Electrical connector

• US 6,921,284 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin Corporation (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sirichai, Saharut, Quinteros, Ernesto
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US10/705,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20050101180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 439/490, 439/910
• US Class Current: 439/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6641 with diode with LED H01R13/7175
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/91 Observation aide, e.g. transparent material, window in housing

Abstract

An electrical connector (100) includes a housing (110) and a light source (120) inside the housing. The housing has a surface (130). A first portion of the surface permits the passage of a first amount of light from the light source, and a second portion of the surface permits the passage of a second amount of light from the light source, where the second amount of light is different from the first amount of light.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a housing having a surface comprising;

a first side;

a second side substantially opposite the first side;

a third side extending between the first side and the second side; and

a fourth side substantially opposite the third side and extending between the first side and the second side;

a connector tip partially enclosed within the housing and having a portion extending from the housing; and

a light source entirely contained within the housing,

wherein;

a first portion of the surface permits the passage of a first amount of light from the light source;

a second portion of the surface permits the passage of a second amount of light from the light source;

the first side and the second side form the first portion;

the third side and the fourth side form the second portion; and

the second amount of light is different from the first amount of light.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of wires inside the housing,

wherein;

the connector tip is selected from the group consisting of a universal serial bus connector tip and a firewire connector tip.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein:

the light source is a light emitting diode.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein:

the first amount of light is greater than the second amount of light.

5. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein:

the first portion is textured; and

the second portion is non-textured.

6. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein:

the first portion is translucent; and

the second portion is transparent.

7. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein:

the first portion is constructed of a first material;

the second portion is constructed of a second material; and

the second material is different from the first material.

8. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein:

the first portion is constructed of a first material; and

the second portion is constructed of the first material.

9. An electrical connector comprising:

a housing having a surface comprising;

a first side;

a second side substantially opposite the first side;

a third side extending between the first side and the second side; and

a fourth side substantially opposite the third side and extending between the first side and the second side; and

a light source inside the housing,

wherein;

at least portions of the first side and the second side form a first portion of the surface;

at least portions of the third side and the fourth side form a second portion of the surface; and

more light passes through the first portion than passes through the second portion.

10. The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein:

the first side is substantially parallel to the second side; and

the third side is substantially parallel to the fourth side.

11. The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein:

the first portion is textured; and

the second portion is polished.

12. The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein:

the first portion is constructed of a first material;

the second portion is constructed of a second material; and

the second material is different from the first material.

13. The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein:

the first portion is constructed of a first material; and

the second portion is constructed of the first material.

14. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein:

the first material is polyvinyl chloride.

15. The electrical connector of claim 9 further comprising:

a plurality of wires inside the housing; and

a connector tip partially enclosed within the housing,

wherein;

the connector tip is selected from the group consisting of a universal serial bus connector tip and a firewire connector tip.

16. The electrical connector of claim 15 wherein:

the light source is a light emitting diode.

17. An electrical connector comprising:

a housing having a surface comprising;

a first side;

a second side substantially opposite and substantially parallel to the first side;

a third side extending between the first side and the second side; and

a fourth side substantially opposite and substantially parallel to the third side and extending between the first side and the second side; and

a light emitting diode inside the housing,

wherein;

at least a portion of the first side and at least a portion of the second side form a first portion of the surface;

at least a portion of the third side and at least a portion of the fourth side form a second portion of the surface;

the first portion is textured; and

more light passes through the first portion than passes through the second portion.

18. The electrical connector of claim 17 wherein:

the second portion is polished.

19. The electrical connector of claim 18 wherein:

the first portion and the second portion are constructed of a transparent grade of polyvinyl chloride.

20. The electrical connector of claim 19 further comprising:

a plurality of wires inside the housing; and

a connector tip partially enclosed within the housing,

wherein;

the connector tip is selected from the group consisting of a universal serial bus connector tip and a firewire connector tip.

21. A method of manufacturing an electrical connector, the method comprising:

electrically coupling a light source to a connector tip; and

providing a housing around the light source, the housing having a surface, surface comprising;

a first side;

a second side substantially opposite the first side;

a third side extending between the first side and the second side; and

a fourth side substantially opposite the third side and extending between the first side and the second side;

wherein;

a first portion of the surface permits the passage of a first amount of light from the light source;

a second portion of the surface permits the passage of a second amount of light from the light source;

the first side and the second side form the first portion;

the third side and the fourth side form the second portion; and

the second amount of light is different from the first amount of light.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

providing the first portion to be textured; and

providing the second portion to be polished.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

providing the connector tip to be one of a universal serial bus connector tip and a firewire connector tip.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

providing the first portion and the second portion to be constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomer or a semi-rigid plastic resin.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

providing the first portion and the second portion to be constructed of a transparent grade of polyvinyl chloride.