Patent Grant
7914306
This invention relates to Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors for motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and other vehicle commonly referred to as powersports vehicles and also but not limited to other special purpose vehicle such as golf carts and powered wheel chairs.
Owners and users of motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, commonly called powersports vehicles and other special purpose vehicles such as golf carts and powered wheel chairs are frequently modified from their original equipment manufactured configuration to add a variety of accessories that enhance the vehicle capability and the operator's experience. These added accessories may be roughly divided into three categories: low power up to 2 amp or 20 watts, medium power of 2 to 5 amps or 20 to 60 watts and high power of 6 amps or 80 watts and greater. Examples of low power accessories may include navigation systems such as global positioning systems, cell phones, entertainment systems, radar detectors, intra-vehicle rider to passenger communication systems, inter-vehicle short range communication systems, personal digital assistants and small computers. Medium power accessories may include on-road auxiliary lighting and single articles of heated clothing. High power devices may include high intensity off-road lighting, external battery chargers and multiple articles of heated clothing
A search of available vehicle accessories shows that there exist many more types of low power accessories than medium or high power accessories. Moreover, low power accessories are commonly able to be easily removed from the vehicle for personal use. For example a cell phone is normally carried on the person but can be mounted in a quick detach cradle on a vehicle for hands-free use. High power accessories are more commonly attached more permanently on the vehicle. For example high power off road lights must be mounted rigidly to ensure proper beam aiming and require special purpose wiring capable of carrying high current.
In spite of the fact that most accessories fall into the low power category, the availability of power connectors with convenient vehicle mounting methods, quick detach capability and sized for low power are non-existent in the market. Currently available accessory power connectors include DIN ISO 4165 jack/plug connector pairs, SAE two pin male/female connector pairs and cigar lighter sockets. These connector/socket systems are capable of carrying as much as 10 to 20 amps or ten times the required power levels of low power accessories. These large connectors may be acceptable for connecting low power accessories in automobiles and trucks that have large passenger compartments where space is not an issue. However, they are not well suited to the aforementioned powersports vehicles that have very limited mounting space. Moreover, some connectors such as the DIN ISO 4165 type and cigar lighters have marginal or no environmental sealing when the connection is made. Lastly, these large connectors typically require heavy mounting methods such as thick metal brackets or bulky screw clamps.
There exists a readily available compact, lightweight, low voltage Universal Serial Bus (USB) type connector that is commonly used to transmit data and power home and office electronics. Said USB Connectors would be suitable for powersports and specialty vehicle use were it not for the fact that they are designed for indoor use and have neither environmental protection nor any mounting apparatus. Both of these connector types are typically available as free-hanging cable connectors, printed circuit board mounted or as panel mounted devices for use in electrical equipment cabinets and chassis. While these configurations have been adapted to vehicle use, the results can be unsightly, awkward, and prone to environmental damage and in some cases unsafe.
In the cases where environmental protective methods have been applied to USB electrical connectors for severe usage such as military applications, the protective apparatus is comprised of heavy threaded plastic parts with internal seals and heavy caps secured to the assembly with chains or metal lanyards. These caps are free hanging when not in use and present a potential for severe vehicle bodywork damage when the vehicle is moving. While these protective methods are effective, they are not suited for powersports vehicles due to their size and awkward capping methods.
The primary object of this invention is to provide the owners and users of powersports vehicles and specialty vehicles environmental protection that allow the utilization of readily available, compact USB connector.
To achieve the above objectives, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention broadly described herein firstly, an encapsulation for USB Connectors comprising of: an encapsulated USB socket with an external sealing feature protruding from and encircling the mating end of the USB socket, a corresponding environmentally protected USB plug with an internal intrusive sealing feature shaped to fit snugly against the sealing feature of the USB socket thus providing environmental protection.
The encapsulation may be made from any resilient, weather resistant material such as synthetic rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer. The material may be of different colors for different USB connector pairs to allow the user to distinguish between different connections such as power only or power and data connection types.
The sealing feature of the USB socket or USB plug or both the USB socket and plug may be integrally formed with the encapsulation or be comprised of separate parts as will be described herein.
The encapsulated USB socket or plug may be formed as a linear shape, right angle or some intermediate angle to provide the user options for efficient cable routing.
Secondly the present invention describes a cap with a restraining lanyard that provides environmental protection for the USB socket when a USB plug connection is not present. The protective cap is so formed as to provide the same intrusive sealing feature as described for the USB plug. This type of cap is commonly used in environmentally protected electrical connections and thus is not included in the patent claims but is shown for completeness of detail.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying FIGS. It should be noted that no reference is made to the cabling or vehicle connections as these connections are common vehicle power and ground cables and are well known to anyone skilled in the art. In addition, strain relief features are shown on all cables but are not included as numbered items as they are common to power cables, well documented by prior art and thoroughly understood by anyone skilled in the art.
It is evident from the above description, a wide variety of connector configurations may be fashioned from the present invention. Different USB plug and jack sizes may be encapsulated in a variety of shapes using different materials to meet the needs of differing connection types and vehicle fitments. Accordingly, additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.
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