PH12015500372B1

PH12015500372B1 - Usb outlet

Info

Publication number: PH12015500372B1
Application number: PH12015500372A
Authority: PH
Inventors: Satoshi Hirata; Shuji Matsuura; Chihwei Lo; Chiungyu Chien
Original assignee: Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-02-13
Filing date: 2015-02-20
Publication date: 2015-04-20
Also published as: WO2014125542A1; TWI501470B; CN103986013B; EP2958193A4; CN103986013A; TW201433010A; JP2014154474A; PH12015500372A1; EP2958193A1; CN107465037A; CN107465037B; SA515360079B1

Abstract

The USB outlet according to the present invention includes a USB receptacle, a printed wiring board, and a housing designed to enclose the USB receptacle and the printed wiring board. The USB receptacle is provided at a first end in a first direction with an opening for receiving a USB plug, and is mounted on a mounting surface of the printed wiring board at a second end in the first direction. In the USB receptacle, a dimension in a second direction is longer than a dimension in a third direction. The printed wiring board is provided at opposite ends in the second direction with legs supported by the housing. The legs face each other in the second direction and are longer than the USB receptacle in the third direction. The USB receptacle is within a region of the mounting surface between the legs.

Description

‘ \ frame 7 by inserting the fixing protrusions 31 into the corresponding fixing holes 76.

The body 5 includes a container recess 50 which is open upwardly. The second printed wiring board 4 is placed in the container recess 50. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4, the first printed wiring board 2 is placed on (above) the container recess 50. In brief, the housing 3 includes the container recess 50 which is designed to accommodate circuit components and is on an opposite side of the first printed wiring board 2 from the mounting surface 2a.

Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIG. 10, the body 5 includes two engaging recesses 52 at each top of opposite left and right inner sides of the container recess 50. Each of the engaging recesses 52 is open upwardly.

The second printed wiring board 4 is provided at each of left and right ends with a set of two engaging protrusions 41 which are arranged in the forward and rearward direction and protrude outward in the left and right direction. With having the engaging protrusions 41 be in contact with inner surfaces of the corresponding engaging recesses 52, it is possible to prevent displacement of the second printed wiring board 4 in the downward direction as well as the forward and rearward direction. In other words, the second printed wiring board 4 is supported on the body 5 by use of the engaging protrusions 41.

In brief, as shown in FIG. 1, the second printed wiring board 4 is provided at the opposite ends in the left and right direction (second direction) with the pair of engaging protrusions 41 arranged in the forward and rearward direction (third direction). The housing 3 (body 5) includes the engaging recesses 52 for respectively recelving the engaging protrusions 41. The second printed wiring board 4 is fixed to the housing 3 (body 5) by fitting the engaging protrusions 41 into the respective corresponding engaging recesses 52.

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As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIG. 11, the cover 6 is provided at each of left and right ends with a set of two engaging protrusions 62 . which are arranged in the forward and rearward direction and protrude downwardly.

The engaging protrusion 62 is designed to be engaged into the engaging recess 52.

The engaging protrusion 41 of the second printed wiring board 4 is interposed between the engaging protrusion 62 of the cover 6 and an upward inner surface of the engaging recess 52.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 10, a distance W1 between the right engaging recesses 52 is shorter than a distance W2 between the left engaging recesses 52.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and FIG. 11, a distance between the right engaging protrusions 62 is substantially equal to the distance W1 between the right engaging recesses 52, and a distance between the left engaging protrusions 62 is substantially equal to the distance W2 between the left engaging recesses 52.

Hence, when trying to attach to the body 5 the second printed wiring board 4 and the cover 6 that are oriented in a wrong direction turned about an axis parallel to the upward and downward direction (i.e., the thickness direction of the second printed wiring board 4) by 180 degrees from a correct direction, a user fails to engage the engaging protrusions 41 and 62 into the engaging recess 52. Thus, it is possible to prevent attachment of the second printed wiring board 4 and the cover 6 oriented in the wrong direction as mentioned above.

The body 5 is provided with two wire insertion holes 32 at a bottom surface.

Mounted on a bottom surface of the second printed wiring board 4 is a terminal 8.

The terminal 8 is designed to receive a wire (not shown) inserted via the wire insertion hole 32.

The terminal 8 is a so-called quick connecting terminal including two locking springs (not shown) respectively corresponding to the wire insertion holes. The

_- a ——————————————————eerr———— rrr r rm | , ‘ : locking spring is for locking a wire inserted through the wire insertion hole 32.

The terminal 8 includes a release button 81. When pressed from a lower side, the release button 81 presses each lock spring to release the lock of the wire.

The body 5 is provided with a release hole 33 (see FIG. 10) at the bottom surface thereof. The release hole 38 is designed to expose the release button 81 downwardly. The release button 81 can be pressed by a tool (not shown) such as a flat-head screw driver inserted through the release hole 33.

The body 5 includes a partition wall 54 which divides the container recess 50 into a terminal housing portion (first housing portion) 501 and a circuit housing portion (second housing portion) 502. The terminal housing portion 501 is designed to house the terminal 8, and the circuit housing portion 502 is designed to house the 16 remaining circuit components. The wire insertion holes 32 and the release hole 33 are formed in the bottom of the terminal housing portion 501.

The partition wall 54 is provided with a contact section 55 at an upper end.

The contact section 55 is inserted through an insertion hole 42 formed in the second printed wiring board 4 and is in contact with a center of the lower surface of the first printed wiring board 2 (i.e., a vicinity of the USB receptacle 1).

In summary, as shown in FIG. 4, the housing 3 includes the contact section 55 that is in contact with the opposite surface 2b of the first printed wiring board 2 from the mounting surface 2a. The contact section 55 is at the top (upper end) of the partition wall 54 in the upward and downward direction (first direction). The contact section 55 is in contact with the vicinity of the part of the first printed wiring board 2 on which the USB receptacle 1 is mounted. The second printed wiring board 4 includes the insertion hole 42 designed to allow the contact section 55 to pass.

The body 5 is provided at each of left and right ends with a supporting protrusion 53 protruding upwardly to bear the first printed wiring board 2 (i.e., to be in contact with the bottom surface 2b of the first printed wiring board 2 that is an opposite surface of the first printed wiring board 2 from the surface (mounting surface) 2a on which the USB receptacle 1 is mounted). Each of the supporting protrusions 53 is provided at an upper end with a supporting recess 530 which is open in the left and right direction.

The first printed wiring board 2 includes legs 21. The legs 21 protrude outwardly in the left and right direction from the respective left and right ends of the first printed wiring board 2 and are located on opposite sides of the USB receptacle 1 in the lengthwise direction (left and right direction) of the USB receptacle 1 when viewed from an upper side. In brief, as shown in FIG. 1, the first printed wiring board 2 is provided at the opposite ends in the left and right direction (second direction) with the legs 21 supported by the housing 3 (body 5). The legs 21 face each other in the left and right direction (second direction). In other words, the legs 21 are arranged in a straight line extending along the left and right direction (second direction). Additionally, each leg 21 is in a middle of the printed wiring board 2 in the forward and rearward direction (third direction), for example. Consequently, each leg 21 is between the corresponding pair of engaging protrusions 41 in the forward and rearward direction (third direction).

With fitting the legs 21 into the respective supporting recesses 530, it is possible to prevent displacement of the first printed wiring board 2 in the forward and rearward direction as well as the downward direction. In other words, the first printed wiring board 2 is supported on the supporting protrusions 53 of the body 5 by use of the legs 21. In summary, the housing 3 (body 5) includes the supporting protrusions 53 bearing the corresponding legs 21. Each of the supporting protrusions 53 includes the supporting recess 530 designed to receive the corresponding leg 21.

,

Note that, the legs 21 of the first printed wiring board 2 that are supported on the respective supporting protrusions 53 of the body 5 are arranged such that a part of the first printed wiring board 2 on which the USB receptacle 1 is mounted (.e., positioned underneath the USB receptacle 1) is positioned between the legs 21 in the left and right direction (i.e., the lengthwise direction of the USB receptacle 1).

Moreover, each leg 21 has a width (a dimension of the leg 21 in a direction parallel to the width direction of the USB receptacle 1, in other words, a dimension of the leg 21 in the left and right direction shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) greater than a dimension of the USB receptacle 1 in the width direction of the USB receptacle 1.

In brief, each leg 21 is longer than the USB receptacle 1 in the forward and rearward direction (third direction). Additionally, the USB receptacle 1 is within a region of the mounting surface 2a of the printed wiring board 2 between the legs 21.

Hence, each of the leg 21 extends to have opposite ends positioned outward relative to opposite ends of the USB receptacle 1 in the width direction of the USB receptacle 1 (the left and right directions in FIGS. 2A and 2B) respectively when viewed in the left and right directions (i.e., the lengthwise direction of the USB receptacle 1).

As described above, the USB outlet of the present embodiment includes: the printed wiring board (first printed wiring board) 2 on which the USB receptacle 1 is mounted; and the housing 3 designed to house the printed wiring board 2 and including the plug insertion hole 30 designed to allow a USB plug to be connected to the USB receptacle 1. The USB receptacle 1 is mounted on the printed wiring board 2 so that the direction in which the USB plug is connected and disconnected is parallel to the thickness direction of the printed wiring board 2. The printed wiring board 2 is provided with the legs 21 each to be supported by the housing 3 at the respective opposite ends in the direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the

USB receptacle 1. The legs 21 each extend to have opposite ends positioned outward relative to opposite ends of the USB receptacle 1 in the width direction of the USB receptacle 1 respectively when viewed in the lengthwise direction of the USB receptacle 1. : 5 In other words, the USB outlet of the present embodiment includes the following first to tenth features. Note that, the second to tenth features are optional.

With regard to the first feature, the USB outlet includes: the USB receptacle 1 including the opening 10 for receiving a USB plug; the printed wiring board (first printed wiring board) 2 including the mounting surface 2a on which the USB receptacle 1 is mounted; and the housing 3 designed to enclose the USB receptacle 1 and the printed wiring board 2 and including the plug insertion hole 30 exposing the opening 10 of the USB receptacle 1. The USB receptacle 1 is provided with the opening 10 at the first end (upper end) in the first direction (upward and downward direction) and is mounted on the mounting surface (upper surface) 2a at the second end (lower end) in the first direction (upward and downward direction). In the USB receptacle 1, the dimension in the second direction (left and right direction) orthogonal to the first direction (upward and downward direction) is longer than the dimension in the third direction (forward and rearward direction) orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. The printed wiring board 2 is provided at the opposite ends in the second direction with the legs 21 supported by the housing 3.

The legs 21 face each other in the second direction and are longer than the USB receptacle 1 in the third direction. The USB receptacle 1 is within the region of the mounting surface 2a of the printed wiring board 2 between the legs 21.

With regard to the second feature, in addition to the first feature, the housing 3 includes the supporting protrusions 53 bearing the legs 21. Note that, in the present embodiment, the housing 3 is constituted by the body 5 and the cover 6, and the supporting protrusions 53 are provided to the body 5. Alternatively, the supporting protrusions 53 may be provided to the cover 6.

ee ———————————————————————— — EE ———FFrF—

With regard to the third feature, in addition to the second feature, each of the supporting protrusions 53 includes the supporting recess 530 designed to receive the corresponding leg 21.

With regard to the fourth feature, in addition to any one of the first to third features, the housing 3 includes the contact section 55 that is in contact with the opposite surface (lower surface) 2b of the printed wiring board 2 from the mounting surface 2a. Note that, in the present embodiment, the housing 3 1s constituted by the body 5 and the cover 6, and the contact section 55 is provided to the body 5.

