Quick release strap connector

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

p-00021. Field of the Invention

p-0003The present invention relates to a quick release connector, especially to a quick release strap connector connected to a strap and detachably connecting to an electronic device.

p-00042. Description of the Related Art

p-0005With the development of technology, electronic products have become lighter and smaller. Some of the electronic products have straps to allow the electronic products to be carried. For example, straps are used to carry digital cameras for outdoor photography or a laptop for use during an exhibition or meeting. However, the straps are usually fastened to the electronic products and cannot be removed easily. When electronic products with carrying straps are used on a plane or being used anywhere, the straps are usually unnecessary. The unnecessary straps are inconvenient and sometimes interfer with using the electronic products. Although, straps attached to electronic products do provide convenience and safety, the fastened straps still have the foregoing shortcomings that need to be overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0006One objective of the present invention is to provide a quick release strap connector to attach and remove a strap from an electronic device quickly and easily.

p-0007A quick release strap connector in accordance with the present invention connects a strap detachably to an electronic device and comprises a cylinder, a knob, a latch bar and a spring. The cylinder is hollow, holds a strap and has an open end, a closed end and a sidewall. The knob is mounted rotatably against the open end of the cylinder. The latch bar is attached to the knob, is mounted through and protrudes from the cylinder and has a latch. The latch is mounted in a slot in the electronic device and rotated to attach the connector to the electronic device. The spring is mounted around the latch bar between the closed end of the cylinder and the knob and holds the latch in the slot in the electronic device. The present invention will allow someone to attach or remove the strap from the electronic device quickly and easily, which makes using the strap more convenient.

p-0008Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0009<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a perspective view of a quick release strap connector in accordance with the present invention;

p-0010<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is an exploded perspective front view of the quick release strap connector in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0011<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is another exploded perspective view of the quick release strap connector in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0012<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is an enlarged operational rear interior view of the quick release strap connector in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0013<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is an enlarged side view of the quick release strap connector in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0014<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is an enlarged cross sectional view of the quick release strap connector along line <b>6</b>-<b>6</b> in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>;

p-0015<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is perspective view of the quick release strap connector in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> connecting a strap to an electronic device; and

p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is another enlarged operational front view of the quick release strap connector in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

p-0017With reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1</figref>, <b>2</b> and <b>3</b>, a quick release strap connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a cylinder (<b>10</b>), a knob (<b>50</b>), a latch bar (<b>40</b>) and a spring (<b>60</b>).

p-0018With further reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, the cylinder (<b>10</b>) is hollow, holds a strap (<b>80</b>) and has an open end, a closed end, a sidewall, an optional strap hole (<b>12</b>) and an optional limit groove (<b>13</b>).

p-0019The closed end is mounted against an electronic device (<b>70</b>) and has a coaxial opening, an end plug (<b>11</b>) and an optional escutcheon (<b>20</b>).

p-0020The end plug (<b>11</b>) is formed in the opening in the closed end of the cylinder (<b>10</b>) and has an outer surface, a coaxial slot (<b>111</b>), an inner surface, two optional latch protrusions (<b>112</b>) and an optional spring mount (<b>113</b>).

p-0021The coaxial slot (<b>111</b>) has a center and two sides.

p-0022With further reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, the two latch protrusions (<b>112</b>) are formed on and protrude from the outer surface of the end plug (<b>11</b>) adjacent respectively to the sides of the coaxial slot (<b>111</b>) at the center and opposite to each other and are mounted in a locking slot in an electronic device (<b>70</b>), and each latch protrusion (<b>112</b>) has an outer end and a detent. The detents are formed respectively in the outer ends of the latch protrusions (<b>112</b>) and extend radially out from center of the coaxial slot (<b>111</b>).

p-0023The spring mount (<b>113</b>) is formed longitudinally on and protrudes from the inner surface of the end plug (<b>11</b>) around the center of the coaxial slot (<b>111</b>).

p-0024The escutcheon (<b>20</b>) is mounted on the outer surface of the end plug (<b>11</b>) of the cylinder (<b>10</b>) and has a narrow slot (<b>22</b>) and a wide slot (<b>21</b>). The narrow slot (<b>22</b>) is formed through the escutcheon (<b>20</b>) and corresponds to the coaxial slot (<b>111</b>) of the end plug (<b>11</b>). The wide slot (<b>21</b>) is formed through the escutcheon (<b>20</b>) perpendicular to the narrow slot (<b>22</b>) and corresponds to and holds the latch protrusions (<b>112</b>) of the end plug (<b>11</b>).

p-0025The strap hole (<b>12</b>) is formed transversely off-center through the sidewall of the cylinder (<b>10</b>) and holds the strap (<b>80</b>).

p-0026The two limit grooves (<b>13</b>) are curved and are formed concentrically in the open end of the cylinder (<b>10</b>) opposite to each other.

p-0027With further reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the knob (<b>50</b>) is mounted rotatably in the open end of the cylinder (<b>10</b>), has an inner surface and an outer edge (<b>53</b>), an optional mounting protrusion (<b>51</b>) and two optional knob limit (<b>52</b>).

p-0028The outer edge (<b>53</b>) is formed around the knob (<b>50</b>) and may be fluted.

p-0029The mounting protrusion (<b>51</b>) is formed coaxially on and protrudes from the inner surface of the knob (<b>50</b>) and has an outer surface and an optional notch (<b>512</b>). The notch (<b>512</b>) is formed longitudinally in the outer surface of the mounting protrusion (<b>51</b>) of the knob (<b>50</b>).

p-0030The at least one knob limit (<b>52</b>) is formed on and protrudes from the inner surface of the knob (<b>50</b>) near the outer edge (<b>53</b>) opposite to each other, are mounted respectively in the limit grooves (<b>13</b>) in the cylinder (<b>10</b>) and limit how much the knob (<b>50</b>) can be rotated.

p-0031The latch bar (<b>40</b>) is formed coaxially in and protrudes longitudinally from the mounting protrusion (<b>51</b>) of the knob (<b>50</b>) and has a shaft, a pivot latch (<b>41</b>) and an optional collar (<b>30</b>).

p-0032The shaft of the latch bar (<b>40</b>) is formed in and protrudes longitudinally from the mounting protrusion (<b>51</b>) of the knob (<b>50</b>), is mounted coaxially and rotatably through the coaxial slot in the end plug (<b>11</b>) and has a distal end. The distal end protrudes beyond the outer surface of the end plug (<b>11</b>) of the cylinder (<b>10</b>).

p-0033The pivot latch (<b>41</b>) is formed transversely through the distal end of the shaft of the latch bar (<b>40</b>), is held in the detents in the latch protrusions (<b>112</b>) when the quick release strap connector is disconnected, passes through the slot in an electronic device (<b>70</b>) to attach the quick release connector to the electronic device (<b>70</b>) when the knob (<b>50</b>) is turned and has an inner surface (<b>410</b>). The inner surface (<b>410</b>) corresponds to the dents in the latch protrusions (<b>112</b>) of the end plug (<b>11</b>).

p-0034The collar (<b>30</b>) is resilient, is mounted around the shaft of the latch bar (<b>40</b>) adjacent to the pivot latch (<b>41</b>), is larger than the coaxial slot (<b>111</b>), is mounted and held between the latch protrusions (<b>112</b>) and has a through hole (<b>31</b>).

p-0035With further reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5 and 6</figref>, the spring (<b>60</b>) is mounted around the shaft of the latch bar (<b>40</b>) between the cylinder (<b>10</b>) and the end plug (<b>11</b>) and is mounted in the notch (<b>512</b>) of the mounting protrusion (<b>51</b>) and around the spring mount (<b>113</b>) of the end plug (<b>11</b>).

p-0036Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.