Patent Publication Number: US-11031723-B2

Title: Cable header

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/289,722 filed on Oct. 10, 2016, the contents of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present technology pertains to a cable header; more specifically, the present technology relates to a cable header that facilitate alignment of cable terminals with connector terminals and that allows the cables to be easily removed without special tools. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cable headers are often used to house a collection of cable terminals for coupling with connector terminals of an electronic component. However, the collection of parts that make up the connector terminals of the electronic component, the cable terminals, an electronic component itself, etc. can all be manufactured with design tolerances. The tolerances can stack and create misalignment possibilities between the cable terminal ends and the connector terminals of the electronic component. Additionally, traditional cable headers require removing the component-facing side of the cable header and using a special cable removal tool to remove the cable terminals from the cable header. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a cable header that alleviates potential misalignment issues and that allows removal of the cable terminals from the back side of the cable header without the need for specialized tools. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description of the principles briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the principles herein are described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a cable header block; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a top view of a section of a cable header block with an aperture overlapping another aperture; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a floating insert; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates the cable header block with floating inserts inserted into the apertures; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates the cable header block with a backing plate; 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates the cable header block with a backing plate and a cover plate; 
         FIG. 3D  illustrates a top view of a through-hole on a cover plate; 
         FIG. 3E  illustrates a top view of a through-hole on a cover plate; 
         FIG. 3F  illustrates the cable header block with fasteners in slide channels of the cover plate; 
         FIG. 3G  illustrates the cable header block with a first geometric shape of the through-holes positioned over the apertures 
         FIG. 3H  illustrates the cable header block with a second geometric shape of the through-holes positioned over the apertures 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a cable header block with a cable inserted into an aperture of the cable header block and coupled with a connector terminal on an electronic component panel; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a method of assembling a cable header with a plurality of cables and a cover plate. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     Overview 
     Disclosed are apparatuses including a cable header block with apertures for floating inserts and a cover plate. The cable header block can include a fastener hole and an aperture pattern of a plurality of apertures. The aperture pattern can substantially match a pattern of connector terminals on an electronic component. The floating inserts fit in one of the apertures of the cable header block and can be sized such that a gap exists between the floating inserts and the apertures. The cover plate can include a substantially flat surface with a slide channel disposed along a linear length through the surface of the cover plate. The cover plate can also include a through-hole pattern that substantially matches the aperture pattern. Also, each of the through-holes can include a first geometric shape larger than a cross-section of a cable terminal end and a second geometric shape adjacent to the first shape that is smaller than the cross-section of the cable terminal end. The cover plate retains the floating inserts within the one or more apertures. Also, the cover plate aligns the first geometric shape over the floating inserts when the fastener is in a first position in the slide channel and aligns the second geometric shape over the floating inserts when the fastener is in a second position in the slide channel. 
     Example Embodiments 
     The present technology involves a cable header apparatus with floating inserts to facilitate alignment between a panel connector and a cable connector and with a cover plate that slides to alternatively lock and unlock cables inserted into the float inserts from being able to be removed.  FIG. 1A  illustrates a cable header block  100 . The cable header block  100  can be used to house cable terminal ends that are grouped together for coupling with the connector terminals of an electronic component, such as a switch. The cable header block  100  includes a plurality of apertures  105   a - 105   n , fastener holes  110   a ,  110   b , and guide pins  115   a ,  115   b . A top surface  120  of the cable header block  100  can be recessed and a surface ridge  125  follow an upper top surface perimeter of the cable header block  100 . 
     The apertures  105   a - 105   n  are disposed in an aperture pattern that can substantially match a pattern of connector terminals on an electronic component. For example, the aperture pattern in  FIG. 1A  includes a top row of apertures  130  and a bottom row of apertures  135 . A portion of the aperture boundary for the apertures in the top row  130  overlap with a portion of the aperture boundary for the apertures in the bottom row of apertures  135 , thereby defining an overlap region.  FIG. 1B  illustrates a top view of a section of a cable header block  100  with an aperture  105   b  overlapping another aperture  105   i  and forming an overlap region  140 . 
