Thumb Drive with Retractable USB Connector

Abstract

A thumb drive comprises on-board memory for storing digital information, a male USB connector coupled to the on-board memory for connecting to a USB port of a computer appliance, internal control elements for managing MP3 player functions for the thumb drive, a display for displaying downloaded song titles, user-operable controls for selecting and playing songs recorded as audio files in the on-board memory as audio output at an output connector, a Bluetooth™ compatible transmitter for transmitting selected data and audio output to external Bluetooth™ compatible devices, and an extension/retraction mechanism coupled to the connector for extending the connector from an enclosure of the drive and for retracting the connector when not in use.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A thumb drive comprising: 
 a housing enclosure having a width, a height and a length, and a substantially rectangular opening in one end, the opening closed by a flap-gate;    on-board memory within the housing enclosure for storing digital information; and    a male USB connector coupled to the on-board memory and constrained to translate from a position within the housing enclosure to a position outside the housing enclosure through the substantially rectangular opening, the USB connector for connecting to a female USB port of a computer appliance;    wherein extending the male connector opens the flap-gate, and retracting the male connector allows the flap-gate to close.    
   
   
       21 . The thumb drive of  claim 20  further comprising a slide button coupled through an opening in the housing to the USB connector, wherein moving the slide button in one direction extends the connector from the housing to couple to a female connector, and moving the slide button in the opposite direction retracts the connector within the housing enclosure.  
   
   
       22 . The thumb drive of  claim 21  further comprising detents which provide, in concert with the slide button, detention of the coupled memory and USB connector in a fully extended or a fully withdrawn position.  
   
   
       23 . The thumb drive of  claim 20  wherein the on-board memory is digital flash memory.  
   
   
       24 . The thumb drive of  claim 23  wherein memory capacity is equal to or exceeds 256 Mbytes.  
   
   
       25 . The thumb drive of  claim 20  further comprising a light integrated into the body and directed in the same direction as extending the USB connector, and an on-board power supply for energizing the light.  
   
   
       26 . The thumb drive of  claim 25  wherein operating the slide button also turns on the light.  
   
   
       27 . The thumb drive of  claim 20  further comprising internal control elements for managing MP3 player functions for the thumb drive, a display for displaying downloaded song titles, and user-operable controls for selecting and playing songs recorded as audio files in the on-board memory as audio output at an output connector.  
   
   
       28 . The thumb drive of  claim 27  further comprising a set of ear buds or earphones compatible with the output connector.  
   
   
       29 . The thumb drive of  claim 28  wherein the earbuds are associated with a wireless receiver, and the thumb drive comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting audio to the earbuds.  
   
   
       30 . The thumb drive of  claim 29  wherein the earbuds are separate devices each receiving a separate portion of transmitted audio.