Patent Publication Number: US-2011050003-A1

Title: Electric shock preventing device and information processing terminal including electric shock preventing device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No.2009-196917, filed on 27 Aug. 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an electric shock preventing device which prevents electric shocks when a casing is opened, and an information processing terminal including the electric shock preventing device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An information processing terminal such as a personal computer or a POS terminal includes a connection unit which is connected with a power source. When the information processing terminal is maintained, electric shocks are prevented by removing a power cable from the connection unit. 
     However, when a casing of the information processing terminal is opened without removal of the power cable from the connection unit, electric shocks may be generated and internal devices thereof may be damaged. 
     In this respect, JP-A-10-92504 discloses a technology that an inserting hole through which a power cable is inserted is formed in a cover of a casing and the cover cannot be detached without removal of the power cable. 
     However, in the above described configuration, in the case of maintenance, a monitor or a printer disposed on the casing should be taken down, and then, the cover should be opened, thereby causing inconvenience. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric shock preventing device which is capable of preventing electric shocks in the case of maintenance without lowering objects disposed on casing, and an information processing terminal including the electric shock preventing device. 
     In an aspect of the present invention, the electric shock preventing device includes: a power source covering plate which slides in a first direction to cover a connection unit which is connected with a power source in the back of an information processing terminal; and a separation preventing member which is prevented from sliding by the power source covering plate if the power source covering plate exposes the connection unit to prevent separation of a printing circuit board block installed inside the information processing terminal, and is allowed to slide in a second direction if the power source covering plate covers the connection unit to allow the separation of the printing circuit board block. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view illustrating an information processing terminal according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view illustrating the information processing terminal according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a state that a lock installing member according to the present invention is accommodated in a main body; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a state that a separation preventing member according to the present invention is released; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a state that the separation preventing member according to the present invention is detached; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a state that a printing circuit board block according to the present invention is separated; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view illustrating the separated printing circuit board block according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a power source covering plate according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the lock installing member according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a state that the separation preventing member according to the present invention is locked; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a state that the separation preventing member according to the present invention is released from locking; and 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an operation of a separation lever according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and methods of the present invention. 
     Hereinafter, an electric shock preventing device and an information processing terminal including the electric shock preventing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  is a front perspective view illustrating an information processing terminal  10  according to the present embodiment; and  FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view illustrating the information processing terminal  10 . The information processing terminal  10  includes, for example, a computer, a POS terminal, a DVD player or the like, but is not limited thereto. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the information processing terminal  10  according to the present embodiment includes an electric shock preventing device. The electric shock preventing device includes a power source covering plate  13  which slides in a first direction, that is, in a longitudinal direction, to cover a connection unit  11  which is connected with a power source in the back of the information processing terminal  10 ; a locking member  13 A which fastens and locks the power source covering plate  13 ; a separation preventing member  12  which is prevented from sliding in a second direction, that is, in a transverse direction by the power source covering plate  13  if the power source covering plate  13  exposes the connection unit  11 , and is allowed to slide in the transverse direction if the power source covering plate  13  covers the connection unit  11 ; and a lock installing member  14  which prevents the transverse directional sliding of the separation preventing member  12 . The separation preventing member  12  includes a lever cover  12 A. The separation preventing member  12  is prevented from the transverse directional sliding by the power source covering plate  13 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a state that the lock installing member  14  slides in a third direction, that is, in an inside direction and is accommodated inside a main body. As shown in  FIG. 3 , if a lock is not installed, the lock installing member  14  is accommodated inside the main body and allows the transverse directional sliding of the separation preventing member  12 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a state that the separation preventing member  12  is released. As shown in  FIG. 4 , if a power cable is removed from the connection unit  11 , the locking member  13 A is loosened so that the power source covering plate  13  is allowed to slide in an arrow X 1  direction. 
     If the power source covering plate  13  slides in the arrow X 1  direction, the power source covering plate  13  covers the connection unit  11 , and thus, the connection of the power cable is not possible. Further, the separation preventing member  12  is released from the sliding prevention by the creation of a gap below the power source covering plate  13  with just enough space for the separation preventing member  12  to enter. Thus, the separation preventing member  12  is allowed to slide in the transverse direction, that is, in an arrow X 2  direction. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a state that the separation preventing member  12  is detached. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the separation preventing member  12  slides in the transverse direction, and then can be withdrawn in an outside direction, that is, in an arrow X 3  direction. 
     The information processing terminal  10  includes a separation lever  15  which is rotatably locked to a printing circuit board block  10 A. In the information processing terminal  10 , the printing circuit board block  10 A is provided in a separable manner as an electronic circuit group in which a printing circuit board can be installed. If the separation lever  15  is pressed and rotated in an arrow X 4  direction, the printing circuit board block  10 A is separated from the information processing terminal  10 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a state that the printing circuit board block  10 A is separated. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the separated printing circuit board block  10 A can be withdrawn from a casing  10 B which covers the printing circuit board block  10 A in an arrow X 5  direction. The printing circuit board block  10 A is provided with slots for extension of the printing circuit board, and a user can perform maintenance without being concerned about electric shocks. 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view illustrating the separated printing circuit board block  10 A. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the printing circuit board block  10 A is provided with the separation lever  15  in a rotatable manner. The separation lever  15  includes a lever portion  15 A, a pressing portion  15 C, and a rotation locking portion  15 B disposed between the lever portion  15 A and the pressing portion  15 C to lock the separation lever  15  in a rotatable manner. 
     The lever portion  15 A is a pressing point, the rotation locking portion  15 B is a supporting point, and the pressing portion  150  is an operating point. According to the principle of leverage, the printing circuit board block  10 A is separated from the information processing terminal  10 . 
     The separation preventing member  12  includes a hook portion  12 B which is a cutout of a hook shape on a side thereof facing the printing circuit board block  10 A. 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the power source covering plate  13 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the power source covering plate  13  is locked to the printing circuit board block  10 A in a slidable manner by inserting a fastening member  13 B which includes a pin and a washer in a sliding hole  13 C provided in the printing circuit board block  10 A. 
     The locking member  13 A locks the power source covering plate  13  to the printing circuit board block  10 A. The power source covering plate  13  is allowed to slide as the locking member  13 A is loosened. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the lock installing member  14 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the lock installing member  14  is formed with a lock installation hole  14 B for installation of the lock which prevents sliding in the third direction, and an installation hole  14 C which locks the lock installing member  14  in a slidable manner to the printing circuit board block  10 A. A screw  14 A passes the installation hole  14 C, and then is coupled with a sliding pin  14 D provided in the printing circuit board block  10 A. The sliding pin  14 D has a height larger than the thickness of the lock installing member  14 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a state that the separation preventing member  12  is locked; and  FIG. 11  illustrates a state that the separation preventing member  12  is released from having been locked. In  FIGS. 10 and 11 , illustration of the printing circuit board block  10 A is omitted. As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the casing  10 B includes therein a locking protrusion  16  of a pin shape. 
     The separation preventing member  12  is locked to the casing  10 B by hooking the hook portion  12 B on the locking protrusion  16 . The separation preventing member  12  is released from having been locked by sliding in a transverse direction, that is, in an arrow X 6  direction, and thus can be detached from the casing  10 B. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an operation of the separation lever  15 . In  FIG. 12 , illustration of the printing circuit board block  10 A is omitted. As shown in  FIG. 12 , if the separation lever  15  rotates in an arrow X 7  direction, the pressing portion  150  rotates in an arrow X 8  direction. The pressing portion  15 C presses a separating protrusion  17  which is a protrusion provided in the casing  10 B. The printing circuit board block  10 A is separated from the information processing terminal  10  by a return action of the separating protrusion  17 . 
     As described above, the information processing terminal  10  according to the embodiment includes the electric shock preventing device at a rear surface thereof. The electric shock preventing device includes the power source covering plate  13  which covers the connection unit  11  by the sliding movement; the separating preventing member  12  which is prevented from sliding in the transverse direction by the power source covering plate  13  if the power source covering plate  13  exposes the connection unit  11 , and is allowed to slide in the transverse direction if the power source covering plate  13  covers the connection unit  11 ; and the lock installing member  14  which prevents the transverse directional sliding of the separation preventing member  12 . The separation preventing member  12  prevents separation of the printing circuit board block  10 A. Accordingly, an operator can separate the printing circuit board block  10 A for the first time when removing the power cable from the connection unit  11  without lowering objects disposed on the casing, and electric shocks can be prevented. 
     Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit of the present invention. All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as within the scope of the present invention.