A Flippable USB Plug - This is smart!

Published on April 15, 2011 By DrJBHL In Personal Computing

Ma Yi Xuan, wherever you are: Bless you!

How much time have you wasted trying to flip the USB plug so it fits?

This is how it should have been done in the first place!

The greatest part of this simple modification?

It’s just an extra fixed piece of squishy plastic (in addition to the one already in USB plugs) to press the electrical contacts into place, regardless of which side is facing up.

My blessing to this designer who just made USB plugs “me proof”.

Source: A really great Stardock employee who turned me onto -

http://www.ff3300.com/wordpress/input/simple-genius-a-usb-plug-that-fits-even-if-its-upside-down/

Comments (Page 2)

DrJBHL

on Apr 15, 2011

kryo

reply 14

If the springs were pressing the contacts together that would be helpful, but in the diagram for this design, they'd be pushing the plug out of the socket.

If the housing were too 'pushable', it would transmit all the force into the socket...or prevent the stretchy layer from going back too far.

Here are more drawings which might explain it to you better than I can in words...

http://www.yankodesign.com/2011/01/25/this-usb-plugs-in-both-ways/

PoSmedley

on Apr 15, 2011

Lord Xia

reply 2

I have to fumble around forever. Just like sex.

I thought the 'fumbling' was foreplay?

Damn. First I have to be told I'm a bad dancer and now this.

DrJBHL

on Apr 15, 2011

PoSmedley

reply 17

Quoting Lord Xia, reply 2I have to fumble around forever. Just like sex.

I thought the 'fumbling' was foreplay?

That's football.

WebGizmos

on Apr 16, 2011

Lord Xia

reply 2

Man, my computer at work, has the most awful USB slot, I comes up from the bottom at this strange angle, I cant see it at all, so every time I try and stick anything in it, I have to fumble around forever. Just like sex.

Just put hair round it!

Uvah

on Apr 16, 2011

WebGizmos

reply 19

Just put hair round it!

Naughty naughty. And once you get past the ***** you got it ******

ElanaAhova

on Apr 16, 2011

Such pun-isment on the hard-ware. Lord Xia, you just need to get a handle on you USB port! Don't complain how old your PC is - that just isn't PC. (smile). Plan a-head, and know which way your thumb drive needs to be oriented before you insert it into the port.

M-203

on Apr 16, 2011

I simply take a felt-tip pen, and mark the side that goes up on each and every USB plug.

Simple and cost-effective problem solving...

Gwenio1

on Apr 16, 2011

M-203

reply 22

I simply take a felt-tip pen, and mark the side that goes up on each and every USB plug.

Simple and cost-effective problem solving...

But what about plugs on machines that are not yours?

DrJBHL

on Apr 16, 2011

^ indeed.

People would probably think.. good!

FredLed

on Apr 16, 2011

Round multi-device pc port

DrJBHL

on Apr 16, 2011

I think that might not be the link you wished to place... leads to a music vid - RickRollHD.

FredLed

on Apr 16, 2011

lol, don't tell anyone!

Pupetier

on Apr 16, 2011

If it works and its resistable against "wear and tear" great improvement.

Have 2 PC s and both have broken USB ports due to me pushing USB in wrong way

WebGizmos

on Apr 17, 2011

Greg30007

reply 28

Have 2 PC s and both have broken USB ports due to me pushing USB in wrong way

Virgins...always pushing it in the wrong way.

M-203

on Apr 17, 2011

Gwenio1

reply 23

But what about plugs on machines that are not yours?

Well, I'd either be getting or giving some data to someone from an external drive,
in which case, I'd have my drive and cable with me.
Or I'd have no buisness messing about with somebody else's computer cables.
(Yes, I DO have a T-Shirt that was printed with the text "No, I can NOT fix your Computer.",

got tired of people coming to me asking me to fix thier screw-ups).

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