Alternatively, the contact section 55 may be provided to the cover 6.

With regard to the fifth feature, in addition to the fourth feature, the contact section 5b is in contact with the vicinity of the part of the printed wiring board 2 on which the USB receptacle 1 is mounted.

With regard to the sixth feature, in addition to the fourth or fifth feature, the housing 3 includes the container recess 50 which is designed to accommodate circuit components and is on the opposite side of the printed wiring board 2 from the mounting surface Za. The housing 3 inciudes the partition wall 54 which divides the container recess 50 into the first housing portion (terminal housing portion) 501 and the second housing portion (circuit housing portion) 502. The contact section 55 is at the top (upper end) of the partition wall 54 in the first direction (upward and downward direction).

With regard to the seventh feature, in addition to the sixth feature, the USB outlet further includes the second printed wiring board 4 placed inside the container recess 50. The second printed wiring board 4 includes the insertion hole 42 designed to allow the contact section 55 to pass.

-_— ee ————_————— ee, : : .

With regard to the eighth feature, in addition to the seventh feature, the second printed wiring board 4 is provided at the opposite ends in the second direction (left and right direction) with the pair of engaging protrusions 41 arranged in the third direction (forward and rearward direction). The housing 3 includes the engaging recesses 52 for respectively receiving the engaging protrusions 41. Note that, in the present embodiment, the housing 3 is constituted by the body 5 and the cover 6, and the engaging recesses 52 are provided to the body 5. Alternatively, the engaging recesses 52 may be provided to the cover 6.

With regard to the ninth feature, in addition to the eighth feature, each leg 21 is between the corresponding pair of engaging protrusions 41 in the third direction (forward and rearward direction).

With regard to the tenth feature, in addition to any one of the first to ninth features, each leg 21 is in a middle of the printed wiring board 2 in the third direction (forward and rearward direction). The USB receptacle 1 is in a center of the mounting surface 2a of the printed wiring board 2.

According to the above configuration, in contrast to a case where the housing 3 supports only portions of the first printed wiring board 2 that are on opposite ends of the USB receptacle 1 in the width direction of the USB receptacle 1 and a case where each leg 21 has the width shorter than the dimension of the USB receptacle 1 in the width direction of the USB receptacle 1, external force (pressure) acting on the first printed wiring board 2 which may occur in response to connection or disconnection of the USB plug can be relatively dispersed, and therefore a warp of the first printed wiring board 2 can be suppressed.

v ’ X a

DESCRIPTION Title of Invention

USB OUTLET

Technical Field

The present invention relates to USB outlets.

Background Art

In the past, there have been proposed USB outlets including a USB receptacle (USB socket) designed to receive a USB plug to make connection with the USB plug (e.g., see JP 2011-82802 A).

Some of such USB outlets include a printed wiring board on which the USB receptacle is mounted and a housing accommodating the printed wiring board. The housing is provided with an insertion hole designed to allow the USB plug to be connected to the USB receptacle. The USB receptacle is mounted on the printed wiring board so that a direction in which the USB plug is connected and disconnected is parallel to a thickness direction of the printed wiring board.

In the aforementioned USB outlet, when the USB receptacle is pressed by the

USB plug, the printed wiring board may be warped. When the printed wiring board is more plastically deformed (warped) due to repetition of the connection and disconnection of the USB plug, such deformation may cause a problem of preventing the connection and disconnection of the USB plug.

Summary of Invention

-— ‘ © \

In view of the above insufficiency, the present invention has aimed to propose a USB outlet capable of suppressing a warp of the printed wiring board.

