US 10,448,711 B2Granted

Accessory contacts

AssigneeApple Inc.

InventorsBenjamin J. Kallman, Eric S. Jol, Michael B. Wittenberg, Stephen E. Dey

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A first connector assembly may be connectable to a second connector assembly using a sliding attachment process, in which a front portion of the first connector assembly is inserted into an end of a slot in the second connector assembly and slides laterally along the slot until electrical contacts on the two connector assemblies are aligned. Electrical contacts of the first connector assembly may be biased proud to make contact with recessed electrical contacts in the second connector assembly. A retraction mechanism may be provided to retract the electrical contacts of the first connector assembly during lateral sliding. An interlock mechanism may be provided to prevent unwanted operation of the retraction mechanism.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A connector assembly for a first electronic device, the connector assembly comprising:

a housing having a forward surface portion adapted to engage with a complementary connector assembly of a second electronic device, the forward surface portion of the housing having an opening therein;
an electrical contact;
a spring mechanism to apply a forward bias to the electrical contact;
a sled movably disposed within the housing, the sled being movable between a retracted position and an engaged position;
and
a user-operable control to move the sled between the retracted position and the engaged position, at least a portion of the user-operable control extending outside the housing,
wherein the electrical contact is mounted on the sled such that when the sled is in the engaged position, a front portion of the electrical contact extends through the opening in the housing and when the sled is in the retracted position, the front portion of the electrical contact does not extend through the opening in the housing.

4 more elements

A connector assembly for a first electronic device, the connector assembly comprising:

a housing having a forward surface portion adapted to slide laterally into a slot of a complementary connector assembly of a second electronic device, the forward surface portion of the housing having a plurality of openings therein;
a plurality of electrical contacts;
a spring mechanism to apply a forward bias to each of the electrical contacts;
a sled movably disposed within the housing, the sled being movable between a retracted position and an engaged position;
and
a user-operable control to move the sled between the retracted position and the engaged position, at least a portion of the user-operable control extending outside the housing,
wherein the electrical contacts are mounted on the sled such that when the sled is in the engaged position, a front portion of each electrical contact extends through one of the openings in the housing and when the sled is in the retracted position, the front portions of the electrical contacts do not extend through the opening in the housing.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/711,878Filed 21 Sep 2017 · us provisional application
Priority: 23 Sep 2016
Published: US 2018/0090890 A129 Mar 2018
Granted: 22 Oct 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification27 codes

A44C 5/14
Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps: characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
A44C 5/08
Extensible: having separate links
A44C 5/105
Not extensible: with links made of one piece and linked together by one connecting element
A45F 5/00
Holders or carriers for hand articles