN1265693C; KR20030007763A; JP4659997B2; KR100850229B1; CN1460399A; JP2002298973A

Abstract

A storage case (1) for radio communication card capable of stably and surely holding a connector plug attached to the tip of a cable and suppressing the rise of a production cost, wherein an external antenna (5) having the connector plug (31) attached to the tip of the extracted connection cable (7) and a PC card modem are stored therein, and a pair of plug holding walls (61, 61) capable of holding unlocking knob parts (59, 59) installed on both side faces of the connector plug (31) and pressingly operated at the time of unlocking in pressingly energized state are provided vertically on the inner surface of the top board (13) of a case body (9) at specified intervals, and hold the connector plug (31) by the elastic recovering force of the unlocking knob parts (59, 59).

Description

Document storage case <Technical field>

The present invention relates to a storage case for storing an electric component such as an external antenna in which a connector plug is provided at a leading end of a derived cable.

Generally, when transmitting and receiving data by connecting a personal computer or personal digital assistant to a communication line, a wireless communication function such as a PHS (Personal Handy Phone System) is built into the PC card. Card is being used.

For example, a PC card modem 100, which is a wireless communication card shown in FIG. 9, has a housing 101 having a built-in wireless communication function, and a PC card unit protruding from the lower end of the housing 101. PC card section consisting of 102 and an antenna 103 foldably provided on the upper part of the housing section 101 to the PC card slot 104 provided in the personal computer 105 Input 102 is used by connecting.

However, when data is transmitted / received using such a PC card modem 100, the radio wave condition is poor depending on the use condition, and good wireless communication may not be performed. Therefore, an external antenna (not shown) is connected to the housing 101 via a connection cable.

Therefore, the user must carry an external antenna and a connection cable along with the PC card modem 100. At this time, in order to prevent dust and the like from adhering, it is common to store them in a storage case or a storage bag when carrying. By the way, an inexpensive sleeve antenna having a simple structure is often used as a portable external antenna as described above, but this sleeve antenna has a substantially cylindrical shape and is derived from one end. At the end of the connection cable, Thus, connector plug 107 for connecting to PC card modem 100 is provided.

The structure for holding the substantially rectangular parallelepiped connector plug 107 provided at the end of the cable led out from the electric component such as an external antenna in the storage case 105 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. As described above, there is a case in which a pair of flexible locking pieces 103 and 103 provided in parallel with the locking projections 101 protruding from the opposite ends are provided in the storage case.

Therefore, by pushing the connector plug 107 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape between the pair of flexible locking pieces 103 and 103 so that it does not accidentally fall out of the storage case or rattle. The connector plug 107 can be sandwiched.

However, in the case of the pair of flexible locking pieces 103 and 103 as described above, when the connector plug 107 is attached and detached, the distal end portion is elastically deformed outward by the locking projection 101 ( (The direction of the arrow in Fig. 11).

Therefore, if the flexible locking piece 103 is repeatedly and excessively deformed at the time of attaching and detaching the connector plug 107, the flexible locking piece 103 is set and the elastic restoring force is reduced. Such a decrease in the elastic restoring force of the flexible locking pieces 103 causes a decrease in the pinching force with respect to the connector plug 107, and it becomes impossible to securely hold the connector plug 107 in the storage case 105. May be

When the flexible locking piece 103 is integrally formed on the inner surface of the storage case 105, the lower part of the locking projection 101 becomes an under-force. However, there is a problem that manufacturing costs are increased and manufacturing costs are increased.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to stably and surely hold a connector plug provided at the end of a cable and to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a storage case.

The object of the present invention is to provide a storage case for storing an electrical component having a connector plug provided at a leading end of a derived cable, On the inner wall of the storage case, a pair of plug holding walls, which are provided on at least one of both side surfaces of the connector plug and are capable of holding the unlocking knob portion pressed and operated at the time of unlocking in a biased state, are predetermined. It is erected at intervals,

This is achieved by a storage case, wherein the pair of plug holding walls hold the connector plug by the elastic restoring force of the mouth release releasing hook portion. According to the above configuration, when the connector plug provided at the end of the cable led out of the electric component is stored in the storage case together with the electric component, the unlocking knob of the connector plug is held by the pair of plugs. The mounting wall is mounted so as to be clamped in a pressing biased state.

Therefore, since the connector plug is sandwiched between the pair of plug holding walls by the elastic restoring force of its own lock release knob portion, the plug holding wall itself does not need to be elastically deformed. There is no need for such a locking projection.

Further, the lock releasing knob has a sufficient elastic stroke and durability in advance, and can maintain a stable holding force for a long period of time.

