Patent Publication Number: US-2007118058-A1

Title: Waterproofing structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a waterproofing structure for a drive device, which can be used in a bathroom or a water using area, and more particularly to a waterproofing structure which can protect the engaging portion of the drive unit in a water-tight state and which can establish the water-tight state without raising the cost.  
      In the prior art, the drive device of an electric toy or a massage device to be used in the bathroom, outdoors or under the environment to be exposed to a liquid is composed of electronic devices such as a battery box, a motor or a controller switch. In order to prevent the drive device from being troubled by the water, there exists a waterproofed apparatus which is closely covered with a waterproof cover  
      In JP-A-2005-237911, the vibrator is covered with a bag-shaped member made of an extensible waterproof material so that the vibrator can be protected in the water-tight state and used in the water using area. However, the vibrator has its opening covered with an opening having a close contacting diameter. In the using situations, the opening of the bag-shaped member may be curled up against the contacting force of the opening. This raises a problem that water droplets may penetrate through the curled-up portion into the vibrator.  
      In JP-B-06-17516, the open end portion of a waterproof cover is curled up and fitted in the two streaks of grooves formed in the outer side face of the battery box so that it can cover the battery box thereby to prevent the water leakage. In this battery box according to the device, the engagement between the two streaks of grooves and the curled open end portion may be released in the using situations, thereby to curl up the waterproof cover against the contacting force of the open end portion. As a result, there arises a problem that the water droplets may penetrate into the battery box from the curled-up portion.  
      If the battery case or the control button unit is formed of the waterproofing structure without using the aforementioned cover, the construction is complicated, and the waterproof portion has to be precisely formed. This raises a problem that manufacturing thereof is troublesome to raise the manufacturing cost.  
      Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a waterproofing structure which can protect the drive device in the water-tight state and which can establish the water-tight state without raising the cost.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In order to solve those technical problems, according to the invention, there is provided a waterproofing structure for a drive device including: a power supply unit; and a drive unit formed to protrude from one end of the power supply unit and to be activated with an electric power supplied from the power supply unit. The waterproofing structure comprises: a power supply unit cover formed to have an opening at its one end and to cover the power supply unit in the water-tight state; and a drive unit cover formed to have an opening at its one end and to cover the drive unit in the water-tight state. The power supply unit includes at its one end: a supporting cylinder unit formed to protrude to the side of the drive unit; and a protecting cylinder unit formed outside of the diameter of and at a predetermined spacing size from the supporting cylinder unit. The drive unit cover has its opening edge portion fitted in the water-tight state between the supporting cylinder unit and the protecting cylinder unit so that the opening circumferential edge portion of the drive unit cover and the protecting cylinder unit in the water-tight state with the opening edge portion of the power supply unit cover.  
      According to the waterproofing structure of the invention, therefore, the opening edge portion of the drive unit cover is fitted between the supporting cylinder unit and the protecting cylinder unit so that the drive unit can be protected in the water-tight state.  
      Also, the opening edge portion of the drive unit cover and the supporting cylinder unit can be protected in the water-tight state by covering them with the power supply unit cover.  
      By the drive unit cover and the power supply unit cover, therefore, the drive device can be protected in the water-tight state.  
      In the invention, the opening edge portion of the drive unit cover has a ridge portion formed along the outside of the side edge of the opening edge portion for holding the water-tight state inside of the drive unit cover when press-fitted between the supporting cylinder unit and the protecting cylinder unit.  
      By the ridge portion, therefore, the drive unit cover can be held in the water-tight state.  
      In the invention, the drive unit cover is made of a waterproof material having an extensibility and has an internal diameter size substantially equal to the external diameter size of the supporting cylinder unit, and the ridge portion has an external diameter size substantially equal to the internal diameter size of the protecting cylinder unit.  
      Since the drive unit cover is made of the waterproof material, the drive unit can be protected in the water-tight state.  
      Since the internal diameter size of the drive unit cover is made substantially equal to the external diameter size of the supporting cylinder unit, the ridge portion is press-fitted between the supporting cylinder unit and the protecting cylinder unit so that the supporting cylinder unit can be fixed in close contact with the drive unit cover thereby to hold the water-tight state in the drive unit arranged in the drive unit cover.  
      In the invention, the power supply unit cover is made of a waterproof material having an extensibility and has an internal diameter size slightly larger than the external diameter size of the power supply unit, and the opening edge portion of the power supply unit cover has an engaging ridge portion formed smaller than the internal diameter size of the protecting cylinder unit.  
      As a result, the power supply unit can be covered with the power supply unit cover, and the ridge portion of the drive unit cover is enabled by the engaging ridge unit to cover the protecting cylinder unit, which is press-fitted between itself and the supporting cylinder unit, in a more water-tight state from the outside.  
