(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Chen
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`45 Date of Patent‘
`
`.
`
`US 6,241,538 B1
`J n 5, 2001
`
`ll .
`
`US006241538B1
`
`(54) POWER SUPPLY PLUG STRUCTURE FOR A
`
`6,098,886 * 7/2000 Mareno .............................. .. 439/131
`
`NOTEBOOK COMPUTER
`
`(75) Inventor: Yung-Chung Chen, Feng Yung (TW)
`_
`_
`_
`(73) Asslgnee? GME-Tech CO-a Ltd» Talchung Hslen
`TW
`(
`)
`SubJect' to any d1scla1mer,'the term of this
`patent is extended or adJusted under 35
`U S C 154
`.
`.
`.
`(b) by 0 days.
`
`) Notice.
`
`(
`
`_
`(21) Appl' NO" 09/590’356
`(22) Filed:
`Jun_ 8, 2000
`
`(51) Int. C1.7 ................................................... .. H01R 13/44
`(52) US. Cl.
`.... .. 439/131
`(
`)
`,
`,
`58
`Field of Search ................................... .. 439/535 901
`439/915, 131; 174/53; ZOO/43.22
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`*
`
`.
`.
`cited by eXammer
`Primary Examiner—Neil Abrams
`Assistant Examiner—J. F. Duverne
`(74) Attorney, A gent, 0r Firm—Charles E. BaXley, Esq.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A power Supply plug Structure for a notebook Computer
`.
`.
`.
`mcludes a housmg, tWo elongated sheet-shaped connectmg
`.
`.
`.
`.
`legs, and tWo conducting pieces. An operation space is
`formed in the housing and has tWo sides each de?ning a
`receiving recess. TWo opposite pivot holes are each de?ned
`in the operation space. Each of the tWo connecting legs is
`pivotally mounted in the receiving recess and includes a
`rotation Shaft having two ends each having a pivot axle
`received in the pivot hole of the housing. A drive gear is
`d
`h
`'
`h f
`d
`d ' g h k '
`mounte on t e rotation s a t, an a con uctm 00 1s
`integrally formed on the rotation shaft. Each of the conduct
`ing pieces detachably contacts With the conducting hook
`When the tWo connecting legs are pivoted to a ?xed position.
`Aplurality of meshing driven gears each mesh With the drive
`gear of the rotation shaft of each of the tWo connecting legs.
`
`4,702,007 * 10/1987 Nomura et a1. .................... .. 439/131
`5,006,779 * 4/1991 Fenne et a1. ....................... .. 439/131
`
`8 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`Prong, Inc. Exh. 1014 p. 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 0f 7
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`US 6,241,538 B1
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`Prong, Inc. Exh. 1014 p. 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 0f 7
`
`US 6,241,538 B1
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`FIG]
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`Prong, Inc. Exh. 1014 p. 3
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 5, 2001
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`Sheet 3 0f 7
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`US 6,241,538 B1
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`/ '///"J
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`30
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`F163
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`Prong, Inc. Exh. 1014 p. 4
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 5, 2001
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`Sheet 4 0f 7
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`US 6,241,538 B1
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`32
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`{1/
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`..////
`//////1
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`//////7///Z/
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`FIGA
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`Prong, Inc. Exh. 1014 p. 5
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 0f 7
`
`US 6,241,538 B1
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`Prong, Inc. Exh. 1014 p. 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 0f 7
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`US 6,241,538 B1
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`60
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`d
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`F166
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`Prong, Inc. Exh. 1014 p. 7
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2001
`
`Sheet 7 0f 7
`
`US 6,241,538 B1
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`FIG]
`
`Prong, Inc. Exh. 1014 p. 8
`
`

`

`US 6,241,538 B1
`
`1
`POWER SUPPLY PLUG STRUCTURE FOR A
`NOTEBOOK COMPUTER
`
`2
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a power supply plug
`structure, and more particularly to a poWer supply plug
`structure for a notebook computer.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Aconventional notebook computer in accordance With the
`prior art shoWn in FIG. 1 primarily comprises a computer
`body 10, a box-shaped voltage processing member 11, and
`an extension plug 12 having tWo prongs 13. HoWever, the
`voltage processing member 11 and the extension plug 12 are
`exposed outWard of the computer body 10, thereby taking up
`much space. In addition, the prongs 13 are ?xed on the
`extension plug 12 and cannot be folded so that the prongs 13
`Will occupy space and are easily Worn out.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance With one aspect of the present invention,
`there is provided a poWer supply plug structure for a
`notebook computer comprising: a housing including an
`upper cover and a loWer cover coupled With each other, an
`operation space formed in a front end of the housing and
`having tWo sides each de?ning a receiving recess, tWo
`opposite pivot holes each de?ned in an inner side of the
`operation space; tWo elongated sheet-shaped connecting
`legs each pivotally mounted in the receiving recess of the
`housing, each of the tWo connecting legs including a rotation
`shaft rotatably mounted in the operation space of the hous
`ing and having tWo ends each having a pivot axle extending
`outWard and received in the pivot hole of the housing, a
`drive gear mounted on the rotation shaft of each of the tWo
`connecting legs, and a conducting hook integrally formed on
`the rotation shaft of each of the tWo connecting legs; tWo
`conducting pieces each secured in the housing and each
`detachably contacting With the conducting hook of the
`rotation shaft of each of the tWo connecting legs When the
`tWo connecting legs being pivoted to a ?xed position; and a
`plurality of meshing driven gears each mounted in the
`housing and each meshing With the drive gear of the rotation
`shaft of each of the tWo connecting legs.
`Further bene?ts and advantages of the present invention
`Will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
`description With appropriate reference to the accompanying
`draWings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW of a conventional notebook
`computer in accordance With the prior art;
`FIG. 2 is an exploded vieW of a poWer supply plug
`structure for a notebook computer in accordance With the
`present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a top plan cross-sectional assembly vieW of the
`poWer supply plug structure as shoWn in FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is an operational vieW of the poWer supply plug
`structure as shoWn in FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged vieW of the poWer supply
`plug structure as shoWn in FIGS. 3 and 4;
`FIG. 6 is a partially cut-aWay top plan operational vieW of
`the poWer supply plug structure as shoWn in FIG. 2; and
`FIG. 7 is a perspective operational vieW of the poWer
`supply plug structure as shoWn in FIG. 2.
`
`15
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`25
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`35
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`45
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`55
`
`65
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`Referring to the draWings and initially to FIGS. 2—5, a
`poWer supply plug structure used for a notebook computer
`in accordance With the present invention comprises a hous
`ing including an upper cover 20 and a loWer cover 30
`securely coupled With each other, tWo elongated sheet
`shaped connecting legs 60, a circuit board 40, tWo conduct
`ing pieces 41, and tWo driven gears 50.
`An upper operation space 21 is formed in the front end of
`the upper cover 20 of the housing and has tWo sides each
`de?ning an upper receiving recess 22. TWo opposite upper
`pivot holes 24 are each de?ned in the inner side of the upper
`operation space 21.
`A loWer operation space 31 is formed in the front end of
`the loWer cover 30 of the housing and has tWo sides each
`de?ning a loWer receiving recess 32. TWo opposite loWer
`pivot holes 33 are each de?ned in the inner side of the loWer
`operation space 31.
`Each of the tWo connecting legs 60 is pivotally mounted
`in the housing and includes a rotation shaft 61 having tWo
`ends each having a pivot axle 611 extending outWard and
`rotatably received in the upper pivot hole 24 of the upper
`cover 20 and the loWer pivot hole 33 of the loWer cover 30.
`A drive gear 64 is integrally formed on the rotation shaft 61
`of each of the tWo connecting legs 60. An L-shaped con
`ducting hook 63 is integrally formed on the rotation shaft 61
`of each of the tWo connecting legs 60.
`Each of the tWo conducting pieces 41 is secured on the
`circuit board 40 located in the housing, and detachably
`contacts With the conducting hook 63 of the rotation shaft 61
`of each of the tWo connecting legs 60 When the tWo
`connecting legs 60 are pivoted to a ?xed position.
`As shoWn in FIG. 7, each of the tWo conducting pieces 41
`has one side laterally de?ning an opening 42 for detachably
`receiving the conducting hook 63 of the rotation shaft 61 of
`each of the tWo connecting legs 60 When the tWo connecting
`legs 60 is pivoted to the ?xed position thereof. Each of the
`tWo conducting pieces 41 also includes a contact plate 43
`located on the top portion of the opening 42 and detachably
`contacting With the conducting hook 63 of the rotation shaft
`61 of each of the tWo connecting legs 60. The contact plate
`43 of each of the tWo conducting pieces 41 includes a distal
`end 431 extending upWard in an inclined manner.
`Each of the tWo meshing driven gears 50 is rotatably
`mounted on the loWer cover 30, and meshes With the drive
`gear 64 of the rotation shaft 61 of each of the tWo connecting
`legs 60 as shoWn in FIG. 5. The loWer cover 30 includes a
`plurality of gear pivot holes 34 de?ned in the loWer opera
`tion space 31 thereof. A plurality of pivot pins 51 each
`extend through a corresponding one of the driven gears 50
`and are each secured in a corresponding one of the gear pivot
`holes 33 so that each of the driven gears 50 is rotatably
`mounted in the loWer cover 30 of the housing.
`As shoWn in FIGS. 2 and 6, the rotation shaft 61 of each
`of the tWo connecting legs 60 is integrally formed With a
`positioning rib 62 extending outWard. TWo arcuate position
`ing blocks 23 are each secured in the upper operation space
`21 of the upper cover 20, and each de?ne a retaining groove
`231 for detachably securing the positioning rib 62 of the
`rotation shaft 61 of each of the tWo connecting legs 60
`therein.
`In operation, each of the tWo connecting legs 60 is
`initially received in the upper receiving recess 22 of the
`upper cover 20 and the loWer receiving recess 32 of the
`
`Prong, Inc. Exh. 1014 p. 9
`
`

`

`US 6,241,538 B1
`
`3
`lower cover 30 as shown in FIG. 3 so that the tWo connecting
`legs 60 of the power supply plug structure can be hidden in
`the notebook computer Without protruding outWard from the
`housing, thereby enhancing the appearance of the notebook
`computer, and thereby facilitating the user folding the poWer
`supply plug structure.
`The user can then pull and pivot one of the tWo connecting
`legs 60 outWard to rotate the rotation shaft 61 Which rotates
`the drive gear 64 Which in turn rotates the tWo driven gears
`50 Which then rotate the drive gear 64 of the rotation shaft
`61 of the other connecting leg 60 as best shoWn in FIG. 5 so
`that the tWo connecting legs 60 can be pivoted simulta
`neously from the position as shoWn in FIG. 3 to the position
`as shoWn in FIG. 4 to be oriented in parallel With each other
`so as to function as an electric plug.
`It is appreciated that, the tWo drive gears 64 of the rotation
`shafts 61 are rotated at the same speed in an opposite
`direction by means of the tWo driven gears 50 as shoWn in
`FIG. 5. Therefore, the user only needs to pivot one of the tWo
`connecting legs 60 so as to drive and pivot the other
`connecting leg 60 synchronously so that the tWo connecting
`legs 60 can be easily extended and folded at the same time,
`thereby facilitating operating the tWo connecting legs 60.
`At the same time, the positioning rib 62 of the rotation
`shaft 61 of each of the tWo connecting legs 60 is secured in
`the retaining groove 231 of the arcuate positioning block 23
`of the upper operation space 21 of the upper cover 20 as
`shoWn in FIG. 6 so that the tWo connecting legs 60 can be
`secured by the positioning block 23 temporarily.
