Portable hard disk drive connector with a parallel (printer) port control board and a U-shaped frame

Abstract

A portable hard disk drive connector with a parallel (printer) port control board including: a casing including an upper cover and a lower cover engaged with the upper cover; and a control board fixedly fitted in the lower cover and having a parallel (printer) port interface input connector partly protruding out the casing, a parallel (printer) port output connector partly protruding out of the casing, and a hard disk drive connector provided at its both ends with a rack thus forming a U-shaped frame for receiving a hard disk drive.

I claim: 
     
       1. A portable hard disk drive connector with a parallel (printer) port control board comprising: a casing including an upper cover and a lower cover engaged with the upper cover; and   a control board fixedly fitted in said lower cover and having a parallel (printer) port interface input connector partly protruding out of said casing, a parallel (printer) port output connector partly protruding out of said casing, and a hard disk drive connector having two parallel racks each extending outwardly from each end of said hard disk drive connector thus forming a U-shaped frame for receiving a hard disk drive.   
     
     
       2. The portable hard disk drive connector with a parallel (printer) port control board as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper cover is formed with a recess above said U-shaped frame thereby making it easier to engage or disengage a hard disk drive with said hard disk drive connector. .Iadd. 
     
     
       3.  An adapter for connecting a portable data storage device to a computer having an externally disposed printer parallel port connector, said adapter comprising: a casing;   a control card mounted within said casing;   a frame in said casing, said casing having an exposed opening aligned with said frame to allow ready insertion and removal of a portable data storage device into said casing and received in said frame;   a first connector mounted within said casing and electrically connected to said control card, said first connector adapted to mate with a connector on said portable data storage drive when said portable data storage device is inserted in said frame;   a second connector fixed to said casing and electrically connected to said control card and adapted to mate with said computer printer parallel port connector to support said casing on said computer; and   a third connector carried on said casing and electrically connected to said control card and adapted to mate with a printer cable connector, whereby said adapter can be connected to said computer printer parallel port by said second connector and enable any portable data storage device inserted into said casing to be accessed by said computer..Iaddend..Iadd.4. The adapter according to claim 3 wherein said frame is U-shaped with said casing opening aligned with said U-shaped frame..Iaddend..Iadd.5. The adapter according to claim 3 wherein said portable data storage device comprises a portable hard disk drive..Iaddend.