USB locking connector system

A Universal Serial Bus (USB) locking connector system is provided. The system can include a first housing defining a first locking portion and a female USB connector adapted to be disposed within the first housing. The system can also include a male USB connector operable to mate with the female USB connector. The system can further include a second housing defining a second locking portion. The second housing can be configured to receive the male USB connector. The second housing can be operable to engage the first locking portion with the second locking portion to fixedly couple the male USB connector to the female USB connector.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a connector system, and more particularly to a locking connector system for a universal serial bus (USB) connection.

BACKGROUND

Various connector systems exist for coupling a USB interface to a USB terminal. Typically, the USB connector system includes a USB cable with a USB interface adapted to mate with a USB terminal. The USB cable can include a cable body which facilitates a large number of mating cycles with the USB terminal while also providing a low release force to enable a consumer to easily and quickly remove the USB interface from the USB terminal. Thus, most USB connector systems have very low lock strength.

In addition, many USB connector systems are not designed to withstand high temperatures. Typical USB connector systems are generally designed to withstand ordinary room temperatures and the relatively low operating temperatures associated with computing equipment. The exposure of most USB connector systems to high operating temperatures can further reduce the release force provided by the USB interface, as the increased temperature can result in reduced rigidity of the locking mechanism.

Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a USB locking connector system which can maintain its lock strength over a range of operating conditions.

SUMMARY

The various teachings can provide a Universal Serial Bus (USB) locking connector system. The system can include a first housing defining a first locking portion and a female USB connector adapted to be disposed within the first housing. The system can also include a male USB connector operable to mate with the female USB connector. The system can further include a second housing defining a second locking portion. The second housing can be configured to receive the male USB connector. The second housing can be operable to engage the first locking portion with the second locking portion to fixedly couple the male USB connector to the female USB connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the various embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the teachings of the various embodiments, their application, or uses. Although the following description is related generally to a USB locking connector system that can be coupled to a mobile platform, such as a motor vehicle, it will be understood that the USB locking connector system, as described and claimed herein, can be used with any appropriate application. Therefore, it will be understood that the following discussions are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

As will be discussed in more detail herein, a USB locking connector system8is taught. With reference toFIG. 1, an exemplary motor vehicle10which can include the USB locking connector system8is shown. The motor vehicle10can include a media device12, such as a mini-computer, radio or navigation system. The media device12can include a hard drive14with a circuit board16. The USB locking connector system8can be coupled to the circuit board16to enable the USB locking connector system8to be in communication with the hard drive14. The USB locking connector system8can be used to enable data transfer between the hard drive14of the media device12and a user operated plug and play USB device or external media device18, such as a digital camera, MP3 player or other USB plug and play devices. Generally, with additional reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, the USB locking connector system8can include a female connector system20and a male connector system22.

The female connector system20can be coupled to and in communication with the circuit board16of the media device12, as best shown inFIG. 4. In general, the female connector system20can include a first housing or shroud24which can surround a female USB terminal26. The female USB terminal26can be a mini-USB compatible terminal or a conventional USB terminal. As the data communication between the female USB terminal26and the hard drive14can be substantially identical to the data transfer associated with various home computer and/or music playback equipment, a detailed discussion of the data communication between the female USB terminal26and the hard drive14and of the construction of the female USB terminal26need not be provided herein.

InFIGS. 2,4and5, the female USB terminal26can include terminals28. The terminals28can be configured to engage the male connector system22(FIG. 1) and to also enable data transfer between the male connector system22(FIG. 1) and the hard drive14(FIG. 1). Generally, the terminals28can be coupled to and in communication with a plurality of wired contact posts30. The wired contact posts30can be coupled to and in communication with the circuit board16. The wired contact posts30could be soldered to a surface48of the circuit board16, or the wired contact posts30could be press fit into the surface48of the circuit board16, however, any appropriate method could be used to couple the female USB terminal26to the circuit board16. Thus, the wired contact posts30can be operable to place the female USB terminal26in communication with the circuit board16to enable data transfer between the terminals28and the hard drive14(FIG. 1) through the wired contact posts30and the circuit board16.

The female USB terminal26can further include one or more flanges32. The flanges32can extend from a body34of the female USB terminal26. The flanges32can be further used to couple the female USB terminal26to the circuit board16, as the flanges32can be soldered to the circuit board16after the wired contact posts30are in position on the circuit board16, however any appropriate coupling technique could be employed, such as the use of a mechanical fastener. In addition, one or more of the flanges32can be used to couple the female USB terminal26to the shroud24, as will be described in greater detail below. The shroud24can surround the female USB terminal26to protect the wired contact posts30from wire strains.

The shroud24can be a container-like structure with a bottom surface36, a top surface38and one or more sides40. The shroud24can be formed of a metallic material, typically metals or metal alloys, however other materials could be employed. Generally, the shroud24can define an opening42that can be configured to surround the female USB terminal26. The opening42can enable the shroud24to be positioned over the female USB terminal26such that the bottom surface36contacts a cut-out44formed in the circuit board16, as will be described in greater detail below. A length L of the bottom surface36can be sized to correspond to a length L2of the cut-out44, and both the length L of the bottom surface36and length L2of the cut-out44can be sized to as necessary to provide an alignment distance for coupling the female USB terminal26to the male connector system22, as will be described in greater detail below.

The sides40of the shroud24can include at least one or a plurality of flanges46. The flanges46can be used to couple the shroud24to the circuit board16. The flanges46could be soldered to a surface48of the circuit board16, or the flanges46could be press fit into the surface48of the circuit board16, however, any appropriate method could be used to couple the shroud24to the circuit board16, such as a mechanical fastener and/or adhesives. In addition, one or more of the flanges46can be used to couple the female USB terminal26to the shroud24, as will be discussed in greater detail below.

Additionally, the shroud24can include one or more tabs50that can be disposed along the sides40to assist in transferring any loading to the shroud24to the circuit board16. The tabs50can also serve to further shield the female USB terminal26from contaminants such as dust and other debris. The sides40can also include at least one or more apertures52which can be used to balance the shroud24on the circuit board16by enabling the adjustment of a center of gravity of the shroud24. It will be understood that not all applications will require the apertures52.

The top surface38of the shroud24can include one or more of engagement members54. The engagement members54can extend from a rear surface56of the top surface38to engage a rear surface58of the female USB terminal26. Generally, the engagement members54can be bent from the rear surface56prior to coupling the shroud24to the female USB terminal26. Alternately, the engagement members54may be bent from the rear surface56after the bottom surface36of the shroud24has contacted the cut-out44in the circuit board16. The engagement members54can ensure that the shroud24is properly disposed around the female USB terminal26prior to securing the shroud24to the circuit board16. The top surface38can further define a first locking portion or locking aperture60. The locking aperture60can be configured to engage the male connector system22(FIG. 1) to fixedly couple the female connector system20to the male connector system22(FIG. 1).

With reference toFIGS. 3,4and5, the male connector system22can include a second housing or shroud62which can be configured to mate with the locking aperture60. The male connector system22can also include a male USB interface connector64which can be secured to and surrounded by the shroud62. The shroud62can include a top surface66and a bottom surface68coupled together by at least one or a plurality of sides70. The shroud62can be composed of a polymeric material with high thermal resistance, such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) with about fifteen percent glass filler, however any appropriate material could be employed. An opening72can be defined by the top surface66, bottom surface68and sides70, and may extend from a first end74to a second end76. The opening72can enable the receipt of the male USB interface connector64therethrough, as will be discussed further below.

The top surface66of the shroud62can define at least one or pair of flanges78and a housing lock80at the first end74. The flanges78can each be configured to constrain a tab82extending from a top surface83of the housing lock80. The interaction between the tabs82and flanges78can provide audible feedback to an operator (not shown) that the shroud62of the male connector system22is fixedly coupled to the shroud24of the female connector system20as will be described in greater detail below.

The top surface83of the housing lock80can be cantilevered from a bottom surface84of the housing lock80to provide a spring force to resist the engagement of a second locking portion or projection86formed on the bottom surface84with the locking aperture60. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the flanges78can serve to force the top surface83to be compressed against the bottom surface84prior to the engagement of the projection86with the locking aperture60of the shroud24. In addition, the use of the housing lock80prevents the easy release of the female connector system20from the male connector system22as a high force can be required to re-compress the top surface83against the bottom surface84to remove the projection86from the locking aperture60of the shroud24. It should also be noted that the use of a polymeric material with high thermal resistance ensures that the projection86can remain firmly engaged with the locking aperture60even in high temperature environments, such as those found within the motor vehicle10.

The projection86of the housing lock82can be positioned to contact a slot88defined in a cover or scoop90. The scoop90can be formed on the first end74and can generally extend from the sides70. The slot88can be configured to have a depth D which can be approximately equal to a thickness T of the shroud24, and can extend for at least a length L3along the scoop90. The length L3can be at least generally equivalent to a length L4measured from the locking aperture60to an edge92of the shroud24. The slot88thus enables a portion of the shroud24extending from the locking aperture60to the edge92to be retained beneath the bottom surface84of the housing lock80.

The scoop90can be configured to slidably engage the shroud24. The scoop90can surround a first end94of the male USB interface connector64to protect the first end94of the male USB interface connector64from stubbing or misalignment with the terminals28of the female USB terminal26. The scoop90can generally extend slightly beyond an edge96of the male USB interface connector64and may extend a length L5from the housing lock80, which can be approximately equivalent to the length L of the bottom surface36of the shroud24, to enable data communication between the female USB terminal26and the male USB interface connector64when the projection86of the housing lock80is retained in the locking aperture60. The position of the male USB interface connector64within the scoop90can be defined by the engagement of the male USB interface connector64with a third locking portion or protrusion98formed on the bottom surface68of the shroud62.

