Electrical connector
View Patent ↗An electrical connector ( 100 ) includes a housing ( 110 ) and a light source ( 120 ) inside the housing. The housing has a surface ( 130 ). A first portion of the surface permits the passage of a first amount of light from the light source, and a second portion of the surface permits the passage of a second amount of light from the light source, where the second amount of light is different from the first amount of light.
1. An electrical connector comprising:
a housing having a surface comprising:
a first side;
a second side substantially opposite the first side;
a third side extending between the first side and the second side; and
a fourth side substantially opposite the third side and extending between the first side and the second side;
a connector tip partially enclosed within the housing and having a portion extending from the housing; and
a light source entirely contained within the housing,
wherein:
a first portion of the surface permits the passage of a first amount of light from the light source;
a second portion of the surface permits the passage of a second amount of light from the light source;
the first side and the second side form the first portion;
the third side and the fourth side form the second portion; and
the second amount of light is different from the first amount of light.
2. The electrical connector of claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of wires inside the housing,
wherein:
the connector tip is selected from the group consisting of a universal serial bus connector tip and a firewire connector tip.
3. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein:
the light source is a light emitting diode.
4. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein:
the first amount of light is greater than the second amount of light.
5. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein:
the first portion is textured; and
the second portion is non-textured.
6. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein:
the first portion is translucent; and
the second portion is transparent.
7. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein:
the first portion is constructed of a first material;
the second portion is constructed of a second material; and
the second material is different from the first material.
8. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein:
the first portion is constructed of a first material; and
the second portion is constructed of the first material.
9. An electrical connector comprising:
a housing having a surface comprising:
a first side;
a second side substantially opposite the first side;
a third side extending between the first side and the second side; and
a fourth side substantially opposite the third side and extending between the first side and the second side; and
a light source inside the housing,
wherein:
at least portions of the first side and the second side form a first portion of the surface;
at least portions of the third side and the fourth side form a second portion of the surface; and
more light passes through the first portion than passes through the second portion.
10. The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein:
the first side is substantially parallel to the second side; and
the third side is substantially parallel to the fourth side.
11. The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein:
the first portion is textured; and
the second portion is polished.
12. The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein:
the first portion is constructed of a first material;
the second portion is constructed of a second material; and
the second material is different from the first material.
13. The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein:
the first portion is constructed of a first material; and
the second portion is constructed of the first material.
14. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein:
the first material is polyvinyl chloride.
15. The electrical connector of claim 9 further comprising:
a plurality of wires inside the housing; and
a connector tip partially enclosed within the housing,
wherein:
the connector tip is selected from the group consisting of a universal serial bus connector tip and a firewire connector tip.
16. The electrical connector of claim 15 wherein:
the light source is a light emitting diode.
17. An electrical connector comprising:
a housing having a surface comprising:
a first side;
a second side substantially opposite and substantially parallel to the first side;
a third side extending between the first side and the second side; and
a fourth side substantially opposite and substantially parallel to the third side and extending between the first side and the second side; and
a light emitting diode inside the housing,
wherein:
at least a portion of the first side and at least a portion of the second side form a first portion of the surface;
at least a portion of the third side and at least a portion of the fourth side form a second portion of the surface;
the first portion is textured; and
more light passes through the first portion than passes through the second portion.
18. The electrical connector of claim 17 wherein:
the second portion is polished.
19. The electrical connector of claim 18 wherein:
the first portion and the second portion are constructed of a transparent grade of polyvinyl chloride.
20. The electrical connector of claim 19 further comprising:
a plurality of wires inside the housing; and
a connector tip partially enclosed within the housing,
wherein:
the connector tip is selected from the group consisting of a universal serial bus connector tip and a firewire connector tip.
21. A method of manufacturing an electrical connector, the method comprising:
electrically coupling a light source to a connector tip; and
providing a housing around the light source, the housing having a surface, surface comprising:
a first side;
a second side substantially opposite the first side;
a third side extending between the first side and the second side; and
a fourth side substantially opposite the third side and extending between the first side and the second side;
wherein:
a first portion of the surface permits the passage of a first amount of light from the light source;
a second portion of the surface permits the passage of a second amount of light from the light source;
the first side and the second side form the first portion;
the third side and the fourth side form the second portion; and
the second amount of light is different from the first amount of light.
22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:
providing the first portion to be textured; and
providing the second portion to be polished.
23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:
providing the connector tip to be one of a universal serial bus connector tip and a firewire connector tip.
24. The method of claim 21 further comprising:
providing the first portion and the second portion to be constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomer or a semi-rigid plastic resin.
25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:
providing the first portion and the second portion to be constructed of a transparent grade of polyvinyl chloride.