U.S. patent application number 17/216166 was filed with the patent office on 2021-07-15 for magnetically securing detachable electronic cable assembly and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is John W. Cramer, IV, Calista A. Termini, Jennifer J. Termini. Invention is credited to John W. Cramer, IV, Calista A. Termini, Jennifer J. Termini.
Application Number | 20210218184 17/216166 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005482274 |
Filed Date | 2021-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210218184 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Termini; Calista A. ; et
al. |
July 15, 2021 |
Magnetically securing detachable electronic cable assembly and
method
Abstract
A versatile device for quickly and conveniently linking
electronic apparatuses includes a pair of cooperating bodies with
mating interfaces, and magnetically coupling elements having an
adjustable degree of attraction and retention. Angularly keyed,
selective geometrical interfaces between the bodies facilitate and
assure correct relative orientation and mating. A light indicator
attests to proper electrical connection between the bodies.
Inventors: |
Termini; Calista A.;
(Woodland Hills, CA) ; Termini; Jennifer J.;
(Agoura Hills, CA) ; Cramer, IV; John W.;
(Huntington Beach, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Termini; Calista A.
Termini; Jennifer J.
Cramer, IV; John W. |
Woodland Hills
Agoura Hills
Huntington Beach |
CA
CA
CA |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005482274 |
Appl. No.: |
17/216166 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16708799 |
Dec 10, 2019 |
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17216166 |
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16138843 |
Sep 21, 2018 |
10522943 |
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16708799 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/18 20130101; H01R
24/38 20130101; H01R 13/6205 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/62 20060101
H01R013/62; H01R 24/38 20060101 H01R024/38; G06F 1/18 20060101
G06F001/18 |
Claims
1. A device for linking electronic apparatuses which comprises: a
first body comprising a first number of electrical terminals; a
second body separate from said first body; said second body
comprising a second number of electrical terminals; wherein said
first and second number of electrical terminals are arranged to
conductively interconnect when said first and second bodies are
mated; a first element comprising a magnet attached to said first
body; a second element comprising magnetic material attached to
said second body; and, wherein at least one of said first and
second elements is securably movable with respect to one of said
first and second bodies to which said at least one of said first
and second elements is attached.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said first
and second elements is axially translatable in relation to an other
one of said first and second elements while said electrical
terminals remain mated.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises: an
actuator attached to said at least one of said first and second
elements; wherein said actuator is shaped and dimensioned to be
hand-manipulated, and wherein manipulation of said actuator causes
movement of said at least one of said first and second elements
with respect to one of said first and second bodies to which it is
attached.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein said device further comprises: a
tubular carriage carrying said at least one of said first and
second elements; said tubular carriage having an externally
threaded portion; and, wherein said one of said first and second
bodies comprises an internally treaded cavity engaged by said
externally treaded portion.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said one of said first and second
bodies comprises an indicator which is illuminated when said
cooperating mating electrical terminals are mated.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein said first number and said second
number are equal; and wherein said device further comprises a first
electrically conductive cable extending from said first body, and a
second electrically conductive cable extending from said second
body.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second bodies
comprise mutually compatible mating interfaces having an angularly
keyed surfaces whereby said first and second bodies mate in a
specific relative angular orientation.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein said angularly keyed surfaces
have a sinusoidally undulating shapes nestingly in phase with one
another.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second
bodies has a truncated ovoid shape.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of said
terminals comprises: a post outwardly biased from a support block
by a biasing member.
11. The device of claim 10, which further comprises: an aggregate
biasing force consisting of a summation of a biasing force for each
of said biasing member for all of said plurality of said terminals;
and, said aggregate biasing force is overcome by a magnetic
attractive force between said magnet element and said magnetic
material.
