JP3066995U - Hub for computer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) An object of the present invention is to provide a hub whose connection fitting portion is hardly damaged by an external force acting on a connector portion of the hub. A hub for a computer having a hub-side connector member that is fitted and connected to a cable-side connector member from a plurality of computers and a plurality of peripheral devices, wherein the hub receives a cable-side connector member. Hub-side connector member 2
Numeral 1 is disposed inside the hub body rather than the connector fitting window to form a computer hub. Further, the connector fitting window 15 is formed so as to support the outer peripheral portion of the cable side connector 30 when the cable side connector member 31 and the hub side connector member 21 are fitted and connected inside the main body of the hub. Constitute. Therefore, it is possible to provide a hub in which the fitting portion of the two connectors does not receive external force such as stiffness, prevents damage to the connector connecting portion, and has enhanced resistance to external force.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 According to the present invention, a plurality of computers are connected to mediate information communication between the plurality of computers, or a plurality of peripheral devices are connected to the computer to communicate information between the plurality of peripheral devices and the computer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a computer hub for preventing a connector member from being damaged by an external force such as a twisting force.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”) include a parallel port and a serial port for connecting peripheral devices such as a mouse and keyboard, printers, scanners, external storage devices, and modems. Various peripheral device connector terminals are provided. However, the types and number of connectors that can be arranged on the PC main body are limited, and when the number of peripheral devices to be used increases, all of them are connected to the PC main body (particularly a notebook PC with a small main body size). It becomes difficult. Therefore, a hub (concentrator) that receives cable connections from these plural peripheral devices and mediates the connection to the PC body is used. An example of such a hub interface is a USB (Universal Serial Bus).

[0003] Also, when connecting a plurality of PCs to each other and constructing a local area network, it is difficult to provide connectors on the back of the PCs by the number of PCs to be interconnected and to connect these to each other. Have difficulty. Therefore, a hub that receives cable connections from a plurality of PCs and mediates communication between the connected PCs is used. Such a hub interface includes, for example, 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX.

In these interfaces, the connector types of devices connected to a hub (or connected to a PC) are unified. For example, in a USB interface, a plurality of peripheral devices have the same type regardless of the device type. It is configured to allow shared connection to the connector.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 However, the conventional method of hub products has been developed as a network connection device, so the main method is connection using a telephone plug connector. The hub product developed on this extension is the connection of the hub side connector members. Since the end surface is exposed on the outer surface of the hub case, there is a problem that the end surface is easily damaged by an external force acting directly on the hub-side connector member or an external force acting on the cable-side connector, such as a coiling force. Was.

For example, FIG. 5A shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional USB hub product. The hub is provided with a hub-side connector member (receptacle) 21 connected to a cable-side connector 30 from a peripheral device. The board assembly 20 having the function of operating as a hub is protected by an outer case 60 and fixedly disposed in the case. The outer case 60 is formed with a window 65 for exposing the receptacle 21 to the outside of the outer case 60, and the shield case end face 25 of the receptacle 21 is configured to be substantially flush with the outer surface of the outer case 60. Was.

The cable-side connector 30 includes a cable-side connector member (plug) 31 to be connected and fitted to the receptacle 21, a cable 36 electrically connected to a contact (contact) of the plug 31, and a cable 36. A plug body and a connector body 32 are provided in the middle, and are integrally molded and fixedly supported with the plug 31 and the cable 36, and serve as a gripping part when the connector is connected to the receptacle 21.

In the standard dimensions of both connector members, the dimension X in the connector connection direction of the plug 31 is configured to be larger than the fitting depth dimension Y of the receptacle 21 (so as to have a relationship of X> Y). As shown in FIG. 5 (b) when the connector is connected, the end face 35 of the body of the cable side connector protrudes from the end face of the outer case of the hub (the end face 25 of the shield case of the receptacle) and is connected. Was.

For this reason, in addition to a direct external force acting on the exposed receptacle 21, an external force acting on the connector cable 36 and an external force acting on the cable-side connector 30 at the time of connection of the connector are generated by the two connector members. The direct connection force acts on the fitting connection part, and the shield case of the receptacle 21 is deformed by such a direct external force and the kinking force, and the contacts of the plug 31 and the receptacle 21 are damaged, thereby causing breakage or poor conduction. There is a problem that a failure such as the above is likely to occur. This problem is not limited to the hub having the USB connector. For example, even in the case of a hub having a telephone plug-type connector such as the 100BASE-TX, the end face of the hub-side connector member (the end face 25 of the receptacle 21) may be a hub. This also occurred in the case of a connector that was exposed at the end of the outer case.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a computer hub having a high resistance to external forces without changing the standard dimensions of the connector.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a hub for a computer, which is a hub-side connector that is fitted and connected to a cable-side connector member (for example, a plug 31 in the embodiment) from a plurality of computers and a plurality of peripheral devices. In a member having a member (for example, the receptacle 21 in the embodiment), the hub has a connector fitting window for receiving the cable side connector member, and the hub side connector member is located inside the main body of the hub rather than the connector fitting window. To form a computer hub.

[0012] According to the above configuration, the hub-side connector member is disposed inside the main body of the hub rather than the opening end face of the connector fitting window provided in the hub. It is inserted into the body of the hub from the opening end face of the window and is fitted and connected. Therefore, the connection end surface of the hub-side connector member is not exposed to the outside of the hub, and therefore, the hub-side connector member is not damaged by a force directly acting on the hub from the outside.

The connector fitting window is provided when the cable-side connector member and the hub-side connector member are fitted and connected inside the main body of the hub (for example, a plug in the embodiment). 31 and the outer periphery of the connector body 32) to form a computer hub.

[0014] According to the above configuration, the connector member of the cable-side connector is inserted from the connector fitting window into the inside of the hub body, and is fitted and connected to the hub-side connector member inside the hub body. The outer peripheral portion is supported by the inner peripheral surface of the connector fitting window. Accordingly, the hub-side connector member is not damaged by the external force acting directly on the hub, and the external force such as bending or stiffening acting on the cable-side connector is prevented from being applied to the outer peripheral portion of the cable-side connector and the connector fitting window. The external force received by the mating portions of both connectors can be greatly reduced. Therefore, it is possible to provide a hub that prevents damage to the connector connection portion and has improved resistance to external force.

[0015] The connector fitting window is configured such that when the cable side connector member and the hub side connector member are fitted and connected inside the main body of the hub, the connector member formed on the cable side connector and the grip portion (for example, It is preferable that a step end face between the connector body 32 and the connector body 32 in the embodiment (for example, the connector body end face 35 in the embodiment) is formed to be substantially the same as the opening end face of the connector fitting window.

According to such a configuration, in addition to enhancing the aesthetics at the time of connecting the connector, when a bending force is applied to the cable side connector, the stepped end face and the opening end face of the connector window come into contact with each other. Can receive bending force. In addition, as described above, in addition to the above structure, the connector fitting window is formed so as to support the outer peripheral portion of the cable-side connector member, thereby providing a hub having improved resistance to external forces such as bending and stiffening. can do.

[0017] A receiving portion for receiving a grip portion of the cable-side connector is provided on the outer periphery of the opening of the connector fitting window, and the receiving portion fits the cable-side connector member and the hub-side connector member inside the main body of the hub. It is preferable that the connection portion be formed so as to support at least the distal end portion of the holding portion formed on the cable side connector when the connection is made.

According to the above configuration, when the cable-side connector is connected to the connector, at least the distal end of the grip portion formed on the connector is connected to the receiving portion provided on the outer periphery of the opening of the connector fitting window of the hub body. Supported. Therefore, not only bending force and squeezing force but also external forces such as compression and shearing can be received by the receiving portion and the grip portion of the connector, and the connecting portion of both connectors does not receive the power. Therefore, it is possible to provide a hub having a higher strength against external force.

[0019]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 4 illustrates a computer system using the hub according to the present invention. The hub 1 in the figure includes a personal computer (PC) body 100 and a plurality of PCs connected to the PC body. It is a USB interface hub that mediates connections with peripheral devices. The peripheral device connected to the hub 1 is not particularly limited as long as it has the above-mentioned interface. For example, as shown in the figure, input devices such as a keyboard 110, a mouse 120 or a scanner, and a communication device such as a modem 130 are provided. Communication device, an external storage device such as a floppy disk drive 140 or a hard disk drive, and an output device such as a printer 150.

FIG. 3 shows an external perspective view of the hub 1 in a preferred embodiment. Inside the outer case 10 of the hub 1, a cable-side connector 30 from a peripheral device and a cable-side connector from a PC main body are provided. A board assembly (20) having a hub-side connector member connected to a connector (hereinafter referred to as a "PC-side connector") 50 and having an operation function as a hub is fixedly provided. The outer case 10 (the front cover 10a, the bottom cover 10b, and the rear cover 10c) has four connector fitting windows 15, 15 ... for receiving the connector members (plugs) 31 of the cable side connector 30, and the PC side connector 50. A connector fitting window (not shown) for receiving the connector member (plug) 51 is provided.

In the USB interface, there are two types of connectors, a flat A-type connector and a square B-type connector. An A-type connector is provided at a receptacle (downstream port: cable side connector 30) of a peripheral device. A B-type connector is used for a port (upstream port: PC side connector 50) on the peripheral device side. The present invention can be applied to any of these types of ports. Hereinafter, the connection configuration of the cable-side connector 30 will be described as an example, and the configuration of the hub of the present invention will be described focusing on this fitting portion.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the connection fitting portion of the cable side connector 30 of the hub 1 when cut in the connector connection axis direction (connecting / detaching direction of the connector). ) And (b) show the state before and after the connection of the cable side connector 30, respectively.

First, the cable-side connector 30 is the same as that already described in the section of the prior art, and includes a cable-side connector member (plug) 31 that is connected and fitted to the receptacle 21 that is a hub-side connector member. A cable 36 electrically connected to the contacts of the plug 31, and the plug 31 and the cable 36, which are in the middle of the cable 36, are integrally molded and fixedly supported. And a body 32. A connector body end face 35 is formed between the plug 31 and the connector body 32.

A connector fitting window 15 provided on the outer case 10 of the hub 1 and receiving a plug 31 which is a fitting connection portion of the cable side connector 30 guides the insertion and removal of the plug 31 when the cable side connector is attached and detached. After the connection, a fitting guide portion 15b for supporting the outer periphery of the plug 31 is formed. Further, a board assembly 20 on which the receptacle 21 is mounted is fixedly disposed by fixing means (not shown) at a position deeper than the opening end face of the connector fitting window 15 thus formed (inside the main body of the hub).

The shape and dimensions of the connector fitting window 15 and the positional relationship between the connector fitting window 15 and the receptacle 21 are determined so that the connector fitting window 15 performs the above-described guide function and bearing function. The relative positional relationship between the two is defined in a direction perpendicular to the connection axis, and when the cable side connector 30 is connected, the position of the connector body end face 35 in the connector connection axis direction is the same as or slightly equal to the opening end face 15a of the connector fitting window. Is determined to be inside the opening end face, and is positioned and fixed.

When connecting the cable-side connector 30 to the hub 1 configured as described above, the plug 31 is inserted into the opening of the connector fitting window 15. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the plug 31 is guided by the guide surface 15 b of the connector fitting window 15, and the leading end is guided to the connection end 25 of the receptacle 21 disposed at the back of the connector fitting window. Then, the connector plug 32 and the receptacle 21 are electrically and mechanically connected to each other by gripping the connector body 32 and further pressing it in the connection axis direction.

When the two connector members are connected by this pressing, the step end surface 35 of the connector body moves toward the opening end surface 15a of the connector fitting window 15, and contacts the opening end surface 15a to notify the completion of the connection. It is kept in contact. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the plug 31 is held with a slight gap between the outer peripheral surface and the guide surface 15b of the connector fitting window 15 (in an ideal no-load state).

