Patent Publication Number: US-7223574-B2

Title: Portable memory device with protective cap

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a portable memory device, and particularly to a portable memory device with a protective cap which can provide the memory device a good protection. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Please refer to FIG  9 , which is a schematic diagram of a conventional portable memory device. The portable memory device includes a case  15 , a universal serial bus (USB) interface  13 , and a cover  11  detachably connected to the case  15  to cover the USB interface  14 . 
     The case  15  of the above-described conventional portable memory device is internally provided with circuits for storing and transmitting computer data, and is electrically connected to the USB interface  13 , such that when the cover  11  is removed from the case  15  to expose the USB interface  13 , the USB interface  13  may be directly plugged into a USB connector provided on a computer to function like an externally connected hard disk drive to transmit or store data. When the USB interface  13  is unplugged, the portable memory device can be carried by a user to any other place or be connected to another computer. Therefore, the portable memory device is highly mobile and convenient for use. 
     The USB interface  13  of the above-described conventional portable memory device is connected to an end of the case  15 , and is protected by the cover  11  against uselessness resulted from collision, damage, distortion or deformation of the USB interface  13 . During usage, the cover  11  may be taken off from the case  15  and easily lost. Once the cover  11  is lost, the USB interface  13  is no longer suitably protected and tends to become damaged, failed, and unusable. 
     Hence, how to improve the disadvantage in prior art is the major discussion of the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable memory device with a protective cap to protect a USB port thereof. 
     In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a portable memory device with a protective cap firmly mated with a USB mating port is provided. The portable memory device comprises a memory unit with the USB mating port, a protective cap detachably mated with the USB mating port in a mating direction. The USB mating port comprises an outer metallic shell with an engagement portion defined therein. The cap comprises a case and a latching member in the case. The latching member defines a retaining portion thereon to engage with the engagement portion. The latching member is movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position in the mating direction to thereby engage/disengage the USB mating port with/from the protective cap. The retaining portion is brought into engagement with the engagement portion by inserting the USB mating port into the cap. Moreover, by detaching the USB mating port from the cap, the latching member moves to the disengaging portion where the engagement of the retaining portion with the engagement portion is released. Therefore, the USB mating port and the cap can be easily and firmly engaged with each other, and also this engagement can be easily released. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective schematic assembly view of a portable memory device with a protective cap in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  a partially exploded perspective schematic view of  FIG. 1 , showing a USB mating port of the portable memory device detached from the protective cap; 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , while taken from another aspect; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the protective cap shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the USB mating port detached from the protective cap; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , while taken from another aspect; 
         FIG. 6  is a partially enlarged sectional view of the protective cap taken along line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 2 , showing a position of a shell of the cap relative to the case of the cap when the USB mating port is detached from the protective cap; 
         FIG. 7  is a partially enlarged sectional view taken along line  7 — 7  of  FIG. 1 , showing a condition in which a retaining portion of the protective cap engages with an engagement portion of the USB mating port; 
         FIG. 8  is another partially enlarged sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 1 , showing a position relationship between the shell and the case when the USB mating port engages with the protective cap; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of a conventional portable memory device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1–4 , a portable memory device  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises a cartridge member  10 , a printed circuit board with a memory unit (not shown) received in the cartridge member  10 , a USB mating port  20  electrically connecting with the printed circuit board, and a protective cap  30  detachably mated with the USB connector  20 . 
     The cartridge member  10  extending in a longitudinal direction. One end of cartridge member  10  is provided with the USB mating port  20 . The USB mating port  20  may has a conventional structure, which includes a substantial rectangular tubular metal shell  21 , a mating set  22  received in the shell  21  and a plurality of contacts  40  arranged on the mating set  22  electrically connecting with the printed circuit board. The metal shell  21  defines a top wall  210  and a bottom wall  212 . Two pairs of through holes  211  are defined in the top wall  210  and bottom wall  212  symmetrically severing as an engagement portion engaging with the cap. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  in conjunction with  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the protective cap  30  includes a case  31 , a chamber  300  enclosed by the case  31 , a movable metallic shell  32  received in the chamber  316  and an protruded rear portion  33  engaged with the case  31  at a rear end  316  thereof. The case  31  is formed by injection molding of an insulative resin such as propylene, including a top wall  310 , a bottom wall  312 , a pair of opposite sidewalls  313  and a front mating end  314  with a mating opening  301  defined therein. The mating end  314  is opposite to the rear end  316  and faces to the USB mating port  20 . The rear end  316  is defined a rear opening  302 , therethrough receiving the protruded rear portion  33 . The protruded rear portion  33  includes a main body  330 , a pair of mounting portions  331  extending forwardly from two free ends of the main body  330  to engage with inner faces of the sidewalls  313  of the case  31 , a pair of locking portions  335  protruding forwardly from a central portion of upper and lower edges of the main body  330 , and a projection portion  332  extending rearwardly from the central portion of the main body  330 . The main body  330 , the pair of mounting portions  331  and the pair of locking portions  335  are all received in the case  31  through the rear opening  302 . The projection portion  332  is outside the case  31  with a through hole  333  defined therein for a string or a key ring passing through and tied, to facilitate user&#39;s carrying of the memory device  1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , inner surfaces of the top wall  310 , bottom wall  312  and sidewalls  313  of the case  31  are defined with a plurality of recessed passageways, named first passageways  311  defined in the top and bottom walls, second passageways  342  defined in the sidewall  313  and locking passageways  315  defined in the top and bottom walls  310 ,  312 . The first passageways  311  are in an arrangement that a pair of them is defined in the top wall  310  and another pair of them is defined in the bottom wall  312 , symmetrically. The second passageways  342  are in an arrangement that a pair of them is defined in the pair of sidewalls  313  respectively. The locking passageways  315  are a pair and each of them is between a pair of first passageways  311 . Besides, a pair of recesses  341  is defined in the inner surfaces of the pair of sidewalls  313 , respectively. The pair of recesses  341  is located behind the pair of second passageways  342  and they are in communication with each other in the longitudinal/mating direction. The recesses  341  are recessed into the sidewalls deeper than that referring to the second passageways  342 . The first passageways  311 , the second passageways  342 , the recesses  341  and the locking passageways  315  all extend in the mating direction. The recessed first passageways  311  and locking passageways  315  extend from the mating end  314  toward the rear end  316  and terminate near the rear end  316 , as clearly shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The second passageways  342  extend from a position near the mating end  314 , but not the mating end  314 , toward the rear end  316  and terminate near a middle portion of the case  30  in the mating direction direction, as clearly shown in  FIG. 6 . The recesses  341  extend rearwardly from a position where the second passageways terminate and terminate at the rear end  316  of the case  31 , as clearly shown in  FIG. 6 , too. 
     Both the recesses  341  and the second passageways  342  are defined with stopper portions  343 ,  345  at a front end thereof. Regarding the seconding passageways  342 , the stopper portions  345  thereof are formed as a step between the recessed passageways  342  and the case  31 . Similarly, as a result of that depth of the recessed recesses  341  is deeper than that of the second passageways  342 , the stopper portion  343  are formed between the second passageways  342  and the recesses  341  in a manner of step. As seen in  FIG. 6 , the stopper portions  345  are front ones, and the stopper portions  343  are rear ones. So, we name the stopper portion  345  as front stopper portion  345  and the stopper portions  343  as rear stopper portion  343 . 
     And besides, an disengaging member is provided on the sidewalls  313  and disposed near the rear end  316 , in this preferred embodiment, which is a pair of buttons  351  integrally molded with the case  31 . Each of the pair of buttons  351  includes a connecting portion  352  connecting with the sidewall  313  and an operation portion  353  formed at a free end thereof. The connecting portion  352  is inclined inwardly. The operation portion  353  is in a notch  350  defined in the sidewalls, thereby being spaced from the case  31  and touchable to be pressed inwardly into the recess  341 . 
     Now, a detailed description will be made to the movable metallic shell  32  received in the case  31 . The metallic shell  32  is formed by pressing an electrically-conductive thin sheet (made of copper, a copper alloy, an aluminum alloy or the like) into a generally rectangular tubular shape. With regard to  FIGS. 4–7 , the metallic shell  32  comprises a top wall  320 , a bottom wall  322  and a pair of opposite sidewalls  326  connecting the top and bottom walls  320 ,  322 . Each of the top and bottom walls  320 ,  322  defines a pair of inclined first spring arms  321 , according to the first passageways  311 , extending therefrom forwardly and outwardly at an acute angle to the walls  320 ,  322 . Each of the pair of sidewalls  326  defines a second slanting spring arm  327 , according to the second passageway  342 , extending therefrom forwardly and outwardly at an acute angle to the sidewalls  326 . The first spring arms  321  and the second spring arms  327  all are cantilever-like, as a result of forming a generally U-shaped groove through the walls by stamping such that these spring arms are connected to the walls (top wall  320 , bottom wall  322  and sidewalls  326 ) at its rear end in the USB mating port mating direction. 