      In the invention, the power supply unit cover is made of a soft material and disposed at the power supply unit for operating a switch unit disposed to control the drive unit.  
      As a result, the switch unit can be operated from the outside even in the case the power supply unit is covered with the power supply unit cover.  
      In the invention, the power supply unit is formed of a battery box, and the power supply unit cover can be removed, if necessary. As a result, the power supply unit can be removed for use, if necessary.  
      In the invention, the drive unit includes a prime mover, and a vibrator formed to vibrate in association with the prime mover, and the switch unit is configured with push buttons.  
      As a result, the drive unit can be operated by pushing the push button.  
      In the invention, the switch unit is configured with a dial. As a result, the drive unit can be operated by turning the dial.  
      In the invention, the switch unit is configured with a slider. As a result, the drive unit can be operated by sliding the slider.  
      In the waterproofing structure of the invention, the drive device can be protected in the water-tight state by the drive unit cover and the power supply unit cover thereby to protect the battery box composing the drive device, and the electronic device such as the motor or the controller switch against the humidity.  
      Moreover, the opening edge portion of the drive unit cover is fitted between the supporting cylinder unit and the protecting cylinder unit so that the penetration of water droplets, as might otherwise be caused by the curling-up of the end edge of the opening edge portion of the drive unit cover, can be prevented while holding the water-tight state of the drive unit thereby to ensure the water-tight state of the drive unit.  
      Moreover, while the opening edge portion of the drive unit cover being fitted between the supporting cylinder unit and the protecting cylinder unit, the opening edge portion of the power supply unit cover can cover the opening edge portion of the drive unit cover and the protecting cylinder unit formed to protrude radially outward of the supporting cylinder unit. It is, therefore, possible to ensure the water-tight state of the drive unit cover and to prevent the power supply unit cover from coming out of the power supply unit.  
      Since the protecting cylinder unit can be covered with the opening edge portion of the power supply unit cover, the power supply unit cover is not easily curled up so that the liquid can be prevented from penetrating into the power supply unit.  
      As a result, the drive unit and the power supply unit themselves need not be constructed of the waterproofing structure so that they can be protected in the water-tight state without raising the manufacturing cost.  
      In the waterproofing structure of the invention, the opening edge portion of the drive unit cover has a ridge portion formed along the outside of the side edge of the opening edge portion for holding the in the water-tight state state inside of the drive unit cover when press-fitted between the supporting cylinder unit and the protecting cylinder unit. As a result, the ridge portion is press-fitted between the supporting cylinder unit and the protecting cylinder unit so that the liquid can be prevented from flowing into the drive unit inside of the drive unit cover.  
      As a result, the drive unit can be protected against the humidity so that the drive device can be safely used even under the humid environment such as in the bathroom or in the water using area.  
      In the waterproofing structure of the invention, the drive unit cover is made of the extensible waterproof material. Even in the case, therefore, the drive unit is activated, the drive unit cover is extended/shrunken according to the vibrations or rotations of the drive unit to cover and protect the drive unit in the water-tight state.  
      Moreover, the drive unit cover can be extended/shrunken according to the shape of the drive unit thereby to cover the drive unit. Therefore, drive unit cover can cover the drive unit, even if this drive unit is more or less corrugated, thereby to protect the drive unit in the water-tight state.  
      The internal diameter size of the drive unit cover is made substantially equal to the external diameter size of the supporting cylinder unit, and the external diameter size of the ridge portion is made substantially identical to the internal diameter size of the protecting cylinder unit. By fitting the drive unit cover on the supporting cylinder unit, therefore, the drive unit cover can extend to come into close contact with the outer side face of the supporting cylinder unit, and the ridge portion also comes into close contact with the inner side face of the protecting cylinder unit. By the ridge portion, therefore, the supporting cylinder unit and the protecting cylinder unit can be hermetically closed to prevent the penetration of the liquid into the drive unit cover thereby to protect the drive unit reliably in the water-tight state.  
      Even in the case, therefore, the drive device is used under humid environment such as in the bathroom or in the water using area, the drive device can be protected against the humidity.  
      In the waterproofing structure of the invention, the power supply unit cover is made of the extensible waterproof material. Therefore, the power supply unit cover can come into close contact with the power supply unit, when used, to protect it in the water-tight state, and is extended, if necessary, to remove the power supply unit cover from the power supply unit.  
      By extending the power supply unit cover in accordance with the shape of the power supply unit, moreover, the power supply unit can be covered and protected in the water-tight state, even if its shape has more or less corrugations.  
      Moreover, the internal diameter size of the power supply unit cover is made slightly larger than the external diameter size of the power supply unit. Even in the case, therefore, the power supply unit is corrugated, it can be covered and protected in the water-tight state no matter what external shape it might have.  
      On the opening edge portion of the power supply unit cover, moreover, the engaging ridge portion is formed to have an internal diameter size than that of the internal diameter size of the protecting cylinder unit. While the power supply unit being covered with the power supply unit cover, the engaging ridge portion can be held in abutment against the outer side face of the drive unit cover thereby to hold the water-tight state more reliably between the opening edge portion and the drive unit cover.  
      As a result, the power supply unit can be covered with the power supply unit cover, and the engaging ridge portion can cover the protecting cylinder unit, which is press-fitted between itself and the supporting cylinder unit, in a more water-tight state from the outside, thereby to prevent a liquid such as water from flowing into the power supply unit.  
      In the waterproofing structure of the invention, the power supply unit cover is made of the soft material, so that the switch unit formed at the power supply unit can be operated from the outside of the power supply unit cover.  
      By operating the switch unit while keeping the water-tight state at the power supply unit, therefore, it is possible to provide the waterproofing structure for the drive device, which can operate the drive unit.  
      In the waterproofing structure of the invention, the battery housed in the battery box can be easily extracted and exchanged by extracting the power supply unit cover from the battery box.  
      If necessary, moreover, the waterproofing structure can be used in the water-tight state by mounting the power supply unit cover on the power supply unit.  
      In the waterproofing structure of the invention, the switch unit has push buttons. While the power supply unit is being protected in the water-tight state, the drive unit can be controlled by pushing the push buttons.  
      As a result, the push buttons can be protected in the water-tight state without making their own structure water-tight. Therefore, the drive device can be protected in the water-tight state as a whole without raising the manufacturing cost.  
      In the waterproofing structure of the invention, the switch unit has a dial. While the power supply unit is being protected in the water-tight state, the drive unit can be controlled by turning the dial.  
      As a result, the dial can be protected in the water-tight state without making its own structure water-tight. Therefore, the drive device can be protected in the water-tight state as a whole without raising the manufacturing cost.  
      In the waterproofing structure of the invention, the switch unit has a slider. While the power supply unit is being protected in the water-tight state, the drive unit can be controlled by sliding the slider.  
      As a result, the dial can be protected in the water-tight state without making its own structure water-tight. Therefore, the drive device can be protected in the water-tight state as a whole without raising the manufacturing cost.  
      A waterproofing structure according to the invention is described in detail in connection with its embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the entirety of an embodiment, in which the waterproofing structure according to the invention is employed in the drive device.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the drive unit cover of the waterproofing structure according to the invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the power supply unit cover of the waterproofing structure according to the invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a power supply unit, a supporting cylinder unit and a protecting cylinder unit to be used in the waterproofing structure according to the invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a drive unit, the supporting cylinder unit and the protecting cylinder unit to be used in the waterproofing structure according to the invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the power supply unit, the supporting cylinder unit and the protecting cylinder unit to be used in the waterproofing structure according to the invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a longitudinal section taken along line Y-Y′ of  FIG. 1  according to the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the waterproofing structure  10  according to this embodiment is of a drive device  13 , which is constructed to include a power supply unit  11  and a drive unit  12  formed to protrude from one end of the power supply unit  11  and to be driven by an electric power supplied from the power supply unit  11 . The waterproofing structure  10  includes a power supply unit cover  15  formed to have an opening  31  at its one end and to cover the power supply unit  11  in the water-tight state, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , and a drive unit cover  17  formed to have an opening  32  at its one end and to cover the drive unit  12  in the water-tight state, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the power supply unit  11  is provided at its one end with a supporting cylinder unit  18  formed to protrude to the side of the drive unit  12 , and a protecting cylinder unit  19  formed radially outside of and at a predetermined spacing from the supporting cylinder unit  18 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , an opening edge portion  16  of the drive unit cover  17  is fitted in the water-tight state between the supporting cylinder unit  18  and the protecting cylinder unit  19 , and an opening circumferential edge portion  27  and the protecting cylinder unit  19  are covered in the water-tight state by an opening edge portion  14  of the power supply unit cover  15 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , moreover, the opening edge portion  16  of the drive unit cover  17  is provided with a ridge portion  21 , which is so formed along the side edge outside of the opening edge portion  16  as to hold the water-tight state inside of the drive unit cover  17 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , when press-fitted between the supporting cylinder unit  18  and the protecting cylinder unit  19 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the drive unit cover  17  is made of a waterproof material having an extensibility. An internal diameter size W 1  is made substantially equal to the external diameter size W 2  of the supporting cylinder unit  18 , and an external diameter size W 3  of the ridge portion  21  is made substantially equal to the internal diameter size W 4  of the protecting cylinder unit  19 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the power supply unit cover  15  is made of an extensible waterproof material. An internal diameter size W 5  is made slightly larger than the external diameter size W 6  of the power supply unit  11 . The opening edge portion  14  of the power supply unit cover  15  is provided with an engaging ridge portion  30  having an internal diameter size W 7  smaller than the internal diameter size W 4  of the protecting cylinder unit  19 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , moreover, the power supply unit cover  15  is made of a soft material, and is formed to operate from the outside a switch unit  20  for controlling the drive unit  12 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6 , the power supply unit  11  is formed of a battery box  23 , and the power supply unit cover  15  is removably formed.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 , the drive unit  12  is formed to include a prime mover unit  28 , and a vibrator  29  for vibrating in association with the prime mover unit  28 . The switch unit  20  is composed of push buttons  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d.    
