Abstract:
A collapsible socket connector includes a base retaining a plurality of contacts therein and a cover pivotally attached to the base and movable with respect thereto between a closed position where the cover shields the contacts and an open position where the contacts are exposed and a space is defined between the base and the cover for receiving a mating plug connector therein whereby the contacts electrically engage with conductive elements of the plug connector.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a socket connector, and in particular, to a collapsible socket connector for reducing the space occupied thereby when not in use. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     Electrical connectors are used to establish electrical connection between electronic devices and elements. The trend of miniaturization of the electronics industry requires an electronic product to accommodate a high density of connectors for providing expanded functions. Thus, an efficient use of space within the electronic product must be promoted. A collapsible structure provides an effective means to reduce the space occupied by a connector when the connector is not in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible socket connector having a cover pivotally attached to a base whereby the cover is movable between a closed position and an open position for reducing the space occupied by the connector when not in use. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible socket connector having a cover pivotally attached to a base whereby the cover is movable between a closed position and an open position, contact elements being fully retained in the base at the closed position thereby protecting the contact elements from oxidation and corrosion. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible socket connector having a cover pivotally attached to a base whereby the cover is movable between a closed position and an open position, a space being defined between the cover and the base at the open position for receiving a plug connector whereby electrical connection may be established between the socket connector and the plug connector. 
     To achieve the above objects, a collapsible socket connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a base retaining a plurality of contacts therein and a cover pivotally attached to the base. The cover is movable with respect to the base between a closed position where the cover shields the contacts and an open position where the contacts are exposed and a space is defined between the base and the cover for receiving a mating plug connector therein whereby the contacts electrical engage with conductive elements of the plug connector. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a bottom exploded view of a collapsible socket connector constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top exploded view of the collapsible socket connector; 
     FIG. 3A is a side elevational view of the assembled collapsible socket connector mounted to a circuit board, the socket connector being at a closed position; 
     FIG. 3B is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 3A showing the socket connector at an open position; 
     FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the collapsible socket connector at the open position before a mating plug connector engages therewith; 
     FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the collapsible socket connector after the plug connector engages therewith; and 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the collapsible socket connector mounted to a casing of an electronic device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, a collapsible socket connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 2 defining a cavity 25 therein exposed to a top face 21 thereof. A plurality of channels 251 are formed in communication with the cavity 25. The base 2 has a rear wall 230 defining a slot 231 therein in communication with the cavity 25 for receiving a contact module 4. 
     The contact module 4 comprises a number of contacts 41 fixed in a spacer 42. Each contact 41 has a mounting end section 412 and a mating end section 411 respectively extending beyond opposite faces of the spacer 42. The spacer 42 is inserted into the slot 231 and has a rib 421 engaging with an edge of an inner face of the cavity 25 for retaining the spacer 42 in the slot 231. The mating end sections 411 of the contacts 41 extend through the cavity 25 and are received in the channels 251. The mating end sections 411 form an arcuate portion for engaging with contacts (not shown) of a mating plug connector 6 (FIGS. 4A and 4B). 
     The base 2 defines a pair of pivot holes 24 therein exposed to opposite side faces 20 of the base 2. Each side face 21 also has a projection 26 formed thereon. 
     A cover 3 comprises two spaced side walls 30 defining an interior space 31 therebetween. Each side wall 30 has an inside face 301 on which a trunnion 321 is formed extending into the interior space 31. The trunnions 321 are received in the corresponding pivot holes 24 of the base 2 thereby rendering the cover 3pivotable about the trunnions 321 with respect to the base 2 between a closed position (FIG. 3A) and an open position (FIG. 3B). The cover 3 may be provided with grooves 34 on an outer surface thereof for facilitating the manual pivotal movement of the cover 3. 
     At the closed position, the base 2 is received in the interior space 31 of the cover 3 whereby the base 2 and the mating end sections 411 of the contacts 41 are enclosed by the cover 3 and the interior space 31 of the cover 3 is enclosed by the base 2. At the open position, the cover 3 is pivoted away from the base 2 thereby exposing the mating end sections 411 of the contacts 4 and the interior space 31 of the cover 3. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a space is defined between the base 2 and the cover 3 at the open position and the space, including the interior space 31 of the cover 3, is large enough to receive the mating plug connector 6 thereby forming electrical engagement between the mating end sections 411 of the contacts 41 and the contacts of the mating connector 6. 
     The collapsible structure of the socket connector 1 of the present invention allows the socket connector 1 to occupy a smaller amount of space when the plug connector 6 is removed and the socket connector 1 is not in use. Thus, an efficient use of space is promoted within an electronic device in which the connector is mounted. Furthermore, by closing the cover 3 after the plug connector 6 is removed, the contacts 41 are shielded and separated from the external environment thereby protecting the contacts 41 from oxidation and corrosion. 
     Each side wall 30 of the cover 3 defines a hole 331 therein exposed to the inside face 301 thereof. The holes 331 corresponds to the projections 26 of the base 2 and snappingly engage therewith for retaining the cover 3 at the closed position with respect to the base 2. Preferably, a recess 33 is defined on the inside face 301 of each side wall 30 and the hole 331 is defined in the recess 33. 
     The base 2 has a bottom face 22 on which two positioning pins 28 are formed. The positioning pins 28 are inserted into holes 51 defined in a circuit board 5 for properly positioning the connector 1 on the circuit board 5 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The base 2 is positioned on the circuit board 5 whereby the mounting end sections 412 of the contacts 41 electrically engage with the circuit board 5. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the base 2 further comprises a dovetailed tenon 27 engageable with a dovetailed mortise 71 defined in a casing 7 of an electronic device for fixing the connector 1 to the casing 7. The casing 7 may further define a recess 72 for accommodating the mounting end sections 412 of the contacts 41 therein. Wires or a flexible printed circuit board 8 extend into the recess 72 for electrically engaging with the mounting end sections 412 of the contacts 41 and connecting the connector 1 to the printed circuit board 5 via another connector 52 mounted on the circuit board 5. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.