Connector bracket

Brackets may be mated with or coupled to an opening of an electronic device enclosure or housing for receiving plug connectors to reinforce the receptacle connector and/or device housing and potentially reduce damage/breakage. For example, a bracket can have a front face with a curvature. A back face of the bracket can include a first opening that communicates with a cavity. The cavity can be defined at least in part by upper and lower opposing inner surfaces, the lower inner surface including a portion that extends parallel to a portion of the bracket front face. The bracket can also include a hollow protrusion extending from the bracket front face in a front direction. The hollow protrusion can include an opening that communicates with the opening of the back face and extends through the hollow protrusion. Methods for manufacturing the connector bracket are also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to electronic device enclosures or housings, and in particular the interface between electronic device housings and electrical connectors.

Many electronic devices include electrical connectors that receive and provide power and data. For example, devices, such as tablets, laptops, netbooks, desktops, and all-in-one computers; cell, smart, and media phones; storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, and others, use electrical connectors for power and/or data. These electrical connectors are typically receptacle connectors and are designed to receive a male plug connector. The plug connector may plug into the receptacle connector through an opening in the housing of an electronic device, thereby forming one or more conductive paths for signals and power. These receptacle connectors may be attached or otherwise fixed to housings that surround an electronic device.

In response to the demand for smaller and lighter electronic devices, device enclosures have increasingly limited internal space while still including a large number of internal components. Limited space within the enclosures of devices creates a number of challenges. For example, the limited internal space of these enclosures drives the demand for smaller internal components such as smaller receptacle connectors for receiving smaller corresponding plug connectors. However, smaller receptacle connectors may be prone to breaking due to thinner receptacle connectors walls, particularly when made from polymers. In addition, lighter electronic devices may include housings that are made from lighter, less robust materials that may also be prone to being damaged and/or breaking. Damage to these receptacle connectors and/or device housings may occur during normal use of devices or when plug connectors are improperly inserted into and/or extracted from receptacle connectors and device housings.

Some plug connectors may be made from materials that are stronger than the corresponding receptacle connectors and/or the enclosures in which the receptacle connectors are housed. This may create additional challenges.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the invention pertain to trim rings or brackets that may be mated with or coupled to an opening of an electronic device enclosure or housing for receiving plug connectors to improve upon some or all of the above described deficiencies. For example, trim rings or brackets may be coupled or mated with a receptacle connector and an opening of a device housing to reinforce the receptacle connector and/or device housing and potentially reduce damage/breakage. These brackets may be made from materials with strong wear characteristics to withstand repeated contact with plug connectors. In addition, the material used to make the brackets may be of a stronger material than the device housing so as to prevent deformation of the device housing when toque or other forces are applied by a plug connector. The structural design of the bracket may also serve to spread loads, moments or torques applied to the bracket by a plug connector over a larger surface area of the device housing rather than at localized points on the device housing or the receptacle connector.

Accordingly, there is provided a bracket, comprising:

a bracket front face having a curvature;

a bracket back face including a first opening that communicates with a cavity, the cavity defined at least in part by:upper and lower opposing inner surfaces, the lower inner surface including a portion that extends parallel to a portion of the bracket front face; and

a hollow protrusion extending from the bracket front face in a front direction;

a second opening that communicates with the first opening and extends through the hollow protrusion; and

a bracket upper face and a bracket lower face, which faces oppose each other.

There is also provided a bracket for mating with a receptacle connector and an opening of a housing of an electronic device, the bracket comprising:

a bracket front face;

a bracket back face;

the bracket front face comprising:an upper portion including a planar center upper portion and left and right upper portions, the left upper portion having a curvature extending from the center upper portion toward a back direction and a left direction; the right upper portion having a curvature extending from the center upper portion toward the back direction and a right direction;a lower portion including a center lower portion and left and right lower portions, the center lower portion having a curvature extending from the planar center upper portion toward the back direction and a lower direction, the right lower portion having a curvature extending from the center lower portion toward the back and right directions, the left lower portion having a curvature extending from the center lower portion toward the back and lower directions;

a hollow protrusion extending in a front direction;

a first elongated opening extending through the hollow protrusion and the bracket, from the front bracket face to the back bracket face, the first elongated opening comprising:planar upper and lower first elongated opening inner surfaces that extend parallel to the upper and lower hollow protrusion outer surfaces, respectively;right and left arcuate first elongated opening inner surfaces, the right and left arcuate first elongated opening inner surfaces extending between the upper and lower first elongated opening inner surfaces, the right and left first elongated opening arcuate inner surfaces extending in a direction concentric with the right and left arcuate hollow protrusion outer surfaces, respectively;

the bracket back face comprising:an irregularly shaped opening that communicates with a cavity, the cavity defined at least in part by:upper and lower opposing irregularly shaped opening inner surfaces, the lower irregularly shaped opening inner surface including a portion that extends parallel to the lower center portion of the bracket front face; andleft and right opposing irregularly shaped opening inner surfaces; andleft and right alignment surfaces including left and right openings, respectively, the left and right openings oriented in a front to back direction; anda second elongated opening, the second elongated opening corresponding to and larger than the first elongated opening, the second elongated opening comprising:a planar lower second elongated opening inner surface that extends parallel to the lower first elongated opening inner surface;right and left arcuate second elongated opening inner surfaces extending between the upper irregularly shaped opening inner surface and the lower second elongated opening inner surface, the right and left arcuate second elongated opening inner surfaces extending in a direction concentric with the right and left arcuate hollow protrusion inner surfaces, respectively; and

a bracket upper face and a bracket lower face, which faces oppose each other and are oriented in planes that are parallel.

There is also provided a bracket for mating with a receptacle connector and an opening of a housing of an electronic device, the bracket comprising:

a planar bracket upper face and a planar bracket lower face, which faces oppose each other;

first and second fastener openings disposed on left and right portions of the bracket upper face, respectively;

a bracket front face having a curvature extending from the bracket upper face toward a back direction and a lower direction;

a hollow protrusion extending in a front direction;

a first elongated opening extending through the hollow protrusion and the bracket, from the front bracket face to the back bracket face, the first elongated opening comprising:planar upper and lower first elongated opening inner surfaces that extend parallel to the upper and lower hollow protrusion outer surfaces, respectively;right and left arcuate first elongated opening inner surfaces, the right and left arcuate first elongated opening inner surfaces extending between the upper and lower first elongated opening inner surfaces, the right and left first elongated opening arcuate inner surfaces extending in a direction concentric with the right and left arcuate hollow protrusion outer surfaces, respectively;

a planar bracket back face comprising:a second elongated opening communicating with the first elongated opening, the second elongated opening larger than the first elongated opening in a right to left direction and the upper to lower direction thereby forming a first ledge extending between the first and second elongated openings, the first ledge oriented in a plane that is parallel to the bracket back face;a third elongated opening communicating with the second elongated opening, the third elongated opening larger than the second elongated opening in the right to left direction thereby forming a second ledge extending between the second and third elongated openings, the second ledge oriented in a plane that is parallel to the bracket back face;a fourth elongated opening communicating with the third elongated openings, the fourth elongated opening larger than the third elongated opening in the right to left and the upper to lower directions thereby forming a third ledge extending between the third and fourth elongated openings, the third ledge oriented in a plane that is parallel to the bracket back face; anda fifth elongated opening communicating with the fourth elongated openings, the fifth elongated opening larger than the fourth elongated opening in the right to left and the upper to lower directions thereby forming a fourth ledge extending between the fourth and fifth elongated openings, the fourth ledge oriented in a plane that is parallel to the bracket back face and including first and second alignment openings on a right and a left portion of the fourth ledge, respectively;

a bracket right face extending from the bracket front face towards the back direction and a right direction; and

a bracket left face extending from the bracket front face towards the back direction and a left direction.

Although aspects of the invention are described in relation to environments where space within the enclosure of an electronic device is limited or where lighter, less robust materials are used for device housings and/or receptacle connectors, it is appreciated that these features and aspects can be used in a variety of different environments, regardless of space and weight constraints.

Trim rings or brackets described herein can be used in a variety of different electronic devices, which may use a variety of different connector technologies. These different connector technologies may include standard USB and mini USB connectors, FireWire connectors, as well as many of the proprietary connectors, e.g., Apple's proprietary 30-pin connector, used with portable electronics.

To better understand the nature and advantages of the present invention, reference should be made to the following description and the accompanying figures. It is to be understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the scope of the present invention. Also, as a general rule, and unless it is evident to the contrary from the description, where elements in different figures use identical reference numbers, the elements are generally either identical or at least similar in function or purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As discussed earlier, the invention may apply to a variety of different electronic devices, which may use a variety of different connector technologies. Accordingly, this invention may be used with many electronic devices that mate with a variety of electrical connectors in order to receive and provide power and data. Examples of electronic devices that may include the present invention are shown in the following figure.

FIG. 1Adepicts an illustrative rendering of one particular electronic media device100that may include the present invention. Device100includes a multipurpose button105as an input component and a touch screen display110as a both an input and output component, all of which are housed within a device housing115. Device100also includes a primary receptacle connector120within device housing115. Receptacle connector120can be positioned within housing115such that the cavity of the receptacle connectors into which a corresponding plug connector is inserted communicates with an opening (opening130shown inFIGS. 1B and 1C) at an exterior surface (bottom exterior surface115ashown inFIGS. 1B and 1C) of the device housing115.

For simplicity, various internal components, such as the control circuitry, graphics circuitry, bus, memory, storage device and other components are not shown inFIG. 1A. Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are particularly suitable for use with plug connectors that are configured to mate with receptacle connector120, but in some embodiments can also be used with audio plug receptacle (not shown inFIG. 1A).

Although device10is described as one particular electronic media device, embodiments of the invention are suitable for use with a multiplicity of electronic devices that include a receptacle connector for receiving a corresponding plug connector. For example, any device that receives or transmits audio, video or data signals among may be used with the invention. In some instances, embodiments of the invention are particularly well suited for use with portable electronic media devices because of their potentially small form factor. As used herein, an electronic media device includes any device with at least one electronic component that may be used to present human-perceivable media. Such devices may include, for example, portable music players (e.g., MP3 devices and Apple's iPod devices), portable video players (e.g., portable DVD players), cellular telephones (e.g., smart telephones such as Apple's iPhone devices), video cameras, digital still cameras, projection systems (e.g., holographic projection systems), gaming systems, PDAs, desktop computers, as well as tablet (e.g., Apple's iPad devices), laptop or other mobile computers. Some of these devices may be configured to provide audio, video or other data or sensory output.

FIGS. 1B and 1Cillustrate front views of electronic media device100not including and including a connector trim ring or bracket according to embodiments of the present invention, respectively. As shown inFIG. 1B, housing115of device100may include a bottom exterior surface115aincluding an opening130. As discussed above, a plug connector may be inserted through an opening130at an exterior surface of the device housing, e.g., bottom exterior surface115a,in order to mate with receptacle connector120. As shown inFIG. 1C, a bracket according to the present invention, e.g., bracket135, may be sized to receive a plug connector and coupled with opening130. A detailed discussion of brackets according to the present invention will be provided below.

Although receptacle connector120and opening130are shown inFIGS. 1A-1Cas being disposed at bottom exterior surface115aof device100, brackets according to the present invention may be coupled with openings disposed at any number of surfaces of electronic device, e.g., a top, left, right or other exterior surface.

In order to better appreciate the features and aspects of trim rings or brackets of the present invention, further context for the invention is provided in the following section by discussing a one particular plug connector which may be inserted through brackets according to the present invention in order to mate with corresponding receptacle connectors housed within electronic devices.

FIGS. 2A-2Cdepict an eight contact in-line dual orientation plug connector200that may be received by trim rings or brackets according to embodiments of the present invention.FIG. 2Ais a simplified perspective view of plug connector200andFIGS. 2B and 2Care simplified top and bottom plan views, respectfully, of plug connector200. As shown inFIG. 2A, plug connector200includes a body205and a tab or insertion end210that extends longitudinally away from a flanged end230in a direction parallel to the length of connector200. A cable215can be attached to body205at an end opposite of insertion end210.

Insertion end210may be inserted through brackets according to embodiments of the present invention, e.g., bracket135(shown inFIG. 1C), and into a corresponding receptacle connector, such as connector120(shown inFIG. 1A), during a mating event. Insertion end210includes a first contact region220aformed on a first major surface225aand a second contact region220bformed at a second major surface225bopposite surface225a.Surfaces225a,225bextend from a distal tip or end of the insertion end210to flanged end230. When insertion end210is inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector, surfaces225a,225babut a housing of the receptacle connector and/or a bracket coupled to the electronic device housing in which the receptacle connector is incorporated. In some embodiments, insertion end210is between 4 and 7 mm wide, between 1 and 2 mm thick and has an insertion depth (the distance from the distal tip of insertion end210to flanged end230) between 5 and 10 mm. The structure and shape of insertion end210and flanged end230may be defined by a ground ring or frame235that can be made from stainless steel or another conductive material.

In one embodiment, plug connector200can be the plug connector portion of a plug connector/receptacle connector pair that can be the primary physical connector system for an ecosystem of products that includes both host electronic devices and accessory devices. Examples of host devices include smart phones, portable media players, tablet computers, laptop computers, desktop computers and other computing devices. An accessory can be any piece of hardware that connects to and communicates with or otherwise expands the functionality of the host. Many different types of accessory devices can be specifically designed or adapted to communicate with the host device through plug connector200to provide additional functionality for the host. Plug connector200can be incorporated into each accessory device that is part of the ecosystem to enable the host and accessory to communicate with each other over a physical/electrical channel when plug connector200from the accessory is mated with a corresponding receptacle connector in the host device. Examples of accessory devices include docking stations, charge/sync cables and devices, cable adapters, clock radios, game controllers, audio equipment, memory card readers, headsets, video equipment and adapters, keyboards, medical sensors such as heart rate monitors and blood pressure monitors, point of sale (POS) terminals, as well as numerous other hardware devices that can connect to and exchange data with the host device.

As discussed above, although bracket135is described herein in relation to one particular plug connector (plug connector200), embodiments of the invention are suitable for use with a multiplicity of plug connectors that correspond to receptacle connectors for electronic devices, e.g., other plug connectors described herein.

Brackets according to the present invention may include features to accommodate elements of plug connector200described above. In addition, embodiments of the present invention may include features to aid in coupling with receptacle connectors and electronic device housings in which the receptacle connectors are housed. Additional features of the invention may prevent damage to electronic devices and receptacle connectors housed therein. Examples of these features are shown in the following figures.

For purposes of description of the embodiment of the invention shown inFIGS. 3A-3GandFIGS. 5A-5C, a three-dimensional set of orthogonal axes is shown relative to a bracket300ofFIG. 3Eand a bracket500ofFIG. 5A. The axes set (as shown inFIGS. 3E and 5A) are labeled relative to the direction in which bracket300extends through the device housing (e.g., housing115as shown inFIGS. 1A-1C) in as the front direction, and the opposite direction as the back direction to form a front-back axis. Orthogonal to the front direction, a right direction and left direction are shown and form a left-right axis. Again, orthogonal to the front-back and left-right axes, an upper direction and lower direction are shown which form an upper-lower axis. A frontal plane is defined by the left-right and upper-lower axes. A sagittal plane is defined by the front-back and upper-lower axes. A superior plane is defined by the left-right and front-back axes. Accordingly, it is apparent that the particular brackets300and500described below are symmetrical in a sagittal plane through a centerline through the center of the elongated opening (which opening is described below) in the sagittal plane, though asymmetrical in a frontal plane or a superior plane through that center. Brackets according to various embodiments of the invention may be symmetrical or asymmetrical in various planes as desired.

FIGS. 3A-3Gillustrate a connector trim ring or bracket300according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIGS. 3A-3Dare front, back, top and bottom plan views, respectively, of bracket300according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIGS. 3E-3Fare front and back perspective views, respectively, of bracket300according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3Gis a partial cutaway back perspective view of bracket300according to an embodiment of the present invention. Bracket300as shown inFIG. 3Aincludes a front face302having lower and upper front face portions. The upper portion include left and right portions304,306and a center portion308extending between the left and right portions304,306. The lower portion includes left and right portions309,310extending between a center portion312. As shown inFIG. 3A, and more clearly inFIGS. 3C and 3E, left and right upper and lower portions304,306,309,310may have a rounded curvature.FIGS. 3B-3Dshow that bracket300also includes a back face314and upper and lower opposing faces316,318.

As shown inFIGS. 3C and 3D, hollow protrusion320may extend from front face302and include upper and lower outer surfaces320a,320b,which surfaces may be planar, and left and right arcuate outer surfaces320c,320d.Hollow protrusion320may also include a front face320eextending between surfaces320a-320d.Hollow protrusion320may extend varying distances from front face320edepending on a number of factors, including the geometry of an electronic device housing to which bracket300may be coupled. For example, hollow protrusion320may extend from the interior of the device housing (e.g., housing115as shown inFIG. 1A) and through an opening (e.g., opening130as shown inFIG. 1B) in the housing such that front face320eis flush with an exterior surface (e.g., surface115aas shown inFIGS. 1B and 1C) of the device housing.

As shown inFIGS. 3D and 3E, bracket300may include a first elongated opening325extending through hollow protrusion320and the rest of bracket300. First elongated opening325may include upper and lower inner surfaces325a,325b,which surfaces may be planar, and left and right arcuate inner surfaces325c,325d.These inner surfaces of first elongated opening325may extend parallel to corresponding outer surfaces of hollow protrusion320. First elongated opening325may be sized and configured to receive a plug connector corresponding to the device. Bevel surfaces may extend around an inner perimeter of first elongated opening325extending between corresponding inner surfaces325a-325dand front face320e.For example, upper, lower, left arcuate and right arcuate bevel surfaces330a-330dmay extended between front face320eand upper, lower, left arcuate and right arcuate outer surfaces320a-320d, respectively. These bevel surfaces may allow corresponding plug connectors (e.g., plug connector460shown inFIGS. 4B-4C) to be more readily insertable through bracket300and into corresponding receptacle connectors (e.g., receptacle connector410shown inFIGS. 4A-4C).

Although first elongated opening325is shown inFIGS. 3A-3Fas having a particular shape, other embodiments of the invention may include openings for receiving plug connectors where the openings are otherwise shaped. For example, the first elongated opening325may be circular, triangular, rectangular or otherwise shaped. The shape of the hollow protrusion320may be similarly varied to be similar to or different from embodiments of first elongated opening325.

As shown inFIGS. 3E and 3F, bracket300may include protrusions335a,335bthat may extend from left and right portions309,310of the front face302. Fastener openings340a,340bmay be disposed on protrusions335a,335b,oriented in planes that are parallel with upper face316, and beveled. In some embodiments, protrusions335a,335bmay be L-shaped so as to provide surfaces for positioning fastener openings that are oriented in planes that are perpendicular with upper face316. Alternatively, one or more protrusions having fastener openings disposed thereon may extend from other faces of bracket300, e.g., upper face316and/or lower face318. Fasteners (not shown) may extend through fastener openings340a,340bin order to secure bracket300to a housing of an electronic device (housing405shown inFIG. 4A).

As shown inFIG. 3F, back face314of bracket300may include an irregularly shaped opening345. Again,FIG. 3Gis a partial cutaway view and it illustrates inner surfaces that may define the cavity of irregularly shaped opening345. For example, a lower inner surface345ais shown as having a curvature that extends parallel to the lower center portion312of front face302. An upper inner surface345bis also shown and may be oriented in a plane that is parallel to upper face316(as shown inFIG. 3F). A left inner surface345dmay extend between upper and lower inner surfaces345a.Although only a left half of bracket300is shown inFIG. 3G, a right half of bracket300may be symmetrical in the plane about which bracket300is cut inFIG. 3G, e.g., irregular opening345may include a right inner surface corresponding to left inner surface345d.

As shown inFIG. 3G, the cavity of irregularly shaped opening345may also be defined by left and right alignment surfaces350a,350b(shown inFIG. 3B), which surfaces may include left and right alignment openings355a,355b(shown inFIG. 3B), respectively. Surfaces350a,350bmay be planar and left and right alignment openings355a,355bmay be oriented in a plane that is perpendicular to upper face316. These openings355a,355bmay be used to align with corresponding features on a receptacle connector (e.g., receptacle connector410shown inFIGS. 4A-4C) coupled with bracket300.

As further shown inFIG. 3G, back face314also includes a second elongated opening355that may correspond to, i.e., be centered about the same point as, the first elongated opening325. Second elongated opening355may be larger than first elongated opening325and include lower and left arcuate inner surfaces355b,355c.Although not shown, second elongated opening355may also include a right arcuate inner surface corresponding to left arcuate inner surface355c.As shown inFIG. 3G, upper inner surface345bof irregularly shaped opening345may serve as the upper inner surface of second elongated opening355. A beveled surface360may extend between inner surfaces325b-325dand corresponding inner surfaces of second elongated opening355b,355c,and a right arcuate inner (not shown inFIG. 3G). However, a bevel surface may not extend between upper inner surface345band upper inner surface325a. Right and left (355c) inner arcuate surfaces of second elongated opening355may be concentric with right left inner surfaces325c,325dand/or left and right arcuate outer surfaces320c,320d.

Bracket300may be made from materials such as stainless steel (e.g., 301 or 17-4 stainless steel) or other high modulus, high strength materials. Bracket300may be manufactured according to a number of different methods, including pressed powder sintering, investment casting, computer numerical control (CNC) machining, forging, metal injection molding (MIM) or other.

Although bracket300is shown inFIGS. 3A-3Gas having a particular geometry, the geometry of the bracket of the present invention may vary to accommodate the geometry of corresponding electronic device housings and receptacle connectors with which brackets of the invention may be mated. Examples of how brackets of the invention interface with corresponding device housings and receptacle connectors are shown in the following figures.

FIG. 4Aillustrates a cutaway perspective view of a bracket400of the invention coupled with an electronic device housing405and a receptacle connector410. Bracket400may extend through an opening415of housing405such that a front face420may be flush with exterior surface425of housing405. Bracket400may also extend into the interior of housing405so as to surround a portion of a housing430of receptacle connector410. As shown inFIG. 4A, portions400a,400bof bracket400may be shaped so as to conform and be flush with corresponding surfaces of receptacle connector410and housing405. In addition, an opening435(e.g., second elongated opening325) that include inner surfaces (e.g., upper, lower and left, right arcuate inner surfaces) that serve as a ledge on which lips440,445of receptacle connector410may interface.

Bracket400may also include an opening450for receiving a plug connector corresponding to receptacle connector410. An example of how a plug connector interfaces with bracket400when inserted into opening415is shown in the following figures.

FIGS. 4B and 4Cillustrate a plug connector460proximate to and inserted through bracket400of the invention, respectively.FIG. 4Bshows a typical insertion path455which plug connector460may follow in being inserted through bracket400and into receptacle connector410. Insertion path455shows that plug connector460does not necessarily contact housing405during an insertion event. Instead, bracket400may shield housing405from contact with a plug connector460. Thus, wear on housing405may be reduced when a bracket, e.g., bracket400, is coupled to housing405. This could be particularly beneficial where housing405is made from aluminum or other metals that can be prone to wear, especially where plug connector460is made from hard metallic materials such as stainless steel.

When plug connector460is inserted into receptacle connector410, as shown inFIG. 4B, loads and torques may be applied to plug connector460. When these loads are applied, bracket400may prevent damage to receptacle connector410as it surrounds a portion of receptacle connector410so as to reinforce receptacle connector410by absorbing some of those loads. In the absence of bracket400, torques applied by plug connector460while inserted into receptacle connector410may cause localized forces around opening415of housing405. However, bracket400prevents localized forces from being applied to opening415by spreading out torques and loads to the rest of the housing via fastening mechanisms (e.g., fasteners and fastener openings340a,340bdiscussed above) that may secure bracket400to housing405. By reinforcing and spreading loads, bracket400may prevent damage to housing405and receptacle connector410.

As discussed above, brackets300and400may be sized and shaped to accommodate a particular device housing and corresponding receptacle connector. For example, brackets300and400may be particularly suited for devices having housing surfaces defined by spline curvature such as spline curvature405a(shown inFIG. 4C). Some device may have housing surfaces that are defined by a more or less dramatic spline curvature. In order to illustrate generally how brackets of the invention may be varied depending on a corresponding device housing, the following figures show an example of a bracket for a device having a housing surface defined by a less dramatic spline curvature.

FIGS. 5A-5Care front, back and bottom perspective views, respectively, of a connector trim ring or bracket500according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIGS. 5A and 5C, bracket500includes upper and lower opposing faces505and510. Upper face505includes first and second fastener openings515,520disposed at right and left portions of upper face505, respectively. Bracket500may also include rounded left and right opposing faces525,530(show inFIG. 5B) and a front face535. A hollow protrusion540may extend from front face535. Hollow protrusion540may include an upper and lower outer surfaces540a,540b,which surfaces may be planar, and left and right arcuate outer surfaces540c,540dthat may extend between surfaces540a,540b.Hollow protrusion540may also include a front face542extending between surfaces540a-540d.A first elongated opening545may extending through hollow protrusion540and through the remainder of bracket500from front face535to a back face550(shown inFIG. 5B), which surface may be planar.

