Patent Abstract:
A retainer may include a hollow portion for holding a connector, a path for conveying the connector from outside the retainer to the hollow portion, a surface that is adjacent to the connector when the connector is held in the hollow portion, a fastener for applying a force to couple the retainer to a device, and a member that causes the surface to press the connector against a connector receiver associated with the device and to prevent the connector from being disengaged from the connector receiver.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Devices (e.g., computing devices, communication devices, etc.) require various connectors and cables (e.g., communication cable connectors, power cords, etc.) to properly function. However, such connectors and/or cables may become disconnected from devices due to vibrations, earthquakes, accidental removal, etc. This may cause the devices to malfunction. For example, a communication cable or power cord may disconnect from a network device, which may cause the network device to cease transmitting and/or receiving network traffic. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    A retainer may include a hollow portion for holding a connector, a path for conveying the connector from outside the retainer to the hollow portion, a surface that is adjacent to the connector when the connector is held in the hollow portion, a fastener for applying a force to couple the retainer to a device, and a member that causes the surface to press the connector against a connector receiver associated with the device and to prevent the connector from being disengaged from the connector receiver. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more implementations described herein and, together with the description, explain these implementations. In the drawings: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an isometric view of an exemplary system in which a connector retaining bracket described herein may be implemented; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2A-2D  are isometric, top, front, and side views, respectively, of the bracket illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a thumb screw illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an exemplary process for applying a connector retaining bracket according to implementations described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. 
         [0009]    Systems and methods described herein may provide a connector retaining bracket to ensure a continued attachment of a connector and/or a cable to a device. In one implementation, the device may include a connector receiver configured to receive the connector, and the connector may connect to the device via the connector receiver. 
         [0010]    The connector retaining bracket may include a bracket and fasteners. The bracket may fit around and hold the connector, which is connected to the connector receiver. The fasteners may affix the bracket to the device to which the connector receiver is attached. The tension with which the bracket retains the connector in place may be applied by the fasteners. Consequently, the connector retaining bracket may prevent the connector from disconnecting from the device. 
       Exemplary System 
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an isometric view of an exemplary system  100  in which a connector retaining bracket described herein may be implemented. As illustrated, system  100  may include a device  102  (that includes a panel  108 , a connector receiver  110 , and fastener supports  112  (only one fastener support is shown)), a connector  104 , connector cords  106 , a bracket  114 , and fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2 . 
         [0012]    Device  102  may include a network device (e.g., a gateway, a router, a switch, a firewall, a network interface card (NIC), a hub, a bridge, a proxy server, or some other type of device that processes and/or transfers data), a computation or communication device (e.g., a laptop, a personal computer, a work station, a server, etc.), a mobile communication device (e.g., e.g., a personal communications system (PCS) terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, etc.), and/or any other device capable of receiving a connector, such as connector  104 . Although device  102  is shown in  FIG. 1  as including panel  108 , connector receiver  110 , and screw supports  112 , in other implementations, device  102  may include additional components (not shown) depending upon the function of device  102 . 
         [0013]    Connector  104  may include a communication cable connector (e.g., peripheral component interface (PCI) express (PCIE) connector, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, etc.), a power cord connector (e.g., a power supply connector, a plug, etc.), an eight position, eight conductors (8P8C or “RJ45”) connector, a nine-pin D-shell (DE-9) connector, an optical connector (e.g., a standard connector (SC), a ferrule connector (FC), a sub miniature A (SMA) connector, etc.), a telephone connector, etc.), etc. 
         [0014]    Connector cords  106  may include cords connected to connector  104 . For example, connector cords  106  may include PCIE cables, a power cord, etc., that may provide electrical signals, optical signals, communication signals, power, etc. to device  102  via connector  104 , depending upon the function of connector  104 . 
         [0015]    Panel  108  may include a surface on device  102  or a portion of the surface to which connector receiver  110  and/or screw supports  112  may be affixed or mounted. Panel  108  may be made of the same material as a housing for device  102  (e.g., sheet metal, plastic, etc.) and may be capable of rigidly supporting connector receiver  110  and/or screw support  112 . For example, panel  108  may substantially maintain the flatness of its shape when connector  104  is inserted into connector receiver  110  and thumb screws  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  are inserted into screw holes in screw supports  112  and tightened. 