12. A method for releaseably electrically interconnecting a pair of
separate bodies having a plurality of electrical terminals said
method comprises: selecting said bodies so that a first one of said
bodies carries a first magnetically cooperative element and a
second one of said bodies carries second magnetically cooperative
element; wherein said first and second magnetically cooperative
elements are oriented to cooperatively bias said bodies toward one
another while said bodies are mated; mating said bodies along a
pair of angularly keyed interfacing surfaces; wherein said mating
establishes a disconnectable electrical connection between said
bodies through said plurality of electrical terminals; and,
adjusting an attractive force between said first and second
magnetically cooperative elements while said bodies are mated.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said pair of angularly keyed
interfacing surfaces comprise sinusoidally undulating shapes
nestingly in phase with one another.
14. The method of claim 12, which further comprises: illuminating
an indicator on said first one of said bodies when said bodies are
mated.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein said adjusting comprises:
manipulating a hand-manipulatable actuator determining an axial
position of said first magnetically cooperative element.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said adjusting further
comprises: rotating a thumb wheel on said first one of said bodies,
wherein said thumb wheel is internally threaded and engages an
externally threaded portion of a tubular carriage carrying said
first magnetically cooperative element.
Description
PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation of copending U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 16/708,799, filed 2019 Dec. 10, which is a continuation of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/138,843, filed 2018 Sep. 21,
now U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/522,943, issued 2019 Dec. 31, all of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to electronic cable and connector
assemblies used in linking electronic devices, and more
specifically digital implements such as mobile phones, computers
and their peripherals.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and
computer workstations and their peripheral devices often require a
multitude of interconnections through electronic cables that become
easily entangled and connectors that may be inadvertently
unplugged. For example, a laptop computer may electronically
connect to an outboard, portable, external hard disk drive via a
cable engaging their respective USB ports. Such cables can be
inadvertently tripped over causing the devices to be pulled from
their resting positions on the desktop, and onto the floor,
potentially resulting in mechanical shock damage to the
devices.
[0004] Another problem faced by many modern cables is that the
plugs at the end of the cables and/or the receptacles into which
they are engaged can often become damaged by tweaking motions over
many cycles of connecting and disconnecting, resulting in
ineffectual electronic connection.
[0005] Another problem faced by many cables is there may be a
single angular orientation of the plug which allows it to connect
to the receptacle of the device. For example USB type-A connector
plug connects in a single angular orientation, yet the plug often
has the same substantial appearance in two angular orientations.
The incorrect orientation may appear to be correct, frustrating
attempts to establish the connection. This can be time consuming
for users seeking to establish rapid connections.
[0006] Various so-called break-away cables have been proposed, such
as in Lindberg et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,637,746. However, the
strength of the magnetic force may be too weak in some
circumstances where rigorous activity is anticipated between the
connected devices. Alternately, the strength of the magnetic force
may be too strong in those circumstances where there may be some
difficulty disconnecting the cables by persons who lack the
adequate strength or dexterity, or where the cables themselves may
be subject to damage by repetitively disengaging a strong magnetic
connection.
[0007] Therefore, there is a need for an electronic cable
interconnect device and method which addresses one or more of the
above problems.
SUMMARY
[0008] The principal and secondary objects of the invention are to
provide an improved breakaway electronic cable connection. These
and other objects are achieved by a magnetically biased connector
wherein the strength of a magnetic connection can be adjusted.
[0009] In some embodiments there is provided a device for linking
electronic apparatuses which comprises: a first body comprising a
first number of electrical terminals; a second body separate from
said first body; said second body comprising a second number of
electrical terminals; wherein said first and second number of
electrical terminals are arranged to conductively interconnect when
said first and second bodies are mated; a first element comprising
a magnet attached to said first body; a second element comprising
magnetic material attached to said second body; and, wherein at
least one of said first and second elements is securably movable
with respect to one of said first and second bodies to which said
at least one of said first and second elements is attached.
[0010] In some embodiments said at least one of said first and
second elements is axially translatable in relation to an other one
of said first and second elements while said electrical terminals
remain mated.
[0011] In some embodiments said device further comprises: an
actuator attached to said at least one of said first and second
elements; wherein said actuator shaped and dimensioned to be
hand-manipulated, and wherein manipulation of said actuator causes
movement of said at least one of said first and second elements
with respect to one of said first and second bodies to which it is
attached.
[0012] In some embodiments said device further comprises: a tubular
carriage carrying said at least one of said first and second
elements; said tubular carriage having an externally threaded
portion; and, wherein said one of said first and second bodies
comprises an internally treaded cavity engaged by said externally
treaded portion.
[0013] In some embodiments said one of said first and second bodies
comprises an indicator which is illuminated when said cooperating
mating electrical terminals are mated.
[0014] In some embodiments said first number and said second number
are equal; and wherein said device further comprises a first
electrically conductive cable extending from said first body, and a
second electrically conductive cable extending from said second
body.
[0015] In some embodiments said first and second bodies comprise
mutually compatible mating interfaces having an angularly keyed
surfaces whereby said first and second bodies mate in a specific
relative angular orientation.
[0016] In some embodiments said angularly keyed surfaces have a
sinusoidally undulating shapes nestingly in phase with one
another.
[0017] In some embodiments each of said first and second bodies has
a truncated ovoid shape.
[0018] In some embodiments each of a plurality of said terminals
comprises: a post outwardly biased from a support block by a
biasing member.
[0019] In some embodiments the device further comprises: an
aggregate biasing force consisting of a summation of a biasing
force for each of said biasing member for all of said plurality of
said terminals; and, said aggregate biasing force is overcome by a
magnetic attractive force between said magnet element and said
magnetic material.
[0020] In some embodiments there is provided a method for
releaseably electrically interconnecting a pair of separate bodies
having a plurality of electrical terminals said method comprises:
selecting said bodies so that a first one of said bodies carries a
first magnetically cooperative element and a second one of said
bodies carries second magnetically cooperative element; wherein
said first and second magnetically cooperative elements are
oriented to cooperatively bias said bodies toward one another while
said bodies are mated; mating said bodies along a pair of angularly
keyed interfacing surfaces; wherein said mating establishes a
disconnectable electrical connection between said bodies through
said plurality of electrical terminals; and, adjusting an
attractive force between said first and second magnetically
cooperative elements while said bodies are mated.
[0021] In some embodiments said pair of angularly keyed interfacing
surfaces comprise sinusoidally undulating shapes nestingly in phase
with one another.
[0022] In some embodiments said method further comprises:
illuminating an indicator on said first one of said bodies when
said bodies are mated.
[0023] In some embodiments said adjusting comprises: manipulating a
hand-manipulatable actuator determining an axial position of said
first magnetically cooperative element.
[0024] The original text of the original claims is incorporated
herein by reference as describing features in some embodiments.
[0025] In this way the above embodiments can provide cable
assemblies and connectors with a degree of stability and retention
that can be configured and adjusted in order to prevent accidental
failures or equipment damage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a
disconnected matable pair of connector bodies for magnetically
securing cable assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the
assembly of FIG. 1 in a mated configuration.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic front end elevational view of the
male connector body.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the assembly of
FIG. 1 showing the interfaces of both the male and female connector
bodies.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of the
male connector body.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of a
spring-loaded connector pin sub-assembly.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a flow chart diagram of a method for electrically
interconnecting cables according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
[0033] FIG. 8 is a front, top, left perspective view of a
magnetically securing cable plug showing a single male connector
body according to an embodiment of our design.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a back, bottom, right perspective view
thereof.
[0035] FIG. 10 is a left side elevation view thereof, the right
side elevation view being a mirror image thereof.
[0036] FIG. 11 is a top plan view thereof.
[0037] FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view thereof.
[0038] FIG. 13 is a front elevational view thereof.
[0039] FIG. 14 is a back elevational view thereof.
[0040] FIG. 15 is a front, top, left perspective view of a
magnetically securing cable plug showing a matable pair of
connector bodies according to an alternate embodiment of our
design.
[0041] FIG. 16 is a back, bottom, right perspective view
thereof.
[0042] FIG. 17 is a left side elevation view thereof, the right
side elevation view being a mirror image thereof.
[0043] FIG. 18 is a top plan view thereof.
[0044] FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view thereof.
[0045] FIG. 20 is a front elevational view thereof, the back
elevational view being a mirror image thereof.
[0046] FIG. 21 is a front, top, left perspective view of a
magnetically securing cable plug showing a matable pair of
connector bodies disclaiming the electrical connectors according to
an alternate embodiment of our design.
[0047] FIG. 22 is a back, bottom, right perspective view
thereof.
[0048] FIG. 23 is a left side elevation view thereof, the right
side elevation view being a mirror image thereof.
[0049] FIG. 24 is a top plan view thereof.
[0050] FIG. 25 is a bottom plan view thereof.
[0051] FIG. 26 is a front elevational view thereof, the back
elevational view being a mirror image thereof.
[0052] FIG. 27 is a front, top, left perspective view of a
magnetically securing cable plug showing a matable pair of
connector bodies disclaiming the electrical connectors according to
an alternate embodiment of our design.
[0053] FIG. 28 is a back, bottom, right perspective view
thereof.
[0054] FIG. 29 is a left side elevation view thereof, the right
side elevation view being a mirror image thereof.
[0055] FIG. 30 is a top plan view thereof.
[0056] FIG. 31 is a bottom plan view thereof.
[0057] FIG. 32 is a front elevational view thereof, the back
elevational view being a mirror image thereof.
[0058] FIG. 33 is a front, top, left perspective view of an
undulating, keyed orientation interface for a matable pair of
connector bodies for a magnetically securing cable plug according
to an alternate embodiment of our design.
[0059] FIG. 34 is a back, bottom, right perspective view
thereof.
[0060] FIG. 35 is a left side elevation view thereof, the right
side elevation view being a mirror image thereof.
[0061] FIG. 36 is a top plan view thereof.
[0062] FIG. 37 is a bottom plan view thereof.
[0063] FIG. 38 is a front elevational view thereof, the back
elevational view being a mirror image thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)
[0064] Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4 a
cable assembly 10 particularly suited to linking two electronic
devices equipped with standard USB connectors. The assembly
comprises a male connector body 11 and a female connector body 12
each mounted on the ends of respective cables 13,14 which can be
terminated at their opposite ends by a USB or other device
terminator such as a plug. One of the bodies includes a permanent
magnet and the other body includes magnetic material, such as
ferrous material or another magnet. In this way it can be said that
each body carries an element which is magnetically cooperative with
a separate element on the other body. A first one of the
magnetically cooperative elements can be either a permanent magnet
or other ferromagnetic material which can attractively cooperate
with a corresponding magnetically cooperative element attached to
the other connector body. In other words, a magnetically attractive
force can be established between the two magnetically cooperative
elements so that the connector bodies are biased toward one another
while properly mated and the electrical connection maintained.
[0065] When the male and female connectors are mated, electrical
conductivity between the cables is established. Mated connectors
can be separated by applying a sufficient axial separating force
component which overcomes the attractive force keeping the bodies
mated. This breakaway characteristic of the cable assembly can be
useful to automatically disconnect the bodies when unexpected axial
tension forces are applied to the cable, such as when a person
trips against the connected cable, thus avoiding damage to the
connected devices, and/or injury. The strength of the attractive
force between the bodies can be adjusted by changing the axial
separation between the magnetically cooperative elements while the
bodies are engaged.
[0066] In the following exemplary embodiment, the male connector
body 11 carries the permanent magnet, and the female connector body
carries the corresponding magnetic material. Those skilled in the
art will readily appreciate how those parts can be swapped. The
word "substantially" is used because manufacturing imprecision and
inaccuracies can lead to non-symmetricity and other inexactitudes
in the shape, dimensioning and orientation of various
structures.
[0067] Both the male connector body 11 and the female connector
body 12 can include a housing 15,16 having a generally truncated
ellipsoidal shape substantially symmetric about an axis 9. This
shape allows both bodies to be made using common tooling, to be
uniformly balanced between the two bodies, and to provide a smooth
outer surface to help avoid snags.
[0068] The interface surfaces between the bodies can have shapes
which are not axially symmetric as will be described below. Both
bodies can have a substantially circular cable entry aperture at a
first narrow end 21,22 for accepting the cable carrying
electrically conductive wiring. Both bodies can have an opposite
end 23,24 for forming an interface 25,26 with the other body. The
interface 25 of the male connector body can include a substantially
circular central opening 27 providing access to a male connector 29
which includes a number of electrical terminals formed by
spring-loaded electrical contact pin sub-assemblies 31 radially and
angularly spaced apart by an electrically insulating support block
28. The interface 26 of the female connector body includes a
centrally extending female connector 30 having a central receptacle
34 which includes a number of electrical terminals in the form of
electrically conductive contact pads 33 oriented to contact the
ends of the contact pin sub-assemblies when the connectors are
connected. Thus, the pin sub-assemblies and contact pads provide
cooperating mating electrical terminals between the two bodies. The
number of pin sub-assemblies and contact pads can be equal,
providing a one-to-one correspondence. Alternately, the number of
pin sub-assemblies and contact pads can be unequal, where one of
the bodies having a greater number of terminals can interface with
two or more types of mating bodies, each having a different number
of terminals.
[0069] The selective geometrical interfaces 25,26 of the respective
connector bodies 11,12 are angularly keyed so that the interfaces
mate in a specific relative angular orientation. Specifically, each
interface can have an axially and angularly undulating outer
surface just inside the radial periphery of the housing such that
the resultant shape of each interface can be described as
resembling the intersection of a solid cylinder with the surface of
a sinusoidal planar surface wave. When viewed from the end, as
shown in FIG. 3, the surface can be generally ring-shaped. When
viewed from the side, as shown in FIG. 1, the surface can have a
generally sinusoidal shape. In other words, the shapes on the
respective mutually compatible mating interfaces have angularly
keyed, abutting surfaces whereby the bodies mate in a specific
relative angular orientation when in axial alignment. In this
exemplary embodiment the abutting surfaces have a sinusoidally
undulating shape nestingly in phase with one another. Thus, when
the connectors are properly mated, as shown in FIG. 2, the surfaces
intimately and nestingly contact one another in axial and angular
alignment. This unique shape also acts a readily ascertainable
indicator of angular alignment in that the bodies will clearly and
visibly not nest together while the bodies are out of angular
alignment. This unique body shape also both bodies to have
substantially the same housing shape and thereby reduce
manufacturing costs.
[0070] Referring now to FIG. 5, the male connector plug body 11
includes an axially slidable and securable tubular carriage 40
which can be formed by a substantially cylindrical sleeve having
externally threaded portion 41 engaged by the internally threaded
cavity 44 of a thumb wheel 42 rotatively mounted within a
circumferential channel 43 radially penetrating through the outer
wall of the housing 15. The carriage carries a hollow substantially
cylindrical magnetically cooperative element, in this case a magnet
33. The thumb wheel acts as a hand-manipulatable actuator for
axially translating the carriage and thus the magnet with respect
to the male connector plug body as indicated by the arrows. The
support block 28 resides radially inwardly from the carriage in
order to avoid interfering with the axial movement of the
carriage.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 4, the female connector plug body 12 also
carries the female connector 30 formed by a substantially
cylindrical tubular ferrule 47 surrounding the receptacle 34. The
ferrule is made from ferromagnetic material and thus acts as a
magnetically cooperative element in reaction to the magnet 33 in
the male connector body 11. Both the magnet and the ferrule can
have commensurate diameters so that the two elements are brought
into close proximity when the bodies are properly mated. Further,
the size of the central opening 27 of the male connector body is
shaped and dimensioned to accommodate penetration of the female
connector therethough.
[0072] By manipulating the thumb wheel 42, the tubular carriage 40
including the magnet 33 can be translated axially toward or away
from the interface 25 thereby increasing or decreasing the distance
between the magnet and its corresponding magnetic material element
on the other body, and thus decreasing or increasing respectively
the magnet attractive force between them while the bodies are mated
and the electrical connection between the bodies is maintained. The
engaged threaded structures 41,44 allow the magnet to be securably
moveable with respect to the male connector plug body 11. In other
words, the axial position of the magnet can be adjusted in a
non-discrete, fine adjustment manner where, at every position, the
magnet is secured from inadvertent further movement. Although, the
threaded engagement is typically preferred due to simplicity and
ease of manufacture and use, other types of discrete position, and
non-discrete position securably moveable connections can be used
such as friction lockable telescoping structures as are often used
for example in camera tripods, or spring-loaded locking slide
structures as are often used for example in box cutter knives.
Other axial adjustment mechanisms known to the art may also be
used.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 5, the male connector body 11 housing 15
has a hollow interior 41 for containing the male connector
mechanisms. The cable 13 includes a number of insulated wires 44,45
and a wrapping, braided shield (not shown) electrically connected
to electrical ground structures in the male connector body. Each of
the wires can be soldered to one of the electrically conductive
contact pin sub-assemblies 31 to other electrical terminals within
the housing 15, or can remain unconnected.
[0074] As shown in FIG. 6, each spring-loaded electrical contact
pin sub-assembly 31 can include an electrically conductive sheath
51 elongated along an elongation axis 50. The sheath can be
slidingly engaged by an electrically conductive post 52 which can
travel axially though the central lumen 53 of the sheath between a
distal extended position as shown and more proximal axial
positions. The post is biased toward the extended position by a
compression spring 54 located in the lumen and bearing against the
post and the proximal end 55 of the lumen. A wire 44 can be
soldered 56 to a terminal 57 on the sheath to establish an
electrical connection between the distal tip of the post and the
wire. In this way the post can retract slightly within the sheath
as it comes into contact with a corresponding contact pad 33 on the
female connector 30 ensuring an electrical connection between the
post and pad even though the distance between the male connector 29
and female connector varies slightly.
[0075] Both the male connector body 11 and the female connector
body 12 can include an indicator 61,62 which is illuminated when
the electrical terminals are mated. Alternately, one or the other,
or neither of the connector bodies can include the illuminatable
indicator. The indicator 61 can be a window made of translucent
material such as clear plastic which engages a passageway through
the housing 15. The window can be illuminated by a light source
such as an LED 65 powered by an electronic module 66 electrically
connected 67 to at least one of the pin subassemblies 31. Similar
illumination circuitry can be employed in the female connector body
12 to illuminate its indicator 62.
[0076] It is important to note that the electrical connection
between the male connector 29 and the female connector 30 may be
established regardless of the telescoping setting of the carriage
40. The furthest range of axial movement of the carriage is
selected to go from a maximum attractive magnetic potential without
interfering with the intimate seating of the interface surfaces, to
a minimum attractive magnetic potential when the carriage is fully
retracted within the housing of the male connector.
[0077] It is further important to note that the strength of the
magnetic attractive force between the two magnetically cooperative
elements, namely the magnet 33 and the ferrule 47 is strong enough
to overcome the combined force of the compression springs 54 of all
the contact pin sub-assemblies 31. Otherwise, the combine force of
the compression springs would drive the connectors apart. In other
words, the summation of a biasing forces for all of the compression
springs forms an aggregate biasing force which is overcome by the
magnetic attractive force between the magnetically cooperative
elements 33,47.