In addition, preferably, the slip prevention projections protruding from the opposing surfaces of the pair of plug holding walls are fitted to the anti-slip irregularities formed on the surface of the hook release release knob. The movement of the connector plug in the front-rear direction of the plug is restricted.

In this case, when the connector plug is inserted between the pair of plug holding walls, the slip prevention projection provided on the opposing surface of the plug holding wall is provided on the mouthpiece for releasing the opening of the connector plug. Since the connector plug is fitted to the non-slip uneven portion, the connector plug can be prevented from shifting in the front-rear direction, and can be reliably held.

In addition, the anti-slip irregularities are for preventing fingertips from slipping when the connector plug is pulled out from the mating connector portion while being pulled out, so that it is usually in the plug front-back direction (connector plug insertion / removal direction). It is an uneven portion having a cross-sectional waveform along. Therefore, the deviation preventing projection fitted to the uneven portion having the cross-sectional waveform can be a rib projection extending in a direction perpendicular to the inner wall surface of the storage case, and is formed integrally with the opposing surface of the plug holding wall. There is no undercut.

Also, preferably, the displacement prevention projection is provided in the plug front-back direction of the connector plug. A plurality is protruded along the area.

Therefore, at the time of storing the connector plug in the storage case, even if the holding position of the connector plug is moved forward and backward due to the influence of the cable, at least one slip prevention projection is fitted into the anti-slip uneven portion. Thus, the pair of plug holding walls can reliably hold the connector plug while preventing displacement in the front-rear direction.

Also, preferably, the plug front-rearward regulating wall for regulating the position of the connector plug within a range in which the anti-slip irregularities can be fitted to the slip prevention projection of the plug holding wall, It protrudes from the inner wall.

Therefore, when the connector plug is stored in the storage case, even if the holding position of the connector plug is back and forth, at least one slip prevention protrusion is provided between the plug front-rear direction regulating walls and the non-slip unevenness. Can be fitted to the part. Therefore, even if the connector plug is inadvertently inserted between the pair of plug holding walls, the pair of plug holding walls can surely hold the connector plug while preventing displacement in the front-rear direction.

Further, the electric component is an external antenna for wireless communication, and is housed together with a wireless communication card having a built-in wireless communication function.

In this case, while securely holding the connector plug provided at the end of the cable led out from the external antenna, these can be carried around with the wireless communication card, and the portability is excellent.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a storage case according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the storage case shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view of the storage case shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an external antenna and a connection cable stored in the case main body shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a usage state of the storage case shown in FIG.

Fig. 6 shows the condition when the connector plug shown in Fig. 1 is mounted on the plug holding wall. It is a perspective view explaining.

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view showing the relationship between the connector plug shown in FIG. 6 and the wall for holding a plug.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a movable distance when the connector plug shown in FIG. 4 is mounted on the wall for holding a plug.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a main part showing a use state of the wireless communication card.

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing a stored state of a connector plug in a conventional storage case.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the storage state of the connector plug in the storage case shown in FIG.

In addition, the code | symbol in a figure, 1 is a storage case (storage case) for wireless communication cards, 3 is an external antenna (electric parts), 5 is a PC card modem, 7 is a connection cable (cable), 9 is a connector plug, and 5 9 Is the lock release knob, 61 is the wall for holding the plug, 63 is the front regulating wall for the plug, 65 is the rear regulating wall for the plug, 60 is the serration (unslip irregularities), 62 is the These are deviation prevention projections.

Hereinafter, a storage case according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the storage case 1 for a wireless communication card according to the present embodiment is used as a wireless communication card. The card modem 3, an external antenna 5 for wireless communication, which is an electrical component, and a connector plug 31 provided at the distal end of a connection cable 7 derived from the base end of the external antenna 5 are integrally formed. It is a storage case made of synthetic resin to be stored.

The wireless communication card storage case 1 has a flat box-shaped case body 9 for storing the external antenna 5, the connection cable 7 and the connector plug 31 in a predetermined position, and the case body 9 is rotatable. And a flat-plate-shaped lid 11 that is pivotally attached to accommodate the PC card modem 3. Referring to FIG. 4 as well, the case body 9 hangs on a flat rectangular plate 13 and both side edges (left and right side edges in FIG. 3) along the longitudinal direction of the top plate 13. Along with the provided side walls 15L and 15R, the front wall 17 is provided at the front end in the longitudinal direction (the right end in FIG. 2).

Further, a rear wall 19 hanging vertically from the rear end of the top plate 13 in the longitudinal direction (the left end in FIG. 2) is an upper wall of a pocket 7 1 provided on a lid 11 described later. Since the tip abuts on the case body 9, the height of the case body 9 is about half.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rear ends of the side walls 15L and 15R protrude rearward from the rear wall 19, respectively. A projection 25 for a rotating shaft having a columnar shape for freely pivoting is provided. And, on both side surfaces of the corresponding lid 11, there is formed a concave portion (not shown) for the rotation shaft into which the projection 25 for the rotation shaft is fitted.

As described above, the case body 9 includes an external antenna 5, a connection cable 7 for connecting the external antenna 5 to the PC card modem 3, and a PC card modem 3 attached to the end of the connection cable 7. The connector plug 31 for connection to the connector 70 of the housing 69 is stored.

As shown in FIG. 1, the external antenna 5 is a so-called sleeve antenna having a substantially round rod shape, and includes a large-diameter portion 35 on the base end side connected to the connection cable 7 and a conical portion 37. And a small-diameter portion 33 extending to the distal end side.

The connection cable 7 is attached to the base end of the external antenna 5 via a connecting portion 39 in a direction orthogonal to the central axis of the external antenna 5.

The external antenna 5 is housed along the side wall 15L of the case body 9, as shown in FIG.

At the base end (the lower end in FIG. 4) of the external antenna 5, for example, a hemispherical fitting concave portion 41 is provided as a case fitting portion as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. The conical fitting projection 43 for pivotally fitting the fitting recess 41 to prevent movement in the direction perpendicular to the axis and to hold the external antenna 5 rotatably around the central axis. An antenna fitting portion is protruded from the inner surface of the rear wall 19 of the case body 9. You.

On the other hand, in a state where the fitting projections 43 are fitted into the fitting recesses 41 of the external antenna 5, the inner surface of the top plate 13 where the tip (the upper end in FIG. 4) of the external antenna 5 is located An elastic flexible piece 45 is protruded therefrom. The elastic flexible piece 45 elastically urges the distal end portion of the external antenna 5 toward the base end side by its elastic restoring force, and maintains the fitting state of the fitting concave portion 41 with the fitting projection 43. .

Further, in a state where the fitting protrusion 43 is fitted into the fitting recess 41 of the external antenna 5, a through hole is formed in the inner surface of the top plate 13 where the conical portion 37 of the external antenna 5 is located. An antenna holding rib 47 in which a hole 49 is formed is formed. The inner diameter of the through hole 49 is larger than the small diameter portion 33 of the external antenna 5 and smaller than the large diameter portion 35.

When the external antenna 5 is stored and held in the case body 9, first, the tip of the small diameter portion 33 of the external antenna 5 is passed through the through hole of the antenna holding rib 47 from the lower side in FIG. The tip of the small diameter portion 33 is pressed against the elastic flexible piece 45 to be bent. Next, in this state, the fitting recess 41 provided at the base end of the external antenna 5 is fitted to the fitting projection 43 of the case body 9. Then, the elastic restoring force of the elastic flexible piece 45 pushes the fitting concave portion 41 of the external antenna 5 against the fitting projection 43 of the case body 9 to fit the external antenna 5, so that the external antenna 5 rotates around the axis. It is reliably held in a possible state. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a cable holding guide 51 for holding the connection cable 7 at a predetermined position is formed on the inner surface of the top plate 13 of the case body 9. ing. The cable holding guide 51 is provided in parallel with the inner wall 53 with a constant space between the inner wall rib 53 and the inner wall rib 53 to hold the connection cable 7 therebetween. And an outer wall rib 5.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a connector plug holding portion 57 for fixing the connector plug 31 is provided inside the inner wall rib 53 described above.

The connector plug holding portion 57 is provided with a pair of left and right plug holding walls provided at positions corresponding to the lock release knob portions 59, 59 provided on both side surfaces of the connector plug 31. 6 1 and 6 1 and the range of forward movement of connector plug 31 The plug front regulation wall 63 that regulates and the plug rear regulation wall 65 that regulates the rearward movement range of the connector plug 31 are integrally formed on the inner surface of the top plate 13 of the case body 9. It is configured.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the lock release knobs 59, 59 are provided with a lock mechanism which is locked to prevent the connector plug 31 from falling off when the connector plug 31 is connected to the PC card modem 3. And is provided on both sides of the connector plug.

Furthermore, these unlocking knobs 59, 59 are pressed inward so as to be gripped when releasing the lock, but when they are released, they return to the lip position. It is always urged outward by the elastic restoring force of the panel and the like.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner surface distance b of the pair of plug holding walls 61, 61 erected on the inner surface of the top plate 13 is equal to the lock release knob portions 59, 59. The outer surface distance B of the left and right lock release knob portions 59, 59 is set to be slightly smaller than the outer surface distance B of the left and right lock release knob portions 59, 59 in a normal state so as to be able to be clamped in the pressing and biased state.

Therefore, when the connector plug 31 provided at the end of the connection cable 7 led out of the external antenna 5 is stored in the case body 9 together with the external antenna 5, the lock release knob of the connector plug 31 is required. The pair of plug holding walls 61, 61 are mounted so that the pair of plug holding walls 61, 61 are pressed and biased.

Therefore, the connector plug 31 is sandwiched between the pair of plug holding walls 61, 61 by the elastic restoring force of its own lock releasing knob portions 59, 59, so that the plug holding wall 6 1 itself does not need to be elastically deformed, and there is no need for a locking projection 101 that becomes an under-force like the flexible locking piece 103 shown in FIG. 10 and FIG.

Further, the lock release knob portions 59, 59 are always urged outward by the elastic restoring force of the panel or the like as described above, and have a sufficient elastic stroke and durability in advance. A stable holding force can be maintained over a period.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a serration portion 60 is provided on the outer surface of the lock releasing knob portion 59, which is a non-slip uneven portion. In addition, the servicing section 60 connects the connector plug 31 to the connector section 70 Since it is to prevent fingertips from slipping when being pulled out while being picked up from the, it is an uneven part with a corrugated cross section along the plug front and rear direction (connector plug 揷 removal direction). On the other hand, on the opposing surfaces (inner surfaces) of the pair of plug holding walls 61, 61, a plurality (here, for example, three) of sizes that fit into the irregularities of the selection portion 60 are prevented from shifting. The projection 62 is integrally formed as a rib projection that extends linearly in the vertical direction (the direction perpendicular to the inner wall surface of the storage case).

That is, since the deviation prevention projection 62 is a rib projection extending in a direction (die moving direction) perpendicular to the inner wall surface of the storage case 9, it does not become undercut and the molding die becomes complicated. Therefore, the manufacturing cost does not increase.

Therefore, when the connector plug 31 is inserted between the pair of plug holding walls 61, 61, the displacement prevention projection 62 provided on the opposing surface of the plug holding wall 61 becomes the connector plug 3. Since the connector plug 31 fits into the unevenness of the serration portion 60 provided in the hook release portion 59 of 1), the connector plug 31 can be prevented from shifting in the front-rear direction and can be securely held. .

Furthermore, since a plurality of the displacement prevention protrusions 62 are provided along the plug front-back direction of the connector plug 31, when the connector plug 31 is stored in the case body 9, the connection cable 7 Due to the influence of the storage state, even if the holding position of the connector plug 31 with respect to the connector plug holding portion 57 moves back and forth, if at least one slip prevention protrusion 62 fits into the recess of the serration portion 60. The pair of plug holding walls 61, 61 can reliably hold the connector plug 31 while preventing displacement in the front-rear direction.

Also, the maximum movable distance H in the front-rear direction of the connector plug 31 regulated by the plug front direction regulating wall 63 and the plug rear direction regulating walls 65, 65 is as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In addition, at least one of the displacement prevention protrusions 62 of the plug holding walls 61, 61 is a distance that fits into the recess of the serration portion 60 of the hook release release knob portion 59.

That is, H≤hl + h2 from the distance h1 of the deviation prevention protrusions 62 at both ends and the distance h2 of the dent at the 两 end of the serration portion 60. Therefore, when the connection cable 7 is stored along the cable guide 51, even if the position of the connector plug 31 in the front-rear direction with respect to the connector plug holding portion 57 is shifted by H, the plug holding wall 6 is not moved. 1, 61 allows the connector plug 31 to be securely held.

When the connector plug 31 is taken out of the connector plug holding portion 57 between the plug holding walls 61, 61 and the plug rearward regulating walls 65, 65, an operator is required. It is preferable to provide a gap that allows the finger to enter.

The PC card modem 3 has a housing part 69 having a built-in wireless communication function, a flat PC card part 67 protruding from a lower end of the housing part 69, and a folding part on an upper part of the housing part 69. The connector plug 31 is connected to a connector portion 70 provided on the back surface, comprising an antenna 68 provided foldably.

By inserting the tip of the PC card part 67 into a pocket part 71 (see FIG. 1) provided in the lid 11, the case body 9 is closed when the lid 11 is closed. The PC card modem 3 is stored in the wireless communication card storage case 1 so as to overlap the cable holding guide 51 and the connector plug holding portion 57.

