METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING AN EXTERNAL CABLE TO A DEVICE

• US 20080050953A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: ANDRE, Bartley, REID, Gavin, LIGTENBERG, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,452,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/501 comprising an integral hinge or a frangible part
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

A connection system for a mobile device. The connection system configured to couple a cable that is external to the mobile device to an internal portion of the mobile device through a plug of the cable. The connection system includes a collapsible port, in which the collapsible port is configured to receive a plug of a cable only when the collapsible port is in an open position, and the collapsible port cannot receive a plug of a cable when the collapsible port is in a partially closed or closed position.

Claims

1. A connection system for a mobile device, the connection system configured to couple a cable that is external to the mobile device to an internal portion of the mobile device through a plug of the cable, the connection system comprising:

a collapsible port,

wherein the collapsible port is configured to receive a plug of a cable only when the collapsible port is in an open position, and the collapsible port cannot receive a plug of a cable when the collapsible port is in a partially closed or closed position.

2. The connection system of claim 1, wherein the collapsible port comprises:

a first component that is coupled and fixed to the mobile device; and

a second component that is separate from the first component and is rotatable relative to the first component.

3. The connection system of claim 2, wherein the first component of the collapsible port houses electrical contacts that provide an electrical path to the internal portion of the mobile device.

4. The connection system of claim 2, wherein the collapsible port cannot receive the plug of the cable when the collapsible port is in a partially closed or closed position due to a size of a cavity of the collapsible port being smaller relative to when the collapsible port is in an open position.

5. The connection system of claim 4, wherein the collapsible port comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a FireWire port, an RJ-11 port, or a RJ=45 port.

6. The connection system of claim 4, wherein the collapsible port is flush with a chassis of the mobile device when the collapsible port is in the closed position.

7. The connection system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a notebook computer.

8. A collapsible port configured to receive a plug of a cable, the collapsible port comprising:

a first component; and

a second component that is separate from the first component, the second component being rotatable relative to the first component between a first position and a second position,

wherein the first component and the second component of the collapsible port form a cavity that expands to receive a plug of a cable when the second component is rotated to the first position, and the cavity cannot receive a plug of a cable when the second component is rotated to the second position.

9. The collapsible port of claim 8, wherein the first component and the second component form a cavity that is configured to receive a plug of a cable, wherein a size of the cavity is smaller when the second component is rotated to the second position relative to when the second component is rotated to the first position.

10. The collapsible port of claim 8, wherein the collapsible port comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a FireWire port, an RJ-11 port, or a RJ=45 port.

11. A collapsible connector receptacle with moving components that move between a receiving position for accepting a connector plug, and a collapsed position for storing within an electronic device.

12. A mechanical adjustable connector receptacle configured to change between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the connector receptacle is expanded in order to receive a connector plug, wherein in the second state the connector receptacle is collapsed in order to reduce the size of the connector receptacle.

13. The mechanical adjustable connector receptacle of claim 12, including multiple connector components that adjust their position relative to one another in order to change states of the connector receptacle.

14. The mechanical adjustable connector receptacle of claim 13, wherein at least one of the components is configured to move in order to change states of the connector receptacle.

15. The mechanical adjustable connector receptacle of claim 12, wherein the connector assembly includes an upper component and a lower component that expand and collapse relative to one another.

16. The mechanical adjustable connector receptacle of claim 12, wherein the connector receptacle further includes electrical contacts disposed internally in a space provided by the multiple connector components.

17. A method for operating a connector receptacle, comprising:

upon a first action, collapsing the connector receptacle to a reduced size for storage; and

upon a second action, expanding the connector receptacle to a large size for accepting a connector plug.