Computer interface extender apparatus

The present invention concerns an apparatus to extend a computer interface from a user inaccessible location to a user accessible location. Specifically, the apparatus of the present invention is configured to provide at least one computer port in an easily accessible location that is connected, via an adaptor, to a computer port integrated into a computer. The computer interface extender includes a hardware interface portion having a primary computer interface port, e.g., a USB port, that incorporates at least a first bidirectional electrical conduit and is configured to couple to a port located within a computer housing. The apparatus also includes a user interface portion having at least one, and preferably four, secondary computer interface ports, e.g., USB port, equipped with secondary bidirectional electrical conduit. Connecting the hardware and user interface portions is an extension member with a conduit bridge connecting the first and second bidirectional electrical conduits. The hardware and user interface portions fasten the interface extender apparatus to the computer housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for extending and expanding a computer interface connection to improve ease of use and access.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The number of electronic devices that can be connected to a computer through a universal interface, such as USB, increases every year. These devices, such as tablet computers, keypads, input devices, smart phones, storage devices, media players, health trackers, watches, navigation systems, and other devices utilize computer interfaces to exchange information with a computer and the world at large.

However, the number of connection ports integrated into computer housings has not kept pace with the number of devices a user might wish to simultaneously connect with a computer. As such, there is a need for port extenders and expanders that increase the number of computer interface ports. Such port expanders, or hubs, are usually third party devices that bear little resemblance to the industrial design of the original computer. Such hubs are usually placed on the desktop and are positioned to allow access to the ports. However, placement on a desktop or work surface reduces work space and increases clutter. One solution is to hide the expansion ports on the rear of the computer housing. However, hiding the interface extenders makes it difficult to quickly change the devices plugged into the interface ports. Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus that provides additional computer interface ports, but also frees up workspace and allows ease of access for directly interfacing with the expansion ports.

A recent solution to some of the problems of the prior art can be found in US Patent Application Publication US 2015/0022966 A1 of Chen. This publication discloses a 1 to 4 USB expander which converts one rear USB port for an iMax all-in-one computer. However, it does not fit other computer arrangements. Also, it connects to the iMax monitor by means of a positioning slot into which the lower edge of the monitor must fit. Further, while it has a solid body, in order to flex it into engagement with the monitor it requires a bending slot. Finally, the USB terminal that fits into the rear monitor terminal must be offset.

Thus, it would be advantageous if a solid body USB extender were provided with had a simpler construction and could be attached to a wider variety of monitors or computer housings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention, a computer interface apparatus is provided for positioning a plurality of computer interface ports in an easily accessible location relative to the user. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the computer interface apparatus comprises a hardware interface portion having a primary computer interface incorporating at least a first bidirectional electrical terminal providing bi-directional transmission of electrical signals and configured to couple to a computer interface port located within a computer housing. The computer interface apparatus also includes a user interface portion having at least one secondary computer interface port in which there is located at least one secondary computer terminal equipped with at least one secondary bidirectional electrical conduit. The user interface portion and the hardware interface portion are connected by an extension member or extender portion. The extender portion incorporates a conduit bridge, which may include a multiplexer/de-multiplexer circuit to avoid signal collisions and a protocol conversion circuit so different types of terminals can be used. The extender portion electrically connects the primary and secondary electrical conduits.

In one embodiment the primary and secondary computer interface ports are USB ports. In addition, the primary interface port is configured as a male USB port to connect to a female USB port on the rear of a monitor, such as the USB port on the rear of an Apple iMac monitor. The secondary interface port may be two or more female USB ports. The extender portion is such that when the primary interface port is connected to the rear USB port of the iMac monitor, the secondary interface ports are positioned below the lower edge of the monitor and face forward in the direction of the user. Thus, the two or more female USB ports are easily accessed by the computer user.

Knobs or grippers are located on the portion of the interface apparatus housing that contains the two female USB ports. When the primary interface of the apparatus is positioned in the rear USB port and rotated forward, the knobs or grippers engage the bottom and/or front surface of the monitor and snap the apparatus into engagement with the monitor. As a result, a USB cable can be inserted into one of the two front facing USB female interface ports and the apparatus is held in place.

The upper surface of user interface portion is planar, and thus is simple to manufacture. In particular it has no connection or bending grooves. The extension portion can be made to slop backwardly so that the USB terminal can be at a right angle to the extension portion and still enter the terminal on the monitor. Further, the extension portion can have a telescoping section so it can be adjusted to fit different size monitors or computer housings.