That is, the thin flat PC card portion 67 of the PC card modem 3 is housed so as to overlap the cable holding guide 51 and the connector plug holding portion 57 described above, and is thicker than the PC card portion 67. The protruding housing 69 is housed in a space that does not interfere with the cable holding guide 51 (the space on the right side in FIG. 2). Thus, the thickness of the wireless communication card storage case 1 can be minimized.

Therefore, the storage case 1 for a wireless communication card of the present embodiment has a small external shape despite the fact that the external antenna 5, the connection cable 7 and the connector plug 31 are integrally stored together with the PC card modem 3. Compacting can be achieved. In addition, while securely holding the connector plug 31 provided at the end of the connection cable 7 derived from the external antenna 5, these can be carried together with the PC card modem 3, and the portability is excellent.

When the PC card modem 3 and the external antenna 5 are used, the lid 11 is rotated with respect to the case body 9 about the rotation shaft projection 25 as a rotation center. Open and remove PC Card Modem 3 into PC Card Slot of Personal Computer 105 and connect.

Next, the connection cable 7 is pulled out while the external antenna 5 is stored in the case body 9, and the connector plug 31 is connected to the connector 70 of the PC card modem 3 as shown in FIG. I do.

At this time, since the external antenna 5 is held by the case body 9 so as to be rotatable around the axis, the connection cable 7 can be pulled out in a desired direction. Furthermore, after turning the lid 11 more than 270 degrees with respect to the case body 9, the rear wall 19 of the case body 9 is brought into contact with the outer surface of the lid 11 to restrict the rotation. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the case body 9 and the lid 11 are held at an opening angle that is substantially orthogonal to each other.

Therefore, by placing the wireless communication card storage case 1 on a horizontal base so that the lid 11 serves as a base, the external antenna 5 in a state of being housed in the case body 9 can be mounted on the base. It is held at an angle approximately perpendicular to the top.

Note that, in view of the gain of the external antenna 5, the angle with respect to the table is preferably 70 degrees or more. However, if the angle with respect to the table is close to 90 degrees or exceeds 90 degrees, the case body 9 may fall down. Therefore, the angle should be smaller than 90 degrees. Note that the connector plug holding portion according to the storage case of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the connector plug holding portion 57 in the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that the connector plug holding portion may take various forms. .

For example, in the above embodiment, three anti-shift projections 62 are provided on the opposing surface of the plug holding wall 61, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Further, in the above embodiment, the wireless communication card storage case 1 for storing the external antenna 3 for wireless communication, which is an electrical component, has been described as the storage case of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the present invention can be applied to any storage case for storing an electrical component in which a connector plug is provided at the end of a cable derived from various electrical components such as a head horn and a microphone. Although the present invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application (No. 2001-100497) filed on Mar. 30, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

According to the storage case of the present invention as described above, when the connector plug provided at the end of the cable led out of the electric component is stored in the storage case together with the electric component, the lock release knob portion of the connector plug is used. Is mounted so that the pair of plug holding walls is sandwiched in a state where the pressing force is applied.

Therefore, since the connector plug is sandwiched between the pair of plug holding walls by the elastic restoring force of its own lock release knob portion, the plug holding wall itself does not need to be elastically deformed, and the undercut is not performed. There is no need for such a locking projection. Therefore, there is no increase in the manufacturing cost due to the complicated mold for forming the storage case.

Further, the lock release knob is a member which is always urged outward by an elastic restoring force of a panel or the like, and has a sufficient elastic stroke and durability. Can be maintained.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A storage case for storing electrical components with a connector plug provided at the end of the derived cable,

On the inner wall of the storage case, a pair of plug holding walls, which are provided on at least one of both side surfaces of the connector plug and are capable of holding the unlocking knob portion pressed and operated at the time of unlocking in a biased state, are predetermined. It is erected at intervals,

The storage case, wherein the pair of plug holding walls hold the connector plug by an elastic restoring force of the hook release knob portion.

2. The slip prevention projections protruding from the opposing surfaces of the pair of plug holding walls are fitted to the anti-slip projections and depressions formed on the surface of the mouth release release knob. 2. The storage case according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the connector plug in the front-rear direction of the plug is restricted.

3. The storage case according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the displacement prevention protrusions are provided along a plug longitudinal direction of the connector plug.

4. A plug front-rear direction regulating wall for regulating the position of the connector plug within a range in which the anti-slip irregularities can be fitted to the deviation preventing projection of the plug holding wall is provided on the inner wall of the storage case. 4. The storage case according to claim 2, wherein the storage case is protruded.

5. The storage case according to claim 1, wherein the electric component is an external antenna for wireless communication, and is stored together with a wireless communication card having a built-in wireless communication function.