Portable electronic device including security device for fixing cover of detachable electric power supply

Abstract

To provide a portable electronic device including a security device for fixing a cover of a detachable electric power supply.SOLUTION: A portable electronic device includes a casing 10 which has a compartment 11 which receives and accommodates a detachable power supply 2, and a compartment cover 20 which includes first coupling means 23a configured to cooperate with second coupling means 23b of the casing 10 to tightly connect with the casing 10. The compartment cover 20 comprises a hollow 22 configured to receive a tool for rotating the compartment cover 20. The portable electronic device 100 includes a security device 30 connected tightly with a clip anchor. The security device 30 is configured to cover the hollow 22 of the compartment cover 20 for the compartment 11 at least in part to prevent a tool for detachment from the casing 10 by rotation of the compartment cover 20 from being inserted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable electronic device powered by a removable power source, such as a battery, accumulator or cell, housed in a compartment in a casing and closed by a cover.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a security device configured to secure a cover on a removable power supply, preventing removal of the power supply and preventing access to the power supply while the security device is attached.

[0003] The invention is of particular interest in the field of watchmaking, in particular electronic or electromechanical watches. [Background technology]

[0004] Portable electronic devices may be powered by one or more removable power sources, such as batteries, accumulators, or power sources.

[0005] For example, an electronic or electromechanical watch may be powered, at least in the case of an electromechanical watch, in part, by a removable power source, such as a button cell battery, housed in a compartment within the watch casing, with a removable cover provided to enclose the battery within the compartment and ensuring that the compartment is at least waterproof.

[0006] To facilitate easy battery replacement, covers and cases typically have a rotating quick coupling / disconnection means that allows not only quick access to the battery, but also quick closure of the compartment after battery replacement, for example a quarter turn or bayonet type assembly system.

[0007] Additionally, the cover may have a recess in its outer surface configured to receive the end of a tool provided for rotating it. To further facilitate battery replacement, this recess typically has a relatively simple and common shape, such as a slot, which allows the compartment to be opened using various accessories available to the wearer without the need for special tools or the need to take the watch to a watchmaker for battery replacement.

[0008] However, these various interesting and advantageous technical solutions for battery replacement may also present drawbacks in certain circumstances, especially when handled by children, and in particular young children, who may inadvertently remove the battery cover to access the battery compartment and swallow the battery with all the serious consequences that may entail.

[0009] As a result, there is a need to protect this type of portable equipment from irresponsible persons, especially young children, from accessing the battery compartment, while retaining the advantage that the cover can be easily and quickly removed without the need for special tools. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] To this end, the invention aims to propose a security device for fixing a cover to a compartment for a removable power source, such as a cell, accumulator or battery, of a portable electronic device, which device can be used to overcome at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In this context, the present invention relates to - a casing having a compartment configured to receive and house at least one removable power source; - a compartment cover including first coupling means configured to cooperate with second coupling means provided on a casing to rigidly connect the compartment cover to the casing by rotating the compartment cover about an axis of rotation formed by a central axis of the compartment cover, the compartment cover having a recess on an outer surface, the recess configured to receive a tool for rotating the compartment cover.

[0012] Additionally, the portable electronic device includes a security device securely connected to the portable electronic device by a clip fastening, the security device configured to at least partially cover a recess in the compartment cover and prevent insertion of a tool to rotate and remove the compartment cover from the casing.

[0013] In this manner, the clipped security device renders the recess unusable by overlaying, filling and / or concealing the recess for as long as the security device is attached.

[0014] Additionally, the clip connection method makes it easier to attach the security device by simply applying pressure in the direction of the cover. This attachment method also allows the security device to be attached to the portable electronic device in reverse, making it easier for authorized or responsible persons to remove the cover if necessary.

[0015] Preferably, the security device is rigidly connected to the cover by clipping.

[0016] In addition to the features mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, the portable electronic device according to the invention may have one or more of the following complementary features, considered individually or according to any technically possible combination: - The security device has a body having a flat surface and an attachment clip extending from the flat surface of the body, the attachment clip being configured to cooperate with a hook opening formed in the cover to ensure that the security device is retained on the cover by clipping. The security device is firmly connected to the casing by clipping. - The security device has a body having a flat surface and an attachment clip extending from the flat surface of the body, the attachment clip being configured to cooperate with a hook opening formed in the casing to ensure that the security device is retained by clipping to the casing on the cover. - The attachment clip protrudes from a flat surface of the body and extends towards the compartment. - The casing includes a notch formed around the periphery of the cover, and the attachment clip is received in the notch to prevent the cover from rotating relative to the casing when the security device is securely connected to the portable electronic device by clipping. - The body has a cutout that allows a small tool to be passed through the recess to facilitate unclipping of a security device clipped to a portable electronic device. - The security device is made of metal or polymer material. - The portable electronic device is a timepiece. Effect of the Invention

