Abstract:
A computer peripheral device is provided having a rotatable outer cover which is coupled to and selectively extends or retracts a connector of a printed circuit from a casing in which the printed circuit board is positioned when the outer cover is rotated. In one aspect, the cover includes a pin which extends through a groove formed in a seat coupled to an end of the circuit board. When the cover is rotated, the pin is urged against the groove to selectively extend or retract the connector from the casing. In another aspect, the cover includes a pin which extends into a groove formed in the printed circuit board. When the cover is rotated, the pin is urged against the groove to selectively extend or retract the connector from the casing. In another aspect, the cover is pivotally interconnected with the circuit bard, and when the cover is rotated, the casing selectively translates with respect to the circuit board to expose or cover the connector.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 098209389 (now Taiwanese Patent No. M368821), filed May 27, 2009, and Chinese Patent Application No. 200920156532.9, filed Jun. 1, 2009, the entire contents of which are both expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a computer peripheral device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a computer peripheral device having a rotatable outer cover which is coupled to and selectively extends or retracts the peripheral device from a casing, when the outer cover is rotated. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    As the microcomputer industry is constantly refined towards perfection, and with the rapid growth of telecommunications networks, users have an increasing demand for accessing and controlling data flow among microcomputer devices (e.g., personal computers, digital cameras, and personal data assistant devices), giving rise to a variety of computer peripheral devices (e.g., flash drives, Bluetooth® transceivers, pocket hardware, etc.). Of the various peripheral devices, devices with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port are popular because they allow for the device to be quickly inserted or removed from a computer. In addition, the capacity of peripheral device memory has been increasing rapidly, allowing for computer peripheral device users to store increasingly larger amounts of data on these devices. As a result, peripheral devices having a USB port have become indispensable and invaluable among users. 
         [0006]    One such commonly used peripheral device is a flash drive. A traditional flash drive is fitted with a removable cap. When a user wishes to use the flash drive, they must remove the cap from the flash drive body, allowing the flash drive USB plug to be inserted in to a corresponding computer jack. Due to the small size of the cap, it is very easy for a user to inadvertently lose the cap during the course of use. When the cap is lost, users are inconvenienced by having to find a matching cap to replace the lost cap. In addition, when the cap is lost, the USB plug is exposed, often resulting in the plug being damaged or deformed. A damaged or deformed USB plug is often incapable of being inserted into a computer jack, giving rise to unnecessary distress and inconvenience. 
         [0007]    To solve the aforementioned problems, a rotatable computer peripheral device has been developed, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The prior art computer peripheral device comprises a casing  10 , a circuit board  11  and a cover  12 . The casing  10  has an opening  101  at one end and an accommodation space  102  inside. The circuit board  11  is housed inside the accommodation space  102 . The circuit board  11  has a connector  111  adjacent to the opening  101  to the casing  10 . The cover  12  is generally in a U-shape, with two walls running parallel to each other and extending to form a free end. The casing  10  is pivotally connected to the cover  12 , such that the casing  10  can be rotated and retained inside the cover  12 , or can be rotated out of the cover  12 . The problem of losing the outer cover is solved with this construction. However, because both sides of the cover  12  are open, the connector  111  cannot be fully shielded when the casing  10  is housed in the cover  12 . As a result, the casing  10  may be easily contaminated by outside dust and foreign objects, resulting in damage to the connector  111  of the circuit board  11 . 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to a computer peripheral device having a rotatable outer cover which is pivotally coupled to a casing and selectively retracts or extends a connector (terminal) of a circuit board from the casing when the outer cover is rotated. 
         [0009]    A computer peripheral device is provided, which includes a cover, a casing, and a device (e.g., a USB flash drive). The device includes a circuit board, a connector, and a guide rail. The connector is in electrical communication with a circuit board so that when plugged into a computer jack the device can transmit or receive data. The cover, casing, and device are assembled so that the casing can be rotated to expose the connector of the device and to extend the connector from the casing. Once exposed, the terminal of the device can be plugged into a computer jack. After use, it can be retracted into the casing by rotating the outer cover, to prevent it from being bumped or damaged. 
         [0010]    In one aspect, the casing has an opening at one end, and a first accommodation space adjacent to the opening to house the device. This allows the connector of the device to be exposed outside the casing or retracted into the casing through the opening. The casing contains an aperture, while the cover contains a projection, which is received by the aperture, and a top push unit (pin). The projection is connected and aligned with the aperture so that the casing can be rotated around the central axis of the projection. The cover contains a second accommodation space wherein the casing can be positioned. The casing opening and the connector are shielded by the cover when the casing opening is positioned inside the second accommodation space and is aligned with the cover end. The pin extends through the cover and rests against the device. When a user rotates the casing to remove it from the second accommodation space, the pin exerts a force on the device to extend the connector from the first accommodation space. When the distance between the casing opening and the end of the cover is maximized (i.e., when the cover is rotated 180 degrees from its closed position), the connector is completely exposed outside the casing and the cover. As such, a user can simply rotate the cover to quickly put the computer peripheral device in a condition for use. Since there is no independent outer cover, users are free from worrying about losing the cover and any problems flowing therefrom. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, the printed circuit board of the computer peripheral device of the present invention includes a groove on the circuit board, positioned opposite the connector. A guide rail is located inside the groove with the pin extending through the casing and the cover to engage the groove. When a user turns the casing to rotate the opening towards the second accommodation space, the pin pushes the connector towards the first accommodation space. When the distance between the opening and the end of the cover is minimized (i.e., when the cover is in its closed position), the connector is completely retracted into the casing. This allows a user to retract the connector as soon as he/she is finished using the device, thus preventing the connector from being bumped or deformed, or being contaminated by foreign objects. 
