Portable electronic device having a concealed jack socket

• US 8,348,684 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Ladouceur, Norman Miner, Griffin, Jason Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US12/971,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20120156901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.1, 439/77, 439/131, 439/135, 439/136, 439140-142
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a portable electronic device having a concealed jack socket. In accordance with one example embodiment, the portable electronic device comprises: a housing including a main body and a hatch movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position; a jack socket received within the housing, the jack socket defining a cavity for receiving a jack plug; wherein the hatch is pivotably connected to the main body to move from the fully closed position to the fully open position in response to insertion of the jack plug, wherein the jack socket is hidden in the fully closed position and exposed in the fully open position.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing including a main body and a hatch pivotably connected to the main body, wherein the hatch is moveable between a fully open position and a fully closed position, wherein the hatch has a flared portion which defines an opening for receiving and catching a tip of a jack plug during insertion of the jack plug when the hatch is in the fully closed position;

a jack socket received within the housing, the jack socket defining a cavity for receiving the jack plug;

a main circuit board;

a flexible print circuit board connecting the jack socket to the main circuit board;

wherein the hatch is pivotably connected to the main body such that, when the jack plug is inserted into the jack socket, the tip of the jack plug catches the flared portion and the tip causes the hatch to move from the fully closed position towards the fully open position, wherein continued insertion of the jack plug causes the hatch to move to the fully open position, and wherein the hatch is pivotably connected to the main body to move from the fully open position to the fully closed position in response to removal of the jack plug from the jack socket, wherein the jack socket is hidden in the fully closed position and exposed in the fully open position.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 comprising a hinge pivotably connecting the hatch to the main body such that the hatch rotates between the fully open position and fully closed position in response to insertion of the jack plug.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2 wherein the jack socket is attached to an inside surface of the hatch for movement with the hatch between the fully open position and fully closed position.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the hatch is pivotably and slideably connected to the main body for rotation between the fully closed position and a first open position and sliding movement between the first open position and the fully open position, wherein the jack socket is moveable between a fully retracted position when the hatch is in the first open position and a fully extended position when the hatch is in the fully open position.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 4 comprising a sliding mechanism connected to the hatch for sliding the hatch between the first open position and the fully open position.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5 further comprising a linkage system connecting the hatch and the jack socket such that the jack socket moves between the fully retracted position when the hatch is in the first open position and the fully extended position when the hatch is in the fully open position.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 5 further comprising a cable connecting the hatch and the jack socket such that the jack socket moves between the fully retracted position when the hatch is in the first open position and the fully extended position when the hatch is in the fully open position.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 4 further comprising a motor connected between a fixed point of the portable electronic device and the jack socket, the motor being adapted to move the jack socket from the fully retracted position to the fully extended position during insertion of the jack plug into the jack socket, and move the jack socket from the fully extended position to the fully retracted position during removal of the jack plug from the jack socket.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8 further comprising a switching mechanism adapt to cause the motor to move the jack socket from the fully retracted position to the fully extended position during insertion of the jack plug into the jack socket, and cause the motor to move the jack socket from the fully extended position to the fully retracted position during removal of the jack plug from the jack socket.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 4 further comprising a first biasing mechanism for urging the jack socket into the fully extended position.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 4 further comprising a second biasing mechanism for urging the hatch into the fully closed position.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 4 further comprising:

a first biasing mechanism for urging the jack socket into the fully extended position;

a second biasing mechanism for urging the hatch into the fully closed position;

a switching mechanism adapt to engage the first biasing mechanism to urge the jack socket from the fully retracted position to the fully extended position and disengage the second biasing mechanism during insertion of the jack plug into the jack socket, the switching mechanism being further adapted to engage the second biasing mechanism to urge the hatch into the fully closed position and disengage the first biasing mechanism during removal of the jack plug from the jack socket.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 4 further comprising:

the main circuit board having a spring contact located on the main circuit board for engaging an electrical contact of the jack socket when the jack socket is in the fully extended position.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 1 wherein the main body and the hatch of the housing are formed of a flexible material.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a flexible casing formed of a flexible material which overlays the housing.

16. The portable electronic device in claim 15 wherein the flexible casing applies an inwardly biasing force on the hatch.