Abstract:
Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a device comprising a hood attachable to a cable connector for a first cable, the cable connector attachable to a substantially planar first circuit card, said hood attachable in a plane of the first circuit card, said hood adapted to constrain a portion of the first cable to within a predetermined volume partially defined by a thickness of the first circuit card, said hood adapted to constrain a portion of a second cable to within the predetermined volume. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims the benefit of commonly-owned U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/356,278 and 60/356,498, both filed Feb. 12, 2002, titled “Cable Connector Hood” and “Clip for a Cable Connector” respectively both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Networks can be found in many environments, including computer equipment rooms, telephone provider central offices and/or switching centers, and/or manufacturing plant instrumentation centers and/or control rooms. Frequently, networks include at least one line card or circuit card that conditions, modifies, and/or processes a signal, noise, interference, etc. traveling on a circuit of the network.  
           [0003]    Each circuit card can be mounted in a rack or other multi-card mounting structure containing a multitude of other circuit cards. Under certain circumstances, it can be desirable to mount such circuit cards as closely together as possible, to conserve valuable space in such environments. When circuit cards are mounted closely together, however, one or more cables connected to a given card can become tangled and/or interfere with access to adjacent cards. Also, such close spacing of circuit cards and cables can create forces that can cause a cable to become unplugged from its respective circuit card.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,425, issued to Kirk et al., allegedly discloses that “a harness cable connector is shown which receives a plurality of insulated wires by a press fit for retaining the wires in a spaced configuration during insertion and assembly of the wires in a printed circuit board. The cable connector is then rolled and locked into the printed circuit board to provide strain relief for the harness cable.” See Abstract.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,147, issued to Brownell et al., allegedly discloses that “[t]here is provided a high density electrical connector for use on a panel which receives a plurality of closely spaced connectors. The connector includes two intermateable halves. One of the connector halves includes an elongated base having wire termination members on one side and associated electrical contacts on the other side. A hood covers the wire termination side of the base. An electrical cable containing a plurality of insulated wires enters on the side of the hood adjacent to a closely spaced adjoining connector at an angle greater than 0.degree. but less than 90.degree. with respect to the base so that the cable will clear the adjoining connector without the need to unduly bend the cable. The top of the hood may be sloped downwardly from its cable receiving side to the opposing side.” See Abstract.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0006]    Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a system comprising a hood attachable to a cable connector for a first cable, the cable connector attachable to a card connector of a first circuit card having a length, a width, and thickness, the first circuit card lengthwise mountable in a multi-card mounting structure, the hood comprising a substantially parallel pair of substantially planar sides adapted to constrain a predetermined portion of the first cable to within a predetermined volume having a volume thickness defined by the thickness of the first circuit card, the sides of the hood connected by a back adapted to separate a predetermined portion of a second cable associated with a second circuit card from the predetermined portion of the first cable, the back of the hood sloped at an angle of greater than 0 degrees and less than approximately 45 degrees with respect to the thickness of the first circuit card, the back of the hood connected to a substantially parallel pair of side extensions adapted to constrain the predetermined portion of the second cable to within the predetermined volume, each of the sides of the hood comprising a recess adapted to receive a protrusion of a hood clamp extending from the first circuit card.  
           [0007]    Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a system comprising a hood attachable to a cable connector for a first cable, the cable connector attachable to a card connector of a first circuit card, said hood comprising a substantially parallel pair of substantially planar sides adapted to constrain a portion of the first cable to within a predetermined volume having a thickness defined by a thickness of the first circuit card, said sides connected by a back adapted to separate a portion of a second cable from the first cable, said back sloped at a maximum angle of less than 60 degrees with respect to a thickness of the first circuit card, said back connected to a substantially parallel pair of side extensions adapted to constrain the portion of the second cable to within the predetermined volume, each of said sides comprising a recess adapted to receive a protrusion of a hood clamp extending from the first circuit card.  
           [0008]    Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a device comprising a hood attachable to a cable connector for a first cable, the cable connector mateable to a card connector in a plane of a substantially planar first circuit card, said hood adapted to resist de-mating of the cable connector from the card connector, said hood adapted to constrain a portion of the first cable to within a first predetermined volume partially defined by a thickness of the first circuit card.  
           [0009]    Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a device comprising a hood for a cable connector for a first cable, the cable connector attached to a first circuit card, a sloped back of said hood separating a portion of the first cable from a portion of a second cable, said hood constraining the portion of the first cable and the portion of the second cable to within a predetermined volume partially defined by a thickness of the first circuit card, the predetermined volume extending substantially perpendicular to a length of the first circuit card.  
           [0010]    Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a device comprising a hood attachable to a cable connector for a first cable, the cable connector attachable to a first circuit card, said hood adapted to constrain a portion of the first cable to within a predetermined volume partially defined by a thickness of the first circuit card, said hood adapted to constrain a portion of a second cable to within the predetermined volume.  
           [0011]    Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a device comprising a hood attachable to a cable connector for a first cable, the cable connector attachable to a substantially planar first circuit card, said hood attachable in a plane of the first circuit card, said hood adapted to constrain a portion of the first cable to within a predetermined volume partially defined by a thickness of the first circuit card, said hood adapted to constrain a portion of a second cable to within the predetermined volume.  
           [0012]    Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method comprising mating a cable connector of a first cable to a card connector attached to a substantially planar first circuit card in a plane of the first circuit card, and placing a hood over the cable connector, the hood attached to a second cable. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The invention and its wide variety of potential embodiments will be readily understood via the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  1000  of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  1000  of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  1000  of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a right perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a device  2000  of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a left perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a device  2000  of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a back perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a device  2000  of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a left view of an exemplary embodiment of a device  2000  of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  3000  of the present invention; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a device  4000  of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]    When circuit cards are mounted closely together, it can be desirable to provide a means for preventing one or more cables connected to a card from becoming tangled and/or from interfering with access to adjacent cards. In certain situations, it can be desirable to provide a means for preventing one or more cables connected to a card from becoming unplugged from its respective circuit card.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a front view, and FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  1000  of the present invention. System  1000  can include a substantially planar circuit card  100 , having a length L, a width W, and a thickness T. Circuit card  100  can include one or more printed circuits attached via a card connector  140  to a faceplate  120 . Circuit card  100  can be suitable for mounting in a multi-card rack.  
         [0025]    A first cable  200  can be attached and/or attachable to first card connector  140  and/or faceplate  120  via a first cable connector  160 . Likewise, a second cable  250  can be attached and/or attachable to second card connector  144  and/or faceplate  120  via a second cable connector  164 . First cable  200  and/or second cable  250  can exit card  100  perpendicular to a length of card  100 . In an alternative embodiment (not shown), second cable  250  can be attached to a second adjacent and/or co-planar circuit card (not shown). In an alternative embodiment, second cable  250  is not attached to card  100 .  
         [0026]    A hood  400  can be installed over first cable connector  160 . Hood  400  can at least partially define a path for at least a portion of first cable  200 , which can include a predetermined portion of first cable  200 . Hood  400  can constrain at least a portion of first cable  200  to a first predetermined and/or predefined volume, such as a volume at least partially defined by the thickness T of circuit card  100 . The first predetermined volume can extend along a width of circuit card  100 , and possibly can extend further, such as for between approximately 0.25 and approximately 24 inches, and any value therebetween, including for example, approximately 0.5, 0.76, 1, 1.48, 2, 2.51, 3.02, 4, 4.97, 6.002, 8, 10, 12.1, 14, 16, 18, and/or 22.03, etc. inches. The first predetermined volume can extend beyond circuit card  100 , in the direction of length L, by a predetermined distance, such as for example, between approximately 1 inches and approximately 8 inches, and any value therebetween, including for example, approximately 1.5, 2, 2.25, 3, 3.17, 3.5, 3.95, and/or 4.5 etc. inches.  
         [0027]    Hood  400  can at least partially define a path for at least a portion of second cable  250 , which can include a predetermined portion of second cable  250 . Hood  400  can at least partially constrain at least a portion of second cable  250  to a second predetermined and/or predefined volume, such as a volume at least partially defined by the thickness T of circuit card  100 . The second predetermined volume can extend along a width of circuit card  100 , and possibly can extend further, such as for between approximately 0.25 and approximately 24 inches, and any value therebetween, including for example, approximately 0.5, 0.76, 1, 1.48, 2, 2.51, 3.02, 4, 4.97, 6.002, 8, 10, 12.1, 14, 16, 18, and/or 22.03, etc. inches. The second predetermined volume can extend beyond circuit card  100 , in the direction of length L, by a predetermined distance, such as for example, between approximately 1 inches and approximately 8 inches, and any value therebetween, including for example, approximately 1.5, 2, 2.25, 3, 3.17, 3.5, 3.95, and/or 4.5 etc. inches. The second predetermined volume can be identical to, a subset of, include, partially include, intersect, and/or be substantially adjacent to the first predetermined volume.  
         [0028]    Hood  400  can separate at least a portion of first cable  200  from at least a portion of second cable  250 . At least a portion of first cable  200  and/or at least a portion of second cable  250  can extend across at least a portion of a width W of card  100 , such that a longitudinal axis of at least a portion of cable  200  and/or at least a portion of cable  250  is substantially parallel to width W.  
         [0029]    A hood clamp  500  can be attached to circuit card  100 , faceplate  120 , card connector  140 , and/or hood  400 . Hood clamp  500  can releasably secure hood  400  to circuit card  100 , faceplate  120 , and/or card connector  140 . Hood clamp  500  can prevent de-mating and/or partial de-mating of hood  400  from first cable connector  160 , which could impact a path of first cable  200  and/or second cable  250 . Hood clamp  500  can prevent de-mating and/or partial de-mating of first cable connector  160  from first card connector  140 , which could cause a circuit interruption.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 is a right perspective view, FIG. 5 is a left perspective view, and FIG. 6 is a back perspective view, and FIG. 7 is a left view of an exemplary embodiment of a device  2000  of the present invention. Referring to FIGS.  4 - 7 , device  2000  can include a hood  400 , such as that described with reference to FIGS.  1 - 3 .  
         [0031]    Hood  400  can have a pair of substantially planar, substantially parallel sides  410  that extend in parallel planes to circuit card  100 . Attached to sides  410  can be a hood back  430 . Hood  430  can have an open exit end  414 , and an opposed closed end  418 . Back  430  can at least partially define a path for second cable  250 . Back  430  can have a sloped back portion  434  that can relieve strain and/or stress from second cable  250  where it passes over hood  400 . Back  430  can also have a flat back portion  438 . Sloped back portion  434  can be angled with respect to flat back portion  438 , the faceplate, and/or a thickness of the circuit card, at an angle A. The value of angle A can fall between approximately 60 degrees and 0 degrees, including all values therebetween, such as for example, 52, 45, 37.5, 30, 25.1, 22.5, 19.9, 15, 13.4, 10, 7.5, etc. degrees. In an alternative embodiment, back  430  is curved, such that angle A varies from within a range of approximately 90 degrees to approximately 0 degrees, including all values therebetween. Thus, in an exemplary alternative embodiment, angle can vary from approximately 60 degrees to approximately 3.4 degrees, or approximately 51 degrees to approximately 0 degrees, etc. along back  430 .  
         [0032]    Each side  410  of hood  400  can define a recess  420  for receiving a hood clamp  500  (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3). A first end of hood  400 , adjacent and/or near sloped back portion  434 , can define a screw hole for attaching hood  400  to circuit card  100 , faceplate  120 , and/or card connector  140 .  
         [0033]    A second cable constrainer  440  can be integral and/or attached to a second end of hood  400 , adjacent and/or near flat back portion  438 . Second cable constrainer  440  can include a pair of substantially planar, substantially parallel side extensions  444  that extend in parallel planes to circuit card  100 , and can be co-planar with sides  410 . Attached to each side extension  444  can be a protrusion  448 , which can be shaped as for example, a hemisphere or a half-cylinder. In an operative mode, protrusions  448  can provide a flexible interference fit with second cable  250 , such that once forced between protrusions  448 , removal of second cable  250  from between protrusions  448  requires a moderate force. Thus, second cable  250  can be unlikely to easily escape from between protrusions  448 , and thereby, second cable constrainer  440  can at least partially define a path for second cable  250 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  3000  of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a device  4000  of the present invention. As shown, a circuit card  100  can include a faceplate  120  and/or a card connector  140 . A cable connector (shown in FIG. 3) can attach a first cable (shown in FIG. 3) to card connector  140 . Hood  400  can cover a substantial portion of the cable connector. Hood  400  and/or hood clamp  500  can provide a means for attaching an open end of hood  400  to the cable connector, the card connector, the circuit card, and/or the faceplate. Such attaching means can include any number of attachment mechanisms, including a protrusion, a recess, a flexible retainer, and/or a hook and loop fastener system, etc.  
         [0035]    As shown, defined in at least one side  410  of hood  400  can be a recess  420  for receiving and/or interfacing with a protrusion  540  of a hood clamp  500 . Protrusion  540  can extend from a side  520  of hood clamp  500 , which can have two substantially planar, parallel sides  520  connected by a bottom  510 . Each of sides  520  can have a protrusion  540 . In an alternative embodiment, hood  400  can include a protrusion that interfaces and/or mates with a recess in hood clamp  500 .  
         [0036]    Through bottom  510  can extend a screw hole  560  via which a screw  600  can attach hood clamp  500  to card connector  140 . Likewise, an opposite end of hood  400  can be attached to card connector  140  via a screw (not shown). In certain embodiments, hood  400  and/or hood clamp  500  can be attached to circuit card  100  and/or faceplate  120 .  
         [0037]    Although the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous variations, modifications and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, references specifically identified and discussed herein are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.