By way of overview and introduction, the present invention concerns an apparatus to extend a computer interface from a user inaccessible location to a user accessible location. Specifically, the apparatus of the present invention is configured to provide at least one computer port in an easily accessible location that is connected, via an adaptor, to a computer port integrated into a computer.

According to the present invention, a computer interface apparatus100is configured to communicatively couple to an interface port located on or within a computer housing101. In the illustrated configuration, the computer is an integrated monitor and CPU unit with computer interface ports located in a rear portion of the computer/monitor housing, e.g., the computer/monitor housing of an iMac all-in-one computer. The apparatus is used so as to replicate the interface port in the rear of the monitor in a new location and/or add additional interface ports.

With reference to the illustration provided inFIG. 1, the apparatus100of the present invention is configured to couple to a computer interface, e.g., a USB port, located within the back of computer housing101. As shown, the computer is an integrated monitor and computer housing device. However, in alternative arrangements, the computer housing101can be a standard computer monitor, multiple monitors, laptops, desktops, workstations, personal digital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframes, and other appropriate computers or other known and understood computer form factors.

FIG. 2Aprovides a more detailed view of the computer interface apparatus or extender100. The computer interface apparatus100has a hardware interface portion103configured to interface with a computer port. In one preferred embodiment, the computer port is a USB-A/B/C port that transmits both data and electrical energy bi-directionally to a peripheral. However, in an alternative context, hardware interface portion103is a HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, FireWire 800, FireWire 400, power, Ethernet, stereo audio or other type of connector that allows the interface apparatus or extender100to connect with the computer101. In the illustrated arrangement, the hardware interface portion103is equipped with a “male” style interface port104. It should be appreciated that the interface port104connection type used by the hardware interface portion103can be either “male” or “female.” In a further arrangement, the hardware interface portion103is removable or configurable based on the connection configuration of the computer interface. By way of non-limiting example, the hardware interface portion103is equipped with a removable adaptor (not shown) that changes the interface from male to female, or vice versa, depending on the computer hardware interface encountered.

The hardware interface portion103with its interface port104as shown inFIG. 2Ais integral with or connected at a right angle to the axis of an extender portion105. Similarly the user interface portion107with its interface ports109as shown inFIG. 2Ais integral with or connected at a right angle to the axis of the extender portion105. As shown inFIG. 1Athe housing has a flat back so the interface portion103can slide directly into the computer terminal. If the back is sloped as shown inFIG. 1B, the extender portion105can be at an angle to the user interface portion107so that the interface can still slide directly into the computer terminal and does not have to be offset at some angle other than a right angle. InFIG. 2Aboth portions103and107extend from extender portion105in the same direction, but depending on the circumstances they could extend in different directions. In a particular arrangement, the extender portion105is a uniform material connection that encloses any electrical and/or data connections between the hardware interface portion103and the user interface portion107. In another arrangement inFIG. 2B, the extender portion105is configured to expand or contract based on user selection. For example, the extender portion105may include a rail or guide system220that allows an inner portion222to extend beyond the outer portion such that the total length of the extender portion105can be increased as shown inFIG. 2Bor decreased. In this way the extender portion105is configured to expand in at least one direction from a first length to a second length. In addition, the guide system is equipped with an arresting device224to arrest the expansion of the extender portion105to a pre-determined length between the first length and the second length.

With this configuration the wires and other data/power conduits incorporated into the extender portion105are likewise configured to extend or contract in length. In a configuration in which extension elements are used, spools, take up wheels, or other mechanisms are used to collect or extend wires located within the extender portion105.

As provided inFIGS. 2A and 2B, the extender portion105is connected to the user interface portion107. In one arrangement, the user interface portion107is permanently affixed to the extender portion105. In an alternative arrangement, the user interface portion107is removably connected to the extender portion105. In a further arrangement, the user interface portion107is connected to the extender portion105though a gimbal, hinge, or other mechanism (not shown) that provides a degree of movement in the positioning of the extender portion105relative to the user interface portion107.

The user interface portion107is equipped with at least one replicated computer port109. In the illustrated arrangement, the replicated computer ports109are the same port style as the port integral to the computer housing of the hardware interface portion103. As a non-limiting example, the interface port103includes a male USB interface, and replicated computer ports109are female USB ports. However, in an alternative configuration, at least a portion of the replicated computer ports109are of the same interface type as the hardware interface portion103or are of different type, e.g., mini or micro USB ports or Ethernet ports. In the provided arrangement, the replicated computer ports109are powered by the connection to the computer101and mediated through linkages between the user interface portion107and the hardware interface portion103. In a particular embodiment, the user interface portion107is further equipped with a power interface for separately providing power via a power line adaptor or power supply, to the device connected to the ports109. Also, a multiplexer/de-multiplexer circuit may be provided to avoid signal collisions and a protocol conversion circuit may be provided so different types of terminals can be used.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the user interface portion107is further equipped with arrestors111in the form of projecting knobs or grippers. In one particular arrangement, the arrestors111prevent the movement of the apparatus100when the hardware interface103is coupled to a hardware port of the computer101. For example, the arrestors form a clip that abuts front surface of the computer housing and prevents the user interface portion107from moving in response to a connector being coupled to one of the replicated computer ports109.

In an alternative arrangement, the arresters111are spring loaded and retract into the user interface107, when the port extension apparatus100is coupled to the computer housing101. Here, the arresters111are able to push against a surface of the computer101such that tension is maintained between the apparatus100and the computer101. With spring loaded arresters the apparatus100can be slid into place so that the hardware interface portion connects to the port of the computer. When it reaches its position the arresters have cleared the front of the computer monitor housing and can pop-up in front to hold the apparatus stably on the monitor.

As a further alternative, in addition to or in place of the projecting knobs or grippers111, the interface extender apparatus can be secured to the computer housing by some other type of arresting device, e.g., a magnet, a suction device, or a material having a high coefficient of friction relative to the computer housing. Certain monitors or computer housings, e.g., the iMax, have recesses in the bottom of their housings into which the projections111can extend to hold the device securely in place. In this arrangement, rather than the user portion of the device extending a little beyond the front surface of the monitor as shown inFIG. 1, it is flush with the front surface. These would be located between the upper surface of the user interface portion and the lower edge of the housing101.

FIGS. 3-6present a series of depictions of one embodiment of the present invention being assembled onto a computer housing.FIG. 3demonstrates positioning the computer interface extender100so that it can be secured to a computer housing101. In the depicted arrangement the computer interface extender100is positioned under the computer housing101. It should be understood that the computer interface extender100can be placed in alternative locations, such as the side or top of the computer housing101, depending on the specific configuration of the computer housing101and the extender portion105.

As shown inFIG. 4, securing the computer interface extender100to the computer housing101includes inserting the hardware interface portion103into a computer interface601. Thus, a link between the hardware interface portion103and the computer101is established.

Next, the user interface portion is adjusted into place such that the interface ports109are presented to a user for use in connecting devices. This may be achieved by flexing the user interface portion of the apparatus or rotating the apparatus so that the arresters111snap up in front of the housing101. The result from the rear is shown inFIG. 5. In the depicted arrangement ofFIGS. 5-7, the user interface portion107abuts the bottom of the computer housing101.FIGS. 6 and 7show that the interface to the computer, which was only one port in the back of the housing, has been converted by the present invention into four ports that are accessible from the front.

FIG. 7illustrates the apparatus of the present invention secured to the housing of the computer101. In the provided front view, the user interface portion107of the apparatus100is provided. In a further arrangement, the user interface portion107is shown being attached, e.g., by USB cables, to various devices201to facilitate or orchestrate the transmission of data to and from the computer101and the various devices201connected to the connector ports109. If desired, the apparatus100can also equipped with a processor and/or other electronic or electrical components to further control the connections.

As shown, the user interface portion107provides access ports109for the connection of devices to the computer without need to access the rear of the computer101. More importantly, the configuration of the user interface portion107is such that it is secured to the bottom the computer interface, and provides an unobstructed location for connecting the various devices.

Turning to an alternative configuration,FIG. 8illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the computer port extender100′ coupled to a computer tower or work station101that utilizes a separate or independent monitor or display300. In the illustrated configuration the computer interface apparatus100′ is secured by coupling the hardware interface portion103to a computer port located on the rear of the computer housing101. The extender portion105is configured to span the depth of the housing101so as to present replicated computer ports109to the user at the front of the housing. As shown inFIG. 2B, the extender portion may telescope so as to fit various computer housings. In a further arrangement, the user interface portion107is equipped with retaining elements302, e.g., manually tightened clamps, to provide additional means for securing the user interface to the computer housing101. In particular, the retaining elements302are used to prevent the movement of the user interface100′ while the connectors of peripheral devices are inserted into and withdrawn from the ports109.

It should be understood that various combinations, alternatives and modifications of the present invention could be devised by those skilled in the art. The present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

The above-description of embodiments of the present invention are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the systems and methods described to the precise form disclosed. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the apparatus are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of other articles and methods, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The teachings of articles and methods provided herein can be applied to other devices and arrangements, not only for the apparatus and methods described above.

The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the system and methods in light of the above detailed description. While the invention has been particularly shown and described herein, with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.