Title of Invention

WATER SINKING CONFIRMATION DEVICE AND PORTABLE TERMINAL DEVICE USING THE SAME

Abstract A water sinking confirmation device enabling judgment on whether or not a portable terminal device or the like has been sunk in water. The water sinking confirmation device includes a lower case provided with a hole, a double side coated adhesive member for bonding both sides, surrounding the hole, a transparent sheet for blocking entrance of water from the hole and allowing the state change of a water sinking confirmation seal seen through from the surface thereof, and the water sinking confirmation seal including a double side coated adhesive member disposed at both ends of the transparent sheet and a whi te plain paper, and the whi te plain paper applied with red color printing with a water-color ink at the center. The hole is formed at a position not to be covered by another part mounted on the lower case, for example, above a holding member.
Full Text 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water sinking confirmation device and in particular, it relates to one to be used in a portable terminal device or the like, enabling judgment on whether or not the device has been sunk in water only by seeing a lower case.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as a water sinking confirmation device to be used in a portable terminal device such as a portable phone device or a PHS, one shown in FIG. 6 has been known. In FIG. 6, the water sinking confirmation device comprises an internal unit 61 with a water sinking confirmation seal 62 attached at a predetermined position, and a lower case 63 having a hole 64 formed at a predetermined position such that the water sinking confirmation seal 62 attached on the internal unit 61 is seen through a transparent sheet 65, attached together.
However, since other parts of the portable terminal device are mounted on the hole 64 provided in the lower case 63 in the conventional water sinking confirmation device, it involves a problem in that the water sinking state of the water sinking confirmation seal 62 attached on the internal unit 61

cannot be seen directly through the hole 64 formed in the lower case 63.
Moreover, since the water sinking confirmation seal 62 is attached directly on a predetermined position of the internal unit 61 and the transparent sheet 65 is bonded or adhered to the lower case 63, surrounding the hole 64, the water sinking confirmation seal 62 and the transparent sheet 65 are not sealed closely, and thus a problem is involved in that the water sinking confirmation seal 62 may generate the state change when it is not sunk in water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above problems, an object of the invention is to provide a water sinking confirmation device enabling judgment on whether or not a portable terminal device or the like has been sunk in water only by seeing a lower case.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention, there is provided a water sinking confirmation device comprising: a lower case provided with a hole for confirming water sinking; a double side coated adhesive member for bonding both sides, surrounding the hole; a transparent sheet allowing a state change of a water sinking confirmation seal seen through from a surface thereof; and the water sinking confirmation seal including a double side coated adhesive member disposed at both ends of the transparent sheet and a white plain paper, and the white plain paper applied with red

color printing with a water-color ink at a center thereof. BRTEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a water sinking confirmation device according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a water sinking confirmation seal according to the embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the water sinking confirmation device according to the embodiment of the invention used in a portable terminal device.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the order of assembling the water sinking confirmation device according to the embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the invention, corresponding to a conventional configuration.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the conventional water sinking confirmation device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a water sinking confirmation device according to the invention to be used in a portable terminal device, such

as a portable phone device or a PHS. In FIG. 1, the water sinking confirmation device comprises a lower case 2 provided with a hole 3, a double side coated adhesive member 4 for bonding both sides, surrounding the hole 3, a transparent sheet 5 for blocking entrance of water from the hole 3 and allowing the state change of a water sinking confirmation seal 10 seen through from the surface thereof, and the water sinking confirmation seal 10 including a double side coated adhesive member 6 disposed at both ends of the transparent sheet 5 and a white plain paper 7, and the white plain paper 7 applied with red color printing 8 with a water-color ink at the center. The hole 3 is formed at a position not to be covered by another part mounted on the lower case 2, for example, above a holding member 1.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the water sinking confirmation seal 10, showing the state comprising the double side coated adhesive member 6 disposed below the transparent sheet 5, capable of bonding both sides at both end portions of the transparent sheet 5, and being applied with red color printing 8 with a water-color ink at the center. Moreover, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, since the double side coated adhesive member 6 is provided between the white plain paper 7 and the transparent sheet 5 so as to form a gap 9, consequently water can enter from the gap 9.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the configuration

of the water sinking confirmation device used in a portable terminal device, such as a portable phone device. In FIG. 3, since the water sinking confirmation device is provided in the lower case 2 on the holding member (external connector ) 1 attached on the lower part of the portable phone device, whether or not the portable terminal device, such as the portable phone device has been sunk in water can be judged only by exposing the lower case 2 . Further, the water sinking confirmation seal 10 is attached to the lower case 2 at a position below a soldering portion 12 of the holding member 1 with the main body positioned upright.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the order of assembling the water sinking confirmation seal. In FIG. 4, the double side coated adhesive member 6 is placed and bonded on both ends of the white plain paper 7 applied with red color printing 8 with a water-color ink at the center. The transparent sheet 5 is placed and bonded on the double side coated adhesive member 6. Furthermore, the double side coated adhesive member 4 provided with a hole at the center is placed and bonded on the transparent sheet 5 . The configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 can be provided by bonding the water sinking confirmation seal thus assembled with the hole of the double side coated adhesive member 4 placed around the hole 3 of the lower case 2.
Therefore, since the hole 3 of the lower case 2 is

surrounded by the double side coated adhesive member 4 and the transparent sheet 5 and thus water entering from the hole 3 of the lower case 2 can be blocked, the state of the water sinking confirmation seal 10 cannot be changed merely by moisture. Further, the water sinking confirmation seal 10 cannot be peeled off even if it is forced in from the hole 3 by mischief or the like.
FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the configuration of the invention, corresponding to the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 5, the water sinking confirmation device can be placed on the holding member 1 mounted on a predetermined position of the printed board 11 when the water sinking confirmation seal 10 is put on the lower case 2 at the hole 3 thereof from below.
As apparent from the above description, since the invention comprises a lower case provided with a hole for confirming water sinking, a double side coated adhesive member for bonding both sides, surrounding the hole, a transparent sheet allowing the state change of a water sinking confirmation seal later described seen through from the surface thereof, and the water sinking confirmation seal including a double side coated adhesive member disposed at both ends of the transparent sheet and a white plain paper later described, and the white plain paper applied with red color printing with a water-color ink at the center, the effect of enabling judgment on whether

or not a portable terminal device or the like has been sunk in water only by seeing the lower case can be achieved.


We Claim,
1. A water sinking confirmation device comprising:
a lower case provided with a hole for confirming water sinking;
a double side coated adhesive member for bonding both sides surrounding the
hole;
a transparent sheet allowing a state change of a water sinking confirmation seal
to be seen through the hole and the sheet from a surface thereof; and
the water sinking confirmation seat including a second double side coated
adhesive member disposed at both ends of the transparent sheet and a paper,
tile second double side coated adhesive member being disposed between the
transparent sheet and the paper, the transparent sheet and the paper defining a
gap therebetween approximately equal to the thickness of the second double
side coated adhesive member, the gap between the transparent sheet and the
paper facilitating entrance of water between the transparent sheet and the
paper, and the paper applied with printing with a water-soluble ink, the state
change being irreversible distortion of the printing after the case has been sunk
in water.
2. The water sinking confirmation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hole is formed at a position not to be covered by another part mounted on the tower case.
3. The water sinking confirmation device as claimed in daim 1, wherein the transparent sheet blocks entrance of water from the hole according to the bond with the double side coated adhesive material for bonding both sides, surrounding the hole without the risk of peel-off even if it

is forced in.
4. The water sinking confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein the water sinking confirmation seal is provided with a slight gap with respect to a holding member on a printed board.
5. The water sinking confirmation device according to claim 4, wherein the gap between the water sinking confirmation seal and the holding member on the printed board is narrower than a thickness of the water sinking confirmation seal.
6. The water sinking confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member serves also as a housing of an external connector.
7. The water sinking confirmation device according to claim 6, wherein the water sinking confirmation seal is attached to the lower case at a position below a soldering portion of the external connector with a main body positioned upright.
8. A portable terminal device comprising the water sinking confirmation device according to claim 1.

9. A portable phone device comprising the water sinking confirmation device
according to claim 1.
10. A water sinking confirmation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the paper is
white plain paper.
11. A water sinking confirmation device as claimed In claim 1, wherein the water-
soluble ink is red ink.
12. A water sinking confirmation device comprising:
a case provided with a hole for confirming water sinking; a transparent sheet over the hole;
an adhesive adhering the transparent sheet to the case; a water sinking confirmation seal comprising paper imprinted with a water-soluble ink; and an adhesive adhering the water sinking confirmation seal to the transparent sheet, a gap being defined between the water sinking confirmation seal and the transparent sheet, the gap being approximately equal to the thickness of the adhesive adhering the water sinking confirmation seal to the transparent sheet, the gap facilitating the entrance of water between the transparent sheet and the paper, whereby a state change of a water sinking confirmation seal can be seen through the hole and the sheet, the state change being that the water-soluble Ink in the water sinking confirmation seal is irreversibly distorted after the case has been sunk in water.
13. A portable terminal device comprising the water sinking confirmation device
according to claim 12.
14. A portable phone device comprising the water sinking confirmation device
according to claim 12.
15. A water sinking confirmation device according to claim 12, wherein the water-soluble ink is imprinted over less than all of the surface of the paper.
16. A water sinking confirmation device according to claim 12, wherein the water-soluble ink forms a pattern on the paper.
17. A water sinldng confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein the water-soluble ink is applied to less than ail of the surface of the paper.
18. A water sinking confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein the water-
soluble ink forms a pattern on the paper.

Documents:

1094-mas-1999 abstract duplicate.pdf

1094-mas-1999 abstract.pdf

1094-mas-1999 claims duplicate.pdf

1094-mas-1999 claims.pdf

1094-mas-1999 correspondence po.pdf

1094-mas-1999 description (complete) duplicate.pdf

1094-mas-1999 description (complete).pdf

1094-mas-1999 drawings duplicate.pdf

1094-mas-1999 drawings.pdf

1094-mas-1999 form-1.pdf

1094-mas-1999 form-19.pdf

1094-mas-1999 form-26.pdf

1094-mas-1999 form-3.pdf

1094-mas-1999 form-5.pdf

1094-mas-1999 others.pdf

1094-mas-1999 petition.pdf


Patent Number 202058
Indian Patent Application Number 1094/MAS/1999
PG Journal Number 05/2007
Publication Date 02-Feb-2007
Grant Date 14-Sep-2006
Date of Filing 11-Nov-1999
Name of Patentee M/S. MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO. LTD
Applicant Address 1006, KADOMA, KADOMA-SHI, OSAKA 571
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 TOSHIYASU KITAMURA 204-1-102, AKIBA-CHO, TOTSUKA-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA
2 KOICHI YAMAMOTO 1-16-4-20, MINOWA-CHO, KOUHOKU-KU, YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA
PCT International Classification Number H04 M 00/00
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 10-322148 1998-11-12 Japan