초록 ▼

A hand held electronic device, such as a flash memory drive, includes a mechanism for extending and withdrawing a connector, such as a USB plug, that is adapted for engaging a mating connector of a host device. A positive latch holds the connector with respect to an outer shell when in the extended

A hand held electronic device, such as a flash memory drive, includes a mechanism for extending and withdrawing a connector, such as a USB plug, that is adapted for engaging a mating connector of a host device. A positive latch holds the connector with respect to an outer shell when in the extended and withdrawn positions. Movement of a separate housing portion unlatches the connector and outer shell, and also provides movement of the connector. A protective door closes over a connector opening when the connector is withdrawn into the device, and the door is withdrawn into the device when the connector is extended, thereby not interfering with the extended connector.

대표청구항 ▼

It is claimed: 1. A portable electronic device, comprising: an outer shell, a housing that is moveable with respect to the shell and which has an opening at one end thereof, an electrical connector assembly carried by the housing and moveable with respect thereto between a first position where the

It is claimed: 1. A portable electronic device, comprising: an outer shell, a housing that is moveable with respect to the shell and which has an opening at one end thereof, an electrical connector assembly carried by the housing and moveable with respect thereto between a first position where the connector extends outside of the housing through its opening and a second position where the connector is withdrawn into the housing, and a latching mechanism within the device that holds the connector assembly at a third position with respect to the shell where the connector extends outside of the shell and a fourth position with respect to the shell where the connector is withdrawn into the shell, the latch being releasable by movement of the housing with respect to both the shell and the connector assembly. 2. The device of claim 1, additionally comprising a detent mechanism that holds the connector with respect to the housing in the first and second positions and allows movement of the connector with respect to the shell between the third and fourth positions by manual movement of the housing with respect to the shell, the detent mechanism being releasable by hand urging of the housing when the connector is held by the latching mechanism with respect to the shell at the third and fourth positions. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the detent mechanism holds the connector to the housing sufficiently to allow the connector to be moved with respect to the shell between the third and fourth positions by hand urging of the housing when the latch of the connector assembly to the shell by the latching mechanism is released. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the latching mechanism includes: a spring element carried by the shell that is resiliently biased to engage openings in the connector assembly and thereby latch the connector assembly to the shell, and a cam surface as part of the housing that forces the spring element out of engagement with the openings when the housing, shell and connector assembly are in either of fifth or sixth positions with respect to each other. 5. The device of claim 1, additionally comprising one or more integrated circuits positioned within the housing that form a non-volatile memory that is electrically connected with the connector. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the connector assembly additionally includes one or more integrated circuits forming a non-volatile memory that is electrically connected with the connector. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the connector of the connector assembly includes an USB plug. 8. A portable electronic device, comprising: an elongated outer shell, a housing that is moveable along the length of the shell and which has an opening at one end thereof, an electrical connector assembly carried by the housing and moveable with respect to the housing between a first position extending the connector outside of the housing through its opening and a second position where the connector is withdrawn into the housing, a latch within the device that positively holds the connector assembly fixed at a third position with the connector extending from the shell and that positively holds the connector assembly at a fourth position with the connector withdrawn within the shell, the latch being released by movement of the housing with respect to the shell, and a detent mechanism within the device connected between the connector assembly and the body that (1) allows the housing to be moved by hand between the first and second positions with respect to the connector assembly when the connector assembly is latched to the shell, and (2) allows the connector assembly to be moved by hand between the third and fourth positions with respect to the shell upon movement of the housing when the connector assembly is not latched to the shell. 9. A flash memory drive, comprising: an elongated outer shell, an elongated housing that is moveable along a length of the shell and which has an opening at the first end, an assembly of a flash memory system and an electrical connector positioned within the housing and moveable along its length between extreme positions extending the connector outside of the housing through its opening and withdrawing the connector to a position within the housing, means responsive to movement of the housing and the assembly along the length of the shell for latching the assembly against movement with respect to the shell, means responsive to movement of the housing along the length of the shell when latched to the assembly for releasing the latch, and means selectively holding the housing to the assembly for allowing the assembly to be moved with respect to the shell by movement of the housing.