Universal serial bus flash drive with deploying and retracting functionalities

• US 7,420,803 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2007
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Super Talent Technology, Corporation
• Original Assignee: Super Talent Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Nguyen, David, Nan, Nan, Shen, Ming-Shiang, Hsueh, Paul, Kim, Jin Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard; Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aychillhum; Andargie M
• Application Number:
  US11/682,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20070184685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 439140-141, 439135-137, 439/131, 401/195, 361/686, 361752-753, 361736-737
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1416 by checking the object accessibility, e.g. type of access defined by the memory independently of subject rights G06F12/1458 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07354 by biometrically sensitive means, e.g. fingerprint sensitive fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/12; biometrically activated access control G07C9/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26

Abstract

A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device for deploying and retracting a USB plug connector having a pusher assembly including a USB flash drive and a USB plug connector, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The USB flash drive pen device further includes a housing assembly at least partially enclosing said pusher assembly for deploying said USB plug connector, said USB flash drive being coupled to said USB plug connector, said pusher assembly retracting said USB plug connector into said housing assembly, said USB flash drive pen device for deploying said USB plug connector to couple said USB flash drive to a USB port.

Claims

1. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device comprising:

a pusher assembly including a USB flash drive and a USB plug connector; and

a housing assembly at least partially enclosing said pusher assembly for deploying said USB plug connector, said USB flash drive being coupled to said USB plug connector, said pusher assembly operative to retract said USB plug connector into said housing assembly when an end cap is pressed and to deploy said USB plug connector when said end cap is pressed again, said USB flash drive pen device for deploying said USB plug connector to couple said USB flash drive to a USB port.

2. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 1 further including a standard printed circuit board (PCB) assembly having a PCB substrate and a USB plug connector, said PCB substrate including hardware devices for said USB flash drive, said PCB substrate being coupled to said USB plug connector.

3. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 1 further including a chip on board (COB) printed circuit board (PCB) assembly having said USB plug connector, said chip on board PCB assembly including hardware devices of said USB flash drive.

4. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 1 further including a super-slim printed circuit board (PCB) assembly having said USB plug connector, said super-slim PCB assembly including hardware devices of said USB flash drive.

5. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 2 where said pusher assembly including a button assembly having a plurality of slots to secure said standard printed circuit board (PCB)assembly, said pusher assembly further including a cover top having a plurality of tabs to secure said standard PCB assembly to said button bottom assembly.

6. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 5 wherein said button bottom assembly further including a printed circuit board (PCB) slot channel having said plurality of slots, said standard PCB assembly being positioned on said PCB slot channel, said cover top for securing said standard PCB assembly to said button bottom assembly by snapping said plurality of tabs into said plurality of slots.

7. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 5 wherein said button bottom assembly further including an end cap being pressed into the end of said button bottom assembly for closing thereof, said end cap having a step for tightly fitting into the end of said button bottom assembly.

8. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 7 wherein said button bottom assembly including a bar having a bar tip, said end cap being pressed to push said bar for deploying said USB plug connector, said bar for aligning said pusher assembly inside said USB flash drive pen device.

9. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 8 further including a housing unit and a stopper unit, said stopper unit including a channel, said bar being aligned with said channel for pushing said standard printed circuit board (PCB) assembly inside said housing assembly.

10. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 9 wherein said housing unit including one or more notches, said stopper unit including one or more housing slots for alignment with said one or more notches to push said stopper unit inside said housing unit.

11. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 9 wherein said housing unit for including a USB cut-out to allow said USB plug connector to travel out of said housing unit.

12. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 10 wherein said stopper unit for including a slot to allow said bar to travel therein to deploy said USB plug connector, said slot including a first and a second locking groove, said bar tip being positioned in said second locking groove for deploying said USB plug connector, said bar tip being positioned in said first locking groove to retract said USB plug connector.

13. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 12 further including one or more springs being placed inside said housing assembly for retracting said USB plug connector, said button bottom assembly for including one or more pins to hold said one or more springs in place inside said housing assembly, said one or more springs for pushing back against said pusher assembly to retract said USB plug connector.

14. A method for manufacturing a universal serial bus (USB) plug connector comprising

coupling a housing assembly to a pusher assembly;

coupling a USB flash drive to a USB plug connector;

deploying the USB plug connector when an end cap is pressed;

retracting the USB plug connector into the housing assembly when said end cap is pressed again; and

coupling a USB flash drive pen device to a USB port.

15. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device comprising:

means for coupling a housing assembly to a pusher assembly;

means for coupling a USB flash drive to a USB plug connector;

means for deploying the USB plug connector when an end is pressed;

means for retracting the USB plug connector into the housing assembly when said endcap is pressed again; and

means for coupling a USB flash drive pen device to a USB port.

16. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device comprising:

a pusher assembly including a USB flash drive and a USB plug connector;

a front tube; and

a deploying subassembly positioned adjacent to said pusher assembly for deploying said USB plug connector, said USB flash drive being coupled to said USB plug connector, said deploying subassembly retracting said USB plug connector into said front tube when an end cap is pressed and deploying said USB plug connector when said end cap is pressed again, said USB flash drive pen device for deploying said USB plug connector to couple said USB flash drive to a USB port.

17. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 16 wherein said deploying subassembly including an inner rotator, a pusher unit and a back tube, said pusher unit having one or more tabs, said back tube having a plurality of grooves, said back tube further having one or more wedges having corners, said inner-rotator having one or more big tabs, said inner-rotator including one or more wedges having tips, said one or more tabs of said pusher unit positioned inside said plurality of grooves of said back tube to deploy said USB plug connector, said tips of said wedges of said inner-rotator stopped at said corners of said wedges of said back tube to lock said USB plug connector in the deployed position.

18. A universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device as recited in claim 17 wherein said one or more tabs of said pusher unit positioned inside said plurality of grooves of said back tube to retract said USB plug connector, said tabs of said pusher unit stopped at the ends of said plurality of grooves of said back tube to lock said USB plug connector in the retracted position.

19. A method for manufacturing a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive pen device comprising:

positioning a deploying subassembly adjacent to a pusher subassembly for deploying a USB plug;

coupling a USB flash drive to the USB plug connector;

deploying said USB plug connector when an end cap is pressed;

retracting the USB plug connector into a front tube when said end cap is pressed again; and

coupling the USB flash drive to a USB port.