The protrusion98can generally include a ramped face100which terminates in a peak102. The ramped face100serves to guide the male USB interface connector64into the scoop90and also ensures proper alignment between the male USB interface connector64and the scoop90prior to the engagement of the protrusion98with the male USB interface connector64. The protrusion98can be generally formed on the bottom surface68at a distance which enables the male USB interface connector64to be in communication with the female USB terminal26when the locking aperture60and projection86on the housing lock80are engaged. The bottom surface68can also define a slot101for receipt of a tool (not shown) which can be used to pry the protrusion98out of engagement with the male USB interface connector64in case the male USB interface connector64needs to be repaired or replaced without requiring the disengagement of the female connector system20from the male connector system22. However, it is to be understood that in the alternative the entire USB locking connector system8could be removed for servicing.

The male USB interface connector64can include the first end94in communication with and coupled to a second end104via a cable106. The first end94can include a male USB interface108which can either be a mini-USB interface or a conventional USB interface depending upon the type of USB connection employed by the female USB terminal26. The male USB interface108can include at least one or a plurality of contacts110configured to mate with the terminals28of the female USB terminal26to enable data communication between the male USB interface connector64and the hard drive14through the female USB terminal26and circuit board16. It should be noted that as the male USB interface108and cable106can be substantially similar to a USB interface and cable106used in home computers and/or music playback equipment, a detailed discussion of this functionality or of the basic construction of the male USB interface108and cable106need not be provided herein.

The cable106can be fixedly coupled to the male USB interface108by either molding or any other appropriate method, such as a mechanical fastener. The cable106can include a locking mechanism or notch112formed near the first end94. The notch112can be configured to mate with the ramped face100and the peak102of the protrusion98. Generally the notch112can include a tapered surface114configured to mate with the ramped face100and a valley116configured to mate with the peak102. The valley116and peak102of the protrusion98prevent the cable106from being pulled out of the male USB interface connector64.

As generally known, the cable106can also include wiring (not specifically shown) to enable data communication between the first end94and the second end104. The second end104can include a female USB terminal118. The female USB terminal118can be configured the same as the female USB terminal26, and thus, a detailed discussion of this functionality or of the basic construction of the female USB terminal118need not be provided herein. The female USB terminal118can be configured to receive a male USB interface (not shown) from the external media device18to enable data communication between the external media device18and the hard drive14of the media device12.

In order to enable data communication between the external media device18and the media device12, the wired contact posts30of the female USB terminal26can be coupled to the circuit board16. Generally, the USB locking connector system8can be fully assembled prior to coupling the female USB terminal26to the circuit board16, however, it will be understood that alternative assembly methods could be used depending upon the particular motor vehicle10. In order to couple the female USB terminal26to the shroud24, the engagement members54can be bent to engage the rear surface58of the female USB terminal26and the shroud24can be positioned over the female USB terminal26. Next, at least one of the flanges46of the shroud24can be coupled to at least one of the flanges32of the female USB terminal26via welding, or any appropriate technique, such as soldering, mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives, to fixedly couple the female USB terminal26to the shroud24.

Then, in order to couple the male connector system22to the female connector system20, the male USB interface108can be coupled to the shroud62via the engagement of the notch112on the cable106with the protrusion98on the bottom surface68of the shroud62. Once the male USB interface108is coupled to the shroud62, the scoop90can be used to align the male USB interface108within the shroud24of the female connector system20. As the scoop90can slidably engage the bottom surface36of the shroud24, the scoop90can be inserted into the opening42of the shroud24until the housing lock80contacts the edge92of the shroud24. Next, the top surface83of the housing lock80can be depressed and/or pushed onto the shroud24to raise the projection86to enable the shroud24to slidably engage the slot88of the scoop90. The scoop90can be slid along inside the opening42of the shroud24until the projection86can engage the locking aperture60. When the projection86engages the locking aperture60, the force of compressing the top surface83against the bottom surface84of the housing lock80can cause the top surface83to spring back, and the tabs82to contact the flanges78. The contact between the tabs82provides audible and/or tangible feedback to the assembler to notify the assembler that the male connector system22is fixedly coupled to the female connector system20.

After the male connector system22is fixedly coupled to the female connector system20, the wired contact posts30of the female USB terminal26can be coupled to the circuit board16to enable communication between the hard drive14of the media device12and the external media device18. Then, the flanges46of the shroud24can be soldered to the circuit board16once the bottom surface36of the shroud24is adjacent to the cut-out44of the circuit board16to further secure the USB locking connector system8to the circuit board16.

With the female connector system20coupled to the male connector system22, the external media device18can be coupled to the female USB terminal118disposed at the second end104, as best shown inFIG. 1. Then, data communication can be achieved between the external media device18and the media device12through the cable106and the USB locking connector system8. Alternatively, it should be noted that an inline connector120could be coupled to a female USB terminal118′ via a male USB interface122(as shown in phantom inFIG. 1). The inline connector120can include a corresponding cable106which can also include the female USB terminal118at a second end104. The inline connector120can be used to couple various cables106together to enable data communication between the media device12and the external device18over the various cables106.

The description of these teachings is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the teachings are intended to be within the scope of the teachings. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the teachings.