      Moreover, the switch unit  20  is formed of a dial. Alternatively, the switch unit  20  is formed of a slider.  
       FIG. 1  shows the waterproofing structure  10  according to the embodiment of the invention. The waterproofing structure  10  according to this embodiment is provided for the drive device  13  to be used in a bathroom or water facilities. Specifically, the waterproofing structure  10  is of the drive device  13  including a vibrator  22  provided with the power supply unit  11  including the battery box  23  and a vibrating unit  36  which is formed so as to vibrate by the electric power supplied from the battery box  23 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the vibrating unit  36  is provided with the prime mover unit  28 , and the vibrator  29  for vibrating in association with the prime mover unit  28 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the waterproofing structure  10  is constructed to include the power supply unit cover  15 , which is formed to have the opening  31  at its one end and to cover the power supply unit  11  in the water-tight state, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , and the drive unit cover  17  formed to have the opening  32  at its one end and to cover the drive unit  12  in the water-tight state.  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the power supply unit  11  is provided at its one end with the supporting cylinder unit  18  formed to protrude to the side of the drive unit  12 , and the protecting cylinder unit  19  formed radially outside of and at a predetermined spacing from the supporting cylinder unit  18 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 7 , the opening edge portion  16  of the drive unit cover  17  is fitted between the supporting cylinder unit  18  and the protecting cylinder unit  19  thereby to retain the water-tight state between the drive unit cover  17  and the supporting cylinder unit  18 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the drive unit  12  is constructed to include a rotating motor  35 , a shaft  33  disposed to extend from the drive shaft of the rotating motor  35 , and the vibrating unit  36  disposed at the leading end portion  34  of the shaft  33 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the shaft  33  is curved so that the vibrating unit  36  disposed at the leading end portion  34  of the shaft  33  can be caused to make eccentric motions by the rotating motions of the rotating motor  35 .  
      On the outer side of the shaft  33 , there is disposed a cylindrical protecting tube  38 , which is extended along the length direction of the shaft  33 . In the case the drive unit  12  is housed in the drive unit cover  17 , the protecting tube  38  is enabled to prevent the inner side face of the drive unit cover  17  from being fretted by the rotating motions of the shaft  33 .  
      Moreover, the shaft  33  does not come into direct abutment against the inner side face of the drive unit cover  17  so that the shaft  33  can make rotating motions without being obstructed.  
      The vibrating unit  36  is provided with the prime mover unit  28  adapted to be rotated by the electric power from the power supply unit  11 , and the vibrator  29  adapted to vibrate integrally with the prime mover unit  28  by the rotating motions of the prime mover unit  28 . The vibrating unit  36  is housed in a capsule  45  formed generally into an elliptical shape.  
      The vibrator  29  is formed into a disc shape and comes, when it takes a position eccentric from the center of the disc, into engagement with the drive shaft  37  of the prime mover unit  28 , so that the vibrator  29  can be vibrated by the rotating motions of the prime mover unit  28  thereby to vibrate the vibrating unit  36  as a whole.  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , conductors  39  for supplying the electric power of the power supply unit are connected with the rotating motor  35 , and conductors  40  for supplying the electric power of the power supply unit  11  are connected with the prime mover unit  28 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the supporting cylinder unit  18  has an internal diameter size W 8  made larger than the external diameter size W 9  of the rotating motor  35 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , so that the rotating motor  35  can be housed in the supporting cylinder unit  18 .  
      On the peripheral edge portion of the rotating motor  35 , there is disposed a sponge  48 , which extends along the outer circumference of the rotating motor  35  so that it can fill the clearance between the rotating motor  35  and the supporting cylinder unit  18 , when the rotating motor  35  is housed in the supporting cylinder unit  18 , thereby to fix the rotating motor  35  in the supporting cylinder unit  18 .  
      On the side face on the opposite side of a cover portion  50  disposed at the battery box  23 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , there is disposed the switch unit  20  for controlling the prime mover unit  28 , an auxiliary prime mover unit  42  and the rotating motor  35 , which are disposed in the drive unit  12 . The switch unit  20  is composed of push buttons  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d.    
