Patent Publication Number: US-6905351-B1

Title: Electrical connector for open/close type

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to the field of an electrical connector for open/close type, and in particular to an electrical connector comprising a cover member which can be opened and closed. An adapted connector can be inserted into the electrical connector as the cover member is opened. The cover member can be closed when the electrical connector is not used. Whatever the cover member is in the state of open or close, the electrical connector can meet the requirements of thin size and easy carrying. 
   2. The Related Art 
   Following the improvement of the technologies, a variety of communication apparatuses are produced satisfying the requirements of utilized conveniently, enhanced functions, small size and carry easily. These apparatuses transmit and receive signals through the signal cable. Accordingly, the related signal receiver or storage device of most desktop Personal Computer (PC), portable PC or other electronic products are provided with the electrical connector of standard specification. Please refer to  FIG. 11 . PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) card  100  is used for communication link, such as linking the communication of portable PC and Ethernet LAN (Local Area Network) or linking the Data/Fax modem (modulator-demodulator) to the subscriber telephone system. Therefore, the electrical connector  10   a  is complied with the standard specification of RJ series equipped on the side of the PCMCIA card  100 , such as RJ11, RJ45 connectors, etc. When the communication link is worked, one end of a communication plug is connected with the Ethernet LAN and the other end inserted in the electrical connector  10   a  of the PCMCIA card  100 , the signals transmitting and receiving can be achieved. 
   Nevertheless, the above-mentioned electrical connector  10   a  has following problems under operation
         (1) The electrical connector  10   a  of RJ series is the standard specification, so it has a specific size. However, the regular thickness of PCMCIA card  100  is much less than the specific thickness of the electrical connector  10   a  of RJ series. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the PCMCIA card  100  has a larger thickness of the side of the electrical connector  10   a . The larger thickness causes the larger size of the PCMCIA card  100 , and it also bring user the inconvenient of store and carry. Furthermore, as the portable PC, the assembly of the electrical connector  10   a  within the portable PC will be limited by the size of the electrical connector  10   a.      (2) The insert hole of the electrical connector  10   a  is exposed outside, it may causes the dust cover on the terminals and the defect of electrical contact.       

   In order to solve the foregoing problems, there is a prior art of an electrical connector for open/close type as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,013. The electrical connector comprises: a base member having an upper face defining an aperture; a cover member for opening and closing the aperture of the base member; means defining a receiving face disposed in the base member for receiving a counter electrical connector having a rectangular parallelopiped shape; at least one terminal member disposed in the base member, and being elastically in contact with a terminal of the counter electrical connector, the cover member being pivotally supported in one end portion of said base member for rotation between an opened position and a closed position, the cover member defining thereby an axis of rotation, the cover member and the receiving face of the base member forming an accommodating space for the counter electrical connector when the cover member is in its opened position, and the cover member and the receiving face sandwiching the counter electrical connector; an engagement mechanism engageable with an engagement portion of the counter electrical connector, thereby preventing the counter electrical connector from slipping out of the base member; and an open position restricting mechanism for restricting an open angle of said cover member with respect to the base member, the cover member defining a back face and the receiving face defining a supporting face which is substantially parallel to the back face of the cover member when the cover member is in its opened position. 
