Universal serial bus device

A USB device includes a hollow main body having an opening, a USB plug, a transition member fixedly connected to the USB plug, and a rotation member. The rotation member includes a rotation button arranged on the hollow main body and a gear wheel arranged in the hollow main body. The gear wheel is fixed to the rotation button. The transition member includes a gear rack engaged with the gear wheel. Under the rotation of the rotation button, the gear wheel is engaged with the gear rack to drive the USB plug to move out of the hollow main body through the opening, or retracted into the hollow main body.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices, and particularly, to a portable USB device with a protective function for a USB plug.

2. Description of Related Art

U disks are common USB devices, and are very portable. The U disk usually includes a shell and a USB plug protruding from the shell. For protecting the USB plug from damage, there is a cover on the USB plug.

However, due to collisions between the cover and other members (e.g. books, phone, pens, etc) in a bag, the cover easily slides off the USB plug, and the USB plug without the protection of the cover is easily damaged.

Therefore, what is needed is a new USB device that can overcome the described limitations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device100, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, includes a hollow main body10, a transition member20, a USB plug30, a rotation member40, and a locking member50. In the present embodiment, the USB device100is a U disk. In other embodiments, the USB device100may be a USB connector, a USB adapter, a USB headset, or other device with a USB interface.

The hollow main body10is a substantially cuboid structure, and includes a first end11and a second end12opposite to the first end. An opening110is defined in the first end11for allowing the USB plug30to pass through. The hollow main body10includes an upper shell13latched or otherwise secured to a lower shell14.

A round recess131is defined in an outer surface13aof the upper shell13. A through hole131bis defined in the center of a bottom surface131aof the round recess131. A ring-shaped latching groove131cis defined in the joint between the periphery of the bottom surface131aof the round recess131and a sidewall of the round recess131. A stopper block131dis positioned on the bottom surface131aof the round recess131, and is near the through hole131b. A slide groove132is defined in the outer surface of the upper shell13, near the round recess131. A bar-type slide hole132bis defined in the bottom132aof the slide groove132. A latching hole131eis defined in the sidewall of the round recess131, on the longitudinal center-line of the slide groove132. A stopper frame133which is U-shaped in section, but blind, is positioned on the inner surface of the upper shell13, and is near to an end of the slide groove132, which is a certain distance from the latching hole131e. Accordingly, the slide groove132is approximately midway between the stopper frame133and the latching hole131e. The opening of the stopper frame133is opposite to the slide groove132. The slide groove132, the stopper frame133, and the latching hole131eare in a line

A USB port121is arranged on the second end12. A circuit board (not shown) of the USB device100is arranged on the inner surface of the lower shell14, and is electrically coupled to the USB plug30and the USB port121.

For structural strength, the transition member20is a substantially square frame. The transition member20is movably arranged in the hollow main body10. The transition member20includes a first sidewall21near the first end11, a second sidewall22, a third sidewall23opposite to the first sidewall21, and a fourth sidewall24opposite to the second sidewall22. A gear rack221is arranged lengthways on the inner surface of the second sidewall22. In other embodiments, the third sidewall23and the fourth sidewall24may be omitted (i.e. the transition member20may be substantially L shaped).

The USB plug30is fixedly connected to the first sidewall21. In the present embodiment, the USB plug30is fixed at the center of the first sidewall21.

The rotation member40includes a rotation button41, a gear wheel42connected to the rotation button41, and a torsion spring43.

The rotation button41is substantially round, and includes a bottom plate410, a protruding ring411perpendicularly protruding from the periphery of the bottom plate410, and a plurality of spaced latching portions412arranged on the protruding ring411. A latching notch411a(seeFIG. 3) corresponding to the latching hole131eis defined in the protruding ring411. The rotation button41is positioned in the round recess131, such that the latching portions412are received in the latching groove131cand can slide along the latching groove131c. A U shaped fixed groove413(seeFIG. 3) is arranged in the inner surface410bof the bottom plate410, which is opposite to the bottom surface131aof the round recess131. In the present embodiment, there are four latching portions412on the protruding ring411, and they are equally spaced.

For user-friendliness, an operating portion414is arranged on an outer surface410aof the rotation button410. In the present embodiment, the operating portion414is a recessed structure, in other embodiments, the operating portion414may be a protruding structure.

The gear wheel42is substantially round, and includes a plurality of peripheral gear teeth420to engage with the gear rack221. A protruding post421is arranged at the center of the gear wheel42. The protruding post421passes through the through hole131b, and is fixed to the rotation button41. The rotation of the gear wheel42in the transition member20is unimpeded.

The torsion spring43includes a hollow cylindrical portion431and two spring arms432extending from the two ends of the hollow cylindrical portion431. The hollow cylindrical portion431is sleeved over the protruding post421(i.e. the protruding post421passes through the hollow cylindrical portion431). One of the spring arms432is latched in the fixed groove413, and the other arm432abuts the stopper block131d, such that the torsion spring43is contained between the bottom surface131aand the rotation button41and is placed under torque tension when the rotation button41is rotated.

The locking member50includes a switch element510, a latching strip511, and an elastic element512. The switch element510includes a main body510aand two fixed posts510b(seeFIG. 5) perpendicularly protruding from the main body510a. The latching strip511includes a cylindrical end511a, a connection plate511b, and a latching end511copposite to the cylindrical end511a. Two through holes511dare defined in the connection plate511bto correspond with the fixed posts510b. The fixed posts510respectively pass through the slide hole132b, and are fixed in the through holes511dby adhesive or other means. The main body510is received in the slide groove132. The spring element512is placed over the cylindrical end511a, and is positioned in the stopper frame133. The latching end511cengages with the latching hole131eand the latching notch411a, such the position of the rotation button41can be fixed. In the present embodiment, the spring element512is a spring.

In assembling the USB device100, the USB plug30is firstly fixed on the first sidewall21, and is positioned in the lower shell14. The hollow cylindrical portion431is placed over the protruding post421, one of the spring arms432is abutted against the stopper block131d, and the other spring arm432is fixed to the rotation button41(i.e. latched in the fixed groove413of the rotation button41). Next, the rotation button41is positioned in the round recess131, such that the latching portions412are received in the latching groove131c, and can slide freely along the latching groove131c. Finally, the fixed posts510bpass through the slide holes132b, and are fixed in the through holes511d, the main body510ais positioned in the slide groove132, and the spring element512is placed over the cylindrical end511aand compressed by the stopper frame133and the connection plate511b.

Referring toFIG. 5, when using the USB device100, the USB plug30extends out of the hollow main body10through the opening110. In detail, firstly, the rotation button41may be rotated counterclockwise to place the torsion spring43under tension. In such a case, the gear teeth420drive the transition member20forwards until the USB plug30is extended out of the hollow main body10and the torsion spring43is under substantial tension. Meanwhile, the compressed spring512drives the latching end511cto engage with the latching hole131cand the latching notch511a, such that the rotation button41is locked in that particular position.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, when the USB device100is not required, the USB plug30should retract into the hollow main body10. In detail, the spring element512is compressed further as the switch element510is moved away from the latching hole131e, such that the latching end511creleases the latching notch411a. In such a case, the restore force available from the compressed torsion spring43drives the rotation button41clockwise, and the USB plug30is retracted into the hollow main body10from the opening110.

The volume of the USB device10can thus be reduced when it is not in use, the USB device10is more portable, and the USB plug30enjoys greater protection from damage.

While certain embodiments have been described and exemplified above, various other embodiments will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art. The disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments described and exemplified but is capable of considerable variation and modification without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.