`When the tWo connecting legs 60 are parallel disposed at
`the position as shoWn in FIG. 4, the conducting hook 63 is
`rotated With the rotation shaft to be inserted into the opening
`42 to contact the contact plate 43 of the conducting piece 41
`as shoWn in FIG. 7 so that the electric current can be
`supplied from the connecting legs 60 to the conducting
`pieces 41 through the conducting hook 63 Which is in
`connection With the contact plate 43. The inclined distal end
`431 of the contact plate 43 is used for facilitating the
`conducting hook 63 entering the opening 42 of the conduct
`ing piece 41. Then, the current is delivered into the circuit
`board 40 through the conducting pieces 41, and into a
`rectifying circuit (not shoW) of the notebook computer.
`It should be clear to those skilled in the art that further
`embodiments may be made Without departing from the
`scope of the present invention.
`What is claimed is:
`1. ApoWer supply plug structure for a notebook computer
`comprising:
`a housing including an upper cover and a loWer cover
`coupled With each other, an operation space formed in
`a front end of said housing and having tWo sides each
`de?ning a receiving recess, tWo opposite pivot holes
`each de?ned in an inner side of said operation space;
`tWo elongated sheet-shaped connecting legs each pivot
`ally mounted in said receiving recess of said housing,
`each of said tWo connecting legs including a rotation
`
`10
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`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`4
`shaft rotatably mounted in said operation space of said
`housing and having tWo ends each having a pivot axle
`extending outWard and received in said pivot hole of
`said housing, a drive gear mounted on said rotation
`shaft of each of said tWo connecting legs, and a
`conducting hook integrally formed on said rotation
`shaft of each of said tWo connecting legs;
`tWo conducting pieces each secured in said housing and
`each detachably contacting With said conducting hook
`of said rotation shaft of each of said tWo connecting
`legs When said tWo connecting legs being pivoted to a
`?xed position; and
`a plurality of meshing driven gears each mounted in said
`housing and each meshing With said drive gear of said
`rotation shaft of each of said tWo connecting legs.
`2. The poWer supply plug structure in accordance With
`claim 1, further comprising a circuit board mounted in said
`housing for supporting each of said tWo conducting pieces.
`3. The poWer supply plug structure in accordance With
`claim 1, Wherein each of said tWo conducting pieces has one
`side de?ning an opening for detachably receiving said
`conducting hook of said rotation shaft of each of said tWo
`connecting legs When said tWo connecting legs is pivoted to
`a ?xed position.
`4. The poWer supply plug structure in accordance With
`claim 3, Wherein each of said tWo conducting pieces
`includes a contact plate located on a top portion of said
`opening and detachably contacting With said conducting
`hook of said rotation shaft of each of said tWo connecting
`legs.
`5. The poWer supply plug structure in accordance With
`claim 4, Wherein said contact plate of each of said tWo
`conducting pieces includes a distal end extending upWard in
`an inclined manner.
`6. The poWer supply plug structure in accordance With
`claim 1, Wherein said rotation shaft of each of said tWo
`connecting legs is integrally formed With a positioning rib
`extending outWard, and said poWer supply plug structure
`further comprises tWo arcuate positioning blocks each
`secured in said operation space of said housing and each
`de?ning a retaining groove for detachably securing said
`positioning rib of said rotation shaft of each of said tWo
`connecting legs therein.
`7. The poWer supply plug structure in accordance With
`claim 1, Wherein said conducting hook of said rotation shaft
`of each of said tWo connecting legs is L-shaped.
`8. The poWer supply plug, structure in accordance With
`claim 1, Wherein said housing includes a plurality of gear
`pivot holes de?ned in said operation space, and said poWer
`supply plug structure further comprises a plurality of pivot
`pins each extending through a corresponding one of said
`driven gears and each secured in a corresponding one of said
`gear pivot holes so that each of said driven gears is rotatably
`mounted in said housing.
`
`*
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`*
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`*
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`*
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`*
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`Prong, Inc. Exh. 1014 p. 10
`
`