Patent ID: 8625270
Filing Date: 2014-01-07
Classification: G06F,G06K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A portable computer peripheral apparatus comprising: an elongated housing having a front portion and a rear portion formed thereon, and an upper housing wall including an integrally molded first locking structure; at least one electronic device mounted inside of the housing; a plug connector fixedly connected to and extending from the front end portion of the housing and electronically connected to said at least one electronic device; and a cover/cap including an upper cap/cover wall having an integrally molded second locking structure formed thereon, a front wall defining a front opening, and a rear edge defining a rear opening, wherein the cover/cap is mounted onto the housing such that the front portion of the housing extends into the rear opening of the cap/cover, and such that the cap/cover is manually slidably movable between a first position, in which the plug connector is substantially entirely disposed inside of the cap/cover, and a second position in which the plug connector extends through the front opening of the cap/cover such that the plug connector is exposed outside of the cap/cover, and wherein, when the cover/cap structure is in the first position, slidable movement of the cap/cover along the housing away from a rear portion of the housing is prevented by contact between the first locking structure and the second locking structure, further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) fixedly mounted inside of the housing, wherein the plug connector is attached to a first end of the PCB, wherein the plug connector is mounted onto a front edge of the PCB, wherein the PCB includes side edges defining cut-outs, wherein the housing comprises mounting structures that are integrally molded to the inside surface of the housing, and both support the side edges of the PCB and engage the cut-outs, wherein the housing comprises an integrally molded structure including said upper housing wall, an elongated lower housing wall, and a pair of elongated side housing walls extending between the upper and lower housing walls such that the upper, lower, and side housing walls form a generally rectangular cross-section, and wherein the front portion of the housing is located at a first end of the upper, lower, and side housing walls and the rear end portion is located at a second end of the upper, lower, and side housing walls, further comprising a rear cap including an upper rear cap wall, a lower rear cap wall having an integrally molded third locking structure formed thereon, a front edge defining a front opening, and a rear cap wall, wherein the housing further comprises a fourth locking structure formed on an downward-facing surface of the lower housing wall on the rear portion of the housing, and wherein the rear cap is fixedly mounted onto the housing such that the rear portion of the housing extends into the front opening of the rear cap, and such that the third locking structure is snap-coupled with said fourth locking structure.