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the four push buttons  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d  are disposed along the length direction of the battery box  23 . The push button  24   a  functions as a starting switch of the prime mover unit  28  and the rotating motor  35 . The push button  24   b  functions as a switch for changing the rotating speeds of the prime mover unit  28  and the rotating motor  35 . The push button  24   c  functions as a starting switch of the auxiliary prime mover unit  42 . The push button  24   d  functions as a switch for changing the rotating speed of the auxiliary prime mover unit  42 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , an auxiliary vibrating unit  41  is formed to protrude obliquely from the supporting cylinder unit driving unit.  
      The auxiliary vibrating unit  41  is provided, like the vibrating unit  36 , with the auxiliary prime mover unit  42  formed to be rotated by the electric power from the power supply unit  11 , and a vibrator  44  disposed on a drive shaft  43  of the auxiliary prime mover unit  42  to vibrate integrally with the auxiliary prime mover unit  42 . The auxiliary vibrating unit  41  is housed in an auxiliary capsule  46 , which is generally formed into an elliptical shape.  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the vibrator  44  is formed into a disc shape and comes, when it takes a position eccentric from the center of the disc, into engagement with the drive shaft  43  of the auxiliary prime mover unit  42 , so that the vibrator  44  can be vibrated by the rotating motions of the auxiliary mover unit  42  thereby to vibrate the auxiliary vibrating unit  41  as a whole.  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the auxiliary vibrating unit  41  is covered with and protected by the auxiliary capsule  46  having the generally elliptical shape. Conductors  47  for supplying the electric power of the power supply unit  11  are connected with the auxiliary mover unit  42 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 6 , the power supply unit  11  is provided with the battery box  23  formed into a generally cylindrical shape on the side of the trailing end  56  of the drive device  13 . The battery box  23  is provided with a battery case  49  and the cover portion  50  formed to hold the battery arranged in the battery case  49 .  
      The cover portion  50  is formed to have an arcuate transverse section and can be removably fitted on the battery box  23  by sliding it in the length direction of the battery box  23 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cover portion  50  is provided on its outer side face with a non-slip portion  51 , which is formed of a plurality grooves cut along the widthwise direction of the battery box  23 .  
      With a finger attached to the non-slip portion  51  to slide the cover portion  50 , if necessary, the battery case  49  can be opened outward to permit the battery housed in the battery box  23  to be taken out.  
      As shown in  FIG. 6 , the battery case  49  is provided with battery holding springs  52  for holding the battery in the battery case  49  so that the electric power supplied from the battery can be supplied to the drive unit  12 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the supporting cylinder unit  18  is formed into the cylindrical shape to thread the conductors for supplying the electric power from the battery box  23  to the drive unit  12 .  
      As a result, the electric power of the battery box  23  can be supplied to the drive unit  12  in the state where the power supply unit  11  is covered with the power supply unit cover  15  and where the drive unit  12  is covered in the water-tight state with and protected by the drive unit cover  17 , as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the spacing size W 10  between the supporting cylinder unit  18  and the protecting cylinder unit  19  is made slightly smaller than the thickness size W 11  of the drive unit cover  17 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , so that the drive unit cover  17  can be fitted between the supporting cylinder unit  18  and the protecting cylinder unit  19 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , the opening edge portion  16  of the drive unit cover  17  is provided with the ridge portion  21 , which is formed to keep the water-tight state inside of the drive unit cover  17  when the drive unit cover  17  is press-fitted between the supporting cylinder unit  18  and the protecting cylinder unit  19 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , the ridge portion  21  is formed to extend at a predetermined spacing from the end portion of the drive unit cover  17  on the side of the opening  32  and along the outside of the side edge of the opening edge portion  16 . The spacing size W 12  between the end portion of the opening  32  and the end edge portion  57  of the ridge portion  21  on the side of the drive unit is made substantially equal to the length size W 13  of the protecting cylinder unit  19 , as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      Moreover, the thickness size W 14  of the drive unit cover  17  at the ridge portion  21 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is made substantially equal to the spacing size W 10  between the supporting cylinder unit  18  and the protecting cylinder unit  19 , as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      By fitting the opening edge portion  16  of the drive unit cover  17  between the supporting cylinder unit  18  and the protecting cylinder unit  19 , the end edge portion of the ridge portion  21  on the side of the drive unit is arranged at the leading end portion of the protecting cylinder unit  19 , and the ridge portion  21  is forced to contact with the inner side face of the protecting cylinder unit  19  so that the inside of the drive unit cover  17  can be protected in the water-tight state so that the water-tight state can be retained at the joint portion between the drive unit cover  17  and the battery box  23 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the drive unit cover  17  is formed into the generally cylindrical shape for inserting the drive unit  12  thereinto along the length direction of the drive unit cover  17 .  
      The leading end portion of the drive unit cover  17  is formed by closing it in a bag shape so that it can cover and protect the drive unit  12  in the water-tight state when the drive unit  12  is inserted thereinto.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the leading end shape of the drive unit cover  17  is formed into a generally semicircular shape so that it can give a soft touch to the human body even when the leading end portion of the vibrator  22  is brought into abutment against the human body and vibrated for use.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the drive unit cover  17  is made of an extensible waterproof material such as a flexible, soft ethylene group elastomer in the embodiment of the invention so that it can be associated for eccentric motions with the shaft  33  of the rotating motor  35 , as shown in  FIG. 7 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the drive unit cover  17  is provided outside of its side edge with an auxiliary drive unit cover  53  formed to protrude obliquely.  
      The auxiliary drive unit cover  53  is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape for inserting the auxiliary vibrating unit  41  thereinto inside of the auxiliary drive unit cover  53  along the length direction of the auxiliary drive unit cover  53 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the leading end shape of the auxiliary drive unit cover  53  is formed into an elliptical shape so that it can give a soft touch to the human body even when the leading end portion of the auxiliary vibrating unit  41  is brought into abutment against the human body and vibrated for use.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the power supply unit cover  15  is formed to have the opening  31  at its one end and to cover and protect the power supply unit  11  in the water-tight state outside of the power supply unit  11 .  
      The power supply unit cover  15  is formed into a D-shaped transverse face composed of a cylindrical portion  54  and a flat face portion  55  formed on one side face of the cylindrical portion  54  along the length direction of the cylindrical portion  54 .  
      In the case the power supply unit  11  is covered with the power supply unit cover  15 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , the individual push buttons  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d  forming the switch unit  20  are not pushed by the power supply unit cover  15  by arranging the flat face portion  55  on the side of the switch unit  20 , so that the switch unit  20  can be protected in the water-tight state.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the power supply unit cover  15  is made of an extensible waterproof material such as a flexible, soft ethylene group elastomer in the embodiment of the invention. Even in the case, therefore, the individual push buttons  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d  are covered with the power supply unit cover  15 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , they can be easily pushed from the outside of the power supply unit cover  15  thereby to perform the driving control of the drive unit  12 .  
      On the other hand, the power supply unit cover  15  is made transparent or semitransparent so that the individual push buttons  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d  arranged inside of the power supply unit cover  15  can be viewed from the outside.  
      Even in the state, therefore, where the power drive unit  12  is covered in the water-tight state with the power supply unit cover  15 , the individual push buttons  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d  can be easily operated.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the power supply unit cover  15  is provided at its opening edge portion  14  with the engaging ridge portion  30 , which is formed in a short cylinder shape along the length direction of the power supply unit cover  15 .  
      The engaging ridge portion  30  is provided on its inner side face with a ridge abutting portion  60 , which is formed to protrude radially inward along the whole circumference of the inner side face of the engaging ridge portion  30 . The ridge abutting portion  60  is formed to protrude in a sectional semicircle shape radially inward on the inner side of the engaging ridge portion  30 .  
      The internal diameter size W 7  in the ridge abutting portion  60  on the inner side face of the engaging ridge portion  30  is made to have a smaller diameter size than the internal diameter size W 4  of the protecting cylinder unit  19 , as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      While the power supply unit  11  is being covered with the power supply unit cover  15 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , the ridge abutting portion  60 , which is formed to protrude from the inner side face of the engaging ridge portion  30 , comes into abutment against the outer side face of the drive unit cover  17  so that it can hold the water-tight state more reliably between the opening edge portion  14  of the power supply unit  11  and the drive unit cover  17 .  
      With the ridge abutting portion  60  formed on the inner side face of the engaging ridge portion  30 , the ridge portion  21  of the drive unit cover  17  covers the protecting cylinder unit  19  press-fitted between itself and the supporting cylinder unit  18 , in a more water-tight state from the outside so that the a liquid such as water can be prevented from flowing into the power supply unit  11  thereby to protect the drive device  13  in the water-tight state as a whole.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the internal diameter size W 15  of the power supply unit cover  15  in the length direction is made substantially equal to the spacing size W 16  between the trailing end portion  56  of the power supply unit  11  and the leading end portion  58  of the protecting cylinder unit  19 , as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      Therefore, by covering the power supply unit  11  and the leading end portion  58  of the protecting cylinder unit  19  with the power supply unit cover  15 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , the power supply unit  11  and the opening edge portion  16  of the drive unit cover  17  fitted between the supporting cylinder unit  18  and the protecting cylinder unit  19  can be covered, so that the ridge portion  21  of the drive unit cover  17  covers the protecting cylinder unit  19 , which is press-fitted between itself and the supporting cylinder unit  18 , in a more water-tight state from the outside thereby to protect the engaging portion between the drive unit  12  and the power supply unit  11  in the water-tight state.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the power supply unit cover  15  is made of the flexible, soft material. By widening and opening the opening  31  of the power supply unit cover  15  by the hand, therefore, the power supply unit cover  15  can be easily extended to cover the power supply unit  11 . When the battery is extracted for exchange from the inside of the battery box  23  of the power supply unit  11 , too, the opening  31  of the power supply unit cover  15  can also be widened and opened by the hand so that the power supply unit cover  15  can be easily extended to remove the power supply unit cover  15  from the power supply unit  11 .  
