Patent Application
20090301754
This description relates the organization and management of cables.
Cable organizers such as cable clips or cable conduits are generally used to route cables and prevent cable tangling. These cable organizers are often integrated into permanent installations where cables will remain stationary except in cases of cable failure.
In one aspect of the invention, a cable includes a first conductor. A second conductor includes a coupling groove that is adapted to receive the first conductor such that the first and the second conductors are adjacent to each other when the first conductor is positioned in the coupling groove.
In one embodiment, one or both of the first and the second conductors is flexible. One or both of the first and the second conductors conducts at least one of an electrical signal, an optical signal and an acoustic signal. One or both of the first and the second conductors can include an insulator.
In one embodiment, a collar is positioned over the first and the second conductors. The collar facilitates the positioning of the first conductor into the coupling groove of the second conductor. In one embodiment, at least one of the first and the second conductors is cylindrical in shape.
In one embodiment, a third conductor is coupled to at least one of the first and the second conductors through a coupling groove.
In another aspect, the invention is embodied in a cable having a first conductor with a first outer jacket. The first outer jacket includes a first mating feature. A second conductor includes a second outer jacket. The second outer jacket includes a second mating feature that mates with the first mating feature. In one embodiment, the first and the second outer jackets are removably coupled to each other along a length of the cable.
In one embodiment, a collar at least partially surrounds the first and the second outer jackets. In one embodiment, the first mating feature is a tongue and the second mating feature is a groove. In another embodiment, the first and the second mating features include two portions of a zipper.
In one embodiment, at least one of the first and the second conductors is flexible. At least one of the first and the second conductors can be cylindrical in shape. The first and the second outer jackets can include an insulator.
In one aspect, the invention is embodied in a method for connecting multiple conductors. The method includes providing a first conductor having a first outer jacket with a first mating feature. A second conductor having a second outer jacket with a second mating feature is positioned adjacent to the first mating feature of the first outer jacket. The first mating feature is mated to the second mating feature such that the first and the second outer jackets are removably coupled to each other.
In one embodiment, the mating of the first and the second mating features includes positioning the first mating feature inside the second mating feature. In another embodiment, the mating of the first and the second mating features includes positioning the first mating feature alongside the second mating feature.
In one embodiment, the mating of the first and the second mating features includes moving a collar over the first and the second outer jackets. In one embodiment, the first mating feature includes a tongue and the second mating feature includes a groove. The mating includes positioning the tongue in the groove. In another embodiment, the first and the second mating features include two portions of a zipper.
This invention is described with particularity in the detailed description. The above and further advantages of this invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
Ear buds are a type of headphones that are widely used with portable music players. The ear buds are coupled to wires that terminate at a standard plug. The plug mates with a connector in the music player. The wires from the ear buds are generally thin and tend to tangle when the ear buds are not in use.
Audio cables and video cables coupled to stereo and video equipment tends to be unorganized and unsightly unless professionally installed. Cables coupled between a personal computer and a video monitor, computer printer, computer speakers, modem, keyboard, and mouse also tend to be unorganized.
In one embodiment, a collar 112 surrounds the first 102 and the second conductors 104. The collar 112 slides along the length of the first 102 and the second conductors 104. The collar 112 is adapted to urge the first mating feature 103 of the first conductor 102 into the coupling groove 108 of the second conductor 104. The collar 112 also secures the first 102 and the second conductors 104, thereby preventing an unintentional decoupling of the first 102 and the second conductors 104.
The first 102 and the second conductors 104 can be formed from conducting wire. An insulator or insulating jacket 110 can surround one or both of the conductors 102, 104. The insulating jacket 110 can be formed from a plastic material. The insulating jacket 110 prevents the first 102 and the second conductors 104 from shorting against each other. The insulating jacket 110 also provides protection for the first 102 and the second conductors 104 from the external environment. In one embodiment, the insulating jacket 110 provides strain relief for the first 102 and the second conductors 104. One or both of the first 102 and the second conductors 104 can include one or more electrical conducting wires, fiber optic cables, or acoustic waveguides. The conductors 102, 104 can conduct electrical signals, optical signals, or acoustic signals.