[0017] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description given below in conjunction with the following figures. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 illustrates the rear or back side of a portable electronic device according to the present invention, including a first exemplary embodiment of a security device for securing a cover of a removable power source, such as a cell, accumulator, or battery. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a semi-exploded perspective view of the portable electronic device illustrated in FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 illustrates how a security device is attached to the portable electronic device illustrated in FIG. 1 when the compartment is closed by the cover. [Figure 4] 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the portable electronic device illustrated in FIG. 1, particularly illustrating the first exemplary embodiment clipped onto a cover; [Diagram 5] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of a portable electronic device, particularly illustrating the second exemplary embodiment of a security device clipped to a casing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] In all figures, common elements are given the same reference numbers unless otherwise noted.

[0020] In the present application, generally speaking, an outer surface is understood to mean a surface facing towards the outside of the portable electronic device, and conversely, an inner surface is understood to mean a surface facing towards the inside of the portable electronic device.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates the rear or back side of a casing of a portable electronic device 100 according to the present invention, including a first exemplary embodiment of a security device for securing the cover of a removable power source, such as a cell, accumulator or battery.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a semi-exploded perspective view of the portable electronic device 100 illustrated in FIG.

[0023] The portable electronic device 100 is, for example, a timepiece, such as a wristwatch, although other exemplary embodiments are possible.

[0024] As shown with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the portable electronic device 100 includes a casing 10 (i.e. a watch casing if the device is a watch) that encloses an electronic unit (not shown) that is powered by at least one removable power source, for example in the form of a cell, an accumulator, a rechargeable battery, or a battery.

[0025] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the casing 10 has a compartment 11 configured to receive and house at least one removable power source 2, such as a cell or battery.

[0026] Typically, in a wristwatch, compartment 11 is located at the back or rear of the watch, i.e. in the part of the watch that is intended to be in contact with the user's skin.

[0027] Depending on the power needs of the portable electronic device, compartment 11 may be sized to receive and accommodate multiple removable power sources, such as multiple batteries, accumulators, or batteries.

[0028] In the remainder of this application, the removable power source 2 is considered to be a battery.

[0029] The battery 2 housed in the compartment 11 is, for example, a button cell.

[0030] The compartment 11 of the casing 10 forms a recess, for example cylindrical in shape, extending approximately along a central axis X.

[0031] The compartment 11 of the casing 10 is closed by a cover 20 having a central axis X. The compartment 11 is closed by rotating the cover 20 about the central axis X.

[0032] The cover 20 comprises first connecting means 23a configured to cooperate with second connecting means 23b provided on the casing 10. The connecting means 23a, 23b are configured to rigidly connect the cover 20 to the casing 10 by rotating the cover 20 about the central axis X. The first connecting means 23a and the second connecting means 23b thus form a system 23 for attaching the cover 20 to the casing 10.

[0033] Preferably, the coupling means 23a, 23b of the attachment system 23 are rotary quick coupling means, allowing the compartment 11 to be opened quickly and easily.

[0034] Preferably, the coupling means 23a, 23b are means enabling, for example, a quarter turn coupling or a bayonet coupling.

[0035] For example, the cover 20 has tabs 26 extending radially relative to the central axis X. The tabs 26 are configured to cooperatively mate with grooves 16 formed in the casing 10 along the periphery of the compartment 11. Thus, the tabs 26 of the cover 20 form a first coupling means 23a, and the grooves 16 of the casing 10 form a second coupling means 23b.

[0036] According to one alternative embodiment, the coupling means 23a, 23b are screw coupling means, and the cover 20 is firmly connected to the casing 10 by screwing.

[0037] The cover 20 has an exterior surface 21, ie, a recess 22 formed in the surface of the cover 20 that is visible to a user when the cover 20 is coupled to the casing 10.

[0038] The recess 22 is formed by a surface recessed from the exterior surface 21. The recess 22 is shaped to receive the end of a disassembly tool and ensure that the cover 20 rotates when a rotational torque is applied to the cover 20 using the disassembly tool.

[0039] Preferably, the recess 22 has a simple shape, for example, the recess 22 has the shape of a groove, a linear notch or a slot.

[0040] The recesses 22 can also have other, more complex shapes.

[0041] The casing 10 further comprises notches 17 distributed along the periphery of the compartment 11 and extending substantially along the axis X and into which the grooves 16 open. The casing 10 comprises as many notches 17 as there are tabs 26 of the cover 20.

