Electrical connectors – With contact preventer or retractable cover part – Movably mounted
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2001-07-31
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With contact preventer or retractable cover part
Movably mounted
C439S910000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267608
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a peripheral mechanical structure of a connector of a portable information processing apparatus, and more specifically to an opening and closing structure for a connector housing cover of an information processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to enable the use of portable information processing apparatuses in a variety of remote locations, there is the requirement that connectors be mated and removed frequently. In the past, to protect connectors of information processing apparatuses, a connector housing cover
1
such as shown in
FIG. 11
had been proposed. In this drawing, the main unit of an information processing apparatus
2
is provided with a recess
4
on its rear panel that has a connector
3
. The top cover
4
a
of this recess
4
is closed, making it impossible to directly view the connector from directly above.
In the prior art embodiment that is shown in
FIG. 11
, the connector housing cover
1
is hinged at the edge
1
a
with respect to the lower edge
4
b
of the recess
4
that is formed in the information processing apparatus main unit
2
.
Therefore, when the connector housing cover
1
is opened, this connector housing cover is open to the table or the like on which the information processing apparatus rests.
In another example of the prior art, a connector housing cover opening and closing structure such as shown in
FIG. 12
has been proposed. In this prior art embodiment, a recess
6
having a connector
3
is formed in the rear panel of the information processing apparatus
5
. The recess
6
is open at the rear and at the top of the information processing apparatus
5
. The connector housing cover
7
is joined by a hinge at the edge
7
a
thereof with respect to the information processing apparatus
5
.
The connector housing cover
7
has a surface
7
c
that is perpendicular to the surface
7
b
of the connector housing cover
7
that is joined by a hinge to the information processing apparatus
5
, this surrounding and covering the rear of the recess
6
.
Another connecting apparatus for an information processing apparatus was proposed and disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI)No. 2-213072. In this disclosure, the housing of lead wires and conductors at prescribed positions within a connector is verified visually, after which a downward pressure piece causes the lead wire conductors to make a pressure contact with a relay connector.
All of the above-described prior art connector housing covers for information processing apparatuses, however, are accompanied by problems.
Specifically, the first problem is that, as shown in
FIG. 11
, the structure is one of a single connector housing cover
1
being opened and closed, and it is not possible for a user to mate the connector cable into the connector while viewing the connector terminals, making the task of connecting the connector extremely difficult. In the case in which an information processing apparatus is located near a wall surface, it is particularly difficult to make connection to a connector cable.
The reason for this is that the vision of the user is blocked by the information processing apparatus or the connector housing cover.
The second problem is that the dressing of the cable which is connected to the connector terminals is difficult.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to improve on the above-noted drawbacks of the prior art, by providing a connector housing cover opening and closing structure for an information processing apparatus, that enables a connector terminated cable to be mated to or to be removed from a rear panel connector while observing from above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the above-noted objects, the present invention adopts the following basic technical constitution.
Specifically, the first aspect of the present invention is an opening and closing structure for a connector housing cover of an information processing apparatus, in which a viewing window is formed in the upper surface of a recess that houses the connector on the main unit of an information processing apparatus, a connector housing cover being mounted which covers the recess that houses the connector and the above-noted viewing window, so that when the connector housing cover is opened, the viewing window is opened. In the second aspect of the present invention, the above-noted connector housing cover is slid and housed within a portable information processing apparatus.
In order to solve the above-noted problems associated with the prior art, the opening and closing structure of a connector housing cover of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention has formed in it a viewing window which enables viewing of the information processing apparatus connector from the top, and has mounted a connector housing cover that covers the above-noted viewing window and above-noted information processing apparatus connector, so that when the connector housing cover is opened, the upper surface viewing window is opened, thereby enabling the user to mate or remove the connector cable from the information processing apparatus while viewing the connector.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5036313 (1991-07-01), Lin et al.
patent: 5247285 (1993-09-01), Yokota et al.
patent: 5306178 (1994-04-01), Huang
patent: 5415557 (1995-05-01), Chapman et al.
patent: 5501607 (1996-03-01), Yoshioka et al.
patent: 5552967 (1996-09-01), Seto
patent: 5571023 (1996-11-01), Anthony
patent: 5574625 (1996-11-01), Ohgami et al.
patent: 5844772 (1998-12-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5980279 (1999-11-01), Muller
patent: 6017228 (2000-01-01), Verbeek et al.
patent: 2-213072 (1990-08-01), None
Abrams Neil
Duverne J. F.
Foley & Lardner
NEC Corporation
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