First elongated opening545may include upper and lower opposing inner surfaces545a,545b,which surfaces may be planar, and left and right arcuate inner surfaces545c(shown inFIG. 5B),545dthat may extend between surfaces545a,545b.Upper and lower inner surfaces545a,545bmay extend parallel to upper and lower outer surfaces540a,540band left and right arcuate inner surfaces545c,545dmay extend in a direction concentric with left and right arcuate outer surfaces540c,540d.First elongated opening545may also include a bevel surface547extending between front face542and inner surfaces545a-545d.

As shown inFIG. 5B, back face550may include a number of elongated openings, including second, third, fourth, and fifth openings560a-560d.Second, third, fourth and fifth elongated openings560a-560dmay communicate with first, second, third, and fourth elongated openings540,560a,560b,560c, respectively. Second elongated opening560amay be larger than first elongated opening540in the right to left direction and the upper to lower direction, thereby forming a first ledge565a.Third elongated opening560bmay be larger than second elongated opening560ain the right to left direction, thereby forming a second ledge565b. Fourth elongated opening560cmay be larger than third elongated opening560bin the right to left direction and the upper to lower direction, thereby forming a third ledge565c.Fifth elongated opening560dmay be larger than fourth elongated opening560cin the right to left direction and the upper to lower direction, thereby forming a fourth ledge565d.Ledges565a-565dmay each be oriented in a plane that is parallel to the back bracket face550. Ledges560a-560dmay serve as supports for features of receptacle connector coupled with bracket500as discussed below.

In addition, ledge565dmay include left and right portions including first and second alignment openings570a,570b, respectively. These openings570a,570bmay be used to align a receptacle connector (e.g., receptacle connector610shown inFIGS. 6A-6C) with bracket500using corresponding features on a receptacle connector.

Although bracket500is shown inFIGS. 5A-5Cas having a particular geometry, the geometry of brackets of the present invention may vary to accommodate the geometry of corresponding electronic device housings and receptacle connectors with which brackets of the invention may be mated. Examples of how brackets of the invention interface with corresponding device housings and receptacle connectors are shown in the following figures.

FIG. 6Aillustrates a cutaway perspective view of a bracket600of the invention coupled with an electronic device housing605and a receptacle connector610. Bracket600may extend through an opening615of housing605such that a front face620of bracket600may be flush with an exterior surface625of housing605. Bracket600may also extend into the interior of housing605so as to surround a portion of a housing630of receptacle connector610. As shown inFIG. 6A, portions600a,600bof bracket600may be shaped to conform and be flush with corresponding surfaces of receptacle connector610and housing605. In addition, ledges630a-630cmay be disposed adjacent to corresponding lips640a,640bor other geometry640c,640dof receptacle connector610when receptacle connector610is mated with bracket600.

FIG. 6Afurther illustrates, when compared toFIG. 4A, how the thicknesses of various elements of brackets of the invention may be varied depending on the geometry of a device enclosure and/or a receptacle connector.

An example of how a plug connector interfaces with bracket600when inserted into receptacle connector610is shown in the following figures.

FIGS. 6B and 6Cillustrate a plug connector660proximate to and inserted through bracket600of the invention, respectively.FIGS. 6B and 6Cshow that bracket600may provide similar wear reduction for housing605, plug connector660applied load distribution, and reinforcement for housing605and receptacle connector610as discussed above with regards toFIGS. 4B and 4C.

In addition to the mechanical aspects of brackets according to the present invention described above, brackets of the invention may also provide a cosmetic two tone appearance marking the location for plug connector insertion when coupled with an electronic device housing. Thus, embodiments described herein may be varied for cosmetic reasons in addition to or instead of structural reasons.

Brackets according to the present invention may also be overmolded or coated with an electrically insulative material in order to prevent an electrostatic discharge through a device housing when a plug connector is mated therewith. This may be particularly useful for electronic devices that include a radio frequency (RF) antenna.

Also, while a number of specific embodiments were disclosed with specific features, a person of skill in the art will recognize instances where the features of one embodiment can be combined with the features of another embodiment. For example, some specific embodiments of the invention set forth above were illustrated as including a number of geometric features. A person of skill in the art will readily appreciate embodiments of the present invention may include all, some or a combination of the geometric features described in relation to any of the embodiments described herein and may include additional geometric features not described herein. Also, those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the inventions described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.