Abstract:
A connector provided for coupling a computer peripheral device with a RJ11 or RJ45 data communication socket of a computer. The connector includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part. The first connecting part has a shape mating with said data communication socket. The second connecting part includes a magnetic element such that the connector is attachable onto said computer peripheral device. The peripheral may be a mouse provided with a magnetic plate to cooperate with the whereby the mouse, when not in use, may be removably retained to the computer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector for coupling a data communication socket with a computer peripheral device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In modern society, notebook computers are increasingly used because they are portable and convenient. For most notebook computers, a touch pad is used as the input device. 
     Furthermore, in order to comply with most users&#39; habits, a mouse is also served as the input device of the notebook computer. Especially when the notebook computer is used in the office, the mouse becomes an essential peripheral device. 
     In a case that the notebook computer needs to be used in other places, for example in a conference room, the user should carry the corresponding mouse at the same time. In other words, since the mouse and the mouse are separate components, the probability of falling down the mouse is increased during the process of carrying the notebook computer along with the mouse. 
     For a purpose of solving such a problem, a mouse attachable to the notebook computer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,870, entitled “Portable computer system including detachable peripheral device and combined mouse/joystick for use with same”. Please refer to  FIG. 1 . The notebook computer having a detachable mouse as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,870 comprises a notebook computer  10 , a mouse body  20  and a coupling mechanism  30 . By means of the coupling mechanism  30 , the mouse body  20  is attached to the notebook computer  10 . 
     Another design for attaching the mouse onto the notebook computer is disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Bulletin No. 398642, entitled “Device for storing a mouse within the casing of a computer”. Please refer to  FIG. 2 . As shown in Taiwanese Patent Bulletin No. 398642, the notebook computer  40  has a receptacle  50  for storing the mouse  60  therein. 
     Depending on the type of the mouse, however, the coupling mechanism for attaching or storing the mouse is varied. In other words, different types of mice fail to be attached onto a same type of notebook computer, and thus the coupling mechanism is not user-friendly. 
     For further solving the above drawbacks, a new approach was disclosed in a co-pending Taiwanese Patent Application No. 94143533, entitled “Mouse having a storable hook module”, which was filed by the same assignee of the present application on Dec. 29, 2005. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 . The Mouse having a storable hook module as shown in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 94143533 comprises a hook module  70 , which is storable within the mouse. A lock hole  80 , which is commonly arranged in a notebook computer as a standard accessory, is also shown in  FIG. 3 . The lock hole  80  is referred as a “Kensington lock hole”. In a case that a lock is attached to the lock hole  80 , the notebook will be fixed to any immovable object such as a desk, thereby reducing the chance of the notebook being stolen. Generally, notebook computers exhibited in the computer center or the exhibition place are locked in these lock holes. According to the disclosure of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 94143533, the hook module  70  may be attached onto the notebook computer by hooking a hooking part on the lock hole  80 . The design of  FIG. 3  is applicable to many types of notebook computers because the Kensington lock hole is a common accessory for most notebook computers. 
     Although the design of  FIG. 3  may facilitate attaching a mouse onto a notebook computer and overcome the problems as described in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there are still some drawbacks. For example, since the hook module  70  includes many components, the process of assembling the hook module  70  is complicated and the fabricating cost is increased. In addition, for storing the hook module  70  within the mouse, a receptacle is required and thus the overall volume of the mouse is also increased. 
     In views of the above-described disadvantages of the prior art, the applicant keeps on carving unflaggingly to develop a connector for facilitating attaching a mouse onto a notebook computer according to the present invention through wholehearted experience and research. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector for coupling a RJ11 or RJ45 data communication socket of a notebook computer with a mouse so as to facilitate attaching the mouse onto the notebook computer. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector for coupling a computer peripheral device with a RJ11 or RJ45 data communication socket. The connector includes a first connecting part and a second first connecting part. The first connecting part has a shape mating with said data communication socket. The second connecting part includes a magnetic element such that the connector is attachable onto said computer peripheral device. 
     Preferably, the connector is integrally formed into one piece. 
     In an embodiment, the first connecting part includes a first surface and a second surface parallel with each other. A resilient arm is protruded from the first surface. A notch is formed in the second surface. 
     In an embodiment, the connector further comprises a protruding periphery between the first connecting part and the second connecting part. 
     In an embodiment, the computer peripheral device is a mouse, and the mouse includes a lower cover having a recess for accommodating a metallic plate therein. 
     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a notebook computer having an attachable mouse, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,870; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of another notebook computer having an attachable mouse, which is disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. 398642; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a mouse having a storable hook module, which is disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 94143533; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic side view illustrating the RJ11 port and the RJ45 port of a typical notebook computer; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a connector used in a mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  schematically illustrates that the connector of the present invention is inserted into a RJ11 port of a notebook computer; 
         FIG. 7  schematically illustrates that the mouse is attached onto the notebook computer via the connector of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8(   a ) is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connector taken from the viewpoint in the direction of the first connecting part; 
         FIG. 8(   b ) is a schematic perspective view illustrating the connector taken from the viewpoint in the direction of the second connecting part; 
         FIG. 8(   c ) is a schematic exploded view illustrating the connection between the connector and the mouse; and 
         FIG. 8(   d ) is a schematic assembled view illustrating the connector and the mouse. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a schematic side view of a typical notebook computer is illustrated. The notebook computer  100  of  FIG. 4  includes two data communication sockets  101  and  102 . The data communication socket  101  is a RJ11 port communicated with a modem. The data communication socket  102  is a RJ45 port to be communicated with the local area network. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 , which illustrates a connector  200  used in a mouse  300  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The connector  200  includes a first connecting part  201  and a second connecting part  202 . The mouse  300  has a lower cover  301 . A recess  302  is formed in the lower cover  301 , and a metallic plate  3011  is received in the recess  302 . The second connecting part  202  of the connector  200  includes a magnetic element  2021 . The first connecting part  201  of the connector  200  may be inserted into the RJ11 port  101  or the RJ45 port  102  of the notebook computer  100 . The magnetic element  2021  of the second connecting part  202  may be magnetically coupled to the metallic plate  3011  of the lower cover  301  such that the connector  200  is attached onto the mouse  300 . Via the connector  200 , the mouse  300  is attachable onto the notebook computer  100 . 
     The process of attaching the mouse  300  onto the notebook computer  100  will be illustrated with  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . Firstly, the first connecting part  201  of the connector  200  is inserted into the RJ11 port  101  of the notebook computer  100 . After the magnetic element  2021  of the second connecting part  202  is magnetically coupled to the metallic plate  3011  of the lower cover  301 , the mouse  300  is attached onto a sidewall of the notebook computer  100 , as is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ), which are schematic perspective views of the connector  200  as shown in  FIG. 2  and taken from the viewpoints in the directions of the first connecting part  201  and the second connecting part  202 , respectively. 
     In  FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ), the connector  200  includes the first connecting part  201  and the second connecting part  202 . The first connecting part  201  has a shape mating with the RJ11 port  101 , and comprises a first surface  2011  and a second surface  2012 . The first surface  2011  and the second surface  2012  are parallel with each other. A resilient arm  2011 A is protruded from the first surface  2011 . The second surface  2012  has a notch  2012 A therein. The second connecting part  202  has a shape mating with the recess  302  of the lower cover  301 . After the second connecting part  202  is received in the recess  302  of the lower cover  301 , the magnetic element  2021  of the second connecting part  202  attracts the metallic plate  3011  within the recess  302  of the lower cover  301 . Please refer to  FIG. 8(   c ), which is a schematic exploded view illustrating the connection between the connector  200  and the mouse  300 . The lower cover  301  further includes a perforation  3013 . A thread structure  3011 A is extruded from a surface of the metallic plate  3011 . After the thread structure  3011 A of the metallic plate  3011  penetrates through the perforation  3013  of the mouse  300 , the thread structure  3011 A and a nut  3012  are screwed together. Meanwhile, the metallic plate  3011  is received within the recess  302  and the metallic plate  3011  is attached onto the lower cover  301 . Furthermore, the second connecting part  202  has an indentation  2022  for partially accommodating the magnetic element  2021  therein. The resulting structures are shown in  FIG. 8(   d ). 
