Abstract:
A connector is provided for coupling a computer peripheral device with a RJ11 or RJ45 data communication socket. The computer peripheral device has a rectangular recess. The connector includes an elongated main body including a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal has a shape mating with the data communication socket. The second terminal has a shape mating with the rectangular recess of the computer peripheral device. As a consequence, the computer peripheral device is attached onto the notebook computer in a cost-effective manner.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector for coupling a data communication socket with a computer&#39;s peripheral device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In modern society, notebook computers are increasingly used because they are portable and convenient. For most notebook computers, a touch pad is used as the input device. 
     Furthermore, in order to comply with the user&#39;s habit, a mouse is also served as the input device of the notebook computer. Especially when the notebook computer is used in the office, the mouse becomes an essential peripheral device. 
     In a case that the notebook computer needs to be used in other places, for example in a conference room, the user should carry the corresponding mouse at the same time. In other words, since the mouse and the mouse are separate components, the probability of falling down the mouse is increased during the process of carrying the notebook computer along with the mouse. 
     For a purpose of solving such a problem, a mouse attachable to the notebook computer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,870, entitled “Portable computer system including detachable peripheral device and combined mouse/joystick for use with same”, and the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Please refer to  FIG. 1 . The notebook computer having a detachable mouse as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,870 comprises a notebook computer  10 , a mouse body  20  and a coupling mechanism  30 . By means of the coupling mechanism  30 , the mouse body  20  is attached to the notebook computer  10 . 
     Another design for attaching the mouse onto the notebook computer is disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. 398642, entitled “Device for storing a mouse within the casing of a computer”, and the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Please refer to  FIG. 2 . As shown in Taiwanese Patent No. 398642, the notebook computer  40  has a receptacle  50  for storing the mouse  60  therein 
     Depending on the type of the mouse, however, the coupling mechanism for attaching or storing the mouse is varied. In other words, different types of mice fail to be attached onto a same type of notebook computer, and thus the coupling mechanism is not user-friendly. 
     For further solving the above drawbacks, a new approach was disclosed in a co-pending Taiwanese Patent Application No. 94143533, entitled “Mouse having a storable hook module”, which was filed by the same assignee of the present application on Dec. 29, 2005, and the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 . The Mouse having a storable hook module as shown in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 94143533 comprises a hook module  70 , which is storable within the mouse. A lock hole  80 , which is commonly arranged in a notebook computer as a standard accessory, is also shown in  FIG. 3 . The lock hole  80  is referred as a “Kensington lock hole”. In a case that a lock is attached to the lock hole  80 , the notebook will be fixed to any immovable object such as a desk, thereby reducing the chance of the notebook being stolen. Generally, notebook computers exhibited in the computer center or the exhibition place are locked in these lock holes. According to the disclosure of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 94143533, the hook module  70  may be attached onto the notebook computer by hooking a hooking part on the lock hole  80 . The design of  FIG. 3  is applicable to many types of notebook computers because the Kensington lock hole is a common accessory for most notebook computers. 
     Although the design of  FIG. 3  may facilitate attaching a mouse onto a notebook computer and overcome the problems as described in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there are still some drawbacks. For example, since the hook module  70  includes many components, the process of assembling the hook module  70  is complicated and the fabricating cost is increased. In addition, for storing the hook module  70  within the mouse, a receptacle is required and the overall volume of the mouse is also increased. 
     In views of the above-described disadvantages of the prior art, the applicant keeps on carving unflaggingly to develop a connector for facilitating attaching a mouse onto a notebook computer according to the present invention through wholehearted experience and research. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector for coupling a RJ11 or RJ45 data communication socket of a notebook computer with a mouse so as to facilitate attaching the mouse onto the notebook computer. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for coupling a computer peripheral device with a RJ11 or RJ45 data communication socket. The computer peripheral device has a rectangular recess. The connector comprises an elongated main body including a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal has a shape mating with the data communication socket and includes a first surface and a second surface parallel with each other. The first surface has a resilient arm thereon and the second surface has a resilient arm therein. The second terminal has a shape mating with the rectangular recess of the computer peripheral device, and includes four lateral sides, wherein every two adjacent ones of the four lateral sides are substantially perpendicular to each other. 
     In an embodiment, each of two lateral sides of the second terminal further comprises two ribs. 
     In an embodiment, each of the other two lateral sides of the second terminal further comprises a resilient sheet including a hooking part. 
     In an embodiment, the main body further comprises a protruding periphery between the first terminal and the second terminal. 
     Preferably, the connector is integrally formed into one piece. 
     In an embodiment, the computer peripheral device is a mouse. 
     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a notebook computer having an attachable mouse, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,870; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of another notebook computer having an attachable mouse, which is disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. 398642; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a mouse having a storable hook module, which is disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 94143533; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic side view illustrating the RJ11 port and the RJ45 port of a typical notebook computer; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a connector used in a mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  schematically illustrates that the connector of the present invention is inserted into a RJ11 port of a notebook computer; 
         FIG. 7  schematically illustrates that the mouse is attached onto the notebook computer via the connector of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8(   a ) is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connector taken from the viewpoint in the direction of the first terminal; 
         FIG. 8(   b ) is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connector taken from the viewpoint in the direction of the second terminal; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic top view illustrating the second terminal of the connector according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a schematic side view of a typical notebook computer is illustrated. The notebook computer  10  of  FIG. 4  includes two data communication sockets  101  and  102 . The data communication socket  101  is a RJ11 port communicated with a modem. The data communication socket  102  is a RJ45 port to be communicated with the local area network. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 , which illustrates a connector used in a mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The connector  200  includes a first terminal  201  and a second terminal  202 . The mouse  300  has a recess  301 . For facilitating attaching the mouse  300  onto the notebook computer  100 , the first terminal  201  of the connector  200  is inserted into the RJ11 port  101  or the RJ45 port  102  of the notebook computer  100 , and the second terminal  202  of the connector  200  is inserted into the recess  301  of the mouse  300 . 
