Retractable Connector for an Electronic Device
First Claim
1. A retractable connector device comprising:
- a belt covering a portion of an inner housing;
a connector at least partially within the inner housing and for connecting to an external receiver; and
the belt for moving the connector between a retracted position and an extended position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A retractable connector device having an inner housing, a cover belt, and two sidewalls. The device may comprise electronic components for electronic devices including computer peripheral devices such as serial bus devices, Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices, or IEEE 1394 devices. The belt surrounds a portion of the inner housing. The belt is for moving the device between at least two positions, a deployed position where the connector extends through a hole in the inner housing to connect to a receiving device, and a stored position where the connector is within the housing, separated and protected from external elements by, at least in part, the belt.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A retractable connector device comprising:
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a belt covering a portion of an inner housing; a connector at least partially within the inner housing and for connecting to an external receiver; and the belt for moving the connector between a retracted position and an extended position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A retractable connector device comprising:
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an inner housing for containing a connector, the housing having a hole; the connector for connecting to an external receiver; the connector having a retracted position and an extended position; a first means for moving the connector between the retracted position and the retracted position; the first means also for covering the hole through which the connector passes when moving from the retracted position to the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of protecting a connector device, comprising the steps of
a. providing an inner housing with a hole for passing a connector and a gap for passing a belt from a position inside the inner housing to a position on the exterior of the inner housing, wherein the belt is connected to the connector b. providing a connector in an extended position c. moving the belt toward the hole while retracting the connector through the hole into the housing d. covering the hole with the belt after the connector has recessed passed an opening of the hole.
Specification