The USB outlet of the first aspect in accordance with the present invention includes: a USB receptacle including an opening for receiving a USB plug; a printed wiring board including a mounting surface on which the USB receptacle 1s mounted; and a housing designed to enclose the USB receptacle and the printed wiring board and including a plug insertion hole exposing the opening. The USB receptacle is provided with the opening at a first end in a first direction and is mounted on the mounting surface at a second end in the first direction. In the USB receptacle, a dimension in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is longer than a dimension in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. The printed wiring board is provided at opposite ends in the second direction with legs supported by the housing. The legs face each other in the second direction and are longer than the USB receptacle in the third direction. The USB receptacle is within a region of the mounting surface of the printed wiring board between the legs.

With regard to the USB outlet of the second aspect in accordance with the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, the housing includes supporting protrusions bearing the legs.

With regard to the USB outlet of the third aspect in accordance with the present invention, in addition to the second aspect, each of the supporting protrusions includes a supporting recess designed to receive the corresponding leg.

With regard to the USB outlet of the fourth aspect in accordance with the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to third aspects, the housing includes a contact section that is in contact with an opposite surface of the printed wiring board from the mounting surface.

ee —————————————————————— : - \

With regard to the USB outlet of the fifth aspect in accordance with the present invention, in addition to the fourth aspect, the contact section is in contact with a vicinity of a part of the printed wiring board on which the USB receptacle is mounted.

With regard to the USB outlet of the sixth aspect in accordance with the present invention, in addition to the fourth or fifth aspect, the housing includes a container recess which is designed to accommodate circuit components and is on an opposite side of the printed wiring board from the mounting surface. The housing includes a partition wall which divides the container recess into a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The contact section is at a top of the partition wall in the first direction.

With regard to the USB outlet of the seventh aspect in accordance with the present invention, in addition to the sixth aspect, the USB outlet further comprises a second printed wiring board placed inside the container recess. The second printed wiring board includes an insertion hole designed to allow the contact section to pass.

With regard to the USB outlet of the eighth aspect in accordance with the present invention, in addition to the seventh aspect, the second printed wiring board is provided at opposite ends in the second direction with a pair of engaging protrusions arranged in the third direction. The housing includes engaging recesses for respectively receiving the engaging protrusions.

With regard to the USB outlet of the ninth aspect in accordance with the present invention, in addition to the eighth aspect, each leg is between the corresponding pair of engaging protrusions in the third direction.

With regard to the USB outlet of the tenth aspect in accordance with the

To A present invention, in addition to any one of the first to ninth aspects, each leg isin a middle of the printed wiring board in the third direction. The USB receptacle is in a center of the mounting surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a USB outlet of one embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are different perspective sectional views viewed from the opposite sides respectively, which illustrate the USB outlet of the above embodiment;

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are different exploded perspective sectional views viewed from the opposite sides respectively, which illustrate the USB outlet of the above embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the USB outlet of the above embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the USB outlet of the above embodiment while a second printed wiring board is attached to a body;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the USB outlet of the above embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective sectional view illustrating the USB outlet of the above embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the structure in which the USB outlet of the above embodiment is attached to a fixing frame;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the USB outlet of the above embodiment with the fixing frame;

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the body of the USB outlet of the above embodiment; and

FIG. 11 is a base view illustrating a cover of the USB outlet of the above embodiment.

Description of Embodiments i iORONppggpppipt ’ ’ A A

As shown in FIG. 1, the USB (Universal Serial Bus) outlet of the present embodiment includes a printed wiring board (hereinafter referred to as a "first printed wiring board" if necessary) 2 and a housing 3. There is a USB receptacle 1 that is mounted on the first printed wiring board 2. The housing 3 is designed to house the printed wiring board 2 and include an insertion hole 30 designed to allow a

USB plug (not shown) to be connected to the USB receptacle 1. The USB receptacle 1 is mounted on the first printed wiring board 2 so that a direction in which the USB plug is connected and disconnected is parallel to a thickness direction of the first printed wiring board 2.

