Patent Publication Number: US-2006019526-A1

Title: Connector for mobile communication device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 56926/2004, filed on Jul. 21, 2004, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a connector for a mobile communication terminal, and particularly to a single button connector that can be easily separated from a receptacle of a mobile communication terminal.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Communication terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs have a data port or electrical socket (i.e., receptacle) for connecting with external devices such as computers, power sources and other accessories. This receptacle is configured to electrically receive a plug connector and cable.  FIG. 1  illustrates a related art receptacle  13  and plug connector  21 .  
      Typically, a receptacle  13  is provided in a bottom portion of a communication terminal  10  so as to be connected with a plug connector  21  of an external device, like a charger. A plurality of connection pins  14  for electrically connecting the plug connector  21  and an inner circuit of the terminal are provided inside the receptacle  13 .  
      The plug connector  21  includes a plug body  23  having an insertion unit  25  (e.g., a male coupling) at one end, the insertion unit  25  being inserted into the receptacle  13  for electrically coupling to the connection pins  14 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , a locking lever  31  is flexibly installed in the plug body  23  and is elastically manipulatable according to application of external pressure. The locking lever  31  is installed to extend along both sides of the insertion unit  25  for maintaining a lock state when the plug connector  21  is inserted in the receptacle  13 . Push buttons  35  are integrally formed with the locking lever  31  to be pressed at both sides of the plug body  23 , for unlocking the plug connector  21 , by releasing the locking lever  31 .  
      A plurality of connection terminals (not shown) are provided inside the insertion unit  25  to contact the connection pins  14  of the receptacle  13 . A space  27  is formed at each edge of both sides of the insertion unit  25 . As a result, one side of the locking lever  31  is elastically manipulated in response to external pressure.  
      Furthermore, an electric or data cord  28  is connected to the connection terminals at one side of the plug body  23 . A hook  33  is formed at an end portion of each locking lever  31 , so as to engage a stopping groove  15 .  
      When desiring to connect the plug connector  21  with the receptacle  13 , the insertion unit  25  of the plug body  23  is inserted into the receptacle  13 . Each hook  33  elastically connects with an inner edge of the receptacle  13  and is inserted therein. When the receptacle  13  is fully inserted, the hook engages a stopping groove  15  formed in the receptacle  13  so as to removably couple the plug connector  21  to the receptacle.  
      When desiring to separate the plug connector  21  from the receptacle  13 , push buttons  35  are pressed. The push buttons  35  protrude from the plug body  23 . A problem associated with the related art is that both push buttons  35  have to be simultaneously pressed in order to unlock the hooks  33 . Each hook  33  is separated from the stopping groove  15  to move into spaces  27  formed at both side surfaces of the insertion unit  25 . Accordingly, the insertion unit  25  may be removed by pressing both actuators  35  while pulling at the plug connector  21  at the same time.  
      Unfortunately, when a user does not press both actuators  35  with the same force or simultaneously, one or more of the hooks of locking lever  31  may not fully release from stopping grooves  15 . As a result, the plug connector  21  is not smoothly separated from the receptacle  13 . Thus, physical damage may occur in the hooks  33  and the stopping grooves  15 . This can cause serious problems with reliability and durability of the mobile terminal  10 .  
      As such, a solution to the above problem is needed.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
      To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a connector for connecting to a port of a mobile communication terminal comprising a housing having top, bottom, front, rear and first and second sides.  
      First and second elongated locking levers are longitudinally positioned inside the housing in a front to back direction and extend along the internal surfaces of the first and second sides of the housing respectively. Each of the first and second levers protrudes through at least a first opening in the front of the housing.  
      The front of the housing is configured to support a male coupling enclosed therein for mating with a female receptacle of a mobile communication terminal. The rear of the housing is configured to receive a cable electrically connected to the male coupling. The top of the housing provides a second opening to receive an actuator.  
      In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the actuator comprises a raised cap portion protruding upwardly through the second opening, and first and second wedges connected to the cap, the wedges extending downward toward the bottom of the housing to engage the first and second levers respectively, such that pressing on the actuator causes the first and second wedges to move downwardly and contact the first and second levers respectively in first and second regions.  
      The first and second regions face first and second internal sidewalls of the housing respectively. The first region comprises a first raised nipple and the second region comprises a second raised nipple. The first and second nipples respectively correspond to the first and second wedges, such that when the actuator is pressed, a terminal end of the first wedge contacts the first nipple and a terminal end of the second wedge contacts the second nipple.  
      In one embodiment, the first and second wedges respectively engage the first and second nipples. Downward force exerted on the actuator is transferred to the first and second nipples in a lateral direction by way of the first and second wedges respectively, thereby moving the first and second levers toward center of the housing.  
      The first and second levers respectively comprise first and second hook mechanisms at terminal end portions of the levers that protrude through the first opening. The hook mechanisms respectively engage first and second matching grooves in the receptacle to firmly couple the male coupling into the receptacle&#39;s opening.  
      In accordance with one embodiment, first and second levers have a biasing property such that when the first and second wedges respectively contact the first and second regions, the first and second levers bend toward each other. When pressure on the actuator is removed, the first and second levers responsively deflect away from each other.  
      When the pressure on the actuator is removed, the responsive deflection of the first and second levers away from each other pushes back the actuator in an upward direction by way of the first and second wedges. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second wedges contact the first and second regions almost simultaneously.  
      When pressure is applied on the actuator the downward force is transferred to laterally move the first and second hooks toward each other to thereby disengage the first and second hooks from the respective first and second grooves in an unlock state. When pressure is removed from the actuator, the deflection of the first and second levers away from each other engages the first and second hooks to first and second grooves respectively, in a lock state.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the actuator comprising the cap and the first and second wedges has a monolithic construction. In another preferred embodiment, the housing further comprises a first step disposed along the internal surface of the first side of the housing; and a second step disposed along the internal surface of the second side of the housing, wherein in an unlock state the first wedge is placed between the first nipple and the first step, and the second wedge is placed between the second nipple and the second step.  
      These and other embodiments of the present invention will also become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular embodiments disclosed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating receptacle and plug connector for a communication terminal according to related art.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an inner structure of the plug connector for the communication terminal according to related art.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating receptacle and plug connector for a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention,  
       FIG. 4  illustrates an inner structure of a plug connector for a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of the locking mechanism of the invention in accordance with one embodiment.  
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 7  is an operational view of a plug connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged view illustrating the release and locking mechanism of another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
      Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance with one or more embodiments of the system. Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a plug connector  100  for a mobile communication terminal  10  (e.g., a cellular phone, PDA, etc.) according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing  43  having male coupling (i.e., an insertion unit)  45  for insertion into a receptacle  13  of the communication terminal  10 . A locking mechanism is installed inside the housing  43  to lock the male coupling  45  in place when the male coupling  45  is plugged into the receptacle  14 .  
      In a preferred embodiment, the housing  43  comprises one or more elongated levers  51  (hereafter, first and second levers  51  by way of example) that extend along the internal opposite side surfaces of the housing  43  and protrude from an opening in the front portion of the housing  43  along the direction of protrusion of the male coupling  45  from the housing.  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the first and second levers  51  are inserted in the receptacle  13  along with the male coupling  45  to engage the plug connector  100  to the receptacle  13  in a locked state, and to disengage the plug connector  100  from the receptacle  14  in an unlock state, as provided in further detail below.  
      First and second levers  51  each have a fixed end connected inside the housing  43  and an opposite distal terminal end that extends along the internal side surface of the housing  43  to protrude outwardly from the opening in front of the housing  43 . The male coupling  45  is disposed in between the first and second levers  51 . First and second hooks  53  are respectively formed at first and second end portions of first and second levers  51 .  
      Preferably, first and second hooks  53  are configured to respectively engage first and second grooves  15  positioned at inner lateral surfaces of the receptacle  13 . The first and second levers  51  have biasing characteristics that allows the first and second levers  51  to flex when external force is applied to a mid-region thereof. The first and second levers  51  are preferably made of an elastic material such as memory wire made of stainless steel, rubber or plastic, for example.  
      In one embodiment, biasing members such as leaf springs are used to maintain the biasing force associated with the first and second levers  51 . The first and second hooks  53  engage (e.g., latch onto) the first and second grooves  15  of the receptacle  13  in a locked position and disengage from the first and second grooves  15  in an unlocked position, as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , the connector housing  100  comprises an actuator  61  partially protruding from a first opening defined on the top portion of the housing  43 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , in accordance with one embodiment, actuator  61  comprises a cap having a plurality of wedges (hereafter first and second wedges by way of example)  63  extending therefrom in a downward direction.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the actuator  61  is a push button or pressure sensitive mechanical apparatus in which pressure applied to a top portion of the apparatus is directly transferred to the first and second wedges  61  connected thereto in a downward direction with respect to the housing  43 . The cap and the wedges  61  may have a monolithic construction in an exemplary embodiment.  
      In accordance with one aspect of the invention, when pressure is applied to the actuator  61 , the downward force is directly applied to a region of each first and second levers  51  by way of the first and second wedges  63 , respectively. In a preferred embodiment, first and second respective regions of the first and second levers  51  may comprise first and second nipples  55 , wherein the first nipple corresponds to the first wedge and the second nipple corresponds to the second wedge, so that when pressure is applied to the actuator  61 , the first and second wedges  63  engage the first and second nipples  55 , respectively.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3, 4  and  6 , the actuator  61  is disposed in the housing  43  through an opening  44  defined, for example, on the top surface of the housing  43 . In a preferred embodiment, the first and second nipples  55  are respectively formed or disposed on a mid-section of the first and second levers  51 , opposite first and second steps  49 . A nipple  55  can be formed by way of, for example, pressing or punching to create a depression in one side and a protrusion on the other side of a lever  51 .  
      In accordance with one aspect of the invention, first and second steps  49  are respectively formed or positioned at the inner side surfaces of the housing  43  a certain distance from the first and second nipples  55 . The first and second steps  49  are configured to respectively guide the first and second wedges  63 , in a lock or unlock state, as further provided below.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, when pressure is applied to actuator  61  to unlock the connector housing  100  from the receptacle  14 , the terminal ends of the first and second wedges  63  are lodged in between the first nipple and the first step, and the second nipple and the second step, respectively. In this state (i.e., unlock state) the downward force is transferred in a lateral direction as a result of the first and second wedges  63  engaging the first and second nipples  55 , respectively. The lateral force applied to the first and second nipples  55  pressures the first and second levers  51  to move toward each other (i.e., toward the center of the housing  43  and away from the housing&#39;s  43  sidewalls).  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , the distance “d” between the first step and the respective first nipple is set preferably narrower than the thickness “D” of the first wedge. Same proportional measurements are applicable to second nipple and second wedge. In one embodiment, due to the biasing characteristic of the first and second levers  51 , when pressure from the actuator  61  is removed, a counter-pressure from the first and second levers  51  is applied against the first and second wedges  63  to drive the actuator  61  upward to its original position.  
      In one embodiment, the first and second nipples  55  have a curved design to gradually increase the application of pressure between the first and second nipples  55  and the respective first and second wedges  63 . In accordance with another embodiment, the terminal ends of the first and second wedges  63  are preferably tapered so that the terminal ends of the first and second wedges  63  form a relatively sharp point.  
      Accordingly, when the male coupling  45  of the plug connector  100  is inserted into the receptacle  13 , the first and second hooks  53  respectively formed at the terminal ends of the first and second levers  51  engage inner sidewalls of the receptacle  13 . When the first and second hooks  53  are completely inserted, each hook  53  is engaged with a respective groove  15  formed at an inner side of the receptacle  13  due to the biasing force of each lever  51 , in accordance with one aspect of the invention.  
      In a preferred embodiment, when the plug connector  100  is to be separated from the receptacle  13 , a user can press the actuator  61 . When the actuator  61  is pressed, the first and second wedges  63  move along the first and second steps  49 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . As a result, each of the first and second nipples  55  engages the respective first and second wedges  63 .  
      In a preferred embodiment, nipple  55  on each lever  51  is simultaneously engaged when pressure is applied to actuator  61 . Advantageously, this simultaneous engagement allows for easy and uninterrupted removal of the plug connector  100  from receptacle  14 .  
      The first and second levers  51  move inwardly due to said simultaneous engagement between the nipples  55  and wedges  63 . As a result, first and second hooks  53  are released from the grooves  15  of the receptacle  13  and move into the spaces  47  defined at both lateral surfaces of the male coupling  45  (see  FIG. 4 ).  
      The plug connector  100  may be drawn out to separate the male coupling  45  from the receptacle  13 . After drawing the plug connector  100  out, if no force is applied to the actuator  61 , both levers  51  and the actuator  61  return back to their original positions by the restoring biasing force of levers  51 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , in one embodiment, a protrusion  65  is formed at the lateral surface of a wedge  63 , and is configured to engage a nipple  55  on a lever  51 . Thus, when a user presses the actuator  61 , the nipple  55  engages protrusion  65 , thereby generating a ‘click’ sound, which the user can hear.  
      In the exemplary embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 8 , preferred embodiments of a plug connector  100  for a mobile communication terminal are provided. According to one preferred embodiment, one actuator  61  may be used so that the user can easily press the actuator  61  with one finger to simultaneously apply uniform force to levers  51 , thereby disengaging the plug connector  100  from the mobile terminal&#39;s receptacle  14 .  
      The embodiments described above are to be considered in all aspects as illustrative only and not restrictive in any manner. Thus, other exemplary embodiments, system architectures, platforms and implementations that can support various aspects of the invention may be utilized without departing from the essential characteristics described herein. These and various other adaptations and combinations of features of the embodiments disclosed are within the scope of the invention. The invention is defined by the claims and their full scope of equivalents.