JP2016134363A - USB connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a USB connector device including the functions of antitheft, fall prevention, and the like, of a USB module having a general purpose USB plug conforming to USB standard.SOLUTION: A USB connector device 10A, where the push claw 31 of a receptacle connector 30 is maintained in engagement state with the lock hole 21 of a plug connector 20 by elasticity, when the plug connector 20 conforming to the USB standard is fitted to and connected with the receptacle connector 30, has a support member 40A disposed while abutting against the push claw 31, and capable of constraining movement thereof from the lock hole 21 of the push claw 31 in the release direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a USB connector device having functions such as theft prevention and fall prevention of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) module.

For example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose techniques for preventing plugging of the USB module.
Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a lock device and a release device are incorporated in a USB port. In the structure described in Patent Document 1, when the USB plug is inserted into the USB port, the USB plug is inserted while expanding the lock device, and when the USB plug is inserted all the way into the hole of the USB plug, the lock device claw is fixed. Is done. Thereby, inadvertent removal of the USB plug can be prevented. The USB plug can be easily removed from the USB port by operating the release device to remove the claw of the lock device from the hole of the USB plug.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a connector for preventing disconnection in which a holding part that can be adjusted according to the width and height of the connector cover on the connection cable side and a guide part that can slide in the vertical direction of the housing part are integrated. A connector disconnection prevention mechanism is disclosed that is configured so as to be attached to a predetermined position of a housing portion in accordance with a cable position with a fixing part and configured so as to prevent the connector cable from being pulled out.

  Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a USB connector device that can electrically recognize the presence or absence of a lock. In this USB connector device, after the USB connector is inserted into the receptor, the control unit drives the motor to advance the fixed unit into the receptor and lock the fixed unit to the USB connector. Is obtained, the motor is held in a locked state, and when a USB connector removal command is received, the motor is driven in the return direction to retract the fixing portion from the receptor and release the locking to the USB connector. .

JP 2006-133920 A JP 2006-127905 A JP 2013-12311 A

However, the structure described in Patent Document 1 requires another mechanism for operating the release device. In addition, when a plurality of USB ports are arranged, it is difficult to install a device for operating the release device. Furthermore, the structure is complicated, and wiring and the like become complicated.
Further, in the connector disconnection preventing mechanism described in Patent Document 2, there are various and various shapes and dimensions of the USB modules and USB cables to be mounted, and the USB modules and USB cables that can be mounted are limited. Furthermore, when attached to a product or the like, the appearance of the product is impaired.
Further, in the USB connector device described in Patent Document 3, a motor drive device is used and a control unit or the like is required to prevent the USB connector from being disconnected. For this reason, the structure is complicated and expensive in terms of cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a USB connector device having functions such as theft prevention and fall prevention of a USB module having a general-purpose USB plug compliant with the USB standard. Objective.

  According to the present invention, when a plug connector conforming to the USB standard is fitted and connected to the receptacle connector, the pressing claw portion of the receptacle connector is maintained in the engaged state by the elasticity in the lock hole portion of the plug connector so that the initial lock is achieved. The USB connector device includes a support member that is disposed in contact with the pressing claw portion and is capable of restraining movement of the pressing claw portion from the lock hole portion in a releasing direction.

The position of the lock hole of the plug connector of the USB module and the position of the pressing claw of the receptacle connector are standardized. The pressing claw part of this receptacle connector is configured by a leaf spring, and when the plug connector is fitted and connected to the receptacle connector, the pressing claw part is urged toward the lock hole part. And a state in which a part of the lock hole is engaged (initial lock). However, the urging force by the leaf spring of the pressing claw is weak enough to easily pull out the plug connector.
The USB connector device of the present invention uses the lock hole portion and the pressing claw portion that are provided in advance in such a standardized plug connector and receptacle connector, and allows the plug connector and the receptacle connector to be fitted by the support member. The state is firmly maintained, and the USB module is fixed by engaging the pressing claw portion and the lock hole portion by restricting the movement of the pressing claw portion in the releasing direction by the support member at the time of initial lock. I am going to do that. Therefore, it is possible to give a retaining function to the USB connector devices corresponding to all standardized USB modules. Further, since the support member is configured to abut against the pressing claw portion of the receptacle connector and restrain the movement of the pressing claw portion in the release direction, the USB connector device is provided inside the casing on the receptacle connector side. The design of the product (electronic device) is not impaired.

