Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6790060
-
Patent Number
6,790,060
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, March 4, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 14, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 135
- 439 136
- 439 142
- 174 59
- 174 67
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A storing lid to cover a signal transmission port of an electronic device includes a housing and a lid. The housing has an opening corresponding to the signal transmission port. The lid is movably located on the housing, and may be located on a first position when the signal transmission port is not in use to cover the opening and prevent dust or external objects from entering into the port. The lid is moved to a second position when the signal transmission port is in use so that the lid may be stored on one side of the opening without being lost.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a storing lid for covering a signal transmission port of an electronic device, and particularly to a storing lid structure that prevents contamination of the signal transmission port by fending off dust or external objects when not in use, and that may be stored in the housing of the electronic device when the signal transmission port is in use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many electronic devices have signal transmission ports to connect external cables and transmit data to other electronic devices. The housing of the electronic devices must have openings corresponding to the signal transmission ports to facilitate external connection. However before the electronic devices are connected, the signal transmission ports are exposed and often contaminated by dust or external objects. This could result in a poor connection or even dysfunction of the signal transmission port.
Recently, a movable lid to cover the opening of the housing of the electronic devices has been designed. The lid may cover the opening when the electronic device is not connected externally, and can prevent the signal transmission port from being contaminated by dust or external objects. When the electronic device is connected, the lid is removed and stored in another location. However, such a design and arrangement often results in loss of the lid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforesaid disadvantages, the primary object of the invention is to provide a storing lid for electronic devices so that the signal transmission port may be covered when not in use to prevent contamination from dust or external objects, and be opened when in use and stored at a selected location without being lost.
The storing lid for electronic devices of the invention aims to cover the signal transmission port. It includes a housing and a lid. The housing has an opening corresponding to the signal transmission port of the electronic device. The lid is movably located on the housing, and has a first position and a second position. When the signal transmission port is not in use, the lid is at the first position to cover the opening and prevent contamination from dust or external objects. When the signal transmission port is in use, the lid is at the second position and stored on one side of the opening to avoid being lost.
The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an exploded view of the invention.
FIG. 2
is a schematic view of the invention with the lid mounted onto the cover.
FIG. 3
is a schematic view of the invention with the lid mounted onto the cover and the cover mounted onto the casing, and the lid being pivotally turned to the edge of the slot opening.
FIGS. 4A and 4B
are schematic views of the invention at the first and the second positions.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to
FIGS. 1 through 4B
, the storing lid of the invention aims to cover a signal transmission port
13
of an electronic device
1
. The invention includes a housing
11
and a lid
12
of the electronic device
1
. The housing
11
consists of a cover
111
and a casing
112
on which the cover
111
is mounted.
The cover
111
has an opening
1111
, hooks
1112
, extension plates
1113
and a guiding channel
1114
. The opening
1111
corresponds to the signal transmission port
13
of the electronic device
1
. The hooks
1112
are located on the bottom section of the cover
111
, each with a guiding edge
1112
a
. The extension plates
1113
are located on the bottom section of the cover
111
and extend downwards from the opening
1111
. Each extension plate
1113
further has a latch slot
1113
a
and a strut
1113
b
. The guiding channel
1114
is located between the extension plate
1113
and the inner wall of the cover
111
.
The casing
112
has holes
1121
and a slot opening
1122
. The holes
1121
are formed on the top section of the casing
112
corresponding to the hooks
1112
. Each hole
1121
has a sloped surface
1121
a at one end corresponding to the guiding edge
1112
a
to enable the guiding edge
1112
a
to slide thereon and go into the hole
1121
so that the cover
111
may be movably mounted onto the casing
112
with the slot opening
1122
corresponding to the lid
12
.
The lid
12
is movably mounted onto the cover
111
, and has a first position and a second position. When the signal transmission port
13
is not in use, the lid
12
may cover the opening
1111
at the first position to prevent dust or external objects from entering into the port. When the signal transmission port
13
is in use, the lid
12
may be stored on one side of the slot opening
1111
without being lost. The lid
12
has stub shafts
121
and bulged spots
122
. The stub shafts
121
are located on the bottom end of the lid
12
corresponding to the guiding channel
114
. Thus the guiding channel
1114
can guide the movement of the lid
12
. Moreover, the stub shafts
121
may be moved to one distal end of the guiding channel
14
and pivotally turned thereon to allow the lid
12
to be pivotally engaged with the cover
111
. The bulged spots
122
are located on two opposite sides of the lid
12
. When the lid
12
is moved in the guiding channel
1114
towards the casing
112
, the lid
12
is housed in the slot opening
1122
until the bulged spot
122
bucks the distal end of the guiding channel
1114
. Because of the restriction of the bulged spot
122
, the lid
12
may be housed in the slot opening
1122
securely at the second position without wobbling. When the lid
12
is located at the first position, the bulged spot
122
is wedged in the latch slot
1113
a
, and the strut
1113
b
limits the turning angle of the lid
12
. Thus the lid
12
may be securely mounted onto the first position without wobbling.
For assembly of the invention, first, dispose the lid
12
in the guiding channel
1114
with the bulged spots
122
of the lid
12
passing over the distal end of the guiding channel
1114
until the stub shafts
121
of the lid
12
buck the distal end of the guiding channel
1114
. This allows the lid
12
to be movably mounted onto the cover
111
. Next, insert the hooks
1112
of the cover
111
into the holes
1121
of the casing
112
. Apply force to the cover
111
to make the guiding edge
1112
a
of the hook
1112
slide over the sloped surface
1121
a and slip into the holes
1121
to complete the assembly of the invention.
When moving the lid
12
from the first position to the second position for using the signal transmission port
13
, first, move the bulged spots
122
of the lid
12
away from the latch slot
1113
a
to allow the stub shafts
121
of the lid
12
to be pivotally turnable at the distal end of the guiding channel
1114
. Then push the lid
12
into the casing
112
with the bulged spot
122
moving in the guiding slot
1114
until the lid
12
is housed in the slot opening
1122
and the bulged spot
122
reaches the distal end of the guiding channel
1114
. The lid
12
is thus securely located oil the second position without wobbling. Then the cable may be connected to the signal transmission port
13
without being affected by the lid
12
. On the other hand, when moving the lid
12
from the second position to the first position to cover the opening
1111
of the cover
111
and prevent the signal transmission port
13
from being contaminated, first, move the bulged spot
122
from the distal end of the guiding channel
1114
and draw the lid
12
from the slot opening
1122
. The stub shafts
121
are located on the distal end of the guiding channel
1114
. The lid may be turned pivotally to latch the bulged spot
122
on the latch slot
1113
a
. With the restriction of the strut
1113
b
, the lid
12
may be turned to a selected angle (first position) and securely mounted on the first position without wobbling.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A storing lid for electronic devices to cover a signal transmission port of an electronic device, comprising:a housing of the electronic device having a cover, a casing for supporting the cover, and an opening corresponding to the signal transmission port, the cover having two extension plates extended from a bottom section thereof corresponding to each other and a guiding channel located between each extension plate and an inner wall of the cover; and a lid having a stub shaft located on a bottom end corresponding to the guiding channel to guide the lid moving in the guiding channel until the stub shaft reaching a distal end of the guiding channel so that the lid is pivotally engaged with the cover, the lid being located on a first position when the signal transmission port is not in use to cover the opening to prevent dust or external objects from entering into the signal transmission port, and on a second position when the signal transmission port is in use with the lid housed on one side of the opening without lost.
- 2. The storing lid for electronic devices of claim 1, wherein the cover has a plurality of hooks located on a bottom section thereof, the casing having a plurality of holes formed on a top section corresponding to the hooks to allow the cover movably mounted onto the casing.
- 3. The storing lid for electronic devices of claim 2, wherein each of the hooks has a guiding edge, each of the holes having a sloped surface on one end thereof corresponding to the guiding edge to allow the hook sliding into the hole for engaging the cover to the casing.
- 4. The storing lid for electronic devices of claim 1, wherein the lid has two opposite sides each has a bulged spot to retain the lid in the guiding channel when the lid is moved in the guiding channel towards the casing.
- 5. The storing lid for electronic devices of claim 4, wherein the extension plate has a latch slot corresponding to the bulged spot for latching the bulged spot when the lid is located on the first position.
- 6. The storing lid for electronic devices of claim 1, wherein the casing has a slot opening corresponding to the lid to house the lid when the lid is moved in the guiding channel towards the casing.
- 7. The storing lid for electronic devices of claim 1, wherein the extension plate has a strut extending outwards to restrict the turning angle of the lid about the stub shaft for the lid to be located on the first position.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
091221027 |
Dec 2002 |
TW |
|
US Referenced Citations (45)