     The process of attaching the mouse  300  onto the notebook computer  100  will be illustrated with  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . Firstly, the first terminal  201  of the connector  200  is inserted into the RJ11 port  101  of the notebook computer  100 . After the second terminal  202  of the connector  200  is inserted into the recess  301  of the mouse  300 , the mouse  300  is attached onto a sidewall of the notebook computer  100 , as is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ), which are schematic perspective views of the connector  200  as shown in  FIG. 2  and taken from the viewpoints in the directions of the first terminal  201  and the second terminal  202 , respectively. 
     In  FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ), the connector  200  has an elongated main body  200  including the first terminal  201  and the second terminal  202 . The first terminal  201  has a shape mating with the RJ11 port  101 , and comprises a first surface  2011  and a second surface  2012 . The first surface  2011  and the second surface  2012  are parallel with each other. A resilient arm  2011 A is protruded from the first surface  2011 . The second surface  2012  has a notch  2012 A therein. The second terminal  202  has a shape mating with the recess  301  of the mouse  300 , and comprises four lateral sides  2021 ,  2022 ,  2023  and  2024 . Every two adjacent ones of these lateral sides  2021 ,  2022 ,  2023  and  2024  are substantially perpendicular to each other. In addition, a protruding periphery  203  is arranged between the first terminal  201  and the second terminal  202 . When the second terminal  202  is inserted into the recess  301  of the mouse  300  such that the protruding periphery  203  is in contact with the mouse  300 , the mouse  300  is well attached onto the notebook computer  100 . 
     Moreover, each of the lateral sides  2021  and  2023  has two ribs  2021 A, and each of the lateral sides  2022  and  2024  has a resilient sheet  2022 A. The resilient sheet  2022 A has a hooking part  2022 A 1 . 
     The configuration and the operation principle of the connector  200  will be described as follows in more details. As described above, the first terminal  201  includes the resilient arm  2011 A at the first surface  2011  and has a shape mating with the RJ11 port  101 . During the first terminal  201  is inserted into the RJ11 port  101 , the resilient arm  2011 A is pressed toward the first surface  2011 . In response to restoring force of the resilient arm  2011 A, the resilient arm  2011 A is sustained against the inner wall of the RJ11 port  101  and thus the first terminal  201  is securely engaged with the RJ11 port  101 . That is, the mechanism of coupling the first terminal  201  and the RJ11 port  101  is substantially identical to the conventional mechanism of coupling a RJ11 plug with a RJ11 port. 
     In response to a pulling force applied on the mouse  300 , the mouse  300  is disengaged from the second terminal  202  of the connector  200  and thus the mouse  300  will be detached from the notebook computer  100 . In order to remove the connector  200  from the RJ11 port  101 , the resilient arm  2011 A should be pressed toward the first surface  2011  again. Under this circumstance, the resilient arm  2011 A is not sustained against the inner wall of the RJ11 port  101  and the first terminal  201  of the connector can be withdrawn from the RJ11 port  101 . 
     As known, the conventional RJ11 plug has electrical contacts to be electrically connected to the corresponding electrical contacts inside the RJ11 port. Since the connector  200  of the present invention is used for facilitating attaching the mouse  300  onto the notebook computer  100 , the electrical connection between the connector  200  and the RJ11 port  101  is no longer required. In addition, since the notch  2012 A is formed in the second surface  2012  of the first terminal  201 , the first terminal  201  will not touch the electrical contacts inside the RJ11 port and thus the probability of damaging the electrical contacts inside the RJ11 port is avoided when the first terminal  201  is inserted into the RJ11 port  101 . 
     As described above, each of the lateral sides  2021  and  2023  has two ribs  2021 A, and each of the lateral sides  2022  and  2024  has a resilient sheet  2022 A including a hooking part  2022 A 1 . Likewise, the sidewall of the recess  301  of the mouse  300  has corresponding structures mating with the ribs  2021 A and the hooking parts  2022 A 1 . As a consequently, the second terminal  202  is firmly engaged with the recess  301  of the mouse  300 . Please refer to  FIG. 9 , which is a schematic top view of the second terminal  202  of the connector  200 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , there a gap  204  in the vicinity of the hooking part  2022 A 1  at the lateral side  2022  and another gap  204  in the vicinity of the hooking part  2022 A 1  at the lateral side  2024 . During the second terminal  202  is inserted into the recess  301  of the mouse  300 , the resilient sheets  2022 A are pressed toward the gaps  204  by the inner wall or the recess  301 . In response to restoring forces of the resilient sheets  2022 A, the resilient sheets  2022 A are sustained against the inner wall of the recess  301  and thus the second terminal  202  is securely engaged with the recess  301 . Under this circumstance, the mouse  300  is attached onto the notebook computer  100  via the connector  200 . 
     From the above description, the connector of the present invention is advantageous for facilitating attaching the mouse onto the notebook computer by coupling the first terminal of the connector with the RJ11 or RJ45 port. Since the RJ11 or RJ45 port is a common data communication socket of the notebook computer, the connector of the present invention is applicable to all kinds of notebook computers. Since the mechanism of coupling the first terminal and the RJ11 or RJ45 port is substantially identical to the conventional mechanism of coupling the RJ11 or RJ45 plug with a RJ11 or RJ45 port, a secure engagement between the connector and the data communication socket is rendered. Moreover, only one connector of the present invention is sufficient for facilitating attaching the mouse onto the notebook computer. It is preferred that the connector of the present invention is integrally formed into one piece so as to reduce fabricating costs. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.