Patent Publication Number: US-6991467-B1

Title: Adjustable electric adaptor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an electric adaptor. In particular, the present invention relates to an electric adaptor providing electrical connection between two electric appliances. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Various electric appliances such as computer displays, laptops (or notebooks), digital cameras, etc include a plurality of connecting ports to allow inter-electrical connection with one another by an electric adaptor. A typical electric adaptor includes two connectors respectively on two ends thereof for connecting with associated ports of two electric appliances. However, the connectors of the conventional electric adaptors are fixed, not allowing adjustment in response to the space in which the electric appliances are mounted. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an adjustable electric adaptor comprises a first connecting member, a second connecting member including an end pivotally connected to an inner end of the first connecting member, a first connector securely mounted in an outer end of the first connecting member, and a second connector including an electrically insulating housing. A tubular section extends from the electrically insulating housing and through a central hole of the second connecting member. The second connector is electrically connected to the first connector by a cable that extends through the tubular section. 
   The second connector is pivotable about a central axis of the central hole of the second connecting member relative to the first connector. The first connector and the second connector are pivotable relative to each other about an axis orthogonal to the central axis of the central hole of the second connecting member. 
   In an embodiment of the invention, each of the first connecting member and the second connecting member includes two half casings. The end of the second connecting member includes two pivotal sections each having a pin extending outward along a direction orthogonal to the tubular section. The inner end of the first connecting member includes two pivotal sections each having a pin hole through which an associated one of the pins extend. The first connecting member further includes two stepped holes respectively adjacent to the pin holes. A tightening ring is mounted around each pin and fittingly received in an associated one of the stepped holes. The first connecting member further includes two annular grooves respectively adjacent to the pin holes. Each pin includes an enlarged head on a distal end thereof. The enlarged head of each pin is fittingly received in an associated one of the annular grooves. 
   The tubular section includes a flange on a distal end thereof. The flange includes a protrusion. The second connecting member includes a stop, allowing rotation of the second connecting member relative to the first connecting member about the central axis of the tubular section until the protrusion abuts against the stop. 
   The first connector and the second connector are two USB connectors of different specifications. 
   Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adjustable electric adaptor in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view illustrating interior structure of the adjustable electric adaptor in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable electric adaptor in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the adjustable electric adaptor that is partly assembled. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the adjustable electric adaptor. 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , wherein a second connector of the adjustable electric adaptor is turned clockwise through 180 degrees. 
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , wherein the second connector of the adjustable electric adaptor is turned counterclockwise through 90 degrees. 
       FIG. 8  is a side view showing pivotal adjustment of a first connecting member relative to the second connector. 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of a modified embodiment of the adjustable electric adaptor. 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of another modified embodiment of the adjustable electric adaptor. 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of a further modified embodiment of the adjustable electric adaptor. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , an adjustable electric adaptor  101  in accordance with the present invention comprises a first connecting member  10 , a second connecting member  20 , a first connector  31 , and a second connector  32 . The first connecting member  10  includes an inner end pivotally connected to an inner end of the second connecting member  20 . The first connector  31  is mounted to an outer end of the first connecting member  10  and the second connector  32  is mounted to an outer end of the second connecting member  20 . 
   In this embodiment, the first connecting member  10  includes two half casings  11  and  12 , wherein the half casing  11  includes holes  19  and the half casing  12  includes pegs  18  for engaging with the holes  19 , thereby assembling the half casings  11  and  12  together. Similarly, the second connecting member  20  includes two half casings  21  and  22 , wherein the half casing  21  includes holes  29  and the half casing  22  includes pegs  28  for engaging with the holes  29 , thereby assembling the half casings  21  and  22  together. After assembly, the first connecting member  10  includes an inner space and an opening  17  in the outer end thereof. The second connecting member  20  includes a central hole  27 . 
   The inner end of the first connecting member  10  includes two pivotal sections  13  on two sides thereof and the inner end of the second connecting member  20  includes two pivotal sections  23  on two sides thereof. Each pivotal section  23  of the second connecting member  20  includes a pin  24  extending through a pin hole  14  in an associated pivotal section  13 . A tightening ring  25  is mounted around each pin  24  and fittingly received in an associated stepped hole  15  adjacent to an associated pin hole  14 . Thus, the first connecting member  10  and the second connecting member  20  may pivot relative to each other while having a retaining effect therebetween. 
   The first and second connectors  31  and  32  are USB connectors of different specifications. Further, the first connector  31  and the second connector  32  are interconnected by a cable  33  so that a coupling end of each of the first and the second connectors  31  and  32  faces outward. The first connector  31  is mounted in the inner space of the first connecting member  10 . An electrically insulating housing  34  is formed on an end of the second connector  32  and a tubular section  35  extends from an end face of the electrically insulating housing  34  through the central hole  27  of the second connecting member  20 . The cable  33  extends through the tubular section  35 . 
   In assembly, the tubular section  35  of the second connector  32  is received in the central hole  27  of the half casings  21  and  22  that are subsequently bonded together by supersonic welding, as shown in  FIG. 4 . A tightening ring  25  is mounted around each pin  24  of the second connector  20 , as mentioned above. In a preferred embodiment, an enlarged head  26  is formed on a distal end of each pin  24  at a position adjacent to a distal end of the tubular section  35 , preventing the first connecting member  10  from being disengaged from the second connecting member  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the enlarged head  26  on the distal end of each pin  24  is fittingly received in an annular groove  16  adjacent to the associated pin hole  14 . 
   The pivotal sections  13  and the pin holes  14  of the half casings  11  and  12  together receive pins  24  of the second connecting member  20 , with the first connector  31  being positioned in the inner space of the first connecting member  10 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the pins  24  of the second connecting member  20  are pivotally received in the pin holes  14  of the first connecting member  10 , with the tightening rings  25  tightly received in the stepped holes  15  adjacent to the pin holes  14 . 
   The second connector  32  is rotatable about a central axis of the tubular section  35  that is coincident with a central axis of the central hole  27  of the second connecting member  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the tubular section  35  includes a flange  36  with a protrusion  37 , and the second connecting member  20  includes a stop  271  adjacent to the central hole  27 . The flange  36  prevents the second connector  32  from being disengaged from the second connecting member  20 . Further, rotational movement of the tubular section  35  (i.e., the whole second connector  32 ) relative to the first connector  31  is limited by the stop  27 . More specifically, the tubular section  35  can be turned from a position shown in  FIG. 5  through 180 degrees in a clockwise direction until the protrusion  37  of the tubular section  35  is stopped by the stop  271 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Further, the tubular section  35  can be turned from a position shown in  FIG. 6  through 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction until the protrusion  37  of the tubular section  35  is stopped by the stop  271 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . This avoids damage to the cable  33  resulting from excessive rotation of the second connector  32 . 
   Further, the first connecting member  10  and the second connecting member  20  can be pivoted through 180 degrees relative to each other, allowing adjustment of relative angular position therebetween. In other words, the first connector  31  and the second connector  32  can be pivoted relative to each other through 180 degrees about an axis orthogonal to the central axis of the tubular section  35 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     FIGS. 9 through 11  illustrate adjustable electric adaptors  102 ,  103 , and  104  for coupling two connectors of different specifications. 
   Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.