     The spring arms  321  each have a slanting claw portion  324  stamped therefrom and projecting rearwardly and inwardly, as clearly shown in  FIG. 7 . Distal ends  323  of the spring arms  321  are smooth and slideable along the first passageways  311  with the movable metallic shell  321 . The second spring arms  327  each include a pressed portion  328  formed at distal ends thereof in a manner of being bent outwardly and rearwardly. Same to the distal ends  323  of the spring arms  321 , the pressed portions  328  are smooth and slideable along the second passageways  311  with the whole shell  32 . The second spring arms  327  can be pressed inwardly via the button  351  to press the pressed portions  328  thereof. 
     Two pairs of tabs  325  are stamped into interior of the shell  32  from the top and bottom walls  320 ,  322 , respectively. The two pairs of tabs  325  are disposed behind the two pairs of spring arms  321  and near a rear end of the shell  32  to engage with a distal end of the USB mating port  20  (described later). Besides, a pair of protrusions  329  extends forwardly from front end of the sidewalls  326  and then bent outwardly and rearwardly, as clearly shown in  FIG. 6 . The pair of protrusions  329  is smooth and slideable along the second passageways  311  with the movable metallic shell  32 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 4–8 , in assembly, the shell  32  is inserted into the case  31  through the rear opening  302  with the first and second spring arms  321 ,  327  respectively received and sliding in the first passageways  311  and the recesses  341 . The front stopper portions  345  can prevent a further inserting of the shell  32  into the case  31 . Then the rear portion  33  is also inserted into the case  31  through the rear opening  302  in a fixed manner, to seal the opening  302  and prevent the shell&#39;s rearward movement in case of moving out the case  31 . The pair of mounting portions  331  enters the recesses  341  and the locking portions  335  engages with the pair of locking passageways  315  in the top and bottom walls  310 ,  312  of the case  31 . The distal end of the locking portion  315  is in a manner of hook, thus the locking portions  335  are engaged with the locking passageways  315  firmly and ensure the shell  32  secured in the case  31 . The main body  330  is in the case  31  and is just matched with and seals the opening  302 . The projection portion  332  with the through hole  333  is outside the case  31  for facilitating user&#39;s carrying of the memory device  1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1–3  in conjunction with  FIGS. 7–8 , in use, the protective cap  30  is to receive and protect the USB mating port  20 . When being fitted into the cap  30  in the mating direction, first, the USB mating port  20  is fully accommodated in the tubular shell  32 , abutting against the tabs  325  of the metallic shell  32  of the cap  30  and the through holes  211  thereof confronting the claw portions  324  of the metallic shell  32  but free from each other. When the USB mating port  20  is further inserted, the metallic shell  32  is urged to move inwardly via the USB mating port  20  abutting against the tabs  325 , and meanwhile the spring arms  321 , the second spring arms  327  and the protrusions  329  all slide in their according passageways (the spring arms  321  in the first passageways  311 , the second spring arms  327  and the protrusions  329  in the second passageways  342 ). Further inserting of the USB port  20 , portions of the spring arms  321  behind the claw portions  324  slide outside their according passageways  311  and are resiliently deformed toward the USB mating port  20  as they are pressed by the inner walls of the case  30 , bringing the claw portions  324  into moving toward the through holes  211  of the USB mating port  20 . Eventually, the shell  32  arrives at an engaged position where the slant claw portions  324  enter the through holes  211  as a result of the inwardly resilient deformation of the spring arm  321 , as clear shown in  FIG. 7 , in a manner of a rear edge of the holes  211  being hold against the distal ends of the claw portions  324  to obstruct an outward movement of the USB mating port  20 . In this position, the metallic shell  32  is secured in the case  30  failing to slide in the case  31  (described below). Consequently, the USB mating port  20  is secured in the cap  30 . 
