1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector assembly, more particularly to a locking or latching structure for a universal serial bus (USB) connection. This locking or latching structure being applicable for various types of connector systems, such as, all kinds of wire, connector, conversion connector, conversion wire, connector of related apparatus, or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known today that many computer systems or other electronic equipment types utilize the coupling structure of a USB interface to a USB terminal. Typically the USB connector system includes a USB cable plug with a USB interface adapted to matingly latch or lock with a USB terminal or socket. Most of these USB coupling structures allow for a low release locking or latching force to enable a user to easily and quickly remove the USB interface from the USB terminal. Thus, most USB connector systems have very low lock strength. USB sockets are becoming ubiquitous on front and rear panels of computer systems because of their small size, and popularity.
Many of these USB connector systems are still not secure enough to prevent inadvertent or accidental pull-outs or disconnection during usage. While this may not be a problem for temporary devices on front panels of the USB connector systems, which are easy to see, can be problematic on the rear of computer systems when more permanent connections are made, such as for a printer or scanner. Note that inadvertent disconnection can lengthen processes such as troubleshooting a problem with one of these permanently connected coupling structures. These inadvertent disconnections can also interrupt data transfer or the loss of data, increasing the time necessary to complete a data transfer task or work project.
In view of the major drawbacks of the above USB connector systems, the inventors have made diligent studies and effort to provide a USB connector structure with a more secure and unique latching or locking device to prevent the USB connector structure from being easily disassembled when from an external force is applied. This latching or locking device is provided for the user in accordance with motivations of the present invention.
The main object of the present invention is to disclose a unique latching or locking device for a USB connector for providing the USB connector with a protection function, thereby preventing the USB connector from being easily disconnected when an external force is applied thereto.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a unique latching or locking device that is cooperatively mounted and associated with a computer or electronic equipment panel for retaining a USB device or cable and eliminate the risk of inadvertent unplugging of the device or cable to overcome data transfer interruption and/or data loss.
In view of the aforementioned objects, the present invention discloses a unique USB latching or locking structure that includes a sliding push-pull type actuator or button with a top portion with a smooth or flat surface and a lower portion with a first incline wedge or cam surface, the first wedge or cam surface extends substantially along a major portion of its length, and at least one pivoting latching or locking arm or member with a top surface with a second incline wedge or cam surface disposed along a front portion thereof adjacent the interior panel or wall of a computer or other electronic equipment type panel or wall (rear or front) with a second opening for accommodating or mounting the sliding push-pull actuator therein or there along from the exterior side. Optionally, to one of ordinary skill in the art, the push-pull actuator or button could be a push-push type actuator or button (details not shown in the drawings) where you push to lock or latch, then push again to unlock or unlatch, if desired. Note that this push-push type actuator or button could use a spring detent or catch mechanism, as well as other types of mechanical detents or catch mechanisms.
A USB female socket connector or enclosure being securely mounted interiorly of the panel or wall through a first opening therein, and the USB female socket connector or enclosure includes a female cavity or port disposed on a front end thereof with a terminal base disposed within the female cavity or port, the terminal base having a plurality of contact elements with front contact portions and rear end portions that are mounted to a rear wall portion of the panel on the female socket enclosure to secure the plurality of contact elements therein. The USB female socket enclosure includes a first upper spring-like latching member and a second lower spring-like latching member with a latching element on a front portion of the first and second latching members, and disposed on upper and lower surfaces of the USB female socket enclosure.
It is well known in the art, to have electrical contact track surfaces on a USB male plug connector, which will not be illustrated in the aforementioned drawings, to matingly engage with the contact elements of the terminal base as described above. The USB male plug connector includes a front connector portion that cooperates with the female socket or port from the exterior side of the panel or wall when it is to be plugged therein, the USB male plug front connector portion having a pair of spaced apart connector insert portions with a space defined there between for slidably receiving the terminal base and bringing the electrical contact elements and the contact track surfaces into engagement with one another when the male plug connector is fully inserted into the female socket connector.
The unique latching structure will now be described, which is the main novelty of the preferred invention as depicted in
Therefore, this unique latching or locking connector structure protects the male plug from being inadvertently unplugged or disassembled from the female socket when an external force is applied thereto.
Note that it is obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was made, to modify the male plug and female socket designs by inverting the male plug to be a female plug and inverting the female plug to be a male plug, if desired.
The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily clarified in the description of the preferred embodiments and the enclosed drawings of the present invention.