  The USB connector device according to the present invention includes an operation member capable of operating the support member from the outside of a casing in which the receptacle connector is provided, and the operation member moves the support claw part with the support member. It is possible to select a restricted posture and a posture in which the movement restriction of the pressing claw portion is released.

  With the operation member, the support member can be easily operated from the outside of the housing of the electronic device including the receptacle connector.

In the USB connector device of the present invention, the operated portion of the operating member is disposed in the same direction as the opening of the receptacle connector.
On the opening side of the receptacle connector in the housing of the electronic device, that is, on the side where the USB module is mounted, an operation space for mounting (inserting / removing) the USB module is always secured. Therefore, in the USB connector device of the present invention, the operated portion of the operating member is arranged in the same direction as the opening of the receptacle connector, and can be operated from the opening side of the receptacle connector. Accordingly, it is not necessary to secure a space for operating the operation member separately from the operation space for mounting the USB module, and thus the space for installing the electronic device can be saved. Further, since the mounting of the USB module and the retaining operation by the USB connector device can be performed from the same direction of the electronic device, the retaining operation of the USB module can be performed more easily.

  According to the present invention, since the general-purpose USB plug and USB receptacle compliant with the USB standard are used to configure the plug removal prevention device, functions such as theft prevention and fall prevention for all USB modules are configured. be able to.

It is a perspective view of the electronic device carrying the USB connector apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the electronic device shown in FIG. It is a principal part cross-sectional perspective view of FIG. It is a perspective view of a USB module. It is a perspective view of a receptacle connector. It is a perspective view of a support member, (a) is a general view, (b) is a principal part sectional view. It is a perspective view of a rotating cam member. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the operation groove of a rotation cam member, (a) is a hexagonal hole, (b) is an example of star shape. It is a cross-sectional perspective view explaining the USB connector apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a main part of FIG. 9. It is a cross-sectional perspective view explaining the USB connector apparatus of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is A arrow view shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of a support member, (a) is a general view, (b) is a principal part sectional view.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a USB connector device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an electronic device 100A including the USB connector device 10A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. For example, the electronic device includes a USB port 102 (receptacle connector) such as a personal computer (PC).
The USB connector device 10A is provided in an electronic device 100A having such a USB port 102, and is adjacent to the receptacle connector 30 of the USB port 102 inside the housing 101A of the electronic device 100A as shown in FIGS. Provided. The USB connector device 10A prevents the USB module 200 from being disconnected from the USB port 102 when the receptacle connector 30 and the plug connector 20 of the USB module 200 are connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 4, the USB module 200 includes a plug connector 20 that conforms to the USB standard. The plug connector 20 is provided with a pair of lock hole portions 21 formed in square holes on the top surface portion.
Further, the USB port 102 of the electric device 100A includes a receptacle connector 30 that conforms to the USB standard. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of pressing claws 31 formed by leaf springs are provided on the top surface of the receptacle connector 30 at positions corresponding to the lock holes 21 of the plug connector 20.
The position of the lock hole portion 21 of the plug connector 20 and the position of the pressing claw portion 31 of the receptacle connector 30 are standardized. When the plug connector 20 is fitted and connected to the receptacle connector 30, the pressing claw portion 31 is It is urged toward the lock hole 21 by its elasticity. For this reason, during normal use, a state in which a part of the pressing claw portion 31 and the lock hole portion 21 are engaged is maintained (initial lock). Note that the urging force of the pressing claw 31 by the leaf spring is weak enough that the plug connector 20 can be easily pulled out.

  2 and 3, the USB connector device 10A includes a support member 40A (see FIG. 6) and a rotating cam member 50A (see FIG. 7) that is an operation member for operating the support member 40A. Have. The support member 40A is formed of a metal plate, and includes a frame portion 41 fixed to the housing 101A of the electronic device 100A, a pair of bearing hole portions 42 that rotatably support the rotating cam member 50A, and a pressing claw of the receptacle connector 30. The arm portion 43A is formed with a pair of protrusions 43a at positions corresponding to the portion 31. Further, the arm portion 43A is configured by a leaf spring, and a concave portion 43b is provided on the tip side of the top surface.

  The rotating cam member 50A is configured such that the rotating shaft portion 51 and the rotating cam portion 52 that contacts the top surface of the arm portion 43A are integrally provided, and the rotating shaft portion 51 is engaged with the bearing hole portion 42. By being made, it is provided so as to be rotatable around its axis. Moreover, the axial direction of the rotating shaft part 51 is arrange | positioned in parallel with the fitting direction of the plug connector 20 and the receptacle connector 30, as shown in FIG.2 and FIG.3. Further, a linear operation groove 53A (operated portion) is provided on the head of the rotating shaft portion 51 (the left end surface in FIG. 7), and this operation groove 53A is connected to the opening of the receptacle connector 30. Arranged in the same direction. Then, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the rotary cam member 50A can be rotated by inserting and rotating the tip of a tool 300 (here, a minus driver) into the operation groove 53A.

  The housing 101A of the electronic device 100A is provided with an insertion hole 103 for inserting the tip of the tool 300 and rotating the rotary cam member 50A into the front cover 105A and the chassis 108A where the USB port 102 is opened. ing. Therefore, the rotating cam member 50A can be operated from the outside of the housing 101A through the insertion hole 103, and can be further operated in the same direction as the mounting of the USB module 200, that is, from the opening side of the receptacle connector 30. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the cam surface of the rotating cam portion 52 provided in the rotating cam member 50A is provided in a rectangular shape by a corner surface 52a and a flat surface 52b, and by rotating the rotating cam member 50A, a corner surface is obtained. 52a and the plane 52b are alternately arranged toward the arm portion 43A. The radial distance from the rotation center of the rotating cam portion 52 to the plane 52b is smaller than the radial distance from the rotation center to the tip of the corner surface 52a, and the rotation locus of the plane 52b is larger than the rotation locus circle of the corner surface 52a. The circle is smaller.

  When the corner surface 52a of the rotating cam portion 52 is disposed toward the arm portion 43A of the support member 40A, the corner surface 52a abuts on the arm portion 43A and pushes the arm portion 43A downward. Thereby, the protrusion 43a of the arm portion 43A is disposed in contact with the pressing claw portion 31, and restrains the movement of the pressing claw portion 31 from the lock hole portion 21 in the release direction (upper side in FIG. 2). Thereby, the USB module 200 can be fixed to the USB port 102 by the engagement between the pressing claw portion 31 and the lock hole portion 21.

  On the other hand, when the flat surface 52b of the rotating cam portion 52 is disposed toward the arm portion 43A, the flat surface 52b is disposed away from the arm portion 43A, and the pressed arm portion 43A returns to the original position. As a result, the arm portion 43A is disposed away from the pressing claw portion 31 and the restraining of the pressing claw portion 31 by the arm portion 43A is released, so that the pressing claw portion 31 moves in the release direction from the lock hole portion 21. You can move freely. Therefore, the USB module 200 can be easily pulled out.

As described above, in the USB connector device 10A, the rotation of the rotary cam member 50A causes the arm portion 43A to have a posture in which the movement of the pressing claw portion 31 is restrained and a posture in which the movement restriction of the pressing claw portion 31 is released. The USB module 200 can be locked and released.
In the USB connector device 10A, every time the rotating cam member 50A is rotated by 45 °, the restraining and releasing of the pressing claw portion 31 are alternately switched as the arm portion 43A alternately moves in the vertical direction. It has become. Further, the concave portion 43b provided on the top surface of the arm portion 43A can make the operator feel a click when the corner surface 52a is fitted into the concave portion 43b (by meshing).

  When mounting the USB module 200 on the electronic device 100A including the USB connector device 10A configured as described above, the rotary cam member 50A is rotated by the tool 300 through the insertion hole 103 and pressed by the arm portion 43A. The urging | biasing to the nail | claw part 31 is cancelled | released. Then, the plug connector 20 of the USB module 200 is inserted into the receptacle connector 30 of the USB port 102 to be fitted and connected. In this state, when the rotary cam member 50A is rotated 45 ° by the tool 300, the corner surface 52a of the rotary cam portion 52 moves toward the concave portion 43b of the arm portion 43A, and the corner surface 52a is fitted into the concave portion 43b. Then, the arm portion 43A is moved downward, and the pressing claw portion 31 is biased downward. Accordingly, the arm portion 43 </ b> A restrains the upward movement of the pressing claw portion 31, and the pressing claw portion 31 is held in a state of being engaged with the lock hole portion 21. When the operator rotates the rotary cam member 50A, the operator can know from the click feeling that the corner surface 52a is fitted in the recess 43b of the arm portion 43A. By stopping, the locking operation can be easily performed.

  Further, when removing the USB module 200 from the USB port 102, the rotating cam member 50A is rotated again, and the corner surface 52a of the rotating cam portion 52 is retracted from the recess 43b of the arm portion 43A. Thereby, the urging | biasing to the lock hole part 21 of the pressing claw part 31 by the arm part 43A can be cancelled | released. Since the pressing claw portion 31 is designed in advance to exert a biasing force toward the lock hole portion 21, after the arm portion 43 </ b> A is retracted upward and the biasing to the pressing claw portion 31 is released. In addition, the state in which the pressing claw portion 31 and the lock hole portion 21 are partially engaged is maintained. However, since the urging force of the pressing claw portion 31 is very small as compared with the restraining force by the arm portion 43A, after the arm portion 43A is retreated upward and the restraining of the pressing claw portion 31 is released, the pressing claw portion 31 can freely move from the lock hole portion 21 in the release direction (upward). Therefore, the USB module 200 can be easily pulled out from the USB port 102.

As described above, the USB connector device 10A uses the lock hole portion 21 and the pressing claw portion 31 provided in advance in the standardized plug connector 20 and the receptacle connector 30, and the plug connector 20 by the support member 40A. And the receptacle connector 30 are firmly maintained. At the time of initial locking, the USB module 200 is attached to the USB port 102 by the engagement of the pressing claw 31 and the lock hole 21 by restricting the movement of the pressing claw 31 in the releasing direction by the support member 40A. It is supposed to be fixed to the state.
Therefore, the USB connector device 10A corresponding to all the standardized USB modules 200 can be provided with a retaining function such as theft prevention and fall prevention. Further, since the support member 40A is configured to abut against the pressing claw portion 31 of the receptacle connector 30 and restrain the movement of the pressing claw portion 31 in the release direction, the USB connector device 10A is connected to the receptacle connector 30 side. The electronic device 100A can be provided inside the housing 101A, and the design of the product (electronic device 100A) is not impaired.

  Further, the USB connector device 10A includes a rotating cam member 50A (operation member) capable of operating the support member 40A, and the support member 40A can be easily operated from the outside of the housing 101A. Further, the operation groove 53A (operated portion) of the rotating cam member 50A is disposed in the same direction as the opening of the receptacle connector 30 and can be operated from the opening side of the receptacle connector 30. Since it is not necessary to secure a space for operating the rotating cam member 50A separately from the operation space for performing the operation, the installation space of the electronic device 100A can be saved. Further, since the mounting of the USB module 200 and the retaining operation by the USB connector device 10A can be performed from the same direction of the electric device 100A, the retaining operation of the USB module 200 can be performed more easily.

  In the USB connector device 10A of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the operation groove 53A into which the tip of a flathead screwdriver can be inserted is provided in the head of the rotating shaft portion 51. ), The shape of the operation groove 53B can be formed in a hexagonal hole, and the rotary cam member 50B can be rotated by a hexagon wrench. Further, like the rotating cam member 50C shown in FIG. 8B, the operation groove 53C is formed in a special shape such as a star shape so that others cannot easily release the lock. It is also possible.

  9 to 12 show a USB connector device according to another embodiment of the present invention. In these embodiments, the same components as those of the first embodiment are used for the USB port receptacle connector and the USB module plug connector compliant with the USB standard, so that the description thereof is omitted. Elements common to those in the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

The USB connector device 10B of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is disposed in contact with the pressing claw portion 31 of the receptacle connector 30 and moves the pressing claw portion 31 from the lock hole portion 21 in the release direction. The support member 40B that can be restrained is configured by a part of the housing 101B of the electronic device 100B. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a portion of the chassis 108B of the housing 101B is cut and raised to form a crank shape, and the arm portion 43B of the support member 40B is formed integrally with the chassis 108B. ing. The USB connector device 10B includes a bolt 60 that is an operation member for operating the support member 40B from the outside of the housing 101B. The bolt 60 restrains the support member 40B from moving the pressing claw portion 31. It is possible to select a posture and a posture in which the movement restriction of the pressing claw portion 31 is released.
Specifically, it is possible to restrain the movement of the pressing claw portion 31 by moving the arm portion 43B of the support member 40B downward by pushing it with the tip of the bolt 60. The state in which the USB module 200 is attached to the USB port 102 by the engagement between the pressing claw 31 and the lock hole 21 by restricting the movement of the pressing claw 31 in the releasing direction by the arm 43B in this manner. Can be fixed to. Further, by retracting the bolt 60 upward and releasing the restraint of the pressing claw portion 31 by the arm portion 43B, the pressing claw portion 31 can freely move upward, so the USB module 200 Can be easily pulled out from the USB port 102.

  The axial direction of the bolt 60 is arranged orthogonal to the fitting direction of the plug connector 20 and the receptacle connector 30 as shown in FIGS. The housing 101B of the electronic device 100B is provided with an insertion hole 104 for operating the bolt 60 by inserting the tip of the tool 300 in the top plate portion of the housing 101B. Therefore, the bolt 60 can be operated from the outside of the housing 101 </ b> B through the insertion hole 104.

  Specifically, when the USB module 200 is connected to the USB port 102, the tip of the tool 300 is inserted from the insertion hole 104 provided in the top plate portion of the housing 101B, and the bolt 60 is loosened. Then, the plug connector 20 of the USB module 200 is fitted and connected to the receptacle connector 30 of the USB port 102. Next, the bolt 60 is tightened, and the arm portion 43B is pushed downward by the tip of the bolt 60, thereby pressing the pressing claw portion 31 and restraining the movement. As a result, the engagement between the pressing claw portion 31 and the lock hole portion 21 is maintained, and the USB module 200 can be fixed to the USB port 102.

  When removing the USB module 200 from the USB port 102, the bolt 60 is loosened. Along with this, the bolt 60 moves upward, the arm portion 43B returns (retreats) upward, and the urging of the pressing claw portion 31 by the arm portion 43B is released. Therefore, the pressing claw portion 31 can freely move in the release direction (upward) from the lock hole portion 21, so that the USB module 200 can be easily pulled out from the USB port 102.

  The USB connector device 100C according to the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is arranged in contact with the pressing claw portion 31 of the receptacle connector 30 as in the case of the first and second embodiments. A support member 40C capable of restraining movement of the portion 31 from the lock hole portion 21 in the release direction is provided. Further, in the USB connector device 100C, an operation member for operating the support member 40C from the outside of the housing 101C of the electronic device 100C is configured by the slide knob 70. Then, the slide knob 70 moves the arm portion 43C of the support member 40C forward and backward with respect to the pressing claw portion 31, so that the support member 40C is restrained from moving the pressing claw portion 31 and the pressing claw portion 31. It is possible to select a posture in which the movement restriction is released.

  The top plate portion of the housing 101C of the electronic device 100C is provided with a guide hole 106 for sliding the slide knob 70, and the operator moves the operation portion of the slide knob 70 along the guide hole 106. The USB module 200 can be locked and released from the outside of the housing 101C. A counterbore 107 is provided around the guide hole 106 on the top surface of the housing 101C, and the operation portion of the slide knob 70 is provided lower than the top surface of the housing 101C. For this reason, when the operator operates the slide knob 70, it is necessary to press it with the belly of the finger, and the slide knob 70 is not operated carelessly.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the support member 40 </ b> C is provided with an arm portion 43 </ b> C by a leaf spring, and a protrusion 43 d that protrudes upward at the tip of the arm portion 43 </ b> C. The slide knob 70 is provided with a pressing projection 71 that abuts against the projection 43d and projects downward.

  In the USB connector device 10C configured as described above, when the slide knob 70 is moved to the opening side (left side in FIG. 12) of the USB port 102, the pressing convex portion 71 and the arm portion 43C of the slide knob 70 are moved. The protrusion 43d comes into contact with the arm 43C, and the arm 43C is pushed downward. At this time, the pressing claw portion 31 is pressed downward by the projection 43a of the arm portion 43C, and the movement of the pressing claw portion 31 is restrained. As a result, the engagement between the pressing claw portion 31 and the lock hole portion 21 is maintained, and the USB module 200 can be fixed to the USB port 102.

  Further, when the slide knob 70 is moved to the back side (right side in FIG. 12) of the USB port 102, the pressing convex portion 71 of the slide knob 70 is detached from the protruding portion 43d of the arm portion 43C, and the arm portion 43C is returned upward. Can be made. Thereby, restraint of the pressing claw part 31 by the projection part 43a of the arm part 43C is cancelled | released. Therefore, the pressing claw portion 31 can freely move upward, so that the USB module 200 can be easily pulled out from the USB port 102.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the thing of the structure of the said embodiment, In a detailed structure, it is possible to add a various change in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

  10A, 10B, 10C ... USB connector device, 20 ... plug connector, 21 ... lock hole, 30 ... receptacle connector, 31 ... pressing claw, 40A, 40B, 40C ... support member, 41 ... frame, 42 ... bearing hole Part, 43A, 43B, 43C ... arm part, 43a ... projection part, 43b ... concave part, 43d ... projection part, 50A, 50B, 50C ... rotating cam member, 51 ... rotating shaft part, 52 ... rotating cam part, 52a ... corner Surface, 52b ... Flat surface, 53A, 53B, 53C ... Operation groove, 60 ... Bolt, 70 ... Slide knob, 71 ... Pressing convex part, 101A, 101B, 101C ... Housing, 102 ... USB port, 103, 104 ... Insertion hole 105A, 105B, 105C ... front cover, 106 ... guide hole, 107 ... counterbore, 108A, 108B, 08C ... chassis, 200 ... USB module, 300A, 300B ... tool

Claims (3)

When a plug connector conforming to the USB standard is fitted and connected to a receptacle connector, the USB connector is initially locked while the pressing claw portion of the receptacle connector is maintained in the engaged state by its elasticity in the lock hole portion of the plug connector A device,
A USB connector device having a support member arranged in contact with the pressing claw portion and capable of restraining movement of the pressing claw portion from the lock hole portion in a release direction. The support member includes an operation member that can be operated from the outside of a housing in which the receptacle connector is provided,
2. The USB connector device according to claim 1, wherein the operation member can select the support member in a posture in which movement of the pressing claw portion is restricted and a posture in which movement restriction of the pressing claw portion is released.   The connector device according to claim 2, wherein the operated portion of the operating member is disposed in the same direction as the opening of the receptacle connector.

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