In the hub 1 configured as described above, the shearing force (the force acting in the direction of shifting the connector connection shaft in the vertical or horizontal direction) and the gyration force (connector connection) are exerted on the connected cable side connector 30. When an external force such as a force for rotating the connector 30 around the axis) is applied, the outer peripheral surface of the plug 31 and the guide surface 15b of the connector fitting window 15 abut to support the cable side connector 30, These loads receive these loads.

When a bending force (force acting in the direction in which the connector connection shaft is bent) acts on the cable-side connector 30, the cable-side connector 30 is supported by the guide surface 15 b in the same manner as described above, and the connector body end surface. It is also supported on the contact surface between the connector 35 and the opening end surface 15a of the connector fitting window, and receives a bending load at these contact portions.

Therefore, in the state where the connector is not connected, there is no external force acting directly on the outer peripheral portion of the hub 1, and further, the connector (a plurality of cable side connectors or PCs) connected to this hub is not received. Even if an external force such as bending, squeezing, or shearing acts via the side connector), the connection fitting portion of both connectors will receive the load by receiving these loads on the guide surface and the opening end surface. External force can be greatly reduced, and no failure such as breakage or poor conduction occurs in the connector.

Next, FIG. 2 shows another preferred embodiment of the hub according to the present invention. Similar to FIG. 1, a cross-sectional view taken along the connection axis direction of the connector is shown in FIG. The state before and after the connection of the connector 30 is shown in FIGS. The same components (for example, the cable-side connector 30 and the board assembly 20) as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and redundant description will be omitted.

The hub 2 in this embodiment is provided with a receiving portion 12 for receiving and holding the connector body 32 of the cable-side connector 30 around the opening of the connector fitting window 15 in the above embodiment.

The receiving portion 12 is formed by forming a concave portion (or a groove portion) having a concave shape in cross section in accordance with the shape of the grip portion 32 of the cable side connector in the outer case 11 of the hub 2, and connects the cable side connector 30. Then, the shape and dimensions and the relative positional relationship with the receptacle 21 are defined and configured such that the receiving portion 12 supports the distal end portion of the connector body 32. The supporting form may be such that it functions only when an external force is applied in the same manner as when it is supported by the guide section of the fitting window described above, or the receiving section 12 is connected to the connector body 32 when the connector is connected and fitted. It is also possible to adopt a form in which the tip is held and held.

When connecting the cable-side connector 30, the plug 31 is inserted along the guide portion 15 b of the connector fitting window 15. Then, after the connection end face of the plug 31 and the receptacle 21 are fitted, the plug 31 and the receptacle 21 are fitted and connected inside the main body of the hub 2 by grasping and further pressing the connector body 32. The tip is held in the receiver 12.

In the hub 2 configured as described above, when an external force such as a bending force or a compressive force such as a shearing force or a squeezing force acts on the connected cable side connector 30, the receiving portion 12 and the receiving portion 12 are connected to the receiving portion 12. These loads can be received by the connector body 32 held in the receiving portion, and these external forces do not act on the connecting portions of the two connectors. Therefore, it is possible to further enhance the effects of the above-described embodiment, and to provide a hub having a reinforced resistance to various external forces acting via the connector connected to the hub.

[0036]

[Effect of the invention]

 As described above, in the present invention, a hub for a computer having a hub-side connector member that is fitted and connected to a cable-side connector member from a plurality of computers and a plurality of peripheral devices is provided. A connector fitting window for receiving the side connector member is provided, and the hub side connector member is disposed inside the hub body rather than the connector fitting window to form a computer hub. According to such a configuration, the connection end surface of the hub-side connector member is not exposed to the outside of the main body of the hub, and therefore, the hub-side connector member is not damaged by a force directly acting on the hub from the outside.

