Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Communication ports are widely used to transmit data between electronic devices. For instance, universal serial bus (USB) ports are frequently used to transmit data between digital cameras and personal computers. A port used in this environment has minimal risk of exposure to contaminates such as dirt, dust, and moisture, which can reduce the effectiveness of the connection between the port and the electronic device, or alternatively, render the port completely inoperable. However, with the proliferation of portable electronic devices, there is an increased need for communication ports located outside a consumer&#39;s home where there is an increased risk for collecting contaminates inside an open communication port. 
         [0002]    One known method for preventing exposure to contaminates is to provide a door or cover over the opening of the port. In most cases, however, existing port covers are actively employed, meaning that the user must manually remove the cover before connecting the electronic device to the communication port, and then manually replace the cover after the electronic device is removed. Although effective when used properly, these active covers cannot prevent contaminates from entering the port if the covers are not replaced. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, a consumer port is needed that allows for passive protection against contaminates. In other words, a consumer port is needed that automatically covers the communication port when no electronic device is connected. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A communication port includes a housing defining an opening and configured to receive a device connector. A face plate is disposed on the housing. The face plate defines a window generally aligned with the opening. A door is slideably disposed on the housing and biased toward a position covering the opening and the window. Exerting a force on the door exposes the opening and the window. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The present embodiments become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a communication port assembled according to an embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the communication port according to an embodiment 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of a door of the communication port having a biasing device disposed thereon according to an embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the door and the plate disposed in the communication port in an open position according to an embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the communication port disposed on the interior surface and an electronic device inserted into a recessed portion of the plate to move the door from a closed position to the open position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the communication port disposed on the interior surface and the electronic device inserted into a connector while the door is in the open position; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the communication port disposed on an interior surface of a vehicle according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    A passive communication port automatically closes a door to protect a device connector from contaminants, such as dirt, dust, and moisture. The device connector is partially surrounded by a housing and accessible via an opening. A face plate covers a front part of the housing and includes window to allow access to the device connector via the opening. The door is located on the housing over the window and the opening. The door will remain closed until a force strong enough to overcome a bias pushing the door closed is overcome. When the door is open, the device connector is accessible through the window and the opening. 
         [0014]    The Figures refer to exemplary embodiments wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts.  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary communication port  10  having a housing  12  with integrally formed clips  14  for connecting the port to another structure. The housing  12  may be formed from a non-conductive material, such as plastic. On a front side of the housing  12  is an access port that includes a self-closing door  16  that cooperates with a window in a face plate  18 . The access port is configured to receive an electronic device (not shown) having a connection interface such as a USB interface, a parallel port interface, or a fire wire. Within the communication port  10 , the consumer connection interface mates with a device connector  20 , which in one embodiment, is installed through a back side of housing  12 . The device connector  20  is supported within the communication port  10  by a retention mechanism  22 . The retention mechanism  22  may include any mechanism for retaining the device connector  20  within the communication port  10 , including, but not limited to, the application of side locks, a loose pick lock, or as shown in  FIG. 1 , a molded tray in which device connector  20  is rotated into the tray to provide additional push-out resistance when the consumer interface is mated with the device connector  20 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the exemplary communication port  10  of  FIG. 1 . The face plate  18  includes a recessed portion  24  presenting a ledge  26  to support the door  16  when closed. Furthermore, the door  16  may include a lip  28  that extends toward the front of the housing  12  to allow an upward force to be applied to open the door  16 . The lip  28  may also limit movement of the door  16  relative to the face plate  18 . Both the door  16  and the face plate  18  are placed in slots  30  in the housing  12 . When in the slots  30 , the window of the face plate  18  is generally aligned with an opening defined by the housing  12 . The face plate  18  may be locked in place with friction or a locking device (not shown) to prevent it from sliding in the slot. On the other hand, the door  16  is able to slide in the slot to cover the window and the opening. Moreover, the door  16  is biased to cover the window and the opening to prevent contaminants like dirt, dust and moisture from entering into the communication port  10 . In one embodiment, a biasing device  32 , such as a spring, a stretchable band, a block of foam, or any other device that may be stretched or compressed, is disposed on the door  16  and the housing  12 . The biasing device  32  pushes against the housing  12  so that the door  16  covers the opening and window. As illustrated, the biasing device  32  may push against a boss  34  that may be generally v-shaped and integrally formed with the housing  12 . 
         [0016]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate an embodiment of the biasing device  32  disposed on the door  16 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the door  16  may include a pair of posts  36  that support the biasing device  32  and give the biasing device  32  something to push against.  FIG. 4  illustrates the door  16  being open and the biasing device  32  pushing against the boss  34 . Even when the door  16  is closed, the biasing device  32  may continue to exert a force on the door  16  to, for instance, prevent rattling. However, exerting an upward force on the lip  28  pushes against the biasing device  32  and opens the door  16 . Note that the clips  14 , device connector  20 , and retention mechanism  22  are not illustrated in  FIG. 4  so that the biasing device  32  may be viewed more clearly. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate the communication port  10  mounted to a structure  38  and an electronic device  40  is shown opening the door  16 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , in operation, the electronic device  40  may be inserted into the recessed portion  24  of the face plate  18  and may exert a force on the lip  28  of the door  16  against the biasing device  32  to open the door  16 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , with the door  16  open, the electronic device  40  may be plugged into the device connector  20 , which prevents the door  16  from closing even though the biasing device  32  continues to push on the door  16  and the boss  34 . 
         [0018]    Furthermore,  FIGS. 5-7  illustrate how the communication port  10  may be mounted to the structure  38 . In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the structure  38  presents a surface having inwardly extending walls  42  defining spaces. The clips  14  on the housing  12  extend into the spaces to limit movement of the communication port  10 . Alternatively,  FIG. 7  is a rear view of the communication port  10  mounted to the structure  38  via a locking mechanism  44 . In this embodiment, the structure  38  presents the surface having inwardly extending walls  42  defining a gap. The locking mechanism  44  includes a lock  46  disposed on the side of the housing  12 , that extends into the gap. As the lock  46  rests in the gap, movement of the communication port  10  is limited. 
         [0019]    It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many alternative approaches or applications other than the examples provided would be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the arts discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future examples. In sum, it should be understood that the invention is capable of modification and variation and is limited only by the following claims. 
         [0020]    The present embodiments have been particularly shown and described, which are merely illustrative of the best modes. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the embodiments described herein may be employed in practicing the claims without departing from the spirit and scope as defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that the method and apparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. This description should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. Moreover, the foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application. 
         [0021]    All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their broadest reasonable constructions and their ordinary meanings as understood by those skilled in the art unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as “a,” “the,” “said,” etc. should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary.

Technology Category: 5