Patent Publication Number: US-7909629-B2

Title: Computer device with retractable connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/254,893, entitled “Computer Device With Retractable Connector,” filed Oct. 20, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Computer devices, such as laptop or notebook computers, have connectors located along the periphery of the computer device to enable a variety of types of external components to be connected to the computer device. However, during transport of the computer device or storage of the computer device within a computer case, the external device connected to the computer is susceptible to damage (e.g., from inadvertent contact of the external device with other structures). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a computer device having a retractable connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a section view of a portion of the computer device of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the retractable connector in a non-retracted position; and 
         FIG. 2   b  is a section view of a portion of the computer device of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the retractable connector in a retracted position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention and the advantages thereof are best understood by referring to  FIGS. 1-2   b  of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a computer device  10  having a retractable connector  12  in accordance with the present invention. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , computer device  10  comprises a laptop or notebook computer comprising a display member  16  rotatably coupled to a base member  18 . However, it should be understood that computer device  10  may comprise any type of computer device such as, but not limited to, a desktop computer, a tablet personal computer, a handheld computing device, or any other type of portable or non-portable computer device. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , base member  18  comprises a housing  20  having a front surface  22 , a rear surface  24 , a working surface  26 , a bottom surface  28  and a pair of side surfaces  30  and  32 . In  FIG. 1 , a single retractable connector  12  is illustrated disposed on side surface  30 . However, it should be understood that a greater number of retractable connectors  12  may be provided on surface  30  and/or on any other surface of base member  16  (e.g., surfaces  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  and/or  32 ). Additionally or alternatively, retractable connector  12  may be disposed on any surface of a housing  33  of display member  16 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , retractable connector  12  comprises a connector element  34 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , connector element  34  comprises a universal serial bus (“USB”) connector. However, it should be understood that connector element  34  may comprise any type of connector element configured to be communicatively coupled to an external device  38 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , external device  38  comprises a USB key  40  (e.g., for storing data and/or otherwise providing a security function). USB key  40  comprises a connector element  41  configured to cooperate with connector element  34  to communicatively couple USB key  40  to computer device  10 . It should be understood that external device  38  may comprise other types of external devices such as, but not limited to, security locks, wireless antennas, and wireless mouse and/or keyboard sensors. In operation, connector  12  is retractable into at least a portion of housing  20  to enable a particular external device  38  (e.g., USB key  40 ) connected to computer device  10  to be at least partially or fully inserted within housing  20  into a flush condition with an external surface of housing  20 , thereby minimizing and/or substantially eliminating the likelihood of potential damage to the external device  38 . As used herein, “flush” shall mean flush or substantially flush with another surface. 
       FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are partial section views of computer device  10  taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  illustrating retractable connector  12  operable between an extended or non-retracted and a retracted position, respectively. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , retractable connector  12  is moveably and/or retractably coupled to housing  20 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , retractable connector  12  comprises a plunger assembly  39  having a biasing mechanism  42  (e.g., a spring or other type of biasing element) disposed about a plunger rod  43 , and a tray  44  coupled to connector element  34 . Communicative coupling of connector element  34  to internal circuitry of computer device  10  may be provided using a variety of methods or devices such as, but not limited to, a flexible and/or retractable cable, engagement of a portion of connector element  34  with another internally disposed connector element, or otherwise. Referring to  FIG. 2   a , biasing mechanism  42  biases connector element  34  toward an opening  48  of surface  30  such that, in a non-retracted or extended position of connector  12 , connector element  34  is disposed flush with surface  30 . Referring to  FIG. 2   b , plunger assembly  41  retracts inwardly into housing  20  such that when external device  38  is connected to connector element  34  and external device  38 /connector element  34  are pushed inwardly in the direction indicated by  64 , external device  38  is disposed flush with surface  30 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , a locking mechanism  50  is configured to releasably secure retractable connector  12  in at least two different positions relative to housing  20 : 1) in the extended position ( FIG. 2   a ) to facilitate engagement of external device  38  with connector element  34 ; and 2) in a retracted position to maintain external device  38  positioned flush with surface  30 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , locking mechanism  50  comprises a movable latch  52  having an end  53  accessible through housing  20  via an opening  54  in housing  20 , a pair of ribs  56  and  58  disposed on a movable latch  52 , and one or more biasing mechanisms  60  (e.g., springs or another type of biasing element). It should be understood that other configurations of locking mechanism  50  may be used to maintain retractable connector  12  in the extended and retracted positions. 
     In operation, biasing mechanisms  60  exert a force on latch  52  toward plunger assembly  39  to facilitate engagement of rib  58  with tray  44  when retractable connector  12  is in the extended position ( FIG. 2   a ), and to facilitate engagement of rib  56  with tray  44  when retractable connector  12  is in the retracted position ( FIG. 2   b ). As illustrated in  FIG. 2   a , when retractable connector  12  is disposed in the extended position, rib  58  frictionally engages rear surface  62  of tray  44  to resist retraction of retractable connector  12  into housing  20  while external device  38  is being connected to connector element  34 . After connection of external device  38  with connector element  34 , a force F may be applied to external device  38  to overcome the frictional engagement of rib  58  with rear surface  62  of tray  44  to enable retraction of connector  12  and, correspondingly, insertion of external device  38 , into housing  20 . The force F causes movement of connector element  34  and external device  38  in the direction indicated by arrow  64 , thereby to compress biasing mechanism  42 . In the retracted position, rib  56  engages a front surface  66  of tray  44  to lock or releasably secure connector  12  in the retracted position ( FIG. 2   b ). As illustrated in  FIG. 2   b , USB key  40  is connected to connector element  34  and disposed within housing  20  so that an end  68  of USB key  40  is disposed flush with surface  30  of computer device  10 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , retractable connector  12  is releasable from the retracted position to the extended position by exerting a force on end  53  of latch  52  to slide end  53  of latch  52  in the direction indicated by arrow  70 , thereby separating and/or disengaging rib  56  from front surface  66  of tray  44 . The stored energy in the compressed biasing mechanism  44  acts on tray  44  to move tray  44  in a direction opposite direction  64  to the extended position. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , a stop member  80  is disposed on plunger rod  43  to maintain connector  12  in a substantially fixed position relative to housing  20  to facilitate disengagement of external device  38  from connector  12  and to prevent connector  12  from being overextended relative to housing  20 . However, it should be understood that other methods or devices may be used to prevent connector  12  from overextending relative to housing  20  and/or facilitating disengagement of external device  38  from connector  12 . 
     Thus, embodiments of the present invention enable a external device  38  to be couplable to a retractable connector  12  such that connector  12  and a portion or an entirety of external device  38  are disposed within housing  20 , thereby substantially preventing damage to external device  38  and/or computer device  10  while external device  38  is coupled to computer device  10 . However, it should be understood that, in some embodiments of the present invention, external device  38  may protrude from surface  30  when connector  12  is completely retracted.