     When the USB mating port  20  and the metal shell  32  of the cap  30  are in the engaged position as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the main body  330  of the rear portion  33  can prevent a rearward movement of the metallic shell  32  resulted from a careless further inserting of the USB mating port  20 . The mating end  314  of the case  31  also prevents the further inserting of USB post via abutting against a front end of the chamber  10 . The second spring members are in the recesses  341  with the projected pressed portions  328  being obstructed by the rear stopper portions  343  (labeled in  FIG. 6 ). So the metal shell  32  is secured in the case  31  and engages with the USB mating port  20 . The movable metallic shell  32  cannot move forwordly unless the pressed portions  328  are pressed inwardly and out the recesses  341 . Clearly seen in the  FIG. 8 , the pressed portions  328  are near the operation portions  353  of the buttons  351  and can be pressed inwardly by the operation portions  353 . 
     Obviously, the USB mating port  20  is latched in the cap  30  via engagement of claw portions of first spring arms  321  of the shell  32  with the holes  211  or the like defined in the metal shell  21  of the USB mating port  20  and the engagement of the second spring arms  327  with the rear stopper portions  343 , that is to say, the shell  32  serves as a latching member, the first spring arms  321  with the claw portions  324  serve as a retaining portion, and the holes  211  defined in the metallic shell  21  of the USB mating port  20  serve as an engagement portion engaging with the retaining portion. 
     When it is desired to detach the USB mating port  20  from the cap  30 , users only need to urge the operation portions  353  of the disengaging member inwardly to press the pressed portions  328  to move inwardly and out the recesses  341 , and into the first the passageways  342  with the detaching USB mating port  20  via the rear edges of the holes  211  of the USB mating port  20  abutting against the claw portions  324  of the shell  32  as shown in  FIG. 7 . When further pull the USB mating port  20  in a direction away from the cap  30 , the spring arms  321 , the second spring arms  327  and the protrusions  329  all slide forwardly along their according passageways (the spring arms  321  in the first passageways  311 , the second spring arms  327  and the protrusions  329  in the second passageways  342 ). Meanwhile, the portions of the spring arms behind the claw portions  324  are resiliently restored toward its original condition. As a result, the claw portions  334  move away the through holes  211 . When the USB mating port  20  and the shell  32  arrives at a disengaged position, the spring arms  321  generally return to their original state and the claw portions  324  disengage from the holes  211  of the USB mating port  20 . Then, the USB mating port  20  is detached from the cap  30  freely. It is note that the front stopper portions  345  can obstruct a further outward movement of the metallic shell  32  with the detaching USB mating port  20 , as clearly shown in  FIG. 6 , by abutting against the pair of protrusions  329  formed at the front end of the sidewalls  326 . 
     As described above, in the portable memory device with protective cap of the present invention, the latching member with the retaining portion is provided at the cap, and the engagement portion is provided at the USB mating port, and when the USB mating port is inserted into the cap, the retaining portion is engaged with the engagement portion. Therefore, the cap and the USB mating port are engaged with each other without looseness, and even when vibration or an external force acts on the connector, the USB mating port is prevented from being detached from the cap, thus ensuring the USB mating port is protected regardless of the environment in which the connector is used. 
     Besides, in the above embodiment of the invention, the latching member is the shell accommodated in the cap, the retaining portion is the resilient claw portion formed at the spring arms of the shell in the cap, and the engagement portion is the hole defined in the metallic shell of the USB mating port, with this arrangement, the protective cap and the USB mating port can be positively and easily engaged with and disengaged from each other. 
     And besides, by inserting the USB mating port into the cap, the latching member moves to the engaged position and the retaining portion engages with the engagement portion, and by urging the disengaging member, the disengaging member presses the pressed portion of the latching member, thereby the latching member is in a condition allowing it moves to the disengaged position with the detaching USB mating port. In other words, the movement of the latching member to engage the retaining portion with the engagement portion accompanies the inserting movement of the USB mating port into the cap, and movement of the latching member so as to release the engagement of the retaining portion with the engagement portion accompanies the detaching the USB mating port from the cap, and therefore the USB mating port can be easily engaged with and detached from the cap. 
     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 illustrative 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. For example, a spring member can be optionally provided between the case and the latching member to constantly urge the latching member to be located in an unlocked position if the memory unit is detached from the cap.