The present invention generally relates to computers, and more particularly relates to personal computers, and even more particularly relates to commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) rugged personal computers.
In recent years, the use of COTS computer hardware has increased in military applications. COTS connectors, such as the PS/2 connector commonly used to connect keyboards and mice with their respective PCs, are liked because of their low cost and ease of insertion owing to their low insertion force design.
However, the downside to the low insertion force design is that unwanted disconnection can occur more frequently.
In the past, these unwanted disconnections have been addressed by adhesively bonding the PS/2 cable to the rear I/O panel of the computer or by including an add-on sheet metal bracket that to which PS/2 cables are lashed.
While these approaches have significant utility, there exists a need for low cost systems and methods which do not have some of the downfalls of the prior art methods.
For example, there is a need for a system and method which does not have the serviceability issues of increasing costs for maintenance because of increased time needed for repair, cleanup and removal operation, that is associated with the adhesive approach. Also, there is a need to avoid the intrusion in the cable routing space by the sheet metal bracket approach.
Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for securing COTS connectors in a military environment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for retaining, in an efficient manner, the COTS connectors which exhibit unwanted disconnection from their respective personal computers.
It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a bail style retention clip which urges the COTS connector into its intended fully inserted position.
It is another feature of the present invention to include multiple points of connection between the retention clip and the connector and the retention clip and the computer.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide low cost systems and methods for retaining COTS connectors.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for enhancing the proper retention of COTS connectors into military personal computers designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages.
The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:
Now referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to
A first COTS cable side connector 102 and a second COTS cable side connector 104 shown disposed in COTS chassis side connectors in the PC 101 or other device. COTS cable side connector 102 is shown with a bail retention clip 106 of
Now referring to
Now referring to
In operation, the apparatus and method of the present invention could function as follows: The bail clip 106 is either attached to the chassis 110 via a screw, pin, etc., and free end loop 301 or it is wedged into a gap between the I/O plate cover 109 and the computer chassis 110, much like section 201 of
It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1143536 | Goodridge | Jun 1915 | A |
2266560 | Mansfield | Dec 1941 | A |
2675530 | Sadasky | Apr 1954 | A |
2721313 | English | Oct 1955 | A |
2722665 | Sauder | Nov 1955 | A |
2728058 | Phalen | Dec 1955 | A |
3041571 | Friend et al. | Jun 1962 | A |
3097034 | Jamrosy | Jul 1963 | A |
3387254 | Wheeler | Jun 1968 | A |
3475716 | Laig | Oct 1969 | A |
3811104 | Caldwell | May 1974 | A |
3871731 | LaCoursiere et al. | Mar 1975 | A |
4204738 | Tillotson | May 1980 | A |
4588238 | Mickelson et al. | May 1986 | A |
4643503 | Johnson et al. | Feb 1987 | A |
4702709 | Santilli | Oct 1987 | A |
5044976 | Thompson | Sep 1991 | A |
5174781 | Muzslay | Dec 1992 | A |
5251101 | Liu | Oct 1993 | A |
5323845 | Kin-shon | Jun 1994 | A |
5328384 | Magnuson | Jul 1994 | A |
5348495 | Kasden | Sep 1994 | A |
5470249 | Manganello | Nov 1995 | A |
5472355 | Wittmann | Dec 1995 | A |
5507664 | Carmo | Apr 1996 | A |
5593313 | Shibuya et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5782648 | Peterson | Jul 1998 | A |
5860827 | Lee | Jan 1999 | A |
6101091 | Baik | Aug 2000 | A |
6176728 | Bonnet et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6246589 | August et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6276952 | Ferranti et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6327159 | Davies et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6491539 | Johnston | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6739896 | Sivertsen | May 2004 | B2 |
6767237 | Shih | Jul 2004 | B1 |
6966792 | Willers et al. | Nov 2005 | B1 |
7118414 | Spears et al. | Oct 2006 | B2 |
7140903 | Pulizzi et al. | Nov 2006 | B2 |
7207826 | Yang | Apr 2007 | B1 |
7241163 | Cox et al. | Jul 2007 | B1 |
7303432 | Chen et al. | Dec 2007 | B1 |
7429701 | Kushnir et al. | Sep 2008 | B1 |
7513791 | Gary | Apr 2009 | B1 |
7695305 | Ray et al. | Apr 2010 | B1 |
7722380 | West et al. | May 2010 | B1 |
7850478 | Lin et al. | Dec 2010 | B2 |
7857654 | West et al. | Dec 2010 | B2 |
7938671 | Hayden, Sr. | May 2011 | B2 |
8029308 | Saruwatari | Oct 2011 | B2 |
8134074 | Ong et al. | Mar 2012 | B2 |
8197279 | Yan et al. | Jun 2012 | B1 |
8248820 | Wu et al. | Aug 2012 | B2 |
8287298 | Hsu et al. | Oct 2012 | B2 |
8337236 | Shu | Dec 2012 | B2 |
20020068477 | Chen-Chiang et al. | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20030209361 | Sivertsen | Nov 2003 | A1 |
20040038581 | Brown | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20050164548 | Spears et al. | Jul 2005 | A1 |
20060264087 | Woellner et al. | Nov 2006 | A1 |
20080076291 | Ewing et al. | Mar 2008 | A1 |
20100248527 | West et al. | Sep 2010 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61419127 | Dec 2010 | US |