Abstract:
An electrical interconnection device ( 100 ) includes a first connector ( 1 ), a second connector ( 2 ) electrically connected to the first connector via a number of wires ( 26 ); a hinge member ( 3 ) including a first engaging portion ( 30 ) connected with a second engaging portion ( 32 ), said first engaging portion fixed to the first connector, the second engaging portion pivoted with the second connector; and a positioning member ( 305 ) unitarily formed with the hinge member, said positioning member selectively engaged with corresponding positioning grooves ( 202 ) of the second connector while the first connector and the second connector rotated with respect to one another.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to an electrical interconnection device, and more particularly to an electrical interconnection device which has two connector members interconnected together and capable of swiveling with respect to one another. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    An electrical interconnection device is used for connecting two electronic devices. There are many different kinds of electrical interconnection devices, such as cable connector assembly and an electrical adapter. The cable connector assembly is mainly used for connecting two electronic devices relatively far away from each other; while the electrical adapter is utilized for connecting two electronic devices neighbored each other which usually have different I/O interfaces. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,957 issued to Kuo on Feb. 5, 2002 discloses a DVI electrical adapter for electrically connecting a monitor to a host computer having different interfaces. The electrical adapter includes a combined digital &amp; analog receptacle connector, a digital-only plug connector, two printed circuit boards joined between the plug connector and the receptacle connector, an insulative housing insert molded over a center of the electrical adapter and a pair of elongated fasteners. The elongated fasteners project through two sides of the insulative housing and include a first fixing end and a second fixing end. The second fixing end engages with nuts of a complementary receptacle connector mounted on the host computer. The first fixing end has a threaded recess accepting screws from a cable plug connector attached to the monitor. However, the receptacle connector and the plug connector of the aforementioned electrical adapter are not able to swivel with respect to one another, which may restrict usage of the electrical adapter in certain field. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,152 issued to Selker on Aug. 19, 1997 introduces a swivel plug. The plug is has male and female plug portions which pivot 180 degree, with respect to one another about a common pivot axis between first and second positions. A plurality of male and female electrical contact pairs slidably engage one another and pivot about the common pivot axis. Male and female bodies, which receive the electrical contact pairs, also pivot with respect to one another about the common pivot axis. The male and female bodies and the male and female electrical contact pairs are arranged in a novel relationship to mutually retain one other for the pivotal movement. The swivel plug eliminates the need for an electrical cord between an adapter of a laptop computer and a wall receptacle which has a downwardly located ground receptacle or a wall receptacle which has an upwardly located ground receptacle. The swivel plug also enables plugging a computer adapter or a typical extension cord into a receptacle where there is a rigid space constraint. However, as there is no stop means equipped in the swivel plug, a relation between the male portion and the female portion is uncontrollable. 
         [0007]    Hence, an improved electrical interconnection device is highly desired to overcome the aforementioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved swiveled electrical interconnection device. 
         [0009]    In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical interconnection device in accordance with the present invention comprises a first connector; a second connector electrically connected to the first connector via a number of wires; a hinge member including a first engaging portion connected with a second engaging portion, said first engaging portion fixed to the first connector, the second engaging portion pivoted with the second connector; and a positioning member unitarily formed with the hinge member, said positioning member selectively engaged with corresponding positioning grooves of the second connector while the first connector and the second connector rotated with respect to one another. 
         [0010]    Other objects, 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 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of an electrical interconnection device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a partially assembled, perspective view of the electrical interconnection device; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an assembled, perspective view of the electrical interconnection device; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a hinge member of the electrical interconnection device; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section view of  FIG. 5  taken along line  8 - 8 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section view of  FIG. 5  taken along line  9 - 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , an electrical interconnection device  100  in accordance with the present invention comprises a first connector  1 , a second connector  2  and a hinge member  3  linking the first connector  1  and the second connector  2 , a cover  4  partially enclosing the first and second connectors  1 ,  2 . 
         [0022]    The first connector  1  is compatible with Universal Serial Bus (USB) transmitting protocol, however, it can be other types connector. The first connector  1  includes an insulated housing  11  and a number of contacts  12  mounted to the insulated housing  11  and a metallic shell  13  enclosing the insulated housing  11 . 
         [0023]    The metallic shell  13  includes rectangular shaped body portion  130  and a U-shaped engagement portion  132  extending rearward from bottom side and lower sections of lateral sides of the body portion  130 . The engagement portion  132  has a bottom side  1320  and a pair of lateral sides  1321  extending upward from side edges of the bottom side  1320 . A pair of circular-shaped holes  1322  are defined in a front section of a bottom side  1320 . Two rectangular-shaped first retaining holes  1323  are defined in the front section of the bottom side  1320  and arranged outside of the holes  1322 . Each of the lateral sides  1321  further defines two rectangular-shaped second retaining holes  1324  along a front-to-rear direction, disposed adjacent to the first retaining holes  1323 . 
         [0024]    The second connector  2  is an Audio Plug connector, however, it can be other types connector. The second connector  2  includes a cylindrical-shaped base portion  20  and a mating portion  22  extending forwardly from the base portion  20 . Two cam portions  24  are arranged at lateral sides of the base portion  20 . A number of positioning grooves  202  are defined in a peripheral portion of the base portion  20  and adjacent to one of the cam portions  24 . The positioning grooves  202  are separated from one another around the base portion  20 . A number of wires  26  are connected to the mating portion  22  of the second connector  2  and further electrically connected to rear portions of the contacts  12 . 
