Abstract:
An electrical interconnection device ( 100 ) includes a first connector ( 10 ), a second connector ( 20 ) defining a positioning member ( 25 ), a connecting member ( 30 ), a cover ( 50 ) enclosing the first connector and the second connector to combine therebetween and a restricting member ( 40 ) assembled to the first connector. The connecting member ( 30 ) electrically connects the first connector with the second connector. The restricting member ( 40 ) comprises a plate ( 41 ) mounted to the first connector and an elastic portion ( 44 ) connected to the plate, said elastic portion has at least two elastic arms spaced from one another, the elastic arms being selectively locked into positioning grooves ( 253 ) of the positioning member, while said first connector and second connector are swiveled.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This application claims priority to prior Chinese patent applications 200820301476.9 and 200810303329.X, the disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to an electrical interconnection device, and more particularly to an electrical interconnection device which has two connector members interconnected together and capable of swiveling with respect to one another. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    An electrical interconnection device is used for connecting two electronic devices. There are many different kinds of electrical interconnection devices, such as cable connector assembly and an electrical adapter. The cable connector assembly is mainly used for connecting two electronic devices relatively far away from each other; while the electrical adapter is utilized for connecting two electronic devices neighbored each other which usually have different I/O interfaces. 
         [0006]    China Patent No. CN 2909618Y issued to Zhu on Jun. 6, 2007 discloses an electrical adapter for connecting two electronic devices having different interfaces to achieve signal and power transmission. The electrical adapter includes a USB plug connector, an audio plug connector and a cable between the USB plug connector and the audio plug connector. However the cable is too long, it will twist together possibly and be taken inconveniently. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,152 issued to Selker on Aug. 19, 1997 introduces a swivel plug. The plug is has male and female plug portions which pivot 180 degree, with respect to one another about a common pivot axis between first and second positions. A plurality of male and female electrical contact pairs slidably engage one another and pivot about the common pivot axis. Male and female bodies, which receive the electrical contact pairs, also pivot with respect to one another about the common pivot axis. The male and female bodies and the male and female electrical contact pairs are arranged in a novel relationship to mutually retain one other for the pivotal movement. The swivel plug eliminates the need for an electrical cord between an adapter of a laptop computer and a wall receptacle which has a downwardly located ground receptacle or a wall receptacle which has an upwardly located ground receptacle. The swivel plug also enables plugging a computer adapter or a typical extension cord into a receptacle where there is a rigid space constraint. However, as there is no stop means equipped in the swivel plug, a relation between the male portion and the female portion is uncontrollable. 
         [0008]    Hence, an improved electrical interconnection device is highly desired to overcome the aforementioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved swiveled electrical interconnection device. 
         [0010]    In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical interconnection device in accordance with the present invention comprises includes a first connector, a second connector defining a positioning member, a connecting member, a cover enclosing the first connector and the second connector to combine therebetween and a restricting member assembled to the first connector. The connecting member electrically connects the first connector with the second connector. The restricting member comprises a plate mounted to the first connector and an elastic portion connected to the plate, said elastic portion has at least two elastic arms spaced from one another, the elastic arms being selectively locked into positioning grooves of the positioning member, while said first connector and second connector are swiveled. 
         [0011]    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 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an assembled, perspective view of an electrical interconnection device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a partially assembled, perspective view of the electrical interconnection device; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view of the electrical interconnection device; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a partially assembled view of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a restricting member of the electrical interconnection device; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , but viewed from another aspect; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is an assembled view of the electrical interconnection device with partial component removed; and 
           [0021]      FIGS. 10-11  are another two stopping states in using of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an electrical interconnection device  100  in accordance with the present invention comprises a first connector  10 , a second connector  20 , a connecting member  30  electrically linking the first connector  10  and the second connector  20 , a restricting member  40  and a cover  50  partially enclosing the first and second connectors  10 ,  20 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the first connector  10  is compatible with Universal Serial Bus (USB) transmitting protocol, however, it can be other types connector. The first connector  10  includes an insulated housing  11 , a number of first contacts  12  mounted in corresponding receiving channels  112  of the insulated housing  11 , a circuit board  13  electrically connected with the first contacts  12 , and a metallic shell  14  enclosing the insulated housing  11 . The metallic shell  14  defines an opening  140  in a bottom portion, a pair of cutouts  142  are formed on both side walls  141  of the metallic shell  14 , a pair of engaging holes  143  are defined above the opening  140  along a transverse direction and adjacent to front end of the metallic shell  14 . 
         [0025]    The second connector  20  is an Audio Plug connector, however, it can be other types connector. The second connector  20  comprises a plug  21  and a plurality of second contacts  23  extending rearwards from the plug  21 . A positioning member  25  is enclosing the second contacts  23 , the positioning member  25  is of T-shaped and comprises a cylindrical axis  251  and a cylindrical receiving portion  252 . Part of the axis  251  is cut to form a protruding portion  254  on one side thereof. The axis  251  is enclosing the second contacts  23 , a number of positioning grooves  253  are defined in a peripheral portion of the axis  251  and opposite to the protruding portion  24 . The positioning grooves  253  are separated from one another around the axis  251  equably, one pair of the positioning grooves  253   b,    253   c  are located along a direction perpendicular to a mating direction of the plug  21 , and the rest one  253   a  is defined along the mating direction. 
         [0026]    The connecting member  30  is a flexible print circuit and connected with one end of the circuit board  13 , and comprises a soldering portion  31 , a curved portion  32  extending from one side of the soldering portion  31  along the mating direction and a linking portion  33 . The soldering portion  31  is soldered on one surface of the circuit board  13 , and tail portions  121  of the first contacts  12  are soldered on the other surface of the circuit board  13 . The linking portion  33  extends from front end of the curved portion  32  along the transverse direction and is parallel to the soldering portion  31 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-9 , the restricting member  40  is assembled to the metallic shell  14 , and cooperated with the opening  140  of the metallic shell  14 . The restricting member  40  includes a plate  41 , a pair of projecting portions  42  extending upwards from lateral walls of the plate  41 , a block  43  protruding upwards from front edge of the plate  41  on the right side, and an elastic portion  44  extending forwardly from front edge of the plate  41 . A plurality of fixing holes  411  and tubers  412  are disposed on the plate  41 , said fixing holes  411  are arranged in triangular relationship, the tubers  412  align along the transverse direction for limiting the movement of the insulated housing  11 . The projecting portions  42  are locked in the cutouts  142  of the metallic shell  14 . 
         [0028]    The elastic portion  44  comprises a curved bridging portion  441  extending and bending from the front edge of the plate  41 , a first elastic arm  442  extending from the bridging portion  441  along the transverse direction, a second elastic arm  443  and a third elastic arm  444  extending from the top end and the bottom end of the first elastic arm  442  respectively. The first elastic arm  442  and the plate  41  are on different planes. The second elastic arm  443  and the third elastic arm  444  are of arc-shaped, in other embodiment they can be of other similar shape with elasticity. The second elastic arm  443  is smaller than the third elastic arm  444  in dimension, the second elastic arm  443 , the third elastic arm  444  and the right end of the first elastic arm  442  form an S-shaped configuration together. The third arm  444  defines a vault  445  in middle thereof, the vault  445  is locked in the positioning grooves  253 . The end of the second elastic arm  443  is adjacent to the block  43  which as a pivot for pressing the second elastic arm  443  and turning the third elastic arm  444 . 
         [0029]    The cover  50  includes a top cover  51  and a bottom cover  52  holding the first connector  10  and the second connector  20 , the top cover  51  and the second cover  52  have the same configuration as each other, and comprise U-shaped outlets  511 ,  521  respectively. The bottom cover  52  disposes a stopper  522  neighbouring to the outlet  521 , the stopper  522  defines a cambered stopping surface  5221 , the bottom cover  52  defines a plurality of posts  523  corresponding to fixing holes  411  of the restricting member  40 . The other configuration of the top cover  51  same as the bottom cover  52  is omitted. 
         [0030]    When assemble, the first contacts  12  are mounted in the receiving channels  112  of the insulated housing  11 , the insulated housing  11  is assembled to the metallic shell  14 , tail portions of the first contacts  12  are soldered on the lower surface of the circuit board  13 , the linking portion  33  is soldered with the second contacts  23  of the second connector  20 . The positioning member  25  is over-molded the electrical conjunction, the soldering portion  31  of the connecting member  30  is soldered on the upper surface of the circuit board  13 , to achieve the electrical connection between the first connector  10  and the second connector  20 . The restricting member  40  is assembled to the opening  140  of the metallic shell  14 , with the projecting portions  42  locked in the corresponding cutouts  142 , and the vault  445  of the third elastic arm  444  locked in one of the positioning grooves  253 . Then the assembled components are disposed in the bottom cover  52 , the posts  523  of the bottom cover  52  are inserted into the fixing holes  411 , the axis  251  of the positioning member  25  is arranged in front of the stopping surface  5221  of the stopper  522 , to prevent the axis  251  sliding backwards. The protruding portion  254  is located on one side of the stopper  522 . The top cover  51  is assembled to the bottom cover  52  from the top down to enclose the conjunction between the first connector  10  and the second connector  20 , the posts (not shown) of the top cover  51  are received in the engaging holes  143  of the metallic shell  14 . The axis  251  is held by the stopper  522  and the front wall of the top and bottom cover  51 ,  52 , part of the axis  251  is exposed in the outlets  511 ,  521 , the receiving portion  252  is exposed beyond the outlets  511 ,  521 , the axis  251  can turn around a center shaft thereof in the space formed by the stopper  522  and the front wall of the top and bottom cover  51 ,  52 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 9-11 , when the electrical interconnection device  100  located in the first state (see  FIG. 9 ), the vault  445  of the elastic portion  44  is locked in the positioning groove  253   a  to form a first stopping point. The positioning member  25  rotates as the plug  21  of the second connector  20  swiveling, the axis  251  turns around center shaft thereof and slides out of the positioning groove  253   a,  as the block  43  is adjacent to the elastic portion  44 , so the second elastic arm  443  and the third elastic arm  444  are compressed by an extra force, and the first elastic arm  442  are inclined rearwards. When rotating the plug  21  anticlockwise, the first, second and third elastic arm  442 ,  443 ,  444  are relaxed without extra force, and the vault  445  slides into the positioning groove  253   b  and is locked therein, while the external electronic device mating with the second connector  20 , the external electronic device is located above the electrical interconnection device  100 , with lower section of the external electronic device located above the cover  50  of the electrical interconnection device  100 , the cover  50  could support the external electronic device. When rotating the plug  21  clockwise, the vault  445  can be locked in the positioning groove  253   c,  the movement process is similar to the anticlockwise rotating, so it&#39;s omitted. 
         [0032]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrated only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.