Patent Publication Number: US-2009221188-A1

Title: Connector and port thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to connectors, and more particularly to a connector that includes a plug and a port. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Most electrical connectors connects two electrical/electronic (hereinafter electrical) devices for data communication or power transfer between the two electrical devices. Most connectors include two parts, a “male” part and a “female” part or sometimes called a “plug” and a “port”. For example, an audio connector includes a port and a plug. The port is the part that is mechanically mounted on the audio player and is electrically coupled to an electric circuitry of the audio player. The plug is electrically connected to an earphone via a transmission line and is capable of being inserted in the port to establish an electrical connection between the plug and the port. Thus, data can be transmitted from the audio player to the earphone. However, some plugs may be easily disconnected or disengaged from the port and the user must reconnect the plug and port. This is an inconvenience. 
     Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector comprising a plug and a port in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a status view of the connector of  FIG. 1  with the plug inserted in the port. 
         FIG. 3  is a status view of the connector of  FIG. 1  with the plug screwed and locked in the port. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a connector in accordance with a second embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a connector in accordance with a third embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector  100  in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure. The connector  100  includes a port  10  and a plug  20 . The plug  20  is inserted in the port  10  and rotated to be locked. The connector  100  further includes a securing mechanism for detachably fixing the plug to the port. The securing mechanism includes a locking portion and an engagement portion respectively defined on the plug  20  and the port  10 . 
     The port  10  comprises a main body  11  and a receiving portion  13  that protrude from the main body  11 . The receiving portion  13  defines a receiving hole  131  for detachably receiving the plug  20 . The receiving hole  131  is cylindrical in shape. The receiving portion  13  defines the locking portion that includes two notches  135  and a groove  137  in an inner surface  133  of the receiving portion  13 . 
     Each of the two notches  135  extends in parallel to an axial direction of the receiving portion  13  from an opening in the port  10  and communicates with the groove  137 . 
     The groove  137  is defined in the inner surface  133  of the receiving portion  13  and extends along a circumferential direction of the receiving portion  13  that is perpendicular to the axial direction of the receiving portion  13 . A length of the groove  137  may be a whole or a part of an inner circle of the receiving portion  13 . 
     Two indicators  139  are defined on an outer surface of the receiving portion  13 , for indicating the positions of the two notches  135  correspondingly. The indicators  139  are protrusions that protrude from the outer surface of the receiving portion  13 . 
     The plug  20  includes a cylindrical holding portion  21  and a cylindrical joining portion  23  fixed to the holding portion  21 . The joining portion  23  is configured to be inserted in the receiving hole  131  and be electrically coupled to the port  10 . The engagement portion is formed on the plug  20 , for engaging with the notch  135 . The engagement portion is a protrusion  231  that protrudes from an outer surface of the joining portion  23 . The dimensions of the protrusion  231  are equal to that of the notch  135 . 
     In use, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the joining portion  23  is inserted in the receiving hole  131 , with the protrusion  231  sliding along the notch  135  and in the groove  137 . After the protrusion  231  reaches the groove  137 , the protrusion  231  is rotated along with the plug  20  to be received in the groove  137 . Accordingly, the plug  20  is firmly fixed to the port  10 , and is prevented from inadvertently being disengaged from the port  10 . 
     An indicator  211  is defined on the holding portion  21 , for indicating the position of the protrusion  231  when the plug  20  is inserted in the port  10 . The indicator  211  is a protrusion that protrudes from the outer surface of the holding portion  21 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the number of notches  135  and protrusions  231  may vary with the requirements of the designers, as such, some connectors may have one, two, or three notches, the number of notches  135  is equal to the number of protrusions  231 . The number of indicators  139  is equal to the number of notches  135 , and the number of the indicators  211  is equal to the number of protrusions  231 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, 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.