Electronic device having a pivotable electrical connector, and electrical connector assembly

• US 20060160377A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yea-Yen Huang
• Original Assignee: Yea-Yen Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Yea-Yen
• Granted Patent: US 7,172,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/31
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/00 Flexible or turnable line connectors , i.e. the rotation angle being limited rotary current collectors, distributors H01R39/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

An electronic device includes a hollow pivot member interconnecting a main housing and a connector housing of an electrical connector such that the pivot member is rotatable relative to the electrical connector about a first axis and relative to main housing about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a wire unit extending from the connector housing through the pivot member and into the main housing and interconnecting electrically a conductive terminal unit of the electrical connector and a circuit unit in the main housing. Relative rotation between the pivot member and the connector housing about the first axis is prevented by a first positioning unit. Relative rotation between the pivot member and the main housing about the second axis is prevented by a second positioning unit.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a main housing housed with a circuit unit and having a coupling end portion formed with an opening unit;

an electrical connector including

a connector housing having an insertion end portion, and a coupling end portion opposite to said insertion end portion in a longitudinal direction, said coupling end portion of said connector housing being formed with an opening unit, and

a conductive terminal unit mounted in said connector housing;

a hollow pivot member having a first pivot end connected pivotably to said coupling end portion of one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing such that said pivot member is rotatable relative to said one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing about a first axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and an open second pivot end opposite to said first pivot end along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, said second pivot end being disposed in said main housing and being connected pivotally to said coupling end portion of the other one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing such that the other one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing is rotatable relative to said pivot member about the second axis, said pivot member further having an annular outer surface formed with an annular groove that is disposed between said first and second pivot ends so as to define an intermediate neck portion interconnecting said first and second pivot ends and journalled within said pivot hole in said coupling end portion of the other one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing, said first pivot end being formed with an opening unit;

a wire unit for interconnecting electrically said conductive terminal unit of said electrical connector and said circuit unit in said main housing, said wire unit extending through said opening unit in said connector housing of said electrical connector and into said pivot member via said opening unit in said first pivot end thereof, said wire unit further extending from said second pivot end of said pivot member into said main housing via said opening unit in said coupling end portion thereof;

a first positioning unit disposed between said coupling end portion of said one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing and said first pivot end of said pivot member for positioning said pivot member relative to said one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing so as to prevent relative rotation between said one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing and said pivot member about the first axis; and

a second positioning unit disposed between said coupling end portion of the other one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing and said second pivot end of said pivot member for positioning the other one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing relative to said pivot member so as to prevent relative rotation between said pivot member and the other one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing about the second axis.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said coupling end portion of said one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing is formed with a receiving groove for receiving said first pivot end of said pivot member, said receiving groove being defined by two lateral wall surfaces facing each other along the first axis, and a connecting wall surface interconnecting said lateral wall surfaces, each of said lateral wall surfaces being formed with a pivot hole, said pivot holes in said lateral wall surfaces constituting said opening unit of said coupling end portion of said one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing; and

said first pivot end of said pivot member has two lateral walls opposite to each other along the first axis and disposed between said lateral wall surfaces of said coupling end portion of said one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing, and a U-shaped wall interconnecting said lateral walls, each of said lateral walls being formed with a through hole, and a tubular pivot rod aligned with said through hole, extending outwardly along the first axis and journalled within said pivot hole in a respective one of said lateral wall surfaces of said coupling end portion of said one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing, said tubular pivot rods and said through holes in said lateral walls of said first pivot end of said pivot member constituting said opening unit in said first pivot end of said pivot member.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said U-shaped wall has opposite straight wall portions, and a connecting wall portion interconnecting said straight wall portions and adjacent to said connecting wall surface of said coupling end portion of said one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing, said connecting wall portion having a curved outer surface; and

said first positioning unit includes

a plurality of positioning grooves formed in said curved outer surface of said connecting wall portion of said U-shaped wall of said first pivot end of said pivot member, parallel to the first axis, spaced angularly apart from each other, and arranged around the first axis, and

a positioning block formed on said connecting wall surface of said coupling end portion of said one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing and engaging a selected one of said positioning grooves.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second pivot end of said pivot member is formed as a tubular body so as to permit extension of said wire unit therethrough.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said second pivot end of said pivot member has an annular outer circumferential surface; and

said second positioning unit includes

a plurality of positioning grooves formed in said outer circumferential surface of said second pivot end of said pivot member, parallel to the second axis, spaced angularly apart from each other, and arranged around the second axis, and

a mounting piece disposed fixedly in said coupling end portion of the other one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing and mounted on said outer circumferential surface of said second pivot end of said pivot member, said mounting piece being formed with a resilient abutting portion extending toward said second pivot end of said pivot member and engaging a selected one of said positioning grooves.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said outer circumferential surface of said second pivot end of said pivot member is further formed with a position-limiting block, said mounting piece being further formed with a stop stub to rotatable relative to said pivot member to abut against said position-limiting block so as to limit rotation of said second pivot end of said pivot member relative to the other one of said connector housing of said electrical connector and said main housing within a range from 0°

to a predetermined angle less than 360°

.

7. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a first electrical connector including a first housing having a coupling end portion, and a first conductive terminal unit mounted in said first housing, said coupling end portion of said first housing being formed with an opening unit;

a second electrical connector including a second housing having a coupling end portion, and a second conductive terminal unit mounted in said second housing, said coupling end portion of said second housing being formed with an opening unit;

a hollow first pivot member having a pivot end connected pivotably to said coupling end portion of said first housing of said first electrical connector such that said first pivot member is rotatable relative to said first housing of said first electrical connector about a first axis, and an open coupling end opposite to said pivot end of said first pivot member along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, said pivot end of said first pivot member being formed with an opening unit;

a hollow second pivot member having a pivot end connected pivotably to said coupling end portion of said second housing of said second electrical connector such that said second pivot member is rotatable relative to said second housing of said second electrical connector about a third axis that is perpendicular to the second axis, and an open coupling end opposite to said pivot end of said second pivot member along the second axis and connected pivotally to said coupling end of said first pivot member such that said second pivot member is rotatable relative to said first pivot member about the second axis, said pivot end of said second pivot member being formed with an opening unit;

a wire unit for interconnecting electrically said first conductive terminal unit of said first electrical connector and said second conductive terminal unit of said second electrical connector, said wire unit extending through said opening unit in said first housing of said first electrical connector and into an assembly of said first and second pivot members via said opening unit in said pivot end of said first pivot member, said wire unit further extending from the assembly of said first and second pivot members via said opening unit in said pivot end of said second pivot member into said second housing of said second electrical connector via said opening unit in said second housing of said second electrical connector;

a first positioning unit disposed between said coupling end portion of said first housing of said first electrical connector and said pivot end of said first pivot member for positioning said first pivot member relative to said first housing of said first electrical connector so as to prevent relative rotation between said first electrical connector and said first pivot member about the first axis;

a second positioning unit disposed between said coupling end portion of said second housing of said second electrical connector and said pivot end of said second pivot member for positioning said second pivot member relative to said second housing of said second electrical connector so as to prevent relative rotation between said second electrical connector and said second pivot member about the third axis; and

a third positioning unit disposed between said coupling ends of said first and second pivot members for positioning said second pivot member relative to said first pivot member so as to prevent relative rotation between said first and second pivot members about the second axis.

8. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said coupling end portion of said first housing of said first electrical connector is formed with a receiving groove for receiving said pivot end of said first pivot member, said receiving groove being defined by two lateral wall surfaces facing each other along the first axis, and a connecting wall surface interconnecting said lateral wall surfaces, each of said lateral wall surfaces being formed with a pivot hole, said pivot holes in said lateral wall surfaces constituting said opening unit in said coupling end portion of said first housing of said first electrical connector; and

said pivot end of said first pivot member has two lateral walls opposite to each other along the first axis and disposed between said lateral wall surfaces of said coupling end portion of said first housing of said first electrical connector, and a U-shaped wall interconnecting said lateral walls, each of said lateral walls being formed with a through hole, and a tubular pivot rod aligned with said through hole, extending outwardly along the first axis and journalled within said pivot hole in a respective one of said lateral wall surfaces of said coupling end portion of said first housing of said first electrical connector, said tubular pivot rods and said through holes in said lateral walls of said pivot end of said first pivot member constituting said opening unit in said pivot end of said first pivot member.

9. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said U-shaped wall has opposite straight wall portions, and a connecting wall portion interconnecting said straight wall portions and adjacent to said connecting wall surface of said coupling end portion of said first housing of said first electrical connector, said connecting wall portion having a curved outer surface; and

said first positioning unit includes

a plurality of positioning grooves formed in said curved outer surface of said connecting wall portion of said U-shaped wall of said pivot end of said first pivot member, parallel to the first axis, spaced angularly apart from each other, and arranged around the first axis, and

a positioning block formed on said connecting wall surface of said coupling end portion of said first housing of said first electrical connector and engaging a selected one of said positioning grooves.

10. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein;

said coupling end portion of said second housing of said second electrical connector is formed with a receiving groove for receiving said pivot end of said second pivot member, said receiving groove being defined by two lateral wall surfaces facing each other along the third axis, and a connecting wall surface interconnecting said lateral wall surfaces, each of said lateral wall surfaces being formed with a pivot hole, said pivot holes in said lateral wall surfaces constituting said opening unit of said coupling end portion of said second housing of said second electrical connector; and

said pivot end of said second pivot member has two lateral walls opposite to each other along the third axis and disposed between said lateral wall surfaces of said coupling end portion of said second housing of said second electrical connector, and a U-shaped wall interconnecting said lateral walls, each of said lateral walls being formed with a through hole, and a tubular pivot rod aligned with said through hole, extending outwardly along the third axis and journalled within said pivot hole in a respective one of said lateral wall surfaces of said coupling end portion of said second housing of said second electrical connector, said tubular pivot rods and said through holes in said lateral walls of said pivot end of said second pivot member constituting said opening unit of said pivot end of said second pivot member.

11. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said U-shaped wall has opposite straight wall portions, and a connecting wall portion interconnecting said straight wall portions and adjacent to said connecting wall surface of said coupling end portion of said second housing of said second electrical connector, said connecting wall portion having a curved outer surface; and

said second positioning unit includes

a plurality of positioning grooves formed in said curved outer surface of said connecting wall portion of said U-shaped wall of said pivot end of said second pivot member, parallel to the third axis, spaced angularly apart from each other, and arranged around the third axis, and

a positioning block formed on said connecting wall surface of said coupling end portion of said second housing of said second electrical connector and engaging a selected one of said positioning grooves.

12. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said coupling end of said first pivot member is formed as a tubular body that has an annular outer circumferential surface formed with an annular engaging flange extending radially and outwardly therefrom; and

said coupling end of said second pivot member is formed as a tubular body that is sleeved on said outer circumferential surface of said coupling end of said first pivot member and that has an inner circumferential surface formed with an annular engaging groove, said annular engaging flange on said coupling end of said first pivot member engaging rotatably said annular engaging groove in said coupling end of said second pivot member.

13. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said annular engaging groove in said inner circumferential surface of said coupling end of said second pivot member is defined by opposite groove lateral walls, and a groove bottom wall interconnecting said groove lateral walls; and

said third positioning unit includes

a plurality of positioning recesses formed in an inner surface of said groove bottom wall of said coupling end of said second pivot member, spaced angularly apart from each other, and arranged around the second axis, and

a positioning block formed integrally with said annular engaging flange of said first pivot member and engaging a selected one of said positioning recesses.

14. The electrical connector assembly claimed in claim 13, wherein said groove bottom wall of said coupling end of said second pivot member is further formed with a stop block that is rotatable relative to said first pivot member to abut against said positioning block so as to limit rotation of said first pivot member relative to said second pivot member within a range from 0°

to a predetermined angle less than 360°

.

15. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said annular engaging flange of said first coupling end of said first pivot member is formed with a circumferentially extending C-shaped projection having two ends, said positioning block being disposed between and being spaced apart from said ends of said C-shaped projection, said inner surface of said groove bottom wall of said coupling end of said second pivot member being disposed around and being in slidable contact with an assembly of said positioning block and said C-shaped projection.

16. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a coupling ring sleeved on said coupling end of said second pivot member in a close fitting manner so as to prevent separation of said first and second pivot members from each other.

17. The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first housing has an engaging lug, said coupling ring having an annular outer surface formed with an engaging stub that engages said engaging lug when said first pivot member is perpendicular to said first housing.

18. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a first electrical connector including a first housing having a coupling end portion, and a first conductive terminal unit mounted in said first housing, said coupling end portion of said first housing being formed with an opening unit;

a second electrical connector including a second housing having a coupling end portion, and a second conductive terminal unit mounted in said second housing, said coupling end portion of said second housing being is formed with an opening unit;

a main housing having opposite open coupling ends;

a pair of pivot units, each of which interconnects pivotally said coupling end portion of a respective one of said first and second housings of said first and second electrical connectors and a respective one of said coupling ends of said main housing, each of said pivot units including

a hollow first pivot member having a pivot end connected pivotally to said coupling end portion of the respective one of said first and second housings of said first and second electrical connectors such that said first pivot member is rotatable relative to the respective one of said first and second housings of said first and second electrical connectors about a first axis, and an open coupling end opposite to said pivot end of said first pivot member along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, said pivot end of said first pivot member being formed with an opening unit, and

a hollow second pivot member having a pivot end connected pivotally to the respective one of said coupling ends of said main housing such that said second pivot member is rotatable relative to the respective one of said coupling ends of said main housing about a third axis that is perpendicular to the second axis, and an open coupling end opposite to said pivot end of said second pivot member along the second axis and connected pivotally to said coupling end of said first pivot member such that said second pivot member is rotatable relative to said first pivot member about the second axis, said pivot end of said second pivot member being formed with an opening unit; and

a wire unit for interconnecting electrically said first conductive terminal unit of said first electrical connector and said second conductive terminal unit of said second electrical connector, said wire unit extending from said first housing of said first electrical connector via said opening unit in said coupling end portion of said first housing into an assembly of said pivot units and said main housing via said opening unit in said pivot end of said first pivot member of one of said pivot units connected pivotally to said first housing, said wire unit further extending from the assembly of said pivot units and said main housing via said opening unit in said pivot end of said first pivot member of the other one of said pivot units into said second housing of said second electrical connector via said opening unit in said second housing of said second electrical connector.