External connecting electronic apparatus

• US 7,025,275 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2004
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chuo, Yu-Hsin, Huang, Tzu-Ling, Kao, Li-Li, Peng, Hsiao-Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa M.
• Application Number:
  US10/764,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20050161513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 235/486, 312/9.1
• US Class Current: 235/486
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07743 External electrical contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

An external connecting electronic apparatus includes a case body, a connector and a cap plate. The connector and the cap plate are pivotally coupled on the case body in a movable manner. The connector has at least a hidden position in the case body for storing and a connecting position outside the case body. The cap plate has at least a masked position for covering the case body and an open position extending outwards. The cap plate corresponds to a free end of the connector. Thus when the cap plate is pushed, the connector may be moved at the same time.

Claims

1. An external connecting electronic apparatus, comprising:

a case body for housing electronic elements that provide functions of the external connecting electronic apparatus having a housing compartment located on one side thereof;

a connector connecting electrically to the electronic elements in the case body and being pivotally coupled on one end of the housing compartment in a turnable manner, and having a hidden position in which the connector being completely housed in the housing compartment and a connecting position in which the connector being turned outwards from the housing compartment to connect to a computer; and

a cap plate pivotally coupled on another end of the housing compartment in a turnable manner corresponding to the connector having a masked position for covering the case body and an open position turned outwards;

wherein the cap plate is movable from the masked position to the open position to push the connector moving from the hidden position to the connecting position, and the connector is movable from the connecting position to the hidden position to push the cap plate moving from the open position to the masked position.

2. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the case body includes an upper shell and a lower shell that have respectively a pivot hole corresponding to the pivotal coupling position of the housing compartment and the connector, the connector having a coupling trough on an upper side and a lower side thereof corresponding to the pivot hole, the pivot hole and the coupling trough being coupled with a pair of axles so that the connector is turnable about the axles.

3. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the upper shell and the lower shell have respectively a pivot seat corresponding to the housing compartment at another end corresponding to the pivot hole, the cap plate having a pivot hole to receive an axle for coupling on the pivot seat so that the cap plate is turnable about the axle.

4. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the coupling trough has a plurality of anchor lugs formed in an annular fashion, the axles having anchor notches corresponding to the anchor lugs so that the connector is restricted by the anchor lugs and anchor notches to be maintained at an adjusted position.

5. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 2, wherein the axles are fixedly located on the connector and have a plurality of bucking members located thereon in an arched fashion.

6. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector has a pivot end pivotally coupled on the case body and a free end with an electric plug located thereon.

7. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap plate is substantially formed in L-shape and has a first plate on one side and a second plate on other side, the first plate and the second plate covering the case body at the masked position, and the first plate being turned outwards from the housing compartment and the second plate being turned and moved into the housing compartment at the open position, and the second plate ramming and moving the connector when being moved to the open position.

8. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector has a first rotary arm and a second rotary arm pivotally coupled with each other in a turnable manner, the first rotary arm and the second rotary arm being movable together between the hidden position and the connecting position, and the second rotary arm being turnable relative to the first rotary arm when located between the hidden position and the connecting position.

9. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second rotary arm is turnable radially relative to the first rotary arm.

10. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second rotary arm is turnable axially relative to the first rotary arm.

11. An external connecting electronic apparatus, comprising:

a case body for housing electronic elements that provide functions of the external connecting electronic apparatus having a first housing compartment and a second housing compartment located on two neighboring sides thereof;

a connector connecting electrically to the electronic elements in the case body and being pivotally coupled in a turnable manner on a juncture of the first housing compartment and the second housing compartment, the connector having a hidden position in which the connector being completely housed in the first housing compartment or the second housing compartment, and a connecting position in which the connector being turned outwards from the first housing compartment or the second housing compartment to connect to a computer;

a first cap plate pivotally coupled on another end of the first housing compartment in a turnable manner corresponding to the connector having a masked position for covering the case body and an open position turned outwards;

the first cap plate being movable from the masked position to the open position to push the connector moving from the hidden position to the connecting position, and the connector being movable from the connecting position to the hidden position to push the first cap plate moving from the open position to the masked position; and

a second cap plate pivotally coupled on another end of the second housing compartment in a turnable manner corresponding to the connector having a masked position for covering the case body and an open position turned outwards;

the second cap plate being movable from the masked position to the open position to push the connector moving from the hidden position to the connecting position, and the connector being movable from the connecting position to the hidden position to push the second cap plate moving from the open position to the masked position.

12. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the case body includes an upper shell and a lower shell that have respectively a pivot hole corresponding to the juncture of the first housing compartment and the second housing compartment, the connector having respectively a coupling trough on an upper side and a lower side corresponding to the pivot hole, the pivot hole and the coupling troughs being coupled with a pair of axles so that the connector is turnable about the axles.

13. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the upper shell and the lower shell have respectively a pivot seat corresponding to the first housing compartment at another end corresponding to the pivot hole, the first cap plate having a pivot hole to receive an axle for coupling on the pivot seat so that the cap plate is turnable about the axle.

14. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the upper shell and the lower shell have respectively a pivot seat corresponding to the second housing compartment at another end corresponding to the pivot hole, the second cap plate having a pivot hole to receive an axle for coupling on the pivot seat so that the second cap plate is turnable about the axle.

15. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the coupling trough has a plurality of anchor lugs formed in an annular fashion, the axles having anchor notches corresponding to the anchor lugs so that the connector is restricted by the anchor lugs and the anchor notches to be maintained at an adjusted position.

16. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the axles are fixedly located on the connector and have a plurality of bucking members located thereon in an arched fashion.

17. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the connector has a pivot end pivotally coupled on the case body and a free end with an electric plug located thereon.

18. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first cap plate and the second cap plate are substantially formed in L-shape and have a first plate on one side and a second plate on other side, the first plate and the second plate covering the case body at the masked position, and the first plate being turned outwards from the housing compartment and the second plate being turned and moved into the housing compartment at the open position, and the second plate ramming and moving the connector when being moved to the open position.

19. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the connector has a first rotary arm and a second rotary arm pivotally coupled with each other in a turnable manner, the first rotary arm and the second rotary arm being movable together between the hidden position and the connecting position, and the second rotary arm being turnable relative to the first rotary arm when located between the hidden position and the connecting position.

20. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second rotary arm is turnable radially relative to the first rotary arm.

21. The external connecting electronic apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second rotary arm is turnable axially relative to the first rotary arm.