         [0016]    Connector receiver  110  may include a mechanism that is sized, shaped, and/or configured to receive connector  102 . For example, if connector  110  is a male PCIE connector, connector receiver  110  may be sized and shaped to receive the size and shape of the PCIE connector, and may include a socket to receive pins for a ground, a positive connection (e.g., +12 volt), a negative connection that may connect with a corresponding ground, a clock, data, etc. Connector receiver  110  may attach connector  104  to internal components of device  102 , and may enable connector  104  to communicate (e.g., electrically communicate, optically communicate, etc.) with device  102 . Depending on the implementation, connector receiver  110  may accommodate connectors of different dimensions and configurations (e.g., an 18-pin male/female PCIE connector, 32-pin male/female PCIE connector, etc.). 
         [0017]    Fastener supports  112  may include a component that is mounted and/or affixed to panel  108  and may provide a feature to which fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  may latch or be attached to. In one implementation, fastener supports  112  may be implemented as screw supports. In such an implementation, the flat surface on fastener supports  112  may include a threaded screw hole (not shown) through which a thumb screw may be inserted via a portion of bracket  114 . Once the thumb screws are inserted and tightened, bracket  114  may be coupled rigidly and stably against device  102 . In a different implementation, fastener supports  112  may include latches to which springs attached to the bracket may be locked/fastened. Locking the springs may couple the bracket  114  rigidly and stably against device  102 . While many different mechanisms may be used to provide the functionalities of fastener supports  112 , however, in the following descriptions, fastener supports  112  will be described in terms of screw supports. 
         [0018]    Bracket  114  may receive connector  104  and apply a force on connector  104  against connector receiver  110  to ensure that connector  104  remains connected to connector receiver  110  of device  102 . In one implementation, bracket  114  may resemble a rectangular plastic box that includes a cavity for receiving connector  104  and connector cords  106 . Bracket  114  may be implemented in a variety of shapes and sizes depending upon the size and shape of connector  104 . For example, in one implementation, bracket  114  may be small in size if connector  104  is small (e.g., a telephone connector), and may be large in size if connector  104  is large (e.g., a power cord connector). 
         [0019]    Bracket  114  may be made from a variety of materials, such as a thermoplastic polymer (e.g., a polycarbonate resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, a fluoroplastic, etc.), a metal or metal alloy (e.g., stainless steel, copper, iron, nickel, zinc, brass, bronze, aluminum, etc.), a combination of the aforementioned materials, etc. Further details of bracket  114  are provided below in connection with  FIGS. 2A through 2D . 
         [0020]    Each of fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  may be attached to their respective fastener supports  112  to affix bracket  114  against device  102 . In one implementation, each of fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  may be implemented as thumb screws. In such an implementation, each of the thumb screws through a cylindrical tube portion of bracket  114  and into a screw hole in screw supports  112 . By rotating each of the thumb screws, the cylindrical portion of bracket  114  and/or connector  104  may be forcibly abutted against edges of connector receiver  110  and/or fastener support  112 , preventing connector  104  from becoming loose. In another implementation, wire springs may be used in place of the thumb screws. In such a case, latching the springs to fastener support  112  may apply the necessary force on bracket  114  to prevent connector  104  from becoming detached from connector receiver  110 . While many different mechanisms can be used to apply the force on bracket  114  in different implementations, however, in the following, fasteners  116 - 1  and  116  will be described in terms of thumb screws. 
         [0021]    Although  FIG. 1  shows exemplary components of system  100 , in other implementations, system  100  may contain fewer, different, or additional components than depicted in  FIG. 1 . In still other implementations, one or more components of system  100  may perform one or more of the functions described as performed by one or more other components of system  100 . 
       Exemplary Connector Retaining Bracket Configuration 
       [0022]      FIGS. 2A through 2D  are isometric, top, front, and side views, respectively, of bracket  114  that uses thumb screws as fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2D , bracket  114  may include a left wall portion  202 - 1 , a right wall portion  202 - 2 , a bottom wall portion  204 , a guard panel portion  206 , a left cylindrical tube portion  208 - 1 , a right cylindrical tube portion  208 - 2 , a left fin portion  210 - 1 , a right fin portion  210 - 2 , a left front wall portion  212 - 1 , and a right front wall portion  212 - 2 . In one implementation, the portions may be integrally formed together (e.g., via molding, extrusion, casting, etc.). In another implementation, the portions may be connected together via a variety of connection mechanisms (e.g., via adhesives, glue, solder, screws, and/or similar connection mechanisms). In yet another implementation, guard panel portion  206 , left fin portion  210 - 1 , and right fin portion  210 - 2  of bracket  114  may, or may not, include uniform thickness. In one example, guard panel portion  206  may include a portion whose thickness ranges from about 0.2 millimeter to about 1.5 millimeter. 
