Adapter and apparatus for coupling a cord of a peripheral device with a portable terminal
First Claim
1. An adaptor apparatus for connecting a cord of a peripheral device with a wearable, mobile and/or portable terminal, the terminal including electronics and an external case with an existing receptacle capable of receiving an electrical connector element, the adaptor apparatus comprising:
- a housing defining a socket and including an engagement lip with an angled surface proximate the socket, the housing configured to be coupled with the external case of the terminal;
a plurality of first electrical contacts positioned at a mating surface of the socket;
an electrical connector element configured to be received by the existing receptacle of the terminal, the electrical connector element coupled to the plurality of first electrical contacts and establishing a functional path for electrical communications between the terminal and the mating surface of the socket; and
a plug member for placement at the end of the cord of the peripheral device, the plug member including a plurality of second electrical contacts positioned at a mating surface of the plug and a pivoting lever arm with an engagement claw having an angled surface, the plug member configured to plug into the socket for electrically coupling the first and second electrical contacts, the lever arm biased with a biasing force to a first position in which the angled surface of the engagement claw engages the angled surface of the engagement lip for securing the plug in the socket, and the lever arm moveable to a second position in which the angled surface of the engagement claw is disengaged from the angled surface of the engagement lip for unplugging the plug member from the socket;
wherein the angled surface of the engagement claw moves relative to the angled surface of the engagement lip to pivot the lever arm from the first position toward the second position, without manual actuation, when a break-away force is transferred from the cord to the plug member effective to overcome the biasing force and unplug the plug member from the socket.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adapter and apparatus for coupling a corded peripheral device with a portable terminal. The adapter may be used to convert the portable terminal to include an electrical connector having a break-away capability for connecting a corded peripheral device with the terminal. The connector is adapted to disconnect from the portable terminal when a sufficient force is applied to the cord, which disengages the peripheral device from the portable terminal. The ability of the cord to break-away from the portable terminal prevents damage not only to the connector, but also to the cord, peripheral, and terminal.
86 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An adaptor apparatus for connecting a cord of a peripheral device with a wearable, mobile and/or portable terminal, the terminal including electronics and an external case with an existing receptacle capable of receiving an electrical connector element, the adaptor apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining a socket and including an engagement lip with an angled surface proximate the socket, the housing configured to be coupled with the external case of the terminal; a plurality of first electrical contacts positioned at a mating surface of the socket; an electrical connector element configured to be received by the existing receptacle of the terminal, the electrical connector element coupled to the plurality of first electrical contacts and establishing a functional path for electrical communications between the terminal and the mating surface of the socket; and a plug member for placement at the end of the cord of the peripheral device, the plug member including a plurality of second electrical contacts positioned at a mating surface of the plug and a pivoting lever arm with an engagement claw having an angled surface, the plug member configured to plug into the socket for electrically coupling the first and second electrical contacts, the lever arm biased with a biasing force to a first position in which the angled surface of the engagement claw engages the angled surface of the engagement lip for securing the plug in the socket, and the lever arm moveable to a second position in which the angled surface of the engagement claw is disengaged from the angled surface of the engagement lip for unplugging the plug member from the socket; wherein the angled surface of the engagement claw moves relative to the angled surface of the engagement lip to pivot the lever arm from the first position toward the second position, without manual actuation, when a break-away force is transferred from the cord to the plug member effective to overcome the biasing force and unplug the plug member from the socket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An adaptor apparatus for coupling with a wearable, mobile and/or portable terminal, the terminal having electronics and an external case with an existing electrical connector receptacle capable of receiving an electrical connector element, the adapter providing a damage resistant connection between an end of a cord of a peripheral device and the terminal, the adaptor apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining a socket and including an engagement lip with an angled surface proximate the socket, the housing configured to be coupled with the external case of the terminal; a plurality of first electrical contacts positioned at a mating surface of the socket; an electrical connector element configured to be received by the existing receptacle of the terminal, the electrical connector element coupled to the plurality of first electrical contacts establishing a functional path for electrical communications between the terminal and the mating surface of the socket, the socket presented by the housing at the face of the terminal; and a plug member for placement at the end of the cord of the peripheral device, the plug member including a plurality of second electrical contacts positioned at a mating surface of the plug member and a pivoting lever biased with a biasing force to a first position for securing the plug in the socket, the plug member configured to plug into the socket for connecting the first and second electrical contacts, and the lever arm moveable from the first position to a second position for unplugging the plug member from the socket, without manual actuation, when a break-away force is transferred from the cord to the plug member effective to overcome the biasing force. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for use with a wearable, mobile and/or portable terminal, the terminal including electronics and an external case with an existing receptacle capable of receiving an electrical connector element, the apparatus comprising:
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a peripheral device having a cord with an end; a housing defining a socket and including an engagement lip with an angled surface proximate the socket, the housing configured to be coupled to the external case of the terminal; a plurality of first contacts positioned at a mating surface of the socket; an electrical connector element configured to be received by the existing receptacle of the terminal, the electrical connector element coupled to the plurality of first electrical contacts and establishing a functional path for electrical communications between the terminal and the mating surface of the socket; and a plug member coupled with the end of the cord of the peripheral device, the plug member including a plurality of second electrical contacts positioned at a mating surface of the plug and a pivoting lever arm with an engagement claw having an angled surface, the plug member configured to plug into the socket for electrically coupling the first and second electrical contacts, the lever arm biased with a biasing force to a first position in which the angled surface of the engagement claw engages the angled surface of the engagement lip for securing the plug in the socket, and the lever arm moveable to a second position in which the angled surface of the engagement claw is disengaged from the angled surface of the engagement lip for unplugging the plug member from the socket; wherein the angled surface of the engagement claw moves relative to the angled surface of the engagement lip to pivot the lever arm from the first position toward the second position, without manual actuation, when a break-away force is transferred from the cord to the plug member effective to overcome the biasing force and thereby unplug the plug member from the socket. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification