Abstract:
A universal cable and system are provided that includes a universal cable and miniature quick connectors with interchangeable ends. The system allows for easy construction of various desired cable configurations that may include USB and Firewire® computer architecture, and other electrical communication wiring schemes. As a result, electrical connection between computers, computer peripherals, and other electrical equipment is quickly accomplished without a need for many cables and connectors, and their associated added costs. Universal cabling methods for using the system and cables are also provided.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/387,796, filed Jun. 11, 2002, and Serial No. 60/401,900, filed Aug. 8, 2002, which applications are incorporated herein in their entirety. Applications Serial Nos. 60/387,706 and 60/401,900 are co-pending as of the filing date of the present application. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to computers, computer peripherals, computer related devices, and other devices which may benefit from a quick and efficient method and/or system for connection to other like or different devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for connecting computers and/or computer peripherals to other computers and/or computer peripherals. Most particularly, the present invention relates to a universal computer cable having quick connectors and interchangeable ends, and a universal cabling system and method of using the connectors to connect computers, computer peripherals, computer related devices and other devices together.  
         DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
         [0003]    The fields of computers, computer peripherals, and computer related devices are rapidly expanding. All of these devices must be connected to one another to communicate. This has caused a problem in the art due to the large number of connector types and cable lengths, which are currently used. Many of these devices currently use universal serial bus (USB) or Firewire® computer architecture.  
           [0004]    The USB architecture uses a four wire cable, or whatever the current USB specification calls for, usually in six, ten, or fifteen foot lengths, having seven different configurations possible on one end of the cable, and three different configurations possible on the other end of the cable, making possible many different configurations in each of the three popular lengths. Current USB Standards do not permit a cable length greater than fifteen feet without a repeater.  
           [0005]    Five different types of plugs (male) or receptacles (female) are used on the ends of the USB cables to form these configurations. These are a USB A Male, USB B Male, MiniUSB A Male and MiniUSB B Male plugs, as well as a USB A Female receptacle. Any one of these plugs or receptacles may be found on either end of a USB cable. The only limitation on the possible combinations is that an A Male USB plug is not used with a MiniUSB A Male plug, and a MiniUSB B Male plug is not used with a USB B Male plug.  
           [0006]    Firewire® computer architecture uses a four or six wire cable, or whatever the current Firewire® specification calls for, usually in the same lengths as a USB cable, and having a six pin Firewire® computer connector on one or both ends of a Firewire® cable, and a four pin audio-visual connector, which also may be on one, or both, ends of a Firewire® cable, thus providing additional cable configurations.  
           [0007]    The large number of cable configurations causes problems in the art for the computer and/or peripheral, or device manufacturer, the wholesaler, the retailer, and the user, all of whom are put to the expense of manufacturing and/or stocking and/or selling and/or buying and/or using a bewildering array of cables to connect computers and/or computer peripherals to other computers and/or computer peripherals or devices. Thus, those skilled in the art have begun to search for an easier and less costly way to accomplish these connections.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention solves the aforementioned problems in the art by providing a universal computer cable useable for USB or Firewire® computer architecture, and having novel quick connectors which provide for the use of interchangeable ends on the cable, and a cabling system and method of using the cable and quick connectors to connect computers, computer peripherals, computer related devices, and other devices together. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a construction embodying the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a modification of the construction shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a further modification of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective, view of a construction embodying the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5A is a top plan view, partially in section, of the male portion of the construction illustrated in FIG. 4.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5B is a sectional view, taken in the direction of the arrows, along the section line  5 B- 5 B of FIG. 5A.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5C is a right end view of the construction shown in FIG. 5B.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6A is a top plan view, partially in section, of the female portion of the construction illustrated in FIG. 4.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6B is a sectional view, taken in the direction of the arrows, along the section line  6 B- 6 B of FIG. 6A.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6C is a left end view of the construction shown in FIG. 6B.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7A is an elevational view of a plug, receptacle or converter embodying the construction shown in FIG. 5A.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7B is a left side view of the construction of FIG. 7A.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7C is a right side view of the construction of FIG. 7A.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7D is a pin-out diagram of the construction of FIG. 7A.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8A is an elevational view of a first modification of the construction shown in FIG. 7A.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8B is a left side view of the construction of FIG. 8A.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8C is a right side view of the construction of FIG. 8A.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8D is a pin-out diagram of the construction of FIG. 8A.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9A is an elevational view of a second modification of the construction shown in FIG. 7A.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9B is a left side view of the construction of FIG. 9A.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9C is a right side view of the construction of FIG. 9A.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9D is a pin-out diagram of the construction of FIG. 9A.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10A is an elevational view of a third modification of the construction shown in FIG. 7A.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10B is a left side view of the construction of FIG. 10A.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 10C is a right side view of the construction of FIG. 10A.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 10D is a pin-out diagram of the construction of FIG. 10A.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 11A is an elevational view of a forth modification of the construction shown in FIG. 7A;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 11B is a left side view of the construction of FIG. 11A.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 11C is a right side view of the construction of FIG. 11A.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 11D is a pin-out diagram of the construction of FIG. 11A.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 12A is an elevational view of a fifth modification of the construction shown in FIG. 7A.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 12B is a left side view of the construction of FIG. 12A.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 12C is a right side view of the construction of FIG. 12A.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 12D is a pin-out diagram of the construction of FIG. 12A.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 13A is an elevational view of a sixth modification of the construction shown in FIG. 7A.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 13B is a left side view of the construction of FIG. 13A.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 13C is a right side view of the construction of FIG. 13A.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 13D is a pin-out diagram of the construction of FIG. 13A.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view of a construction embodying the present invention. 
     
    
       [0048]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the present invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways within the scope of the claims. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description, and not of limitation.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0049]    Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a diagrammatic view of a universal cable system, generally indicated by the numeral  35 , which generally includes a universal cable  20  having a universal cable portion  22 . The universal cable portion  22  comprises a predetermined length of a USB cable, Firewire® cable, or other suitable cable for the purpose intended. The universal cable portion  22  has a universal cable portion first end and a universal cable portion second end,  22 A and  22 B, respectively.  
         [0050]    The universal cable portion first end  22 A is mechanically and electrically attached to a universal cable first connector portion  24 A and the universal cable portion second end  22 B is mechanically and electrically attached to a universal cable second connector portion  24 B, said portions  24 A and  24 B preferably are, but not necessarily, female. Hence the universal cable first connector portion  24 A is in electrical communication with the universal cable second connector portion  24 B. Thus the combination of the universal cable portion  22 , and the universal connector portions  24 A and  24 B define the basic universal cable  20 . In the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the universal cable first connector portion  24 A is identical to universal cable second connector portion  24 B.  
         [0051]    Also shown in FIG. 1 are two universal cable connectors  25 , which comprise a combination of the universal cable first connector portion  24 A and a quick connect first mating connector portion  26 A, or a combination of the universal cable second connector portion  24 B and a quick connect second mating connector portion  26 B. Thus the universal cable  20  may be further defined as the combination of the universal cable portion  22  and the two universal cable connectors  25 . If the universal cable  20  is mateably attached to first and second USB or Firewire® plugs, receptacles, or converters ( 32  and  36  respectively), then the universal cable  20  of the present invention may be referred to as a universal USB cable or a universal Firewire® cable, respectively, of the universal cable system  35 .  
         [0052]    Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a modification of the present invention, which is in large part similar to that shown in FIG. 1, with an additional feature that the quick connect first mating (or male) connector portion  26 A is formed integrally with the first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  32 . Similarly, the quick connect second mating (or male) connector portion  26 B is formed integrally with the second USB plug, receptacle, Firewire® plug, or converter  36 . Thus the quick connect first cable portion  30  and quick connect second cable portion  33  are eliminated, making the modification of the invention shown in FIG. 2 simpler and less costly to produce than the version shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0053]    Referring to FIG. 3, a universal serial bus cabling system  38  may be provided, in accordance with the present invention, by providing a universal serial bus cable portion  40 , or one of the other types of cables mentioned above. The universal serial bus cable having a universal serial bus cable first end  40 A and a universal serial bus cable second end  40 B with at least a universal first system connector  42  electrically connected to the universal serial bus cable second end  40 B. Further provided is at least one quick connect system serial bus plug or receptacle or converter  45 , which may be miniature in size, and having a quick connect system mating connector  44  that is capable of making mateable electrical and mechanical attachment to the universal first system connector  42 . With the universal serial bus cable first end  40 A of the universal serial bus cable  40  being electrically and mechanically connected to a computer, computer peripheral, computer related device, or other device  50 , the present invention is thus capable of providing a universal serial bus cabling system  38  that possesses interchangeability of plugs, receptacles, Firewire® plugs, or converters for electrical communications between computer peripherals and/or computers or other electronic devices.  