     The cable header apparatus can include floating inserts that can be fit into the apertures  105   a - 105   n  of the cable header block  100 . The floating inserts can also be selected with dimensions smaller than the apertures  105   a - 105   n  such that a gap is formed between a portion of the dimension of the floating insets and the apertures  105   a - 105   n , thereby allowing the floating inserts to “float” in the apertures  105   a - 105   n  (as shown in greater detail in  FIG. 4 ). As explained above, a collection of parts that make up the connector terminals of the electronic component, the cable terminals, an electronic component itself, etc. can all be manufactured with design tolerances. The tolerances can stack and create misalignment possibilities between the cable terminal ends and the connector terminals of the electronic component. However, the gap between a portion of the dimension of the floating insets and the apertures  105   a - 105   n  allows the floating inserts to displace to facilitate proper alignment despite the tolerance stack. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a floating insert  200  that can fit into an aperture  105  of the cable header block  100 . The floating insert  200  can have a substantially cylindrical outer surface  205 , an alignment tab  215 , and a cut-away section  210  on a terminal end of the floating insert  200 . The cross-sectional shape of the cut-away section  210  can be substantially similar to the portion of the aperture boundaries in the overlap region  140 . The floating insert  200  can also have a chamfered edge  220  on another terminal end that further facilitates alignment with connector terminals on an electronic component. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates the cable header block  300  with a plurality of floating inserts  350   a - 350   n  inserted into the plurality of apertures  305   a - 305   n . The cable header block  300  further includes fastener holes  345   a ,  345   b , guide pin  315 , and backing plate screw coupling holes  310   a ,  310   b . The top surface  320  of the cable header block  300  can be recessed and a surface ridge  325  follow an upper top surface perimeter of the cable header block  300 . Additionally, the cable header block  300  can further include insert recesses (occupied by floating inserts  350   a - 350   n ). 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates the cable header block  300  with a backing plate  355  coupled onto the top surface  320  within the surface ridge  325  of the cable header block  300 . The backing plate  355  includes a guide pin aperture (shown occupied by the guide pin  315 ), backing plate fastener holes  365   a ,  365   b  and guide plate lock screw apertures  360   a ,  360   b.    
       FIG. 3C  illustrates the cable header block  300  with a backing plate  355  and a cover plate  370 . The cover plate  370  includes a plurality of through-holes  375   a - 375   g  and slide channels  380   a - 380   e . The through-holes  375   a - 375   g  are formed to substantially match the aperture pattern of the cable header block  300  and to include at least two geometric shapes. For example,  FIGS. 3D and 3E  illustrate a top view of through-hole  375   b  and  375   c , respectively. 
     Through-hole  375   b  includes a top through-hole portion  376   a  and a bottom through-hole portion  376   b . The top through-hole portion  376   a  has a first geometric shape α and the bottom through-hole portion  376   b  has a second geometric shape ft. Likewise,  FIG. 3E  illustrates a top view of through-hole  375   c , in which top through-hole portion  376   a  has a first geometric shape α and bottom through-hole portion  376   b  has a second geometric shape ft. Additionally, through-hole  375   c  further includes a slide channel  380   b.    
     Referring again to  FIG. 3C , the cover plate  370  and backing plate  355  are coupled to the cable header block  300  with backing plate fasteners  385   a ,  385   b . The backing plate fasteners  385   a ,  385   b  can be tightened to a degree that causes the cover plate  370  to secure the backing plate  355  against the top surface  320  of the cable header block  300  within the surface ridge  325  and that also allows the cover plate  370  to slide, as explained below. This degree of tightening secures the floating inserts  350   a - 350   n  in the cable header block  300 . 
     Also, the backing plate fasteners  385   a ,  385   b  are disposed in the slide channels  380   a ,  380   e  and the guide pin  315  is disposed in slide channel  380   c . Accordingly, the backing plate fasteners  385   a ,  385   b  can secure the cover plate  370  and backing plate  355  while still allowing the cover plate  370  to slide laterally in the +x and −x directions, as limited by the guide pin  315  in the slide channel  380   c . Also, slide channel  380   b  and  380   d  are positioned over the fastener holes  345   a ,  345   b , thereby allowing fasteners (not shown) to be inserted into the fastener holes  345   a ,  345   b.    
       FIG. 3F  illustrates the cable header block  300  with fasteners  386   a ,  386   b  in slide channels  380   a ,  380   b  of the cover plate  370 . In some cases, the through-holes  375   a - 375   g  are configured to respectively position the first geometric shape α over the apertures  105   a - 105   n  when the when the fasteners  386   a ,  386   b  are in one position in the slide channels  380   b ,  380   d  and position the second geometric shape β over the apertures  105   a - 105   n  when the when the fastener are in second position in the slide channels  380   b ,  380   d.    
