Abstract:
A multi-functional transfer connector for connecting with different receptacles includes a first insulative housing ( 11 ), a first plug ( 12 ) and a first receptacle ( 13 ) retained in the first insulative housing, a base insulative housing ( 31 ), and a base plug ( 32 ) retained in the base insulative housing. The base insulative housing defines a peripherally closed receiving space ( 310 ) to receive the first insulative housing, the first plug, and the first receptacle. The first plug and the first receptacle are located at the opposite sides of the first insulative housing. A cable ( 4 ) is located at opposite, outer sides of the receiving space with respect to the base plug. The cable includes individual wires electrically connecting in parallel to the first plug, the first receptacle, and the base plug directly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a multi-functional transfer connector, and more particularly to a multi-functional transfer connector for connecting with different receptacles. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,121,852 issued on Oct. 17, 2006 discloses a connector structure comprising a body, a first (plug or receptacle) connector at one end of the body, a rotating element pivotally connected to the body, and a second (plug or receptacle) connector pivotally disposed with respect to the body by the rotating element. An optional multi-linking-movement switch, through specific rotation angles thereof, is capable of controlling electric conduction of the first connector and the second connector. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,473,141 issued on Jan. 6, 2009 discloses a multi-functional transfer connector including a first insulative housing, a first plug and a first receptacle both retained by the first insulative housing, a second insulative housing, and a second plug retained by the second insulative housing. The first insulative housing has two pivotal side arms for effectuating a relative movement between the first and second insulative housings. The first plug and the first receptacle are connected electrically. The second plug is located in the front of the second insulative housing. The first plug and the second plug are of different kinds for connecting with different receptacles of a variety of electronic devices. When the second plug is used, the second plug is inserted into the receptacle of the device directly. When the first plug is used, the first receptacle receives the second plug first, then the first plug is inserted into a device receptacle. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,856 issued on Oct. 8, 2013 discloses a transfer plug assembly which includes a first plug, first flexible link, second flexible link, and a second plug. Respective first ends of the first flexible link and the second flexible link are connected to two lateral sides of the first plug. Respective second ends of the first flexible link and the second flexible link are connected to two lateral sides of the second plug. Through the linking of the first and second flexible links, the second plug will hang around the first plug and is accessible nearby. 
         [0007]    Hence, an improved multi-functional transfer connector is desired. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-functional transfer connector for connecting with different receptacles. 
         [0009]    The present invention provides a multi-functional transfer connector for connecting with different receptacles includes a first insulative housing, a first plug and a first receptacle retained in the first insulative housing, a base insulative housing, and a base plug retained in the base insulative housing. The base insulative housing defines a peripherally closed receiving space to receive the first insulative housing, the first plug, and the first receptacle. The first plug and the first receptacle are located at the opposite sides of the first insulative housing. A cable is located at opposite, outer sides of the receiving space with respect to the base plug. The cable includes individual wires electrically connecting in parallel to the first plug, the first receptacle, and the base plug directly. 
         [0010]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0011]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective, assembled view of a multi-functional transfer connector and a cable according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is another assembled view similar to  FIG. 1 , taken from another aspect; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective, exploded view of the multi-functional transfer connector and the cable; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is another exploded view similar to  FIG. 3 , taken from another aspect; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective, assembled view of the multi-functional transfer connector and the cable in first usable state; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is another assembled view similar to  FIG. 5 , taken from another aspect; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a schematic circuit diagram showing electrical connection between the cable and plugs/receptacles of the connector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    Reference will be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail, wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by same or similar reference numeral through the several views and same or similar terminology. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 1 to 6  illustrate a multi-functional transfer connector  100  and a cable  4  in accordance to the present invention. The multi-functional transfer connector  100  includes a first insulative housing  11 , a first plug  12  and a first receptacle  13  retained in the first insulative housing  11 , a second insulative housing  21 , a second plug  22  and a second receptacle  23  retained in the second insulative housing  21 , a base insulative housing  31 , and a base plug  32  retained in the base insulative housing  31 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first insulative housing  11  is rectangular. The first insulative housing  11  includes a pair of pivoted posts  111  on lateral surfaces to connect with the base insulative housing  31 . The first insulative housing  11  defines a hole  1110  extending through the pivoted post  111  to let first wires (not shown) pass through the hole  1110 . The first plug  12  is located in the front of the first insulative housing  11 . The first receptacle  13  is located in the rear of the first insulative housing  11 . The first plug  12  and the first receptacle  13  are connected electrically. The first plug  12  and the first receptacle  13  are connected with the cable  4  by the first wires. In detail, the first plug  12  and the first receptacle  13  are connected directly by connecting wires. And the first wires are connected with the connecting wires. As an alternate, the first plug  12 , the first receptacle  13 , and the first wires are connected by a printed circuit board disposed in the first insulative housing  11 . Then the first wires are connected with the printed circuit board. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the second insulative housing  21  is similar to the first insulative housing  11  and is also rectangular. The second insulative housing  21  includes a pair of pivoted posts  211  on lateral surfaces to connect with the base insulative housing  31 . The second insulative housing  21  defines a hole  2110  extending through the pivoted post  211  to let second wires (not shown) pass through the hole. The second plug  22  is located in the front of the second insulative housing  21 . The second receptacle  23  is located in the rear of the second insulative housing  21 . The second plug  22  and the second receptacle  23  are connected electrically. The second plug  22  and the second receptacle  23  are connected with the cable  4  by the second wires. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the base insulative housing  31  includes a front portion  311 , a rear portion  312 , and two arms  313  connecting the front portion  311  and the rear portion  312 . The front portion  311  holds the base plug  32 . The cable  4  is assembled to the rear portion  312 . The front portion  311 , the rear portion  312 , and the arms  313  define a receiving space  310 . The receiving space  310  includes two receiving rooms  3101  in communication with each other. One of the receiving rooms  3101  receives the first insulative housing  11 . The other receiving room  3101  receives the second insulative housing  21 . Each receiving room  3101  has a pair of opposing openings  314  in inner surfaces thereof. The openings  314  engage with the pivoted posts  111  and  211 . So, the first insulative housing  11  and the second insulative housing  21  could rotate relative to the base insulative housing  31 . In other embodiments, the first insulative housing  11  and the second insulative housing  21  include openings. The base insulative housing  31  includes pivoted posts corresponding to the openings. The openings  314  are located in the middle of the receiving rooms  3101 . The pivoted posts  111  and  211  are respectively located in the middle of the first insulative housing  11  and the second insulative housing  21 . Therefore, the first plug  12  and the second plug  22  respectively rotates out conveniently when a rear of the first insulative housing  11  or a rear of the second insulative housing  21  is pressed. Each receiving room  3101  includes a stopper  315  formed in the front thereof to prevent the first insulative housing  11  or the second insulative housing  21  from rotating over the stopper  315 . Outer surfaces of the base insulative housing  31 , the first insulative housing  11 , and the second insulative housing  21  are coplanar when the first plug  12  and second plug  22  are located in the receiving rooms  3101 . A front portion of the receiving room  3101  is narrower than a rear portion of the receiving room  3101 . The receiving room  3101  has a pair of protrusions  316  formed on inner surfaces of the front portion. When the first plug  12  or the second plug  22  rotates into the receiving room  3101 , the protrusions  316  resist against the first plug  12  or the second plug  22  stably. The base plug  32  is electrically connected with the cable  4  by third wires. The base insulative housing  31  includes an upper case  33  and a lower case  34 . The upper case  33  includes a first outer wall  331 , a first inner wall  332 , and a first recess  330  defined between the first outer wall  331  and the first inner wall  332  to receive the first wires, the second wires, the third wires, and a part of the cable  4 . The lower case  34  includes a second outer wall  341 , a second inner wall  342 , and a second recess  340  defined between the second outer wall  341  and the second inner wall  342  to receive the first wires, the second wires, the third wires, and a part of the cable  4 . 
         [0024]    In this embodiment, the first wires, the second wires, the third wires are connected with the cable  4  directly. In another embodiment, one end of the first wire is connected with wire of the cable  4 . One end of the second wire is connected with the other end of the first wire. One end of the third wire is connected with the other end of the first wire. 
         [0025]    Steps of assembling the multi-functional transfer connector  100  and the cable  4  comprise: 
         [0026]    1. Firstly, assemble the first plug  12  and the first receptacle  13  into the first insulative housing  11 ; and electrically connect the first plug  12  and the first receptacle  13 . 
         [0027]    2. Secondly, assemble the second plug  22  and the second receptacle  23  into the second insulative housing  21 ; and electrically connect the second plug  22  and the second receptacle  23 . 
         [0028]    3. Then, lay the first insulative housing  11 , the second insulative housing  21 , the base plug  32 , and the cable  4  on the lower case  34 . 
         [0029]    4. Finally, electrically connect the first plug  12 , the first receptacle  13 , the second plug  22 , the second receptacle  23  and the base plug  32  with the cable  4  directly, and cover the upper case  33  onto the lower case  34 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the first plug  12 , the first receptacle  13 , the second plug  22 , the second receptacle  23 , and the base plug  32  are electrically connected with the cable  4  by the first wires, the second wires, and the third wires directly. And there is no IC (Integrated Circuit) between any of the connectors and the cable  4 . The first plug  12 , the first receptacle  13 , the second plug  22 , the second receptacle  23 , and the base plug  32  are parallel connection. So, the first plug  12 , the first receptacle  13 , the second plug  22 , the second receptacle  23 , and the base plug  32  could be used independently. Therefore, when one of the plugs or receptacles is useless, the others of the plugs or receptacles are still available. In other ways, any two of the plugs or the receptacles are connected electrically. So, signals could be transferred between the plugs or the receptacles connecting with two different electronic devices. 
         [0031]    The receptacles are electrically connected with the cable  4 . A mating plug which is connected with another cable is inserted into the receptacle to prolong the transmission distance. At the same time, OTG (On-The-Go) needs a cable with a plug at one end and a receptacle at the other end. So, the multi-functional transfer connector  100  in accordance to the present invention meets the need of OTG. 
         [0032]    In this embodiment, the first plug  12  is a Micro-USB plug. The first receptacle  13  is a Micro-USB receptacle. The second plug  22  is a Mini-USB plug. The second receptacle  23  is a Mini-USB receptacle. In other embodiments, the first plug  12  is a Micro-USB plug. The first receptacle  13  is a Mini-USB receptacle. The second plug  22  is a Mini-USB plug. The second receptacle  23  is a Micro-USB receptacle. So, the first plug  12  and the first receptacle  13  could make signals transfer between a Mini-USB plug and a Micro-USB receptacle in two different electronic devices. The second plug  22  and the second receptacle  23  could make signals transfer between a Micro-USB plug and a Mini-USB receptacle in two different electronic devices. 
         [0033]    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 disclosed is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of number, shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broadest general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.