Patent Publication Number: US-9843133-B2

Title: Connector retention features for reduced wear

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional of U.S. provisional patent applications 61/942,585, filed Feb. 20, 2014, and 61/944,547, filed Feb. 25, 2014, which are incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The amount of data transferred between electronic devices has grown tremendously the last several years. Large amounts of audio, streaming video, text, and other types of data content are now regularly transferred among desktop and portable computers, media devices, handheld media devices, displays, storage devices, and other types of electronic devices. Power supply voltages and ground may be transferred with this data. 
     Power and data may be conveyed over cables that may include wire conductors, fiber optic cables, or some combination of these or other conductors. Cable assemblies may include a connector insert at each end of a cable, though other cable assemblies may be connected or tethered to an electronic device in a dedicated manner. The connector inserts may be inserted into receptacles in the communicating electronic devices. 
     It may be desirable that a connector insert not accidently disconnect from a connector receptacle during device operation. For example, during a large data transfer, if a connector insert disconnects from a connector receptacle, the transfer may become corrupted. This may require a transfer restart thereby costing a user time and may diminish the user&#39;s opinion of the electronic devices involved. 
     Unfortunately, these retention features may wear or mar one or more surfaces on a corresponding connector. That is, retention features on one surface may repeatedly engage a surface on a corresponding connector. This repeated engagement may diminish the appearance of the corresponding connector, and may eventually cause damage or reduced functionality to the corresponding connector and the device or cable that it is part of. This may be particularly undesirable where a connector insert on a cable may wear or mar a connector receptacle on a device. Retention features that wear or mar a connector receptacle on the electronic device may cause the electronic device to appear prematurely obsolete or dated and may diminish a user&#39;s enjoyment of the device. 
     Thus, what is needed are inserts, receptacles, and apparatus for connector systems that have retention features that wear or mar corresponding connectors to a reduced degree. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide inserts, receptacles, and apparatus for connector systems that have retention features that wear or mar corresponding connectors to a reduced degree. 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present invention may provide a connector insert having latches, bayonets, or similar structures as retention features. This connector insert may include these latches, bayonets, or similar structures on one or more sides or other portions of the connector insert. These bayonets may be located inside of a connector insert when the connector insert is being inserted into a receptacle, thereby reducing wear and marring of the receptacle. The bayonets may extend from the connector insert when the connector insert is inserted into the connector receptacle to secure the connector insert in place in the connector receptacle. The bayonets may engage corresponding retention features in the connector receptacle, thereby reducing the chances of an inadvertent disconnection. When the bayonets are located inside the connector insert, the connector insert may be in a first state, while when the bayonets extend beyond the connector insert, the connector insert may be in a second state. The connector insert may retain state in either the first or second state in the absence of a user applied force. 
     In a specific embodiment of the present invention, a plunger may extend beyond an end of the connector insert when in the connector insert is in the first state. When the plunger is depressed into the connector insert, the connector insert may change state from the first state to be second state. 
     For example, when the connector insert is inserted into a connector receptacle, the plunger may be extended, and the connector insert may be in the first state. In this first state, the bayonets are inside the connector insert and are not exposed. Therefore, the bayonets do not wear or mar the connector receptacle during insertion. As the connector insert is inserted, the plunger may engage a back of a connector receptacle. This engagement may depress the plunger, thereby moving the connector insert from a first state to a second state. In this second state, the bayonets extend outside of the connector insert, and may engage surfaces in the connector receptacle. The engagement between the bayonets and surfaces in the connector receptacle may provide a retention force and may reduce the likelihood of an inadvertent extraction. 
     As the connector insert is extracted, a user may apply a force to one or more sides of a housing. This may cause the bayonets to be depressed and move inside the connectors insert. This may disengage the bayonets from the surfaces in the connector receptacle and allow the connector insert to be removed. The force applied to one or more sides of the housing may further also cause or allow the plunger to move such that it is extended beyond an end of the connector insert. As the connector insert is removed in this way, the connector insert returns to the first state from the second state. 
     In normal operation, as the connector insert is inserted, the plunger may be depressed when it encounters a rear of a connector receptacle. However, since this plunger is exposed, it may be depressed by a user, either purposefully or inadvertently before the connector insert is inserted. This may put the connector insert in a second state, even though it is not inserted into a connector receptacle. When the connector insert is in the second state and is inserted into the connector receptacle, the bayonets may engage sides of the connector receptacle. However, since this is likely only an occasional occurrence, wear and marring on the connector receptacle is at least reduced by the incorporation of embodiments of the present invention. 
     In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the plunger may be spring biased such that the plunger is extended when a user applies force to one or more sides of the connector insert housing. That is, the plunger is pushed by the spring to extend beyond an end of the connector insert when the user applied force is exerted. Each bayonet may be connected to an arm. The arms may be connected together to form a retention feature, or they may be separate. Either or both arms may include an opening. The plunger may include one or more pins, each pin aligned to an opening in the arms or retention feature. The pins may be in a first location in the opening when a connector insert is in a first state, while the pins may be in a second location in the opening when the connector insert is in a second state. 
     In these examples, wear and marring of a connector receptacle may be reduced by employing bayonets that remain inside a connector insert until a connector insert is inserted in to the connector receptacle. In other embodiments of the present invention, retention features in a connector receptacle may engage surfaces in one or more openings on a connector insert. This may transfer the wear and marring from the connector receptacle to the connector insert, which may be of less concern to a user. In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the connector insert may include a connector insert portion having side openings. The connector insert portion may be attached to a housing having one or more side buttons or other movable or flexible portion. During insertion, retention features in a connector receptacle may engage the side openings, thereby securing the connector insert in place in the connector receptacle. During removal, a user may push one or more buttons. This action may push the retention features in the connector receptacle out of the side openings, thereby allowing the removal of the connector insert. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may be used in connector inserts and receptacles for cables that may connect to various types of devices, such as portable computing devices, tablets, desktop computers, laptops, all-in-one computers, cell phones, smart phones, media phones, storage devices, portable media players, navigation systems, monitors, power supplies, adapters, and chargers, and other devices. These connector inserts may provide pathways for signals and power compliant with various standards such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), power, Ethernet, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, Lightning and other types of standard and non-standard interfaces. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention may incorporate one or more of these and the other features described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-section of a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention where the connector insert is in a first state; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up of a portion of a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention where the connector insert is transitioning between a first state and a second state; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the connector insert is in a second state; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the insertion of a connector insert into a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the extraction of a connector insert from a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates another connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a connector insert having additional wear protection according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a connector insert having additional wear protection according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates another connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a close-up view of a portion of a connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention and 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the connector insert is secured to a user and inserted into an electronic device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-section of a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention where the connector insert is in a first state. This figure, as with the other included figures, is shown for illustrative purposes and does not limit either the possible embodiments of the present invention or the claims. 
     This connector insert may include an insert portion  110  having a top surface  112  and a bottom surface (not shown.) The top  112  and bottom surfaces may each provide support or locations for a number of contacts to mate with corresponding contacts in a corresponding connector receptacle. 
     Retention feature  130  may include two arms, each terminating in a latch, bayonet, or similar structure. Bayonets  134  may be inside insert portion  110  when a connector insert is in a first state, while bayonets  134  may extend beyond an outside surface of connector insert portion  110  when the connector insert is in a second state. 
     This connector inserts may further include plunger  120 . Plunger  120  may extend beyond an edge of connector insert portion  110  when a connector insert is in the first state. When the connector insert is inserted into a connector receptacle, plunger  120  may be depressed and pushed into connector insert portion  110 , thereby moving the connector insert into a second state. Plunger  120  may be spring biased by spring  140 . Spring  140  may push plunger  120  upward as shown beyond an end of connector insert portion  110  when the connector insert is in the first state. Spring  140  may be held in place by tabs  122  on plunger  120  and  136  on the retention feature  130 . 
     Plunger  120  may include one or more pins  124 . These pins may be in different locations in opening  132  on retention feature  130  when the connector insert is in the first and second state. That is, they may be in a first location when the connector insert is in the first state and they may be in a second location when the connector insert is in the second state. They may pass through a third position when transitioning between the first and second states. 
