Abstract:
This invention relates to a connector socket structure, including a main socket structure, two terminal bases, two USB terminals, two eSATA terminals, one first fixing cap, one RJ45 networking unit, one second fixing cap, one rear shell and one front shell, so as to provide a rigid structure for RJ45 networking function and to enable two individual multi-purpose sockets which simultaneously fit standard USB2.0, USB3.0 and eSATA three-in-one connection.

Description:
PRIOR ART 
       [0001]    Accordingly, prior application of eSATA (External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) interface is used as a connection with an external hard drive. It provides an efficient and quick data transferring rate between 40 MB and 70 MB per second depending on the different specification of hard drive. And, the USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a standard connection interface that allows the external devices and the computer connected without reconfiguring the entire system. The computer will automatically recognize those peripheral devices and assign drivers to boot them without any reset procedure from the computer user. The USB 2.0 interface had been applied in mouse, printer, sound card . . . , etc. at a data transferring rate up to 480 MB per second. Furthermore, the USB 3.0 interface works at a is higher rate and is scheduled to put into the market in the very near future. However, different peripheral with individual specification of interface has to be connected with specialized socket which can not fit the others. The computer manufacturer and/or its supplier have to provide their products with different specification of sockets to connect each peripheral with USB2.0, USB3.0 or eSATA interface. Though, there is certain connector structure can provide above-mentioned three-in-one connection. The insertion mode is not the same as its prior normal operation. That three-in-one socket might need to be connected with an up-side-down insertion which is different from the standard specification. It could confuse the users and lead to damage both to the connector and the socket structure. Obviously, the prior connector socket structure still can&#39;t comply with the user&#39;s requirements. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a connector socket structure. With the combination of a main socket structure, two terminal bases, two USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminals, two eSATA (External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) terminals, one first fixing cap, one RJ45 networking unit, one second fixing cap, one rear cap and one front shell, the present invention puts all three standard USB2.0, USB3.0 and eSATA connection into one socket with the same insertion mode and direction of connector. The present invention minimizes the entire volume of connectors and enhances the total function and convenience of prior three connectors. 
         [0003]    Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a connector socket structure equipping with at least a light-guiding post in the second lateral holding space of the main socket structure. The lower side of each light-guiding post is installed with a corresponding LED (Light Emitting Diode) extended with two pins passing through the second fixing cap. The front shell sets up light-guiding gaps corresponding to mentioned at least one light-guiding post to enable color light indication from LED to show the working status which definitely increases the operational convenience of the present invention. 
         [0004]    Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a connector socket structure, by setting each dovetail rabbet of protruding parts in both sides of each terminal base to fit dovetail block located at both sides of each first lateral holding space inside the main socket structure, to form corresponsive upper and lower sliding stoppers at both sides of each first lateral holding space inside the main socket structure to block both upper and lower front stoppers at fore end of protruding part at each side of terminal base and to prevent it from moving ahead and ensure the whole joint structure firmly fixed. And, there is at least one stopping hook formed at the lower side of each first lateral holding space inside the main socket structure to block the holding rabbet at the lower rear of terminal base and prevent it moving backward. Also, those five terminal rabbets located at the upper side of each terminal base extend forward until the lower front and form each slanting space to fit those corresponding five forward crooked bending pins in slanting shape among the eSATA terminals. Besides, the front end of both side pins of eSATA terminals are formed into sloping parts to embed in both walls of front ends of terminal rabbets at upper sides of terminal base. Meanwhile, both side pins in the mid of eSATA terminals are shaped as barbs to firmly stab into the terminal base. Furthermore, there is an extension plate formed at the top of each first lateral holding space of the is main socket structure, and the rear part of those five upward bending pins of each eSATA terminals are set over the terminal base to limit that extension plate which firmly presses and seize up those five upward bending pins. Besides, both sides of those four bending pins in the USB terminals are also shaped as barbs to firmly stab into the terminal base to increase the strength and stability of the socket structure. 
         [0005]    Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a connector socket structure which equips a fastener combination between lateral hooks at both lower sides of the first and the second fixing caps and protruding hooks at the lower inner sides of the main socket structure. Then, the plural extension parts in the first and the second fixing caps firmly joint the lower inner sides of the main socket structure. There are holding parts set each side at the back of the vertical holding space to guard the second fixing cap. Furthermore, the lower inner side of the first fixing cap is formed as a serial rabbet to match the lower part of the main socket structure to guide those four USB bending terminals passing through. After that, there are three sets of pins holes (seven holes, four holes and seven holes in straight) serially set at the bottom side of the first fixing cap for eSATA and USB bending pins passing through. Extended from the bottom of the second fixing cap are ten terminals which provide the normal operation of RJ45 interface and the power for the transformer in the RJ45 networking unit. There are another four pins extended at the very rear side of the second fixing cap installed for the power of two light-guiding LEDs. 
         [0006]    One more purpose of the present invention is to provide a connector socket structure which a plural of folding plates are processed at the rim of the front shell. And, a plural of punctures are manufactured over those folding plates. Accordingly, a plural of folding piece are processed at the rim of the rear shell to assemble with those punctures in the front shell. There are also a plural of elastic parts formed in the front shell. And, a plural of fixing feet are set at the bottom of the rear shell. 
         [0007]    To achieve above-mentioned purposes, the present invention provides a connector socket structure which comprising a main socket structure, two terminal bases, two USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminals, two eSATA (External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) terminals, one first fixing cap, one RJ45 networking unit, one second fixing cap, one rear cap and one front shell to offer dual sockets with three standard connector function (USB2.0, USB3.0 and eSATA) plus a stability enhanced RJ45 networking unit for computer related application. 
         [0008]    To enable a further understanding of the said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, the brief description of the drawings below is followed by the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a three-dimensional appearance of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a three-dimensional element decomposition view of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates another three-dimensional element decomposition view of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates the enlarged three-dimensional element decomposition view of the terminal base, USB terminals and eSATA terminals of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates another enlarged three-dimensional element decomposition view of the terminal base, USB terminals and eSATA terminals of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates an assembled front view of the  FIG. 4 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates an A-A schematic cross-section view of the  FIG. 6 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates an assembled front view of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates a B-B schematic cross-section view of the  FIG. 8 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates a C-C schematic cross-section view of the  FIG. 8   
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates an assembled side view of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  illustrates a D-D schematic cross-section view of the  FIG. 11 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  illustrates an assembled upward view of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    The present invention relates to a connector socket structure (please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 13 ), which primarily includes: 
         [0023]    a main socket structure  10 , wherein the main socket structure  10  consists of two first lateral holding space  11 , one second lateral holding space  15  and one vertical holding space  12 ; 
         [0024]    two terminal bases  20 , wherein two terminals bases  20  are separately assembled from backward to forward inside two first lateral holding space  11  to form a multi-purpose socket  13  (combining with an USB2.0, an USB 3.0 and an eSATA terminals), and there are four holes  21  passing through fore and aft with corresponding four terminal rabbets  22  formed at the lower side of each terminal base  20 , both ends at the upper side of the terminal base  20  containing one terminal rabbet  23 , and there are another five terminal rabbets  24  lying between these two ones and leading forward is to the lower front of the terminal base  20 ; 
         [0025]    two USB terminals  30 , wherein the four bending pins  31  of each USB terminal  30  passing through those four holes  21  and firmly fixed inside the terminal rabbets  22  at the lower side of each terminal base  20  to provide USB 2.0 connection; 
         [0026]    two eSATA terminals  40 , wherein each of the two bending pins  41  installed in the side terminal rabbets  23  and five forward crooked ones (bending pins  42 ) are installed into those corresponding terminal rabbets  24  and extended until the lower front of the terminal base  20 , meanwhile, two bending pins  41  and five bending pins  42  with front hooks  421  play the function of eSATA connector, and, the front lower contact points of those five bending pins  42  are also shared as the common terminals together with said the four bending pins  31  (totally nine terminals) to work as the connector of SB 3.0; 
         [0027]    a first fixing cap  50 , which is installed upward from the lower and fit into the vertical holding space  12  of the main socket structure  10 , and allowing the bending pins  31 ,  41 ,  42  of those two USB terminals  30  and two eSATA terminals  40  to extend through the other side; 
         [0028]    a RJ45 networking unit  60 , which is assembled from backward to forward to fit in the second holding space  15  of the main socket structure  10 , and the RJ45 networking unit  60  consists of a circuit board  61 , a transformer  62 , a pair of grounding parts  63 , eight RJ45 bending pins  64  and ten terminals, and under such a combination, the transformer  62  and the grounding parts  63  are installed in the circuit board  61  with ten terminals  65  installed at the rear, two of those ten terminals  65  are connected for power and the others (terminals  65 ) are for the networking function; 
         [0029]    a second fixing cap  70 , which is assembled upward from the lower to is insert into the vertical holding space  12  of the main socket structure  10 , and allows said ten terminals  65  of the RJ45 networking unit  60  to pass through from the other side; 
         [0030]    a rear shell  80 , which is installed at the back side of the main socket structure  10  and have a contact with a pair of grounding parts  63 ; and 
         [0031]    a front shell  90 , which is installed at the front of the main socket structure  10  and is mutual combined with the rear shell  80 . 
         [0032]    In addition, the second lateral holding space  15  of the main socket structure  10  installs at least a light-guiding post  100  with a LED  101  at its lower side, and two pins  102  extended from the LED  101  passing through the second fixing cap  70 , and at least one light-guiding gap  94  in the front shell  90  to show the working status which will increase the operational convenience of the present invention. 
         [0033]    And, each dovetail rabbet  251  of protruding parts  25  is set in both sides of each terminal base  20  to fit dovetail block  111  located at both sides of each first lateral holding space  11  inside the main socket structure  10 , to form corresponsive upper and lower sliding stoppers  112  at both sides of each first lateral holding space  11  and block both upper and lower front stoppers  252  at fore end of protruding part  25  at each side of terminal base  20  and to prevent it from moving ahead and ensure the whole joint structure firmly fixed. 
         [0034]    And, there is at least one stopping hook  113  formed at the lower side of each first lateral holding space  11  inside the main socket structure  10  to block the holding rabbet  26  at the lower rear of terminal base  20  and prevent it moving backward. 
         [0035]    Those five terminal rabbets  24  located at the upper side of each terminal base  20  extend forward until the lower front hooks  421  and form is each slanting space  241  to fit those corresponding five forward crooked bending pins  42  in slanting shape among the eSATA terminals  40 . Besides, the front end of both side bending pins  41  of eSATA terminals  40  are formed into sloping parts  411  to embed in both walls of front ends of terminal rabbets  23  at upper sides of each terminal base  20 . Meanwhile, both side bending pins  41  in the mid of eSATA terminals  40  are shaped as barbs  412  to firmly stab into the terminal base  20 . Furthermore, there is an extension plate  114  formed at the top of each first lateral holding space  11  of the main socket structure  10 , and the rear part of those five upward bending pins  42  of each eSATA terminals  40  are set over the terminal base  20  to limit that extension plate  114  which firmly presses and seize up those five upward bending pins  42 . Besides, both sides of those four bending pins  31  in the USB terminals  30  are also shaped as barbs  311  to firmly stab into the terminal base  20  to increase the strength and stability of the socket structure. 
         [0036]    Also, the present invention presents a fastener combination between the lateral hooks  51  at both lower sides of the first and the second fixing caps  50 ,  70  and protruding hooks  121  at the lower inner sides of the main socket structure  10 . Then, the plural extension parts  52  in the first and the second fixing caps  50 ,  70  firmly joint the lower inner sides of the main socket structure  10 . There are holding parts  123  set each side at the back of the vertical holding space  12  to guard the second fixing cap  70 . 
         [0037]    Furthermore, the lower inner side of the first fixing cap  50  is formed as a serial rabbet  53  to match the lower part of the main socket structure  10  to guide those four USB bending pins  31  passing through. After that, there are three sets of pin holes  54  (seven holes, four holes and seven holes in straight) serially set at the bottom side of the first fixing cap  50  for eSATA and USB bending pins  31 ,  41 ,  42  passing through. Extended from the bottom of the second fixing cap  70  are ten terminals  65  which provide the normal operation of RJ45 interface and the power for the transformer  62  with a filtering circuit (not shown in the figure) in the RJ45 networking unit  60 . There are another four pins extended at the very rear side of the second fixing cap  70  installed for the power of two light-guiding LEDs  101 . 
         [0038]    Last, there are a plural of folding plates  91  are processed at the rim of the front shell  90 . And, a plural of punctures  92  are manufactured over those folding plates  91 . Accordingly, a plural of folding piece  81  are processed at the rim of the rear shell  80  to assemble with those punctures  92  in the front shell  90 . There are also a plural of elastic parts  93  formed in the front shell  90 . And, a plural of fixing feet  82  are set at the bottom of the rear shell  80 . 
         [0039]    In short, from the description related to the structure and hardware elements mentioned above, the present invention provides a multi-purpose connector which affords to work for RJ45 internet connection and USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and eSATA simultaneously. 
         [0040]    It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 
         [0041]    What is claimed is: