US6123568A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cable-orienting and space saving cable connector assembly
Assignee: Curtis Computer Products Inc
•
Filing: 1998-09-18
•
Granted: 2000-09-26
•
Expires: 2018-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A cable connector assembly having a cable terminating in a molded end and a cable-orienting device shaped and configured to bend the cable with respect to the molded end. Preferably, the cable-orienting device is in the form of a tubular body formed to maintain the cable at any desired angle and orientation with respect to the molded end. The cable-orienting device preferably is easily removable and insertable over the cable such that the cable-orienting device may be removed, or its position along the cable or orientation with respect to the cable may be adjusted. Moreover, the cable-orienting device may be rotatable once positioned over the cable to vary the orientation of the cable with respect to the molded end.
Inventors
- 👤 Bradford Royce Bullough
- 👤 Richard Dare McCloskey, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:02
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/56; H01R13/567
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A cable connector assembly comprising: a cable terminating in a molded end; and a bent cable-orienting device formed separately from said cable and molded end, said cable-orienting device having a cable-receiving channel and being configured to bend a cable received in said cable-receiving channel and to maintain the bend in said cable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
A cable connector assembly comprising: a cable terminating in a molded end; and a bent cable-orienting device formed separately from said cable and molded end, said cable-orienting device having a cable-receiving channel and being configured to bend a cable received in said cable-receiving channel and to maintain the bend in said cable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cable connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said cable-enclosing wall is substantially tubular.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The cable connector assembly of claim 2, wherein said cable-orienting device has a first end, a second end, and an open side extending from said first end to said second end to permit insertion of said cable into said cable-receiving channel through said open side.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cable connector assembly of claim 2, wherein said cable-orienting device is pre-formed into a bent configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The cable connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: said molded end houses a connector; said molded end has a cable-connecting end adjacent said cable and a terminal-connecting end adjacent said connector; and said molded end and said cable-orienting device are shaped to be coupled together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The cable connector assembly of claim 5, wherein: said molded end includes a circumferential flange defining a receiving groove; and said cable-orienting device includes an inwardly directed mating flange shaped to be received within said receiving groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cable connector assembly of claim 6, wherein said molded end further includes a strain relief adjacent said cable-connecting end, said circumferential flange and receiving groove being formed in said strain relief.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The cable connector assembly of claim 6, wherein said receiving groove and said mating flange fit together to couple said cable-orienting device to said molded end and to permit rotation of said cable-orienting device about said cable after said cable-orienting device has been coupled to said molded end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
A cable-orienting device having a first open end, a second open end spaced apart from said first open end, and a cable-enclosing wall spacing said first and second open ends apart and defining a cable-receiving channel shaped to receive and enclose a cable, wherein: an open side is defined in said cable-enclosing wall extending from said first open end to said second open end and spacing said first and second open ends apart; and said cable-receiving channel is shaped and configured such that said cable-enclosing wall securely maintains the cable within said cable-receiving channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
A cable-orienting device having a first open end, a second open end spaced apart from said first open end, and a cable-enclosing wall spacing said first and second open ends apart and defining a cable-receiving channel shaped to receive and enclose a cable, wherein: an open side is defined in said cable-enclosing wall extending from said first open end to said second open end and spacing said first and second open ends apart; and said cable-receiving channel is shaped and configured such that said cable-enclosing wall securely maintains the cable within said cable-receiving channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cable-orienting device of claim 9, wherein said cable-enclosing wall is substantially tubular and is bent into a predetermined angle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cable-orienting device of claim 10, wherein said cable-orienting device is molded to form said channel walls into said predetermined angle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cable-orienting device of claim 9, wherein said side opening is configured to permit a cable to be inserted transversely across said cable-enclosing wall and into said cable-receiving channel.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of orienting a cable with respect to a molded end of said cable, said molded having a cable-connecting end and a terminal connecting end, said method comprising the steps of: providing a cable-orienting device comprising a cable-enclosing wall defining a bent cable-receiving channel; positioning said cable-orienting device over said cable and over the molded end of the cable such that the cable is received within said cable-receiving channel and bent by said cable-receiving channel.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of orienting a cable with respect to a molded end of said cable, said molded having a cable-connecting end and a terminal connecting end, said method comprising the steps of: providing a cable-orienting device comprising a cable-enclosing wall defining a bent cable-receiving channel; positioning said cable-orienting device over said cable and over the molded end of the cable such that the cable is received within said cable-receiving channel and bent by said cable-receiving channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said cable-orienting device is formed with a pre-set bend, said method further comprising the step of rotating said cable-orienting device over the cable to vary the orientation of the cable with respect to the molded end.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said cable-orienting device is formed from a bendable material capable of maintaining a bend set therein, said method further comprising the step of bending said cable-orienting device over the cable to vary the orientation of the cable with respect to the molded end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of removing said cable-orienting device from a first cable and positioning said cable-orienting device over a second cable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of coupling said cable-orienting device to the molded end of the cable; wherein: the molded end of said cable defines a groove; the cable-orienting device defines a flange; and said step of coupling comprises the step of inserting said flange into said groove.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
A cable-orienting device comprising a cable-enclosing wall defining a cable-receiving channel therein, wherein: said cable-enclosing wall has an inner arcuate surface and an outer arcuate surface; said cable-orienting device is molded into a bent configuration imparting a bend to said cable-orienting device shaped to maintain a corresponding bend in a cable inserted therein; said bent cable-orienting device has first and second spaced apart ends, an outwardly arcuate bent portion between said first and second spaced apart ends, and an inwardly arcuate bent portion between said first and second spaced apart ends; and an open side is defined in said cable-enclosing wall along said inwardly arcuate bent portion of said cable-orienting device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
111 words
A cable-orienting device comprising a cable-enclosing wall defining a cable-receiving channel therein, wherein: said cable-enclosing wall has an inner arcuate surface and an outer arcuate surface; said cable-orienting device is molded into a bent configuration imparting a bend to said cable-orienting device shaped to maintain a corresponding bend in a cable inserted therein; said bent cable-orienting device has first and second spaced apart ends, an outwardly arcuate bent portion between said first and second spaced apart ends, and an inwardly arcuate bent portion between said first and second spaced apart ends; and an open side is defined in said cable-enclosing wall along said inwardly arcuate bent portion of said cable-orienting device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cable orienting device of claim 18, wherein said cable-orienting device is formed from a thermoplastic hard plastic or nylon molded into said bent configuration.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cable-orienting device as in claim 18, wherein said cable-enclosing wall is a substantially tubular wall bent to impart said bent configuration.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of adjusting the orientation of said cable-orienting device once said cable is received within said cable-receiving channel to vary the orientation of the cable with respect to the molded end.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said step of positioning said cable-orienting device over said cable further comprises the step of inserting the cable into said cable-receiving channel by a transverse movement with respect to said channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US35820A
Cited
US2869102A
Cited
US3032740A
Cited
US3622943A
Cited
US3794960A
Cited
US4125238A
Cited
USD273993S
Cited
US4554408A
Cited
US4549780A
Cited
US4830629A
Cited
US4678867A
Cited
US4869686A
Cited
US5052940A
Cited
US5195902A
Cited
US5076802A
Cited
US5300734A
Cited
USRE35820E
Cited
US5271739A
Cited
USD346790S
Cited
US5354212A
Cited
US5385484A
Cited
US5570443A
Cited
USD374734S
Cited
US5522735A
Cited
US5890926A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-26 | 2004-03-27 | 2004-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-26 | 2008-03-27 | 2008-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-26 | 2012-03-27 | 2012-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |