Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to an adjustable locking device, and more particularly to an adjustable locking device that is applied to connectors for transmitting electronic signals. The locking device can enhance the connection between the connector and the connection port by adjusting the relative position of the locking device therebetween. 
   The development of information technology and computer industry has resulted in an overwhelming use of electrical connectors. The electrical connectors are often used to extend the range that signals or power are transmitted. However, after some plugging in and out of the connectors, the connection of which is often loosen, giving rise to an interruption of signal transmission. This is even worse for connectors used for wobbling peripheral devices, such as a printer, photocopier, or computer system on a vehicle. In order to solve this problem, a locking device is added to the connector, so as to prevent the connector from loosening away from the connection port. Therefore, to provide a connector that can securely and rapidly be fastened to the connection port is one import issue to address. 
   Conventional connector locking device shown in  FIG. 1  includes a connector  10   a  and a connection port  20   a . A rectangular protrusive ear  11   a  is formed at two sides of the connector  10   a . A hole  12   a  is formed at the central portion of the protrusive ear  11   a . Correspondingly, a screw hole  21   a  is formed at two sides of the connection port  20   a . The screw hole  21   a  is so formed corresponding to the position of the hole  12   a , thereby providing a screw  22   a  to penetrate therethrough and securely fastening the connector  10   a  with the connection port  20   a . However, the employment of a screw requires more efforts in the assembling and disassembling process. This is particularly inconvenient for those connectors that require frequent plugging in and out (e.g. for performance benchmark.) In addition, the connectors described above are lack of damp proof function. The terminals of the connectors are easily oxidated due to the atmospheric humidity, thereby largely reducing the life of the connectors. 
   Therefore, the inventors of the present invention devoted themselves, based on their many years of practical experiences, in developing a new connector that can solve those and other problems set forth above. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is to provide an adjustable locking device, which can move within the connection portion of the main body, so as to adjust the position of the locking device, thereby enhancing the connection tightness between the main body and the connection port. 
   In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the adjustable locking device of the present invention includes: a main body having a connection portion formed thereon; at least a link structure with one end thereof being connected to the connection portion of the main body, the link structure including a link element and an adjusting element connected to the link element; and at least a buckling device pivotally connected to the link element of the link structure, the buckling device including an actuating element and a buckling element, the actuating element and the buckling element being mutually connected, thereby achieving the objectives as set forth above. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional connector locking device. 
       FIG. 2  is an explosive view of a locking device in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the locking device in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the usage of the locking device in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the usage of the locking device in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is an explosive view of a locking device in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the locking device in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is an explosive view of a locking device in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the locking device in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In order to better understanding the features and technical contents of the present invention, the present invention is hereinafter described in detail by incorporating with the accompanying drawings. However, the accompanying drawings are only for the convenience of illustration and description, no limitation is intended thereto. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , an explosive view and a perspective view of an adjustable locking device in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. The adjustable locking device can be applied to a connector for transmitting electronic signals or to a lock of luggage bag. In this particular embodiment, the locking device is applied to a connector. The connector includes a main body  10 , at least a link structure  20  and at least an actuating device  30 . 
   The main body  10  can be a power plug, an IEEE394 connector, a RJ-45 connector, a D-SUB connector, a RCA jack, a phone jack or an S terminal. In this particular embodiment, the main body  10  is a D-SUB connector and is in a rectangular shape, which includes a connection port  11 , and a conductor portion  12 . The connection port  11  is extended from the front portion of the main body  10 , which includes a plurality of contact terminals disposed therein. A circular concave groove  111  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) is formed at the outer periphery of the contact terminals. The concave grooves  111  provide a damp proof ring pad  13  to be inserted therein. A conductor portion  12  is disposed on the other end of the connection port  11  of the main body  10 . In addition, two semi-circular protrusive ears  14  are formed extending from the left and right sides of the main body  10 . A through hole  15  is formed on each of the protrusive ears  14 . Furthermore, a sag region  18  is formed on the two protrusive ears  14  at the same side, where in this particular embodiment, the sag region  18  and the two protrusive ears  14  forming a connection portion  16  of the main body  10 . 
   The link structure  20  can be appreciated as a single set or a double set structure being connected to the main body  10 . In this particular embodiment, the link structure  20  is of a double set structure. The link structure  20  includes a link element  21  and an adjusting element  22 . One end of the link element  21  can be connected to the connection portion  16  of the main body  10 . A horizontally arranged penetrating hole  211  and a groove hole  212  communicable with the penetrating hole  211  are formed on the link element  21 . The groove hole  212  provides a fastening element, such as a nut, to be disposed therein, while the penetrating hole  211  provides the adjusting element  22  to penetrate therethrough. In this particular embodiment, the adjusting element  22  is a screw, which penetrates through the through hole  15  of the main body  10 , the penetrating hole  211  of the link element  21 , the nut, and another through hole  15  of the main body  10 . The link element  21  is thus fastened in the sag region  18  of the connection portion  16  mentioned above. Moreover, vertically arranged hole  213  is formed on the link element  21 . A locking hook  214  is formed extending from one end of the link element  21 . 
   The actuating device  30  can also be appreciated as a single set or a double set structure that is pivotally connected to the link element  21  described above. Should the actuating device  30  be a single set structure, the other end is then a fixed connection device (not shown). In this particular embodiment, the actuating device  30  is of a double set structure. The actuating device  30  includes a actuating element  31  and a buckling element  32 . The actuating element  31  is made of a metallic plate, which is directly curved into a U shape. A first through hole  311  and a second through hole  312  are formed on the plate of opposite ends. The first through hole  311  corresponds the hole  213  of the link element  21  for penetrating therethrough a shaft  33 , thereby pivotally connecting the link element  21  and the actuating element  31  together. The second through hole  312  provides the buckling element  32  to be pivotally connected. The buckling element  32  is made of a curved metallic wire, forming a rectangular frame that includes an opening end  321  and a closed end  322 . It is appreciated that the buckling element  32  can also be of semi-circular, triangular, trapezoidal or other geometrical shapes. A cylindrical shaft  323  is formed on each of the upper and lower opening ends  321  of the buckling element  32 . The cylindrical shaft  323  penetrates through the second through hole  312  of the actuating element. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the usage of the locking device in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. Referring also to  FIG. 6 , the sectional view of  FIG. 5  is illustrated. The combination of those elements set forth above provides the main body  10  to plug into a connection port  40 . The connection port  40  includes a socket  41  at the central portion thereof for inserting therein the main body  10 . A buckling hook  42  is formed at each of the left and right sides of the socket  41 . The buckling hooks  42  connect the closed end  322  of the locking element  32 . When using the locking device, the connection port  11  of the connector  10  is first disposed into the socket  41  of the connection port  40 . Then, turning the actuating element  31  at two sides of the actuating device for the buckling element  32  to move forward. The closed end  322  of the buckling element  32  is then buckled on the corresponding buckling hook  42  of the connection port  40 . By turning the actuating element  31  backward about the shaft  33  and pressing the locking hook  214  of the link element  21  at the outer periphery end of the actuating element  31 , the connector main body  10  and the connection port  40  can then securely fastened and combined. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , a perspective view and a sectional view of the locking device in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The connection portion  16 ′ of the connector main body  10 ′ is composed of a rectangular guiding hole  161  and two guiding tracks  162  outside of the guiding hole  161 . Two guiding grooves  215  are formed on the link element  21 ′. The guiding grooves  215  cooperate with the guiding track  162  of the connection portion  16 ′ so as to dispose one end of the link element  21 ′ into the guiding hole  161  of the connection portion  16 ′. 
   Referring to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , a perspective view and a sectional view of the locking device in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. The connection portion  16 ″ of the connector main body  10 ″ is composed of a rectangular guiding hole  161 , two guiding tracks  162  outside of the guiding hole  161 , and a vertical hole  17  communicable with the guiding hole  161 . A plurality of zigzag grooves  171  is formed at the top periphery of the vertical hole  17 . Two protrusive bulks  216  are formed at one side of the link element  21 ″. A concave groove  217  is formed between the two protrusive bulks. The concave groove  217  is formed corresponding the vertical hole  17  of the connector main body  10 ″, and providing an adjusting element  22 ″ to penetrate therethrough. In this particular embodiment, the adjusting element is an eccentric shaft. A protrusive point  221  is formed at the top end of the adjusting element  22 ″. The protrusive point  221  can be disposed in the zigzag groove  171  of the vertical hole  17 . By rotating the adjusting element  22 ″, one can control the link element  21 ″ to move forward and backward. 
   In summary, the locking device of the present invention indeed satisfies the utility, novelty and non-obviousness requirement of the patent law, a grant of letters patent is thus respectfully requested. 
   However, since any person having ordinary skill in the art may readily find various equivalent alterations or modifications in light of the features as disclosed above, it is appreciated that the scope of the present invention is defined in the following claims. Therefore, all such equivalent alterations or modifications without departing from the subject matter as set forth in the following claims is considered within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Technology Category: 5