Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Flange on coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2003-02-04
2004-04-20
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Flange on coupling part
C439S079000, C439S607070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06722919
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector fixture, more particularly to a connector fixture that can keep the connector to be plugged in a positive direction for transmitting signals when the connector is installed at the bottom of the circuit board.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, a connector is used to connect two disconnected cables, or connect two disconnected circuits for electrical connection. Such connector is a well known art, and the universal series bus (USB) connector is one of the examples commonly used in computer hardware. However, as the information technology is blooming day after day, many portable electronic products such as personal digital assistant (PDA) or mobile phone become more popular and thus bring in various expansions of connectors for offering convenience and efficiency to the present electronic products.
In
FIG. 1
, the prior-art connector
1
a
comprises an insulator
10
a
, and a shield housing
11
a
surrounding the insulator
10
a
; wherein the shield housing
11
a
is formed by bending a thin metal plate; a plurality of fixing surfaces
12
a
protruded vertically downward and disposed on the right and left sides of the shield housing
11
a
, and the fixing surfaces
12
a
can be used to fix the connector
1
a
on a circuit board
2
a
by the surface mount technology (SMT) or insert (not shown in the figure) for receiving the insertion of a plug (not shown in the figure) and proceeding with signal transmission.
However, since there are various electronic products not just for improving their functions, but also focusing on the exterior look to meet consumer's requirement, therefore many manufacturers invest a great deal of money on research and development to design various electronic products with powerful functions and beautiful appearance to attract customers for the purchase. While manufacturers are designing and developing these products, some of them set the connector
1
a
at the bottom of the circuit board
2
a
(as shown in
FIG. 2
) to match the appearance of the product. However, the plug (not shown in the figure) originally plugged into a connector
1
a
in a positive direction has to be turned 180 degrees before it can be plugged into the connector
1
a
. Unlike regular connections, such reverse connection will affect user's application and cause inconvenience to the user. Even worse, it may cause a wrong connection and result in damages to the connector
1
a.
It is known from the above that the prior-art connector is needed for various designs to match the appearance of electronic products by installing the connector at the bottom of the circuit board. Such arrangement is obviously inconvenient in its practical application and needs to be improved.
Therefore, in view of these shortcomings, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience accumulated from the engagement in the related industry conducted extensive research to resolve the aforementioned shortcomings and invented the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a connector fixture to overcome the shortcomings due to the installation of the connector at the bottom of the circuit board, and to avoid the appearance of electronic products from being affected by the position of the connector with respect to the circuit board.
To accomplish the foregoing objective, the present invention provides a connector fixture having a connector and a holding member; wherein the holding member forms a space to accommodate the connector, and the holding member on each of its left and right sides has one or more fixing surfaces extended upward, so that the end of the signal terminal of the connector is also bent upward to keep the connector to be plugged in the positive direction when the connector is installed at the bottom of the circuit board. Such arrangement can avoid the exterior design of electronic products from being affected by the position of the connector and thus accomplish the above objective.
To make it easier for our examiner to understand the objective of the invention, its structure, innovative features, and performance, we use the disclosed embodiments together with the attached drawings for the detailed description of the novel features of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5316488 (1994-05-01), Gardner et al.
patent: 5322447 (1994-06-01), Okada
patent: 5897384 (1999-04-01), Hosler, Sr.
patent: 5993258 (1999-11-01), Matsunuma et al.
patent: 6558191 (2003-05-01), Bright et al.
Molex Incorporated
Ta Tho D.
Zeitler Robert J.
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