Flash drive with spring-loaded retractable connector
A pen-type computer peripheral device includes an elongated housing containing a PCBA having a plug connector. The PCBA is secured to a positioning member that is actuated by way of a press-push button that is exposed through a slot defined in a wall of the housing. A spring-loaded mechanism includes a spring and a locking mechanism that locks the connector in a retracted position and a deployed position, and the spring biases the connector from the retracted position to the deployed position, or vice versa.
1. A portable computer peripheral apparatus comprising:
an elongated housing defining a first opening and a front end portion defining a second opening;
at least one electronic device mounted inside of the housing;
a plug connector movably connected to the housing and electronically connected to said at least one electronic device; and
a spring-loaded mechanism including: a positioning member including: a base portion, a flexible wall connected to the base portion such that the flexible wall is resiliently bendable relative to the base portion, first and second side walls fixedly connected to the base portion, and an actuating button disposed on the flexible wall and protruding through the first opening for manually moving the plug connector between a first position, in which the plug connector is positioned inside of the housing, and a second position in which the plug connector extends through the end opening such that both the plug connector is exposed outside of the housing, and wherein the spring loaded mechanism includes a resilient member for biasing the plug connector between the first position and the second position, the resilient member including first and second linear springs disposed on opposing sides of the positioning member such that the first and second springs are parallel to and in contact with the first and second side walls, respectively.
2. The portable computer peripheral apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the resilient member includes a first end connected to a front portion of the housing, and a second end coupled to the plug connector, whereby the resilient member biases the plug connector from the first position to the second position.
3. The portable computer peripheral apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the resilient member includes a first end connected to a rear portion of the housing, and a second end coupled to the plug connector, whereby the resilient member biases the plug connector from the second position to the first position.
4. The portable computer peripheral apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the spring-loaded mechanism comprises an assembly including said a positioning member and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), where the plug connector is fixed connected to a front end of the PCBA, the at least one electronic device is mounted on the PCBA, and the actuating button is integrally formed on or attached to the sliding rack.
5. The portable computer peripheral apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the positioning member further comprises first and second elongated side grooves extending along said first and second side walls, respectively, and wherein the first and second linear springs disposed in the first and second side grooves, respectively.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the positioning member further comprises: a flexible wall connected to the base portion such that the flexible wall is resiliently bendable relative to the base portion, wherein the actuating button comprises a press-push button disposed on the flexible wall such that when the press-push button is pressed into the housing, the first and second slide rails press against a first inside surface of the housing such that the flexible wall bends into the housing.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the positioning member further comprises a first locking structure disposed on the flexible wall, wherein the housing further comprises a second locking structure and a third locking structure, and wherein the positioning member is mounted in the housing such that the first locking structure engages the second locking structure when the plug connector is in the first position, and such that the first locking structure engages the third locking structure when the plug connector is in the second position.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises a top wall and an opposing bottom wall having a first width, and opposing side walls having a second width and forming a rectangular cross section with said top and bottom walls, and wherein the press-push button protrudes through a slot defined in said top wall.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises a top wall and an opposing bottom wall having a first width, and opposing side walls having a second width and forming a rectangular cross section with said top and bottom walls, and wherein the press-push button protrudes through a slot defined in one of said side walls.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises a top wall, an opposing bottom wall, and opposing side walls forming a rectangular cross-section, and wherein the press-push button protrudes through a rear opening disposed opposite to said front end opening.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said at least one electronic device disposed in a Chip-On-Board (COB) package.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said at least one electronic device disposed in a Slim Printed Circuit Board Assembly (Slim PCBA) package.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plug connector comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug.