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US 5,292,267 AGranted
Connector unit with movable connector
AssigneesKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kel Corporation
InventorsTakaichi Kobayashi, Kazuya Shibasaki, Takashi Hosoi, Masami Honda, Kazuyoshi Takahashi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A function expanding apparatus for electronic devices having a mechanism for supporting a connector body. Two elastic members hold a connector body which is freely slidable between the two elastic members. The connector body is movable in multiple directions so as to connect to the electronic apparatus.
Claims15
A connector unit associated with an external apparatus to which an electronic device having a connector is connected, said connector unit comprising:
- a connector holder mountable to the external apparatus and including a pair of side walls facing each other, and a bottom wall connecting the side walls;
- a slider supported between the side walls of the connector holder for reciprocation in a predetermined direction;
- a connector body connected electrically to the external apparatus and situated between the slider and the bottom wall, the connector body being engaged the slider for movement along with the slider;
- means for supporting the connector body for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the predetermined direction, the supporting means having a first elastic member disposed between the connector body and the slider, and a second elastic member disposed between the bottom wall and the connector body, the connector body being held between the first and second elastic members;
- and
- operating means connected to the slider, for moving the slider in said predetermined direction between a retreated position and an advanced position in which the connector body is engageable to the connector of the electronic device.
3 more elements
A connector unit associated with an external apparatus to which an electronic device having a connector is connected, said connector unit comprising:
- a connector holder removably mounted on the external apparatus;
- a slider supported on the connector holder for reciprocation in a predetermined direction;
- a connector body connected electrically to the external apparatus and engageable with the connector of the electronic device;
- means for supporting the connector body for movement in said predetermined direction together with the slider and for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction relative to the slider so as to align the connector body with the connector in said direction, the supporting means including a first elastic member and a second elastic member, the connector body being clamped between the first and second elastic members and slidable between the first and second elastic members, and the first elastic member, the connector body, and the second elastic member being arranged in this order in a direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction;
- and
- operating means connected to the slider, for moving the slider in said predetermined direction between a retracted position and an advanced position in which the connector body is engageable with the connector of the electronic device connected to the external apparatus.
3 more elements
A connector unit associated with an external apparatus to which an electronic device, having a connector with a guide portion, is connected, said connector unit comprising:
- a connector holder removably mounted on the external apparatus;
- a slider supported on the connector holder for reciprocation in a predetermined direction;
- a connector body connected electrically to the external apparatus and engageable with the connector of the electronic device;
- means for supporting the connector body for movement in said predetermined direction together with the slider between a connecting position wherein the connector body is being connected to the connector and a disconnecting position wherein the connector body is being disconnected from the connector, and for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction relative to the slider;
- a guide pin extending from the connector body in said predetermined direction, for engaging the guide portion of the connector so as to align the connector body with the connector, the guide pin being movable between an extended position and a retreated position, and
- means for urging the guide pin to the extended position and for allowing the guide pin to move to the retracted position when the guide pin is engaged the guide portion of the connector while the connector body is moved from the disconnected position to the connecting portion.
3 more elements
A connector unit associated with an external apparatus to which an electronic device having a connector which a guide portion is connected, said connector unit comprising:
- a connector holder removably mounted on the external apparatus;
- a slider supported on the connector holder for reciprocation in a predetermined direction;
- a connector body connected electrically to the external apparatus and engageable with the connector of the electronic device;
- and
- means for supporting the connector body for movement in said predetermined direction together with the slider between a connecting position wherein the connector body is being connected to the connector and a disconnecting position wherein the connector body is being disconnected from the connector, and for movement relative to the slider in first and second directions which are substantially perpendicular to said predetermined direction and substantially perpendicular to each other;
- the supporting means including a pair of engage holes formed in the slider;
- a pair of pins extending from the connector body in the first direction and passed through the engage holes, respectively, each of the engage holes having a holding section for holding the pin to prevent the movement of the pin relative to the slider in the second direction and a release section for allowing the pin to move in the second direction;
- and urging means connected between the slider and the connector body, for urging the connector body so that the pins are positioned in the holding sections of the engage holes when the connector body is at the disconnecting position and for allowing the connector body to move so that the pins are positioned in the release sections of the engage holes during the connector body moves from the disconnecting position to the connecting position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.