Although
When the first conductor 102 and the second conductor 104 are separated, one method to removably join them according to one embodiment, is to position the mating feature 106 of the second conductor 104 adjacent to the mating feature 103 of the first conductor 102. Next, the second conductor 104 is mated with the first conductor 102 such that the first 102 and the second conductors 104 are removably coupled to each other. In one embodiment, a user can slide the conductors 102, 104 between her thumb and forefinger to facilitate the coupling. In one embodiment, to facilitate this coupling, the collar 112 surrounding the conductors 102, 104 is slid along a portion of the conductors 102, 104 in a lengthwise direction. The collar 112 urges the coupling of the conductors 102, 104.
In one embodiment, the second conductor 102 includes a mating feature that is positioned inside a mating feature of the first conductor 104. In another embodiment, a mating feature of the first conductor 102 is positioned alongside a mating feature of the second conductor 104. In one embodiment, the mating feature of a first conductor 102 is a tongue and the mating feature of the second conductor 104 is a groove. To removably couple the first 102 and the second conductors 104, the tongue is positioned in the groove. In another embodiment, the mating features are two portions of a zipper structure (not shown). In this embodiment, a collar (not shown) in the shape of a zipper pull couples the two potions of the zipper structure.
Each conductor 302, 304, 306 includes a conducting medium 308, 310, 312. The conducting medium 308, 310, 312 can be an electrical wire, an optical waveguide, or an acoustic waveguide. A shield 314, 316, 318 surrounds each conducting medium 308, 310, 312.
A jacket 320 surrounds each shield 314, 316, 318. The jacket 320 is generally S-shaped and can provide insulation and protection for the conducting medium 308, 310, 312. The S-shaped jacket 320 includes two mating features 322, 324. The first mating feature 322 can be removably coupled to the second mating feature 324.
In one embodiment, the jacket forms at least one pliable hook that runs down at least one side of the conductor to allow it to be temporarily coupled to at least one more conductor with the same hook mechanism. The two hooks from the conductors can interlock through a process of pressing the hooks together. In one embodiment, a collar (not shown) surrounding the two conductors can facilitate the interlocking. The collar can be slid along the length of the conductor, forcing the two separate conductors to join.
In a third step 422, the user 410 inserts the ear buds 406 into her ears and connects the other end of the conductors 402, 404 via a plug (not shown) to an audio source (not shown). When the user 410 is finished listening, the user 410 disconnects the plug from the audio source and removes the ear buds 406 from her ears. In a fourth step 424, the user 410 grasps the end of the conductors 402, 404 with one hand 416 and grasps the collar 412 with the other hand 414. The collar 412 is then moved toward the ear buds 406. To facilitate the movement of the collar 412, the user 410 can either grasp the ear buds 406 with one hand 416 or grasp the plug end of the conductors 402, 404 with the one hand 416 and move the collar 412 with the other hand 414. The first conductor 402 is mated to the second conductor 404 such that the first and the second conductors 402, 404 are removably coupled to each other.
In one embodiment, a collar 518 at least partially surrounds each of the pairs of conductors 512, 514. For example, the collar 518 on one pair of conductors 512 can be adjusted to allow each conductor 504, 506 to mate with a corresponding terminal 520, 522 on the loudspeaker 502.
Another collar 524 at least partially surrounds the two pairs of conductors 512, 514. The collar 524 can be adjusted to allow each pair of conductors 512, 514 to be routed to a respective loudspeaker 526, 528.
The nesting of conductors shown in
In one embodiment, the invention reduces tangling of cables having multiple free ends. This invention can be used to temporarily join the loose ends of any cable, thereby preventing tangling and providing a dressed appearance.
The foregoing description is intended to be merely illustrative of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the appended claims to any particular embodiment or group of embodiments. Thus, while the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should also be appreciated that numerous modifications and alternative embodiments may be devised by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the broader and intended spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims that follow. In addition, the section headings included herein are intended to facilitate a review but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative manner and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.
In interpreting the appended claims, it should be understood that:
a) the word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or acts than those listed in a given claim;
b) the word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements;
c) any reference signs in the claims do not limit their scope;
d) several “means” may be represented by the same item or hardware or software implemented structure or function;
e) any of the disclosed elements may be comprised of hardware portions (e.g., including discrete and integrated electronic circuitry), software portions (e.g., computer programming), and any combination thereof;
f) hardware portions may be comprised of one or both of analog and digital portions;
g) any of the disclosed devices or portions thereof may be combined together or separated into further portions unless specifically stated otherwise; and
h) no specific sequence of acts or steps is intended to be required unless specifically indicated.
