Abstract:
A phone plug structure with a locking function includes an insulative housing, a locking device, an interfered element and an extended wire. The insulative housing has a receiving space formed therein, and a retaining element disposed on an outside thereof. The locking device is received in the insulative housing. The interfered element connects with the locking device, wherein the interfered element is rotated and projected outside the insulative housing by the locking device to contact against the retaining element. The extended wire has one end connecting to the insulative housing. Whereby the phone plug structure has a locking device combined therein, so that the phone plug structure can not only transmit signal to an electronic apparatus, but can also be locked without needing another locking device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a phone plug structure with a locking function, and particularly relates to a phone plug structure having a lock combined therein.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a phone plug connects with a plurality of signal wires. The phone plug can be used to electrically connect between the signal wires and an electronic apparatus such as a computer. The phone plug has a casing  10   a , a retaining element  11   a  with a retaining function disposed on an outside of the casing  10   a , and a plurality of terminals  12   a  disposed inside the casing  10   a . The terminals  12   a  can be moved a short distance longitudinally. A communication wire  20   a  is inserted into the casing  10   a  from a rear side of the casing  10   a . The terminals  12   a  pierce into the communication wire  20   a  to electrically connect the terminals  12   a  and the communication wire  20   a.    
         [0005]     The phone plug can be inserted into a corresponding socket  30   a . The socket  30   a  is installed onto the electronic apparatus such as a computer. Therefore, the terminals  12   a  of the phone plug electrically connect with terminals of the socket  30   a  to allow the transmitting of signals.  
         [0006]     However, the phone plug is retained in the socket  30   a  by the retaining element  11   a . Hence it is easy for anyone to separate the phone plug and the socket  30   a , so the electronic apparatus is easily stolen. It is obvious that the phone plug lacks a locking function.  
         [0007]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in general a locking device  50   a  is installed on an electronic apparatus  40   a  such as a computer for obtaining a locking function. Hence, in order to obtain the locking function, a user not only needs to add the locking device  50   a , but also the electronic apparatus  40   a  must be designed with a structure for connecting with the locking device  50   a . Subsequently, the new structure will change the original structure of the electronic apparatus  40   a.    
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention provides a phone plug structure with a locking function. The phone plug structure has a lock combined therein, so that the phone plug structure cannot only transmit signals to an electronic apparatus, but also has a locking function without using another locking device.  
         [0009]     One aspect of the invention is a phone plug structure with a locking function. The phone plug structure includes an insulative housing, a locking device, an interfered element and an extended wire. The insulative housing has a receiving space formed therein, and a retaining element disposed on an outside thereof. The locking device is received in the insulative housing. The interfered element connects with the locking device, wherein the interfered element is rotated and projected outside the insulative housing to contact against the retaining element by the locking device. The extended wire has one end connected to the insulative housing.  
         [0010]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, drawings and claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The various objectives and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a phone plug and a phone socket of the prior art;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a lock installed on an electronic apparatus according to the prior art;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a phone plug according to the first embodiment of the prior art;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a phone plug according to the first embodiment of the prior art;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a phone plug in use according to the first embodiment of the prior art;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a phone plug in a locking state according to the first embodiment of the prior art;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a phone plug according to the second embodiment of the prior art;  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a phone plug according to the third embodiment of the prior art;  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a phone plug according to the fourth embodiment of the prior art;  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a phone plug in a locking state according to the fifth embodiment of the prior art;  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a phone plug according to the sixth embodiment of the prior art;  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a phone plug according to the seventh embodiment of the prior art;  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a phone plug according to the eighth embodiment of the prior art;  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of a phone plug in a locking state according to the ninth embodiment of the prior art; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of a phone plug in a locking state according to the tenth embodiment of the prior art. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the present invention provides a phone plug structure with a locking function. The phone plug structure includes an insulative housing  10 , a locking device  20 , an interfered element  30  and an extension wire  40 . The insulative housing  10  is made of insulating materials, such as plastic. The shape of the insulative housing  10  is approximately the same as the conventional insulative housing of the phone plug. The insulative housing  10  has a receiving space  11  formed therein for receiving the locking device  20 . The insulative housing  10  further has a through hole  12  formed therein. The through hole  12  communicates with the receiving space  11 . The through hole  12  is extended to an outer wall of the insulative housing  10 . The insulative housing  10  has a retaining element  13  with a retaining function disposed on an outside thereof. The retaining element  13  has a predetermined length, so the retaining element has an elastic function.  
         [0028]     The locking device  20  is a small-sized lock that can be rotated by a key. The locking device  20  has a keyhole  21  formed on one side thereof, and a rotating element  22  extended from another side thereof. The locking device  20  is fixed inside the receiving space  11  to connect with the insulative housing  10 . The key is inserted into the keyhole  21  for rotating the rotating element  22 .  
         [0029]     The interfered element  30  connects with the rotating element  22 , so that the interfered element  30  can be connected to the locking device. When the rotating element  22  is rotated by the key the rotating element  22  rotates the interfered element  30 , so that a front side  31  of the interfered element  30  can be either projected outside the insulative housing  10  or returned to the inside of the insulative housing  10  by passing through the through hole  12 . When the front side  31  of the interfered element  30  projects outside the insulative housing  10 , the front side  31  contacts against an inner edge of the retaining element  13 . The shape and the structure of the retaining element  13  do not limit the present invention.  
