Wireless adapter having foldable geometrically loop-like antenna

• US 6,758,689 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SMK Link Electronics Corp (SMK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Interlink Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Freidin, Lev, Sanchez, Carlos Solis, Bair, Patrick Harold, Tickle, James Dexter
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US10/447,564
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 439/916, 439/136, 439/640, 439/11, 439/13, 439/638, 343/702, 343/906, 343/900, 343/880, 343/700.MS, 455/90, 455/102, 455/348
• US Class Current: 439/136
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/02 for antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0278 of USB type details relating to connectors H01R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/916 Antenna

Abstract

A system and a method for protecting a connector and a body of a wireless adapter with a geometrical loop antenna. The loop antenna folds over the body of the wireless adapter to protect the connector and the body. The wireless adapter may be used to connect a peripheral device to a host device. The body of the wireless adapter includes a body stop operable for receiving the loop antenna. The system may also include a cap for protecting the connector of the wireless adapter. In this instance, the loop antenna folds over the cap to lock the cap in place on the connector. A cap may also be integrated into the distal end of the loop antenna.

Claims

1. A wireless adapter comprising:

a body having opposite sides;

a connector extending out from a first end of the body, the connector being adapted to be received by a host connector of a host device; and

a loop antenna pivotally mounted to a second end of the body for pivotal movement about the second end of the body;

wherein the loop antenna is foldable into a closed position over the sides of the body and the connector to thereby surround the sides of the body and the connector.

2. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

a body stop extending out from each side of the body, the body stops interrupting the pivotal movement of the loop antenna about the body to define the closed position;

wherein the loop antenna rests against the body stops when the loop antenna is folded into the closed position.

3. The adapter of claim 1 wherein:

the connector is a universal serial bus connector.

4. The adapter of claim 1 wherein;

the body houses at least one of receiver and a transmitter.

5. The adapter of claim 1 wherein:

the body houses a storage medium.

6. The adapter of claim 1 wherein:

the body stops are at the first end of the body.

7. The adapter of claim 1 wherein:

the loop antenna is a metal loop antenna.

8. The adapter of claim 1 wherein:

the loop antenna is foldable into the closed position over the sides of the body and the connector to thereby surround the sides of the body and the connector in order to protect the connector when the connector is disconnected from the host connector of the host device.

9. The adapter of claim 1 wherein:

the loop antenna has a length appropriately sized to receive and transmit a signal having a desired frequency.

10. The adapter of claim 9 wherein:

a sum length of a length of the body and a length of the connector is smaller than the length of the loop antenna such that the loop antenna surrounds the sides of the body and the connector when the loop antenna is folded into the closed position.

11. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

a cap having sides and an opening, the opening of the cap configured for receiving the connector in order for the cap to cap the connector;

wherein the loop antenna folds over into the closed position to surround the sides of the body and the cap when the cap is capping the connector and thereby locks the cap onto the connector.

12. The adapter of claim 11 wherein:

the cap includes a cap stop extending from a side of the cap for interrupting the pivotal movement of the loop antenna about the body to define the closed position.

13. A wireless adapter comprising:

a body having opposite sides;

a connector extending our from a first end of the body, the connector being adapted to be received by a host connector of a host device;

a geometrically loop-like antenna pivotally mounted to a second end of the body for pivotal movement about the second end of the body; and

an integrated cap at a distal end of the loop antenna, the integrated cap configured to receive the connector;

wherein the geometrically loop-like antenna is foldable into a closed position over the sides of the body and the connector such that the integrated cap surrounds the connector.

14. The adapter of claim 13 wherein:

the geometrically loop-like antenna is foldable into the closed position over the sides of the body and the connector such that the integrated cap surrounds the connector in order to protect the connector when the connector is disconnected from the host connector of the host device.

15. The adapter of claim 14 further comprising:

a body stop extending from each side of the body, wherein the body stops interrupt the pivotal movement of the loop antenna about the body to define the closed position;

wherein the geometrically loop-like antenna rests against the body stops when the geometrically loop-like antenna is folded into the closed position.

16. A method for providing protection of a connector of a wireless adapter, the wireless adapter including a body having opposite sides with the connector extending out from a first end of the body and a loop antenna pivotally mounted to a second end of the body, the body including stops extending out from each side of the body, the method comprising:

pivoting the loop antenna about the second end of the body towards the body stops; and

surrounding the sides of the body and the connector with the loop antenna to protect the connector when the connector is disconnected from a host connector of a host device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

placing a cap onto the connector prior to the steps of pivoting and surrounding;

wherein the step of surrounding includes surrounding the cap with the loop antenna to lock the cap onto the connector.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the loop antenna includes an integrated cap, wherein:

the step of surrounding includes surrounding the connector with the integrated cap.