Abstract:
A plug including a base having a top surface, a plurality of openings in the top surface, a retraction unit having a first portion in the base and a second portion extending from the base to a position in front of a corresponding opening, and a conductive unit having a notch where the conductive unit extends through one opening such that the retraction unit engages the notch to prevent the conductive unit from passing back through the opening.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/192,911, titled “EASILY REMOVABLE ELECTRICAL MICRO-CONNECTOR,” filed on Jul. 15, 2015. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The electronics in devices continue to become smaller in size. As a result, the components included in the electrical devices become smaller and smaller as well. This reduction in the size creates a number of challenges for designers as less and less space is provided for each component. 
         [0003]    Electrical connectors are used to couple one electrical component to another electrical component. Electrical connectors are typically made of a plastic and metal materials and allow conductive elements to be removable attached to one another. A common use for such a connector is to connect two electrical devices together such that the two devices can be separated for maintenance or reversing the connections at a later time. 
         [0004]    With the reduction in size of the electrical devices connected together, the removability of the connectors and the components making up the connectors has become increasingly difficult. A need exists for a micro sized electrical connector that includes easily removable contacts, abandoning standard practice of epoxy encapsulating the contacts in the connector body. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present disclosure is directed to a micro connector that includes a body having a plurality of openings with each opening sized to accommodate a conductive unit, such as a wire. Each opening includes an retention unit affixed to the connector body that prevents the conductive unit from moving back into the opening. The retention unit is configured such that the application of pressure on the retention unit will release the retention unit from the conductive unit. 
         [0006]    One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plug including a base having a top surface, a plurality of openings in the top surface, a retraction unit having a first portion in the base and a second portion extending from the base to a position in front of a corresponding opening, and a conductive unit having a notch, 
         [0007]    wherein the conductive unit extends through one opening such that the retraction unit engages the notch to prevent the conductive unit from passing back through the opening. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the retraction unit extends from a mounting portion. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the mounting portion is sized such that each retraction unit corresponds to an opening in the base. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a front surface of the retention unit engages the notch on a corresponding conductive unit. 
         [0011]    Another embodiment includes a case that is configured to receive the plug. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, each retention unit includes a notch. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, each retention unit is bent about the notch such that the retention unit angel towards the center of the mounting portion. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, a mounting portion of the retraction unit engages an opening in the case. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, the conductive unit is made of a conductive material. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, wherein the retention unit bends about the notch if a upward force is applied. 
         [0017]    Another embodiment discloses a retention unit including a base portion, an opening in the center of the base portion, and a plurality of protrusions extending from the periphery of the opening in the base unit. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, the opening is sized to accommodate a plug with the plug including a plurality of openings. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, each protrusion includes a notch. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment, each protrusion is bent towards the center of the opening at the notch. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, each protrusion includes a front surface that is configured to engage a latching portion on a conductive unit. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, the base portion is configured to engage an opening in a case. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, each protrusion bends towards and away from the center of the opening at the notch. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, the base portion is configured such that each retention unit is position adjacent to a corresponding opening in the plug. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, a rear surface of the base portion engages the plug. 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, each protrusion extends from a bottom surface of the opening. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  depicts a plug  100  consistent with the present disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  depicts a top view of the plug; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  depicts one embodiment of the retention units; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  depicts a cut away view of the plug. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]      FIG. 1  depicts a plug  100  consistent with the present disclosure. The plug  100  includes a plug base  102  having an internal cavity  104  and a lower surface  106 . A plurality of openings  108  are formed in the lower surface  106 . The openings  108  are sized such that a conductive unit  110  can extend from one side of the lower surface  106  to the other side of the lower surface  106 . The conductive unit  110  is made from an electrically conductive material such as, but not limited to, copper. In one embodiment, the conductive unit  110  is a wire. In another embodiment, the conductive unit  110  is a pin. 
         [0032]    A retention unit  112  is positioned on the side of the lower surface  106  inside the cavity  104  and is flexibly affixed to the lower surface  106 . The retention unit  112  is configured to engage a portion of the conductive unit  110  to prevent the conductive unit  110  from moving through the opening  108 . The retention unit  112  may be made of any rigid material including hard plastic, metal or any other hard rigid material. Each conductive unit  110  may be removed from the respective opening  108  by pulling the retention unit  112  in a direction away from the conductive unit  110  such that the retention unit  112  is not in contact with the conductive unit  110 . Because each opening  108  has a respective retention unit  112 , the removal of one conductive unit  110  does not affect the position of the remaining conductive units  110  in the plug  100 . In one embodiment, each retention unit  112  is biased such that the retention unit  112  applies a downward force on the conduction unit  110  when the retention unit  110  engages the latching portion  110   
         [0033]      FIG. 2  depicts a top view of the plug  100 . The retention units  112  are positioned on the lower surface  104  such that the retention units  112  angle from the lower surface  104  towards the center of the opening  108 . A portion of the retention unit  112  engages a surface of the conduction unit  110 . When the conduction unit  110  is inserted into an opening  108 , the conduction unit  112  pushes past the retention unit  112  pushing the retention unit  112  away from the lower surface  104 . As the conduction unit  110  moves past the retention unit  112  a latching portion  200  formed on the surface of the conduction unit  110  engages the retention unit  112 . The latching portion  200  may be an indention or channel formed on the surface of the conduction unit. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  depicts one embodiment of the retention units  112 . Each retention unit  112  extends from a mounting structure  300 . The mounting structure  300  has a size and shape that is configured to conform to the arrangement of the openings  108  in the lower surface  106  such that each retention unit  112  corresponds to an opening  108  in the lower surface  106  when the mounting structure  300  is inserted into the cavity  104  of the plug  100 . Each retention unit  112  includes a front surface  302  that is configured to engage a latching portion  200  on the conduction unit  110  and a rear surface  304  including a notch  306  where the retention unit  112  is bent such that the front surface  302  is positioned in front of the respective opening  108 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  depicts a cut away view of the plug  100 . The plug  100  is inserted into a case  400  with the conduction units  110  being inserted into corresponding openings  404  in a receiving plug  402 . The rear surface  304  of the retention unit  112  is embedded in the plug  100  base with the front surface  302  being bent to engage a latching portion  200  on the conductive unit  110 . By bending the front surface  302  down towards the conductive unit  110  such that the front surface  302  engages the latching portion  200  on the conductive unit  110 , the conductive unit  110  is prevented from moving away from the receiving plug  402 . The latching portion  200  may be a raised portion of the conductive unit  110  or may be a recess in the conductive unit  110 . 
         [0036]    The case  400  includes an opening  408  that is sized to accommodate the plug  100  with the exterior sidewalls of the plug base  102  engaging the interior surface of the cavity  408 . The receiving plug  402  includes a plurality of openings  404  that each correspond to an opening  108  in the plug  100  when the plug  100  is inserted into the case  400 . The conductive units  112  of the plug  100  are inserted into the openings  404  when the plug  100  is in the case  400 . 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the receiving plug  402  includes a notch  406  in a lower portion  408  that is sized to configure a portion of the retention unit  112  when the retention unit  112  engages the conduction unit  110 . A lower portion  408  of the receiving plug  402  extends into the cavity  102  of the plug  102  to affix the receiving plug  402  with the plug  100 . An upper portion  410  of the receiving plug  402  is inserted into an upper portion of the case  400  with the end of the upper portion being open to allow access to the openings  408 . 
         [0038]    In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
         [0039]    It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.