US Patent 7462044 Thumb drive with retractable USB connector

A thumb drive has an elongated housing enclosing a coupled memory and male USB connector constrained on a translation mechanism in the direction of the long dimension of the housing, with an opening at a first end of the housing through which the male USB connector may extend and retract, a cover hinged at a second end opposite the first end of the housing, the cover shaped to fold over the housing when closed and having an extension that covers the opening for the connector at the first end of the housing, and a mechanism coupling the cover and the USB connector such that the cover being rotated from the closed position extends the USB connector from the opening, the connector fully extended with the hinged cover fully rotated open.