         [0023]    Left wall portion  202 - 1 , bottom wall portion  204 , left front wall portion  210 - 1 , right front wall portion  210 - 2 , and right wall portion  202 - 2  may be adjoined to form a cavity  214 . Left wall portion  202 - 1  may be adjoined perpendicularly to left front wall portion  210 - 1  and bottom wall portion  204 , and right wall portion  202 - 2  may be adjoined perpendicularly to right front wall portion  210 - 2  and bottom wall portion  204 . 
         [0024]    The lengths of the adjoined wall portions may be set such that connector  104  may substantially fit snugly into cavity  214 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Depending on the implementation, the dimensions of left wall portion  202 - 1 , bottom wall portion  204 , left front wall portion  210 - 1 , right front wall portion  210 - 2 , and right wall portion  202 - 2  may be designed to fit the shape of a particular type of connector. For example, in one implementation, length X ( FIG. 2B ), width Y ( FIG. 2B ), and height Z may be set to about 60 millimeters, 59 millimeters, and 8 millimeters, respectively, so that the wall portions may form a cavity into which a PCIE connector may fit. 
         [0025]    In forming cavity  214 , left wall portion  202 - 1 , right wall portion  202 - 2 , and bottom wall portion  204  may be cut and shaped to increase the maneuverability of connector  104  when connector is being fitted into or is being removed from cavity  214  of bracket  114 . 
         [0026]    For example, bottom wall portion  204 , as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , may include a rectangular slot  218 . To fit connector  104  into cavity  214 , connector  104  may be inserted through open space  216  in the direction of arrow  222 - 1  and through cavity  214  in the direction of arrow  222 - 2 . In inserting connector  104  through open space  216 , because the width of open space  216  may be shorter than the width of connector  104 , connector  104  may be oriented such that a narrow side of connector  104  may face the same direction as guard panel portion  206 . To further move connector  104  through open space  216  and into cavity  214 , rectangular slot  218  may be formed on bottom wall portion  204 . Via rectangular slot  218 , connector  104  may easily move through open space  216  and cavity  214 . 
         [0027]    In another example, as shown in  FIG. 2D , the top edge of right wall  202 - 2  may be cut, as shown by a dotted ellipse  224 . In removing bracket  114  from connector  104 , connector  104  may be easily separated from bracket  114  if connector  104  can be held apart from bracket  114 . To facilitate such an action, part of right wall portion  202 - 1  and left wall portion  202 - 2  may be cut and removed. As indicated by dotted ellipse  224  in  FIG. 2D , a portion of right wall  202 - 2  may be removed, so that when connector  104  is fitted into cavity  214  in bracket  114 , part of connector  104  may be accessible, as the obstructing wall portion has been removed. 
         [0028]    When connector  104  is being fitted into cavity  214 , once connector  104  has been initially pushed through open space  216  and placed around cavity  214  in the direction of arrow  222 - 2 , connector  104  may be rotated and/or realigned, such that the side flat surfaces of connector  104  are substantially parallel to left side wall portion  202 - 1 , right side wall portion  202 - 2 , and bottom wall portion  204 . Once connector  104  is in the proper orientation, connector  104  may be fitted or snapped into cavity  214 . 
         [0029]    Guard panel portion  206  may be perpendicularly adjoined to the top edge of left wall portion  202 - 1 , right wall portion  202 - 2 , left front wall portion  212 - 1 , and right front wall portion  212 - 2 . In addition, guard panel portion  206  may be cut or shaped to expose a top surface of connector  104  that is placed in cavity  214 . In such instances, connector  104  may be easily placed in or removed from cavity  214 . 
