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US 7,247,028 B2Granted
Multiple degrees of freedom connectors and adapters
AssigneeIdeative Product Ventures, Inc.
InventorTavis D. Schriefer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Connector devices that provide multiple degrees of freedom of motion between a first connector head and additional connector heads and/or electronic devices are described. The multiple degrees of freedom of motion permit motion in one or both of two planes and, perhaps, rotation about an axis in a controlled and fixed manner. Such connector devices allow peripheral devices to be folded or rotated in close proximity to a hosting device. Connector devices that incorporate circuitry for implementing distribution/hub functionality are also described.
Claims25
A connector comprising:
- a first connector head having an axis;
- a second connector head;
- a connection mechanism coupling the first connector head and the second connector head, wherein the connection mechanism is adapted to permit limited motion of the second connector head in first and second planes relative to the first connector head, the first plane being substantially coincident with the axis, the second plane being substantially orthogonal to the axis;
- and
- a third connector head coupled to the connection mechanism, the connection mechanism adapted to permit limited motion of the third connector head in the first and second planes relative to the first connector head,
- wherein the second and third connector heads are adapted to move independent of each other in one of the first and second planes,
- wherein the second and third connector heads are adapted to move together in the other of the first and second planes, and
- wherein at least one of the connector heads comprises a device slot selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, FireWire, BlueTooth, video, RS232 and memory device slots.
5 more elements
A connector, comprising:
- an intermediate portion defining first and second axes of rotation, the second axis of rotation being substantially orthogonal to the first axis of rotation;
- a first connector head coupled to the intermediate portion and being rotatable in a first plane about the first axis of rotation;
- a second connector head in electrical communication with the first connector head, the second connector head coupled to the intermediate portion and being rotatable in a second plane about the second axis of rotation;
- and
- a third connector head in electrical communication with the first connector head, the third connector head coupled to the intermediate portion and being rotatable in the second plane about the second axis of rotation,
- wherein the first and second axes of rotation permit the second and third connector heads to be selectively positioned in the first and second planes relative to the first connector head,
- wherein the second and third connector heads are rotatable in the second plane independent of each other, and
- wherein at least one of the connector heads comprises a device slot selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, FireWire, BlueTooth, video, RS232, and memory device slots.
5 more elements
A connector, comprising:
- an intermediate portion having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first hinged connection defining a first axis of rotation, the second end having a second hinged connection defining a second axis of rotation being substantially orthogonal to the first axis of rotation;
- a first connector head coupled to the first hinged connection and being rotatable in a first plane about the first axis of rotation;
- and
- a second connector head in electrical communication with the first connector head, the second connector head coupled to the second hinged connection and being rotatable in a second plane about the second axis of rotation,
- wherein the first and second axes of rotation permit the second connector head to be selectively positioned in the first and second planes relative to the first connector head, and
- wherein at least one of the connector heads comprises a device slot selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, FireWire, BlueTooth, video, RS232 and memory device slots.
3 more elements
A connector, comprising:
- a first connector head defining a first axis of rotation;
- an intermediate portion coupled to the first connector head and being rotatable in a first plane about the first axis of rotation, the intermediate portion defining a second axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to the first axis of rotation and defining a third axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to both the first and second axes of rotation, wherein the second and third axes of rotation are rotatable together in the first plane about the first axis of rotation, wherein the third axis of rotation is rotatable in a second plane about the second axis;
- and
- a second connector head in electrical communication with the first connector head, the second connector head coupled to the intermediate portion and being rotatable in a third plane about the third axis of rotation,
- wherein the first, second, and third axes of rotations permit the second connector head to be selectively positioned relative to the first connector head in the first, second, and third planes, and
- wherein at least one of the connector heads comprises a device slot selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, FireWire, BlueTooth, video, RS232 and memory device slots.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.