[0078] It is further important to note that the sinusoidal surface
of the respective interfaces 25,26 can cause movement between the
interfaces toward their proper angular orientation and facilitates
proper pitch and yaw orientation to help the connectors dock with
one another. In other words, the gently curving sinusoidal surfaces
allow sliding and turning of the surfaces while they are in contact
with one another as the two bodies come into proper relative axial
alignment and angular orientation for the connectors to mate. As
stated above the unique surfaces also act as a readily observable
indication of misalignment when the surfaces do not nest.
[0079] A further advantage of the adjustable magnetic attractive
strength is that the strength can be selected to be within a range
where the bodies must be properly nested before the bodies are held
together by the attractive force, overcoming gravity and thus the
weight of the plug and cable. At greater separation distances, such
as when the interface surfaces are misaligned, the attractive force
can be made to be too weak to hold the bodies together. In this
way, users are provided an unambiguous indication that the bodies
are properly mated by the mere fact that they remain stuck
together.
[0080] Another further advantage of the adjustable magnetic
attractive strength is that the strength can be selected so that
the force is strong enough to drive the bodies to auto-rotate to
bring them into proper alignment. In other words, when the smooth
interfacing surfaces of the bodies contact one another in an
angularly misaligned condition, those surfaces are at acute,
non-zero angles with respect to the axial attractive force. This
can create torsional force components on the bodies which drive
them toward angular alignment.
[0081] Another advantage of the above-described structures is that
the pair of bodies can electrically join a medial portion of a
multi-conductor electronic cable. By being located at a medial
location on the cable, the bodies are located away from the end
plugs of the cable, thus reducing the stresses on the end
plugs/receptacles. In addition, the user can disconnect the cable
at the bodies, rather than disconnecting at the end plugs, further
reducing the number of connection/disconnection cycles on the end
plugs/receptacles.
[0082] Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a method 70 for
releaseably electrically interconnecting a pair of separate bodies
at the ends of multi-conductor electronic cables. The method
includes selecting the bodies so that they have angularly keyed
interface surfaces, electrical interconnect terminals located to
interface and connect with one another, and magnetically
cooperative elements so that there is an attractive force between
the two bodies when mated 71. The bodies are then mated 72 by
orienting them in a substantially coaxial, interface-to-interface
manner, and rotating them relative to one another until their
interfaces are in angular alignment, then pushing them together.
Angular alignment can be easily discerned by the undulating
surfaces of the interfaces. While the bodies are mated, the
attractive force between said first and second magnetically
cooperative elements can be adjusted 73 by rotating a thumb wheel
on one of the bodies which moves a carriage carrying one of the
magnetically cooperative elements.
[0083] FIGS. 8-14 show and claim our design for a magnetically
securing cable assembly for use on personal electronic items such
as computers, tablets, mobile phones and similar portable personal
items, including a magnetically securable keyed orientation
interface.
[0084] FIGS. 15-20 show and claim our design for a mating pair of
magnetically securing cable assemblies for use on personal
electronic items such as computers, tablets, mobile phones and
similar portable personal items, including a magnetically securable
keyed orientation interface.
[0085] FIGS. 21-26 show and claim our design for a mating pair of
magnetically securing cable assemblies for use on personal
electronic items such as computers, tablets, mobile phones and
similar portable personal items, including a magnetically securable
keyed orientation interface, disclaiming the electronic
contacts.
[0086] FIGS. 27-32 show and claim our alternate design for a mating
pair of magnetically securing cable assemblies for use on personal
electronic items such as computers, tablets, mobile phones and
similar portable personal items, including a magnetically securable
keyed orientation interface, disclaiming the electronic
contacts.
[0087] FIGS. 33-38 show and claim our alternate design for an
undulating, keyed orientation interface for a matable pair of
connector bodies for a magnetically securing cable assembly for use
on personal electronic items such as computers, tablets, mobile
phones and similar portable personal items.
[0088] While the exemplary embodiments of the invention have been
described, modifications can be made and other embodiments may be
devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the
scope of the appended claims.
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