The following explanation is made based on upward, downward, left, right, forward, and rearward directions respectively designated by directions A, B, C, D, E, and F shown in FIG. 5. In other words, a direction in which an opening 10 of the :

USB receptacle 1 designed to receive the USB plug is directed (i.e., the direction A in

FIG. 5) is referred to as the upward direction. A lengthwise direction of the USB receptacle 1 (a lengthwise direction of the USB receptacle 1 when viewed in the above upward direction in FIG. 5, in other words, a direction parallel to directions C and D in FIG. 5) is referred to as a left and right direction. A width direction of the USB receptacle 1 (a width direction of the USB receptacle when viewed in the above upward direction in FIG. 5, in other words, a direction parallel to directions E and F in FIG. 5) is referred to as a forward and rearward direction. The aforementioned directions are defined in view of convenience of the explanation. In normal use, the forward and rearward direction mentioned above corresponds to a vertical direction.

The USB receptacle 1 includes the opening 10 for receiving a USB plug. The

USB receptacle 1 is provided with the opening 10 at an upper end (first end) in the upward and downward direction (first direction) and is mounted on the mounting surface (upper surface) 2a of the printed wiring board 2 at a lower end (second end) in the upward and downward direction (first direction). For example, the USB receptacle 1 is in a center of the mounting surface 2a of the first printed wiring board ee ——————————————————— ' ’ r x 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the USB receptacle 1 has a dimension in the left and right direction (second direction) orthogonal to the upward and downward direction and a dimension in the forward and rearward direction (third direction) orthogonal to the upward and downward direction and the left and right direction. In the USB receptacle 1, the dimension in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction is longer than the dimension in the third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. In summary, the lengthwise direction of the USB receptacle 1 is a direction extending along the left and right direction (second direction), and the width direction of the USB receptacle 1 is a direction extending along the forward and rearward direction (third direction).

Note that, in the present embodiment, the USB receptacle 1 is a series "A" receptacle, for example. It is sufficient that the USB receptacle 1 is a receptacle in accordance with the USB standard.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the USB outlet of the present embodiment includes an AC-DC converter 9 configured to convert AC power from an external AC power suppiy to DC power with a predetermined voltage and supply the resultant power to the USB plug through the USB receptacle 1. The AC-DC converter 9 described above can be realized with conventional techniques, and therefore no detailed explanation and drawing thereof are deemed necessary. Note that, the

AC-DC converter 9 is optional.

As shown in FIG. 4, the AC-DC converter 9 is constituted by circuit components which are divided into two groups respectively mounted on the first printed wiring board 2 and the second printed wiring board 4 that is housed and held in the housing 3 so as to be beneath the first printed wiring board 2 and face the first printed wiring board 2. The first printed wiring board 2 and the second printed ee —————— ee ————t ' f A wiring board 4 are electrically connected to each other through approximate conductive paths 40 such as conductive pins.

Each of the first printed wiring board 2 and the second printed wiring board 4 is formed into a rectangular plate shape. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the first printed wiring board 2 and the second printed wiring board 4 is positioned so that a thickness direction, a lengthwise direction, and a width direction extend along the first direction (upward and downward direction), the second direction (left and right direction), and the third direction (forward and rearward direction), respectively.

Further, the first printed wiring board 2 and the second printed wiring board 4 are arranged in the first direction (upward and downward direction).

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, the housing 3 includes a body 5 and a cover 6 that are designed to be connected to each other so as to accommodate the printed wiring boards 2 and 4 therebetween in a thickness direction (upward and downward direction) common to the printed wiring boards 2 and 4.

The body 5 is provided at each of the front and rear surfaces with two connecting protrusions 51 that are arranged in the left and right direction and protrude outward in the forward and rearward direction.

Moreover, the cover 6 includes two sets of two connecting pieces 61 that protrude downward from bottoms of front and rear surfaces of the cover 6 respectively so as to hold the body 5 therebetween in the forward and rearward direction. Each connecting piece 61 has a connecting hole 610 that is a through hole penetrating the connecting piece 61 in the forward and rearward direction. The body 5 and the cover 6 are connected to each other by inserting the connecting protrusions 51 into the corresponding connecting holes 610.