         [0030]    In addition, guard panel portion  206  may include a portion that may extend over cords  106  when connector  104  is fitted into cavity  214 . By the virtue of the extension, panel portion  206  may deflect a blow or an impact to cord  106 . Without guard panel portion  206 , such a blow or an impact may damage or cause connector  104  and/or cord  106  to be separated from one another and/or connector receiver  110 . 
         [0031]    Left cylindrical tube portion  208 - 1  and right cylindrical tube portion  208 - 2  may be adjoined lengthwise to left wall portion  202 - 1  and right wall portion  202 - 2 , respectively. Furthermore, each of left cylindrical tube portion  208 - 1  and right cylindrical tube portion  208 - 2  may be hollow, such that fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  may be inserted into and through left cylindrical tube portion  208 - 1  and right cylindrical tube portion  208 - 2 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , if bracket  114  is placed against panel  108  such that connector  104  is inserted into connector receiver  110  and holes in left and right cylindrical tube portions  208 - 1  and  208 - 2  are aligned against screw holes in fastener supports  212 , fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  (e.g., thumb screws) through left and right cylindrical tube portions  208 - 1  and  208 - 2  may be inserted into screw holes in fastener supports  112  and rotated to press connector  104  against connector receiver  110 . 
         [0032]    Being made of the rigid material, when fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  are tightened, the heads of fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  (e.g., heads of thumb screws) may press against left cylindrical tube portion  208 - 1  and right cylindrical tube portion  208 - 2 . Left cylindrical tube portion  208 - 1  and right cylindrical tube portion  208 - 2  may impart a resulting force to left wall portion  202 - 1  and right wall portion  202 - 2 , which consequently may distribute the force to other portions of bracket  114 . Consequently, left and right front wall portions  212  may push connector  104  in cavity  214  against connector receiver  110 , to prevent connector  104  from becoming separated or unplugged from connector receiver  110 . 
         [0033]    Depending on the implementation, left and right cylinder tube portions  208 - 1  and  208 - 2  may include slots  220  that render portions of thumb screws  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  visible when thumb screws are placed in left and right cylinder tube portions  208 - 1  and  208 - 2 . In such cases, if one or both of thumb screws  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  break, the breaks may be visible through slots  220 . A user that sees the damages may take corrective actions. 
         [0034]    Left fin portion  210 - 1  and right fin portion  210 - 2  may be adjoined to top edges of left front wall portion  212 - 1  and right front wall portion  212 - 2 . Left fin portion  210 - 1  and right fin portion  210 - 2  may be sized and positioned perpendicularly underneath guard panel portion  206  such that guard panel portion  206 , left fin portion  210 - 1 , and right fin portion  210 - 2  may provide for enough open space  216  to accommodate cords  216  attached to connector  104  when connector  104  is fitted into cavity  214 . In addition, left fin portion  210 - 1  and right fin portion  210 - 2  may extend from left front wall portion  212 - 1  and right wall portion  212 - 2  to protect cord  106  from inadvertent touches, impact, blows, etc. in lateral directions. 
         [0035]    Although  FIGS. 2A through 2D  show exemplary portions of bracket  114 , in other implementations, bracket may contain fewer, different, or additional components than depicted in  FIGS. 2A-2D . For example, in implementations that use wire springs to fasten bracket  114  to device  102 , bracket  114  may not include left and right cylindrical tube portions  208 - 1  and  208 - 2 . In still other implementations, one or more portions of bracket  114  may perform one or more of the functions described as being performed by one or more other portions of bracket  114 . 
       Exemplary Fasteners 
       [0036]      FIG. 3  is a side view of fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  that is implemented as a thumb screw. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  may include a threaded portion  302 , a beam portion  304 , and a head portion  306 . Depending on implementation, fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  may include additional or different portions than those illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0037]    Threaded portion  302  of fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  may include threads  308  and spaces  310 . One or more threads  308  may be provided in threaded portion  302 , and one space  310  may be provided between adjacent threads  308 . Threads  308  and spaces  310  may be configured similar to threads and spaces provided on a bolt or a screw. For example, threads  308  and spaces  310  may be provided in a helical configuration as either right-handed threads or left-handed threads. 
         [0038]    Beam portion  304  may include a cylindrical portion that connects threaded portion  302  to head portion  306 . 
         [0039]    Head portion  306  of fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  may include a portion that is configured to have a diameter larger than that of beam portion  304  and may be sized to enable a user to manipulate (e.g., rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise) fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  with one or more digits (e.g., a thumb and a finger) of the user&#39;s hand. 
         [0040]    In some implementations, head portion  306  may include one or more grooves that may be formed on a peripheral surface of head portion  306 , and may sized to enable a user to manipulate (e.g., rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise) fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  with one or more digits (e.g., a thumb and a finger) of the user&#39;s hand. Such grooves may provide traction for the user&#39;s grip and permit the user to turn fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  with forces applied by the thumb and the finger. Although not shown in  FIG. 3 , in other implementations, head portion  306  may include one or more slots that form a drive design (e.g., a flathead, a Phillips head, a hex design, etc.). The drive design may be manipulated by a corresponding mechanism (e.g., a flathead screwdriver, a Phillips head screwdriver, an Allen wrench, etc.) so that a user may manipulate (e.g., rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise) fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2 . 
         [0041]    In operation, threaded portion  302  and beam portion  304  may be inserted through a hole in cylindrical tube portion  208 - 1  of bracket  114  while connector  104  is placed in cavity  214 . In such a configuration, threaded portion  302  may be aligned with one of fastener supports  112 . When head portion  306  of fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  is turned, a forced applied by a user to turn fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  may cause head portion  306  of fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  to move toward fastener support  112 . This may increase a force applied by bracket  114  on connector  104 . Turning fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  (with right-handed threads) counter-clockwise may cause head portion  306  of fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  to move away from screw support  112  and may cause bracket  114  to move away from connector receiver  110  and/or fastener support  112 . This may decrease a force applied by bracket  114  on connector  104 . If threads  308  are left-handed threads, the reverse of the above example may occur. 
         [0042]    Although  FIG. 3  shows exemplary components of fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  when fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  is implemented as a thumb screw, fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  in other implementations may contain fewer, different, or additional components than depicted in  FIG. 3 . In still other implementations, one or more portions of fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2  may perform one or more of the functions described as being performed by one or more other portions of fastener  116 - 1 / 116 - 2 . 
       Exemplary Process 
       [0043]      FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart of an exemplary process  400  according to implementations described herein. As shown in  FIG. 4 , process  400  may begin with insertion of connector  104  through open space  216  and cavity  214  of bracket  114  (block  402 ). As described above, inserting connector  104  through open space  216  that is formed by left fin portion  210 - 1 , right fin portion  210 - 2  and guard panel  206  may entail turning or rotating connector  104  until connector  104  can move through rectangular slot  218  on bottom wall portion  204  of bracket  114 . Because a cord may be attached to connector  104 , moving connector  104  through open space  214  and cavity  214  may also move the cord through open space  214  and cavity  216 . 
         [0044]    Connector  104  may be oriented such that connector  104  can be snapped into cavity  214  (block  404 ). Connector  104  may be placed or fitted into cavity  214  (block  406 ). A user may place connector  104  in cavity  214  until a rear surface of connector  104  presses against left and right front walls  212 - 1  and  212 - 2  of bracket  114 . 
         [0045]    Connector  104  that is placed/fitted within bracket  114  may be inserted into connector receiver  114  (block  408 ). In one implementation, connector  104  may include female/male connector portion that may be plugged into male/female connector receiver  110 . 
         [0046]    Each of two fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  may be inserted through part of bracket  114  to be attached to a fastener support (block  410 ). In one implementation, two fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  may include thumb screws, and each of the thumb screws may be inserted through a corresponding one of cylindrical tube portions  208 - 1  and  208 - 2  into a screw hole in one of fastener supports (block  410 ). 
         [0047]    At block  412 , each of fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  may be tightened (block  412 ). As described above, if fasteners are implemented as thumb screws, turning each of fasteners  116 - 1  and  116 - 2  may increase the force exerted on connector  104  against connector receiver  110  and/or the force exerted by bracket  114  against screw supports  112 . 
       CONCLUSION 
       [0048]    The above describes a connector retaining bracket that may render a connector which may be easily detached from a connector receiver capable of being securely connected to the device. However, the foregoing description provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. 
         [0049]    For example, while a series of blocks has been described with regard to the flowcharts of  FIG. 4 , the order of the blocks may differ in other implementations. Further, non-dependent blocks may be performed in parallel. 
         [0050]    Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the invention. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. 
         [0051]    No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7