Universal serial bus docking station

• US 6,560,102 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2000
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin Corporation (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin Components (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Van Harlingen, Brian Lee, Tong, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US09/695,098
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 361/685-686, 361/715, 361/724, 361/735, 361/744, 312/223--22, 713/200, 710/104, 345/156
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/00 Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/88
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0021 Side-by-side or stacked arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/928 Modular electrically interengaging parts, e.g. stove with replaceable heating elements formed on coupling parts

Abstract

A Universal Serial Bus docking station is provided in which a USB hub includes a housing which may receive at least one additional USB module which is connected to the USB hub without the use of an additional cable. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, up to three USB modules may be inserted into the housing in stacked arrangement. In addition, each USB module maybe used as a stand alone unit by snapping a sleeve onto the rear of the module. Still further, a USB connector is adapted for use standing vertically from a circuit board and being retained by spring clips extending through the circuit board in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector.

Claims

1. A USB connector comprising:

a sleeve;

a plurality of electrical contacts located in said sleeve;

a plurality of electrical connector pins extending from said sleeve;

a pair of retainer arms extending from said sleeve, when said connector is mounted onto a circuit board, said retainer arms exert retaining forces against said circuit board to retain said connector; and

a shoulder disposed adjacent to said sleeve proximate said retainer arms, said shoulder providing a surface that may be located between the sleeve and a retainer plate disposed parallel to said circuit board.

2. The USB connector of claim 1 wherein:

the sleeve is elongated.

3. The USB connector of claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of electrical connector pins extend from the sleeve in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

4. The USB connector of claim 1 wherein:

the pair of retainer arms extend from the sleeve in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

5. The USB connector of claim 1 wherein:

the pair of retainer arms are extensions of the sleeve.

6. The USB connector of claim 1 wherein:

the pair of retainer arms are of resilient material.

7. The USB connector of claim 1 wherein:

the pair of retainer arms have a portion bent angularly.

8. An electrical connector comprising:

a sleeve;

electrical contacts in the sleeve;

electrical connector pins extending from the sleeve; and

retainer arms extending from the sleeve.

9. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein:

the sleeve carries the electrical contacts.

10. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein:

the electrical connector pins are in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

11. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein:

the retainer arms extend in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

12. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein:

the retainer arms are comprised of a material; and

the sleeve is comprised of the material.

13. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein:

the retainer arms are of resilient material.

14. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein:

the retainer arms are bent angularly.

15. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein:

the retainer arms extend from an end of the sleeve; and

the electrical connector pins extend from the end of the sleeve.

16. The electrical connector of claim 8 further comprising:

a shoulder adjacent to the sleeve.

17. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein:

the sleeve is elongated.

18. The electrical connector of claim 12 wherein:

the retainer arms are extensions of the sleeve.

19. The electrical connector of claim 14 wherein:

the retainer arms are bent away from a center of the sleeve and are bent toward the center of the sleeve.

20. The electrical connector of claim 16 wherein:

the shoulder is located adjacent to the retainer arms.

21. The electrical connector of claim 16 wherein:

the shoulder is located adjacent to the electrical connector pins.

22. The electrical connector of claim 16 wherein:

the shoulder is located around a circumference of the sleeve.

23. The electrical connector of claim 16 wherein:

the retainer arms extend from an end of the sleeve;

the as the electrical connector pins extend from the end of the sleeve; and

the shoulder is located around a circumference of the end of the sleeve.

24. The electrical connector of claim 19 wherein:

the retainer arms are extensions of the sleeve.

25. The electrical connector of claim 23 wherein:

the retainer arms are extensions of the sleeve.