         [0012]    In still another aspect, the computer peripheral device of the present invention includes a cover, casing, and a printed circuit board. The cover forms a first accommodation space and contains a projection and a pin. The casing is housed in the first accommodation space and forms a second accommodation space which houses the circuit board. The casing further includes an arc-shaped groove which is engaged by the pin. The circuit board includes an aperture which is received by the projection, causing the circuit board and the cover to be pivotally connected. When a user rotates the cover, the pin exerts a force on the groove, pushing the casing away from the circuit board and exposing the connector. When the connector is fully exposed, the casing is housed inside the cover. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The foregoing features of the invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the Invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art computer peripheral device; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view showing one aspect of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the longitudinal axis of the apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4A-4C  are cross-sectional views showing operation of the apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing another aspect of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 6A-6C  are cross-sectional views showing another aspect of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show one aspect of the present invention, indicated generally at  2 . The computer peripheral device  2  comprises a cover  21 , a casing  23  and a peripheral device  25 . The cover  21  may be made of a bent metal piece, generally in the shape of a U, forming a first accommodation space  210 . The cover further includes a first pivotally connected portion (projection)  211  and a top push unit (pin)  212 . The pin  212  is positioned adjacent to the projection  211 , with the rotational axies of the projection  211  and the pin  212  being parallel, and separate. The casing  23  forms a second accommodation space  231  which is accessable by an opening  230  located at one end of the casing  23 . The casing  23  also contains a second pivotally connected portion (aperture)  233  which receives the projection  211 . When the aperture  233  is connected with the projection  211 , the casing  23  is able to rotate about the central axis of the projection  211 , and subsequently in to or out of the first accommodation space  210 . When the opening  230  is rotated into the first accommodation space  210 , and is adjacent to the rear wall of the cover  21 , the opening  230  is shielded by the cover  21 . This arrangement protects the interior of the casing  23  by restricting foreign objects (e.g., hair, rocks, dust, etc.) from entering the opening  230 . In other embodiments of the present invention, the cover may be made of plastic or other materials. Further, the casing may be formed from a single material through molding processes or can be assembled from separate upper and lower components. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the peripheral device  25  of the present invention contains a circuit board  251  and a connector  252 . The circuit board  251  may be a printed circuit board (PCB), a circuit made by chip on board (COB), or any other viable alternative. The connector  252 , composed of several pins, is positioned at one end of the circuit board  252  and is in electrical communication with the circuitry of the circuit board  251 . When the connector  252  is plugged into a computer jack, the corresponding computer will immediately recognize the device and be able to execute the desired tasks (e.g., reading, writing data, encrypting, decoding, etc.). The peripheral device  25  is stored in the second accommodation space  231  of the casing  23 , while the connector  252  can be extended out from or retracted in to the casing  23  through the opening  230 . Further, the pin  212  extends through the casing  23  to rest against the guide rail  254 A, allowing the pin  212  to move along the guide rail  254 A according to the guide rail shape, selectively forcing the peripheral device in a direction. The device  25  also includes a protective shield  255  and a seat  256 . 
         [0022]    The protective shield  255  is a hollow frame which holds the peripheral device  25  inside, increasing the overall durability. The protective shield  255  acts as a security measure by preventing a user from incorrectly inserting the computer peripheral device  2  into a computer jack. The seat  256 , located at the end of the circuit board  251 , is connected with the protective shield  255  for added stability and to prevent the protective shield  255  from being removed. The seat  256  contains a groove  254 , which includes the guide rail  254 A. The groove  254  is generally in the shape of an arc, and could have a 12 mm straight line distance from end to end. The pin  212  extends through the casing  23  to engage the groove  254  and rest against the guide rail  254 A. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 4A-4C  are cross-sectional views of the apparatus of the present invention. To clearly illustrate the apparatus, a section side of the cover is not shown. The dashed circle in  FIGS. 4A-4C  indicate the axis of rotation of the projection  211  and the aperture  233 . During operation, a user holds the cover  21  of the computer peripheral device  2  and rotates the casing  23  out from the first accommodation space  210 . While the casing  23  is rotated out from the first accommodation space  210 , it simultaneously forces the device  25  to rotate. During this rotation, the pin  212  moves along the groove  254 , and exerts a force onto the guide rail  254 A (as illustrated by the arrow A in  FIG. 4B ), urging the connector  252  out from the second accommodation space  231 . 
         [0024]    The distance traversed by the connector  252  is the distance from the axis of rotation of the projection  211  shown in  FIG. 4A  to the end of the groove  254 , i.e., length R. When the distance between the opening  230  and the cover end  21  is maximized (i.e., the casing  23  is completely removed from the first accommodation space  210 , and the connector  252  is fully extended), the distance traversed by the connector  252  is the length between the pivotal axis in  FIG. 4C  and the end of the gliding groove  254 , length L. Therefore, when the connector  252  is fully extended the total distance traversed is R+L. At this point, the connector  252  is completely exposed outside the casing  23  and the cover  21 . A user can then plug the computer peripheral device  2  into a computer jack. When a user is finished using the computer peripheral device  2 , he/she can again rotate the casing  23  and the cover  21  to move the opening  230  towards the first accommodation space  210 . During this rotation, the pin  212  exerts a force onto the groove  254  driving the connector  252  towards the second accommodation space  231 . When the distance between the opening  230  and the end of the cover  21  is minimized (i.e., the casing  23  is completely inside the first accommodation space  210 ), the connector  252  is secured and completely retracted into the casing  23 . Therefore, when users are finished using the computer peripheral device  2 , they do not have to worry about covering the device with an independent cap. Further, a user can quickly retract the connector  252 , making the device very convenient. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of another aspect of the present invention. The computer peripheral device  3  includes a cover  31 , a casing  33  and a peripheral device  35 . The cover  31  contains a first accommodation space  310 , a projection  311 , and a pin  312 . The casing  33  includes an opening  330 , which accesses a second accommodation space  331  formed by the casing, and an aperture  333 . The projection  311  can be received by the aperture  333 , creating a pivotal connection between the cover  31  and the casing  33 . This pivotal connection allows the casing  33  to rotate around the central axis of the projection  311 . Further, the peripheral device  35  includes a circuit board  351  and a connector  352  at one end of the circuit board  351 . In this aspect, a manufacturer may choose to exclude the protective shield and the seat of  FIGS. 2-4C  to lower manufacturing costs and shorten the assembly process. Instead, a groove  354 , containing a guide rail, may be included on the end of the circuit board  351 , opposite the connector  352 . The pin  312  extends through the casing  33  and into the groove  354 , where it rests against the guide rail. When a user turns the casing  33 , the pin  312  pushes against the guide rail, forcing the connector  352  to extend out from the casing  33  or retract in to the casing  33 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 6A-6C  are cross-sectional views showing another aspect of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6A , the computer peripheral device  4  includes a cover  41 , a casing  43  and a peripheral device  45 . The cover  41  contains a first accommodation space  430 , a projection  411 , and a pin  412 . The central axes of the projection  411  and the pin  412  are parallel and spaced apart. The casing  43 , which is housed in the cover  41 , includes an opening  430  at one end, accessing a second accommodation space  431 , and an arc-shaped groove  434  on one side, through which the pin  412  extends. The peripheral device  45  is housed inside the second accommodation space  431  and contains an aperture (not shown), which receives the projection  411 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 6B , when the aperture is received by the projection  411 , the peripheral device  45  can rotate about the central axis of the projection  411 . When a user rotates the casing  43 , and subsequently the peripheral device, the opening  430  rotates out from the first accommodation space. The pin  412  exerts a force on to the groove  434 , pushing the casing  43  away from the peripheral device  45  and exposing the connector  452 , as shown in  FIG. 6C . The casing  43  is housed inside the cover  41  when the connector  452  of the device  45  is completely exposed. 
         [0027]    The casing of the present invention may contain only one side contacting the peripheral device, while the second side can be omitted to reduce manufacturing cost. The shape and/or the length of the groove can be altered according to different design models and styles, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the device manufacturers can change the ½ arc-shaped groove illustrated in  FIG. 2  into ¼ arc-shaped groove. The design of the aperture on the casing can also be altered. An aperture and a groove may be included on the casing to allow the projection and the pin to pass through, instead of having the projection as presented in the present invention. Also, instead of providing a groove on the circuit board or on the seat, the device manufacturer can install a guide rail for the pin to rest against. In such a configuration, when a user rotates the casing and the cover, the pin exerts a force onto one end of the circuit board or the seat to push the connector outside the casing and the cover. When a user wants to retract the connector, he/she can hold the computer peripheral device vertical, and rotate the casing and the cover to retract the connector into the casing by the force of gravity. 
         [0028]    This description includes several improved embodiments of the present invention. However, the claims for the present invention are not restricted to this recitation. From the technical content published with the present invention, computer peripheral device designers and manufacturers may come up with other equally effective model variations. These variations would fall into the protective scope of the present invention. 
         [0029]    Having thus described the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit or scope thereof. What is desired to be protected is set forth in the following claims.