Portable-type information apparatus
First Claim
1. A detachable connector unit for an electronic apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
a plurality of first connectors mounted in the housing affording connections to respective peripheral units;
a second connector mounted in the housing and a part thereof projecting from a front surface of the detachable connector unit and affording a detachable connection to the electronic apparatus;
a pair of fasteners incorporated in the connector unit with said first connectors arranged therebetween and operable independently of each other to detachably fix the housing to the electronic apparatus, the length of the housing with the pair of fasteners incorporated therein being substantially equal to the overall length of the detachable connector unit, wherein each of the pair of fasteners comprises a threaded shaft axially movable between retracted and extended positions projecting outwardly from the front surface of the detachable connector unit; and
the second connector further comprises guide pins projecting outwardly by a fixed length from the front surface of the detachable connector unit and, in a state in which the connector unit is not attached to the electronic apparatus, the length of an outwardly projecting portion of each threaded shaft, in the retracted position, being shorter than the fixed length of the outwardly projecting guide pins.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A notebook type personal computer has a common connector detachably connected to a mating connector of a connection unit, or replicator, which further has plural connectors affording detachable connections to plural peripheral units. One or more fastener units, carried by the connector unit, provide for detachably but rigidly affixing the connector unit to the notebook type personal computer. An alternative connector box accommodates one or more batteries while affording connections through the common connector and the plural first connectors to peripheral units and yet another alternative connector box houses only batteries and is connectable through a mating connector to the common connector of the personal computer to afford extended operating time.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A detachable connector unit for an electronic apparatus comprising:
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a housing;
a plurality of first connectors mounted in the housing affording connections to respective peripheral units;
a second connector mounted in the housing and a part thereof projecting from a front surface of the detachable connector unit and affording a detachable connection to the electronic apparatus;
a pair of fasteners incorporated in the connector unit with said first connectors arranged therebetween and operable independently of each other to detachably fix the housing to the electronic apparatus, the length of the housing with the pair of fasteners incorporated therein being substantially equal to the overall length of the detachable connector unit, wherein each of the pair of fasteners comprises a threaded shaft axially movable between retracted and extended positions projecting outwardly from the front surface of the detachable connector unit; and
the second connector further comprises guide pins projecting outwardly by a fixed length from the front surface of the detachable connector unit and, in a state in which the connector unit is not attached to the electronic apparatus, the length of an outwardly projecting portion of each threaded shaft, in the retracted position, being shorter than the fixed length of the outwardly projecting guide pins.
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2. A detachable connector unit for an electronic apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of first connectors affording connections to respective peripheral units;
a second connector detachably connectable to the electronic apparatus; and
a pair of fasteners, operable independently of each other to detachably fix the detachable connector unit to the electronic apparatus, mounted in the vicinity of respective, spaced end walls of the detachable connector unit and each of the pair of fasteners comprises a threaded shaft axially movable between retracted and extended positions projecting outwardly from a front surface of the detachable connector unit; and
the second connector further comprises guide pins projecting outwardly by a fixed length from the front surface of the detachable connector unit and, in a state in which the connector unit is not attached to the electronic apparatus, the length of an outwardly projecting portion of each threaded shaft, in the retracted position, being shorter than the fixed length of the outwardly projecting guide pins. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A detachable connector unit for an electronic apparatus, comprising:
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a housing having front and rear surfaces and a height no greater than a thickness of the electronic apparatus;
a plurality of first connectors, accessible at the rear surface of the housing, detachably connectable to respective peripheral units;
a second connector mounted on the front surface of the housing and detachably connectable to a mating, third connector mounted on a rear surface of the electronic apparatus by positioning the housing with the front surface thereof in parallel, spaced relationship with the rear surface of the electronic housing and with the second connector aligned with the mating, third connector and moving the housing in a direction toward the rear surface of the electronic housing so as to position the respective, parallel surfaces in contiguous relationship and thereby to connect the second and third connectors;
a pair of fasteners mounted in the housing with said first connectors arranged therebetween and having respective fastening shafts extending resiliently from, and transversely to, the front surface of the housing and disposed therein so as to be aligned with corresponding mating fasteners in the rear surface of the electronic apparatus when the respective second and third connectors are aligned, each threaded shaft being axially moveable between retracted and extended positions projecting from the front surface of the connector unit; and
the second connector further comprises guide pins projecting outwardly by a fixed length from the front surface of the detachable connector unit and, in a state in which the connector unit is not attached to the electronic apparatus, the length of an outwardly projecting portion of each threaded shaft, in the retracted position, being shorter than the fixed length of the outwardly projecting guide pins; and
the fastening shafts being resiliently biased by corresponding springs to project from the front surface of the housing and being operable independently of each other to contact and resiliently engage the corresponding mating fasteners in the rear surface of the electronic apparatus and, by rotation of the fastening shafts, to be securely engaged therewith to maintain the contiguous relationship of the respective, parallel surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A combination, comprising:
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an electronic apparatus, comprising;
an apparatus housing having a surface defining a width of the apparatus housing and a height corresponding to a thickness of the housing, and a common connector disposed in the surface; and
a detachable connector unit for the electronic apparatus, comprising;
a connector housing having a corresponding width, a plurality of first connectors mounted in the housing affording connections to respective peripheral units, a second connector mounted in the housing and affording a detachable connection to the electronic apparatus, and a pair of fasteners incorporated in the connector unit with said first connectors arranged therebetween, operable independently of each other to detachably fix the housing to the electronic apparatus, the length of the housing with the fasteners incorporated therein being substantially equal to the overall length of the detachable connector unit wherein each of the pair of fasteners comprises a threaded shaft axially movable between retracted and extended positions projecting outwardly from the front surface of the detachable connector unit; and
the second connector further comprises guide pins projecting outwardly by a fixed length from the front surface of the detachable connecter unit and, in a state in which the connector unit is net attached to the electronic apparatus, the length of an outwardly projecting portion of each threaded shaft, in the retracted position, being shorter than the fixed length of the outwardly projecting guide pins.
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9. A combination, comprising:
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an electronic apparatus, comprising;
an apparatus housing having a surface defining a width of the apparatus housing and a height corresponding to a thickness of the housing, and a common connecter disposed in the surface; and
a detachable connector unit for the electronic apparatus, comprising;
a connector housing having a corresponding width, a plurality of first connectors affording connections to respective peripheral units, a second connector detachably connectable to the electronic apparatus, and a pair of fasteners, operable independently of each other to detachably fix the detachable connector unit to the electronic apparatus, mounted in the vicinity of respective, spaced end walls of the detachable connector unit and each of the pair of fasteners comprises a threaded shaft axially movable between retracted and extended positions projecting outwardly from the front surface of the detachable connecter unit; and
the second connector further comprises guide pins projecting outwardly by a fixed length from the front surface of the detachable connector unit and, in a state in which the connector unit is not attached to the electronic apparatus, the length of an outwardly projecting portion of each threaded shaft, in the retracted position, being shorter than the fixed length of the outwardly projecting guide pins. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A combination, comprising:
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an electronic apparatus, comprising;
a connector housing having a surface defining a width of the housing and a height corresponding to a thickness of the housing and a corresponding width, and a common connector disposed in the surface; and
a detachable connector unit for the electronic apparatus, comprising;
a housing having front and rear surfaces and a height no greater than a thickness of the electronic apparatus, a plurality of first connectors, accessible at the rear surface of the housing, detachably connectable to respective peripheral units, a second connector mounted on the front surface of the housing and detachably connectable to a mating, third connector mounted on a rear surface of the electronic apparatus by positioning the housing with the front surface thereof in parallel, spaced relationship with the rear surface of the electronic housing and with the second connector aligned with the mating, third connector and moving the housing in a direction toward the rear surface of the electronic housing so as to position the respective, parallel surfaces in contiguous relationship and thereby to connect the second and third connectors, a pair of fasteners mounted in the housing with said first connectors arranged therebetween and having respective fastening shafts extending resiliently from, and transversely to, the front surface of the housing and disposed therein so as to be aligned with corresponding mating fasteners in the rear surface of the electronic apparatus, when the respective second and third connectors are aligned and a length of a part of each fastening shaft axially movable between retracted and extended positions projecting outwardly from the front surface of the connector unit;
the second connector further comprises guide pins projecting outwardly by a fixed length from the front surface of the detachable connector unit and, in a state in which the connector unit is not attached to the electronic apparatus, the length of an outwardly projecting portion of each threaded shaft, in the retracted position, being shorter than the fixed length of the outwardly projecting guide pins; and
the fastening shafts being resiliently biased by the corresponding fasteners to project from the front surface of the housing and being operable independently of each other to contact and resiliently engage the corresponding mating fasteners in the rear surface of the electronic apparatus and, by rotation of the fastening shafts, to be securely engaged therewith to maintain the contiguous relationship of the respective, parallel surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A detachable connector unit for an electronic apparatus, comprising:
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a housing;
a plurality of first connectors mounted in the housing affording connections to respective plural peripheral units;
a common, second connector mounted in the housing and having plural terminals therein, connected through respective, separate conduction paths within the housing to respective said first connectors and affording a detachable connection to respective, plural terminals of a common, third connector of the electronic apparatus, the plural terminals of the common, third connector being connected to corresponding circuits of the electronic apparatus; and
a pair of fasteners incorporated in the connector unit with said first connectors arranged therebetween, operable independently of each other to detachably fix the housing to the electronic apparatus wherein each of the pair of fasteners comprises a threaded shaft axially movable between retracted and extended positions projecting outwardly from a front surface of the detachable connector unit; and
the second connector further comprises guide pins projecting outwardly by a fixed length from the front surface of the detachable connector unit and, in a state in which the connector unit is not attached to the electronic apparatus, the length of an outwardly projecting portion of each threaded shaft, in the retracted position, being shorter than the fixed length of the outwardly projecting guide pins.
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16. A detachable connector unit for an electronic apparatus, comprising:
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a housing;
a plurality of first connectors mounted in the housing affording connections to respective plural peripheral units;
a common, second connector mounted in the housing and having plural terminals therein, connected through respective, separate conduction paths within the housing to respective said first connectors affording a detachable connection to respective, plural terminals of a common, third connector of the electronic apparatus the respective, plural terminals of the common, third connector being connected to corresponding circuits of the electronic apparatus; and
a pair of fasteners operable independently of each other to detachably fix the detachable connector unit to the electronic apparatus, mounted in the vicinity of respective, spaced end walls of the detachable connector unit and each of the pair of fasteners comprises a threaded shaft axially movable between retracted and extended positions projecting outwardly from the front surface of the detachable connector unit; and
the second connector further comprises guide pins projecting outwardly by a fixed length from the front surface of the detachable connector unit and, in a state in which the connector unit is not attached to the electronic apparatus, the length of an outwardly projecting portion of each threaded shaft, in the retracted position, being shorter than the fixed length of the outwardly projecting guide pins.
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Specification