Environmental protective covering for universal serial bus connectors

Environmental protection methods standard USB electrical connectors normally suited only for indoor use that allows said connectors to be used in the harsh outdoor environment of powersports vehicles such as motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and other special purpose vehicles. The resulting environmentally protected USB electrical connectors provide a small, lightweight, easy to mount, low-cost power source for a wide variety of low power accessories as well as data transfer where available.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors for motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and other vehicle commonly referred to as powersports vehicles and also but not limited to other special purpose vehicle such as golf carts and powered wheel chairs.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Owners and users of motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, commonly called powersports vehicles and other special purpose vehicles such as golf carts and powered wheel chairs are frequently modified from their original equipment manufactured configuration to add a variety of accessories that enhance the vehicle capability and the operator's experience. These added accessories may be roughly divided into three categories: low power up to 2 amp or 20 watts, medium power of 2 to 5 amps or 20 to 60 watts and high power of 6 amps or 80 watts and greater. Examples of low power accessories may include navigation systems such as global positioning systems, cell phones, entertainment systems, radar detectors, intra-vehicle rider to passenger communication systems, inter-vehicle short range communication systems, personal digital assistants and small computers. Medium power accessories may include on-road auxiliary lighting and single articles of heated clothing. High power devices may include high intensity off-road lighting, external battery chargers and multiple articles of heated clothing

A search of available vehicle accessories shows that there exist many more types of low power accessories than medium or high power accessories. Moreover, low power accessories are commonly able to be easily removed from the vehicle for personal use. For example a cell phone is normally carried on the person but can be mounted in a quick detach cradle on a vehicle for hands-free use. High power accessories are more commonly attached more permanently on the vehicle. For example high power off road lights must be mounted rigidly to ensure proper beam aiming and require special purpose wiring capable of carrying high current.

In spite of the fact that most accessories fall into the low power category, the availability of power connectors with convenient vehicle mounting methods, quick detach capability and sized for low power are non-existent in the market. Currently available accessory power connectors include DIN ISO 4165 jack/plug connector pairs, SAE two pin male/female connector pairs and cigar lighter sockets. These connector/socket systems are capable of carrying as much as 10 to 20 amps or ten times the required power levels of low power accessories. These large connectors may be acceptable for connecting low power accessories in automobiles and trucks that have large passenger compartments where space is not an issue. However, they are not well suited to the aforementioned powersports vehicles that have very limited mounting space. Moreover, some connectors such as the DIN ISO 4165 type and cigar lighters have marginal or no environmental sealing when the connection is made. Lastly, these large connectors typically require heavy mounting methods such as thick metal brackets or bulky screw clamps.

There exists a readily available compact, lightweight, low voltage Universal Serial Bus (USB) type connector that is commonly used to transmit data and power home and office electronics. Said USB Connectors would be suitable for powersports and specialty vehicle use were it not for the fact that they are designed for indoor use and have neither environmental protection nor any mounting apparatus. Both of these connector types are typically available as free-hanging cable connectors, printed circuit board mounted or as panel mounted devices for use in electrical equipment cabinets and chassis. While these configurations have been adapted to vehicle use, the results can be unsightly, awkward, and prone to environmental damage and in some cases unsafe.

In the cases where environmental protective methods have been applied to USB electrical connectors for severe usage such as military applications, the protective apparatus is comprised of heavy threaded plastic parts with internal seals and heavy caps secured to the assembly with chains or metal lanyards. These caps are free hanging when not in use and present a potential for severe vehicle bodywork damage when the vehicle is moving. While these protective methods are effective, they are not suited for powersports vehicles due to their size and awkward capping methods.

The primary object of this invention is to provide the owners and users of powersports vehicles and specialty vehicles environmental protection that allow the utilization of readily available, compact USB connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the above objectives, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention broadly described herein firstly, an encapsulation for USB Connectors comprising of: an encapsulated USB socket with an external sealing feature protruding from and encircling the mating end of the USB socket, a corresponding environmentally protected USB plug with an internal intrusive sealing feature shaped to fit snugly against the sealing feature of the USB socket thus providing environmental protection.

The encapsulation may be made from any resilient, weather resistant material such as synthetic rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer. The material may be of different colors for different USB connector pairs to allow the user to distinguish between different connections such as power only or power and data connection types.

The sealing feature of the USB socket or USB plug or both the USB socket and plug may be integrally formed with the encapsulation or be comprised of separate parts as will be described herein.

The encapsulated USB socket or plug may be formed as a linear shape, right angle or some intermediate angle to provide the user options for efficient cable routing.

Secondly the present invention describes a cap with a restraining lanyard that provides environmental protection for the USB socket when a USB plug connection is not present. The protective cap is so formed as to provide the same intrusive sealing feature as described for the USB plug. This type of cap is commonly used in environmentally protected electrical connections and thus is not included in the patent claims but is shown for completeness of detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying FIGS. It should be noted that no reference is made to the cabling or vehicle connections as these connections are common vehicle power and ground cables and are well known to anyone skilled in the art. In addition, strain relief features are shown on all cables but are not included as numbered items as they are common to power cables, well documented by prior art and thoroughly understood by anyone skilled in the art.

FIG. 1shows the environmentally protected USB connector system comprised of a environmentally protected USB plug100and an environmentally protected USB socket200. Environmental protection of the USB plug100and USB socket200is provided by an integrally molded encapsulation10made of a resilient weather resistant material such as such as synthetic rubber or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Said encapsulation10is shown as terminating in a hat section having a generally rectangular section that outlines the shape of a common USB connector body but other shapes such as hexagonal, elliptical or a combination of shapes could be employed. Said USB plug encapsulation10includes a sealing lip50oriented about the internal perimeter of said USB plug encapsulation10at the end most part of the body. Said sealing lip50shown has a generally round cross section profile for ease of mating and de-mating the corresponding connector but other shapes are possible as well.FIG. 1also depicts the seal cap30which provides environmental protection when said environmentally protected USB plug100is not in place.

FIG. 1also illustrates an environmentally protected USB socket200with a USB socket encapsulation20made of a resilient weather resistant material such as such as synthetic rubber or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Said USB socket encapsulation20is shown as having a generally rectangular section that outlines the shape of a common USB connector but other shapes such as hexagonal, elliptical or a combination of shapes could be employed. Said USB socket encapsulation20includes an integrally molded an external sealing groove90that is shaped to mate with the sealing lip50of the USB plug encapsulation10.

FIG. 2shows the assembly of the environmentally protected USB plug100and the environmentally protected USB socket200. This figure also illustrates the position of the USB socket200within the USB plug100.

FIG. 3shows detail of the environmentally protected USB plug100depicting the seal skirt40with said sealing lip50located at its lower edge, shaped to mate with the sealing groove90of the environmentally protected USB socket200.FIG. 3also shows the USB standard electrical connector plug60.

FIG. 4shows detail of the environmentally protected USB socket200depicting the USB standard electrical connector socket70, the sealing surface80of said USB socket encapsulation20, and said sealing groove90shaped to mate with said sealing lip50of the environmentally protected USB plug100.

FIG. 5illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of said environmentally protected USB plug100wherein the seal skirt120is a separately molded part comprising the same sealing features of the integrally molded embodiment described above. Said separately molded seal skirt120provides a means of field assembling an environmentally protected USB plug300by attaching said seal skirt120to a standard USB cable110with its associated standard USB electrical connector plug60.

FIG. 6shows the collapse view of field assembled environmentally protected USB plug300illustrating how said seal skirt fits over the standard USB cable110to form a single part.

FIG. 6illustrates an embodiment of an environmentally protected USB socket400wherein features provide a method for mounting on a panel such as a vehicle dashboard or fairing. Said panel mount environmentally protected USB socket400is comprised of a socket encapsulation130having a generally rectangular section that outlines the shape of a common USB connector but other shapes such as hexagonal, elliptical or a combination of shapes could be employed. Said USB socket encapsulation130includes the same features as the environmentally protected USB socket200including said USB standard electrical connector socket70, said sealing surface80of said USB socket encapsulation130, and said sealing groove90shaped to mate with said sealing lip50of the environmentally protected USB plug100.

FIG. 6also shows a threaded cylinder160affixed adjacent to said USB socket encapsulation130and panel nut150which provide mounting capability for said panel mount environmentally protected USB socket400. A panel mount seal cap140provides sealing when said environmentally protected USB plug100is not installed.

FIG. 7shows the collapsed view of said panel mount environmentally protected USB socket400.

It is evident from the above description, a wide variety of connector configurations may be fashioned from the present invention. Different USB plug and jack sizes may be encapsulated in a variety of shapes using different materials to meet the needs of differing connection types and vehicle fitments. Accordingly, additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.