Patent Application
20070066130
This invention generally relates to systems and methods for transmitting data between devices, and to structures for holding such systems.
Systems and methods have been developed to transmit data from a first device to a second device. As an example, cables have been used to transmit data from a computer to a printer, from one computer to another, from a computer to a projector, between a computer and an Internet connection, between a computer and a still or motion camera, between a computer and a storage device, and the like. Cables have also been used to make connections to scanners, personal digital assistants (PDAs), telephones such as mobile phones, speakers, and modems, as further examples. However, a number of different types of plugs are found on such devices and in the past it has been necessary to have different cables with different ends, connectors, or connections to use with different devices. To avoid the need to have many different cables, adaptor tips have been used that convert from one type of connector or plug to another.
However, it can be difficult to efficiently manage a number of different components, for example, a cable and a number of different adapter tips. Therefore, a need exists for a structure or apparatus for holding such components, and for a kit that includes both the components and the holder. Further, needs and potential for benefit exists for such a holder or kit that is inexpensive to manufacture, small, light weight, or has a combination of these properties. Even further, needs and potential for benefit exists for such a holder or kit that organizes the various components in a manner such that the user can easily identify and access the needed components, return components to the holder, determine whether components are missing, or a combination thereof. Potential for improvement exists in these and other areas that may be apparent to a person of skill in the art having studied this document.
Embodiments of this invention include methods, systems, kits, and apparatuses for transmitting data between devices (e.g., computers, and electronic peripheral devices), holding data transmission units such as cables, and holding a number of adapter tips configured to attach to the transmission unit or cable and to plugs on the devices. Different embodiments of the invention may transmit or facilitate the transmission of data, or may hold an apparatus that transmits of facilitates the transmission of data. Particular embodiments may include or hold a cable and a plurality of tips for the cable.
Various embodiments of the invention provide as an object or benefit that they partially or fully address one or more of the needs, potential areas for improvement, and functions described herein, for instance. The present invention provides various embodiments that may be more useful, less complex, less costly, more convenient, more manageable, smaller, more reliable, or a combination thereof, in comparison with various prior art. Further features and advantages of the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art.
In a specific embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus for transmitting data between a first device and a second device. The apparatus may include a data transmission unit which may have a first connector and a second connector, and the unit may be configured to transmit data from the first connector to the second connector. The apparatus may also include a plurality of tips configured to attach to at least one of the first connector and the second connector, and the plurality of tips may be configured to connect to and facilitate exchange of data through a plurality of types of plugs that may be present at the first device, the second device, or both. Such an apparatus may further include a reusable structure configured to hold both the unit and the plurality of tips. In some embodiments, the first device, the second device, or both, may be a computer, for example.
In particular embodiments, the data transmission unit consists essentially of a cable which may have a first end and a second end, and the first end may include the first connector described above, and the second end may include the second connector. Further, in some embodiments, the structure, which may consist essentially of a monolithic plastic body, may be configured so that the cable may conveniently be wound around the structure. The structure may include a plurality of recesses configured to hold the plurality of tips, and in certain embodiments, a recess may be provided for each of the plurality of tips, which may be configured to hold the tips via an interference fit, a snap fit, or a combination thereof. In particular embodiments, the unit and the tips may be held at least partially external to the structure.
In another specific embodiment, this invention provides an apparatus for holding a cable and a plurality of adaptor tips configured to attach to at least one end of the cable. The cable may be a computer cable, for instance, and in particular embodiments, the plurality of tips may comprise at least two of a male A tip, a female A tip, a male B tip, a male mini B tip, and a male mini A tip, for example. The apparatus, which may consist essentially of a monolithic plastic body, may include recesses as mentioned above, and opposing surfaces configured for the cable to be wound around, which may be substantially concave surfaces in certain embodiments. Yet another specific embodiment of this invention provides an apparatus for a similar purpose that includes a combination of a monolithic plastic body with opposing substantially concave surfaces on opposite ends and a plurality of recesses between the ends, which each have at least three sides and at least one opening. In some embodiments, these recesses may be substantially parallel.
In still another specific embodiment, this invention provides a method of providing cable connections between a plurality of different plug types. The method may include providing a reusable structure configured to hold a cable wound around the structure and configured to hold a plurality of tips configured to be attached to the cable. The structure may be similar to the structure or body described above, and the tips may be similar to those described above, as examples. In some embodiments, the structure may be configured to hold the tips at least partially within the structure. The method may also include providing the cable wound around the structure, providing an image of the cable wound around the structure, providing an instruction to wind the cable around the structure, or a combination thereof. The method further may include providing the plurality of tips at least partially within the structure, providing an image showing the tips at least partially within the structure, providing an instruction to store the tips at least partially within the structure, or a combination thereof.
The figures in this document illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements. Embodiments of the invention may include part or all of the features shown in one of these drawings, or may include features from two or more figures. Accordingly,
Various embodiments of the invention include systems, apparatuses, and methods for transmitting data, for example, between devices. In addition, certain embodiments of the invention provide a reusable structure for holding a data transmission unit such as a cable, and a number of adapter tips configured to attach to different plug types. Such a cable may be a computer cable, for instance, and may be used to connect a computer to one or more of a number of peripheral devices. In a number of different embodiments, the cable may be wound around the structure, which may be configured specifically for that purpose, and the tips may be stored in recesses in the structure in certain embodiments. In particular embodiments, these recesses may have at least three sides and at least one opening. The recesses may be parallel or substantially parallel in different embodiments, and, in some embodiments, the tips may be held in place within the structure or body by an interference or snap fit. In many embodiments, the unit and tips may be held at least partially external to the structure. This structure may, in some embodiments, be a monolithic plastic body. Opposing surfaces may be provided on opposite ends of the structure upon which to wind the cable, and these surfaces may be concave or substantially concave in various embodiments. Methods of providing cable connections in accordance with the invention, for example, between devices, may include providing the structure or body and teaching a user or potential user to wind the cable around the structure and to store or hold the tips at least partially within the structure.
Looking now at particular embodiments,
Tips 11, 12, 13, and 14 may be configured to attach to one or both of connectors 18 and 19 of cable 17, and these tips may be configured to connect to different types of plugs, for example, that may be present on various devices between which cable 17 and the appropriate tips 11-14 may provide for or facilitate transmitting data. As examples, one of the devices to which cable 17 or one of the tips 11-14 may attach may be a computer, such as a desk top personal computer (PC) or a laptop computer. The other device may be another computer or a projector, an Internet connection, a still or motion camera, a storage device, a scanner, a PDA, a telephone, a mobile phone, a speaker, a modem or the like, as examples. The data transmission unit, such as cable 17, and at least one of tips 11-14 may facilitate the exchange of data between the two devices, such as a computer and another device, through plugs present on the devices. Different devices may have different types of plugs, and different tips 11-14 may facilitate the exchange of data (in one direction or both) between such devices.
Referring still to
In specific examples, tips 11-14 may provide a male A connection, a female A connection, a male B connection, a male mini B connection, a male mini A connection, or a combination of these. In some embodiments, tips 11-14 may include Firewire connections. In some embodiments, tips 11-14 may include telecom related RJ-11 or RJ-45 connectors, as other examples. In some embodiments, some or all of tips 11-14 may have different connections on at least one end of the tips to facilitate connecting to different types of plugs on the devices with which the invention may be used. In some embodiments, at least two different connections (to different types of plugs) may be provided among tips 11-14. In particular embodiments, at least three different connections may be provided among tips 11-14. In some embodiments, each of tips 11-14 may provide a different connection to a different type of plug.
Tips 11-14 may include a label indicating the type of connection that they provide or the type of plug that they connect to. In some embodiments, different tips having different connections for different plugs may be color coded, identified by a symbol, identified by size, or the like. The embodiment of body 15 that is illustrated in
As mentioned,
In the embodiment illustrated, embodiment 15a, tips 11-14 are said to be held at least partially external to structure or body 15 since at least one of sides 21d, 21e, and 21f are open. In other words, openings 21d, 21e, and 21f are not covered by a lid, for example. However since tip 11, for example, is at least partially below opening 21d, tip 11 is said to be at least partially within structure or body 15. The same would be true for the other tips 12-14 in the embodiment that is depicted.
Still referring to
In other embodiments, side 21a, side 21c, or both, may have indentations or projections, and tip 11 may fit into recess 21 with a snap fit, for example. In such embodiments, the other recesses 22-24 and the other tips 12-14 may fit similarly and in some embodiments, each of the tips may be held in a recess.
Body 15 may be made of a polymer or plastic, and may be formed in one piece (i.e., monolithic), for example, by molding or by extrusion. Body 15 may be made of a thermal plastic or a thermal set plastic, for instance. In particular embodiments, body 15 may be made of polypropylene. Body 15 may be reusable, and may be configured so that tips 11-14, for example, may be removed and reinserted into recesses 21-24 repeatedly, each time being held in place by an interference or snap fit, for example. As used herein, the term “reusable” does not refer to packaging that is typically discarded when a product is first used.
In various embodiments, body 15 may be configured to hold a data transmission unit such as cable 17 illustrated in
Referring to
In particular embodiments, surface 38 and surface 39 include grooves 38g and 39g as illustrated in
Alternate embodiments of body 15 are illustrated in
In embodiment 15c, tips 11-14 are stored in recesses 51, 52, 53, and 54. Recesses 51-54 may be configured to hold tips 11-14, and may have five sides (e.g., bottom, right, left, front, and back) and one opening (e.g., top). Tips 11-14 may be held within recesses 51-54 with an interference fit or snap fit, for example. Embodiment 15c includes groove 56 to facilitate removal of tips 11-14 from recesses 51-54. As illustrated, embodiment 15c of body 15 includes surfaces 58 and 59 which are configured to contact cable 17. As illustrated, in embodiment 15c, surfaces 58 and 59 are opposite to each other and are concave. As in embodiments 15a and 15b, embodiment 15c and surfaces 58 and 59 specifically, are configured for cable 17 to be wound around structure or body 15, as shown. Further, as used herein, tips 11-14 and cable 17 are at least partially external to embodiment 15c of structure or body 15.
The invention also includes various methods which may be used in conjunction with structures or apparatuses in accordance with the invention, for example, as described herein. Methods in accordance with the invention include methods of providing connections between different types of plugs, for example, between devices. Such connections, may be used to transmit data between electrical devices, for instance. In a specific example,
Method 60 may also include steps that teach a user how to use the structure. For example, method 60 may include the step of teaching a user to wind the cable around the structure (step 64). This may include, for example, providing instructions to wind the cable around the structure, providing an image, such as a drawing or photograph, of the cable wound around the structure, or providing the cable wound around the structure so that the user can see how to wind the cable. In some embodiments, the teaching of winding the cable may be accomplished in more than one way. For instance, teaching to wind the cable may be accomplished with a combination of providing the cable wound around the structure or body and advertising that the cable can be stored by being wound around the structure.
Method 60 may also include a step of teaching the user to store the tips within the structure (step 66). This may include, for instance, providing instructions to store the tips with in the structure, which may be in writing, for example, providing an image showing the tips at least partially within the structure, or providing the tips within the structure so that the user can see where they are stored. In some embodiments, more than one of these steps of teaching may be employed. For instance, teaching to store the tips may be accomplished with a combination of providing the tips in or on the structure or body and advertising that the tips can be stored in or on the structure. Instructions or images may be provided on the packaging, in instruction sheets, or the like.
The detailed description of examples of embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show examples of embodiments by way of illustration and its best mode. While these examples of embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, unless stated otherwise, the steps recited in the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented.
Further, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and element(s) that may cause benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the claims or the invention. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or a variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, no element described herein is required for the practice of the invention unless expressly described as “essential” or “critical”.
