Patent ID: 6356952
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A computer hub for use in a local area network comprising:a hub body enclosing a circuit board and having a top side, a bottom side, and a plurality of peripheral sides, wherein one side of said hub body includes a plurality of permanent magnets in a predetermined spatial arrangement and in a predetermined arrangement of magnetic poles and wherein one side of said hub body includes a plurality of electrical contact terminals in a predetermined spatial arrangement; a plurality of network communication connection ports distributed in a predetermined spatial arrangement on said plurality of peripheral sides of said hub body; a battery box enclosing a power supply for supplying electrical power to said circuit board enclosed in said hub body, wherein one side of said battery box includes a plurality of permanent magnets in a spatial arrangement corresponding to said predetermined spatial arrangement of said permanent magnets on said hub body and with an arrangement of magnetic poles opposite that of said predetermined arrangement of magnetic poles on said hub body and wherein one side of said battery box includes a plurality of electrical power terminals in a spatial arrangement corresponding to that of said predetermined spatial arrangement of said electrical contact terminals on said hub body; and, said battery box being attached to said hub body by magnetic attraction between said plurality of permanent magnets on said hub body and said plurality of permanent magnets on said battery box, whereby the attachment of said battery box to said hub body permits said electrical contact terminals of said hub body to engage with said electrical power terminals of said battery box.