Splash-proof covers and information terminal equipment

Abstract

To provide a technique for providing drip-proof property to an information terminal device with a connector into which a cable plug is inserted.SOLUTION: A drip-proof cover is added to a main body of an information terminal device which has a connector into which a tip end of a cable plug is inserted. The drip-proof cover includes: a cover part covering the connector through a sealant made of elastic material; a flange part provided on an outside of the cover part; and a clamp part fixing the flange part and a side opposite to the side of the main body of the information terminal device covered by the cover part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a drip-proof cover and an information terminal device.

Background Art

[0002] Connectors of small electronic devices that may be used outdoors have a waterproof structure (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An information terminal device having a connector into which a cable is inserted may be required to have drip-proof performance when the cable is connected.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique for imparting drip-proof performance to an information terminal device having a connector into which a cable is inserted. Other objects and novel features will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] A brief description of the outline of a representative example of the present disclosure is as follows. That is, the drip-proof cover is attached to an information terminal device main body having a connector into which a tip of a cable plug is inserted. The drip-proof cover includes: a cover portion that covers the connector via a sealing material made of an elastic material; a flange portion provided on an outer side of the cover portion; and a clamp portion that fixes the flange portion and a side surface of the information terminal device main body opposite to a side surface covered by the cover portion.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide splash resistance to information terminal equipment having a connector into which a cable is inserted. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an exploded front view of the information terminal equipment and cable in an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded front view of an information terminal device in an embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a front view of the assembled information terminal equipment in the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a partial side view of the information terminal equipment shown in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the information terminal equipment in the comparative example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments and comparative examples will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, for the sake of clarity, the following descriptions and drawings have been omitted and simplified as appropriate. Also, the same reference numerals are used for identical components, and repeated explanations may be omitted.

[0010] The information terminal equipment in the embodiment will be described using Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is an exploded front view of the information terminal equipment and cable in the embodiment. Figure 2 is an exploded front view of the information terminal equipment in the embodiment. Figure 3 is an assembled front view of the information terminal equipment in the embodiment. Figure 4 is a partial side view of the information terminal equipment shown in Figure 3.

[0011] As shown in Figure 2, the information terminal device 1 comprises an information terminal device body 10, a drip-proof cover 20, and a sealing material (gasket, packing) 30. The information terminal device 1 is installed, for example, inside near the entrance (door) of a vehicle, with the Z1 side facing upwards. Therefore, when the door is opened during rainfall, water droplets may fall from above.

[0012] Here, X1-X2 in each figure represents the width direction of the information terminal device body 10 and the splash-proof cover 20, Y1-Y2 represents the depth direction of the information terminal device body 10 and the splash-proof cover 20, and Z1-Z2 represents the longitudinal direction (up and down direction) of the information terminal device body 10 and the up and down direction of the splash-proof cover 20.

[0013] The information terminal device body 10 is, for example, a display terminal. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the information terminal device body 10 is equipped with a connector 11 into which the tip 42 of the plug 41 of the cable 40 is inserted. The cable 40 is, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable. In this embodiment, the connector 11 is provided on the X1 side and Z1 side of the information terminal device body 10. A stepped portion (recess) 13 is formed on the part of the connector 11 that faces the outside, and is lower than the outer surface 12 of the information terminal device body 10.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, the drip-proof cover 20 has a cover portion 21, a flange portion 22, and a clamp portion 23. The drip-proof cover 20 is molded from a synthetic resin, for example, ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin).

[0015] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cover portion 21 is shaped to fit onto the side surface of the information terminal device body 10, including the outer surface 12, and to cover the connector 11 from the outside. The cover portion 21 has an insertion hole 211 that is larger than the shape of the plug 41 so that the plug 41 can be inserted into it.

[0016] The flange portion 22 is provided around the insertion hole 211 and protrudes toward the cable 40 so as to surround and cover the plug 41. Note that the flange portion 22 is not provided around the lower part of the insertion hole 211. The flange portion 22 bulges in the Z1 direction midway through its protruding direction (X1 direction), forming a mountain shape with a slope, and is structured so that water flows off without accumulating.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 2, the clamp portion 23 comprises a substantially U-shaped fixed portion 231 when viewed from the front, a bolt (male screw) 232, and a nut (female screw) 233. The fixed portion 231 has a plate-like ceiling portion 231a extending in the X1-X2 direction, a plate-like first side portion 231b extending in the Z1-Z2 direction on the X1 side, and a plate-like second side portion 231c extending in the Z1-Z2 direction on the X2 side. The first side portion 231b is connected to the Z1 side on the cable 40 side of the flange portion 22, and the second side portion 231c is configured to be in contact with the side surface opposite to the side surface having the connector 11 of the information terminal device main body 10.

[0018] The bolt 232 extends in the X1-X2 direction. The head of the bolt 232 is located on the X2 side of the second side portion 231c, and the distal end of the bolt 232 is located on the X1 side of the first side portion 231b, and is screwed into the nut 233 located on the X1 side of the first side portion 231b.

[0019] The drip-proof cover 20 may be integrally formed except for the nut 233, or may be integrally formed except for the bolt 232 and the nut 233. Furthermore, the bolt 232 and the nut 233 may be made of metal instead of synthetic resin.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, the sealing material 30 is provided between the contact surfaces of the information terminal device main body 10 and the drip-proof cover 20. In the case of the present embodiment, the sealing material 30 is attached to the joint surface on the drip-proof cover 20 side by adhesion using an adhesive or the like. The sealing material 30 surrounds the connector 11, has a size that fits inside the drip-proof cover 20, and is formed into a plate shape by an elastic material such as rubber. The sealing material 30 has an opening for inserting a plug 41 similar to the insertion hole 211.

[0021] The drip-proof cover 20 with the sealing material 30 attached is mounted onto the information terminal device main body 10 from the Z1 side of the information terminal device main body 10. The second side portion 231c is arranged on the Z1 side of the X2 side of the information terminal device main body 10, and the cover portion 21 is arranged on the Z1 side of the X1 side of the information terminal device main body 10.

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, the cover portion 21 of the drip-proof cover 20 is fixed to the information terminal device body 10 by the clamp portion 23 of the drip-proof cover 20. By tightening the nut 233 on the clamp portion 23, the sides of the information terminal device body 10 and the inner surface of the drip-proof cover 20 press against each other, thus securing it in place. By loosening the nut 233, the drip-proof cover 20 can be removed.

[0023] A sealing material 30 made of an elastic material is present at the contact surface between the information terminal device body 10 and the cover part 21. When the drip-proof cover 20 is fixed to the information terminal device body 10 by the clamp part 23, the sealing material 30 is compressed, preventing water from entering from the interface.

[0024] A flange portion 22 is provided around the insertion hole 211 of the drip-proof cover 20, making it difficult for water droplets from above the information terminal device 1 to enter the connection between the information terminal device body 10 and the cable 40, even when the cable 40 is connected.

[0025] As a method for attaching the drip-proof cover 20 to the main body 10 of the information terminal device, a method using double-sided tape instead of the clamp portion 23 (comparative example) can be considered. The comparative example will be explained with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the information terminal device in the comparative example.

[0026] The information terminal device 1 comprises an information terminal device body 10, a drip-proof cover 20, and waterproof double-sided tape 32. The information terminal device body 10 in the comparative example has the same configuration as the information terminal device body 10 in the embodiment.

[0027] The drip-proof cover 20 has a cover portion 21 and a flange portion 22. The cover portion 21 and flange portion 22 in the comparative example have the same configuration as the cover portion 21 and flange portion 22 in the embodiment.

[0028] In the comparative example, a drip-proof cover 20 is attached around the connector 11 using waterproof double-sided tape 32 to prevent water from entering from the joint surface and ensure drip-proof performance when connecting the cable 40. The shape of the double-sided tape 32 in plan view is the same as that of the sealing material 30 in the embodiment.

[0029] In the comparative example, due to the structure in which the cover is attached with double-sided tape 32, there is a possibility of it falling off due to excessive force or deterioration of the adhesive tape that makes up the double-sided tape 32 over time. Also, once attached, it is difficult to remove, and the adhesive strength of the double-sided tape 32 may decrease when reattaching it. Furthermore, due to the structure in which the splash-proof cover 20 is attached with double-sided tape 32, it is necessary to remove the cover of the connector 11 attached to the information terminal device body 10. Note that the cover of the connector 11 is used when the cable 40 is not connected. As a result, the performance (waterproofing, etc.) guaranteed when the cover of the connector 11 is used will not function, making it unusable.

[0030] According to this embodiment, at least one of the following effects can be obtained.

[0031] (a) Because it is mechanically attached by the clamp section 23, compared to the fixing method using double-sided tape in the comparative example, there is no need to consider the deterioration of the tape, and it can be used for a longer period of time.

[0032] (b) The splash-proof cover 20 is detachable and can be attached to the information terminal device body 10 as needed.

[0033] (c) The splash-proof cover 20 becomes detachable, and the cover of the connector 11 that originally came with the information terminal device body 10 can be used, so the performance (waterproofing, etc.) that was guaranteed when using the cover of the connector 11 can also be used as needed.

[0034] The disclosure made by the Discloser has been described in detail based on embodiments, but it goes without saying that the disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 10. Information terminal equipment main unit 20 Splash-proof cover 21 Cover section 22 Flange section 23 Clamp section 30 sealant

Claims

1. A splash-proof cover attached to the main body of an information terminal device having a connector into which the tip of a cable plug is inserted, A cover portion that covers the connector via a sealing material made of an elastic material, A flange portion provided on the outside of the cover portion, A clamp portion that secures the flange portion and the side of the information terminal device body opposite to the side covered by the cover portion, It has, The cover portion has an insertion hole that is larger than the shape of the plug for the plug to be inserted, and is a splash-proof cover that fits onto the side of the main body of the information terminal device to cover the connector from the outside.

2. In the splash-proof cover of claim 1, The flange portion is a drip-proof cover provided around the insertion hole and protruding towards the cable side to surround and cover the plug.

3. In the splash-proof cover of claim 2, The clamp portion is a drip-proof cover having a fixing portion that is roughly U-shaped when viewed from the front, and male and female threads.

4. An information terminal device having a connector into which the tip of the cable plug is inserted, A drip-proof cover that covers the aforementioned connector, A sealing material made of an elastic material, Equipped with, The aforementioned splash-proof cover is A cover portion that covers the connector via the aforementioned sealing material, A flange portion provided on the outside of the cover portion, A clamp portion that secures the flange portion and the side of the information terminal device body opposite to the side covered by the cover portion, It has, The cover portion has an insertion hole that is larger than the shape of the plug for the plug to be inserted into, and is shaped to fit onto the side of the main body of the information terminal device to cover the connector from the outside.

5. In the information terminal device of claim 4, The aforementioned information terminal device is an information terminal device that serves as a display terminal.

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