Abstract:
An electronic assembly ( 100 ) includes a housing having a plurality of walls together defining a receiving space and an outlet defined in one of the walls and in communication to the receiving space; a connector ( 53 ) pivotally linked to the housing and projected outward of the housing via the outlet; a locking member ( 6 ) mounted to the housing, said locking member including a base portion ( 60 ) having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, a stopper portion ( 62 ) formed on the first side and extending into the receiving opening, and a resilient member ( 61 ) arranged adjacent to the second side for exerting a resilient force to the base portion.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to an electronic assembly, and more particularly to an electronic assembly with a foldable connector thereof. The invention relates to the copending application having the same title, the same filing date, the same applicants and the same assignee therewith. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART  
       [0002]    As development of an electronic technique, an electronic device becomes lower profile and multifunction. Some consumer products, especially those video/audio products, should be equipped with a lower profile power port and signal port. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,461,198, 6,038,766, 5,895,294 and TW Pat. 406884 introduce some related art of electrical connectors. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,198 (hereinafter refer to US &#39;198) discloses audio connection apparatus. The connection apparatus includes plug and jack assemblies. The jack assembly defines a primary insertion hole and at least a pair of secondary insertion openings disposed laterally therefrom. The jack assembly includes a plurality of first conductive plates disposed in each of the secondary insertion openings. The plug assembly which releasably couples to the jack assembly includes a central shaft for engaging the primary insertion hole of the jack assembly in electrically conductive manner, as well as at least a pair of secondary insertions disposed laterally from the central shaft for respectively engaging the insertion openings of the jack assembly in electrically conductive manner. Each secondary insertion includes a plurality of second conductive plates each configured to contact a first conductive plate in electrically conductive manner. The engagement of the secondary insertions and secondary insertion openings enables the auxiliary transmission of electrical audio signals for supplementing the transmission of electrical audio signals through the engagement of the central shaft and primary insertion hole. 
         [0004]    However, the plug assembly of US &#39;198 may be disposed outside of an electronic device, and it may occupy more space and be damaged by exterior environmental conditionals. 
         [0005]    Hence, an improved electrical assembly is highly desired to overcome the aforementioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector capable of being retracted in a housing of an electronic assembly. 
         [0007]    In order to achieve the object set forth, an electronic assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing having a plurality of walls together defining a receiving space and an outlet defined in one of the walls and in communication to the receiving space; a connector pivotally linked to the housing and projected outward of the housing via the outlet; a locking member mounted to the housing, said locking member including a base portion having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, a stopper portion formed on the first side and extending into the receiving opening, and a resilient member arranged adjacent to the second side for exerting a resilient force to the base portion; and the connector being pivotal to push the stopper member together with the base portion of the locking member against the resilient member to enter into the receiving space and be locked by the stopper member. 
         [0008]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an assembled, perspective view of an electronic assembly, with a plug connector exposed outside of a housing thereof. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an assembled, perspective view of the electronic assembly, with the plug connector retracted into the housing. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view of the electronic assembly; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an up shell of the housing of the electronic device; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partially assembled perspective view of the electronic assembly showed in  FIG. 1 , with the up shell remove away and the plug connector projecting outside of the housing; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a partially assembled perspective view of the electronic assembly showed in  FIG. 2 , with the up shell removed away and the plug connector retracted into the housing; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a partially assembled perspective view of the electronic assembly showed in  FIG. 1 , with the bottom shell removed away and the plug connector retracted into the housing; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a partially assembled perspective view of the electronic assembly showed in  FIG. 2 , with the bottom shell removed away and the plug connector projecting outside of the housing; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , an electronic assembly  100  comprises an up cover  1 , a printed circuit board (PCB)  2 , a first mating port  3  mounted to the PCB  2 , a second mating port  4  arranged aside the PCB  2 , a rotational member  5  mounted to a front section of the up cover  1 , a locking member  6 , and a bottom cover  7 . The up cover  1  and the bottom cover  7  incorporated a housing for accommodating the aforementioned element members. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-8 , the up cover  1  includes a top wall  10 , an arched first side wall  110  connected to a left edge of the top wall  10 , a peripheral wall  112  extending downward from right and back edges of the top wall  10  and further connected to the first side wall  110 . A first vertical wall  130 , a second vertical wall  131 , a third vertical wall  132  and a fourth vertical wall  134  are formed on an inner surface of the top wall  10  and interconnected one another to together form a rectangular shaped receiving area  13 . A first opening  14  is defined in the right side of the peripheral wall  112  and aligns with the receiving area  13  transversally. Two first stoppers  141  are spaced apart one another and align with lateral sections of the first opening  14 , and three second stoppers  142  are spaced arranged and proximate to a low edge of the first opening  14 . A second opening  19  is defined in the back side of the peripheral wall  112 , and a positioning post  12  is arranged aside the second opening  19 . A platform  135  is located in the receiving area  13  and adjacent to the third vertical wall  132 . The first vertical wall  130  is perpendicular to and has same height with the second vertical wall  131 . Two extension portions  1321  extend laterally from ends of the third vertical wall  132  and substantially align with the first stoppers  141 , respectively. Two L-shaped stoppers  136  are accommodated in the receiving area  13  and arranged adjacent to the second vertical wall  131  and the fourth vertical wall  134 , respectively. The platform  135  is disposed adjacent to the L-shaped stopper  136  which is arranged aside the fourth vertical wall  134 . 
         [0021]    A slot  18  is recessed downwardly from an up surface of the top wall  10  of the up cover  1  and located above the platform  135 . An rectangular shaped aperture  181  is defined in the middle section of the platform  135  and in communication to the slot  18 . A cylindrical cavity  15  is located in the front segment of the inner side of the top wall  10 , adjacent to the left side of the first side wall  110 . An extension wall  153  is arranged on a top edge of the left side section of the cylindrical cavity  15  and has same height as the first side wall  110 . A transversal connection wall  155  connects a front end of the extension wall  153  with an inner surface of the first side wall  110 . A shaft  151  is located in the central section of the cylindrical cavity  15 . Three positioning members  152  asymmetrically around the shaft  151 , and one of the larger positioning members  152  and two of the smaller positioning members  152  are arranged at two lateral sides of the shaft  151 , respectively. A passage  154  is located between the fourth vertical wall  134 , the extension wall  153  and a back side section of the cylindrical cavity  15 . A depression portion  156  is located in front of the transversal connection wall  155 . A recessing portion  160  is arranged on an another side of the front segment of the inner side of the top wall  10 . An upright wall (or supporting wall)  162  is arranged adjacent to the recessing portion  160  and connected to the fourth vertical wall  134  via an inclined transition wall (not numbered). A first cutout  1620  is defined in a lower section of the upright wall  162 , and the first cutout  1620  has an oblique edge with respect to the transversal direction and a parallel edge with respect to the transversal direction. A third opening  161  is defined in an up section of the front segment of the peripheral wall  112 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , three second positioning holes  171  are spaced from one another and attached to an inner surface of the first side wall  110 . Two third positioning holes  172  are arranged along the side section of the peripheral wall  112 . Furthermore, a number of reinforcement portions  1711 ,  1721  are formed on outside of the first and second positioning holes  171 ,  172  and connected to the first side wall  110  and the side section of the peripheral wall  112 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , the PCB  2  is of L-shaped, and three first holes  21  are disposed in lateral sides thereof and two second holes  23  are defined in one of the longer lateral side. The first holes  21  are arranged proximate to outer edges of the PCB  2 . A Light Emitting Diode (LED)  24  is mounted to the PCB  2  and the LED  24  is used for indicating running status of the electronic device. A cutout  25  is defined in the shorter lateral side of the PCB  2 . 
         [0024]    The first mating port  3  has thirty terminals  30  therein, and two positioning posts  31  are formed on a back surface thereof. 
         [0025]    The second mating port  4  is a universal serial bus (USB) connector and has four terminals  41  therein. A protrusion portion  42  is formed on a rear section of the bottom surface of the second mating port  4 . 
         [0026]    The rotational member  5  includes a first base portion  51  and a second base portion  52  mounted onto the first base portion  51 , with a rear portion of a plug connector  53  sandwiched therebetween. The first base portion  51  has a hollowed and cylindrical shaped engaging part  510  and a rectangular holding part (not numbered) attached to lateral side thereof. The second base portion  52  has a hollowed and cylindrical engaging part  520  and a rectangular holding part (not numbered) attached to lateral side thereof. A handling portion  521  extends forwardly from a front surface of the holding part of the second base portion  52  and is arranged aside the plug connector  53 . The handling portion  521  is utilized for operating or swiveling the connector  53 . A coil spring member  54  is assembled to interior portions of the engaging parts  510 ,  520  for providing a biasing function. A passageway  5101  is defined in a lower section of the engaging part  510  of the first base portion  51  and in communication to the interior portions of the engaging parts  510 ,  520 . Wires (not shown) extend through the passageway  5101  and are coupled to the plug connector  53 . 
         [0027]    The locking member  6  includes a base portion  60 , a resilient member  61  mounted to a first side (a right side) of the base portion  60 , a stopper portion  62  formed on a second side (a left side) of the base portion  60  and opposite to the resilient member  61 , and an operation member including a bar portion  64  parallel to a front surface of the base portion  60  and a neck portion (not numbered) connected the bar portion  64  and the base portion  60 . The base portion  60  defines a mounting slot  601  for retaining the resilient member  61 . The resilient member  61  may be a coil spring member or other types of spring members. The stopper portion  62  has a wedge shaped free end  623  which defines an inclined outward surface  621 . 
         [0028]    The electronic assembly  100  further has a switch device  8  which includes two supporters  80 , an operation part  82  and a connection member  81  disposed between the supporters  80  and the operation part  82 . The supporter  80  has a rectangular shaped main portion  801 , a slider portion  803  mounted to an up surface  8012  and capable of sliding thereon, and three rows of soldering tails  802  extending downwardly from the main portion  801 . The operation part  82  includes an ellipse shaped operation part  821 , two juxtaposed engaging portions  823  extending downwardly from a middle section of a bottom surface of the operation part  821 . The engaging portion  823  includes a notch  8231  defined in a middle segment of an outside thereof, a locking part  8232  formed at free end thereof, and a protrusion part  8233  attached to the bottom surface of the operation part  821 . The connection member  81  is made of transparent material and configured to be I-shaped viewed from the lateral side. An aperture  810  is defined in a middle section of the connection member  81 . Ribs  8101  are formed on interior side edges of the aperture  810 . Two cavities  812  are defined in opposite side sections of the aperture  810  and proximate to a left side of the connection member  81 . Two flange portions  813  are respectively attached to lateral ends of the connection member  81 . An upper part of the flange portion  813  is thinner than a lower part of the corresponding flange portion  813 . The cavities  812  are respectively disposed adjacent to the corresponding flange portions  813 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  6 - 9 , the bottom cover  7  is substantially same as the up cover  1 , and it has a second side wall  710  and a second peripheral wall  712  which are corresponding to the first side wall  110  and the first peripheral wall  112 . A fourth opening  74 , a fifth opening  79  and a six opening  761  are defined in the second peripheral wall  712  and corresponding to the first opening  14 , the second opening  19  and the third opening  161  in the first peripheral wall  112 . Three second positioning holes  71  are arranged along the second side wall  710  and align with the second positioning posts  171  of the up cover  1 . A third positioning hole  72  is disposed adjacent to the fifth opening  79  and adapted for receiving the first positioning post  12 . A number of bars  73  are formed on an inner surface of a low wall (not numbered), extending along a front-to-back direction and disposed adjacent to the fourth opening  74 . A second cutout  762  is defined in an upper section of an upright wall (not numbered) perpendicular to the six opening  761 . The second cutout  762  is same with the first cutout  1620 , but deeper than the first cutout  1620 . A second stopper  763  is arranged aside the six opening  761  and disposed adjacent to the lateral side of the second peripheral wall  712 . 
         [0030]    The soldering tails  802  under the supporters  80  are soldered to the PCB  2 , and the two LEDs  24  disposed between the two supporters  80 . The connection member  81  is mounted to the supporters  80 . The slider portions  803  are respectively disposed in the cavities  812 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-9 , when assemble, positioning posts  31  of the first port  3  are inserted into the second holes  23  of the PCB  2 , and contacts (not shown) of the first port  3  are soldered to the PCB  2 . The terminals  41  of the second port  4  are electrically connected to the PCB  2  via some wires (not shown). The operation part  82  is assembled to the top wall  10  of the up cover  1 , with the operation part  821  accommodated in the slot  18 , the engaging portions  823  extending through the aperture  181 , and the protrusion part  8233  of the engaging portions  823  abutting against the front and rear edges of the aperture  181 . The first positioning posts  12  are inserted into the first holes  21 . The engaging portions  823  further protrude into the aperture  810 , with the locking parts  8232  thereof engaging with the ribs  8101  of the connection member  81 . The switch device  8  is accommodated in the receiving area  13 . The first port  3  is against the second vertical wall  131  and extend into the second opening  19 . The second port  4  is arranged between the first stoppers  141 , against the third vertical wall  132  and extend into the fourth opening  74 . 
         [0032]    The rotational member  5  is assembled to the up cover  1 , with the passageway  5101  of the cylindrical engaging part  510  toward the passage  154  to have the wires connected to the plug connector  53  through the passage  154  and soldered to the PCB  2 . The shaft  151  and the positioning members  152  are accommodated in the engaging parts  510 ,  520 . The positioning members  152  further interfere with an interior side of the engaging part  510 . The locking member  6  is also mounted to the up cover  7 , with the stopper portion  62  projected into the second cutout  762 , the neck portion extending into the six opening  761 , the bar portion  64  exposed outside of the second peripheral wall  712 , and the resilient member  61  proximate to the second stopper  763 . 
         [0033]    The bottom cover  7  is assembled to the up cover  1 , with the second positioning posts  71  inserted into the second positioning holes  171 . Therefore, the rotational member  5  and the locking member  6  are securely arranged between the up cover  1  and the bottom cover  7 . 
         [0034]    Referring to the  FIGS. 1-2  and  6 - 9 , the spring member  54  is capable of biasing or preloading a force to the rotational member  5  and thus plug connector  53  is exposed outside of the housing and perpendicular thereto. When the electronic device  100  is retracted into the housing, an exterior force exerted onto the base portions  51 ,  52 , and the rotational member  5  pivots around the shaft  151 , and the plug connector  53  presses onto the inclined surface  621  of the wedge shaped free end  623  to make the resilient member  61  compressed, and a free end of the plug connector  53  slides excessively inwardly and disposed behind the stopper portion  62 , thus the plug connector  53  is locked by the stopper portion  62 . When the plug connector  53  is used, just push the bar portion  64  moving laterally to make the free end  623  of the stopper portion  62  away from the plug connector  53 , thus the plug connector  53  is exposed outside of the housing via a restore force by the spring member  54 . 
         [0035]    It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.