         [0025]    The hinge member  3  is made of sheet metal and includes a first engaging portion  30  and a second engaging portion  32  connected to the first engaging portion  30 . The first engaging portion  30  includes a top side  301 , two lateral sides  302  extending downward from lateral edges of the top side  301 . An L-shaped arm portion  303  extends downwardly from a back edge of the top side  301 . A pair of stump portions  304  extend rearward from lateral sides of the top side  301 , being arranged aside the arm portion  303 . A positioning member  305  is unitarily formed on a free end of the arm portion  303  and projected rearward therefrom. Three circular holes  3011  are arranged to triangular shape and located in a middle section of the top side  301 . A pair of first tabs  3021  are formed on an each lateral side  302 . The second engaging portion  32  includes two ring-shaped coupling portions  321  connected to ends of the stump portions  304  and a substantially I-shaped (or H-shaped) bridging portion  322  connected to ends of the coupling portion  321 . The bridging portion  322  is under the arm portion  303 . A pair of second tabs  323  are located at rear ends of the bridging portion  322 . 
         [0026]    The cover  4  includes a first shield part  41  and a second shield part  42  holding the first and second connectors  1 ,  2 . 
         [0027]    The first shield part  41  includes a top wall  411 , a pair of transversal walls  412 ,  413 , and a rear wall  414  joined together to form a first receiving space  410 . The first shield part  41  further has a front outlet  415  and a back outlet  416  respectively communicating with the first receiving space  410 . Two first concave portions  4141  are respectively defined in an inner side of the rear wall  414  and located at lateral sides of the back outlet  416 , while two second concave portions  4142  are also defined in the inner side of the rear wall  414  and respectively disposed outside of the first concave portions  4141 . The first concave portions  4141  are deeper than the second concave portions  4142 . Both the first and second concave portions  4141 ,  4142  have curved interior surface. A first stopper  4111  is located in the first receiving space  410  and extends downwardly from an inner side of a rear portion of the top wall  411 . The first stopper  4111  has a curved back surface. Three first posts  4112  are located in the first receiving space  410  and formed on the inner side of the top wall  411 . The first posts  4112  are aligned in triangular-shape and disposed in front of the first stopper  4111 . 
         [0028]    The second shield part  42  includes a bottom wall  421 , a pair of transversal walls  422 ,  423 , and a rear wall  424  joined together to form a second receiving space  420 . The second shield part  42  further has a front outlet  425  and back outlet  426  respectively communicating with the second receiving space  420 . Two first concave portions  4241  are respectively defined in an inner side of the rear wall  424  and located at lateral sides of the back outlet  426 , while two second concave portions  4242  are also defined in the inner side of the rear wall  424  and respectively disposed outside of the first concave portions  4241 . The first concave portions  4241  are deeper than the second concave portions  4242 . Both the first and second concave portions  4241 ,  4242  have curved interior surface. A second stopper  4211  is located in the second receiving space  420  and extends upwardly from an inner side of a rear portion of the bottom wall  421 . The second stopper  4211  also has a curved back surface. Two second posts  4212  are located in the second receiving space  420  and formed on the inner side of the bottom wall  421 . The second posts  4212  are disposed in front of the second stopper  4211 . 
         [0029]    When assemble, the hinge member  3  is mounted to the first receiving space  410  of the first shield part  41 , with the top side  301  laid on the inner side of the top wall  411 , the first posts  4112  inserted through the holes  3011  in the top side  301 , the arm portion  303  located in front of a front surface of the first stopper  4111 , upper sections of the coupling portions  321  located in the second concave portions  4142 , thus the first engaging portion  30  of the hinge member  3  is securely engaged with the first shield part  41 . Secondly, the second connector  2  is assembled to the hinge member  3 , with the cam portions  24  held by the coupling portions  321 , an upper portion of the base portion  20  is located in the first concave portions  4141 , a back portion of the base portion  20  riding/relying against the back surface of the first stopper  4111 , the mating portion  22  extending out of the first shield part  41  via the back outlet  416 . Thirdly, the first connector  1  is fastened/fixed to the hinge member  3 , with the second tabs  323  locked into the first retaining holes  1323 , the first tabs  3021  locked into the second retaining holes  1324 . Thus, the first connector  1  is combined together with the hinge member  3 . Fourthly, the second shield part  42  is assembled to the first shield part  41 , with the second posts  4212  inserted into the holes  1322  in the bottom side  1320 , a middle section of the bridging portion  322  disposed between the second stopper  4211  and the second posts  4212 , lower sections of the coupling portions  321  located in the second concave portions  4242 , a lower section of the base portion  20  is located in the first concave portions  4241 , the back portion of the base portion  20  riding/relying against the rear surface of the second stopper  4211 . Retaining means, such as glue or rivets is utilized to combine the first and second shield part  41 ,  42  together. 
         [0030]    The cam portions  24  are pivotally engaged with the coupling portions  321  of the hinge member  3 , thus the second connector  2  and the first connector  1  are capable of swiveling with respect to one another. Furthermore, the positioning member  305  joggles or engages with the positioning grooves  202 , which have the second connector  2  angled stopping. By such arrangement, an orientation or position of the second contactor  2  may be selected, which is convenient for users. 
         [0031]    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 illustrated 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.