US6284978B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cable management for system peripheral device
Assignee: Logitech Europe SA
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Filing: 1999-06-17
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Granted: 2001-09-04
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Expires: 2019-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A keyboard includes a Universal Serial Bus hub having at least one downstream port each for connecting with a connector coupled to a cable of a downstream system peripheral device. The keyboard includes a cable receiving channel for receiving at least a portion of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device. The cable receiving channel is an open channel disposed in the bottom surface of the keyboard. The cable receiving channel has sufficient length and depth for receiving a substantial portion of the cable. The cable receiving channel includes a plurality of paths of varying lengths selectable for receiving different lengths of the cable into the channel to adjust the cable slack. The cable can be stacked to overlap in portions of the channel to increase the amount of the cable received in the channel and to reduce the cable slack.
Inventors
- 👤 Denis Pavillard
- 👤 Sergio Lazzarotto
- 👤 Keith Tritschler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A system peripheral device comprising: a cable holder for holding at least a portion of a cable of, the cable holder capable of holding a substantial portion of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device, wherein the cable holder comprises at least one channel including a deep channel portion having a sufficient depth for stacking multiple portions of the cable therein, and wherein the length of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device received by the at least one channel is variable by adjusting the stacking of the cable in the deep channel portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A system peripheral device comprising: a cable holder for holding at least a portion of a cable of, the cable holder capable of holding a substantial portion of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device, wherein the cable holder comprises at least one channel including a deep channel portion having a sufficient depth for stacking multiple portions of the cable therein, and wherein the length of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device received by the at least one channel is variable by adjusting the stacking of the cable in the deep channel portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system peripheral device of claim 1 wherein the cable holder is capable of holding substantially all of the cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system peripheral device of claim 1 further comprising a system interface including at least one downstream port, each downstream port for connecting with a connector coupled to a cable of a downstream system peripheral device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system peripheral device of claim 1 wherein the at least one channel has a serpentine arrangement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system peripheral device of claim 1 wherein the at least one channel has a plurality of paths of different lengths, and wherein the length of the cable received by the at least one channel is determined by the length of the path of the at least one channel selected to receive the cable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system peripheral device of claim 3 wherein the system interface includes a plurality of downstream ports each for connecting with a cable of each of the at least one downstream system peripheral devices, the ports being oriented in difference directions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system peripheral device of claim 1 wherein the at least one channel includes a plurality of channel branches, at least some of the plurality of channel branches terminating at channel exits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system peripheral device of claim 1 wherein the at least one channel comprises an open channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system peripheral device of claim 3 wherein the system interface includes a plurality of downstream ports.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system peripheral device of claim 3 wherein the system interface comprises a Universal Serial Bus hub.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
82 words
A system peripheral device comprising: system interface means for interfacing with at least one downstream system peripheral device; a plurality of ports each for connecting with a cable of each of the at least one downstream system peripheral device, the ports being oriented in different directions; and cable management means for receiving at least a portion of the cable of the at least one downstream system peripheral device up to a substantial portion of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
82 words
A system peripheral device comprising: system interface means for interfacing with at least one downstream system peripheral device; a plurality of ports each for connecting with a cable of each of the at least one downstream system peripheral device, the ports being oriented in different directions; and cable management means for receiving at least a portion of the cable of the at least one downstream system peripheral device up to a substantial portion of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system peripheral device of claim 11 wherein the cable management means comprises at least one channel including a deep channel portion having a sufficient depth for stacking multiple portions of the cable therein, and wherein the length of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device received by the at least one channel is variable by adjusting the stacking of the cable in the deep channel portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system peripheral device of claim 11 further comprising a device connector for coupling the system peripheral device to a downstream port of a system interface of an upstream system peripheral device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system peripheral device of claim 11 further comprising a device connector for coupling the system peripheral device to a port of a system host.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
77 words
A keyboard comprising: a cable receiving channel for receiving at least a portion of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device, the cable receiving channel having sufficient length and depth for receiving a substantial portion of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device, wherein the cable receiving channel includes a plurality of paths of varying lengths selectable for receiving different lengths of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device into the cable receiving channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
A keyboard comprising: a cable receiving channel for receiving at least a portion of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device, the cable receiving channel having sufficient length and depth for receiving a substantial portion of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device, wherein the cable receiving channel includes a plurality of paths of varying lengths selectable for receiving different lengths of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device into the cable receiving channel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The keyboard of claim 15 further comprising a system interface including at least one downstream port, each downstream port for connecting with a connector coupled to a cable of a downstream system peripheral device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
The keyboard of claim 15 wherein the cable receiving channel includes a deep channel portion having a sufficient depth for stacking multiple portions of the cable, and wherein the length of the cable received into the cable receiving channel is variable by selecting the amount of the stacking of the cable received into the deep channel portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The keyboard of claim 15 wherein the cable receiving channel comprises an open channel disposed in the bottom surface of the keyboard.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The keyboard of claim 18 wherein the cable receiving channel is furcated into multiple branches including at least one branch terminating at a channel exit on generally the left side of the keyboard and at least one branch terminating at a channel exit on generally the right side of the keyboard.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The keyboard of claim 16 wherein the system interface includes a downstream port recessed from side edges of the keyboard so that the connector of the downstream system peripheral device connected with the downstream port does not protrude substantially beyond the side edges of the keyboard.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The keyboard of claim 16 wherein the at least one downstream port is disposed near the rear side edge of the keyboard.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The keyboard of claim 15 wherein the cable receiving channel includes a turn changing direction of the cable receiving channel in a generally opposite manner.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The keyboard of claim 16 wherein the system interface comprises a Universal Serial Bus hub having a plurality of downstream ports oriented in different directions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
139 words
A combination of system devices comprising: a first system device including a system interface hub; a second system device; and a cable connecting the second system device to the system interface hub of the first system device, wherein at least one of the first system device and the second system device includes a cable receiving member for receiving at least a portion of the cable, the cable receiving member capable of receiving a substantial portion of the cable, wherein the cable receiving member comprises at least one channel including a deep channel portion having a sufficient depth for stacking multiple portions of the cable therein, and wherein the length of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device received by the at least one channel is variable by adjusting the stacking of the cable in the deep channel portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
139 words
A combination of system devices comprising: a first system device including a system interface hub; a second system device; and a cable connecting the second system device to the system interface hub of the first system device, wherein at least one of the first system device and the second system device includes a cable receiving member for receiving at least a portion of the cable, the cable receiving member capable of receiving a substantial portion of the cable, wherein the cable receiving member comprises at least one channel including a deep channel portion having a sufficient depth for stacking multiple portions of the cable therein, and wherein the length of the cable of the downstream system peripheral device received by the at least one channel is variable by adjusting the stacking of the cable in the deep channel portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 24 wherein the cable receiving member comprises at least one channel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 24 wherein the system interface hub comprises a Universal Serial Bus hub.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-09-03 | 2005-03-05 | 2005-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-03 | 2009-03-05 | 2009-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-03 | 2013-03-05 | 2013-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |