IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,244,095
Granted Patent B2
US 12,244,095 · App. 17/440,727 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Tethered connector assembly

Inventors: James David Wahl (Woodinville, WA); Xianming Huang (Shenzhen, CN); Royce Dean Chang (Seattle, WA); Colin Kelong Zhao (Shenzhen, CN); Jonne Aapi Harju (Kirkland, WA)
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
H01R13/60H01R13/6205H01R33/7664
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,244,095
App. No.
17/440,727
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connector assembly including a first intermediate connector member associated with a first device and having a first connector interface and a second intermediate connector having a second connector interface. The first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector are movable between an interfaced state in which the first connector interface is in contact with the second connector, and a tethered state in which the first connector interface is spaced apart from the second connector interface. The connector assembly further includes a tether member connecting the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector in the tethered state. The tether may include a flexible body configured to control a path along at least an axis of either the first intermediate connector or the second intermediate connector during movement from the interfaced state to the tethered state.

Claims (35)

1. An assembly for mounting an electronic accessory to a second device, comprising:

a first intermediate connector associated with the electronic accessory and having a first connector interface;

a second intermediate connector having a second connector interface and a device interface connectable to a second device interface of the second device and having a connected state and a separated state, wherein the device interface contacts the second device interface in the connected state and is independent of the second device interface in the separated state, wherein the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector are movable between an interfaced state in which the first connector interface is in contact with the second connector interface while in the connected state and a tethered state in which the first connector interface is spaced apart from the second connector interface while in the connected state; and

a tether member with a first end affixed to the second intermediate connector and a second end affixed to the first intermediate connector and connecting the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector in the tethered state, wherein the tether member is configured to control a path along at least an axis of either the first intermediate connector or the second intermediate connector during movement from the interfaced state to the tethered state, wherein the tether member is configured to prevent the electronic accessory from falling-off of the second device.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second intermediate connector is associated with the second device.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first intermediate connector is moveable from the interfaced state to the tethered state via a first force, and the second intermediate connector is separable from the second device interface via a second force, wherein the second force is greater than the first force.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the device interface and the second device interface comprise at least one magnet, and the second intermediate connector is connected to second device via a magnetic attraction between the device interface and second device interface.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the device interface further comprises a protruding received portion, wherein the protruding received portion is received by a corresponding receiving portion at the second device interface.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector is configured to provide an electrical connection between the electronic accessory and the second device when first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector are in the interfaced state and the second device interface and the device interface are in the connected state.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the electrical connector is configured to provide an electrical connection between the electronic accessory and the second device when the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector are in the tethered state, and disconnect the electrical connection between the electronic accessory and the second device when the second device interface and the device interface are in the separated state.

8. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the electrical connector is configured to disconnect the electrical connection between the electronic accessory and the second device when the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector are in the tethered state or when the second device interface and the device interface are in the separated state.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector comprises at least one magnet, wherein the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector are held in the interfaced state via a magnetic attraction due to the at least one magnet.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first intermediate connector is the electronic accessory.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first intermediate connector is connected to the electronic accessory.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tether member is slidably connected to at least one of the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tether member is contained within the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector when the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector are in the interfaced state.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second connector interface of the second intermediate connector is configured to fit within the first connector interface of the first intermediate connector.

15. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tether member is contained within the first intermediate connector.

16. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electronic accessory is a camera.

17. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tether member is a flexible body formed of a flexible material.

18. An assembly, comprising:

a first intermediate connector associated with an electronic accessory and having a first connector interface;

a second intermediate connector associated with a second device and having a second connector interface and a device interface connectable to a second device interface of the second device and having a connected state and a separated state, wherein the device interface contacts the second device interface in the connected state and is independent of the second device interface in the separated state;

wherein the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector are movable between an interfaced state in which the first connector interface is in contact with the second connector interface and a tethered state in which the first connector interface is spaced apart from the second connector interface;

an electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector is configured to provide an electrical connection between the electronic accessory and the second device when first intermediate connector, and the second intermediate connector are in the interfaced state and the second device interface, and the device interface are in the connected state; and

a tether member with a first end affixed to second intermediate connector and a second end affixed to the first intermediate connector and connecting the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector in the tethered state, wherein the tether member is a flexible body formed of a flexible material and configured to control a path along at least an axis of either the first intermediate connector or the second intermediate connector during movement from the interfaced state to the tethered state wherein the second intermediate connector further comprises an aperture allowing the electrical connector to pass therethrough from the electronic accessory to the second device, and wherein the electrical connector is configured to disconnect the electrical connection between the electronic accessory and the second device when the first intermediate connector and the second intermediate connector are in the tethered state or when the second device interface and the device interface are in the separated state.

19. A connector for removably mounting an electronic accessory to a second device, the connector comprising:

a first intermediate connector member associated with the electronic accessory and having a first connector interface;

a second intermediate connector associated with a second device and having a second connector interface and a device interface;

wherein the first intermediate connector member and the second intermediate connector are movable between an interfaced state in which the first connector interface is in contact with the second connector interface, and a tethered state in which the first connector interface is spaced apart from the second connector interface;

a tether member affixed to the first intermediate connector member and the second intermediate connector in the tethered state; and

a second device interface, wherein the device interface is connectable to the second device interface of the second device and having a connected state and a separated state, wherein the device interface contacts the second device interface in the connected state and is independent of the second device interface in the separated state and wherein at least one of the device interface and the second device interface comprise at least one magnet and the second intermediate connector is connected to the second device via a magnetic attraction between the device interface and the second device interface to mount the electronic accessory to the second device.

20. The connector of claim 19 , wherein the first intermediate connector member is moveable from the interfaced state to the tethered state via a first force, and the second intermediate connector is separable from the second device interface via a second force, wherein the second force is greater than the first force.

21. The connector of claim 19 , wherein the first intermediate connector member is the electronic accessory, wherein the electronic accessory is electrically connected to the second device via a connector that passes through an aperture in the second intermediate connector.

22. The connector of claim 19 , wherein the electronic accessory is a camera.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2022
From: WAHL, JAMES DAVID; HUANG, XIANMING; CHANG, ROYCE DEAN; ZHAO, KELONG; HARJU, JONNE AAPI
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 059088/0040 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220173548A1 · Jun 2, 2022
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