Abstract:
An electrical hub network connecting apparatus electrically couples a plurality of stackable hubs in close proximity to one another. The connecting apparatus includes a housing rigidly formed for enclosing a plurality of electrical conductors. The housing has a main body extending between transverse first and second ends each having a connector affixed thereto. The connectors are electrically connected by the electrical conductors and each releasably attaches electrically and mechanically to a respective receiving connector mounted on one of the hubs.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/730,030 filed Dec. 5, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,408. 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/382,642 filed May 23, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to electrical connectivity and, more particularly, electrical connectivity between electrical hubs. Most particularly, the present invention relates to electrical connectivity between stacked universal serial bus (USB) electrical hubs and stacked FireWire electrical hubs. 
   Electrical hubs for interconnecting portions of an electrical network are known. More recently, however, electrical hubs have been introduced for interconnecting portions of the electrical network where the electrical hubs are stacked upon one another. In some configurations, stacking of the electrical hubs provides simple and convenient mechanical and, possibly, electrical attachment. Often, stacked electrical hubs are not housed within an added enclosure. 
   Also, where no hardware is required to house the stackable electrical hubs, network cables are laced freely going to and coming from the stackable electrical hubs, where the network cables are easily attached to mating connectors provided on the stackable electrical hubs. 
   The electrical networks that employ electrical hubs typically are computer systems that interconnect computers, network hardware, and input/output computer devices. The data standards that are transmitted between the different portions of the electrical networks have varied widely, as has the different types of equipment that were serviced by the electrical networks. Currently, however, two very common types of electrical network data standards have emerged. These electrical network standards are the universal serial bus (USB) standard and the FireWire standard. FireWire is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Corporation of Cupertino, Calif. 
   The USB standard was conceived in 1993 by a consortium of computer industry companies, whose goal was to create a common means for communicating between the personal computer (PC) and its supported electronic devices. The consortium also wanted the USB standard to perform in a plug-and-play manner, which would minimize hardware and software setup. Further, the data throughput of the USB standard was expected to he compatible with that of the bandwidth of the supported electronic devices. 
   As the bandwidth of the supported electronic devices increased so did the need for the throughput of the USB standard. Faster versions of the USB standard were implemented and even faster versions are currently being developed. Presently, the USB is available on all PC&#39;s and many electronic devices have USB capability. 
   In about the same time frame that the development of the USB standard was occurring, the development of the FireWire standard, which is also known as the IEEE 1394 standard, was also taking place. The FireWire standard, however, was associated with Apple computers. In general, the FireWire standard process is a higher throughput and the supported electronic devices, typically, had greater bandwidth than their USB counterparts. 
   As in the case of the USB standard, the bandwidth of the FireWire supported electronic devices increased, and consequently, so did the need for the throughput of the FireWire standard. As a result, faster versions of the FireWire standard were implemented and even faster versions are presently being developed. Currently the FireWire standard is available on all Apple computers and some PCs, while many electronic devices have adopted FireWire capability. 
   Part of the development of both the USB and FireWire standards has involved the cables and their associated connectors that interconnect the varying computers and supported electronic devices. The standard cables and connectors that have resulted from the development of the USB and the FireWire standards provide easy connectivity to, from, and between the computers, hubs, and supported electronic devices. 
   Regardless of the data standard, be it USB, FireWire, or other standards that are employed by stacked electrical hubs, the current cables that interconnect stacked electrical hubs are, typically long. Since stacked electrical hubs provide no outer housing to visually and/or physically contain the maze of interconnecting stacked electrical hub cables, the area around the stacked electrical hubs can be cluttered. 
   In addition, a connector on a current interconnecting cable, which loops from one stacked electrical hub no another, for example, in a daisy chain manner, can get pulled away from its mating connector on the stacked electrical hub by a variety of means. Also, the interconnecting cable connectors and their mating electrical hub connectors can become damaged and/or the continuity of their connection can be disrupted, which could result in a malfunction of the computer system. Further, because of the length of the current interconnecting hub cables, the amount of material and associated costs need to be considered. 
   In conjunction with being long, current interconnecting cables that are employed between stacked electrical hubs are typically made of pliable plastic, which makes them susceptible to being cut, pinched, or damaged. As a result, the continuity within the current interconnecting cables can be disrupted, which too could result in a computer system malfunction. 
   Thus those skilled in the art continued to seek a solution to the problem of how to provide a better interconnecting cable between stacked electrical hubs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention concerns a connecting apparatus and a method for interconnecting stacked electrical hubs. 
   In one aspect of the invention, an electrical hub network connecting apparatus electrically couples a plurality of stackable hubs in close proximity to one another. The connecting apparatus includes a housing rigidly formed for enclosing a plurality of electrical conductors. The housing includes a main body, a first end, and a second end, wherein the first and second ends have a respective connector affixed thereto. Each connector is electrically connected to one another by the electrical conductor and is capable of releasably attaching electrically and mechanically to a respective receiving connector mounted on an associated one of the hubs. 
   The method according to the present invention for interconnecting electrical hubs each having at least one receiving connector comprises the steps of: a) providing at least two electrical hubs each having a receiving connector and positioning the receiving connectors in a predetermined relative orientation; b) providing a rigidly formed housing enclosing a plurality of electrical conductors, the housing including a main body connected between a first end and a second end, first and second connectors being attached to the first and second ends respectively, the first and second connectors being electrically connected to opposite ends of the plurality of electrical conductors; c) aligning each of the first and second connectors with a respective one of the receiving connectors; and d) electrically and mechanically releasably engaging the first and second connectors with the respective receiving connectors to electrically connect the at least two electrical hubs. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of two stacked electrical hubs with a dual USB connecting apparatus being aligned with corresponding receiving connectors on the electrical hubs in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  wherein the dual USB connecting apparatus is engaged with the corresponding receptacles on the electrical hubs; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the dual USB connecting apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the dual USB connecting apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the dual USB connecting apparatus of  FIG. 1 , taken along the section line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of two stacked electrical hubs with a dual FireWire connecting apparatus being aligned with corresponding receiving connectors on the electrical hubs in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  wherein the dual FireWire connecting apparatus is engaged with the corresponding receiving connectors on the electrical hubs; 
       FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the dual FireWire connecting apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of the dual FireWire connecting apparatus of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the dual FireWire connecting apparatus taken along line  10 — 10  in  FIG. 9 ; and 
       FIGS. 11A through 11C  are each a rear perspective view of different modifications of the USB connecting apparatus shown in FIG.  3 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   In general, the present invention involves the interconnection of stacked electrical hubs. Although an example of vertically stacked hubs is used the following description, the term “stacked” used herein includes horizontal and diagonal adjacent positioning of two or more hubs.  FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a dual connecting apparatus  10  is shown aligned for connectivity to a stacked pair of USB electrical hubs  15 . The dual connecting apparatus  10  comprises a rigid housing  19  for encasing one or more electrical conductors such as USB wiring. The rigid housing  19  includes a main body  13 , a first end  21 , and a second end  23  wherein the main body  13  bridges the first end  21  and the second end  23 . Further, the first end  21  and the second end  23  extend transverse to a longitudinal axis of the main body  13 . A USB type B male connector  14  and a USB type A male connector  18  are affixed to the ends  21  and  23  respectively of the rigid housing  19 . Also shown in  FIG. 1  are a corresponding mating USB type B receiving connector  12  and a USB type A receiving connector  16  that are mounted on an upper one and a lower one of the USB stacked electrical hubs  15  respectively. The dual connecting apparatus  10  forms a Z-shaped portion between the receiving connectors. Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the USB connectors  14  and  18  and the USB receiving connectors  12  and  16  are in electrical and mechanical releasable attachment and are vertically and horizontally offset from one another. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the dual connecting apparatus  10 , while  FIG. 4  provides an enlarged front elevation view of the dual connecting apparatus  10 . The main body  13  has a generally horizontally extending central portion  11   a  attached to the first end  21  by a generally vertically extending upper leg  11   b  and attached to the second end  23  by a generally vertically extending lower leg  11   c . Thus, the “Z-shaped” main body  13  displaces the connectors  14  and  18  both vertically and horizontally. It can be appreciated that the dual connecting apparatus  10  may be formed into shapes other than the Z-shape as illustrated in FIG.  3 . As shown in  FIG. 11A , a first modification dual connecting apparatus  10   a  has a main body  13   a  comprising a diagonal central portion  31   a  bridging between a vertically extending upper leg  31   b  attached to the first end  21  and a vertically extending lower leg  31   c  attached to the second end  23 .  FIG. 11B  illustrates a second modification dual connecting apparatus  10   b  that has a main body  13   b  comprising an arc shaped central portion  32   a  bridging between a vertically extending upper leg  32   b  attached to the first end  21  and a vertically extending lower leg  32   c  attached to the second end  23 .  FIG. 11C  illustrates a third modification dual connecting apparatus  10   c  that has a main body  13   c  comprising an serpentine shaped central portion  33   a  bridging between a vertically extending upper leg  33   b  attached to the first end  21  and a vertically extending lower leg  33   c  attached to the second end  23 . As a practical matter, the designer of electronic products will find many pleasing shapes in which the connecting apparatus may be made, all of which are within the scope of the present invention. Such shapes include a linear bridge or a lateral offset bridge using horizontal, vertical, curved, or serpentine portions either individually or in combination as part of the main body. Any shape of the rigid housing can be used as long as the connectors  14  and  18  are held in the proper orientation for the particular application. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates orienting the connectors so that the USB type B male connector  14  and the USB type A male connector  18  are at right angles relative to one another. 
     FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of the dual connecting apparatus  10 , taken along the section line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 , where the rigid housing  19  encases an electrical wiring such as USB conductors  17 , wherein the USB wiring conductors  17  are in electrical connection with the USB connectors  14  and  18 . Any practical combination of the USB connectors and receiving connectors can be used in connection with the present invention. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, where a dual inline FireWire connecting apparatus  20  is shown aligned for connectivity to a pair of stacked FireWire electrical hubs  25 . Similar to the dual connecting apparatus  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , the inline FireWire connecting apparatus  20  comprises a rigidly formed FireWire housing  29  encasing a plurality of conductors such as FireWire wiring  27  (FIG.  10 ). The FireWire connecting apparatus  20  includes a FireWire main body  30 , a FireWire first end  34 , and a FireWire second end  35  wherein the FireWire main body  30  bridges the FireWire first end  34  and the FireWire second end  35 . A six wire FireWire connector  24  and a six wire FireWire connector  28  are affixed to the respective FireWire first end  34  and the FireWire second end  35 . Also shown in  FIG. 6  are a corresponding mating FireWire receiving connector  22  and a FireWire receiving connector  26 , which receiving connectors are mounted on an upper one and a lower one respectively of the FireWire stacked electrical hubs  25 . Consequently, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the FireWire connectors  24  and  28  and the FireWire receiving connectors  22  and  26  are in electrical and mechanical releasable attachment. Other FireWire connectors and receiving connectors also can be used. 
     FIG. 8  illustrates an enlarged rear perspective view of the dual inline FireWire connecting apparatus  20 .  FIG. 9  illustrates an enlarged front elevation view of the dual inline FireWire connecting apparatus  20 . The FireWire connectors  24  and  28  are oriented the same, relative to one another, in a vertically inline rigid construction of the dual inline FireWire connecting apparatus  20 . Alternatively, the FireWire main body  30  may include inline horizontal or diagonal linear bridges. In addition, lateral offset bridges using vertical, horizontal, diagonal, curved or serpentine portions may be used either individually or in combination when forming the FireWire main body  30 . 
     FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of the dual FireWire connected apparatus  20 , taken along section line  10 — 10  of  FIG. 9 , where the rigid FireWire housing  29  encases the FireWire wiring  27  and the FireWire wiring  27  is in electrical connection with the FireWire connectors  24  and  28 . 
   In the present invention, by way of additional stacked electrical hubs  15  and  25 , it may be appreciated that a plurality of the connecting devices  10  ( 10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ) and  20  may be employed in the daisy chain manner. It may also be appreciated that the respective connecting devices  10  ( 10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ) and  20  may utilize various shapes for bridging the respective connectors  14 ,  18 ,  24  and  28 . Furthermore, the present invention may be exercised with varying orientations of the respective connectors  14 ,  18 ,  24  and  28  to one another, with varying alignments of the respective connectors within the respective apparatus  10  ( 10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ) and  20 . In addition, the connecting devices according to the present invention may be practiced on interconnected electrical hubs that are neither mechanically connected, adjacent, nor necessarily stacked. 
   In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.