   The above-mentioned electrical connector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,013, the cover member is only pivotally supported in one side of the base member by a pivot. While the cover member is in the open state, the cover member is rotary up to open an angle of inclination for counter connector inserted obliquely in the electrical connector. However, the pivot may escape from the pivotal hole of the electrical connector because the excessive up forces while open the cover member, and it causes the cover member separated from the base member. Therefore, the assembly of the electrical connector is unstable. Although the cover member of the electrical connector would be drawn back to a thin condition in the close state, the cover member has an angle of inclination when it is in open state. It causes the electrical connector has a specific thickness while the counter connector inserted. Accordingly, the electrical connector has a larger size while it is in operation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide an electrical connector for open/close type which comprises a base member, a cover member set above the base member, the cover member and the front side and the rear side of the base member are assembled by interlock device. The cover member can be opened or closed relative to the base member in parallel direction. There is a containing space formed between the base member and the cover member for containing a corresponding connector. Whatever the cover member is in the close state, open state or under a moving state, the cover member is in parallel relative to the base member. The electrical connector can be drawn back to a thin condition by utilized the present invention while the electrical connector is not in operation. The electrical connector still can be operated without larger space. The present invention attains the requirements of small size and easy carrying and use. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for open/close type wherein the interlock devices set on the cover member and the front side and rear side of the base member. Each of the interlock device comprises interlock levers. The cover member can be moved horizontally to the base member by the interlocking movement of the interlock levers. Therefore, the open state and the close state of the electrical connector can be achieved. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for open/close type which comprises a resilient device. The resilient device is retained a restoring force when the cover member is in open state. As a corresponding connector is rejected from the containing space formed between the base member and the cover member, the cover member will be closed itself on the top of the base member by the restoring force of the resilient devices. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the electrical connector according to the present invention which is in open state; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the electrical connector in accordance with the present invention viewing from the lateral side; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the electrical connector according to the present invention which is in close state; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the electrical connector according to the present invention which is utilized on a PCMCIA card; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the electrical connector according to the present invention which is utilized on a portable PC; 
       FIG. 7  is a lateral cross-sectional view of the electrical connector according to the present invention while the corresponding connector is plugged inside; 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a second embodiment according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the second embodiment according to the present invention which is in open state; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the second embodiment according to the present invention which is in close state; and 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic view of the electrical connector of prior art. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Please refer to  FIG. 1  showing an electrical connector  10  which is a RJ-45 modular jack utilized for receiving a communication modular plug  20  inserted inside the electrical connector  10  to transmit and receive the signals. The electrical connector  10  includes a base member  1  having a containing portion  11  formed on the base member  1 . There are a plurality of the terminal grooves  12  formed in the containing portion  11 . A terminal assembly  2  is set on the base member  1 . The terminal assembly  2  comprises a plurality of terminals  21  and a terminal base  22 . The terminals  21  are embodied on the terminal base  22 , then the terminal base  22  is set on the base member  1 , and the terminals  21  are placed in the terminal grooves  12 . 
   According to the present invention, a cover member  3  is set on above of the base member  1 . The cover member  3  and the front side and rear side of the base member  1  are combined by interlock devices  4  and  5 . The cover member  3  can be moved horizontally relative to the base member  1  and achieved an open/close state. Furthermore, a containing space  101  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) is formed between cover member  3  and the base member  1  for containing a modular plug  20 . In this embodiment, there is an arm portion  201  set on the top of the modular plug  20 . A latch recess  31  is formed on the front side of the cover member  3 . When the modular plug  20  is inserted inside the electrical connector  10 , the arm portion  201  latches with the latch recess  31  of the cover member  3 , and the modular plug  20  can be retained and latched in the electrical connector  10 . 
   In the first embodiment according to the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 , the interlock devices  4  and  5  are individually set on the front side and rear side of the base member  1  and the cover member  3 . The front interlock devices  4  and rear interlock devices  51  are comprised of the interlock levers  41  and  51 . Each of the interlock devices  4  and  5  comprises two interlock levers  41  and  51 . Accordingly, there are four interlock levers within the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention. The interlock levers  41  and  51  are in the form of strait sheet. There are pivotal holes  411  and  511  set on the top end and bottom end of the interlock levers  41  and  51 . The pivots  13  and  32  are respectively set on the position on the base member  1  and the cover member  3  corresponding to the pivotal holes  411  and  511  of the interlock levers  41  and  51 . 
   Please refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . A plurality of terminals  21  of the terminal assembly  2  are assembled individually in the terminal base  22 , and the terminal base  22  is assembled upwardly from the bottom of the base member  1 . The terminal base  22  is embodied on the base member  1 , and each terminal  21  are arranged individually in the terminal grooves  12 . Subsequently, the pivotal holes  411 ,  511  of the interlock levers  41 ,  51  are coupled to the pivots  13 ,  32  of the base member  1  and cover member  3 . The base member  1  and the cover member  3  are assembled by setting pivots  13 ,  32  into the respective pivotal holes  411 ,  511  of the four interlock levers  41 ,  51  of the front interlock device  4  and the rear interlock device  5 . The cover member  3  therefore can be in the open state (shown in  FIG. 2 ) or in the close state (shown in  FIG. 4 ) relative to the base member  1 . When the cover member  3  is in open state, there is a containing space  101  formed between the cover member  3  and the base member  1  for containing the modular plug  20 . 
   Please refer to  FIG. 5 . The electrical connector  10  is applied on a PCMCIA card  100  for communication link in this embodiment. The cover member  3  is in close state while the PCMCIA card  100  is not in operation, in the meantime, the top of the cover member  3  can be aligned with the top of the PCMCIA card  100 . Thus the whole size of the PCMCIA card  100  can be thinned for the requirements of carrying and use conveniently. Please refer to the  FIG. 6 . The electrical connector  10  is applied on the portable PC  200  in this embodiment. As the electrical connector  10  can be in open state and close state, hence the electrical connector  10  can be set on any position on the portable PC  200 . 
   Please refer to  FIG. 7 . When the cover member  3  is moved from close state to open state, an upward force is needed to apply on it, thereat the cover member  3  can be moved upwardly in parallel by support of the interlock levers  41 ,  51 . Because the interlock levers  41 ,  51  set on the front side and rear side of the cover member  3  pivotally, the cover member  3  is moved in parallel, that is, whatever the cover member  3  is in open state or close state which can be paralleled the base member  1 . Furthermore, the height of the electrical connector according to the present invention in open state is lower than prior design, and the electrical connector does not occupied a larger space in corresponding electronic apparatuses. The modular plug  20  can be inserted into the containing space  101  formed between the base member  1  and the cover member  3  as the cover member  3  is in open state, in the meanwhile, the modular plug  20  contacts with the terminals  21  for transmitting and receiving signals. 
   After the modular plug  20  is rejected from the electrical connector  10 , a downward force is needed to apply on the cover member  3 , then the cover member  3  can be retracted to the base member  1 . The electrical connector  10  can be retracted to a thin size for the objects of small size and saving the space of the corresponding electronic apparatus. 
   Please refer to  FIG. 8 . In the second embodiment of the electrical connector  10  of the present invention, the cover member  3  can be closed itself by resilient devices. The interlock levers  51  of rear interlock device  5  are set on the rear side of the base member  1  and cover member  3 . The interlock lever  51  is formed of the strait sheet. The top end and bottom end of the interlock lever  51  have pivotal holes  511  formed thereon. A stop portion  512  is set outwardly on the bottom end of the interlock lever  51 . The left and right sides of the rear side of the base member  1  set outwardly a stop protrusion  14 . The rotary angle of the interlock levers  51  can be limited by the cooperation of the stop protrusions  14  and the stop portions  512 . The terminal base  22  is set outwardly the L-shaped coupled members  221  both on the left and right sides of the rear side thereof. A coupled hole  222  is formed on the coupled member  221  for coupling to the respective pivot  13  of the base member  1  as the terminal base  22  installed with the base member  1 , and the cooperation of the coupled members  221  and the pivots  13  is supported to prevent the interlock levers  51  separating from the respective pivots  13 . 
   In the second embodiment, the front interlock device  4  is fabricated by two torsion springs  42 . The torsion spring  42  comprises a circular pivotal portion  421  pivotally coupled to the respective pivot  13  on the lateral of the front side of the base member  1 . One end of the pivotal portion  421  is stretched out a retaining arm  422  to against the base member  1 , the other end of the pivotal portion  421  is stretched out a spring arm  423 . The free end of the spring arm  423  is formed in a shape of hook for pivotally hooking with the respective pivot  32  on the front side of the cover member  3 . 
   Please refer to  FIG. 9 . When the cover member  3  is moved from close state to open state, an upward force is needed to apply on it, thereat the cover member  3  can be moved upwardly in parallel by support of the interlock levers  51  and two torsion springs  42 . As the stop portion  512  of the interlock lever  51  installed on the rear side of the electrical connector  10  against the lateral wall of the respective stop protrusions  14  of the base member  1 , the cover member  3  can be limited on a predetermined position. In the meanwhile, the modular plug  20  can be inserted in the containing space formed between the base member  1  and the cover member  3 , and the modular plug  20  contacts with the terminals  21  to allow transmitting and receiving signals. At that time, the spring arm  423  of the torsion spring  42  is pulled backwardly as the cover member  3  open upwardly, and the torsion spring  42  is stored a resilient restoring force. 
   Please refer to  FIG. 10 . After the modular plug  20  is rejected from the containing space formed between the cover member  3  and the base member  1 , the cover member  3  can be retracted itself to a natural position on the base member by the actuation of the resilient restoring force of the torsion spring  42  without the support of the modular plug  20 . Accordingly, the cover member  3  is self-closed in this embodiment according to the present invention. 
   The forementioned embodiments have clarified that the open/close type of electrical connector in accordance with the present invention can be drawn back to a thin condition while the electrical connector is not in operation, and the electrical connector still can be operated without larger space than prior art. Therefore, the present invention attains the requirements of small size and carry and use easily. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.