Patent Publication Number: US-8986023-B2

Title: Slim type electronic connector and electronic device having the same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to a slim type electronic connector and an electronic device having the same; in particular, to a slim type electronic connector applicable on a slim type electronic device having a cover which can rotate to reduce the overall height when not in use. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With the advancement of electronic technology, electronic devices such as ultrabooks and their casings are becoming increasingly slimmer. Common electronic connectors of input and output ports installed on electronic devices need to be designed with their thicknesses in mind. The thickness of a typical RJ45 communication socket, for example, is possibly larger than the thickness of the electronic device itself. 
     Common slim type electrical devices often omit communication sockets or employ adapters, which are inconvenient to use. Another known technique such as Patent US 2010/0248554A1, “CONNECTOR SOCKET AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME,” separates the top and bottom portions of the RJ45 communication socket and connects them pivotally. During testing such as plug and unplug tests, this structure usually shows a lack of structural strength. Since communication cables often sustain frequent plugging and tugging, the pivot structure between the top and bottom portions is easily fatigued. 
     Hence, the present inventor believes the above mentioned disadvantages can be overcome, and through devoted research combined with application of theory, finally proposes the present disclosure which has a reasonable design and effectively improves upon the above mentioned disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The object of the present disclosure is to provide a slim type electronic connector and an electronic device having the same, one face of which reduces the overall height of the electrical connector when not in use, and the other face of which increases the strength of the electrical connector in order to prevent fatigue created by frequent plugging and unplugging. 
     In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a slim type electrical connector is provided for accommodating a plug within, comprises a half socket, a covering lid, a holding seat disposed between the half socket and the covering lid, and a recovering element. The half socket has multiple endpoints. The covering lid has a main body, a sheltering portion extended from the main body, and at least one rotating axle formed at one end of the main body and pivoted on an electronic device case. An inserting space is formed between the half socket and the holding seat. When the covering lid rotates along the rotating axles to a covered position, the sheltering portion of the covering lid extends beyond a front edge of the holding seat. When the covering lid rotates along the rotating axles to an opening position, the sheltering portion moves away from the front edge of the holding seat to expose the inserting space. The recovering element applies a force on the sheltering portion of the covering lid to press against the holding seat. When the plug is inserted between the half socket and the holding seat, the recovering element pushes the sheltering portion to engage the plug for preventing from moving outside. 
     In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the present disclosure also provides an electronic device having a slim type electronic connector. The electronic device includes an upper case, a lower case, and a slim type electronic connector. The lower case has an entrance portion for a plug to be inserted into, and at least one pivot seat. The slim type electrical connector includes a half socket positioned under the upper case and having multiple endpoints disposed thereon; a covering lid which has a main body, a sheltering portion extended from the main body for sheltering the entrance portion, and at least one rotating axle formed at one end of the main body; at least one rotating axle which is pivotally disposed on at least one corresponding pivot seat; a holding seat which is disposed between the half socket and the covering lid, wherein an inserting space for accommodating plugs is formed between the half socket and the holding seat, and the sheltering portion extends beyond the front edge of the holding seat; and a recovering element provides a force on the sheltering portion of the covering lid to press against the holding seat. When the plug is inserted between the half socket and the holding seat, the recovering element pushes the sheltering portion to engage the plug for preventing from moving outside. 
     The present disclosure has the following advantages: the covering lid of the present disclosure rotates along the rotating axles to a covered position to reduce its height, or an opening position to allow for inserting the plug, thereby reducing the overall height of the electronic connector. Additionally, the holding seat is fixed to the electronic device case, and covers the pivot structure of the covering lid, thereby increasing the structural strength. 
     In order to further the understanding regarding the present disclosure, the following embodiments are provided along with illustrations to facilitate the disclosure of the present disclosure but are not intended to define the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective exploded diagram of a first embodiment of a slim type electronic connector and an electronic device case of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective assembly diagram of the slim type electronic connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional diagram of the slim type electronic connector of  FIG. 2  and an unplugged plug; 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross sectional diagram of the slim type electronic connector of  FIG. 2  and a plugged plug; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective exploded diagram of a second embodiment of a slim type electronic connector and an electronic device case of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross sectional diagram of the slim type electronic connector of  FIG. 5  and an unplugged plug; 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross sectional diagram of the slim type electronic connector of  FIG. 5  and a plugged plug; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective exploded diagram of a third embodiment of a slim type electronic connector and an electronic device case of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective assembly diagram of the slim type electronic connector of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  shows a cross sectional diagram of the slim type electronic connector of  FIG. 9  and an unplugged plug; 
         FIG. 11  shows a cross sectional diagram of the slim type electronic connector of  FIG. 9  and a plugged plug; 
         FIG. 12  shows a perspective exploded diagram of a fourth embodiment of a slim type electronic connector and an electronic device case of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13  shows a cross sectional diagram of the slim type electronic connector of  FIG. 12  and an unplugged plug; 
         FIG. 14  shows a cross sectional diagram of the slim type electronic connector of  FIG. 12  and a plugged plug; 
         FIG. 15  shows a perspective exploded diagram of a fifth embodiment of a slim type electronic connector of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 16  shows a cross sectional diagram of the slim type electronic connector of  FIG. 15  and an unplugged plug; 
         FIG. 17  shows a cross sectional diagram of the slim type electronic connector of  FIG. 15  and a plugged plug; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The aforementioned illustrations and following detailed descriptions are exemplary for the purpose of further explaining the scope of the present disclosure. Other objectives and advantages related to the present disclosure will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions and appended drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are respectively a perspective exploded diagram and a perspective assembly diagram of a slim type electronic connector and an electronic device case of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a slim type electronic connector  1  and an electronic device having the same. A portion of a case  2 , for example a case for a laptop, super slim type laptop, etc, embodies the electronic device of the present embodiment. An RJ-45 communication socket embodies the slim type electronic connector  1  of the present embodiment. However the choice of electronic connector of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The slim type electronic connector  1  is disposed on the electronic device case  2  to accommodate an RJ-45 plug  3  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). The electronic device case  2  can be divided into an upper case  21  and a lower case  22 . In the present embodiment, the slim type electronic connector  1  is mainly disposed on the lower case  22 . The lower case  22  forms an entrance portion  220 . The slim type electronic connector  1  faces the entrance portion  220 . The plug  3  is inserted into the slim type electronic connector  1  through the entrance portion  220  of the electronic device case  2 . 
     The slim type electronic connector  1  of the present disclosure includes a half socket  11 , a covering lid  12 , a holding seat  13  disposed between the half socket  11  and the covering lid  12 , and a recovering element  14  for applying a force on the covering lid  12  to press against the holding seat  13 . Each component is described in detail in the following. 
     The half socket  11  has multiple endpoints  112  to be electrically connected to the plug  3 . The endpoints  112  extend from the inside of the half socket  11  to the outer side on the back end of the half socket  11 . The interior space of the half socket  11  corresponds to the contour of the plug  3 . The half socket  11  of the present embodiment further has a metal cover  114  disposed at its top surface for providing electromagnetic shielding. 
     The covering lid  12  has a main body  121 , a sheltering portion  123  extended from the main body  121 , and a pair of rotating axles  125  formed at one end of the main body  121 . The present embodiment has two rotating axles  125 . The two rotating axles  125  are positioned at one end of the main body  121  further away from the sheltering portion  123  and respectively extend outward from the two sides of the main body  121 . However the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example the rotating axle can amount to one and be disposed in the middle of the edge of the main body  121 . The pair of rotating axles  125  is pivotally disposed on the electronic device case  2 , namely the lower case  22 . Corresponding to the pair of rotating axles  125 , the lower case  22  has a pair of pivot seats  222 . The pair of rotating axles  125  is disposed on the pair of pivot seats  222 . This configuration allows the covering lid  12  to pivot about the rotating axles  125 , and be movably positioned at an opening position and a covered position. When the covering lid  12  is at the covered position, the overall height is relatively smaller than that of a typical RJ-45 communication socket. The covering lid  12  needs to move downward to the opening position only when a plug is to be inserted. 
     The present embodiment has a gap of definite height between the main body  121  and the lower case  22 . The outer edge of the main body  121  is close to the bottom edge of the entrance portion  220  and extends downwards to form a turning portion  122 . The sheltering portion  123  extends slantingly upwards from the turning portion  122 . The sheltering portion  123  partially shelters the entrance portion  220  of the lower case  22 , ideally conforming to the shape of the lower case  22 . The side of the sheltering portion  123  facing the lower case  22  extends in an arc shape corresponding to the contour of the lower case  22 . Two retaining blocks  1232  protrude on the interior side of the sheltering portion  123  toward the holding seat  13 , for retaining the plug  3  from detaching. When the plug  3  is inserted between the half socket  11  and the holding seat  13 , the retaining blocks  1232  of the sheltering portion  123  engage the plug  3  to prevent it from moving outwards. 
     The holding seat  13  is disposed between the half socket  11  and the covering lid  12 . A front end inserting space is formed for accommodating the plug  3  between the half socket  11  and the holding seat  13 . The holding seat  13  abuts the half socket  11 . The length of the half socket  11  is larger than the length of the holding seat  13 . In other words, the holding seat  13  of the present embodiment is shorter than the typical RJ-45 socket. As shown in  FIG. 3 , from a lateral view, the half socket  11  and the front end of the holding seat  13  form a stair-shaped space S, corresponding to the arc shape of the lower case  22 . The sheltering portion  123  extends beyond the front edge of the holding seat  13  and faces the stair-shaped space S. 
     In the present embodiment, the position of the holding seat  13  corresponds to the main body  121 . The two sides of the holding seat  13  each have a fixing portion  131 . The fixing portions  131  are fixed to the electronic device case  2 , for example fixed to the column  221  of the lower case  22  by screws or hot melting. The holding seat  13  has multiple lateral walls  133  facing the half socket  11  for guiding the plug  3 . The holding seat  13  forms a through groove  135 . The main body  121  forms a guiding plate  1212  facing towards the holding seat  13 . The guiding plate  1212  is movably disposed in the through groove  135 . By this configuration, the holding seat  13  of the present disclosure is securely fixed to the lower case  22 , in contrast to the typical method of pivotally connecting to the upper case, thereby increasing the structural strength of the present disclosure. Additionally, the holding seat  13  covers the pivot seat  222 , in order to increase the structural strength of the pivot seat  222 . This configuration prevents the pivot structure of the covering lid  12  from being damaged due to frequent tugging of the communication wires, thereby protecting the covering lid  12  positioned below. In general, the present disclosure can endure demanding tests. 
     The recovering element  14  is used to apply a force on the sheltering portion  123  of the covering lid  12  to press against the holding seat  13 . The recovering element  14  can use a spring force, a magnetic force, etc to accomplish its purpose. The recovering element  14  of the present embodiment is a spring plate disposed between the main body  121  and the electronic device case  2 . In other words, the recovering element  14  is disposed at the top surface of the lower case  22  and abuts the lower face of the main body  121 . The recovering element  14  has a fastening portion  141 , and a curved portion  142  extending upwards and frontwards from the fastening plate  141  in a curve. A fastening rod  223  is disposed on the lower case  22  for fastening the fastening portion  141  of the recovering element  14 , for example fastening the fastening portion  141  by screws or hot melting. The curved portion  142  provides the main body  121  an upward spring force. 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are respectively side view cross sectional diagrams of the first embodiment of the slim type electronic connector of the present disclosure before and after accommodating the plug. As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the covering lid  12  is at the covered position, namely when the external surface of the sheltering portion  123  is aligned with the external surface of the lower case  22 , the turning portion  122  and the entrance portion  220  have a small gap between them. The sheltering portion  123  of the covering lid  12  is positioned at the arc-shaped portion of the lower case  22 , thereby reducing the volume of the protruding portion. 
