Background Art Generally, terminal assemblies are provided on a variety of electric devices including a mobile communication unit, a battery for the mobile communication unit and the like, so as to allow two electric devices to be electrically connected to each other.

A structure of such a terminal assembly is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 198490, entitled"Terminal Assembly with Waterproof Structure". The basic structure of Korean Utility Model Registration No. 198490 is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional terminal assembly 20 comprises a case 22 having a terminal hole 24 passing therethrough; a housing 28 protruding from the inner side of the case 22 by a predetermined height and surrounding the terminal hole 24, the housing 28 having at least two engaging projections protruding inward at a center position of an upper end surface thereof; a sealing member 32 elastically brought into close contact with the circumference of the terminal hole 24 of the housing 28, the sealing member 32 having a projecting portion 34, which is fitted through the terminal hole 24, and a plate-shaped configuration; a

connecting terminal 36 attached to an end surface of the projecting portion 34 of the sealing member 32; a connecting member 38 disposed in a depression defined at a center position of an upper surface of the sealing member 32 in a manner such that the connecting member 38 is electrically connected with the connecting terminal 36 by a bridge 40; a connection plate 42 positioned on the sealing member 32 so that the connection plate 42 is supported by both edges of the upper surface of the sealing member 32, the connection plate 42 having connection projections 46 provided at a center position thereof in a manner such that the connection projections 46 are crossed with each other and are elastically pendent from the connection plate 42 toward the connecting member 38, and being connected through a wire with electric elements arranged in the case 22; and a pressing member 50 engaged by the engaging projections 30 of the housing 28, for pressing against the sealing member 32 and the connection plate 42 to make them closely contact the circumference of the terminal hole 24, the pressing member 50 having a plate-shaped configuration.

At least one bead portion 26 which has a closed loop-shaped contour protruding along the circumference of the terminal hole 24 from the inside wall of the case 22 is formed on an inner surface of the case 22 around the circumference of the terminal hole 24, the bead portion 26 being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance when there are more than one. The conductive terminal 36 and the connecting member 38 are electrically connected with each other by the bridge 40, which extends through a center portion of the sealing member 32. The bridge 40 is made of metal having a high conductivity. An airtightness maintaining member 48 is positioned on an opposite surface to the surface of the connection plate 42, on which the connection projections 46 are formed, in a manner such that the airtightness maintaining member 48 is squeezed against a side wall of the housing

28 so as to ensure airtightness of the entire terminal assembly 20. The airtightness maintaining member is made of synthetic resin having elasticity, such as rubber, silicon, urethane, and the like.

The above-described terminal assembly 20 has problems in that it has so many elements so that it is difficult to assemble the elements, and in that the complex structure of the terminal assembly 20 makes it difficult to miniaturize enough to be used with the small battery of a mobile communication unit.

Further, a rechargeable battery of a mobile communication unit generally has a terminal for charging electricity and a terminal for discharging electricity, and the charging terminal and the discharging terminal must be electrically connected with each other. However, the above-described terminal assembly 20 has a problem in that electrical connection of the charging terminal and the discharging terminal is hindered by the connection projections 46, the airtightness maintaining member 48 and the pressing member 50.

Disclosure of the Invention The present invention has been invented in an effort to solve the above-described problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure, which enables a battery with a waterproof structure such as a terminal for a mobile communication unit including a rechargeable battery to be simply constructed such that assembly of electric elements arranged in the terminal assembly is improved, which prevents terminals exposed to the outside from being electrically connected with each other by electrolytic substance when electrolytic substance adheres to the terminals, and which prevents water or electrolytic substance from permeating through terminal parts into a case, thereby avoiding corrosion and damage of the terminal parts and various elements

arranged in the case.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure, which, in the case of a rechargeable battery for a mobile communication unit, allows a charging terminal and a discharging terminal, which are exposed to the outside, to be electrically connected with each other through a single connecting element, thereby easily connecting the charging terminal with the discharging terminal.

In order to achieve the above objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure comprising a case which has a first wall part provided with a first terminal hole therein, a connection plate which is disposed in the case to be separated from the first wall part, and has a first conductive part which is formed on one surface of the connection plate and is electrically connected with electric elements arranged in the case, and a first sealing member which has a first connecting terminal which is exposed to the outside of the case through the first terminal hole, and a first connecting member which is electrically connected with the first connecting terminal and is disposed opposite to and separated from the first conductive part, the first sealing member being elastically pressed against the inside surface of the first wall part of the case to create a tight seal.

Here, it is preferred that the case has a second wall part which is provided with a second terminal hole therein, and is disposed opposite to the first wall part. It is also preferred that a second conductive part which is electrically connected with the electric elements is provided on another surface of the connection plate. It is further preferred that the terminal assembly comprises a second sealing member which has a second connecting terminal which is exposed to the outside of the case through the second terminal hole, and a second connecting member

which is electrically connected with the second connecting terminal and is disposed opposite to and separated from the second conductive part.

The second sealing member is elastically pressed against the inside surface of the second wall part of the case to create a tight seal, so that the charging and the discharging terminals which are exposed to the outside are electrically connected with each other through a single connecting element.

Further, it is preferred that arrangement of the first and second terminal holes is symmetric with respect to the connection plate. It is also preferred that a distance between the connection plate and the case is larger than a vertical distance between the connection plate and the first connecting member.

Finally, it is preferred that at least one bead portion which has an annular-shaped contour protruding from the inside wall of the case is formed around the circumferences of the terminal holes on the case.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above objects and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a construction and an assembling pattern of a conventional terminal assembly; FIG. 2 is a partially broken-away exploded perspective view illustrating a construction and an assembling pattern of a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled state of the terminal assembly shown in FIG. 2.

Best mode for carrying out the Invention Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a partially broken-away exploded perspective view illustrating a construction and an assembling pattern of a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled state of the terminal assembly shown in FIG. 2. Detailed descriptions of structural parts which are the same as in the conventional terminal assembly will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, in a terminal assembly 30 with a waterproof structure according to the present invention, first and second terminal holes 32a and 32b which respectively have predetermined width and contour, are provided at a predetermined position on first and second wall parts 31 a and 31 b of a case 31, in which a variety of electric elements are arranged, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, at least one bead portion 38 which has a closed loop-shaped contour protruding around the circumference of the terminal holes 32a and 32b from the inside wall of the case 31 is formed on an inner surface of the case 31 around the circumference of the terminal holes 32a and 32b, the bead portions 38 being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance when there are more than one.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, first and second sealing members 36a and 36b are positioned on the inner surface of the case 31. The first and second sealing members 36a and 36b are made of material having excellent elasticity and adherence, such as rubber, silicon, urethane, and the like. First and second projecting portions 34a and 34b, which protrude to be fitted through the terminal holes 32a and 32b, are formed on center portions of the sealing members 36a and 36b corresponding to

the terminal holes 32a and 32b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, first and second connecting terminals 33a and 33b are attached to one end surface of the projected portions 34a and 34b of the sealing members 36a and 36b, respectively. The connecting terminals 33a and 33b are made of metal and plated with gold (Au). The sealing members 36a and 36b are defined with depressions of a predetermined depth on their surfaces opposite to surfaces, on which the projected portions 34a and 34b are formed.

First and second connecting members 37a and 37b, which have predetermined area and thickness, are positioned in the depressions of the sealing members 36a and 36b.

The connecting terminals 33a and 33b and the connecting members 37a and 37b are electrically connected with each other by bridges 40a and 40b, which extend through center portions of the sealing members 36a and 36b. The bridges 40a and 40b are made of metal having a high conductivity.