The connector fitting window is formed so as to support the outer peripheral portion of the cable side connector when the cable side connector member and the hub side connector member are fitted and connected inside the hub body. Configure a hub for use. According to this configuration, the hub-side connector member is not damaged by the external force acting directly on the hub, and the external force such as bending or stiffening acting on the cable-side connector is prevented from fitting into the outer peripheral portion of the cable-side connector. Since it is received by the inner surface of the window, the external force received by the fitting portion of both connectors can be greatly reduced. Therefore, it is possible to provide a hub that prevents damage to the connector connection portion and has enhanced resistance to external force.

The connector fitting window is provided between the connector member formed on the cable side connector and the grip portion when the cable side connector member and the hub side connector member are fitted and connected inside the hub body. It is preferable that the stepped end face between them is formed to be substantially the same as the open end face of the connector fitting window. According to such a configuration, when an external force such as a bending force is applied to the cable-side connector, the step end surface and the opening end surface of the connector window come into contact with each other and can receive the external force. Is formed so as to support the outer peripheral portion of the cable-side connector member, thereby providing a hub with higher resistance to external forces such as bending and stiffening.

A receiving portion for receiving a grip portion of the cable-side connector is provided on the outer periphery of the opening of the connector fitting window, and the receiving portion fits the cable-side connector member and the hub-side connector member inside the main body of the hub. It is preferable that the connection portion be formed so as to support at least the distal end portion of the holding portion formed on the cable side connector when the connection is made.

According to the above configuration, at the time of connection of the cable-side connector, at least the distal end of the grip portion formed on the connector is connected to the receiving portion provided on the outer periphery of the opening of the connector fitting window of the hub body. Supported. Therefore, not only bending force and squeezing force but also external forces such as compression and shearing can be received by the receiving portion and the grip portion of the connector, and the fitting portion of both connectors does not receive these external forces. Therefore, it is possible to provide a hub with a higher strength against external force.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a connector portion showing a preferred embodiment of a computer hub according to the present invention. Figure of these
(a) shows the state before connecting the cable side connector,
FIG. 2B shows a state after the cable-side connector is connected.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a connector portion showing another preferred embodiment of the computer hub according to the present invention; Among them, FIG. (A) shows a state before the cable-side connector is connected, and FIG. (B) shows a state after the cable-side connector is connected.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of the computer hub according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a computer system using the hub.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a connector portion illustrating a configuration of a conventional hub. Among them, FIG. (A) shows a state before the cable-side connector is connected, and FIG. (B) shows a state after the cable-side connector is connected.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hub (computer hub) 2 Hub (computer hub) 12 Reception part 15 Connector fitting window 15b Open end face of connector fitting window 21 Receptacle (Hub side connector member) 30 Cable side connector 31 Plug (Cable side connector member) 32 Connector body (gripping part of cable side connector) 35 Connector body end face (step end face between cable side connector member and holding part)

Claims (4)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A method of connecting a plurality of computers to mediate information communication between the plurality of computers, or a method of connecting a plurality of peripheral devices to a computer to connect information between the plurality of peripheral devices and the computer. A computer hub for mediating communication, wherein the hub has a hub-side connector member that is fitted and connected to a cable-side connector member from the plurality of computers and the plurality of peripheral devices. A hub for a computer, comprising: a connector fitting window for receiving a cable-side connector member, wherein the hub-side connector member is disposed inside the main body of the hub rather than the connector fitting window. 2. The connector fitting window supports an outer peripheral portion of the cable side connector when the cable side connector member and the hub side connector member are fitted and connected inside the main body of the hub. 2. The computer hub according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The connector mating window holds a connector member formed on the cable side connector when the cable side connector member and the hub side connector member are mated and connected inside the main body of the hub. 3. The computer hub according to claim 1, wherein a step end surface between the first and second portions is substantially the same as an opening end surface of the connector fitting window. 4. A connector for receiving a grip portion of the cable-side connector on an outer periphery of an opening of the connector fitting window, wherein the receiving portion includes the cable-side connector member and the hub-side connector member. The computer hub according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hub supports at least a distal end of the grip portion when the hub is fitted and connected inside the main body of the hub.