      The switch unit is formed of the push buttons in the embodiment thus far described but may also be formed of a dial formed in a flat circular shape.  
      In this modification, the dial can be used as a switch for controlling, when turned from the outside of the power supply unit cover  15 , the prime mover unit, the motor and so on disposed in the aforementioned drive unit.  
      Since the power supply unit cover  15  is made of the soft material, the dial can be turned from the outside of the power supply unit cover  15  so that the vibrating unit of the drive unit can be vibrated by the dial thereby to use the drive device as the vibrator having the waterproofing structure.  
      The switch unit can be configured with a slider, which is made slidable in the length direction of the power supply unit.  
      In this modification, the slider can be used as a switch for controlling, when slid in the length direction of the power supply unit, the prime mover unit, the motor and so on disposed in the drive unit.  
      Since the power supply unit cover is made of the soft material, the slider can be slid from the outside of the power supply unit cover so that the vibrating unit of the drive unit can be vibrated by the slider thereby to use the drive device as the vibrator to be used in the water-tight state.  
      The operation of the waterproofing structure  10  according to the invention is described in detail on the basis of the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the waterproofing structure  10  can be used as one of the vibrator  22  provided with the vibrating unit  36  at its leading end. This waterproofing structure  10  can protect an electronic device such as the prime mover unit constructing the vibrator  22  or the switch unit  20  against the water in the humid environment such as in a bathroom or at a water using area so that the electronic device can be safely used.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the waterproofing structure  10  is formed as one for the vibrator  22  acting as the drive device  13  so that it can cover and protect the drive unit  12  and the battery box  23  composing the vibrator  22  in the water-tight state even in the case the vibrator  2  is used in the bathroom or under the humid environment.  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the rotating motor  35  composing the drive unit  12  is press-fitted in the supporting cylinder unit  18  while being surrounded on its circumferential edge portion by the sponge  48 , so that the rotating motor  35  can be fixed in the supporting cylinder unit  18  by the sponge  48 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the rotating motor  35  is provided at its drive shaft with the curved shaft  33  extending from the drive shaft, and this shaft  33  is provided at its leading end portion  34  with the vibrating unit  36 , which is made of the vibrator  29  disposed at the drive shaft  37  of the prime mover unit  28 .  
      The vibrating unit  36  is protected and fixed by the capsule  45  formed in the elliptical shape.  
      As shown in  FIG. 7 , the drive unit  12  is inserted in the drive unit cover  17  along the length direction of the drive unit cover  17 , and the capsule  45  constructing the vibrating unit  36  is fixed in abutment against the inward leading end of the drive unit cover  17 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 7 , the opening edge portion  16  of the drive unit cover  17  is press-fitted along the outer side edge of the supporting cylinder unit  18  so that it is fitted between the supporting cylinder unit  18  and the protecting cylinder unit  19  so that the ridge portion  21  at the opening circumferential edge portion  27  of the drive unit cover  17  can be pressed to contact with the inner side of the protecting cylinder unit  19  thereby to cover and protect the inside of the drive unit cover  17  in the water-tight state.  
      As shown in  FIG. 7 , in the case the vibrator  22  is used in the bathroom or under the humid environment, it can be used in the water-tight state by arranging the power supply unit  11  inside of the power supply unit cover  15 .  
      In the case the power supply unit cover  15  is made to cover the power supply unit  11 , its opening portion  31  is extended to enlarge the internal diameter size W 7  of the engaging ridge portion  30  formed at the opening  31  so that the external diameter size W 6  of the power supply unit  11  is made larger than the outer diameter size W 6  of the power supply unit  11  and the external diameter size W 17  of the protecting cylinder unit  19 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Therefore, the power supply unit  11  and the protecting cylinder unit  19  can be inserted into the opening  31  thereby to arrange the power supply unit  11  in the power supply unit cover  15 .  
      The engaging ridge portion  30  is shrunken by releasing its extension while the power supply unit  11  and the protecting cylinder unit  19  are being arranged in the power supply unit cover  15 .  
      As the result of the shrinkage of the engaging ridge portion  30 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , the internal diameter size W 7  of the ridge abutting portion  60  disposed on the inner side face of the engaging ridge portion  30  is shrunken to a smaller diameter size than the outer diameter size W 6  of the power supply unit  11  and the outer diameter size W 17  of the protecting cylinder unit  19 . While the power supply unit  11  and the protecting cylinder unit  19  are being arranged in the opening  31 , the ridge abutting portion  60  comes into the opening circumferential edge portion  27  of the drive unit cover  17  so that the inside of the power supply unit cover  15  can be protected in the water-tight state.  