The sealing members 36a and 36b are formed as described below. Upper and lower molds (not shown for the sake of simplicity of drawing) are disposed in a manner such that the sealing members 36a and 36b have a desired configuration, and the connecting terminals 33a and 33b and the connecting members 37a and 37b are connected with each other by the bridges 40a and 40b. Thereafter, by pouring fused synthetic resin such as rubber, silicon, urethane, and the like, into a space between the upper and lower molds, the sealing members 36a and 36b are prepared. In this way, the sealing members 36a and 36b can be configured with ease.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connection plate 41, which is in contact with the edge portions of the sealing members 36a and 36b, includes first and second conductive parts 39a and 39b attached thereon in a manner such that the first and second conductive parts 39a and 39b

are disposed opposite to and separated from the connecting members 37a and 37b of the sealing members 36a and 36b, respectively, and are electrically connected with the variety of electric elements arranged in the case 31. As shown in FIG. 2, at predetermined positions of one surface or side portion of the connection plate 41, are provided wires W which are connected with the variety of electric elements (not shown for the sake of simplicity of drawings) arranged in the case 31.

As shown in FIG. 3, a connection plate fixed member 42 is positioned on one surface of the connection plate 41 in a manner such that the first sealing member 36a is brought into close contact with the connection plate 41.

Arrangement of the sealing members 36a and 36b having the same configuration is symmetric with respect to the connection plate 41.

A distance between the connection plate 41 and the case 31 is smaller than a vertical distance between the sealing members 36a and 36b, so that the connection plate 41 presses against the sealing members 36a and 36b in the case 31. That is, the sealing members 36a and 36b are elastically pressed against the inside wall of the case 31 creating a tight seal. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an operator presses against the case 31 through the sealing members 36a and 36b, which are stacked on the connection plate 41. As a result of the force which presses against the inner surface of the case 31, the sealing members 36a and 36b, as shown in FIG. 3, are elastically deformed between the bead portions 38a and 38b which are formed to protrude from the inner surface of the case 31 around the terminal holes 32a and 32b, whereby the sealing members 36a and 36b are brought into close contact with the bead portions 38a and 38b.

The connection plate 41 transmits pressing force of the case 31 to edge portions of the sealing members 36a and 36b. Also, the connection plate 41 allows that the conductive parts 39a and 39b

positioned on the connection plate 41 are maintained at the predetermined separation from the connecting members 37a and 37b which are disposed on the depression defined on the sealing members 36a and 36b.

As a consequence, since the sealing members 36a and 36b are brought into close contact with the inside wall of the terminal holes 32a and 32b, water and various electrolytic substances are prevented from permeating through the terminal holes 32a and 32b into the case 31.

Also, since the connecting members 37a and 37b, which are electrically connected with the connecting terminals 33a and 33b by the bridges 40a and 40b, are held disconnected at the predetermined separation from the connection plate 41, the connecting terminals 33a and 33b are not electrically connected with the first and second conductive parts 39a and 39b even when electrolytic substance adheres to the connecting terminals 33a and 33b.

Further, in a case where the terminal assembly 30 having the above-described construction is employed in an electric charger and the like, as the terminal assembly 30 is mated with a complementary terminal, the connecting terminals 33a and 33b are pressed inward. By this, the connecting members 37a and 37b which are electrically connected with the connecting terminals 33a and 33b by the bridges 40a and 40b, are elastically connected, by the elastic deformation of the sealing members 36a and 36b, with the conductive parts 39a and 39b on the connection plate 41 which is electrically connected through the wire W with the variety of electric elements arranged in the case 31,. whereby charging is started. When the charging is completed so that the terminal assembly 30 is separated from the electric charger and the like, the connecting members 37a and 37b are electrically disconnected from the conductive parts 39a and 39b of the connection plate 41 by the elastic restoring force of the sealing members 36a and 36b.

Industrial Applicability As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a terminal assembly with a waterproof structure, which enables a battery with a waterproof structure such as a terminal for a mobile communication unit including a rechargeable battery to be simply constructed so that assembly of the electric elements arranged in the terminal assembly is improved, which prevents the terminals exposed to the outside from being electrically connected with each other by electrolytic substance adhering to the terminals, and prevents water or electrolytic substance from permeating through terminal parts into the case, thereby avoiding corrosion and damage of the terminal parts and various elements arranged in the case.

Further, in the case of a rechargeable battery for a mobile communication unit, the charging terminal and the discharging terminal, which are exposed to the outside, are electrically connected with each other through the single connecting element, thereby easily connecting the charging terminal with the discharging terminal.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.