[0042] The notches 17 are configured to receive tabs 26 of the cover 20 such that rotation of the cover 20 couples the cover 20 and engages the tabs 26 in the grooves 16. When the tabs 26 are at the bottom of the grooves 16, the cover 20 is coupled to the casing 10 and the compartment 11 is closed.

[0043] The groove 16 may be raised or embossed to indicate passage of a particular angular position to provide a sensory indication that the cover 20 is properly closed.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, an elastic membrane 40 is inserted between the cell battery 2 and the cover 20 to seal the compartment 11 .

[0045] The portable electronic device 100 further includes a security device 30 that is assembled to the portable electronic device 100 by clipping.

[0046] Clipping is understood to refer to the reversible assembly of two elements by means of a clamp or clip.

[0047] The security device 30 is an attachment that is rigidly connected to the portable electronic device 100 by clipping with an attachment clip that engages with a raised portion provided for this purpose. The security device 30 is rigidly connected to the portable electronic device 100 and closes the compartment 11 when the cover 20 is coupled to the casing 10, as illustrated in Figure 3. Figure 3 illustrates the cover 20 in a closed position on the casing 10 and the tabs 26 of the cover 20 inserted into the grooves 16.

[0048] The security device 30 includes a body 31 defining a flat surface and an elastically deformable attachment clip 32 .

[0049] The attachment clip 32 protrudes from a flat surface of the body 31 .

[0050] For example, the attachment 32 is a resilient protrusion that extends in a protuberant manner relative to the flat surface of the body 31 and has a hook at its free end.

[0051] The attachment clip 32 extends at an angle of approximately 45° to 120° to the plane formed by the flat surface of the body 31 and is directed towards the casing 10 .

[0052] The attachment clip 32 is configured to cooperate with the hook opening to securely connect the security device 30 to the portable electronic device 100 by clipping.

[0053] In this first exemplary embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1-4, the security device 30 is rigidly connected to the cover 20 by clipping.

[0054] To this end, the cover 20 has a hook opening 29 formed on the exterior of the cover 20 and configured to cooperate with an end of the attachment clip 32 to hold the security device 30 in place on the cover 20 unless an unclipping force is applied to the security device 30.

[0055] 4 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view illustrating security device 30 clipped to cover 20 with one of attachment clips 32 cooperating with one of hook openings 29 of cover 20. The hook configuration at the free end of the attachment clip prevents security device 30 from being removed until an unclipping force is applied to security device 30, causing attachment clip 32 to undergo elastic stress and release the hook from hook opening 29.

[0056] Preferably, the attachment clip 32 is also inserted into a notch in the casing 10 so as to prevent rotation of the security device 30 around the X-axis. Thus, when the security device 30 is clipped onto the cover 20, it is no longer possible to rotate the cover 20 to remove it, as the notch 17 prevents rotation of the attachment clip 32. Thus, the security device 30 has a self-locking function which prevents rotation of the cover 20.

[0057] Preferably, the notch 17 used to attach the cover 20 and which is free when the cover 20 is in the closed position is used to accommodate the attachment clip 32 of the security device 30 .

[0058] Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, when security device 30 is clipped onto cover 20, attachment clip 32 is received in notch 17, preventing cover 20 from rotating.

[0059] However, it is also possible to make specific cuts in the casing 10 to receive the attachment clips 32 of the security device 30, ie cuts different from the cuts 17 used to attach the cover 20, if desired.

[0060] Body 31 of security device 30 is configured to at least partially cover cover 20 and its recess 22 , ie, the concave surface forming recess 22 , and preferably to cover most of cover 20 and recess 22 .

[0061] Thus, the security device 30 disables the recess 22 by overlapping it so long as the security device 30 is in place.

[0062] Body 31 is sized to sufficiently cover recess 22 in cover 20 to prevent a tool from engaging recess 22 and also to prevent the tool in recess 22 from being used to rotate cover 20 .

[0063] The body 31 has, for example, the shape of a disk or pellet, the diameter of which is substantially equal to the diameter of the cover 20 .

[0064] The body 31 may have a notch 36, shaped break, opening or slot configured to allow a tool of small dimensions to reach the recess 22 of the cover 20 in a limited area. Thus, it is possible to use a tool of smaller dimensions than is necessary to rotate the cover 20 through the recess 22, making it easier to unclip the security device 30 from the cover 20, especially when the compartment 11 needs to be opened to replace the battery 2. However, this notch 36 is not sufficient to rotate the cover using the recess 22 and a tool adapted to the recess 22.

