Electric connector, bracket and electric connector assembly

• US 8,790,120 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Chih-Kuang, Chang, Yuan-Hung, Tun, Yun-Long
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US13/663,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20140120745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 439 38- 40, 439/527, 439/700
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet

Abstract

An electric connector, a bracket, and an electric connector assembly are provided. The electric connector is suitable for connecting a receptacle of a portable electronic device and includes a body, a plug, a sliding base, and a magnetic component. The receptacle has a magnetic component. The plug has a plug portion and a fixed portion fixed to the body. The sliding base has a contact surface and a containing through hole and is suitable for sliding relative to the plug in the containing through hole. The magnetic component of the electric connector is fixed to the sliding base; magnetic polarities of the magnetic components of the electric connector and the receptacle are different. When the electric connector approaches the receptacle, the magnetic components of the electric connector and the receptacle are magnetically attracted, so that the containing through hole is aligned to the receptacle. The electric connector is pushed toward the receptacle, and the contact surface leans against the portable electronic device, so that the plug portion protrudes from the contact surface and is inserted into the receptacle.

Claims

1. An electric connector suitable for connecting a receptacle of a portable electronic device, the receptacle having at least one magnetic component, the electric connector comprising:

a body;

a plug having a plug portion and a fixed portion, the fixed portion being fixed to the body;

a reposition component mounted to the fixed portion of the plug;

a sliding base having a contact surface and a containing through hole, the plug being located in the containing through hole, the sliding base being suitable for sliding relative to the plug, two ends of the reposition component respectively leaning against the body and the sliding base; and

at least one magnetic component fixed to the sliding base and corresponding to the at least one magnetic component of the receptacle, a magnetic polarity of the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector being different from a magnetic polarity of the at least one magnetic component of the receptacle,

wherein when the electric connector approaches the receptacle, the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector on the sliding base and the at least one magnetic component of the receptacle are magnetically attracted, such that the containing through hole of the sliding base is aligned to the receptacle, the electric connector is pushed toward the receptacle, and the contact surface of the sliding base leans against the portable electronic device and slides relative to the plug toward the body, such that the plug portion of the plug protrudes from the contact surface and is inserted into and electrically connected to the receptacle.

2. The electric connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector is placed on the contact surface of the sliding base.

3. The electric connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector is two, the number of the at least one magnetic component of the receptacle is two as well, the magnetic polarities of the two magnetic components of the electric connector are different from each other, and the magnetic polarity of each of the two magnetic components of the receptacle is different from the magnetic polarity of the corresponding magnetic component of the electric connector.

4. The electric connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixed portion comprises at least one locking portion, the sliding base comprises at least one locking hook extended in a direction away from the contact surface of the sliding base, and when the sliding base slides relative to the plug in a direction away from the body, the at least one locking hook is adapted to be locked to the at least one locking portion, so as to limit the sliding base to be located on the plug.

5. The electric connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixed portion further comprises a sliding block, the sliding base further comprises a sliding groove, and the sliding block is slidably configured in the sliding groove, such that the sliding base is suitable for sliding relative to the plug.

6. The electric connector as recited in claim 1, further comprising an adhesive tape, so as to adhere the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector to the sliding base.

7. A bracket suitable for connecting a receptacle of a portable electronic device, the receptacle having at least one magnetic component, the bracket comprising:

an electric connector comprising;

a body having an accommodation chamber, wherein at least one portion of the portable electronic device is adapted to be inserted into the accommodation chamber;

a plug having a plug portion and a fixed portion, the fixed portion being fixed into the accommodation chamber of the body;

a reposition component mounted to the fixed portion of the plug;

a sliding base having a contact surface and a containing through hole, the plug being located in the containing through hole, the sliding base being suitable for sliding relative to the plug, two ends of the reposition component respectively leaning against the body and the sliding base; and

at least one magnetic component placed on the sliding base and corresponding to the at least one magnetic component of the receptacle, a magnetic polarity of the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector being different from a magnetic polarity of the at least one magnetic component of the receptacle,

wherein when the portable electronic device is to be inserted into the accommodation chamber of the bracket, the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector on the sliding base and the at least one magnetic component of the receptacle are magnetically attracted, such that the containing through hole of the sliding base is aligned to the receptacle, the portable electronic device is pushed toward the sliding base, and the contact surface of the sliding base leans against the portable electronic device and slides relative to the plug toward the body, such that the plug portion of the plug protrudes from the contact surface and is inserted into and electrically connected to the receptacle.

8. The bracket as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one magnetic component of the bracket is placed on the contact surface of the sliding base.

9. The bracket as recited in claim 7, wherein the number of the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector is two, the number of the at least one magnetic component of the receptacle is two as well, the magnetic polarities of the two magnetic components of the electric connector are different from each other, and the magnetic polarity of each of the two magnetic components of the receptacle is different from the magnetic polarity of the corresponding magnetic component of the electric connector.

10. The bracket as recited in claim 7, wherein the fixed portion comprises a locking portion, the sliding base comprises at least one locking hook extended in a direction away from the contact surface of the sliding base, and when the sliding base slides relative to the plug in a direction away from the body, the at least one locking hook is adapted to be locked to the locking portion, so as to limit the sliding base to be located on the plug.

11. The bracket as recited in claim 7, wherein the fixed portion further comprises a sliding block, the sliding base further comprises a sliding groove, and the sliding block is slidably configured in the sliding groove, such that the sliding base is suitable for sliding relative to the plug.

12. The bracket as recited in claim 7, further comprising an adhesive tape, so as to adhere the at least one magnetic component of the bracket to the sliding base.

13. An electric connector assembly suitable for connecting a receptacle of a portable electronic device, the electric connector assembly comprising:

an electric connector comprising;

a body;

a plug having a plug portion and a fixed portion, the fixed portion being fixed to the body;

a reposition component mounted to the fixed portion of the plug;

a sliding base having a contact surface and a containing through hole, the plug being located in the containing through hole, the sliding base being suitable for sliding relative to the plug, two ends of the reposition component respectively leaning against the body and the sliding base; and

at least one magnetic component placed on the sliding base; and

a casing covering a portion of the portable electronic device and exposing the receptacle, the casing of the electric connector assembly having at least one magnetic component corresponding to the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector, a magnetic polarity of the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector being different from a magnetic polarity of the at least one magnetic component of the casing,

wherein when the electric connector approaches the receptacle, the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector on the sliding base and the at least one magnetic component of the casing are magnetically attracted, such that that the containing through hole of the sliding base is aligned to the receptacle, the electric connector is pushed toward the receptacle, and the contact surface of the sliding base leans against the portable electronic device and slides relative to the plug in a direction away from the receptacle, such that the plug portion of the plug protrudes from the contact surface and is inserted into and electrically connected to the receptacle.

14. The electric connector assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector is placed on the contact surface of the sliding base.

15. The electric connector assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the number of the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector is two, the number of the at least one magnetic component of the casing is two as well, the magnetic polarities of the two magnetic components of the electric connector are different from each other, and the magnetic polarity of each of the two magnetic components of the casing is different from the magnetic polarity of the corresponding magnetic component of the electric connector.

16. The electric connector assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the fixed portion comprises a locking portion, the sliding base comprises at least one locking hook extended in a direction away from the contact surface of the sliding base, and when the sliding base slides relative to the plug in a direction away from the body, the at least one locking hook is adapted to be locked to the locking portion, so as to limit the sliding base to be located on the plug.

17. The electric connector assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the fixed portion further comprises a sliding block, the sliding base further comprises a sliding groove, and the sliding block is slidably configured in the sliding groove, such that the sliding base is suitable for sliding relative to the plug.

18. The electric connector assembly as recited in claim 13, further comprising an adhesive tape, so as to adhere the at least one magnetic component of the electric connector to the sliding base.