Abstract:
A management system for wiring and/or cabling is disclosed. The wire management system comprises a mounting stud and an integral cable guide assembly. The cable guide assembly may include a base portion and an upper portion with at least two guide members that may be removably mounted to the mounting stud. The at least two guide members of the cable guide assembly orientates the wiring and/or cabling in a generally vertical direction with respect to a heat emitting device so as to minimize the surface area of the wiring and/or cabling that is exposed to a heat emitting device, thereby minimizing heat buildup within an enclosure. 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. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Description:
CROSS-NOTING TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/356,942, filed Feb. 3, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,031. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention is related to managing wires and/or cabling, and in particular to managing wires and/or cabling internally or externally in relation to an electronic system. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In some electronic systems, such as a computer system with an enclosure, wires and/or cabling are run randomly from one connection point to another. The wires and/or cabling may lie on or close to one or more heat-emitting devices within the computer system enclosure, thereby trapping heat from these devices and causing excessive heat buildup within the computer system. This is especially true of ribbon cabling having a large surface area that can entirely cover the heat-emitting device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The inventor of the present invention has recognized these and other problems and has developed a wire management system that orientates the wires and/or cabling so as to minimize the surface area of the wires and/or cabling that are exposed to the heat emitting device. As a result, the heat emitted from the device can dissipate in a more efficient fashion, thereby minimizing heat buildup within the enclosure. Because heat buildup is a major contributor to electronic component failure, the present invention greatly improves life and reliability of the heat-emitting devices. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the wire management system cooperating with a wafer board; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the wire management system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a base pivot of the wire management system of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the base pivot of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a base socket of the wire management system of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the base socket of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIGS. 7A-7E  is a view showing the steps for assembling the wire management system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 8A  is a side view of a second embodiment of the wire management system; 
       FIG. 8B  is a side view of a third embodiment of the wire management system; 
       FIG. 8C  is a side view of a forth embodiment of the wire management system; 
       FIG. 9A  is a bottom view of the wire management system of  FIG. 8A ; 
       FIG. 9B  is a bottom view of the wire management system of  FIG. 8B ; 
       FIG. 9C  is a bottom view of the wire management system of  FIG. 8C ; 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of the wire management system according the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 8A-8C ; 
       FIG. 11A  is a side view of a mounting stud that permits attachment and adjustment of the wire management system in  FIGS. 8A-8C ; 
       FIG. 11B  is a top view of the mounting stud of  FIG. 11A ; and 
       FIGS. 12A-12E  show a method for assembling the wire management system of FIGS.  8 A- 8 C. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a wire management system (WMS) is shown generally at  10 . The WMS  10  comprises a first portion  12  and a second portion  14 . The first portion  12  comprises a base pivot  16 , a base socket  18 , a mounting stud  20  and a mounting bolt  22 . The first portion  12  provides a means for fastening the WMS  10  to an electrical component  11 , such as a printed circuit board (PCB). The base socket  18  may be fastened anywhere to the electrical component  11 , such as for example, a printed circuit board (PCB  11 ). The second portion  14  comprises a cable guide assembly defined by at least two non-conductive guide members  24  with locking notches  26  and a base member  28 . The second portion  14  provides a means for suspending wires  13  and/or cabling  15  to minimize the heat build-up from a plurality of heat-emitting devices  17 , such as the various components of the PCB  11 . The WMS  10  is preferably made of non-conductive material, such as plastic, or the like. 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 2-6 , the base pivot  16  further comprises one or more tangs  32  for removably mounting the base pivot  16  to the base socket  18  at tang receiving apertures  33 . Similarly, the base member  28  may also include one or more tangs  34  for removably mounting the first portion  14  to the base socket  18  of the second portion  12 . Thus, the second portion  14  can be easily snapped to the first portion  12  by receiving the base pivot  16  within the base member  28 , as shown in FIG.  2 . The design of the WMS  10  permits separation of the second portion  14  from the first portion  12  in the event that excessive forces are applied to the guide members  24  to reduce damage to the WMS  10 , the PCB  11 , or any of the heat-emitting devices  17 . 