     When the plug  3  is to be plugged in, the covering lid  12  is turned such that the sheltering portion  123  moves further away from the input portion  220 . At this moment, the main body  121  presses downward on the bottom edge of the entrance portion  220 , and deforms the spring plate to conserve an upward spring force. As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the covering lid  12  is in an opening position, the sheltering portion  123  rotates outwards and moves away from the lower case  22  by some distance, and the turning portion  122  moves downward and abuts the bottom edge of the entrance portion  220 . Thus, the plug  3  can be inserted into the slim type electronic connector  1 . The outwardly turned sheltering portion  123  is forced by the spring force of the spring plate to press tightly upwards against the release arm  32  of the plug  3 , in order to fix the plug  3  and prevent it from detaching. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the present disclosure mainly spares the height used in a typical RJ-45 socket to retain the release arm  32  of the RJ-45 plug  3 . In a normal state, the covering lid  12  covers the entrance portion  220  of the electronic case  2  to reduce overall height. When necessary, the covering lid  12  is opened to allow for inserting the plug  3 , and provides the effect of fixing the plug  3 . 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective exploded diagram of a second embodiment of a slim type electronic connector and an electronic device case of the present disclosure. The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the recovering element  14   a  is a coil spring disposed between the main body  121  and the electronic device case  2 , namely between the lower case  22  and the main body  121 . Similar to the first embodiment, a fastening rod  223   a  is disposed on the lower case  22  for the coil spring to be disposed onto. The fastening rod  223   a  is positioned beneath the main body  121 . The height of the fastening rod  223   a  is slightly smaller than the height of the coil spring when compressed by the main body  121 . 
       FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are respectively side view cross sectional diagrams of the second embodiment of the slim type electronic connector of the present disclosure before and after accommodating the plug. When the covering lid  12  is open, the plug  3  can be inserted into the present disclosure, the main body  121  presses downward against the coil spring, and the coil spring stores a spring force. Similar to the first embodiment, when the plug  3  is inserted into the slim type electronic connector  1 , the sheltering portion  123  is forced by the spring force of the coil spring to press tightly upwards against the release arm  32  of the plug  3 , in order to fix the plug  3  and prevent it from detaching. 
     Third Embodiment 
       FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  are respectively a perspective exploded diagram and a perspective assembly diagram of a third embodiment of a slim type electronic connector and an electronic device case of the present disclosure. The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the recovering element  14   b  of the present embodiment is a stretch spring. A hook portion  126  protrudes from each of the two rotating axles  125  toward the holding seat  13 . One end of the stretch spring is connected to the hook portion  126 , while the other end is fixed to the electronic device case  2 . A pair of fixing hooks  224  is disposed behind the covering lid  12  on the lower case  22  of the present embodiment for hooking onto the stretch spring. 
       FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  are side view cross sectional diagrams of a third embodiment of a slim type electronic connector of the present disclosure before and after accommodating the plug. When the covering lid  12  is open, the plug  3  can be inserted into the present disclosure, the sheltering portion  123  rotates outwards and moves away from the lower case  22  by some distance, and the hook portion  126  coincidentally moves outward and pulls on the stretch spring to store a spring force. When the plug  3  is inserted into the slim type electronic connector  1 , the sheltering portion  123  is forced by the spring force of the stretch spring to press tightly upwards against the release arm  32  of the plug  3 , in order to fix the plug  3  and prevent it from detaching. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective exploded diagram of a fourth embodiment of a slim type electronic connector and an electronic device case of the present disclosure. The present embodiment differs from the above embodiments in that the recovering element  14   c  of the present embodiment is a magnetic attachment module, for example including a magnetically attaching unit  143  and a magnetically attached unit  144 . Obviously, the magnetically attaching unit  143  and the magnetically attached unit  144  can be interchanged, combination of which includes magnet and metal plate, magnet and magnet, etc. In the present embodiment, an arm portion  128  extends from the main body  121  away from the sheltering portion  123 . The magnetic attachment module is disposed on the arm portion  128  and the electronic device case  2 , as shown in  FIG. 12  on the lower case  22 . 
       FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  are cross sectional diagrams of the slim type electronic connector and the plug of  FIG. 12  before and after accommodating the plug. The present embodiment employs the magnetically attaching unit  143  behind the covering lid  12  to attach to the magnetically attached unit  144  on the lower case  22 , to keep the covering lid  12  in a covered position  22  during the normal state. When the user presses the sheltering portion  123  of the covering lid  12  downwards, the entrance portion  220  is exposed allowing the plug  3  to be inserted in. The arm portion  128  of the covering lid  12  moves upwards and away from the magnetically attached unit  144 . The state of the inserted plug  3  is as shown in  FIG. 14 . When the user retrieves the plug  3 , the magnetically attaching unit  143  fixed on the arm portion  128  and the magnetically attached unit  144  attract each other. Thus, the arm portion  128  moves downward driving the sheltering portion to move upwards and cover the input portion  220 . 
     Fifth Embodiment 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective exploded diagram of a fifth embodiment of the slim type connection unit of the present disclosure. The present embodiment only expresses the covering lid  12  and the holding seat  13 . The other components can adopt the structure of the first embodiment. The present embodiment differs from  FIG. 1  in that the covering lid  12  further includes a pair of top pushing pieces  1214  disposed on the top surface of the main body  121 . The two top pushing pieces  1214  are positioned at the two sides of the guiding plate  1212  and are taller than the guiding plate  1212 , for pressing against the underside of the inserted plug  3 . Additionally, the holding seat  13  has a pair of side grooves  137  disposed on the two sides of the through groove  135 . The two top pushing pieces  1214  pass through the two side grooves  137 . In application, the covering lid  12  of the present embodiment can have at least one top pushing piece extending from the top surface of the main body  121  toward the holding seat  13 . The holding seat  13  has at least one side groove corresponding to the top pushing piece. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 , when the plug  3  is inserted into the slim type electronic connector, the guiding plate  1212  is positioned below the release arm  32 , the two top pushing pieces  1214  are positioned at the two sides of the release arm  32  and abut the body of the plug  3 , and the retaining blocks  1232  of the sheltering portion retain the release arm  32 . Compared to the previous embodiment, the present embodiment has the additional advantage in that when the user unplugs the plug  3 , he only needs to press the release arm  32  to make it leave the retaining blocks  1232  of the sheltering portion  123 , without needing to also use the finger to press the sheltering portion  123  of the covering lid  12  downward. Thus, the user can unplug the plug  3 . In the process of unplugging the plug  3  of the present embodiment, the top pushing pieces  1214  continue pushing against the underside of the plug  3 . The covering lid  12  returns to the covered position only after the plug  3  has been withdrawn from the slim type electronic connector, as shown in  FIG. 17 . The two top pushing pieces  1214  spares the user from having to use a finger to overcome the restoring force provided by the recovering element  14  that engages the covering lid  12  to the release arm  32 . 
     Therefore the slim type electronic connector and the electronic device having the same of the present disclosure have the following advantages: 
     1. The holding seat  13  is securely fixed on the lower case  22 , in contrast to the typical structure pivotally connected to the upper case, thereby increasing the structural strength of the present disclosure. 
     2. The holding seat  13  of the present disclosure covers the pivot seat  222 , thereby increasing the structural strength of the pivot seat  222 , and prevents the covering lid  12  from damaging the pivot structure positioned between the covering lid  12  and the lower case  22  due to frequent tugging and plugging of the communication cables. 
     3. The present disclosure can further use the top pushing piece  1214  disposed on the top surface of the covering lid  12  to maintain the covering lid  12  at an opening position during the process of unplugging the plug  3  by continually pressing against the underside of the plug  3 , sparing the user from having to press the covering lid  12  to the opening position with his finger. The user only needs to press the release arm  32  to successfully unplug plug  3 . 
     The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure; however, the characteristics of the present disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes, alternations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure delineated by the following claims.