         [0054]    Referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a universal cable connector  25  comprising the universal cable first (typically, female) connector portion  24 A, and the universal cable quick connect first mating (typically, male) connector portion  26 A. In the present invention a combination of the universal cable second (typically, female) connector portion  24 B and the universal cable quick connect second mating (typically, male) connector portion  26 B, and a combination of the universal first system connector  42  and the quick connect system mating connector  44  also form a universal cable connector  25 .  
         [0055]    As shown in FIGS.  6 A-C, the universal cable first connector portion  24 A (as does the universal cable second mating connector portion  24 B and the universal first system connector  42 ) comprises a six pin female connector  160  having a female connector body  161  having a universal connector shelf  178  that electrically and mechanically isolates the two sets of three female pins  163  that are mechanically attached to, or held in fixed relation to the connector body  161  by means well known in the art, such as molding. The female pins  163  have female cable connection points  167 , which are the means for making electrical connections to the connector portions  24 A,  24 B (FIG. 2), and  42  (FIG. 3).  
         [0056]    Illustrated in FIGS.  5 A-C, is the universal cable quick connect first mating (male) connector portion  26 A (this applies equally to  26 B and  44 ) of the universal cable connector  25  in the form of a 6 pin male connector  109  of the present invention having six male pins  138  that are mechanically attached to, or held in place in relation to, the male connector body  136  by means well known in the art, and a connector shelf  177  that electrically and mechanically isolate each row of three male pins  138 . Male cable connection points  153 , which may be part of the male pins  138 , aid in electrically attaching the male connector  109  to wires in a cable, for example, cable portion  22 , or a converter, for example, miniature converter  32 . The above-described structure applies equally as well to the universal cable quick connect second mating connector portion  26 B and the connector  44 .  
         [0057]    Referring to FIGS.  7 A-D, there is illustrated a first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle, or converter  32 , or second serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  36  in the form of a Firewire®—IEEE Standard 1394a-2000  201  4-Circuit Plug  201  (said standard being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety), having a first pin arrangement  114  and a second pin arrangement  116 , which are mechanically and electrically connected per first pin-out diagram  115  and in electrical communication therewith.  
         [0058]    The 4-Circuit Plug  201 , when used as a first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  32  comprises a miniature quick connect first housing  181 , a third connector portion  172 A, and a universal cable quick connect first mating connector portion  26 A, wherein each of the connector portions  172 A,  26 A are in mechanical attachment with the housing  181  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  172 A,  26 A.  
         [0059]    Similarly, the 4-Circuit Plug  201 , when used as a second serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  36  comprises miniature quick connect first housing  181 , fifth connector portion  176 B, and universal cable quick connect second mating connector portion  26 B, wherein each of the connector portions  176 B,  26 B are in mechanical attachment with the housing  181  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  176 B,  26 B.  
         [0060]    Illustrated in FIGS.  8 A-D, there is a first modified first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  32 A in the form of a Firewire®—IEEE Standard 1394-1995 (said standard being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety), 6-Circuit Plug  202  having a third pin arrangement  121  and a fourth pin arrangement  123  (substantially identical to first pin arrangement  116 ), which are mechanically and electrically connected per second pin-out diagram  125  and in electrical communication therewith.  
         [0061]    The 6-Circuit plug  202 , when used as a first modified first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  32 A comprises a miniature quick connect second housing  182 , third connector portion  172 A, and universal cable quick connect first mating connector portion  26 A, wherein each of the connector portions  172 A,  26 A are in mechanical attachment with the second housing  182  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  172 A,  26 A.  
         [0062]    Similarly, the 6-Circuit plug  202 , when used as the first modified second serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  36 A comprises miniature quick connect second housing  182 , fifth connector portion  176 B, and universal cable quick connect second mating connector portion  26 B, wherein each of the connector portions  176 B,  26 B are in mechanical attachment with the housing  182  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  176 B,  26 B.  
         [0063]    Illustrated in FIGS.  9 A-D is a second modified first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle, or converter  32 B in the form of a 4 Pin USB Series “A” Receptacle  203 , Rev. 2.0 (said standard being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety), having fifth pin arrangement  128  and a sixth pin arrangement  131  (substantially identical to second pin arrangement  116 ), which are mechanically and electrically connected per third pin-out diagram  129  and in electrical communication therewith.  
         [0064]    The 4-pin USB Series “A” receptacle  203 , when used as the second modified first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  32 B comprises miniature quick connect third housing  183 , quick connect third mating connector portion  172 A, quick connect first mating connector portion  26 A, wherein each of the connector portions  172 A,  26 A are in mechanical attachment with the housing  183  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  172 A,  26 A.  
         [0065]    Similarly, the 4-Pin Series “A” receptacle  203 , when used as the second modified second serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  36 B comprises miniature quick connect third housing  183 , fifth connector portion  176 B, and quick connect second mating connector portion  26 B, wherein each of the connector portions  176 B,  26 B are in mechanical attachment with the housing  183  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  176 B,  26 B.  
         [0066]    Illustrated in FIGS.  10 A-D there is illustrated a third modified first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle, or converter  32 C in the form of a 4 Pin USB Series “A” Plug  204 , Rev. 2.0 (said standard being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety), having a seventh pin arrangement  137  and an eighth pin arrangement  139  (substantially identical to second pin arrangement  116 ), which are mechanically and electrically connected per fourth pin-out diagram  135  and in electrical communication therewith.  
         [0067]    The 4-Pin USB Series “A” plug  204 , when used as the third modified first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  32 C comprises miniature quick connect fourth housing  184 , third connector portion  172 A, and universal cable quick connect first mating connector portion  26 A, wherein each of the connector portions  172 A,  26 A are in mechanical attachment with the housing  184  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  172 A,  26 A.  
         [0068]    Similarly, the 4-Pin USB Series “A” plug  204 , when used as the third modified second serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  36 C comprises miniature quick connect fourth housing  184 , fifth connector portion  176 B, and universal cable quick connect second mating connector portion  26 B, wherein each of the connector portions  176 B,  26 B are in mechanical attachment with the housing  184  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  176 B,  26 B.  
         [0069]    Illustrated in FIGS.  11 A-D, is a fourth modified first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle, or converter  32 D in the form of a 4 Pin USB Series “B” Plug  205 , Rev. 2.0 (said standard being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety), having a ninth pin arrangement  143  and a tenth pin arrangement  146  (substantially identical to second pin arrangement  116 ), which are mechanically and electrically connected per fifth pin-out diagram  147  and in electrical communication therewith.  
         [0070]    The 4-Pin USB -Series “B” plug  205 , when used as the fourth modified first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  32 D comprises miniature quick connect fifth housing  185 , third connector portion  172 A, and universal cable quick connect first mating connector portion  26 A, wherein each of the connector portions  172 A,  26 A are in mechanical attachment with the housing  185  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  172 A,  26 A.  
         [0071]    Similarly, the 4-Pin USB Series “B” plug  205 , when used as the fourth modified second serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  36 D comprises miniature quick connect fifth housing  185 , fifth connector portion  176 B, and universal cable quick connect second mating connector-portion  26 B, wherein each of the connector portions  176 B,  26 B are in mechanical attachment with the housing  185  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  176 B,  26 B.  
         [0072]    Illustrated in FIGS.  12 A-D, is a fifth modified first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle, or converter  32 E in the form of a 5 Pin USB 2.0 Specification Mini-“A” Plug  206 , Rev. 1.0 (said standard being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety), having an eleventh pin arrangement  152  and a twelfth pin arrangement  154  (substantially identical to second pin arrangement  116 ), which are mechanically and electrically connected per sixth pin-out diagram  151  and in electrical communication therewith.  
         [0073]    The 5-Pin USB Mini-“A” plug  206  when used as the fifth modified first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  32 E comprises miniature quick connect sixth housing  186 , third connector portion  172 A, and universal cable quick connect first mating connector portion  26 A, wherein each of the connector portions  172 A,  26 A are in mechanical attachment with the housing  186  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  172 A,  26 A.  
         [0074]    Similarly, the 5-Pin USB Mini “A” plug  206 , when used as the fifth modified second serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  36 E comprises miniature quick connect sixth housing  186 , fifth connector portion  176 B, and universal cable quick connect second mating connector portion  26 B, wherein each of the connector portions  176 B,  26 B are in mechanical attachment with the housing  186  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  176 B,  26 B.  
         [0075]    Illustrated in FIGS.  13 A-D, of the present invention, is a sixth modified first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle, or converter  32 F in the form of a 4 Pin USB 2.0 Specification Mini-“B” Plug  207 , Rev. 1.0 (said standard being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety), having a thirteenth pin arrangement  158  and a fourteenth pin arrangement  162  (substantially identical to second pin arrangement  116 ), which are mechanically and electrically connected per seventh pin-out diagram  155  and in electrical communication therewith.  
         [0076]    The 4-Pin USB- “Mini-B” plug  207 , when used as the sixth modified first serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  32 F, comprises miniature quick connect seventh housing  187 , third connector portion  172 A, and universal cable quick connect first mating connector portion  26 A, wherein each of the connector portions  172 A,  26 A are in mechanical attachment with the housing  187  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  172 A,  26 A.  
         [0077]    Similarly, the 4-Pin USB “Mini-B” plug  207 , when used as the sixth modified second serial bus plug, Firewire® plug, receptacle or converter  32 F, comprises miniature quick connect seventh housing  187 , fifth connector portion  176 B, and universal cable quick connect second mating connector-portion  26 B, wherein each of the connector portions  176 B,  26 B are in mechanical attachment with the housing  187  and in electrical attachment with the cabling  190 , thus allowing electrical communications between the connector portions  176 B,  26 B.  
         [0078]    Referring to FIG. 14, since second pin arrangement  116 , fourth pin arrangement  123 , sixth pin arrangement  131 , eighth pin arrangement  139 , tenth pin arrangement  146 , twelfth pin arrangement  154 , fourteenth pin arrangement  162  and nth pin arrangement (not shown) are all substantially identical, a single universal cable  20  having a first universal cable connector portion  24 A, and a second universal cable connector portion  24 B can accept all necessary plugs, receptacles or converters ( 32 , 36 ) which are needed to connect computers, computer peripherals, computer related devices and other devices together.  
         [0079]    First connector portion  24 A and second connector portion  24 B each have a connector housing  200 , which preferably are identical. Mechanically attached to each connector housing  200  is a six pin-female connector  160 , such as that illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. Since each six pin female connector  160  has a female connector body  161 , connector shelf  178 , and female connection points  167 , the six pin female connector  160  is easily connected to cable portion  22  of universal cable  20  by means well known in the art. Each six pin female connector  160  will be mechanically attached to connector housing  200 , and electrically connected to cable portion  22 .  
         [0080]    A method of connecting computers to computer peripherals is provided utilizing a universal cable and a quick connect connector comprising the steps of: a) providing a universal computer cable (USB or Firewire®)  20  having a universal cable connector portion (female) ( 24 A, 24 B) electrically connected to an end of the universal computer cable, b) providing a universal cable miniature quick connect connector having a universal cable quick connect mating connector portion ( 26 A, 26 B), and c) connecting the universal cable connector to the quick connect connector by plugging the universal cable connector portion into the quick connect mating connector portion.  
         [0081]    Also provided is a method of connecting external electrical equipment to computers and computer peripherals that comprises: a) providing a universal cable  20  having a universal cable first end  22 A and second end  22 B, wherein the universal cable first end has a universal cable first or female connector portion electrically connected thereto, which is in electrical communication with the universal cable second end  22 B that is electrically connected to external electrical equipment, b) providing at least one quick connect serial bus plug or receptacle or converter  32  having a quick connect mating or male connector portion, and c) connecting the external electrical equipment to the at least one quick connect serial bus plug or receptacle or converter  32  by plugging the universal cable first connector portion  24 A into the quick connect mating connector  26 A.  
         [0082]    Because the universal cable connector portions, and the quick connect mating connector portions may remain unchanged and accommodate a large number of first and/or second serial bus plugs, Firewire® plugs receptacles and/or converters, a truly universal cable system is provided.