     In addition, a protruding periphery  203  is arranged between the first connecting part  201  and the second connecting part  202 . When the second connecting part  202  is inserted into the recess  302  of the mouse  300  such that the protruding periphery  203  is in contact with the mouse  300 , the mouse  300  is well attached onto the notebook computer  100 . 
     The configuration and the operation principle of the connector  200  will be described as follows in more details. Please refer to  FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ). The first connecting part  201  includes the resilient arm  2011 A at the first surface  2011  and has a shape mating with the RJ11 port  101 . During the first connecting part  201  is inserted into the RJ11 port  101 , the resilient arm  2011 A is pressed toward the first surface  2011 . In response to restoring force of the resilient arm  2011 A, the resilient arm  2011 A is sustained against the inner wall of the RJ11 port  101  and thus the first connecting part  201  is securely engaged with the RJ11 port  101 . That is, the mechanism of coupling the first terminal  201  and the RJ11 port  101  is substantially identical to the conventional mechanism of coupling a RJ11 plug with a RJ11 port. 
     In response to a pulling force applied on the mouse  300 , the mouse  300  is disengaged from the second connecting part  202  of the connector  200  and thus the mouse  300  will be detached from the notebook computer  100 . In order to remove the connector  200  from the RJ11 port  101 , the resilient arm  2011 A should be pressed toward the first surface  2011  again. Under this circumstance, the resilient arm  2011 A is not sustained against the inner wall of the RJ11 port  101  and the first connecting part  201  of the connector  200  can be withdrawn from the RJ11 port  101 . 
     As known, the conventional RJ11 plug has electrical contacts to be electrically connected to the corresponding electrical contacts inside the RJ11 port. Since the connector  200  of the present invention is used for facilitating attaching the mouse  300  onto the notebook computer  100 , the electrical connection between the connector  200  and the RJ11 port  101  is no longer required. Please refer to  FIG. 8(   a ) again. Since the notch  2012 A is formed in the second surface  2012  of the first connecting part  201 , the first connecting part  201  will not touch the electrical contacts inside the RJ11 port and the probability of damaging the electrical contacts inside the RJ11 port is avoided when the first connecting part  201  is inserted into the RJ11 port  101 . 
     Form the above description, the mouse  300  is attached onto the sidewall of the notebook computer  100  by the attraction between the magnetic element  2021  of the second connecting part  202  and the metallic plate  3011  of the lower cover  301 . As a result, the approach of coupling the mouse  300  and the notebook computer  100  is simply and user-friendly by using the connector  200  of the present invention. 
     From the above description, the connector of the present invention is advantageous for facilitating attaching the mouse onto the notebook computer by coupling the first connecting part of the connector with the RJ11 or RJ45 port. Since the RJ11 and RJ45 ports are common data communication socket of the notebook computer, the connector of the present invention is applicable to all kinds of notebook computers. In addition, the mechanism of coupling the first connecting part with the RJ11 or RJ45 port is substantially identical to the conventional mechanism of coupling the RJ11 or RJ45 plug with a RJ11 or RJ45 port, and thus a secure engagement between the connector and the data communication socket is rendered. Since the magnetic element  2021  of the second connecting part  202  is magnetically coupled to the metallic plate  3011  of the lower cover  301 , the approach of coupling the mouse  300  and the notebook computer  100  is simply and user-friendly. Moreover, only one connector of the present invention is sufficient for facilitating attaching the mouse onto the notebook computer. It is preferred that the connector of the present invention is integrally formed into one piece so as to reduce fabricating costs. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.