The housing 3 is fixed to an installation surface (not shown) such as a wall a —-——————_——_—_—_— ( x with a fixing frame 7 illustrated in FIG.8 and FIG.9.

The fixing frame 7 has a rectangular frame shape and includes a window hole 71 formed into a rectangular shape.

The fixing frame 7 includes box holes 72 at respective opposite ends of the fixing frame 7 in a lengthwise direction of the window hole 71. The box hole 72 has a rounded rectangular shape and is designed to allow a box screw to be screwed into an embedded box that is embedded in the installation surface.

The fixing frame 7 is provided with hooking holes 73 at both sides of each box holes 72 in a width direction of the window hole 71. Each hooking hole 73 penetrates the fixing frame 7 and is designed to receive a holding metal fitting (not shown). The holding metal fitting is available for the installation surface of a panel board to hold the panel board between the fixing frame 7 and the holding metal fitting.

Moreover, the fixing frame 7 is provided with direct connecting holes 74 at respective four opposite sides of the hooking holes 73 from the window hole 71. Each of the direct connecting holes 74 has a round shape and penetrates the tixing frame 7 so as to allow a direct connecting screw to be screwed into the installation surface.

The fixing frame 7 is also provided with holding pieces 75 at respective opposite ends of the fixing frame 7 in the width direction of the window hole 71.

Each holding piece 75 has three pairs of fixing holes 76 arranged in a lengthwise direction of the holding piece 75.

The housing 3 includes two pairs of fixing protrusions 31 at each of the front and rear surfaces (see FIG. 6). Each fixing protrusion 31 is designed to be fitted into a corresponding fixing hole 76. That is, the housing 3 is connected to the fixing

Claims

-— ee ———————————————————————————————— CLAIMS

1. A USB outlet comprising: a USB receptacle including an opening for receiving a USB plug; a printed wiring board including a mounting surface on which the USB receptacle is mounted; and a housing designed to enclose the USB receptacle and the printed wiring board and including a plug insertion hole exposing the opening, wherein: the USB receptacle is provided with the opening at a first end and is mounted on the mounting surface at a second end; the printed wiring board is provided at opposite ends with legs supported by the housing; the USB receptacle is within a region of the mounting surface of the printed wiring board between the legs; : the housing includes supporting protrusions bearing the legs; each of the supporting protrusions includes a supporting recess designed to receive the corresponding ieg; and the legs are fitted into the respective supporting recesses.

2. The USB outlet as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a contact section that is in contact with an opposite surface of the printed wiring board from the mounting surface.

3. The USB outlet as set forth in claim 2, wherein the contact section is in contact with a vicinity of a part of the printed wiring board on which the USB receptacle is mounted.

4. The USB outlet as set forth in claim 2, wherein: the housing includes a container recess which is designed to accommodate circuit components and is on an opposite side of the printed wiring board from the mounting surface; the housing includes a partition wall which divides the container recess into a first housing portion and a second housing portion; and the contact section is at a top of the partition wall.

5. The USB outlet as set forth in claim 4, wherein: the USB outlet further comprises a second printed wiring board placed inside the container recess; and the second printed wiring board includes an insertion hole designed to allow the contact section to pass.

6. The USB outlet as set forth in claim 5, wherein: the second printed wiring board is provided at opposite ends with a pair of engaging protrusions; and the housing includes engaging recesses for respectively receiving the engaging protrusions.

7. The USB outlet as set forth in ciaim 6, wherein each leg is between the corresponding pair of engaging protrusions.

8. The USB outlet as set forth in claim 1, wherein: each leg is in a middle of a corresponding one of the opposite ends of the printed wiring board; and the USB receptacle is in a center of the mounting surface.