IP Library Granted Patent US 11,495,931
Granted Patent B2
US 11,495,931 · App. 17/184,309 · Granted Nov 8, 2022

Rotatable connectors for multimedia devices

Inventors: Peter Wesley Bristol (Seattle, WA); Oliver Ross (Seattle, WA); Bryan W Fan (San Francisco, CA); Enric Vial Roig (Seattle, WA)
Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
H01R35/04G06F1/1605H01R13/639H01R2201/06H01R2201/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,495,931
App. No.
17/184,309
Granted
Nov 8, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosed multimedia devices may include an elongated first body comprising a major longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end, a second body comprising at least one electrical connector accessible from a surface of the second body, wherein the second body is configured to rotate about the major longitudinal axis of the elongated first body, and an electrical coupling configured to maintain an electrical connection between a circuit of the elongated first body and the at least one electrical connector when the second body is rotated. Various other devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Claims (42)

1. A multimedia device comprising:

an elongated first body comprising a major longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongated first body further comprises a supporting bracket connected pivotally to a rear surface of the elongated first body, and wherein the supporting bracket is configured to secure the multimedia device to a top edge of an electronic device;

a second body comprising at least one electrical connector accessible from a surface of the second body, wherein the second body is configured to rotate about the major longitudinal axis of the elongated first body; and

an electrical coupling configured to maintain an electrical connection between a circuit of the elongated first body and the at least one electrical connector when the second body is rotated.

2. The multimedia device of claim 1 , wherein the supporting bracket pivots about the major longitudinal axis of the elongated first body.

3. The multimedia device of claim 1 , wherein the supporting bracket is configured to secure the elongated first body at an angle relative to a horizontal surface when the multimedia device is disposed on the horizontal surface.

4. The multimedia device of claim 3 , wherein the second body is configured to rotate about the major longitudinal axis of the elongated first body such that a cable connected to the at least one electrical connector is substantially parallel to the horizontal surface.

5. The multimedia device of claim 1 , wherein a gravitational force acting upon a cable connected to the at least one electrical connector increases a frictional force between the supporting bracket and the electronic device.

6. The multimedia device of claim 1 , wherein the second body is configured to rotate about the major longitudinal axis of the elongated first body due to a gravitational force acting upon a cable connected to the at least one electrical connector.

7. The multimedia device of claim 1 , wherein the second body is configured to rotate about the major longitudinal axis of the elongated first body by up to at least ninety degrees.

8. The multimedia device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical connector comprises at least one of:

a universal serial bus connector;

a power cable; or

a high-definition multimedia interface cable.

9. An interactive multimedia device comprising:

a first housing comprising a major longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end;

a second housing comprising at least one electrical connector accessible from a surface of the second housing, wherein the second housing is configured to rotate about the major longitudinal axis of the first housing; and

a supporting bracket coupled to the first housing, wherein:

the supporting bracket is configured to secure the interactive multimedia device to a top edge of an electronic device; and

a gravitational force acting upon a cable connected to the at least one electrical connector increases a frictional force between the supporting bracket and the electronic device.

10. The interactive multimedia device of claim 9 , further comprising an electrical coupling that is configured to maintain an electrical connection between a circuit of the first housing and the at least one electrical connector when the second housing is rotated.

11. The interactive multimedia device of claim 9 , wherein the supporting bracket is pivotally connected to a rear surface of the first housing.

12. The interactive multimedia device of claim 9 , wherein the supporting bracket pivots about the major longitudinal axis of the first housing.

13. The interactive multimedia device of claim 9 , wherein:

the supporting bracket comprises a first supporting bracket; and

the interactive multimedia device further comprises a second supporting bracket connected to at least one of a front surface or a bottom surface of the first housing.

14. The interactive multimedia device of claim 9 , wherein the supporting bracket is connected to the first housing at longitudinal end regions of the first housing.

15. The interactive multimedia device of claim 9 , wherein the second housing is substantially cylindrical in shape.

16. The interactive multimedia device of claim 9 , wherein the second housing is configured to rotate about the major longitudinal axis of the first housing due to the gravitational force acting upon the cable being connected to the at least one electrical connector.

17. The interactive multimedia device of claim 9 , wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of:

a computer display;

a television;

a flat screen television;

an audio speaker;

a tablet; or

a laptop computer.

18. A method of manufacturing comprising:

positioning a rotatable body along a major longitudinal axis of an elongated body, wherein the major longitudinal axis is located between a proximal end and a distal end of the elongated body;

connecting a supporting bracket pivotally to a rear surface of the elongated body, wherein the supporting bracket is configured to secure the elongated body to a top edge of an electronic device;

disposing at least one electrical connector on a surface of the rotatable body;

configuring the rotatable body to rotate about the major longitudinal axis of the elongated body; and

coupling a circuit of the elongated body to the at least one electrical connector, wherein an electrical connection between the circuit of the elongated body and the at least one electrical connector is maintained when the rotatable body is rotated.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 27, 2022
From: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 060203/0228 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2021
From: BRISTOL, PETER WESLEY; ROSS, OLIVER; FAN, BRYAN W; ROIG, ENRIC VIAL
To: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 056306/0877 →
Continuity (1)
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