Patent Grant
10122118
Computing environments often have certain physical space limitations. For example, an enclosed network rack may be designed to house several rackmount network devices. In this example, the enclosed network rack may include a front door and/or a back door. However, the enclosure may provide only limited space between the rackmount network devices and the doors. As a result, to properly close the doors on the network rack, any external components that support the rackmount network devices may need to fit within a very tight space in the enclosure.
As a specific example, an enclosed network rack may have only about 1.5 inches between the mounted network devices and the doors of the enclosure. In this example, some of those mounted network devices may require one or more external power cables for operation. Unfortunately, many traditional power cables capable of supporting such rackmount network devices may have plugs that exceed 1.5 inches in depth. As a result, upon plugging one of those power cables into a network device mounted to the rack, the corresponding door of the enclosure may be unable to fully and/or properly close, thereby impeding the functionality and/or undermining the purpose of the enclosure.
The instant disclosure, therefore, identifies and addresses a need for improved and/or additional apparatuses, systems, and methods for achieving power connections in space-limited computing environments.
As will be described in greater detail below, the instant disclosure generally relates to apparatuses, systems, and methods for achieving power connections in space-limited computing environments. In one example, an apparatus for accomplishing such a task may include (1) a right-angle power plug that (A) plugs into a computing device and (B) facilitates feeding electrical power to the computing device when plugged into the computing device and (2) at least one power cable that is electrically coupled to the right-angle power plug at a right angle such that the power cable runs perpendicular to the right-angle power plug.
Similarly, a right-angle power plug may include (1) a connector that mates with a connector of a computing device, (2) at least one power cable that (A) is electrically coupled to the connector of the right-angle power plug and (B) carries electrical power to the computing device through the connector of the right-angle power plug, and (3) a body that houses an interface at which the power cable is electrically coupled to the connector of the right-angle power plug, wherein the body and the power cable form a right angle such that the power cable runs perpendicular to the body.
A corresponding method may include (1) forming a right-angle power plug that (A) plugs into a computing device and (B) facilitates feeding electrical power to the computing device when plugged into the computing device and (2) electrically coupling a power cable to a right-angle power plug at a right angle such that the power cable runs perpendicular to the right-angle power plug.
Features from any of the above-mentioned embodiments may be used in combination with one another in accordance with the general principles described herein. These and other embodiments, features, and advantages will be more fully understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a number of exemplary embodiments and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of the instant disclosure.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference characters and descriptions indicate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. While the exemplary embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.
The present disclosure describes various apparatuses, systems, and methods for achieving power connections in space-limited computing environments. As will be explained in greater detail below, embodiments of the instant disclosure may include, involve, and/or provide a right-angle power plug that plugs into a computing device and carries electrical power to the computing device. In addition, embodiments of the instant disclosure may include, involve, and/or provide power cables that are electrically coupled to the power plug at a right angle. In other words, the power cables may project and/or jut out of the power plug at an approximately 90-degree angle. By projecting and/or jutting out of the power plug in this way, the power cables may enable the power plug to make a power connection in tighter spaces than traditional straight power plugs.
Embodiments of the instant disclosure may also include, involve, and/or provide a cable management solution that facilitates holding power cables to the body of a right-angle power plug. In one example, the power cables held to the body of the right-angle power plug may originate from and/or be electrically coupled to another right-angle power plug. For example, a set of right-angle power plugs may be plugged into an enclosed network device mounted to a network rack. In this example, one of the right-angle power plugs may include some grooves that are fitted to hold the power cables that originate from and/or are electrically coupled to the other right-angle power plug. In doing so, the grooves may serve to manage and/or guide the power cables within the enclosure to prevent and/or avoid tangling and/or knotting with one another.
The following will provide, with reference to
Accordingly, in apparatus 100, power cable 104 may run perpendicular to right-angle power plug 102. In some examples, right-angle power plug 102 may be fitted to connect and/or secure to a computing device. In such examples, power cable 104 may project and/or jut out of right-angle power plug 102 at an approximately 90-degree angle from the plane on which the right-angle power plug 102 connects and/or secures to the computing device.
In one example, right-angle power plug 102 may plug into a computing device that is mounted to an enclosed network rack. When plugged into the computing device, right-angle power plug 102 may facilitate feeding electrical power to the computing device by way of power cable 104. Examples of such a computing device include, without limitation, rackmount network devices, routers, switches, hubs, modems, bridges, repeaters, gateways, multiplexers, network adapters, network interfaces, network racks, chasses, laptops, tablets, desktops, servers, network devices, storage devices, client devices, cellular phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), multimedia players, embedded systems, wearable devices (e.g., smart watches, smart glasses, etc.), gaming consoles, portions of one or more of the same, combinations or variations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable computing device.
Right-angle power plug 102 may include various components that support the consistent feeding of electrical power to the computing device. For example, right-angle power plug 102 may include various components that facilitate the transfer of electricity, such as conductors, wires, cords, contacts, jacks, and/or electrical connectors. Right-angle power plug 102 may also include various components that facilitate establishing and/or ensure a reliable physical and/or electrical connection to the computing device, such as retentions screws, screw holes, physical connectors, and/or sockets.
Similarly, power cable 104 may include various components that support the consistent feeding of electrical power to the computing device. For example, power cable 104 may include various components that facilitate the transfer of electricity, such as conductors, wires, cords, contacts, jacks, and/or electrical connectors. Power cable 104 may also include various components designed to prevent against electric shock and/or short circuits, such as insulation, sheathing, and/or non-conductive material.
Right-angle power plug 102 and power cable 104 may facilitate the transfer of any type or form of electrical power. In one example, right-angle power plug 102 and power cable 104 may facilitate the transfer of Alternating Current (AC) power. In another example, right-angle power plug 102 and power cable 104 may facilitate the transfer of Direct Current (DC) power.
In some examples, power cable 104 may also be electrically connected and/or coupled to a power source and/or power supply module (not illustrated in
Right-angle power plug 102 may include holes 206(1) and 206(2) that are each fitted to accept and/or hold a retention screw that secures right-angle power plug 102 to a computing device. In some examples, holes 206(1) and 206(2) may be threaded and/or tapered. In other examples, holes 206(1) and 206(2) may be unthreaded and/or untapered.
Body 310 may include and/or represent a casing and/or cover that at least partially surrounds the interface at which power cable 104 establishes an electrical connection with connector 308. Body 310 may include and/or incorporate a variety of different materials. In some examples, body 310 may be composed of non-conductive and/or insulative materials, such as plastics, rubbers, and/or ceramics. In such examples, the power carried by power cable 104 may avoid being passed through body 310 on the way to the computing device.
Connector 308 may include and/or represent any type or form of full or partial fastener, fitting, and/or coupling that facilitates a physical, mechanical, and/or electrical connection with the computing device. In one example, connector 308 may include and/or represent a female receptacle that mates with a male member on the computing device. In another example, connector 308 may include and/or represent a male member that mates with a female receptacle on the computing device. Either way, connector 308 may include conductive material that facilitates the transfer of electrical power to the computing device. Accordingly, the power carried by power cable 104 may be passed through connector 308 on the way to the computing device.
As illustrated in
As a specific example, body 310 of right-angle power plug 102 may have a depth 312 that is equal to or less than 1.5 inches. Since, in this example, body 310 of right-angle power plug 102 is so small and power cable 104 projects and/or juts out of body 310 at a right angle, power plug 102 may be able to fit and/or make an electrical connection with a network device mounted to an enclosed network rack. In this example, due to the design of power plug 102, the doors of the network rack may be able to fully close even in the event that the amount of space between the mounted network device and the doors is only 1.5 inches.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Body 610 may house an interface and/or electrical connection point at which power cables 604(1) and 604(2) are electrically coupled to the connector of right-angle power plug 102. In this example, power cables 604(1) and 604(2) may also be electrically coupled to a power source and/or power supply module (not illustrated in
In some examples, the right-angle power plugs of both apparatus 100 and apparatus 602 may be plugged into the same computing device. In other examples, the right-angle power plugs of both apparatus 100 and apparatus 602 may be plugged into different computing devices. For example, the right-angle power plug of apparatus 100 may be plugged into one network device mounted to an enclosed network rack. In this example, the right-angle power plug of apparatus 602 may be plugged into another network device mounted to the enclosed network rack. Either way, power cables 104(1) and 104(2) of apparatus 100 may be configured and/or arranged to overlay and/or abut against the backside of body 610 of apparatus 602.
As illustrated in
In one example, grooves 1050(1) and 1050(2) may be arranged and/or formed on opposite sides of body 310 of the right-angle power plug. For example, groove 1050(1) may be arranged and/or formed on the left side of body 310 in
As illustrated in
Body 1210 may house an interface and/or electrical connection point at which power cables 1204(1) and 1204(2) are electrically coupled to the connector of the right-angle power plug. In this example, power cables 1204(1) and 1204(2) may also be electrically coupled to a power source and/or power supply module (not illustrated in
In some examples, the right-angle power plugs of both apparatus 1000 and apparatus 1202 may be plugged into the same computing device. In other examples, the right-angle power plugs of both apparatus 1000 and apparatus 1202 may be plugged into different computing devices. For example, the right-angle power plug of apparatus 1000 may be plugged into one network device mounted to an enclosed network rack. In this example, the right-angle power plug of apparatus 1202 may be plugged into another network device mounted to the enclosed network rack. Either way, power cables 104(1) and 104(2) of apparatus 1000 may be held, guided, and/or maintained in position against body 1210 of apparatus 1202 by grooves. For example, power cable 104(1) may be held and/or contained by the groove on the left side of body 1210 in
Returning to
While the foregoing disclosure sets forth various embodiments using specific illustrations, flowcharts, and examples, each illustration component, flowchart step, operation, and/or component described and/or exemplified herein may be implemented, individually and/or collectively, using a wide range of hardware, software, or firmware (or any combination thereof) configurations. In addition, any disclosure of components contained within other components should be considered exemplary in nature since many other architectures can be implemented to achieve the same functionality.
The process parameters and sequence of the steps described and/or illustrated herein are given by way of example only and can be varied as desired. For example, while the steps illustrated and/or described herein may be shown or discussed in a particular order, these steps do not necessarily need to be performed in the order illustrated or discussed. The various exemplary methods described and/or illustrated herein may also omit one or more of the steps described or illustrated herein or include additional steps in addition to those disclosed.
The preceding description has been provided to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize various aspects of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. This exemplary description is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant disclosure. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Reference should be made to the appended claims and their equivalents in determining the scope of the instant disclosure.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms “connected to” and “coupled to” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as permitting both direct and indirect (i.e., via other elements or components) connection. In addition, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” Finally, for ease of use, the terms “including” and “having” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification and claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.”
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5848916 | Huang | Dec 1998 | A |
| 20150340806 | Ilkhanov | Nov 2015 | A1 |