[0065] To separate security device 30 during battery replacement, a user can easily use a small tool to insert underneath body 31 at notch 36 in body 31, and advantageously remove material from recess 22 in cover 20. Once security device 30 is unclipped and attachment clip 32 is removed from hook opening 29, the user has access to recess 22 in cover 20 and can rotate cover 20 to access cell battery 2 housed in compartment 11.

[0066] Figure 5 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of a security device according to the present invention attached to a portable electronic device, which is identical to the first exemplary embodiment described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, except for the features described below.

[0067] In a second exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the security device 30' is rigidly connected to the casing 10 by clipping.

[0068] To this end, as illustrated in Figure 5, the attachment clip 32' has a hook that faces radially outward relative to the central axis X. In this exemplary embodiment, the hook of the attachment clip 32' cooperates with a hook opening 29' formed in the casing 10, more specifically in the side of the notch 17.

[0069] Regardless of which exemplary embodiment is applied, the security device 30, 30' is made from a metallic or polymeric material.

[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the security device 30, 30' may also include a security, danger, or prevention pictogram 38 visible on the exterior surface of the security device 30, 30'. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 2 cell battery 10 Casing 11 Compartments 16 groove 17 Cutting 20 Compartment Cover 21 Exterior 22 Depression 23 Attachment System 23a First connecting means 23b Second connecting means 26 Tabs 29 Hook opening 29' hook opening 30 Security Devices 30' Security Device 31 Main unit 32 Attachment Clip 32' Attachment Clip 36 Notch 38 Pictograms 40 Elastic Membrane 100 Portable Electronic Devices X center axis

Claims

1. A portable electronic device (100), comprising: - a casing (10) having a compartment (11) adapted to receive and house at least one removable power source (2); a compartment cover (20) including first coupling means (23a) configured to cooperate with second coupling means (23b) provided on said casing (10) to rigidly connect said compartment cover (20) to said casing (10) by rotating said compartment cover about an axis of rotation formed by a central axis (X) of said compartment cover (20), said compartment cover (20) having a recess (22) on its outer surface (21), said recess being configured to receive a tool for rotating said compartment cover (20); The portable electronic device (100) is characterized in that it includes a security device (30, 30') firmly connected to the portable electronic device by clipping, the security device (30, 30') being configured to at least partially cover the recess (22) in the compartment cover (20) of the compartment (11) and to prevent insertion of a tool to rotate and remove the compartment cover (20) from the casing (10).

2. 2. The portable electronic device (100) of claim 1, wherein the security device (30) is rigidly connected to the compartment cover (20) by a clip fastening.

3. The security device (30) comprises: a body (31) having a flat surface; - an attachment clip (32) extending from a flat surface of said body (31); 3. The portable electronic device (100) of claim 2, wherein the attachment clip (32) is configured to cooperate with a hook opening (29) made in the compartment cover (20) to ensure that the security device is retained on the compartment cover (20) by clipping.

4. 2. The portable electronic device (100) of claim 1, characterized in that said security device (30) is rigidly connected to said casing (10) by clipping.

5. The security device (30') comprises: a body (31) having a flat surface; - an attachment clip (32') extending from a flat surface of said body (31); 5. The portable electronic device (100) of claim 4, wherein the attachment clip (32') is configured to cooperate with a hook opening (29') made in the casing (10) to ensure that the security device is retained to the casing (10) on the compartment cover (20) by clipping.

6. 4. The portable electronic device (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the attachment clip (32) protrudes from the flat surface of the body (31) and extends towards the compartment (11).

7. 7. The portable electronic device (100) of claim 6, wherein the casing (10) includes a notch (17) formed around the periphery of the compartment cover (20), and the attachment clip (32) is received in the notch (17) to prevent the compartment cover (20) from rotating relative to the casing (10) when the security device (30) is firmly connected to the portable electronic device (100) by clipping.

8. 6. The portable electronic device (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the attachment clip (32') protrudes from the flat surface of the body (31) and extends towards the compartment (11).

9. 9. The portable electronic device (100) of claim 8, wherein the casing (10) includes a notch (17) formed around the periphery of the compartment cover (20), and the attachment clip (32') is received in the notch (17) to prevent the compartment cover (20) from rotating relative to the casing (10) when the security device (30') is firmly connected to the portable electronic device (100) by clipping.

10. 2. The portable electronic device (100) of claim 1, wherein the body (31) has a notch (36) that allows a small tool to pass through the recess (22) to facilitate unclipping the security device (30, 30') clipped to the portable electronic device (100).

11. 2. Portable electronic device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said security device (30, 30') is made of metal or polymer material.

12. The portable electronic device (100) of claim 1, characterized in that said portable electronic device (100) is a timepiece.

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