JP3329283B2 - Connector protection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector protection device for surrounding and protecting a connector connected to a card slot of a notebook personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the advancement of technology, the capacity of a notebook personal computer has been increased, and a so-called PC card to be inserted into a card slot of the notebook personal computer and a connector to be inserted into and connected to the PC card. However, there is a tendency for higher density and thinner. As described above, while the advantage of reducing the thickness of connectors and the like is being pursued, no measures have been taken against a decrease in strength due to the reduction in thickness.

[0003]

That is, since such a connector usually protrudes to the outside from the side surface of the notebook computer, the connector of the personal computer is hit from the top or the object is dropped from above. Accidents often occur where a load is applied and a twisting force is generated between the thin and structurally weak connector and the PC card to break them.

[0004]

According to the present invention, in order to prevent the above-mentioned accidents and inconveniences, the connector is surrounded by a device having a simple structure so as to protect the connector from externally applied force. I have.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS That is, the connector protection device of the present invention is used by arranging it near a card slot of a notebook personal computer. The protection wall surrounds a connector connected to the card slot. With the protection
Form a bottom wall on the top surface of a desk or the like
Laying on the bottom of the notebook computer on the wall, the bottom and the top plate
It is characterized in that a thin plate portion of a small thickness sandwiched between the first and second surfaces is formed . In such a configuration, even if an external force due to a user's hand or the like is applied to the connector, the external force is received by the protective wall and does not directly act on the connector, so that the connector and the PC card are effectively protected. can do. In addition, the thin plate part is attached to the bottom wall that constitutes the protection wall.
It is formed thinner than the rest of the bottom wall.
The thin plate part is laid on the bottom surface of the notebook computer, so the thin plate part is sandwiched between the bottom surface of the notebook computer and the top plate surface, and the connector protection device is placed on the notebook computer It can be effectively prevented from deviating from the set position.

In order that the connector protection device of the present invention can be removed without removing the connector from the card slot each time, the protection wall is constituted by a base and a cover detachably mounted on the base. It is desirable to do. In order to make the cover easily detachable from the base, one of the base and the cover is provided with an engagement recess, and the other is provided with an engagement protrusion, and the engagement recess and the engagement protrusion are provided. Are preferably engaged with the concave and convex. In such a case, in order to prevent the cover from easily dropping off from the base, when the cover is mounted on the base, the engaging convex portion can be elastically lightly pressed into the engaging concave portion. It is effective to do so.

[0007] In order to be able to identify at a glance the connection state and type of the connector during use of the connector protection device, the cover is made transparent and the connector is made visible from above the cover. It is desirable to keep. In order to be applicable to various notebook personal computers having different height positions of the card slot, it is preferable that the protection wall has a height adjustment mechanism that can change the height of the top wall. . In order to easily configure the height adjusting mechanism, the height adjusting mechanism is provided with one or a plurality of engaging concave portions and engaging convex portions having sizes substantially corresponding to the engaging concave portions and the engaging convex portions. The height adjusting member is disposed between the base and the cover, and the engaging concave portion and the engaging convex portion of the height adjusting member are provided with the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion of the base or the cover. It is effective to make the height adjustable by engaging the concave and convex. Notebook
When using a personal computer on a support base, keep the connector
To prevent the protective device from falling off the support
Is provided with a mounting portion on the protective wall, which can be mounted on a support base.
It is desirable to keep it.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a card slot connected to a card slot.
A protective wall surrounding the connector, and a device that can be
It can be a connector protection device with a fitting part
You. Even if this is the same as above
In addition, the protective wall does not apply external force directly to the connector, etc.
Connector and PC card can be effectively protected
When placing the laptop on a support
Effectively prevents the connector protection device from falling off from the support base.
Can be stopped.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the connector protection device 1 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, a protection wall 11 is constituted by a base 2 and a cover 3 detachably mounted on the upper portion of the base 2. It is made. Then, as shown in FIG. 5 , the connector protection device 1 is arranged near the card slot 51 of the notebook computer 5, and the connector 6 connected to the card slot 51 is inserted into the protection wall 11, We are trying to protect from outside.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the base 2 has a substantially flat bottom wall 21 with its bottom surface 21d facing a top surface of a desk or the like, and two side edges 21a of the bottom wall 21. It is made of synthetic resin and formed integrally with an upright wall 22 that rises upward. The upright wall 22 rises slightly forward from the rear end 21b of the bottom wall 21, and its upper surface 22a is gradually lowered from the rear end 21b side to the vicinity of its front end 21c along the side edge 21a of the bottom wall 21. I have to.
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the upper surface 22a extends from a rear end 22b of the upright wall 22 to a substantially intermediate position.
Is a linearly inclined portion 22a1, and the upper surface 2 from a substantially middle position of the upright wall 22 to a front end 22c.
2a is a curved portion 22a2 that smoothly continues from the inclined portion 22a1. Then, on the standing wall 22,
As shown in the cross section in FIG. 3, an engaging concave portion 23 is formed which continuously opens from a position slightly forward of the rear end 22 b to a position slightly rearward of the front end 22 c and penetrates to a bottom surface 21 d of the bottom wall 21. The rear surface 23a and the front surface 23b of the engagement recess 23
Are inclined forward and backward, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3, and the side surface 23c is, as shown in FIG.
It stands substantially vertically from d to the upper surface 22a. Also, from the rear end 21b of the bottom wall 21 to the rear end 22b of the upright wall 22
As a thin plate portion 21e thinner than the other portions.
As shown in FIG. 5, this thin plate portion 21e is sandwiched between the bottom surface 52 of the notebook computer 5 and the top plate surface to prevent the bottom wall 21 from shifting.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the cover 3 has a top wall 31 for protecting the connector 6 from above, and an engaging projection 3 which hangs vertically downward from both side edges 31a of the top wall 31.
2 is made of a transparent resin integrally formed. That is, the connector protection device 1 of the present embodiment
The protective wall 11 is formed by the bottom wall 21 and the upright wall 22 constituting the base 1 and the base 2. The top wall 31 has two side edges 31 as shown in FIGS.
a, 31a and between the rear end 31b and the front end 31c are gently curved upward and convexly.
a is largely curved downward, and the engaging projection 32 is continuous with the bottom surface 31d. Thus, the bottom surface 31d
From the rear end 31b to a substantially intermediate position of the upright wall 22.
Of the bottom surface 31d to the front end 31c is a curved portion 31d2 that curves gently upward. Further, the engaging projection 32 is provided on the side edge 31 a of the top wall 31.
2 and 6 is a plate-shaped member that can be inserted into the engagement recess 23 by hanging down while slightly opening outward from the bottom surface 31d.
As shown in (2), the rear surface 32a and the front surface 32b are inclined in correspondence with the inclination of the rear surface 23a and the front surface 23b of the engagement recess 23. Also, the side surface 32 of the engagement convex portion 32
c is opposite to the side surface 23c of the engagement recess 23 so that the cover 3 is attached to the base 2 so as to be substantially vertical, and the bottom surface 32d is substantially flush with the bottom surface 21b of the bottom wall 21. Like that. When the cover 3 is mounted on the base 2, the top wall 31 of the cover 3 is bent by the elasticity of the member to such an extent that the engagement projection 32 is substantially vertical, and is lightly pressed into the engagement recess 23. These side surfaces 23c, 32
c so that they do not come off. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the inclined portion 31d1 of the cover 3, the rear surface 32a and the front surface 32b of the engagement convex portion 32.
Correspond to the inclined portion 22a1 of the base, the rear surface 23a and the front surface 23b of the engagement recess 23, respectively.

As described above, the connector protection device 1 of the present embodiment is arranged near the card slot 51 by laying the thin plate portion 21e of the base 2 on the bottom surface 52 of the notebook computer 5 as shown in FIG. The connector 6 connected to the card slot 51 is accommodated in the protective wall 11 for use. In addition to the above-described configuration, the connector protection device 1 of the present embodiment is applied to various notebook personal computers having different height positions of the card slot 51. A height adjusting mechanism 4 that can change the height is provided. The height adjustment mechanism 4 includes a plurality of (three in this embodiment) height adjustment members 41, 4 having different heights.
2 and 43, each of which has an engagement recess 4 having a size substantially corresponding to the engagement recess 23 and the engagement projection 32.
1a, 42a, 43a, and engagement projections 41b, 42b,
43b, and one or a plurality of height adjusting members 41 according to the height position of the card slot 51;
As shown by arrows in the figure, the protective walls 11 are formed between the engaging concave portion 23 of the base and the engaging convex portion 32 of the cover in an uneven engagement state to form the protection wall 11 having an appropriate height. Is configured to obtain.

Since the connector protection device 1 having the above-described configuration includes the protection wall 11 surrounding the connector 6, the protection wall 11 can receive an external force.
It is possible to prevent the external force from directly acting on the connector 6 to damage the connector. Further, since the protection wall 11 is constituted by the base 2 and the cover 3 that can be mounted on the base 2, the connector protection device 1 can be arranged or removed without removing the connector 6 from the card slot 51.

Further, since the engaging recess 23 is provided on the base 2 and the engaging protrusion 32 is provided on the cover 3 so that they can engage with the recess, the cover 3 can be easily attached to and detached from the base 2. Can be installed. Further, since the cover 3 is attached to the base 2 so that the engaging projections 32 are elastically lightly pressed into the engaging recesses 23, the cover 3 does not easily come off and the attached state can be extremely reduced. It can be stable and good.

Further, since the cover 3 is made of a transparent material, the connection state of the connector 6 can be checked at a glance from above the cover 3 in the above-described use state. Further, the connector protection device 1 of the present embodiment includes a height adjusting mechanism 4, and the height adjusting mechanism 4 is provided with the engaging recess 23.
And a plurality of height adjusting members 41, 42, 43 having an engaging concave portion and an engaging convex portion substantially corresponding to the engaging convex portion 32, so that one or a plurality of height adjusting members are appropriately used. And between the base 2 and the cover 3
The height of the top wall 31 can be changed according to the height of the card slot 51.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 to 12 is applied to the case where the notebook computer 5 is used by being mounted on a support 170. Hereinafter, components using the same members as those in the above embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals. Connector protection device 100 of the present embodiment
Also, the protective wall 111 is formed by the base 120 and the cover 130.
Is formed. The base 120 is provided with an upright wall 122 having an engagement recessed portion 123 and erected from a side edge 121a of a bottom wall 121 that is gently curved downward, and a mounting portion 124 protruding substantially horizontally rearward from a rear end 121b side. Things. The rear surface 123a and the front surface 12 of the engagement recess 123
8 and FIG. 10, the cover 3b stands slightly vertically from the bottom surface 121d side of the bottom wall 121, and
30 engagement protrusion 132 rear surface 132a and front surface 132b
Correspond to the shapes of the rear surface 123a and the front surface 123b of the engagement recess 123. Engaging concave portion 123 and engaging convex portion 1
The other configuration of 32 is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and the description is omitted. The mounting portion 124 is shown in FIGS.
0, both side edges 1 of the bottom wall 121 of the base 120
The rear edge 121b is protruded downward from the vicinity of the base 21a so as to extend rearward, and at the extension end side of the leg portion 124a having a thinner plate portion than the rear edge 121b of the base 120.
And a plurality of protrusions 124b protruding upward substantially in parallel with the above. An opening 124d extending in the width direction is formed in the groove 124c formed between the ridges 124b so as to exhibit flexibility. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, the mounting portion 171 corresponding to the ridge 124b is provided on the back surface of the support base 170 along the side edge.
The protruding ridge 124b and the mounted portion 17
1 so that the connector protection device 100 can be attached to the support base 170 so as not to fall off, as shown in FIG. With this configuration, the connector protection device 100 according to the present embodiment can provide the same operation and effect as the above-described embodiment to protect the connector 6 with the protection wall 111, and can also connect the connector protection device 100 to the support base. 170 can be attached so as not to fall off.

In this case, any of the ridges 124b and the mounting portion 1
71, the connector protection device 10
The mounting position in the width direction with respect to the support table 170 can be selected. Further, the mounting portion 171 is formed so as to be parallel to the top plate surface in a state where the support table 170 is placed on the top plate surface.
b and the mounted portion 171 can be engaged with each other.
Further, the leg 120a of the base 120 is set so that it can properly contact the ground on the top plate surface at the engagement position.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show another connector protection device 200 that can be used together with the support 270.
The third embodiment shown in FIG. The connector protection device 200 of the present embodiment also forms the protection wall 211 by the base 220 and the cover 3. The base 220 includes an upright wall 222 having an engagement recess 223 and upright from a side edge 221 a of the bottom wall 221, and a mounting portion 224 protruding rearward substantially horizontally along a rear end 221 b. Since the cover 3, the upright wall 222, and the engagement recess 223 have substantially the same configuration as in the first embodiment, the description is omitted here. This embodiment also includes a height adjusting mechanism 4 as in the embodiment. Mounting part 2
Reference numeral 24 denotes a rear end 221 of the bottom wall 221 as shown in FIG.
b, upper and lower holding pieces 224a and 224b
The upper holding piece 224a is provided with an engaging claw 224d at an opening edge of a notch 224c provided at a substantially central portion thereof. On the other hand, the support base 270 is provided with an engagement projection 271 along the side edge. As shown in FIG. 14, the support base 270 holds the side edge of the support base 270 with the holding pieces 224a and 224b. The connector protection device 200 can be attached to the support base 270 so as not to fall off by engaging the claw 224d and the engagement protrusion 271. With this configuration, the connector protection device 200 of the present embodiment also has the same operation and effect as the above-described embodiment, and connects the connector 6 to the protection wall 2.
11, and the connector protection device 200 can be attached to the support base 270 so as not to fall off.

The specific configuration of each part can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0020]

As described in detail above, the present invention is used in the vicinity of a card slot of a notebook personal computer and has a protective wall surrounding a connector connected to the card slot . Place it on the top surface of a desk, etc. on this protective wall.
To form a bottom wall, and the bottom wall
It is laid on the bottom of the Sokon and sandwiched between the bottom and the top plate.
It is that you have to form a thin plate portion to a connector protective device for a basic feature, an effect as described below.

That is, according to such a configuration, even if an external force is applied to the connector by a user's hand or the like, the external force is received by the protective wall, so that the connector and peripheral devices can be effectively used without directly acting on the connector. Can be protected. Also, the bottom that constitutes the connector protection device
By laying the thin plate part formed on the wall on the bottom surface of the notebook computer, the connector protector that is separate from the notebook computer placed near the notebook computer is prevented from slipping and the usability is improved. Can be. When the protection wall is constituted by a base and a cover detachably mounted on the base, the connector protection device of the present invention can be removed without removing the connector from the card slot each time.

Further, in a case where an engaging concave portion is provided on one of the base and the cover and an engaging convex portion is provided on the other, the engaging concave portion and the engaging convex portion are configured to engage with the concave and convex. Can easily make the cover detachable from the base. In such a case, when the cover is attached to the base, if the engaging protrusion is configured to be lightly press-fitted into the engaging recess by elasticity, the cover will not easily fall off the base.

If the cover is made transparent and the connector is made visible from above the cover, the type and mounting state of the connector can be identified at a glance during use of the connector protection device. When the protection wall is provided with a height adjusting mechanism, the height of the protection wall can be changed by applying to various notebook personal computers having different height positions of card slots. The height adjusting mechanism comprises one or a plurality of height adjusting members having an engaging concave portion and an engaging convex portion having a size substantially matching the engaging concave portion and the engaging convex portion. And the height of the height adjustment member is adjusted by the concave and convex engagement of the height adjustment member with the engagement and recess of the base or cover. In this case, the height adjustment mechanism can be easily configured.

When the notebook personal computer is used by mounting it on a support table, the protection wall is provided with a mounting portion that can be mounted on the support table, so that the connector protection device is prevented from falling off from the support table. This can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary perspective view showing a use state of the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side view in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a mounting state of the height adjusting mechanism of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view particularly showing a base in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary perspective view showing a use state of the embodiment;

12 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view showing a main part of the embodiment in use.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 100, 200 ... Connector protection device 2, 120, 220 ... Base 3, 130 ... Cover 4 ... Height adjustment mechanism 6 ... Connector 11, 111, 211 ... Protection wall 23, 123, 223 ... Engaging recess 32 ... Convex part 51: Card slot 124, 224: Mounting part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-7-296904 (JP, A) JP-A-10-334976 (JP, A) JP-A-2000-56858 (JP, A) JP-A-5-92974 (JP, U) JP-A 3-129296 (JP, U) JP-A 48-577 (JP, U) Registered utility model 3041743 (JP, U) Jikken 47-6687 (JP, Y1) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/516 G06F 1/00 H01R 13/52

Claims (14)

(57) [Claims] 1. A intended to be utilized in place in the vicinity of the notebook PC card slot, comprising a protective wall surrounding the connector connected to the card slot, the
Form a bottom wall on the top surface of a desk, etc.
The bottom wall of said bottom surface is laid on the bottom of the notebook computer and
Connector protective device comprising a this <br/> forming the thin plate portion of the thin sandwiched between the top plate surface. 2. The connector protection device according to claim 1, wherein said protection wall comprises a base and a cover detachably mounted on said base. 3. An engaging concave portion is provided on one of the base and the cover, and an engaging convex portion is provided on the other. 3. The connector protection device according to claim 2, wherein the connector protection device is mounted. 4. The connector protection device according to claim 3, wherein when the cover is mounted on the base, the engaging protrusion can be elastically lightly pressed into the engaging recess. 5. The connector according to claim 2, wherein said cover is transparent, and said connector is visible from above said cover.
Or the connector protection device according to 4. 6. The protection wall according to claim 1, further comprising a height adjusting mechanism capable of changing the height of the top wall.
The connector protection device according to the above. 7. The protection wall includes a height adjustment mechanism capable of changing a height of a top wall, wherein the height adjustment mechanism is disposed between the base and the cover, It comprises one or a plurality of height adjusting members provided with an engaging concave portion and an engaging convex portion having substantially the same size as the engaging concave portion and the engaging projecting portion. 6. The connector protection device according to claim 2 , wherein the engaging projections are concavely and convexly engaged with the engaging projections and the engagement recesses of the base or the cover so that the height can be adjusted. 8. Near the card slot of a notebook computer
The card slot.
Do not have a protective wall surrounding the connector connected to the
On the support wall on which the notebook computer is placed.
A connector characterized by having a mounting portion that can be mounted.
Protection device. 9. Near a card slot of a notebook computer
The card slot.
Has a protective wall surrounding the connector connected to the Do
The protective wall is detachably mounted on the base and the base.
And a notebook-type cover.
There is a mounting part that can be mounted on the support base on which
A connector protection device characterized in that: 10. Near the card slot of a notebook computer
The card slot is used by placing it next to the card slot.
Do not have a protective wall surrounding the connector connected to the
The protective wall is detachably mounted on the base and the base.
The base or the cover.
One of the two has an engagement recess and the other has
An engaging convex portion is provided, and the engaging concave portion and the engaging convex portion are
And attach the cover to the base.
A mounting part that can be mounted on the support base on which the
A connector protection device, which is provided. 11. Near a card slot of a notebook computer.
The card slot is used by placing it next to the card slot.
Do not have a protective wall surrounding the connector connected to the
The protective wall is detachably mounted on the base and the base.
The base or the cover.
One of the two has an engagement recess and the other has
An engaging convex portion is provided, and the engaging convex portion is elastically lightened in the engaging concave portion.
By making them press-fit, they can be engaged
The cover to the base, and
A mounting section that can be mounted on a support base on which
A connector protection device, comprising: 12. Near a card slot of a notebook computer.
The card slot is used by placing it next to the card slot.
Do not have a protective wall surrounding the connector connected to the
The protective wall is detachably mounted on the base and the base.
And a notebook-type cover.
A mounting part that can be mounted on the support table on which
The cover is transparent and the connector is located above the cover.
A connector characterized by being visible from
Protection device. 13. Near the card slot of a notebook computer
The card slot is used by placing it next to the card slot.
Do not have a protective wall surrounding the connector connected to the
A height adjusting mechanism capable of changing the height of the top wall.
And a device that can be mounted on a support
Connector protection device, characterized in that
Place. 14. Near a card slot of a notebook computer.
The card slot is used by placing it next to the card slot.
Do not have a protective wall surrounding the connector connected to the
A height adjusting mechanism capable of changing the height of the top wall.
And a device that can be mounted on a support
A mounting portion, wherein the height adjustment mechanism is configured to cover the base and the cover.
Between the engaging recess and the engaging projection.
One or the other having an engaging concave portion and an engaging convex portion of a matching size.
A plurality of height adjustment members, wherein the height adjustment section
The engagement recess and the engagement projection of the material
The height can be adjusted by unevenly engaging the protrusions and engagement recesses.
A connector protection device characterized in that: