JP2003282178A - Compact apparatus with usb male connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect a USB male connector of a compact apparatus provided with the USB male connector. <P>SOLUTION: The USB male connector 22 protrudes at one end of an apparatus body 21, and a cap 23 is connected with the apparatus body 21 to cover the USB male connector 22. Lock claw parts 51b<SB>1</SB>, 51c<SB>1</SB>are locked, and the cap 23 is locked in the apparatus body 21. Lock release button members 52, 53 are arranged at a position where a finger tip butts on them when gripping the cap 23 with a hand. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a small-sized device with a USB male connector, and more particularly to a small-sized device with a USB male connector having a structure in which a USB male connector is provided so as to project from a device body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a small device 1 with a USB male connector.
Indicates. The small device 1 with a USB male connector has a configuration in which the USB male connector 2 projects from one end of the device body 3. The small device 1 is used by inserting the USB male connector 2 into the USB female connector 11 of the computer body 10 or the like.

[0003]

When the small device 1 is not in use and is carried, the USB male connector 2 is exposed and is vulnerable to foreign matter and static electricity, and the foreign matter causes the terminal portion to be damaged. When the USB male connector 2 is dirty or comes into contact with a charged object, static electricity may flow and damage electronic components inside the small device 1.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems.
An object is to provide a small-sized device with an SB male connector.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device main body having a USB male connector protruding from one end thereof.
It is configured to have a cap that is coupled to the device body and covers the protruding USB male connector, and a lock mechanism that locks the cap to the device body.

The cap, which is locked and connected to the device body, covers and protects the USB male connector when carrying a small device.

The invention according to claim 2 is the USB according to claim 1.
In a small-sized device with a male connector, the cap has a lock release button for releasing the locked state of the lock mechanism at positions on both sides where the fingertips hit when grasped by a hand.

The locked state can be released by an operation of grasping the cap with a hand, and an operation only for releasing the locked state is not required, resulting in good operability.

According to the invention of claim 3, the USB according to claim 2
In a small device with a male connector, the lock mechanism
The U-shaped lock member is made of a metal plate, and includes a horizontal beam portion and a pair of arm portions that extend from the end of the horizontal beam portion and have a claw portion at the tip, and the lock member is a cap member. Inside, the horizontal beam is fixed to the back of the cap, a pair of arms extend in the direction of the opening of the cap, and the lock release button is attached to each arm of the lock member. It has a certain structure. This makes it possible to easily configure a mechanism including the lock mechanism and the lock release button.

[0010]

1 and 2A and 2B show a small device 2 with a USB male connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Indicates 0. The small device 20 is of a size that can be held and carried by a user, and has a long and narrow device body 2.
The USB male connector 22 is projected from one end of the device 1, and the cap 23 is connected to the device body 21 to cover the USB male connector 22.

The small device 20 is a portable broadcast music search terminal small device used by a listener to access a predetermined site to search for a song name of music broadcast on a television or the like, and a timer. Etc. are built in.

When searching for the title of music currently being broadcast, the operator takes out the small device 20 carried by the operator and starts the timer. After that, as shown in FIG.
And as shown in FIG. 5, the small device 20 to the cap 23.
The USB male connector 22 to the computer main body 1
0 is inserted into the USB female connector 41 of the cradle device 40 and connected. Then, by appropriately operating the computer, the small device 20 accesses a predetermined site, downloads or uploads data, and the listener searches for the song title of the music broadcast on the television or the like.

Next, the structure of the portion of the small device 20 related to the cap 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B).

As also shown in FIG. 1, an elliptical encircling recessed step portion 30 surrounding the USB male connector 22 is provided at a portion of the device main body 21 where the USB male connector 22 projects. This is for determining the position of the cap 23. The cradle device 4 of the small device 20 is provided at a portion of the oval-shaped enclosing recessed portion 30 on the front surface 21a side of the device body 21.
A ridge portion 31 is formed to determine the direction of attachment to 0. The surrounding recessed step portion 30, the mountain portion 31, and the surface 32 described below are made of rubber.

USB of the surface 32 at one end of the device body 21
Openings 33 and 34 are formed at both sides of the male connector 22. As shown in FIG. 3B, a U-shaped lock fitting 35 is fixed inside the device body 21.
The tip ends of the pair of arm portions 35a and 35b of the lock fitting 35 project into the openings 33 and 34, respectively. Each arm 35
The locking openings 35a1 and 35b1 are provided on the tip side of the
Is formed. The locking openings 35a1 and 35b1 are recesses 33a and 3 extending laterally from the inside of the openings 33 and 34, respectively.
It is located at the entrance of 4a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap 23 has a two-piece structure in which a first member 41 and a second member 42 are joined together. The cap 23 has an opening 44 surrounded by an elliptical edge 43 corresponding to the elliptical enclosing recessed portion 30. The above-mentioned mountain portion 31 is formed in the portion of the oval edge 43 on the front surface 23a side of the cap 23.
A trough portion 45 is formed for determining the mounting direction of the cap 23 corresponding to.

A lock mechanism 50 is provided inside the cap 23. The lock mechanism 50 is made of a metal plate and extends in the direction of the opening 44 from the lateral beam portion 51a and the end of the lateral beam portion 51a, and the triangular lock claw portions 51b1 and 5b at the tip thereof.
U composed of a pair of arm portions 51b and 51c having 1c1
It has a V-shaped lock member 51. The lock member 51 is
The lateral beam portion 51a is fixed and attached to the inside of the second member 42. Lock release button members 52 and 53 are attached to the respective arm portions 51b and 51c. Button members 52, 53
Are projected from the openings 46 and 47 at both ends on the long axis of the elliptical shape of the first member 41, and are arranged at positions where the fingertips touch when the cap 23 is gripped by hand. Opening 4
The circumferences of 6, 47 are recessed as indicated by reference numerals 46a, 47a, and the lock release button members 52, 53 are easy to push.

The cap 23 has a first member 41 to which a lock member 51 having button members 52 and 53 is attached.
And the second member 42 are combined, the assembly is easy.

A strap 60 is attached to the cap 23.
Is attached.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A, in the cap 23 having the above structure, the elliptical edge portion 43 is fitted to the elliptical enclosing concave step portion 30, and the trough portion 45 is formed. It is fitted with the mountain portion 31, and the tip portions of the arm portions 51b and 51c are opened 33 and 34, respectively.
Once inside, the lock claws 51b1 and 51c1 engage the locking openings 35a1 and 35b1, respectively, and are coupled and locked to the device body 21 to cover the USB male connector 22. Enclosed concave step portion 30 and crest portion 31 Made of rubber and pushed by the other party to elastically bend, the elliptical edge 43 is in close contact with the encircled concave step portion 30, and the valley portion 45 is a crest. Part 3
It is in close contact with 1. The cap 23 is in a state where it does not rattle against the device body 21.

When the small device 20 is not in use and is carried, a cap 23 is attached,
The B male connector 22 is covered and protected by the cap 23, so that even if the terminal portion is contaminated by a foreign substance or if it contacts a charged object, static electricity does not flow to the USB male connector 22. In addition, small equipment 2
No. 0 indicates that the USB male connector 22 is not exposed and has a substantially ellipsoidal shape as a whole, which is easy to carry.

As shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3A, the cap 23 is gripped by the operator by putting the fingertips of the hand against the button members 52 and 53, sandwiching the cap 23, and pulling up the arm. The portions 51b and 51c are bent so that the tips thereof are narrowed, the lock claw portions 51b1 and 51c1 are respectively pulled out from the locking openings 35a1 and 35b1, and the lock is released, and the cap 23 is removed from the device body 21. It Therefore, the device body 21 is grasped by sandwiching the cap 23.
Operation to pull it away from the device body, that is, the cap 23
Among the operations to remove from, include the operation to unlock
It is not necessary to perform the operation only for releasing the lock, and the operation of removing the cap 23 from the device body 21 is easy.

The operation of connecting the cap 23 to the device main body 21 and locking the cap 23 is performed by the operator applying his or her fingertips to the button members 52 and 53 as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3B. Grasp and hold to support the cap 23,
The device is made to approach the device main body 21 so as to cover the USB male connector 22, the valley portion 45 is fitted to the mountain portion 31, and the elliptical edge portion 43 is formed.
Is fitted into the oval-shaped enclosing concave step portion 30, and then the hand is released.

When the fingertips of the hand are applied to the button members 52 and 53 and the cap 23 is sandwiched and grasped, the tips of the arms 51b and 51c are swung as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3B. It is bent so as to be bent, and the edge portion 43 surrounds the concave step portion 30.
In the process of fitting into, the tip portions of the arm portions 51b and 51c enter into the openings 33 and 34, respectively. By releasing the hand from the cap 23, the arm portions 51b and 51c are restored so as to spread due to the elastic force, and the lock claw portions 51b1 and 51c1.
Are locked in the locking openings 35a1 and 35b1, respectively, and the cap 23 is locked to the device body 21.

Accordingly, the operation of locking the cap 23 and connecting it to the device main body 21 includes the operation of locking, and it is not necessary to perform only the operation for locking, and the cap 23 is held. It is easy to connect and lock to.

Further, the lock claws 51b1 and 51c1 are triangular, and the oblique sides thereof are guided so that even if the button members 52 and 53 are not pushed in sufficiently, the lock claws 51b1 and 51c1 have locking openings. It is locked by sliding in 35a1 and 35b1.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, U is provided at one end.
The SB male connector has a structure in which the cap is coupled and locked to the device main body provided so as to protrude, and the cap covers the USB male connector. Therefore, the USB male connector is protected, and the terminal portion is soiled by foreign matter or charged. It is possible to prevent static electricity from flowing to the USB male connector even when it comes into contact with something that is in contact, and to improve portability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a small-sized device with a USB male connector according to an embodiment of the present invention with its cap removed.

2 is a front view showing a small device with a USB male connector of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a structure of a coupling portion between a cap and a device body.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the use of a small device with a USB male connector.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a small device with a USB male connector is connected to and supported by a cradle device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional small device with a USB male connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 Small equipment with USB male connector 21 Device body 22 USB male connector 23 Cap 30 Enclosed step 35 Lock bracket 35a1, 35b1 locking opening 40 Cradle device 50 lock mechanism 51 Lock member 52,53 Lock release button member

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 4E360 AB12 AD01 AD05 BA08 BC03                       BC04 BC06 BC07 EA18 EC12                       ED13 ED17 ED23 ED27 EE02                       FA08 FA14 GA22 GA30 GA31                       GB99 GC08                 5E087 EE11 LL04 LL17 LL29 MM08                       QQ01 RR11 RR12 RR13

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A device main body having a USB male connector protruding from one end, a cap coupled to the device main body for covering the protruding USB male connector, and a lock mechanism for locking the cap to the device main body. A small device with a USB male connector, characterized in that 2. The small device with a USB male connector according to claim 1, wherein the cap has lock release buttons for releasing the locked state of the lock mechanism at positions on both sides where the fingertips touch when grasped by a hand. A small device with a USB male connector characterized by having a configuration. 3. The small device with a USB male connector according to claim 2, wherein the lock mechanism is made of a metal plate, and has a horizontal beam portion and a pair extending from an end of the horizontal beam portion and having a claw portion at a tip thereof. A U-shaped lock member including an arm portion of the cap, the lock member being housed inside the cap to fix the horizontal beam portion to the back portion of the cap, and a pair of arm portions including the cap portion. A small device with a USB male connector, wherein the lock release button extends in the direction of the opening, and the lock release button is attached to each arm of the lock member.