GB2462658A - Portable electronic device having a sliding cover to protect a USB terminal. - Google Patents

Portable electronic device having a sliding cover to protect a USB terminal. Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2462658A
GB2462658A GB0815001A GB0815001A GB2462658A GB 2462658 A GB2462658 A GB 2462658A GB 0815001 A GB0815001 A GB 0815001A GB 0815001 A GB0815001 A GB 0815001A GB 2462658 A GB2462658 A GB 2462658A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
cover
engaging
housing
use position
electronic device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0815001A
Other versions
GB0815001D0 (en
Inventor
yong-cheng Guo
Wei Tang
ming-tang Wang
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gainwise Technology Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Gainwise Technology Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gainwise Technology Co Ltd filed Critical Gainwise Technology Co Ltd
Priority to GB0815001A priority Critical patent/GB2462658A/en
Publication of GB0815001D0 publication Critical patent/GB0815001D0/en
Publication of GB2462658A publication Critical patent/GB2462658A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1632—External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G06K19/077—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
    • G06K19/07743—External electrical contacts

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)

Abstract

A portable electronic device includes a USB terminal (2) disposed fixedly in a housing(1) and extending outwardly of the housing (1) in a direction (X). A cover (5) having an opening (50) is disposed slidably on the housing (1) and movable relative to the housing (1) in the direction (X) between a use position and a non-use position. The cover protects the USB terminal (Fig 2) and can be slid into a retracted position (Fig 4) to expose the USB terminal through the opening (50). The cover comprises an upper part (511) that slides over the upper surface (11) of the housing 1 and lower part (512) that slides over the inner part of the lower surface (12) of the housing. Movement of the cover is assisted by grooves on the housing and the use of positioning lugs. Biasing members may also be used to bias the cover towards a non use position where the USB terminal is protected.