     In the figure as shown, pins  124  may be located near a top of openings  132 , that is, they may be in the first location. Spring  140  may apply a force to ensure that plunger  120  extends beyond an end of connector insert portion  110  and that the pins  124  remain in the first position in openings  132 . This may maintain pins  124  in this location in openings  132  in retention feature  130 . This first state may be stable in the connector insert may remain in this position in the absence of any user applied force. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up of a portion of a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, pins  124  located on plunger  120  are located in a first position in openings  132  of retention feature  130 . Pins  124  may be stamped, molded, or otherwise formed with the plunger  120 . In other embodiments of the present invention, pins  124  may be separately formed and attached, soldered, or otherwise fixed to plunger  120 . 
     As plunger  120  is depressed, for example by engaging a rear of a connector receptacle, pins  124  may be pushed down towards a bottom of opening  132 . An example of this is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention where the connector insert is transitioning from a first state to a second state. In this figure, plunger  120  has been depressed to an edge of connector insert portion  110 . Each pin  124  has been moved to a bottom of openings  132  (the third position) and spring  140  is depressed. When the connector insert is in this position, a pre-bias force between the arms of retention feature  130  act to push the arms away from each other. This may expose the bayonets such that they may engage surfaces in a connector receptacle. This second state is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the connector insert is in a second state. In this second state, bayonets  134  may extend beyond a surface of connector insert portion  110 . Again, the pre-bias force between the arms of retention feature  130  acts to push the arms away from each other. This lateral movement may be limited by the size of a bottom portion of opening  132  in retention feature  130 . Specifically, the arms of retention feature  130  may move outward until sides of openings  132  in retention feature  130  engage pins  124 . In this second position, spring  140  may remain compressed and plunger  120  may remain depressed. Bayonets  134  may remain exposed where they may engage surfaces in a connector receptacle to secure the connector insert in place in a connector receptacle. 
     In various circumstances, plunger  120  may be depressed not by the back of a connector receptacle, but by a user or other surface. In this situation, it may be desirable to insert the connector insert into a receptacle while the connector insert is in this second state. While this connector insert is in the second state, bayonets  134  may engage surfaces of a connector receptacle during insertion. This may cause some wear and marring in the connector receptacle. However, since this is not the typical use, the wear and marring of the connector receptacle may be reduced by the incorporation of embodiments of the present invention. 
     To extract the connector insert when it is in this second state, a user may press on an outside of housing  150 , thereby pushing arms of retention feature  130  together. That is, a force may be applied by a user to retention feature  130  to overcome the pre-bias of retention feature  130  that keeps the two arms apart. In various embodiment of the present invention, the outside of housing  150  may include one or more pliable portions or surfaces such that a user may apply this force to retention feature  130 . As the arms of retention feature  130  approach each other, pins  124  may move back to the third position in openings  132 . This may allow plunger  120 , which is pushed by spring  140 , to move upwards as shown such that plunger  120  extends beyond inset portion  110 , thereby returning the connector insert to the first state as shown above. 
     An example illustrating the insertion of a connector insert is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the insertion of a connector insert into a connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, plunger  120  initially extends beyond an end of connector insert portion  110 . As the connector insert is inserted into connector receptacle  510 , plunger  120  may encounter a back of receptacle  512 . This may depress plunger  120 . The depression of the plunger  120  may allow bayonets  134  to extend beyond a surface of connector insert portion  110 . Bayonets  134  may then engage corresponding surfaces and connector receptacle  510 , thereby holding a connector insert in place in connector receptacle  510 . 
     Again, the connector insert may be extracted when a user applies a lateral force through a housing of the connector insert and extract the connector insert. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the extraction of a connector insert from connector receptacle  510  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Again, a user may apply a lateral force to one or more sides of housing  150  of connector insert. This may force arms of retention feature  130  to move closer together, thereby moving bayonets  134  inside of connector insert portion  110 . Spring  140  may force plunger to move upward as shown such that it extends beyond an end of connector insert portion  110 . 
     In various embodiment of the present invention, these springs, retention features, plungers, and others component may be formed in various ways. For example, spring  140  may be formed as part of plunger  120 . An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates another connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a spring for a plunger is formed as part of plunger  710 . This and other springs may be included and used to provide additional force to push arms of retention feature  130  away from each other, either to replace or supplement a pre-biasing. In still other embodiments, the retention feature and spring, spring and plunger, plunger and retention feature, or spring, retention feature, and plunger may be formed together as a unit or separately. These may be formed by stamping, machining, 3-D printing, metal-injection molding, or other technique. 
     In various embodiment of the present invention, other features may be included to further reduce marring and wear of a connector receptacle. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a connector insert having additional wear protection according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, layer or shield  810  may be formed around a bayonet  134 . Shield  810  may be a coating, layer, or boot-type object formed of plastic, resin, rubber, or other appropriate non or limited-marring material. While layer or shield  810  is shown on only one bayonet  134 , such layer or shields  810  may be located on some of all of the bayonets  134  on a connector insert. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a connector insert having additional wear protection according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, shield  810  is shown on both bayonets. 
     In the above examples, wear and marring of a connector receptacle may be reduced by employing bayonets that remain inside a connector insert until a connector insert is inserted in to the connector receptacle. In other embodiments of the present invention, retention features in a connector receptacle may engage surfaces in one or more openings on a connector insert. This configuration may transfer the wear and marring from the connector receptacle to the connector insert, which may be of less concern to a user. An example is shown in the following figure. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a connector system according to another embodiment of the present invention. The connector insert may include a connector insert portion  1010  having side openings  1012 . Connector insert portion  1010  may have contacts to mate with contacts in connector receptacle  1020  and may be attached to connector housing  1050 . Connector housing  1050  may include one or more side buttons or other movable or flexible portion  1090 . 
     During insertion, retention features in a connector receptacle may engage side openings  1012 , thereby securing the connector insert in place in the connector receptacle. During removal, a user may push one or more buttons  1090 . This action may push the retention features in the connector receptacle out of side openings  1012 , thereby allowing the removal of the connector insert. 
     More specifically, the connector insert may include two arms  1030  held together by connecting portion  1032 . Connector portion  1032  may be held in place by pivot point  1052 . Connector receptacle  1020  may include retention bracket  1022  having retention hooks  1024 . 
     When the connector insert is inserted into receptacle  1020 , retention hooks  1024  may engage connector insert portion  1010 . The engagement of connector insert portion  1010  by the sloped leading edges of retention hooks  1024  may cause retention hooks  1024  to move in an outward direction. As retention hooks  1024  engage side opening  1012  on the connector insert portion  1010 , retention hooks  1024  may enter side openings  1012  and engage surface  1014  of side opening  1012 . This engagement may secure the connector insert in place in connector receptacle  1020 . 
     During extraction of the connector insert, a user may apply a lateral force one or more buttons or other surfaces  1090 . This may apply an inward force on portion  1036  of arms  1030 . This inward force may be translated by pivot point  1052  to an outward force at portion  1034  of arms  1030 . This outward force may act to move retention hooks  1024  out of side openings  1012  in connector insert portion  1010 . At this time, the connector insert may be removed. 
     In this configuration, while retention hooks  1024  may engage and wear surfaces on the connector insert, connector receptacle  1020  and the electronic device housing connector receptacle  1020  should remain substantially free of wear and marring. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a close-up view of a portion of a connector system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, an inside edge of retention hooks  1024  engage surfaces  1014  of side opening  1012  to secure the connector insert in place in connector receptacle  1020 . Portion  1034  of arm  1030  may act to push retention hook  1024  out of side opening  1012  during removal of the connector insert. During insertion, retention hooks  1024  may be pushed laterally outward until they reach side opening  1012 . At that point, retention hooks  1024  may enter side openings  1012  and engage surface  1014 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the connector insert is secured to a user and inserted into an electronic device. Specifically, connector insert  1210  may be inserted in portable electronic device  1220 . Wrist strap  1230  may be attached to connector insert  1210  and may wrap around a user&#39;s wrist. This arrangement may help prevent portable electronic device  1220  from being dropped. Specifically, if user loses a grip on portable electronic device  1220 , wrist strap  1230  and connector insert  1210  may prevent portable electronic device  1220  from hitting the ground. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, wrist strap  1230  may be replaced or supplemented by a lanyard, clips, pins, clip with retractable cord, or other device. Portable electronic device may be a portable computing device, tablet, laptop, cell phone, smart phone, media phone, storage device, portable media player, or other electronic device. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may also be used to enhance security. For example, a connector insert according to an embodiment of the present invention may be used where an electronic device may be accessible to third parties, such as in a retail or office environment. Since such a third party cannot simply pull the connector insert to remove it, locking features provide by the connector insert may dissuade the third party from a theft attempt. 
     The above description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form described, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.