Patent Publication Number: US-7914338-B2

Title: HDMI connection system and method for use

Description:
This application is a Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/115,859, filed on 6 May 2008, now pending, and hereby incorporates application Ser. No. 12/115,859 by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     High Definition Multimedia Interface (“HDMI”) is an uncompressed, all digital audio-visual (“A/V”) interface. The HDMI dramatically simplifies cabling and provides a high quality home experience. HDMI provides an interface between any digital A/V source such as a set-top box, DVD player, satellite receiver, or other A/V source and an A/V receiver/controller or display device, such as a digital television (DTV), or DTV projector, among others. 
     HDMI is a digital interface consequently, it provides the best quality of video since there are no lossy analog to digital conversions as are required for analog connection. The difference is especially noticeable at higher resolution such as 1080 p. D/V will be sharper than component, and eliminates the softness and ghosting found with component. Small, high contrast details such as text brings this difference out most. 
     Also, HDMI supports two way communications between the video source (e.g. a DVD player) and the DTV allowing functionality such as automatic configuration and one-touch play. When using the HDMI, devices automatically deliver the most effective format (e.g. 1080 p v. 4800 p, 16:9 v. 4:3) for the display that it is connected to, eliminating the need for the user to scroll through format options to look at what looks best. 
     HDMI cables can use standard copper or other metal construction allowing for long cables lengths. Cables up to 10 meters have passed the “Standard Cable” HDMI compliance test. Additionally, there are many adapters, that work on HDMI, that extend a cable&#39;s effective distance from the typical 10 m length to much longer lengths. 
     Although HDMI technology greatly improves the users A/V experience, there are serious consequences when the connection between HDMI and the A/V device is not secure. If the HDMI connection is not secured properly with the A/V component, the connection is loose or is loosened over time causing the signal to be lost. Even if the HDMI connection is secured properly, repetitive plugging and unplugging of the HDMI connection is known to cause added stress to the input or permanently loosening the connection possibly causing damage to the component&#39;s input. This problem can be caused by the slightest movement of a component, weight of the cable, or weight of adjacent cables connecting various components, among others. This problem can be amplified by longer cable lengths supported by HDMI technology. 
     Longer cables, allowed by HDMI technology, naturally allows more movement in the connection; the longer the cable, the more likely it will be kicked, twisted, or jerked causing loosening the HDMI contact. Additionally, the increased weight of the HDMI cables, due to increased lengths, will naturally cause a downward gravitational pull on the HDMI connection. 
     Information relevant to attempts to address these problems can be found in the following US patents: U.S. Pat. No. 7,903 (Nov. 28, 29, 2006) discloses an electrical plug restricting apparatus used to restrict electrical equipment to the chassis of electrical equipment. U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,161 (Sep. 6, 2005) discloses a cable connector which is configured to connect to a device. The cable connector further includes a retaining clip configured to which secures the cable connector to the device. U.S. Pat. No. 6,683,258 (Jan. 27, 2004) discloses a bracket that secures a cable in a static position. U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,792 (February 2003) discloses device to tightly secure various size plugs to a socket for use in an electrical device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,677 (Nov. 19, 1996) discloses a power plug retainer which is essentially a parallelepiped box having an open side and an open end. U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,209 (Jun. 28, 29, 1994) discloses a connector shell assembly that retains both a conventional connector and a strain relief or radio jack. U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,976 (Sep. 3, 1991) discloses an electrical cord holder which can be secured to a conventional electrical outlet. A clamp is detachably secured around the electrical cord immediately adjacent the plug while the plug is inserted within the wall outlet. However, these references do not solve the problems introduced by HDMI technology. The aforementioned references describe a one-to-one relationship between a particular cable connection to a particular device; there is not one system that supports HDMI cables to all electronic devices. The current invention is a method and apparatus to secure and HDMI cable to any wall-plate, adapter, or other electronic device. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The current invention is a method and apparatus to secure a HDMI cable to an electronic device, wall-plate, adaptor, or other device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a is an elevational view of the HDMI Connection System; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of main body; 
         FIG. 3  is a top elevational view of the main body; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the mounting adapter; 
         FIG. 5  is a front and side elevational side view of the HDMI Connection System; 
         FIG. 6  is an elevational view showing a HDMI Cable being prepared for the HDMI Connection System; 
         FIG. 7  is an elevational view showing the mounting adapter attached to a chassis; 
         FIG. 8  is an elevational view showing how the main body is attached to the mounting adapter; 
         FIG. 9  is an elevational view showing the HDMI Connection System in place. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The HDMI Connection System  10  is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set for herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , The HDMI Connection System  10  comprises a main body  20  a mounting adapter  30 , and a set screw  40 . The main body  20  comprises three sides  21 ,  22 ,  23  that define a cavity  24  and a cap  25 . The cavity  24  is sufficient in size to accommodate the head of most HDMI cables found on the market. 
     The cap  25  is attached to sides  21  and  23  to form a rectangle. However, it would be obvious to persons having ordinary skill in the art that the main body  20  can be any shape that accommodates the head of a standard HDMI cable. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in a preferred embodiment, the cap  25  is rectangular having two short sides  26  and two long sides  27 . A long side  27  defines two notches  28 , 29 . Additionally, the cap  25  defines a hole  70  at its center. The hole  70  is sufficient in size to accommodate the set screw  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the mounting adapter  30  is an L-shaped bracket having a back  31  and a tongue  32 . The back  31  supports two arms  33 , 34 . One arm  33  extends out from the left back  31 ; one arm  34  extends out from the right back  31 . The arms  33 ,  34  are in an L-shape. The center portion of the back defines a cutaway  35  which is sufficient in size to accommodate a machine screw. The center of the tongue  32  defines a vertical border  37 . The vertical border  37  keeps the set screw  40  perpendicular to the tongue  32 . The vertical border is sufficient is size to accommodate the set screw  40 . 
     In order to use the HDMI Connection System  10 , the main body  20  is placed over the HDMI cable with the notches  28 , 29  facing away from the chassis. The HDMI Cable is plugged into the HDMI input. 
     If the component has a fixing screw  100  above, below, or adjacent, amongst others, to the HDMI input, the user then loosens the fixing screw  100  enough to slip the mounting adapter  30  over the fix screw  100 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , the cutaway  35  is slipped over the loosened fixing screw  100 . The fixing screw  100  is then tightened. If the component does not have a fixing screw or a fixing screw is not easily available, the mounting adaptor  30  can be attached to the chassis with removable adhesive, a hoop and loop method such as VELCRO™, amongst others. It is important that the mounting adaptor  30  is place directly against the HDMI cable; there should be no gap between the HDMI cable and the tongue  32  of the mounting adaptor  30 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the set screw  40  is partially screwed in hole  70  of the main body  20 . The main body  20  is placed over the mounting adapter  30  so that the hole  70  and the vertical border  37  are aligned and the set screw  40  is tightened. Once installed, the arms prevent a user from accidentally pulling the HDMI cable out.