1. Field
Apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a cable connector, and more particularly, to a cable connector having a flexible shape.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cable connector is a device for electrically connecting two electronic devices to each other. For examples, a cable connector may be a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable connector, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable connector, an audio cable connector, a video cable connector, or the like.
Various cable connectors may be used in electronic devices. For example, since a television may be connected to various electronic devices such as a digital versatile disc (DVD) player, a set top box, a speaker, or a computer, a plurality of cable connectors may be used with the television. In this case, due to the number of cable connectors, they may interfere with each other, and it is difficult to arrange the cable connectors. In addition, it is difficult to identify electronic devices that are respectively connected to the cable connectors. Thus, there is a need to develop a cable connector that is easily arranged and identified.
According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a cable connector for transmitting a signal between first and second electronic devices, the cable connector including a cable including at least one signal line disposed within a sheath; and a connector disposed at a first end portion of the cable, wherein the connector includes a rotation member connected to the cable; a main body including a rotation member mounting portion to which the rotation member is rotatably connected; and a sub body including a plug disposed at a first end portion of the sub body, wherein the sub body is moveably connected to the main body.
The sub body may further include a separation blocking projection formed at a second end portion of the sub body, wherein the separation blocking projection prevents the sub body from being separated from the main body.
The main body may include a contact surface which contacts the sub body, and the sub body may include a contact surface which contacts the main body. The cable connector may further include an elastic protrusion formed on a first one of the contact surface of the main body and the contact surface of the sub body; and a plurality of grooves formed on a second one of the contact surface of the main body and the contact surface of the sub body, wherein each of the plurality of grooves may be engageable with the elastic protrusion.
The rotation member may include a contact surface which contacts with the rotation member mounting portion, and the rotation member mounting portion may include a contact surface which contacts with the rotation member. The cable connector may further include an elastic protrusion formed on a first one of the contact surface of the rotation member and the contact surface of the rotation member mounting portion; and a plurality of grooves formed on a second one of the contact surface of the rotation member and the contact surface of the rotation member mounting portion, wherein each of the plurality of grooves may be engageable with the elastic protrusion.
The rotation member may include first and second rotation bosses that are formed on an upper surface and a lower surface, respectively, of the rotation member; a portion of the cable within the rotation member may be divided into first and second internal cables; the first internal cable may extend through a first opening of the first rotation boss, and the second internal cable may extend through a second opening of the second rotation boss.
The main body may include a first internal connector that is electrically connected to the cable, and the sub body may include a second internal connector that is electrically connected to the first internal connector.
The first internal connector may include a plurality of first electrodes, and the second internal connector may include a plurality of second electrodes that are connected to the plurality of first electrodes. A length of each of the plurality of first electrodes or a length of each of the plurality of second electrodes may be equal to or greater than a distance through which the sub body is moveable with respect to the main body.
One of the first and second internal connectors may be a male connector, and the other one of the first and second internal connectors may be a female connector.
The cable connector may further include a mark unit for indicating a use of the cable connector.
The mark unit may include a circular member that is rotatably mounted to one of the main body and the sub body; the circular member may include a plurality of sections; and the connector may include a window formed in the one of the main body and the sub body to which the circular member is rotatably mounted through which one of the plurality of sections of the circular member is visible.
Each of the plurality of sections of the circular member may have a different color or a different character.
The mark unit may include a ring member that is rotatably mounted to one of the main body and the sub body; the ring member may include a mark portion that includes a plurality of sections and a grip portion that is exposed outside the connector, and the connector may include a window formed in the one of the main body and the sub body to which the ring member is rotatably mounted through which one of the plurality of sections of the mark portion is visible.
Each of the plurality of sections of the mark portion may have a different color or a different character.
The cable may include a flexible coil adjacent to the connector.
The flexible coil may be exposed outside the connector, and a diameter of the flexible coil may be equal to a diameter of the sheath of the cable.
The flexible coil may be disposed within the sheath of the cable.
The sub body may be formed of extruded aluminum.
The above and other exemplary aspects and/or advantages will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which:
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.
While exemplary embodiments are described herein, they should not be construed as being limited to the specific descriptions set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete. In the drawings, the sizes of components are exaggerated for clarity.
The cable connector 10 is used to transmit an electrical signal between two electronic devices. Examples of the cable connector 10 may include an HDMI cable connector, a USB cable connector, an audio cable connector, or a video cable connector.
At least one signal line 102 is formed within a sheath 101 of a cable 100. When the cable connector 10 is connected to two electronic devices, electrical signals are transmitted between the two electronic devices through the at least one signal line 102 formed within the cable 100.
A connector 200 is formed at a first end portion of the cable 100. Although not illustrated in
As shown in
The rotation member 210 is connected to the cable 100, and is rotatably connected to the main body 220. A rotation member mounting portion 221 on which the rotation member 210 is mounted is formed in the main body 220. As the rotation member 210 rotates, as indicated by an arrow A of
Referring to
A first rotation boss 215a is formed on an upper surface 210a of the rotation member 210, and a second rotation boss 215b is formed on a lower surface 210b of the rotation member 210. The first and second rotation bosses 215a and 215b are coaxially arranged with a rotation axis of the rotation member 210. The first and second rotation bosses 215a and 215b allow the rotation member 210 to rotate relative to the main body 220.
Referring to
According to the present embodiment, the first and second elastic protrusions 217a and 217b are formed on the rotation member 210, and the grooves 227 are formed in the main body 220. Alternatively, the first and second elastic protrusions 217a and 217b may be formed on the main body 220, and the grooves 227 may be formed in the rotation member 210. In addition, according to the present embodiment, the first and second elastic protrusions 217a and 217b are formed on the upper surface 210a and the lower surface 210b of the rotation member 210, respectively. Alternatively, an elastic protrusion may be formed on only the upper surface 210a or the lower surface 210b of the rotation member 210.
As shown in
If the cable 100 is not divided and passes through only the first opening 216a of the first rotation boss 215a, the distance d1 between the upper surface 200a of the connector 200 and the cable 100 may be greater than the distance d2 between the lower surface 200b of the connector 200 and the cable 100 by as much as the diameter of the cable 100, which means that the cable 100 may be positioned to be asymmetrical with respect to the connector 200. In this case, if the cable connector 10 is configured so that the distance d1 between the upper surface 200a of the connector 200 and the cable 100 may be equal to the distance d2 between the lower surface 200b of the connector 200 and the cable 100, a thickness of the connector 200 may be increased unnecessarily. However, according to the present embodiment, since the cable 100 is divided into the first and second internal cables 100a and 100b in the cavity 211 of the rotation member 210, the cable 100 may be positioned to be symmetrical with the connector 200 without an unnecessary increase in the thickness of the connector 200. Alternately, of course, the cable may be undivided and may pass through only the second opening 216b of the second rotation boss 215b, and the distance d2 between the lower surface 200b of the connector 200 and the cable 100 may be greater than the distance d1 between the upper surface 200a of the connector 200 and the cable 100 by as much as the diameter of the cable 100.
The plug 231, which may be inserted into a terminal portion of an electronic device, is positioned at a first end portion of the sub body 230. The sub body 230 may be formed of extruded aluminum, thus providing an appealing external appearance of the connector 200 may and protecting components inside the sub body 230 from external shocks.
The sub body 230 may be moveable relative to the main body 220, as indicated by an arrow B of
A separation blocking projection 232 is formed at a second end portion of the sub body 230. The separation blocking projection 232 prevents the sub body 230 from being separated from the main body 220.
An elastic protrusion 233a is formed on a contact surface 233 of the sub body 230, which contacts the main body 220. A plurality of grooves 233a, to be engaged with the elastic protrusion 233a, may be formed in a contact surface 223 of the main body 220, which contacts the sub body 230. When a user applies a predetermined pressure to the sub body 230, the elastic protrusion 233a may separate from one groove 223a, and then, may be engaged with another groove 223a. According to the present embodiment, since the number of the grooves 223a is four, the entire length of the connector 200 may be adjusted through four steps. However, it would be understood that the number and spacing of the grooves 223a may be changed in various ways.
In addition, according to the present embodiment, the elastic protrusion 233a is formed on the sub body 230, and the grooves 223a are formed in the main body 220. Alternatively, the elastic protrusion 233a may be formed on the main body 220, and the grooves 223a may be formed in the sub body 230.
As described above, the cable connector 10 may be advantageous in that the overall length of the connector 200, and the angle between the connector 200 and the cable 100 may be adjusted. With reference to
If the cable 100 of the cable connector 10a is thick, the flexibility of the cable 100 is reduced, the cable 100 may unnecessarily extend beyond a lateral surface of the television 1, as indicated by dotted lines, thereby adversely affecting an appearance of the television 1. In this case, a user may adjust a rotation angle of the rotation member 210 of the cable connector 10a so as to prevent the cable 100 from being unnecessarily exposed to a front surface of the television 1. In addition, if the cable connector 10a is positioned adjacent to the cable connector 10b, the cable connectors 10a and 10b may interfere with each other. In this case, the user may extend a length of the cable connector 10a so as to prevent the cable connectors 10a and 10b from interfering with each other.
With reference to
According to the above embodiment shown in
The first internal connector 225 is formed in the main body 220. The second internal connector 235 is formed in the sub body 230. For clarity of illustration, in
The first internal connector 225 is electrically connected to the first and second internal cables 100a and 100b, and is formed in the main body 220. A plurality of electrodes 225a, that are electrically connected to the first and second internal cables 100a and 100b, are formed in the first internal connector 225. A plurality of wires 225b electrically connect the first and second internal cables 100a and 100b to the electrodes 225a of the first internal connector 225.
The second internal connector 235 is electrically connected to the first internal connector 225, and is formed in the sub body 230. As the sub body 230 is moved, the second internal connector 235 is moved. The second internal connector 235 includes a substrate 236 on which a plurality of electrodes 235a are formed. The electrodes 235 of the second internal connector 235 may extend in a longitudinal direction of the second internal connector 235, and may contact the electrodes 225a of the first internal connector 225. An entire length of the electrodes 235a of the second internal connector 235 may be equal to or greater than a distance by which the sub body 230 may move with respect to the main body.
The second internal connector 235 may be inserted into the first internal connector 225. That is, the second internal connector 235 may be a male connector, and the first internal connector 225 may be a female connector. However, it would be understood that the first internal connector 225 may be a male connector, and the second internal connector 235 may be a female connector.
As shown in
According to the present embodiment, the electrodes 235a of the second internal connector 235 extend in a longitudinal direction of the second internal connector 235. However, it would be understood that the electrodes 225a of the first internal connector 225 may extend in a longitudinal direction of the first internal connector 225.
With reference to
The cable connector 30 includes a mark unit 300. The mark unit 300 may display the type of the signal transmitted through the cable connector 30. Thus, a user may identify of use of the cable connector 30.
The mark unit 300 includes a circular member 310. The circular member 310 is rotatably installed on the sub body 230 of the connector 200. A window 238 for exposing a portion of the circular member 310 therethrough is formed in the sub body 230. A user may rotate the circular member 310 by turning an outer circumference surface of the circular member 310, which is exposed outside the window 238.
A user may identify use of the cable connector 30 by turning the circular member 310. For example, when the cable connector 30 is connected to a personal computer, the user may turn the circular member 310 so as to show the first section 311 marked with the word “PC” through the window 238 of the sub body 230. Similarly, when the cable connector 30 is connected to a blue ray disc player, the user may turn the circular member 310 so as to show the second section 312 marked with the word “BDP” through the window 238 of the sub body 230. When the cable connector 30 is connected to a DVD player, the user may turn the circular member 310 so as to show the third section 313 marked with the word “DVD” through the window 238 of the sub body 230. In addition, when the cable connector 30 is connected to a home theater system, the user may turn the circular member 310 to show the fourth section 314 marked with the word “HTS” through the window 238 of the sub body 230. Thus, the user may easily identify use of the cable connector 30 by using the circular member 310.
Alternatively, characters such as “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” or numbers such as “1”, “2”, “3”, and “4” may be marked on the first through fourth sections 311 through 314 of the circular member 310, respectively. Alternatively, the first through fourth sections 311 through 314 of the circular member 310 may be identified according to colors without characters or numbers.
According to the present embodiments, the circular member 310 is divided into the four sections 311 through 314. However, it would be understood that the circular member 310 may be divided into various numbers of sections. In addition, the circular member 310 may be mounted on the main body 220, but not on the sub body 230. It would be understood that a position where the circular member 310 is mounted may be changed in various ways.
With reference to
According to the present embodiment, the mark unit 300 includes the ring member 320. The ring member 320 is rotatably installed around the sub body 230 of the connector 200. As shown in
The mark portion 321 is divided into a plurality of sections. The grip portion 322 is exposed to the outside. A user may grasp the grip portion 322 so as to turn the ring member 320.
Like in
With reference to
Flexible coils 400 are formed as portions of the cable 100, which are adjacent to the connector 200. A user may easily change shapes of the flexible coils 400, and the changed shapes of the flexible coils 400 may be maintained. In
When the cable connector 50 is connected to a terminal portion of an electronic device, the user may change the shapes of the flexible coils 400 so as to prevent the cable connector 50 from interfering with another adjacent cable connector. Since shapes of portions of the cable 100, which are adjacent to the connector 200, may be changed by using the flexible coils 400, the connector 200 may not include the rotation member 210.
In order to prevent step differences between flexible coils 400 and the remaining portion of the cable 100 from resulting, a diameter of each of the flexible coils 400 may be equal to a diameter of the sheath 101 of the cable 100.
With reference to
As shown in
While exemplary embodiments have been particularly shown and described, 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 inventive concept as defined by the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2011-0007764 | Jan 2011 | KR | national |
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/368,773, filed on Jul. 29, 2010, in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0007764, filed on Jan. 26, 2011, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61368773 | Jul 2010 | US |