         [0030]     The extended wire  40  has a predetermined length, and has a fixed side  41  formed on one side thereof. The fixed side  41  is fixed in the insulative housing  10 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the other end of the extended wire  40  can be fixed around a fixed object, such as a leg of a desk. Then the insulative housing  10  can be inserted into a socket  91 , and the retaining element  13  can be retained in the socket  91 . The socket  91  is installed onto an electronic apparatus  90  such as a computer. Next the rotating element  22  of the locking device  20  is rotated by the key to rotate the interfered element  30 , so that the front side  31  of the interfered element  30  projects outside the insulative housing  10 , and contacts against the inner edge of the retaining element  13 . Hence the retaining element  13  is embedded inside the socket  91  and cannot be pressed downward relative to the insulative housing  10 , so that the phone plug structure cannot be separated from the electronic apparatus  90 .  
         [0032]     Acting on the same principle, the rotating element  22  of the locking device  20  is rotated again by the key to drive the interfered element  30 , so that the front side  31  of the interfered element  30  returns to the inside of the insulative housing  10 , and separates from the inner edge of the retaining element  13 . Hence the retaining element  13  can be pressed downward relative to the insulative housing  10 , and the phone plug structure can be separated from the electronic apparatus  90 .  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the insulative housing  10  further includes more than one receiving groove  14 , at least one cover  15  and a terminal set  16 . The cover  15  can be movably pivoted on the insulative housing  10 , and located at one side of the receiving groove  14 . The cover  15  can be obliquely arranged on the insulative housing  10  or covered on the insulative housing  10 . Hence a signal plug  80  with a communication wire  70  can be inserted into the receiving groove  14 , and clamped between the cover  15  and the receiving groove  14 .  
         [0034]     The terminal set  16  is composed of a plurality of terminals  161 , and assembled inside the insulative housing  10 . The terminal  161  has a first contact potion  162  and a second contact portion  163 . The first contact portion  162  is received in the receiving groove  14  of the insulative housing  10 . The second contact portion  163  is located in a front side of the insulative housing  10 . In the present embodiment, the cover  15  is firstly obliquely arranged on the insulative housing  10 . Then the signal plug  80  is inserted between the cover  15  and the receiving groove  14 . Next, the insulative housing  10  is inserted into a socket of an electronic apparatus for signal communication. Moreover, the rotating element  22  of the locking device  20  is rotated by the key to drive the interfered element  30 , so that the front side  31  of the interfered element  30  projects outside the insulative housing  10 , and contacts against the inner edge of the retaining element  13 . Hence the retaining element  13  is embedded inside the socket and cannot be pressed downward relative to the insulative housing  10 , so that the phone plug structure cannot be separated from the electronic apparatus.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the extended wire  40  can be flat shaped. One end of the extended wire  40  connects with the insulative housing  10  over the locking device  20 .  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the insulative housing  10  has a terminal set  16 ′ composed of a plurality of terminals  161 ′. The terminal set  16 ′ is assembled inside the insulative housing  10 . The terminal  161 ′ has a first contact potion  162 ′ and a second contact portion  163 ′. The first contact portion  162 ′ is received in the receiving groove  14 ′ of the insulative housing  10 . The second contact portion  163 ′ is located in a front side of the insulative housing  10 . In the present embodiment, a signal plug (not shown) is inserted into the receiving groove  14 ′. Next the insulative housing  10  is inserted into a socket of an electronic apparatus for signal communication.  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the retaining element  13  can be omitted from the present invention. In other words, the retaining element  13  is not a vital component of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the rotating element  22  of the locking device  20  is rotated by the key to drive the interfered element  30 , so that the front side  31  of the interfered element  30  projects outside the insulative housing  10 , and contacts against an inner wall of a socket  91  of an electronic apparatus  90 . Hence the phone plug structure cannot separate from the electronic apparatus  90 .  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 13 , the locking element  20  can be a number lock. The locking element  20  has a number disk  23 . When the number disk  23  is in the right place, the rotating element  22  of the locking device  20  can be rotated by a key to drive the interfered element  30 , so that the front side  31  of the interfered element  30  projects outside the insulative housing  10 , and contacts against the inner edge of the retaining element  13 . Hence the retaining element  13  is embedded inside the socket and cannot be pressed downward relative to the insulative housing  10 , so that the phone plug structure cannot separate from the electronic apparatus.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIG. 12 , an adapter  17  is assembled on the insulative housing  10 . The adapter  17  can be moved forwards or backwards according to the requirements of the user. An elastic element  18  is assembled between the insulative housing  10  and the adapter  17 .  
         [0040]     When the phone plug structure is inserted into a small-scale socket, the adapter  17  must be moved backwards to a first position to reduce the front size of the phone plug structure. When the phone plug structure is inserted into a large-scale socket, the adapter  17  can be moved forwards to a second position due to the elasticity of the elastic element  18  to increase the front size of the phone plug structure.  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 14 , the locking device  20  further includes an extension rotating element  22  with a taper. When the extension rotating element  22  is rotated to drive the interfered element  30  backwards or forwards by a key, the front side  31  of the interfered element  30  contacts against or separates from the inner wall of the insulative housing  10 . Hence the phone plug structure can be locked in or separated from the electronic apparatus.  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIG. 15 , the interfered element  30  is retained in the locking device  20  by a spring, and contacts an oblique side of the extension rotation  22 . When the extension rotating element  22  is rotated to drive the interfered element  30  upwards or downwards by a key, the front side  31  of the interfered element  30  contacts against or separates from the inner wall of the insulative housing  10 . Hence the phone plug structure can be locked in or separated from the electronic apparatus.  
         [0043]     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.