Abstract:
A device which is equipped with a USB connection, and which is configured to receive a male USB connector, includes a housing that defines a channel therein. A female USB connection is positioned at an end of the channel. A slideable panel is engaged to the channel, and is slideable between a covered position and an uncovered position. In the covered position, the female USB connection covered and protected. In the uncovered position the female USB connection is exposed for use. Alternatively, the device does not include the channel and the panel is made up of one or more leaf covers.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to devices equipped with Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces and which are of sufficiently small size or profile that the USB port is slimmer than the device to which it is a part. Embodiments provide unique USB port configurations, which protect the port when it is not engaged, but which also allow the port to be connected via conventionally sized USB equipped connectors or devices. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0002]    USB ports have long been the most widely used mechanism or connecting peripheral devices to computers. The prevalence has grown beyond their use in computer hardware and now extends to nearly all realms of electronics where an interface for data or power transfer is required. Some examples of common uses of USB connections are in cell phone chargers and connections for use with small electronic devices. 
         [0003]    As small computers and electronic devices continue to profligate, their inevitable miniaturization has lead to certain devices being less than optimally suited to utilize USB connectors for data or power transfer on such devices. Their small size (e.g. credit card sized data storage devices, etc.) prevent the use of a conventional USB port within the internal housing of the device in question; that is the profile of the device in question may be less than the size of the mechanical interface of the USB connector. As a result, many devices are forced to either limit their profile so as to be able to continue to use the USB connector internally, or add ungainly and larger profile protrusions eternal to the otherwise slimmed down device so as to provide for the USB connection port. For example, a PRIOR ART device 1000 is depicted in PRIOR ART  FIGS. 1-3 . Here, device 1000 may be a cell phone, an electronic data storage device, a camera, etc. Due to its thin profile 1300, device 1000 is provided with a relatively oversized USB receiver port (female) 1100, so as to be able to accommodate the USB connector(male) 1500. As can be seen, due to the slim profile 1300 of the device 1000, the port housing 1200 is required to take the form of fairly significant protrusions extending above the surfaces 1210 and 1220 of the device 1000 (bottom protrusion 1220 is hidden from view in PRIOR ART  FIG. 1 ). The resulting protrusions are not only esthetically disconcerting, but also add unwanted bulk to the device profile 1300 which may make the device 1000 more difficult to handle and store, as well as creating additional surface area that may be readily caught or hung up on pockets, protective sleeves, etc. 
         [0004]    Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to overcoming these issues and providing slim or other small devices with USB port configurations that include removable or retractable covers that when in an extended state, cover and protect the USB port, and when in a retracted state allow access and engagement of the port by other conventionally sized USB equipped connectors or devices regardless of their relative size. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    PRIOR ART  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a PRIOR ART device equipped with a USB port (female) engaged to a USB connector (male). 
           [0006]    PRIOR ART  FIG. 2  is a front view of the PRIOR ART device and USB port illustrating the difference in profile of the port relative to the surrounding device. 
           [0007]    PRIOR ART  FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of the PRIOR ART device and USB connector (male) shown prior to the connection of the connector to the USB port (female). 
           [0008]      FIGS. 4 a -4 c    show a perspective view of an embodiment of a device incorporating a USB port (female) wherein the sequence of figures depict the manner in which a USB connector (male) engages the port. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 5 a -5 c    show a front perspective view of the embodiment and sequence shown in  FIGS. 4 a   - 4   c.    
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a top down, cut-away, perspective view of an embodiment showing an alternative biasing mechanism. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a top down, cut-away, perspective view of an embodiment showing an alternative biasing mechanism. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a top down, cut-away, perspective view of an embodiment showing an alternative biasing mechanism. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 9 a -9 c    show a top down view of an alternative embodiment of a device incorporating a USB port (female) wherein the sequence of figures depict the manner in which a USB connector (male) engages the port. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 10 a -10 c    show a detailed, cut-away, perspective of a portion of the the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9 a -9 c    where in a biasing mechanism of the port cover is shown. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Turning now to the  FIGS. 4-10 , which illustrate representative embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, an electronic device  10  is shown having a thin, compact or otherwise slim profile. As used herein the term profile refers to the thickness of the electronic device in relation to the thickness of the interface required for a typical USB connection. A device  10  having a slim profile has a thickness that is equal to or less than that of a “male” USB connector  20 . A device  10  having such a slim profile relative to a male USB connector  20  is depicted in the various  FIGS. 4-10 . 
         [0016]    In order to provide a device  10  having a slim profile with a USB connection interface or “female” USB connection  30  without enlarging the profile of the device at least in the region of the connection (see discussion of PRIOR ART above), the connection  30  must either be exposed, which would not be ideal as it would expose the connection  30  to negative environmental conditions (dust, moisture, etc.), or include a removable cover so as to require a user to remove a portion of the device housing  12  from an area adjacent (covering) to the connection  30  so as to allow the male connector  20  access to the connection port  30  without interference. 
         [0017]    Removing portions of the device housing  12  to make the connection  30  available for use is less than ideal for a variety of reasons (inconvenient, potential loss of component, etc.). The present disclosure includes a variety of alternatives to this situation and which allows free access of the connection  30  via a standard connector  20  regardless of how slim the profile of the device  10  may be. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, such as is shown in  FIGS. 4 a  and 5 a   , the device  10  is provided with a sliding panel  40 , which overlays the connection  30  when the connection is in the unused or unconnected state (i.e. prior to being interfaced with connector  20 ). The panel  40  lies within a channel  42  defined by the device housing  12  and which the connection  30  is located at one end. The panel  40  may be of any construction, shape or size, but in the embodiment shown (taking into account its position within the channel  42 ) the panel  40 is effectively of the same thickness and composition as the surrounding housing  12 , thereby providing the device with a fairly uniform profile  14  in both the unconnected state or connected state. 
