Electrical connectors – With magnet
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-06
2001-04-17
Vu, Hien (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With magnet
C439S500000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217339
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a power source connecting apparatus for an electronic appliance, and more specifically to a power source connecting apparatus for an electronic appliance which is constructed such that current leakage hardly occur and airtightness will not diminish.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, there is a tendency toward increase in electric timepiece power consumption as the electronic timepiece functionality increases. For example, power consumption is considerably increased for those electronic timepieces provided with a personal computer function and those with television function. Accordingly they require a large-sized power source suited for them. On the other hand, watches are usually worn on a wrist during walking. Accordingly, they if large-sized, they are poor in appearance and obstructive, and tiring if heavy. Meanwhile, the frequent replacement of a small capacity battery requires opening of the battery lid in each time, hence resulting in troublesomeness. For these reasons, a variety of devices have been implemented for timepiece power sources. For example, JP-A-51-30773 discloses a timepiece incorporating a power source (secondary battery) of an electricity charging type.
FIG. 9
is a schematic explanatory view showing one example of the above-described electronic timepiece.
FIG. 10
is a sectional view showing a power source connecting apparatus for the timepiece shown in FIG.
9
. This electronic timepiece
500
is structured to have a charge terminal
502
provided on a side face of a main body case
501
. The main body case
501
is fitted with a bushing
504
holding an electrode
503
. The bushing
504
is slidable relative to the main body case
501
. Meanwhile, a packing
505
for waterproofing is provided between the bushing
504
and the main body case
501
. The bush
504
is urged toward the main body case
501
side by a spring member
506
. A spring electrode
507
is arranged underneath the electrode
503
. This spring electrode
507
is fixed inside the main body case
501
, and has an end connected to a secondary battery
508
. A charging power source (primary battery)
509
is connected with a socket
510
. The socket
510
is projected with an electrode
511
at a front end thereof. The electrode
511
is electrically connected to the charging power source
509
. Also, the socket
510
has a thread
512
cut at its end to be screwed to a internal thread
513
of the main body case
501
.
First, if the socket
510
is screwed to the internal thread
513
in the main body case
501
, the bushing
504
is pushed inside the main body case
501
while being urged by the spring member
506
. Also, the electrode
511
on the socket
510
side comes in contact with the electrode
503
on the bushing
504
side. On the other hand, the electrode
503
is pressed to an inside of the main body case
501
due to the movement of the bushing
504
, and the electrode
503
at its lower end comes into connection with the spring electrode
507
. Due to this, electrical connection is obtained between the charging power source
509
and the secondary battery
508
. In a usual use state, the charging power source
509
is removed. In this state, because the spring member
506
urges against the bushing
504
, the packing
505
is sandwiched between a flange
504
of the bushing
504
and the main body case
501
, keeping airtight the timepiece.
In the above-described electronic timepiece
500
, the electrode
503
is left exposed. Due to this, if a conductive object is contacted therewith, the electrode
503
is put into connection with the secondary battery
508
thereby posing a problem of current leakage. Meanwhile, although the packing
505
is clamped to maintain airtightness by the urging force of the spring member
506
, there has been a problem in that the airtightness decreases if the bushing
504
is externally pushed in.
Also, in the publication of JP-A-51-30773, there is a description on a charge terminal with a lid (FIG.
3
and
FIG. 4
in the same publication). However, if a lid is provided, there is a problem in that removing the lid is troublesome. Also, the lid is a small part, resulting in a problem in of less The problems are not limited to the timepieces but they are common problems to electronic appliances having charge terminals.
Accordingly, this invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and it is an object to provide a power source connecting apparatus which fulfills conditions of reduced current leakage, no decrease in airtightness, ease in power source connecting operation and no missing of parts, and an electronic appliance provided with this power source connecting apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the above-stated object, in a power source connecting apparatus according to the present invention, a power source connecting apparatus was structured by having a fixing portion, an internal terminal having a first power source terminal and held at the fixing portion by a elastic member, an external terminal provided in a position of the fixing portion opposite to the internal terminal so as to be exposed to a side opposite to a side that the internal terminal is arranged, such that the first power source terminal and the external terminal are brought into a conduction state when the internal terminal is contacted against the elastic member with the external terminal.
In this structure, structuring can be made such that the internal terminal has a magnetic member, and the internal terminal is brought into contact against the elastic member with the external terminal by the magnetic member being attracted through a magnetic force.
Furthermore, a power source connecting apparatus can be structured by providing, in addition to the above structure, with a second power source terminal provided in a position opposite to the external terminal and a connection terminal having a magnet to cause an attractive force between the internal terminal and the same.
Also, in an electronic appliance according to the present Invention, an electronic appliance was structured by being provided with the power source connecting apparatus having the above structure and having a main body case fixing the fixing portion and an electronic circuit incorporated in the main body case and connected to the first power source terminal.
In this structure, structuring can be made by providing in the main body case the secondary battery as a power source for the electronic appliance and connecting the first power source terminal to this secondary battery.
Also, in the structure provided with the connection terminal, the power source apparatus may be connected to the second power source terminal provided on this connection terminal.
In the power source connecting apparatus structured as above, for example in a structure having a connection terminal having a magnet, if the magnet of the connection terminal is contacted with the external terminal, the internal terminal is attracted by the attraction force of the magnet. This causes the internal terminal and the external terminal to be brought into contact. In this state, if the connection terminal is contacted with the external terminal, connection is also made between the connection terminal and the internal terminal. In a structure that the second power source terminal of the connection terminal is connected with a power source apparatus and the internal terminal is connected with an electronic circuit or secondary battery, in this state power is supplied from the power source apparatus through this power source connecting apparatus to the electronic circuit or secondary battery.
On the other hand, in a state that the connection terminal is separated from the external terminal, no attractive force of the magnet operates and the action of the elastic member brings the internal terminal and the external terminal into an separate state. Due to this, even if the external terminal is touched from an outside,
Adams & Wilks
Seiko Instruments Inc.
Vu Hien
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