     Additionally, the first geometric shape α and the second geometric shape β can be selected based on the geometry of the cable terminals that are inserted into the cable header block  300 .  FIG. 3G  illustrates the cable header block  300  with the fasteners  386   a ,  386   b  in a first terminal position in the slide channels  380   b ,  380   d , resulting in the first geometric shape α of the through-holes  375   a - 375   g  being respectively positioned over the apertures  105   a - 105   n . The first geometric shape α of the through-holes  375   a - 375   g  accommodates cable terminals  390   a - 390   n . As labeled in reference to cable terminal  390   n , the cable terminals  390   a - 390   n  can also include a wider bottom terminal end  395   a  and a narrower top lead  395   b . As shown, the first geometric shape α can accommodate the wide bottom terminal end  395   a . Also, the second geometric shape β of the through-holes  375   a - 375   g  can be less wide than the wide bottom terminal end  395   a , but can accommodate the narrower top lead  395   b.    
       FIG. 3H  illustrates the cable header block  300  with the fasteners  386   a ,  386   b  in the second position in the slide channels  380   b ,  380   d . When the cover plate  370  slides, such that the fasteners  386   a ,  386   b  are in the second position in the slide channels  380   b ,  380   d , the second geometric shape β of the through-holes  375   a - 375   g  become respectively positioned over the apertures  105   a - 105   n . Since the second geometric shape β of the through-holes  375   a - 375   g  are less wide than the wide bottom terminal end  395   a  of the cable terminals  390   a - 390   n , the second geometric shape β of the through-holes  375   a - 375   g  effectively secure the cable terminals  390   a - 390   n  within the apertures  105   a - 105   n . However, since the second geometric shape β of the through-holes  375   a - 375   g  can accommodate the narrower top lead  395   b , the second geometric shape β of the through-holes  375   a - 375   g  does not interfere with the narrower top lead  395   b  of the cable terminals  390   a - 390   n.    
     Also, when the cover plate  370  slides to the second position in the slide channels  380   b ,  380   d , the fasteners  386   a ,  386   b  can be fastened within the fastener holes  345   a ,  345   b  and can lock the cable terminals  390   a - 390   n  within the apertures  305   a - 305   n . However, the cable terminals  390   a - 390   n  can easily be removed by sliding the cover plate  370  back to the first position after loosening the fasteners  386   a ,  38   b  with a common tool. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a cable header block  400  with a cable  430  inserted into an aperture  450  of the cable header block  400  and coupled with a connector terminal  420  on an electronic component panel  440 . The cable  430  includes a cable terminal end  435  and cable pin  425  coupled with the connector terminal  420 . As explained above, traditional cable headers can suffer from misalignment issues due to a tolerance stack. However, the cable header block  400  of  FIG. 4  houses a float insert  405  within the aperture  450 . The float insert  405  is smaller than the aperture  450 , thereby defining a float gap  410  within the aperture  450 . The float gap  410  allows the float insert  405  to move and facilitates alignment of the cable terminal end  435  and the cable pin  425  with the connector terminal  420 . Also, the float insert  405  has a camfered end  415  that facilitates alignment. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a method  500  of assembling a cable header, connecting a plurality of cables within the cable header, and coupling the cable header with a connector terminal of an electronic component. The method  500  involves placing a plurality of floating inserts into the aperture of a cable header block  505 , aligning the alignment tabs of the floating inserts within the recessed surface of the cable header block  510 , and then fully inserting the floating inserts in the apertures  515 . Next, the method  500  involves placing a backing plate in the recessed surface of the cable header block over the floating inserts  520 , placing a cover plate over the backing plate  525 , and fastening cover plate and backing plate with the cable header block  530  such that the backing plate holds the floating inserts within the apertures and such that the cover plate can slide over the cable header block. Next, the method  500  involve sliding the cover plate to expose the apertures to a large geometric through-hole in the cover plate  535  and inserting a cable terminal with a wide bottom terminal end into the floating inserts  540 . After the cable terminals are inserted into the floating inserts, the method  500  involve sliding the cover plate to cover the wide bottom terminal end of the cable terminal with a small geometric through-hole in the cover plate  545  and fastening the cover plate securing onto the cable header block, thereby locking the cable terminals within the cable header block  550 . 
     Although a variety of examples and other information was used to explain aspects within the scope of the appended claims, no limitation of the claims should be implied based on particular features or arrangements in such examples, as one of ordinary skill would be able to use these examples to derive a wide variety of implementations. Further and although some subject matter may have been described in language specific to examples of structural features and/or method steps, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to these described features or acts. For example, such functionality can be distributed differently or performed in components other than those identified herein. Rather, the described features and steps are disclosed as examples of components of systems and methods within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, claim language reciting “at least one of” a set indicates that one member of the set or multiple members of the set satisfy the claim.