The present invention may be better understood, and it's numerous objects, features, and advantages are made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings.
a and 1b illustrates sectional side views of a panel-mounted USB male plug connector and USB female coupling connector device with a unique latching or locking mechanism in a latched condition and an unlatched condition, respectively, according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
a and 6b illustrates sectional side views of a panel-mount USB male plug connector and USB female socket connector with a unique latching or locking mechanism in a latched condition and an unlatched condition, respectively, according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to drawings. On the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim(s).
a and 1b illustrate sectional side views of a panel-mount USB male plug connector 1 and female connector socket 2, a unique sliding pushbutton latching or locking actuator 3 and at least one pivoting latching or locking arm mechanism 4 in a latched (
It will be noted here that for a better understanding, most of the like components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various figures of the preferred embodiments. Attention is now directed to the preferred first embodiment of
Also, the USB male plug connector 1 has a sliding release button 1e on a surface thereof opposite the end that receives the front coupling connector portions 1a, 1b, such that the sliding movement of the release button 1e allows the connector portions 1a, 1b to be retracted into and extended outward of the USB male plug connector 1. This allows the connector portions 1a, 1c to be retracted into a stored condition into the male plug connector 1 to protect the connector portions 1a, 1b from being damaged, and moving the connector portions 1a, 1b from the stored position to an outward extended position out of the male plug connector 1, so that the connector portions 1a, 1b can be inserted into the socket cavity of the USB female socket connector 2. It should be mentioned that the release button 1e is an optional feature that is usually not used or required on USB cable type connectors, but is required or used on some USB memory key devices.
The USB male plug connector 1 having a first latching recess 1b in a top surface of the upper portion 1a and having a second latching recess 2b in the lower portion 1c. The USB female socket enclosure 2 has an upper spring-like latch member 9 with a V-shape latching element 9a at a front end thereof and a lower spring-like latch member 9b with a V-shape latching element 9c at a front end thereof fixedly secured thereto in many different ways, if desired. Also, the V-shape configuration of the latching elements 9a and 9c can take on many different types of latching elements and shapes, if desired. Note that latching elements 9a and 9c are inserted into recesses 1b and 2b, respectively, when the USB male plug connector portions 1a and 1c are inserted into the USB female socket connector 2. These latching elements 9a and 9c are further pressed and locked into the recesses 1b and 2b by a unique latching or locking structure that will be discussed in greater detail below. This unique latching or locking structure is where the main novelty of the invention lies.
The unique latching or locking structure includes a sliding push-pull actuator 3 with a top portion with a smooth or flat surface 3a and a lower portion with a first incline wedge or cam surface 3b, the first wedge or cam surface 3b extends substantially along a major portion thereof, the panel or wall (rear or front) 6 has a second opening 6a for accommodating or mounting the sliding pushbutton actuator 3 therein or there along from the exterior side, at least one pivoting latching or locking arm or member 7 with a top surface with a second wedge or cam surface 8 disposed along a front portion thereof adjacent the interior panel or wall 6, and the at least one pivoting latching or locking arm or member 7 has a flat bottom surface along its entire length thereof The latching elements 9a and 9c will spring into the first and second latching recesses 1b, 2b, respectively, when the latching elements 9a, 9c and latching recesses are in alignment with another for securely latching or locking the male plug portion la in the socket cavity of the USB female socket connector 2, after the USB connector portions 1a, 1c is fully inserted therein.
The operation of the panel-mount USB locking or latching structure 3, 7 is very simple and easy to accomplish. This operation is performed initially by the push-pull actuator 3 being grasped by a user and moved inward along and through the second opening 6a. This continued movement pushes the at least one pivoting latching or locking arm 7 downward against the spring-like latch 9, as the first and second wedge or cam surfaces move along one another until they become wedged tightly against one another into a secure latching or locking position. Such secure latching or locking position is achieved when the male plug connector portions 1a, 1c are inserted into the interior cavity of the socket connector 2, the upper and lower spring-like latching elements 9a, 9c will flex and ride along a portion of connector portions 1a, 1c, respectively, until the V-shape latching elements 9a, 9c spring into the first and second latching recesses 1b, 2b, respectively. This latching or locking position maintains the male plug 1 within the female socket connector 2, until the actuator 3 is grasped by a user and moved outward from within the opening 6a, which allows the latching arm 7 to pivot upward and the V-shape latching elements 9a, 9c will move and spring out of the first and second latching recesses 1b, 2b as the connector portions 1a, 1c is moved outwardly and engage the V-shape latching elements to cam them out of their respective latching recesses 1b, 2b, to permit the male plug 1 to be easily disconnected from the female socket connector 2. Note that the rear end or portion 7a is pivotally hinged or spring biased relative to the female socket connector 2 or to the interior of a computer system or other electronic equipment. However, many other types of mechanical pivoting connecting arrangements could be utilized such as, a pin and spring connection, pin and bearing structure, spring hinge member, to name just a few, if desired. Such would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was made.
Therefore, this unique latching or locking connector structure protects the male plug portion 1a from being inadvertently unplugged or disassembled from the female socket connector enclosure 2 when an external force is applied thereto.
Attention is now directed to the preferred second embodiment of
The opening 6a is elongated and oriented in a horizontal direction in the panel or wall 6 for receiving the actuator 10. The actuator 10 includes at least a pair of flexible or spring-like stop or detent members 11a, 11b positioned on a front face thereof above and below a handle portion 10a. Note that the front face of the actuator 10 is positioned against the interior wall surface of the panel 6 and being maintained against the interior wall surface by a retaining structure not shown with the handle portion 10a extending through the opening 6a outwardly to the exterior of the panel 6. The handle portion 10a moves vertically along the opening 6a in up and down directions. As shown in
As illustrated in
In conclusion, since the actuator and latching structures as depicted in
The foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments of
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