   As seen in FIGS.  2  and  5 - 6 , the base socket  18  and the guide members  24  include cooperating mating surfaces  30  defined by a plurality of interlocking teeth  31 . The cooperating mating surfaces  30  permit rotatable positioning of the at least two guide members  24  relative to the base socket  18 . One aspect of the invention is that the guide members  24  permit orientation of the wires  13  and/or cabling  15  in a generally vertical direction with respect to the heat emitting devices  17 . Thus, minimization of the surface area of the wiring  13  and/or cabling  15  exposed to the heat emitting devices  17  may be achieved. For example, ribbon cabling  15  having a large surface area may be generally vertically oriented, thereby reducing the surface area covering the heat-emitting devices  17  and minimizing heat build-up within the computer housing (not shown). 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7A-7E , an assembly process for mounting the WMS  10  on the PCB  11  will now be described. As shown in  FIG. 7A , the tangs  32  of the base pivot  16  are first positioned over the tang receiving apertures  33  and inserted into the base socket  18 . Then, a mounting bolt  22  is positioned over a central bolt-head-receiving portion or recess  21  in the base pivot  16  and bolt apertures  23 ,  25  in the base pivot  16  and base socket  18 , respectively, as shown in FIG.  7 B. Once the mounting bolt  22  is positioned as described above, the mounting bolt  22  is inserted through the bolt apertures  23 ,  25  of the base pivot  16  and base socket  18 , respectively. Next, the base member  28  of the guide members  24  is positioned over and received by the base pivot  16 , as shown in FIG.  7 C. Then, the PCB  11  is intermediately located between the base socket  18  and a mounting stud  20 , wherein the mounting stud  20  is positioned in a desirable location under the PCB  11 , as shown in FIG.  7 D. Finally, the mounting bolt  22  is inserted through the PCB  11  and into the mounting stud  20  can be tightened to positively secure the WMS  10  to the PCB  11 . Once the WMS  10  is assembled on the PCB  11 , the guide members  24  may be rotatably positioned by loosening the mounting stud  20  sufficiently to allow the WMS  10  to be rotated about the PCB  11 , as indicated by doubled-headed arrow, P. Once the wires  13  and/or cabling  15  is received between the guide members  24 , a means  36  for preventing the wires  13  and/or cabling  15 , such as a nylon hoop, a rubber band, or the like, may be placed within the locking notches  26  to prevent the wires  13  and/or cabling  15  from being received between the guide members  24 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 8A and 9A , another embodiment of the WMS is shown generally at  100 . The WMS  100  is preferably an integral unit comprising at least a base portion  102 , an upper portion  104 , and a beveled portion  106  intermediately located between the base portion  102  and the upper portion  104 . The base portion  102  is further defined to include a relief cut  108  with break-away portions  108   a - 108   c  ( FIG. 9A ) that defines a cavity  110  for receiving a mounting stud  112  (FIGS.  11 A and  11 B). Similar to the functionality of the first portion  12  as described above for the WMS  10 , the base portion  102  and mounting stud  112  provides a means for fastening the WMS  100  to an electrical component, such as the PCB  11  (FIGS.  1  and  12 B- 12 E). 
   In this embodiment of the invention, the WMS  100  is preferably a one-piece unit made of non-conductive material, such as plastic, or the like, that permits flexible attachment, detachment, and adjustable repositioning of the WMS  100  about the mounting stud  112 , as well as providing an integral separation capability of the WMS  100  from the mounting stud  112  in the event that excessive forces are applied to a cable guide assembly defined by at least two non-conductive guide members  114 . Accordingly, once the mounting stud  112  is attached to the PCB  11  (FIGS.  12 B and  12 C), the guide members  114  may be selectively positioned, if desired, by perpendicularly lifting and detaching the WMS  100  from the mounting stud  112 , pivoting the WMS  100  to a desirable position, and placing the WMS  100  over the mounting stud  112  (i.e. proceeding, in reverse order, from  FIG. 12E  to  FIG. 12D , and then back to FIG.  12 E). 
   Referring back to  FIG. 8A , the relief cut  108  may be further defined to include at a throat portion  116  and a neck portion  118  and may be considered to be a pre-weakened area or break point that provides support for effectively guiding wires  13  and/or cabling  15  (FIG.  1 ), while also permitting the WMS  100  to snap off or break from the PCB  11  at the relief cut  108  during an undesirable loading event. In general, the base portion  102 , the beveled portion  106  and the relief cut  108  define a first diameter, D 1 , a second diameter, D 2 , a third diameter, D 3 , a first height, H 1 , a second height, H 2 , and a third height, H 3 , that may each comprise any desirable dimension including, but not limited to 0.40″, 0.50″, 0.75″, 0.031″, 0.25″, and 0.281″, respectively. Specific details and other aspects of the relief cut  108  that permit the flexible attachment and repositioning of the WMS  100  is described below in greater detail. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 9A , the relief cut  108  comprises one or more break-away portions  108   a - 108   c  that define the cavity  110  for permitting removable attachment and mounting of the WMS  100  about the mounting stud  112 . Each break-away portion  108   a - 108   c  comprises an outer arc portion  120  and a faceted inner wall portion  122 , each defining a generally circular outer surface of the break-away portion  108  and a multi-faceted surface that defines the cavity  110 , respectively. As illustrated, each of the three break-away portions  108   a - 108   c  comprises two inner walls having approximately the same length that defines a generally hexagonal perimeter of the cavity  110 . Although each of the three break-away portions  108   a - 108   c  include a generally rounded arc portion  120  and two walls comprising the inner wall portion  122  as illustrated, any desirable size, shape, dimension, or amount of the break-away portions  108   a - 108   c  may be implemented to execute the function of matingly receiving a head portion  124  ( FIGS. 11A and 11B ) of the mounting stud  112 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the mounting stud  112  generally comprises the head portion  124  and a stinger portion  126 . The head portion  124  facilitates attachment of the WMS  100  about the area of the relief cut  108  ( FIGS. 12D and 12E ) and the stinger portion  126  facilitates attachment of the mounting stud  112  to the PCB  11  (FIGS.  12 B- 12 C). Accordingly, as seen in  FIG. 11B , the head portion  124  may include and a multifaceted surface having any desirable amount of surfaces comprising any shape, such as, for example, the illustrated hexagonal shape, that is designed to be matingly received by the cavity  110  ( FIG. 9A ) to retain the positioning of the WMS  100 . Even further, the head portion  124  may also include a threaded passage  125 , the functionality of which is described below in greater detail. 
   It may be desirable to increase the number of surfaces that defines the multifaceted surface of the head portion  124  and the cavity  110  to maximize the amount of pivot positions of the guide members  114 . However, a relatively large amount of surfaces (i.e. as the number of surfaces that defines the multifaceted surface approaches infinity) would drive the multifaceted surface to have a relatively non-frictional, circular appearance. A relatively non-frictional, circular appearance of the head portion  124  and the cavity  110  may decrease the anchoring and retaining capability of the WMS  100  about the mounting stud  112 , thereby causing the WMS  100  to freely pivot and undesirably adjust the guide members  114  about the head portion  124 . 
   In addition to the locking notches  26  in the first embodiment, the upper portion  104  provides a means for suspending wires  13  and/or cabling  15  to minimize the heat build-up from a plurality of heat-emitting devices  17 , such as the various components of the PCB  11 . As seen in  FIGS. 8A and 10 , the means for suspending wires  13  and/or cabling  15  includes a base member  128  and a cable locking section  130 . The cable locking section  130  includes the locking notches  26  ( FIG. 8A ) and closing nodes  134  with locking teeth  136  for positively securing the closing nodes  134  together, if desired. Similar to the functionality of the of the locking notches  26  and hoop  36  of the WMS  10 , once the wires  13  and/or cabling  15  is received between the guide members  114 , the closing nodes  134  with locking teeth  136  may be snapped together to prevent wires  13  and/or cabling  15  from being received between the guide members  114 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 12A-12E , an assembly process for mounting the WMS  100  on the PCB  11  will now be described. As shown in  FIG. 12A , a second mounting stud, which is generally shown at  138 , is first positioned over the PCB  11 . If desired, a rigid chassis, such as metal housing  140 , may be intermediately located between the PCB  11  and the second mounting stud  138 . Alternatively, if desired, the second mounting stud  138  may be positioned under the PCB  11  so that the metal housing  140  may directly oppose the PCB  11  if additional clearance is needed in the metal housing  140 . As seen in  FIGS. 12B and 12C , the stinger  126  of the first mounting stud  112  may include threads  142  that permit screwing of the mounting stud  112  through the threaded passage  125  of the mounting stud  138  about the PCB  11 . Then, as seen in  FIGS. 12D and 12E , the cavity  110  is selectively placed about the head portion  124  of the mounting stud  112  to positively secure the WMS  100  to the PCB  11 . 
   Although not illustrated, the stinger  126  and passage  125  may comprise alternative attachment features than the illustrated design depicting threaded surfaces. For example, it is contemplated that the stinger  126  and passage  125  may employ multifaceted surfaces that may matingly cooperate to secure the first mounting stud  112  to the second mounting stud  138  for resisting a pivoting motion of the WMS  100 . Alternatively, rather than multifaceted surfaces, the stinger  126  and the passage  125  may comprise a radially-loaded spring stinger (e.g. a banana plug) that exerts radial pressure about the passage in order to prevent vertical or pivoting movement of the WMS  100 . 
   Although not illustrated, it is also contemplated that the mounting stud  112  may be integrally formed into the WMS  100  by any desirable method such as a “two-shot” injection molding process such that the mounting stud  112  is integrally molded within the material comprising the WMS  100 . For example, a first shot of molten material may be injected into a mold defining the contour of the WMS  100 . Then, the mounting stud  112  may be selectively placed in the mold and a second shot of molten material may be injected into the mold, encapsulating and permanently securing the head portion  124  of the mounting stud  112  within the WMS  100  at or about the area of the base portion  102 . Alternatively, the mounting stud  112  may comprise the same material as the WMS  100  and be integrally formed as part of the WMS  100  in a one-shot injection molding process such that the stinger  126  extends from the base portion  102 . If the mounting stud  112  is molded in or molded as part of the WMS  100  as described above, the steps of the assembly process as illustrated in  FIGS. 12B and 12C  may eliminated entirely, thereby reducing the assembly process described above to the steps of positioning the mounting stud  138  over the PCB  11  and attaching the WMS  100  to the PCB  11  and mounting stud  138  as illustrated in  FIGS. 12A and 12E , respectively. 
   Once the WMS  100  is attached to the PCB  11 , the guide members  114  may be selectively repositioned, if desired, by perpendicularly lifting and detaching the WMS  100  from the mounting stud  112 , rotating the WMS  100  to a desirable position, and placing the WMS  100  over the mounting stud  112 . If the WMS  100  cannot be perpendicularly lifted and removed from the mounting stud  112 , a user may insert a tool, such as a screwdriver, through an upper portion passage  144  ( FIG. 8A ) that extends through the base member  128  so that a user may manually contact an upper surface  146  ( FIGS. 11A and 11B ) of the head portion  124  to unscrew the stinger  126  from the mounting stud  138 . Once the WMS  100  with the lodged mounting stud  112  are removed, the user may manually remove the lodged mounting stud  112  from the WMS  100  manually by hand or with a tool, such as a pair of pliers. Alternatively, rather than removing the entire WMS  100  and mounting stud  112 , a user may insert a screwdriver through the upper portion passage  144  to provide additional leverage for perpendicularly pulling the WMS  100  away from the mounting stud  112 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5B and 9B , another embodiment of the WMS is shown generally at  200 . The WMS  200  operates and functions in a similar manner as described above with respect to the WMS  100  and mounting stud  112 . In this embodiment of the invention, the WMS  200  includes a relief cut  208  with break-away portions  208   a - 208   c  including at least a throat portion  216 , a neck portion  218  and a beveled portion  206  that is generally defined by a first diameter, D 4 , a second diameter, D 5 , a first height, H 4 , a second height, H 5 , and a third height, H 6 , that may each comprise any desirable dimension including, but not limited to, 0.50″, 0.75″, 0.031″, 0.25″, and 0.281″, respectively. Essentially, in this embodiment, the first diameter, D 4 , at a bottom of  220  of the neck portion  218  is the same diameter as that at a bottom-most portion  222  of the beveled portion  206 . Because the first diameter, D 4 , of the WMS  200  is greater than the first diameter, D 1 , of the WMS  100 , the neck portion  218  of the WMS  200  is less tolerant to undesirable loading forces than the neck portion  118  of the WMS  100 , during a loading event. 
   Referring now to FIG.  8 C and  FIG. 9C , another embodiment of the WMS is shown generally at  300 . The WMS  300  operates and functions in a similar manner as described above with respect to the WMS  100  and mounting stud  112 . In this embodiment of the invention, the WMS  300  includes a base portion  302  and a beveled portion  306  defined by a diameter, D 6 , and a height, H 7 , that may each comprise any desirable dimension including, but not limited to, 0.50″ and 0.25″, respectively. Essentially, in this embodiment, the base portion  302  does not include a relief cut with break-away notches defined by varying diameters and heights as illustrated in the embodiments of the WMS  100 ,  200  in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , but rather, is supported by a rigid plate or washer  350 . In this embodiment, when undesirable loading forces are applied about the WMS  300 , the washer  350  assists in the distribution of the loading forces about the base portion  302 , away from the PCB  11 , so that the mounting stud  112  may break through the base portion  302  of the WMS  300 . Although not illustrated, it is contemplated that the base portion  302  may include at least break-away portions to aid the mounting stud  112  in breaking through the material comprising the WMS  300 . 
   Even further, it may be desirable to prevent the WMS  100 ,  200 ,  300  to “break away” while also allowing flexible movement about the base portion. More specifically, this may be achieved by implementing a pivoting feature about the base portion that permits each of the WMS  100 ,  200 ,  300  to angularly adjust the WMS  100 ,  200 ,  300  to any desirable angle ranging from 0° to 180° about the PCB  11 . 
   As described above, the present invention properly manages the position of wires  13  and/or cabling  15  within or external to an enclosure to minimize heat build-up from the plurality of heat-emitting devices  17  within the enclosure. This is accomplished by minimizing the surface area of the wires  13  and/or cabling  15  that is exposed to the heat-emitting devices  17  by positioning the wires  13  and/or cabling  15  in a general vertical orientation with respect to the heat-emitting devices  17 . Because the WMS  10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  300  minimizes the heat build-up within the enclosure, the present invention greatly improves equipment life and reliability of the heat-emitting devices  17 . Even further, the guide members  24 ,  114  of the WMS  10 ,  100 ,  200 ,  300  may be rotatably positioned so that the path taken by the wires  13  and/or cabling  15  may be desirably orientated within or about a computer system enclosure. 
   While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.