ROTATING UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS HUB

• US 20080194119A1
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: MORI, KENNETH
• Granted Patent: US 7,510,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

A connector hub apparatus is provided that can rotate along two different axes in two different planes with respect to an upstream connector plug, so that the hub can be easily positioned in a variety of configurations to avoid clearance problems when connected to a compatible connector port of an external device. Such a hub can be easily positioned in a variety of configurations to avoid clearance and connector orientation problems with adjacent ports and connectors when the upstream port of the hub is connected to the downstream port connector of another device. In one embodiment, the user may reduce the physical size of the hub apparatus, while it remains electrically operational, by folding the rotating elements into a compact shape.

Claims

1. A connector hub system, comprising:

a first body with a plurality of downstream connectors accessible from a surface of the first body, at least one of the plurality of downstream connectors comprising a slot for receiving a universal serial bus connector;

a second body with an upstream connector operatively coupled to the plurality of downstream connectors, the upstream connector comprising a serial connector head;

a first hinge that allows the first body to rotate to a first set of predetermined positions within a first plane, the first hinge being adapted to maintain the first body in a user selected one of the first set of predetermined positions until the user affirmatively moves the first body to another one of the first set of predetermined positions; and

a second hinge that allows the second body to rotate to a second set of predetermined positions within a second plane, the second plane being perpendicular with respect to the first plane;

wherein the first and second bodies are configured to be folded into at least one compact shape while retaining accessibility of the downstream and upstream connectors.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second hinges are attached to an intermediate body located in between the first and second bodies.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the second hinge is adapted to maintain the second body in a user selected one of the second set of predetermined positions until the user affirmatively moves the second body to another one of the second set of predetermined positions.

4. A connector hub system, comprising:

a first body with at least one downstream connector;

a second body with at least one upstream connector operatively coupled to the at least one downstream connector;

a first hinge that allows the first body to rotate to a first set of predetermined positions within a first plane; and

a second hinge that allows the second body to rotate within a second plane that is perpendicular with respect to the first plane;

wherein the first and second bodies are configured to be folded into at least one compact shape while retaining accessibility of the downstream and upstream connectors.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the first and second hinges are attached to an intermediate body located in between the first and second bodies.

6. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the first hinge is adapted to maintain the first body in a user selected one of the first set of predetermined positions until the user affirmatively moves the first body to another one of the first set of predetermined positions.

7. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the second hinge is adapted to maintain the second body in a user selected one of the second set of predetermined positions until the user affirmatively moves the second body to another one of the second set of predetermined positions.

8. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one downstream connector comprises a universal serial bus connector.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the universal serial bus connector comprises a slot for receiving a serial connector head.

10. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one upstream connector comprises a universal serial bus connector.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the universal serial bus connector comprises a serial connector head.

12. A connector hub apparatus, comprising:

a first body with at least one downstream connector;

a second body with at least one upstream connector operatively coupled to the at least one downstream connector;

a first joint that allows the first body to rotate to a first set of predetermined positions; and

a second joint that allows the second body to rotate to a second set of predetermined positions;

wherein the first and second bodies are configured to be folded into at least one compact shape while retaining accessibility of the downstream and upstream connectors.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the first joint allows the first body to rotate within a first plane.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the second joint allows the second body to rotate within a second plane that is perpendicular with respect to the first plane.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the first and second joints are attached to an intermediate body located in between the first and second bodies.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the first hinge is adapted to maintain the first body in a user selected one of the first set of predetermined positions until the user affirmatively moves the first body to another one of the first set of predetermined positions.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the second hinge is adapted to maintain the second body in a user selected one of the second set of predetermined positions until the user affirmatively moves the second body to another one of the second set of predetermined positions.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one downstream connector comprises a universal serial bus connector.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the universal serial bus connector comprises a slot for receiving a serial connector head.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one upstream connector comprises a universal serial bus connector.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the universal serial bus connector comprises a serial connector head.