      By the ridge abutting portion  60  formed on the inner side face of the engaging ridge portion  30 , the ridge portion  21  of the drive unit cover  17  further covers the protecting cylinder unit  19  press-fitted between itself and the supporting cylinder unit  18 , in the water-tight state from the outside so that a liquid such as water can be prevented from flowing into the power supply unit  11  thereby to protect the drive device  13  as a whole in the water-tight state.  
      In this case, the internal diameter size W 7  of the ridge abutting portion  60  formed on the inner side face of the engaging ridge portion  30  is shrunken to a smaller diameter size than the external diameter size W 17  of the protecting cylinder unit  19 . Even in the case the engaging ridge portion  30  is curled up more or less, it does not come out from the protecting cylinder unit  19  so that it can protect the power supply unit  11  in the water-tight state.  
      In the case the battery in the battery box  23  is to be exchanged, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the opening  31  of the power supply unit cover  15  is extended, as shown in  FIG. 7 , so that the internal diameter size W 7  of the engaging ridge portion  30  formed at the opening  31  is made larger than the external diameter size W 6  of the power supply unit  11  and the external diameter size W 17  of the protecting cylinder unit  19 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . As a result, the protecting cylinder unit  19  and the power supply unit  11  can be extracted from the opening  31 .  
      Next, the cover portion  50  on the side face of the battery box  23  is slid along the length direction of the battery body  23 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , the battery case  49  can be exposed, and the battery held by the battery holding springs  52  can be extracted for the exchange.  
      In the case the drive unit  12  is activated and used as the vibrator  22 , the individual push buttons  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d  composing the switch unit  20 , which are disposed inside of the power supply unit cover  15 , are controlled from the outside of the power supply unit cover  15 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , so that the vibrator  22  can be driven.  
      Since the power supply unit cover  15  is made of the soft material, the individual push buttons  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d  can be pushed from the outside of the power supply unit cover  15 . Since, the power supply unit cover  15  is made of the semitransparent material, the positions of the individual push buttons  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d  can be visually confirmed through the power supply unit cover  15  covering the power supply unit  11 .  
      As a result, the user can push the individual push buttons  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  and  24   d , although they are covered with the power supply unit cover  15 , to use the vibrator in the water-tight state.  
      Specifically, when the push button  24   a  is pushed from the outside of the power supply unit cover  15 , the drive shafts of the rotating motor  35  and the prime mover unit  28  are rotated, as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
      When the rotating motor  35  rotates, the curved shaft  33  extending from the drive shaft of the rotating motor  35  rotates so that the capsule  45  disposed at the leading end portion of the shaft  33  makes the eccentric motions on the drive shaft of the rotating motor  35 , as shown in  FIG. 7 .  
      Since the capsule  45  is fixed in abutment against the inward leading end of the drive unit cover  17 , the drive unit cover  17  having the flexibility also makes eccentric motions on the drive shaft of the rotating motor in according to the eccentric motions of the capsule  45 .  
      As the drive shaft  37  of the prime mover unit  28  rotates, the vibrator  29  on the drive shaft  37  is rotated to vibrate the capsule  45 .  
      Since the capsule  45  is fixed in abutment against the inward leading end of the drive unit cover  17 , it can be used as the vibrator capable of vibrating the leading end portion of the drive unit cover  17 .  
      When push button  24   b  is pushed from the outside of the power supply unit cover  15 , the rotating speed of the drive shafts of the rotating motor  35  and the prime mover unit  28  can be raised to a high speed.  
      As a result, the speed of the eccentric motions of the drive unit cover  17  and the vibrating speed at the leading end portion of the drive unit cover  17  can be raised to provide a more exciting vibrator  22 .  
      When the push button  24   c  is pushed from the outside of the power supply unit cover  15 , the drive shaft  43  of the auxiliary prime mover unit  42  rotates, as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
      When the drive shaft  43  of the auxiliary prime mover unit  42  rotates, the vibrator  44  on the drive shaft  43  is rotated to vibrate the auxiliary capsule  46 .  
      Since the auxiliary capsule  46  is fixed in abutment against the inward leading end of the auxiliary drive unit cover  53 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , it can be used as the vibrator capable of vibrating the leading end portion of the auxiliary drive unit cover  53 .  
      When the push button  24   d  is pushed from the outside of the power supply unit cover  15 , the rotating speed of the drive shaft  43  of the auxiliary prime mover unit  42  can be raised to a high speed.  
      As a result, the vibrating speed of the leading end portion of the auxiliary drive unit cover  53  can be raised to provide a more exciting vibrator  22 .