Assembly including slim female USB connector and slim male USB connector with spring-engaging depressions, stabilizing dividers and wider end rails
First Claim
1. A slim male Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector comprising for transmitting USB signals to a female USB connector, the female USB connector including a metal case defining an opening for receiving the slim male USB connector, metal springs formed by a portion of the metal case, and a female connector substrate surrounded by the metal case, wherein the slim male USB connector comprises:
- a connector substrate;
a plurality of metal contacts disposed on a contact surface of the connector substrate, the metal contacts for carrying USB signals;
locking depressions formed below the connector substrate on a second surface opposite to the contact surface;
wherein the locking depressions are for receiving metal springs from a female USB connector when the slim USB connector is inserted into the female USB connector;
and end rails, substantially parallel to the metal contacts, along side edges of the connector substrate, the side edges being smaller in area than the contact surface and the a second surface of the connector substrate that is disposed opposite to the contact surface, and are disposed between the contact surface and the second surface;
a plurality of dividers, each divider disposed between an adjacent pair of the metal contacts, the plurality of dividers rising above the contact surface of the connector substrate;
wherein the plurality of dividers are for filling in a gap between the connector substrate and the female connector substrate when the slim USB connector is inserted into the female USB connector;
wherein the end rails are for sliding in gaps between sides of a female connector substrate of the female USB connector and a the metal case surrounding the female connector substrate when the slim USB connector is inserted into the female USB connector.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A slim male Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector fits on only one side of the connector substrate in a standard female USB connector. Wobble or vertical play is reduced by locking depressions in the slim male USB connector that engage metal springs on a metal case that surrounds the female USB connector, locking the two connectors together. Between metal contacts on the slim USM connector are dividers that help fill in gaps when the two connectors are connected together, further reducing play. End rails on the slim USB connector fill in gaps on the sides. The connector substrate of the slim male USB connector can be separate or can be integrated with a circuit board that holds a flash memory chip and a USB controller chip. The connector is wider than the standard width for a better fit. A slim female USB connector for assembly use with the slim male USB connector is also disclosed.
13 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A slim male Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector comprising for transmitting USB signals to a female USB connector, the female USB connector including a metal case defining an opening for receiving the slim male USB connector, metal springs formed by a portion of the metal case, and a female connector substrate surrounded by the metal case, wherein the slim male USB connector comprises:
-
a connector substrate;
a plurality of metal contacts disposed on a contact surface of the connector substrate, the metal contacts for carrying USB signals; locking depressions formed below the connector substrate on a second surface opposite to the contact surface;
wherein the locking depressions are for receiving metal springs from a female USB connector when the slim USB connector is inserted into the female USB connector;
andend rails, substantially parallel to the metal contacts, along side edges of the connector substrate, the side edges being smaller in area than the contact surface and the a second surface of the connector substrate that is disposed opposite to the contact surface, and are disposed between the contact surface and the second surface;
a plurality of dividers, each divider disposed between an adjacent pair of the metal contacts, the plurality of dividers rising above the contact surface of the connector substrate;
wherein the plurality of dividers are for filling in a gap between the connector substrate and the female connector substrate when the slim USB connector is inserted into the female USB connector;
wherein the end rails are for sliding in gaps between sides of a female connector substrate of the female USB connector and a the metal case surrounding the female connector substrate when the slim USB connector is inserted into the female USB connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector assembly comprising:
a female USB connector including; a metal case defining an opening, a female connector substrate surrounded by the metal case, and first metal contacts mounted on a surface of the female connector substrate; and
- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
-
17. A reduced-height Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector comprising:
a female USB connector including; a metal case defining an opening and including metal springs formed by a portion of the metal case, and a female connector substrate surrounded by the metal case, and - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
21. A slim Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector assembly comprising:
-
a female USB connector including;
a metal case including a relatively long first wall and opposing, relatively short second and third walls extending perpendicular to the first wall, a first connector substrate mounted to the metal case such that a rectangular opening is defined by the first, second and third walls of the metal case and a contact surface of the first connector substrate, and such that opposing side edges of the first connector substrate respectively contact the second and third walls of the metal case, and first metal contacts mounted on the first surface of the first connector substrate; and
a male USB connector including;
a second connector substrate, second metal contacts disposed on a contact surface of the second connector substrate, end rails, substantially parallel to the second metal contacts, extending along side edges of the second connector substrate, and a plurality of dividers, each divider disposed between an adjacent pair of the second metal contacts, the plurality of dividers protruding above the contact surface of the second connector substrate, wherein the female USB connector and the male USB connector are cooperatively arranged such that, when the male USB connector is fully inserted into the rectangular opening with the contact surface of the first connector substrate facing the contact surface of the second connector substrate;
the end rails of the male USB connector abut the second and third walls of the metal case, and each of the first metal contacts abut a corresponding second metal contact. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A reduced-height female Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector for connecting to a reduced-height USB male connector, the reduced-height male USB connector including:
-
a second connector substrate, second metal contacts disposed on a contact surface of the second connector substrate, end rails, substantially parallel to the second metal contacts, extending along side edges of the second connector substrate, and a plurality of dividers, each divider disposed between an adjacent pair of the second metal contacts, the plurality of dividers protruding above the contact surface of the second connector substrate, wherein the reduced-height female USB connector comprises;
a metal case including a relatively long first wall and opposing, relatively short second and third walls extending perpendicular to the first wall, a first connector substrate mounted to the metal case such that a rectangular opening is defined by the first, second and third walls of the metal case and a contact surface of the first connector substrate, and such that opposing side edges of the first connector substrate respectively contact the second and third walls of the metal case, and first metal contacts mounted on the first surface of the first connector substrate, wherein the reduced-height female USB connector is arranged such that, when the reduced-height male USB connector is fully inserted into the rectangular opening with the contact surface of the first connector substrate facing the contact surface of the second connector substrate, the end rails of the reduced-height male USB connector abut the second and third walls of the metal case, each of the first metal contacts abut a corresponding second metal contact. - View Dependent Claims (31)
-
Specification