Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-06
2001-11-06
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C439S719000, C206S320000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312278
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to retaining devices for electronic equipment and more specifically to cable retention devices to facilitate organization of the cables used to operate electronic equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Due to recent technological advances, the use of electronic equipment, such as personal and notebook computers, printers, and other similar electronic equipment has increased dramatically. Often, such electronic devices require a multitude of cable connections. For example, in a training environment, multiple portable computers and networking equipment are connected via cables. The physical space dedicated to such activity is often not well suited to the abundance of cables necessary to operate the equipment. These cables dangle from the connection ports of the individual devices and create several problems.
First, the cables may become twisted together, making disconnection for portability difficult and cumbersome. Second, the cables may merely dangle from their connection ports in a disorderly manner and such dangling cables are not aesthetically pleasing. Third, the cable connection ports are becoming larger in number, increasingly smaller, and more fragile. This increases the risk of damaging the cables, ports, or both. Although a preferred arrangement provides the portable equipment with a sufficiently secured station to avoid incidental strain on the connection ports, such an arrangement is not available. A user may be faced with a narrow surface or an over-crowded room. The potential for unwanted or mistaken disconnection of a cable increases. Further, the disorderly nature of the cables provides the potential hazard of tripping over a cable that dangles to the floor. Any solution to these problems requires sufficient portability so as not to hinder the portable nature of the equipment itself. In this regard, a desirable aspect of any cable-retaining device is the ability to be adjustable and flexible in any given environment. For example, one aspect to improve the adjustable nature of any retaining device is the ability to easily slide as a unit over the surface upon which it is placed, thus improving versatility, while maintaining cable organization and strain relief.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a solution to the above problems by providing for the cables of portable electrical devices to be arranged in an orderly manner and by alleviating unwanted strain imposed upon the connection ports. The orderly nature of the cables provides a more secure station and assists in preventing unwanted disconnection and unwanted stumbling over unsecured cables. Although cables may attach at different locations on the electronic device, the present invention is adaptable to collect the cables regardless of their attachment point.
In particular, the present invention relates to a cable pad for organizing the cables of electronic equipment, such as a notebook computer. The cable pad has a base of sufficient size and shape such that when the equipment is placed upon the base, a peripheral margin should remain. Along the peripheral margin, the present invention has one or more securing elements. Preferably, the securing elements are along the back and on the right and left side of the base.
The securing element is adapted to connect a retention element to the base. The retention element is adjustable to secure the cables to the base. The retention element may be any appropriate fastening device that is able to maintain cables upon the base. Further, the securing element is any appropriate means to secure at least one retention element to the base. In this specification therefore, the phrase “securing element” is used to include and describe any appropriate technique to secure the retention element to the base. Thus, the securing element may be an opening through which the retention element may be secured, a releasable fastener that mates with a corresponding fastener on the retention element, or a non-releasable fastener to affix the retention element to the base.
Preferably, the base is made of flexible material that is thin and substantially planar. The bottom of the base preferably may be formed with a low-friction surface. The top of the base preferably includes a high-friction surface to provide some surface retention of the equipment on the pad. The top surface of the base may include a mouse pad suitable for operation of a mouse, or the entire pad may be turned over to provide a mouse pad surface.
The present invention also relates to a method and, additionally, a kit for securing cable connections to cabled equipment. The method includes, among other things, placing the electronic equipment on a flexible pad, connecting the cables to the equipment, and securing the cables to the flexible pad. In this manner, the cables are sufficiently secured to the pad so as to organize the cables, preserve the cable connection, and reduce the risk of hazards associated with dangling and entangled cables. The kit includes the components necessary for organizing cables on the cable pad.
These and other aspects of the present invention as disclosed herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiments when considered with the drawings. The drawings are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.
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Hyeon Hae Moon
Prior Associates, Inc.
Sircus Brian
Withrow & Terranova , PLLC
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