         [0019]    In at least one embodiment, the panel  40  has a length (represented illustratively in  FIG. 4 b    as Lp) at least as long as that of the male USB connector  20 ; whereas the channel  42  has a length (represented illustratively in  FIG. 4 b    as Lc) at least twice that of the panel  40 . This arrangement provides sufficient room for the panel  40  to slide along the length of the channel  42  (in the direction of arrow  45  shown in  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b   ) from the unconnected or covered state shown in  FIG. 4 a    to the connected or uncovered state shown in  FIG. 4 c    and ensure that the panel  20  does not interfere with the ability of the of the connector  20  to fully engage the connection  30 . 
         [0020]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  the panel  40  is retained by the channel  42  by simple mechanical engagement (friction fit). In some embodiments, an additional feature or features such as one or more tabs, stops, teeth, etc. are include in either or both of the panel  40  and channel  42  to aid in ensuring that the panel  40  is retained within the channel  42  regardless of the absence or presence of the connector  20 . 
         [0021]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 a -4 c  and 5 a   - 5   c,  the act of pushing or plugging the connector  20  into engagement with the connection  30  also causes the connector  20  to contact the panel  40  and push it along the length of the channel  42  in the manner shown in  FIGS. 4 b    and Sc. Upon removal of the connector  20  from the connection  30  the panel  40  may be biased back into the unconnected position shown in  FIGS. 4 a    and Sb by a variety of mechanisms. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the device  10  includes one or more biasing members, such as one or more torsion springs SO shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , which are contained within the housing  12 , and are moveably engaged at one end to the panel  40  so as to bias the panel  40  toward the unconnected position shown. Pressing a connector  20  into engagement with the connection  30 , such in the manner shown in  FIGS. 4 a   - 4   c,  provides sufficient force to overcome the force of the biasing members and thereby displace the panel  40  along the channel  42  in the manner previously described. When the connector  20  is removed from the connection  30 , the biasing member(s) act to move the panel back in to the unconnected state thereby covering the connection  30 . 
         [0023]    As mentioned above, in some embodiments the biasing member is in the form of one or more torsion springs  50 , such as those depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In at least one embodiment, such as is shown in  FIG. 8 , a biasing member is instead a coil spring  52  positioned within or adjacent to the channel  42  and biased between the back  44  of the channel  42  and the panel  40 . One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many varieties of springs, clips or other biasing members may be utilized to bias the panel  40  towards the unconnected or covered position shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . 
         [0024]    Turning now to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , here an alternative to the sliding panel configuration discussed thus far is shown. Rather than include a panel within a channel defined by of the housing, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  the housing  12  includes one or more panels in the form of leaf covers  60  that are pivotally engaged to the housing  12  at pivot joint  62 . Each leaf cover  60  is shaped and sized to overlap the connection  30  when in the unconnected or covered state shown in  FIGS. 9 a  and 10 a   . Where multiple leaf covers are employed, such as in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9 a   - 9   c,  the covers  60  are arranged in an overlapping -one on top of the other style- pattern. 
         [0025]    Regardless of whether one cover  60  or two overlapping covers  60  are used, inserting a connector  20  into the connection  30  displaces each leaf cover  60  away from the connection  30  (in the direction indicated by arrows  65  shown in  FIG. 9 b -9 c  and 10 b -10 c   ) so as to allow the connector  20  to fully interface with the connection  30  without interference when in the connected state shown in  FIG. 9C . 
         [0026]    The direction and degree of displacement of the leaf cover  60  is a function of the position of the pivot joint  62  and the amount of space provided by the housing  12  within which the cover is free to move. In some embodiments, leaf covers  60  may be internal or external to the housing  12 . When external, the covers  60  essentially rest on or slightly above the housing surface. While such an external mounting configuration does add to the profile of the device  10 , the relatively thin nature of the cover(s)  60  is minimal compared to the relatively bulky protrusions illustrated in the PRIOR ART  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0027]    As with other embodiments of the invention farious biasing mechanisms can be used to bias the leaf cover(s)  60  into the unconnected or covered state such as is shown in  FIGS. 9 a  and 10 a   . In at least one embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 10 a   - 10   c,  a leaf cover  60  is equipped with a torsion spring  50  acting as the pivot joint  62 . Reiterating the description above, in this configuration the spring  50  biases the cover  60  over the connection  30  when in the unconnected or covered state shown in  FIG. 10 a   . As a connector  20  is inserted into the connection  30 , the connector  20  pushes against the cover  60  to overcome the biasing force supplied by the spring  50  and displace the cover  60  from the area over the connection  30  in the direction of the arrow shown in  FIGS. 10 b    abd  10   c.  Upon removal of the connector  20  the cover  60  returns to the covered state shown in  FIG. 10   a.    
         [0028]    It will be recognized that cover  60  may be of any shap, size or configuration suitable for covering connection  30  and may include any of a variety of pivot joint and/or biasing member configurations, which one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize as being suitable for use in allowing the cover(s) to be displaced and repeatedly returned to a covered position in the manner described. 
         [0029]    It should also be noted that while in the various embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4-10 , a generic “USB” port (female) connection  30  and (male) connector  20  have been depicted. The connections and connectors described herein may be any type of USB connector and connection, including but not limited to USB type A, type B, type C, Mini USB, Micro USB, USB 1.0-3.1, etc. 
         [0030]    The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the above description. Numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Since such modifications are possible, the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described. Rather, the present invention should be limited only by the following claims.