1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer peripheral technology, and more particularly, to a connector concealment mechanism for use with a computer peripheral device equipped with an external connector, such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector or a FireWire connector, for the connector to be concealable into the casing of the computer peripheral device when not in use, and be easily ejected out of the casing for use to connect the computer peripheral device to a computer unit, such as a PC (Personal Computer).
2. Description of Related Art
Most computer platforms are today equipped with a plug-and-play type of external communication interface, such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or FireWire interface, for the computer platform to be externally connected to various kinds of peripheral devices, such as micro hard drive modules, portable flash memory modules, printers, digital cameras, to name just a few. Since USB and FireWire compliant peripheral devices have a hot plug-and-play capability, they are now widely equipped as a standard option on most PCs.
One drawback to use of the traditional USB or FireWire compliant peripheral devices on the market, however, is that they typically utilize a separable cap for covering the connecting end of the device when not in use, and the cap can be easily get lost when it is removed from the connector, causing troublesome and inconvenience to the user.
It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide a connector concealment mechanism for use with a computer peripheral device to allow the connector to be concealable into the casing of the computer peripheral device for covered protection of the connector without using a separable cap as in the case of the prior art so as to allow the use of the computer peripheral device to be more convenient and trouble-free.
The connector concealment mechanism according to the invention is designed for use in conjunction with a computer peripheral device equipped with an external connector, such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector or a FireWire connector, for the connector to be concealable into the casing of the computer peripheral device when not in use, and be easily ejected out of the computer casing for use to connect the computer peripheral device to a computer unit, such as a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a network workstation, and the like.
The connector concealment mechanism according to the invention is more advantageous to use in that it allows the user to conceal the connector into the casing of the computer peripheral device when not in use, without having using a separable cap which would easily get lost as in the case of the prior art. This feature allows the use of the computer peripheral device to be more convenient and trouble-free.
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The connector concealment mechanism for computer peripheral device according to the invention is disclosed in full details by way of preferred embodiments in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
The housing structure 110 is provided inside the casing of the computer peripheral device 10 but with an opening exposed to the outside of the casing, which is dimensioned in compliance with the size of the connector 20 so as to be able to house the connector 20 therein for accommodating the connector 20 inside the casing of the computer peripheral device 10.
The pivotal structure 120 is used to pivotally mounted the non-connecting rear end of the connector 20 within the housing structure 110 for the connector 10 to be pivotally turnable between an internal position inside the housing structure 110 as illustrated in
The push-type ejecting device 13 is mounted within the housing structure 110, and which includes a push button 131 and an ejecting mechanism 130, wherein the push button 131 is functionally linked to the ejecting mechanism to be switchable between an inwardly-pressed state as shown in
Structurally, the aforesaid ejecting mechanism 130 includes a supporting base 130a formed with a guide groove 130b; while the push button 131 includes a pivotable passive bar 131a and a spring 132, where the pivotable passive bar 131a has a hooked end 131a1 slidably fitted in the guide groove 130b, and the spring 132 is mounted between the supporting base 130a and the push button 131.
Referring to
The locking mechanism 210 is realized, for example, in such a manner as to include a protrusion structure 211 on the inside floor of the housing structure 110 and a corresponding recessed structure 212 on the connector 20, such that when the connector 20 is concealed in position within the housing structure 110, the protrusion structure 211 will fit in to the recessed structure 212, thereby locking the connector 20 in position within the housing structure 110. In practical implementation, for example, if the connector 20 is a USB type, then since USB connectors are typically formed with a number of square holes in the plug 21, these square holes can be directly employed to serve as the aforesaid recessed structure 212 without having to perform extra machining to the USB connector. Alternatively, the locking mechanism 210 has various other modes of realization.
Referring together to
When the user no longer wants to use the computer peripheral device 10, the user can then conceal the connector 20 into the connector concealment mechanism of the invention by pivotally turning the connector 20 into the housing structure 110. As the connector 20 is concealed in position within the housing structure 110, the protrusion structure 211 will fit in to the recessed structure 212 as shown in
In conclusion, the invention provides a connector concealment mechanism for computer peripheral device which is designed for use in conjunction with a computer peripheral device equipped with an external connector for the connector to be concealable into the casing of the computer peripheral device when not in use, and be easily ejected out of the computer casing for use to connect the computer peripheral device to a computer unit. This feature allows the invention to be more advantageous to use than the prior art in that it allows the user to conceal the connector into the casing of the computer peripheral device when not in use, without having using a separable cap which would easily get lost as in the case of the prior art, allowing the use of the computer peripheral device to be more convenient and trouble-free. The invention is therefore more advantageous to use than the prior art.
The invention has been described using exemplary preferred embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
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