Abstract:
An extendable USB male plug is disclosed. The extendable USB male plug comprises a button for controlling the terminal block. The terminal block is outwardly extendable by pressing and shifting the button so the length of the USB male plug is elongated. Thus, it facilitates the insertion of the USB male plug and also solves excessively deep position, crowding, and insufficient space problems of the USB female socket on the computer.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a Division of application U.S. Ser. No. 11/171,341, entitled “EXTENDABLE USB MALE PLUG” and filed on Jul. 1, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,120. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is related to an extendable USB male plug capable of changing the length. The extendable USB male plug is suitable for all kinds of wires, connectors, conversion connectors, conversion wires, connectors of related apparatuses, or the likes. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is commonly seen that many computers and peripheral apparatuses, such as scanners, digital cameras, removable hard disks, etc, introduce the Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification into the connection interface of a transmission connector. The USB connector can unify various specifications for various connectors so as to overcome the conventional shortcoming of providing a specific connector for a specific apparatus. 
   A computer is generally equipped with two USB female sockets. Moreover, the existing peripheral apparatus of the computer is mainly equipped with the USB male plug. In response to this, the new generation computer is always equipped with several USB female sockets for insertion of the USB male plugs on the peripheral apparatuses. 
   Nevertheless, for the purpose of not changing the dimension of the computer or reducing the occupied space of the computer, such as the barebone system, the positions and depths of the USB female sockets formed in various computers are different from one another. Accordingly, the following problems are caused, in which: 
   1. If the USB female sockets are mounted excessively deep, the USB male plug cannot be inserted into the USB female socket even through they are provided complying with the specification. 
   2. If the number of the USB female socket is increased, a USB male plug cannot be inserted into a USB female socket when another excessively close female socket, is occupied by another USB male plug. 
   In view of the shortcoming in the conventional structure, an extendable USB male plug for overcoming excessively deep position and insufficient space problems of the USB female socket is provided in accordance with the motive of the present invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide an extendable USB male plug capable of changing the position of the terminal block. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an extendable USB male plug capable of changing the angle of the terminal block. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide an extendable USB male plug capable of enhancing the connection stability. 
   In order to achieve the aforementioned object, an extendable USB male plug is disclosed. The extendable USB male plug comprises a button for controlling the terminal block. The terminal block is outwardly extendable by pressing and shifting the button so the length of the USB male plug is elongated. Thus, it facilitates the insertion of the USB male plug and also solves excessively deep position, crowding, and insufficient space problems of the USB female socket on the computer. 
   The aforementioned aspects and advantages of the present invention will be readily clarified in the description of the preferred embodiments and the enclosed drawings of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an elevational view showing the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view showing the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing the usage of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an elevational view showing the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view showing the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are schematic diagrams taken along line A—A of  FIG. 4  for showing the pressing of the button. 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view showing the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing the usage of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded view showing the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view showing the usage of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a USB male plug  1  of the present invention comprises a terminal block  15 , an insulating frame  11 , and a plastic housing  10 , wherein a track  12  is formed on the insulating frame  11 . Besides, an outwardly expanded limit frame  121  is formed on the front, middle, and back sections of the track  12 . A trench  16  is formed on the back of the terminal block  15 , wherein a spring  14  is mounted in the trench  16 . When assembled, the terminal block  15  is inserted into the insulating frame  11  to exactly align the trench  16  of the terminal block  15  with the limit frame  121  on the track  12 . In addition, a button  13  having a shape corresponding to the outline of the limit frame  121  is inserted into the limit frame  121  and the trench  16  for being coupled with the spring  14 . Consequently, the button  13  is positioned in the trench  16  and its surface is at the same height as the track  12  so as to form a hidden button. If the rear end of the insulating frame  11  is coupled to the plastic housing  10 , the terminal block  15  is connected to a conducting wire, which is mounted on its backside, through a longer connection wire  17 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , by pressing, the hidden button  13  of the USB male plug  1  of the present invention can be further moved away from the limit frame  121  into the trench  16 . As a result, the button  13  can be pushed forward along, the track  12  so as to extend the terminal block  15  out of the insulating frame  11 . Consequently, the USB male plug  1  is extendable. 
   Referring further to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The button  13  is lengthened, and a limit part  131  is mounted on the middle section of the button  13 . The spring  14  is mounted in the trench  16  of the terminal block  15 , and the terminal block  15  is inserted into the insulating frame  11  so as to align the trench  16  with the limit frame  121  on the track  12 . The button  13  is coupled with the spring  14  through the limit frame  121  from outside to inside. The limit part  131  is at the same height as the limit frame  121 . The insulating frame  11  is then coupled with the plastic housing  10 . Besides, a notch  101  is formed at the open end of the plastic housing  10  so the button  13  is held in the notch  101  and the limit frame  121  in the normal state, as shown in  FIG. 6A . 
   If necessary, the button  13  is pressed down by a downward force, as shown in  FIG. 6B , for separating the limit part  131  of the button  13  from the limit frame  121 . Accordingly, the button  13  can be shifted to extend the terminal block  15  of the insulating frame  11 . As a result, the USB male plug  1  can be elongated. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the trench  16  to which the spring  14  is coupled is formed on the rear end of the terminal block  15 . Besides, a contact end  151 , which is located on the front section of the terminal block  15 , is pivotally connected to the terminal block  15  through a pivot  18 . The track  12  having several limit frames  121  formed thereon is formed on the top surface of the insulating frame  11 , and two protrudent parts  111  are mounted at the front end on two interior lateral surfaces of the insulating frame  11 . When the terminal block  15  is inserted into the insulating frame  11 , the button  13  is coupled to the spring  14  by penetrating through the limit frame  121  of the track  12  from top to bottom. The insulating frame  11  is then coupled to the plastic housing  10  so as to insert the button  13  into the notch  101 . Moreover, the limit part  131  is at the same height as the limit frame  121 . 
   Therefore, the contact end  151  of the terminal block  15  will not be shifted until the button  13  is pressed in presence of the protrudent parts  111 . If the button  13  is pressed, the limit part  131  will be pressed down to be separated from the limit frame  121 . Thus, the button  13  can be shifted and slid forward to shift the terminal block  15  forward, thereby extending the contact end  151  out of the insulating frame  11 . Moreover, the contact end  151  can be rotated upward and downward, as shown in  FIG. 8 . Accordingly, the terminal block  15  of the USB male plug  1  is extendable, and the contact end  151 , which is located on the front section of the terminal block  15 , can be rotated to adjust the angle. Consequently, several USB male plugs can be inserted into several crowded USB female sockets on the computer, wherein the USB female sockets may not provide sufficient space. 
   Referring to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The USB male plug of the present invention is composed of the terminal block  15 , the insulating frame  11 , and the plastic housing  10 , wherein the trench  16  is formed on the back of the terminal block  15  for holding the spring  14 . Besides, a trench  9  is formed on the rear bottom of the terminal block  15 , wherein the trench  19  is communicated with the trench  16 . Moreover, a fastening plate  20  is pivotally mounted in the trench  19 , wherein a limit spring  21  is penetrated by a pivot, which is mounted on each side of the fastening plate  20 . In addition, the fastening plate  20  comprises two front arms on both front sides. A downward hook part  22  is mounted at the end of each arm. When the terminal block  15  is inserted into the insulating frame  11 , the button  13  is coupled to the terminal block  15  and mounted in the trench  16  by penetrating through the limit frame  121  on the track  12  and the spring  14 . The limit part  131 , which is mounted on the middle section of the button  13 , is at the same height as the limit frame  121 . Moreover, the bottom of the button  13  is leant against the top surface of the fastening plate  20  through the trench  16 , and the button  13  is coupled to the insulating frame  11  through the notch  101 , which is formed on the plastic housing  10 . 
   When in use, the limit part  131  is separated from the limit frame  121  by pressing the button  13  such that the rear end of the fastening plate  20  is pressed down and its front end is lifted up, enabling the button  13  and the terminal block  15  to be shifted forward simultaneously. For the purpose of insertion, the contact end, which is mounted on the front section of the terminal block  15 , is extended out of the insulating frame  11 . Therefore, the hook parts  22  on the bottom of the terminal block  15  are capable of locking the holes  32  on an insulating frame  31  of a USB female socket  3 . Due to the locking between the hook parts  22  and the holes  32 , the USB male plug and the USB female socket can be prevented from being separated by the careless motion. If it is desired to separate them, the button  13  is pressed again to separate the limit part  131  from the limit frame  121 , wherein the rear end of the fastening plate  20  is pressed by the bottom of the button  13  so as to lift up the hook parts  22  and separate the hook parts  22  from the holes  32 . Thus, the button  13  can be shifted back to the notch  101  to enable the terminal block  15  to be shrunk back into the insulating frame  11 . 
   Furthermore, it is not necessary to mount the aforementioned components of the present invention on the top of the USB male plug. The aforementioned components comprising the track  12 , the button  13 , the spring  14 , and the trench  16  can be mounted on the both lateral sides or the bottom of the USB male plug. In addition, the positions of other related components are thus altered correspondingly. 
   From the above-mentioned description, it is apparent that the structure of the present invention provides the following advantages in which: 
   1. The structure of the USB male plug is simple, and the terminal block can be extended or elongated so as to overcome the shortcoming caused by the deeply mounted USB female socket. 
   2. The terminal block is pivotally connected to the upward and downward rotatable contact end, which is extendable to the outside of the insulating frame, for overcoming the problems caused by the closely mounted USB female sockets, which are unable to provide sufficient space. 
   3. When coupled, the hook parts of the fastening plate of the USB male plug lock the holes of the USB female socket so as to enhance the connection stability. Accordingly, the occurrence of separation caused by careless pull is prevented. 
   On the basis of the aforementioned description, the present invention satisfies all requirements for a patent and is therefore submitted for a patent. 
   While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.