Description

PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING A USE TERMINAL
The invention relates to a portable electronic device, more particularly to a portable electronic device having a USB terminal.
A conventional USB portable disk drive includes a main body, and a cover separate from the main body for covering a USB terminal that extends outwardly of the main body. In use, the cover must be removed from the main body so that the exposed USB terminal can be inserted into a USB port of an external apparatus, such as a computer device. Therefore, a user tends to lose the cover through carelessness. In order to avoid losing the cover, a cord is used to interconnect the cover and the main body.
Furthermore, another conventional tJSB portable disk drive includes a housing having an opening, and a main body having a USB terminal and disposed slidably in the housing. The main body is operable so that the USB terminal extends outwardly of the housing via the opening.
For the abovernentioned conventional USB portable disk drives, an operation for exposing the USB terminal is required prior to insertion of the USB terminal into the USBport of the external apparatus, therebyresulting in inconvenience during use.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device having a USB terminal that can overcome the aforesaid drawback of
the prior art.
According to the present invention, a portable electronic device comprises: a housing; a USB terminal disposed fixedly in the housing and extending outwardly of the housing in a first direction; and a cover disposed slidably on the housing and movable relative to the housing in the first direction between a use position and a non-use position, the cover having an opening.
The USB terminal is covered by the cover when the cover is at the non-use position, and extends outwardly of the cover via the opening when the cover is at the use position.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the first preferred embodiment of a portable electronic device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing the first preferred embodiment when a cover is at a non-use position; Figure 3 is a fragmentary schematic top view showing the first preferred embodiment when the cover is at the non-use position; Figure 4 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing the first preferred embodiment when the cover is at a use position; Figure 5 is a fragmentary schematic top view showing the first preferred embodiment when the cover is at the use position; Figure 6 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing the second preferred embodiment of a portable electronic device according to the present invention, when a cover is at a non-use position; and Figure 7 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing the second preferred embodiment when the cover is at a use position.
Before the present invention is described in greater detail, itshouldbenotedthat like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the
disclosure.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the first preferred embodiment of a portable electronic device according to the present invention is shown to include a housing 1, a USB terminal 2, a cover 5, and a positioning unit.
In this embodiment, the portable electronic device, such as a portable USS disk drive or a wireless network card device, is adapted to be coupled to a computer device (not shown) via the USB terminal 2.
The USB terminal 2 is disposed fixedly in the housing 1, and extends outwardly of the housing I in a first direction (X) In this embodiment, the housing 1 consists of complementary first and second housing parts 101, 102 (see Figure 1) . The housing 1 has first and second side portions 11, 12 opposite to each other in a second direction (Y) that is perpendicular to the first direction (X), and an end portion 13 mounted with the USB terminal 2 and formed with an insertion slot 130 disposed adjacent to the second side portion 12. As showninFigure2, thefirstsideportionllofthehoUsiflg 1 has a first wall 110 and a plurality of position-limiting blocks 17. The first wall 110 has an outer surface 112 that is formed with a recess 113.
The recess 113 has an open end 1131 adjacent to the USB terminal 2, and a closed end 1132 opposite to the open end 1131 in the first direction (X) . The recess 113 is defined by a groove-bottom wall portion 1101 and a surrounding wall portion 1102. The groove-bottom wall portion 1101 has a side surface 111 that is formed with a slide groove 15 extending in the first direction (X) The position-limiting blocks 17 are disposed fixedly onthe outer surface 112 of the firstwall 110, andextend above the recess 113.
As shown in Figure 2, the cover 5 is disposed slidably on the housing 1, and includes a cover body 51 and a protrusionunit52. Thecoverbody5lhasparallelfirst and second body portions 511, 512 spaced apart from each other in the second direction (Y), and a third body portion 513 interconnecting ends of the first and second body portions 511, 512 and formed with an opening 50.
The first body portion 511 extends through the open end ll3lof the recess 113 intothe recess 113, andisreceived movably in the recess 113. It is noted that the first body portion 511 of the cover body 51 is restricted by the position-limiting blocks 17 to move in the recess 113 (see Figure 1). Inthis embodiment, the second body portion 512 extends into the housing 1 through the insertion slot 130 in the end portion 13 of the housing 1. The protrusion unit 52 projects from the first body portion5llofthecoverbody5landifltotheslidegrOOVe in the groove-bottom wall portion 1101 of the housing 1, and engages slidably the slide groove 15 in the groove-bottom wall portion 1101 of the housing 1. In this embodiment, the protrusion unit 52 includes a rod portion 521 extending integrally from the first body portion 511 of the cover body 51, and a rod-mounting seat 522 mounted with the rod portion 521 thereon and engaging slidably the slide groove 51. In other embodiments, the protrusion unit 52 can be a unitary protrusion extending integrally from the first body portion 511 of the cover body 51.
Thus, the cover 5 is movable relative to the housing 1 in the first direction (X) between a use position and a non-use position. The USB terminal 2 is covered by the cover 5 when the cover 5 is at the non-use position, as shown in Figure 2, and extends outwardly of the cover 5 via the opening 50 in the third body portion 513 of the cover body 51 when the cover 5 is at the use position, as shown in Figure 4.
In this embodiment, the positioning unit positions the cover 5 in the use position. As shown in Figure 2, the positioningunit includes an engaging protrusion 41 disposed on the groove-bottom wall portion 1101 of the housing 1, and an engaging groove 42 formed in the first body portion 511 of the cover body 51 of the cover and engaging the engaging protrusion 41 when the cover 5 is at the use position, thereby positioning the cover in the use position (see Figure 4) Referring further to Figures 3 and 5, in this embodiment, the portable electronic device further includes a biasing member for biasing the cover 5 toward the non-use position. In this embodiment, the biasing member includes a V-shaped torsion spring 6 disposed in the housing 1 and having opposite ends 61, 62 anchored respectively to the rod-mounting seat 522 of the protrusion unit 52 of the cover 5 and a wall portion llo3ofthefirsthousingpartllOfthehOuSiflgldefining the slide groove 15 (see Figure 2) In use, the end portion 513 of the cover body 51 of the cover 5 abuts against the computer device.
Subsequently, the housing 1 is pushed toward the computer device such that the cover 1 is pushed by the computer device to move from the non-use position to the use position. During transition fromthenon-useposition to the use position, the USB terminal 2 is inserted into auSBport (not shown) ofthecomputerdevice. Therefore, an operation of exposing the USB terminal 2 prior to insertion of the USB terminal 2 into the USB port of the computer device as mentioned in the prior art is not required, thereby resulting in convenience during use.
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the second preferred embodiment of a portable electronic device according to this invention, which is a modification of the first preferred embodiment. Unlike the previous embodiment, the second side portion 12' of the housing 1' includes a second wall 120 that has an outer surface 122. The second body portion 512 of the cover body 51 of the cover 5 is mounted slidably on the outer surface 122 of the second wall 120 of the second side portion 12' of the housing 1' In this embodiment, the positioning unit positions the cover 5 in the non-use position and the use position.
The positioning unit includes first, second, third and fourth engaging protrusions 43, 44, 43', 44', first, second, third and fourth engaging grooves 45, 46, 45' 46', and first and second auxiliary engaging grooves 47, 47' . The first and second engaging protrusions 43, 44 are disposed on the groove-bottom wall portion 1101 of the housing 1, and are spaced apart from each other in the first direction (X), wherein the first engaging protrusion 43 is distal from the USB terminal 2 while the second engaging protrusion 44 is adjacent to the USB terminal 2. The third and fourth engaging protrusions 43' , 44' are disposed on the outer surface 122 of the second wall 120 of the second side portion 12' of the housing 1', and are spaced apart from each other in the first direction (X) , wherein the third engaging protrusion 43' is distal from the USB terminal 2 while the fourth engaging protrusion 44' is adjacent to the USB terminal 2. The first and second engaging grooves 45, 46, and the first auxiliary engaging groove 47 are formed in the first body portion 511 of the cover body 51 of the cover 5, and are spaced apart from each other in the first direction (X) . The third and fourth engaging grooves 45', 46', and the second auxiliary engaginggroove47' areformedinthesecondbodyportion 512 of the cover body 51 of the cover 5, and are spaced apart from each other in the first direction (X) . When the cover 5 is at the non-use position, as shown in Figure 6, the second and fourth engaging grooves 46, 46' engage respectively the second and fourth engaging protrusions 44, 44' , thereby positioning the cover 5 in the non-use position. When the cover 5 is at the use position, as shown in Figure 7, the first engaging groove 45 and the first auxiliary engaging groove 47 engage respectively the first and second engaging protrusions 43, 44, and the third engaging groove 45' and the second auxiliary engaging groove 47' engage respectively the third and fourth engaging protrusions 43', 44', thereby positioning the cover 5 in the use position.
It is noted that the biasing member is not required in this embodiment. As a result, the cover 5 must be manually moved from the use position to the non-use position after the USB terminal 2 is removed from the computer device.

Claims (14)

  1. CLAIMS: 1. A portable electronic device comprising: a housing; a USB terminal disposed fixedly in said housing and extendingoutwardlyofsaidhousinginafirstdirection; and a cover disposed slidably on said housing and movable relative to said housing in the first direction between a use position and a non-use position, said cover having an opening; wherein said USB terminal is covered by said cover when said cover is at the non-use position, and extends outwardly of said cover via said opening when said cover is at the use position.
  2. 2. The portable electronic device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said cover includes: a cover body having parallel first and second body portions spaced apart from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and mounted movably and respectively to first and second side portions of said housing opposite to each other in the second direction, and a third body portion interconnecting ends of said first and second body portions and formed with said opening.
  3. 3. The portable electronic device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said housing has an end portion mounted with said USB terminal thereon and formed with an insertion slot disposed adjacent to said second side portion and permitting extension of said second body portion of said cover body of said cover into said housing therethrough.
  4. 4. The portable electronic device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein: said first side portion of said housing has a side surface formed with a slide groove extending in the first direction; and said cover further has a protrusion unit projecting from said first body portion of said cover body and into said slide groove, and engaging slidably said slide groove.
  5. 5. The portable electronic device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said protrusion unit of said cover includes a rod portion extending integrally from said first body portion of said cover body, and a rod-mounting seat mounted with said rod portion thereon and engaging slidably said slide groove.
  6. 6. The portable electronic device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said first side portion of said housing includes: a first wall having an outer surface that is formed with a recess for receiving movably said first body portion of said cover body of said cover, said recess having an open end adjacent to said USB terminal and permitting extension of said first body portion of said cover body of said cover into said recess therethrough, and a closed end opposite to said open end in the first direction, said recess being defined by a groove-bottom wall portion having said side surface, and a surrounding wall portion; and a plurality of position-limiting blocks disposed fixedly on said outer surface of said first wall and extending above said recess so that said first body portion of said cover body of said cover is restricted to move in said recess.
  7. 7. The portable electronic device as claimed in Claim 6, further comprisingapositioningunit forpositioning said cover in at least the use position.
  8. 8. The portable electronic device as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said positioning unit includes an engaging protrusion disposed on said groove-bottom wall portion of said housing, and an engaging groove formed in said first body portion of said cover body of said cover and engaging said engaging protrusion when said cover is at the use position, thereby positioning said cover in the use position.
  9. 9. The portable electronic device as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said positioning unit includes: first and second engaging protrusions disposed on said groove-bottom wall portion of said housing and spaced apart from each other in the first direction, said first engaging protrusion being distal from said USB terminal, said second engaging protrusion being adjacent to said USB terminal; and first and second engaging grooves formed in said first body portion of said cover body of said cover and spaced apart from each other in the first direction, said first engaging groove engaging said first engaging protrusion when said cover is at the use position, thereby positioning said cover in the use position, said second engaging groove engaging said second engaging protrusion when said cover is at the non-use position, thereby positioning said cover in the non-use position.
  10. 10. The portable electronic device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein: said second side portion of said housing includes a second wall that has an outer surface; and said positioning unit further includes third and fourth engaging protrusions disposed on said outer surface of said second wall of said housing and spaced apart from each other in the first direction, said third engaging protrusion being distal from said USB terminal, said fourth engaging protrusion being adjacent to said USB terminal, and third and fourth engaging grooves formed in said second body portion of said cover body of said cover and spaced apart from each other in the first direction, said third engaging groove engaging said third engaging protrusion when said cover is at the use position, said fourth engaging groove engaging said fourth engaging protrusion when said cover is at the non-use position.
  11. 11. The portable electronic device as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said positioning unit further includes: a first auxiliary engaging groove formed in said first bodyportionofsaidcoverbodyofsaidcoverandengaging said second engaging protrusion when said cover is at the use position; and a second auxiliary engaging groove formed in said second body portion of said cover body of said cover and engaging said fourth engaging protrusion when said cover is at the use position.
  12. 12. The portable electronic device as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a biasing member for biasing said cover toward the non-use position.
  13. 13. The portable electronic device as claimed in Claim 12, wherein saidbiasingmember includesatorsion spring disposed in said housing and having opposite ends anchored respectively to said cover and said housing.
  14. 14. The portable electronic device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures of the accompanying drawings.
GB0815001A 2008-08-15 2008-08-15 Portable electronic device having a sliding cover to protect a USB terminal. Withdrawn GB2462658A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0815001A GB2462658A (en) 2008-08-15 2008-08-15 Portable electronic device having a sliding cover to protect a USB terminal.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0815001A GB2462658A (en) 2008-08-15 2008-08-15 Portable electronic device having a sliding cover to protect a USB terminal.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0815001D0 GB0815001D0 (en) 2008-09-24
GB2462658A true GB2462658A (en) 2010-02-17

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GB0815001A Withdrawn GB2462658A (en) 2008-08-15 2008-08-15 Portable electronic device having a sliding cover to protect a USB terminal.

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103661134A (en) * 2013-10-31 2014-03-26 富卓汽车内饰（安徽）有限公司 Automotive USB flash disk fixing device
CN104392743A (en) * 2014-11-14 2015-03-04 四川神琥科技有限公司 Anti-theft wireless USB flash disk with voice recognition function
CN105611754A (en) * 2014-11-18 2016-05-25 天津承目科技有限公司 USB flash drive

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030103369A1 (en) * 2001-12-05 2003-06-05 Speed Tech Corp. Extensible/retractable and storable portable memory device
US20040212966A1 (en) * 2002-12-02 2004-10-28 Fisher Ken Scott Integral computer connector cover
KR20050008937A (en) * 2003-07-14 2005-01-24 현대자동차주식회사 Door window regulator mounting means of vehicle
US20070184685A1 (en) * 2000-01-06 2007-08-09 Paul Hsueh Universal serial bus flash drive with deploying and retracting functionalities
CN2935382Y (en) * 2006-06-16 2007-08-15 谷崧精密工业股份有限公司 Improved structure for USB mobile disk
US7301596B1 (en) * 2006-12-29 2007-11-27 Sandisk Corporation Electronic device with dual slide actuator that extends and retracts a connector
US20080032561A1 (en) * 2000-01-06 2008-02-07 Super Talent Electronics Inc. Slim memory card with retractable protection shield

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070184685A1 (en) * 2000-01-06 2007-08-09 Paul Hsueh Universal serial bus flash drive with deploying and retracting functionalities
US20080032561A1 (en) * 2000-01-06 2008-02-07 Super Talent Electronics Inc. Slim memory card with retractable protection shield
US20030103369A1 (en) * 2001-12-05 2003-06-05 Speed Tech Corp. Extensible/retractable and storable portable memory device
US20040212966A1 (en) * 2002-12-02 2004-10-28 Fisher Ken Scott Integral computer connector cover
KR20050008937A (en) * 2003-07-14 2005-01-24 현대자동차주식회사 Door window regulator mounting means of vehicle
CN2935382Y (en) * 2006-06-16 2007-08-15 谷崧精密工业股份有限公司 Improved structure for USB mobile disk
US7301596B1 (en) * 2006-12-29 2007-11-27 Sandisk Corporation Electronic device with dual slide actuator that extends and retracts a connector

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103661134A (en) * 2013-10-31 2014-03-26 富卓汽车内饰（安徽）有限公司 Automotive USB flash disk fixing device
CN104392743A (en) * 2014-11-14 2015-03-04 四川神琥科技有限公司 Anti-theft wireless USB flash disk with voice recognition function
CN105611754A (en) * 2014-11-18 2016-05-25 天津承目科技有限公司 USB flash drive

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