EP0917841A2

EP0917841A2 - Computer connectors

Info

Publication number: EP0917841A2
Application number: EP98309439A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Charles Peter Harrison
Original assignee: Ackermann Ltd
Current assignee: Ackermann Ltd
Priority date: 1997-11-19
Filing date: 1998-11-18
Publication date: 1999-05-26
Also published as: EP0917841A3; GB9825133D0; GB2333649A; GB9724424D0

Abstract

A desk insert or attachment which can be wired to power and data sources for a computer, and incorporating within it at least one power plug and at least one pin connector enabling a computer on the desk to receive power and data via the insert or attachment. One embodiment of attachment fits around the back portion of the desk. and has a back portion (22) which provides for the connection of power and data cables from sources thereof and an over-desktop portion (24) having an openable cover (25) beneath which pin connectors (28) and a withdrawable plug (26) are accessible.

Description

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of computer connectors, i.e. the means by which power and data are fed to a computer from sources thereof.

Background to the Invention

In offices, in particular, office desks are frequently equipped with computers which have to be wired up to power sources and data sources. Commonly, this leads to a confusion of cables connecting to various power points and data communication points distributed around the office space, sometimes in the wall and sometimes in the floor. The cables can trail over the surfaces of desks and hinder working. An aim of the present invention is to reduce this problem of widespread trailing cables.

The Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a desk insert, or a desk attachment, which can be wired up to power and data sources for a computer, and which incorporates within it at least one plug and at least one pin connector enabling a computer to be connected to receive power and data via the insert or attachment.
The plug, typically the power plug, may conveniently be connected at the end of a cable withdrawable from the insert or attachment and retractable into the insert or attachment when not in use.
The pin connector or connectors, typically for data supply, may be fixed within the insert or attachment, for connection of a cable thereto.
The insert or attachment preferably has a cover closing off access to the plug and pin connector(s) when a computer is not in permanent use, as for example in the case of a mobile laptop computer.
In the case of a desk attachment, usually an attachment for the back of the top of the desk, the attachment may incorporate tensioners for taking up surplus lengths in cables connecting to the attachment from the computer.
The attachment may be L-shaped, with portions for extending round the back corner edge of the top of a desk. The back portion may have a separate cover for a plug connecting to a power or data socket on an adjacent floor or wall. Again, such a plug may be mounted to the attachment on a retractable cable. In such an attachment, the portion extending over the desk top may have a separate cover for the plug and/or connector(s) which connect by cable to the computer.
The cover may be cutaway over its front edge to provide slots for accommodating cables (data or power) which have to pass from the plug and pin connectors to the computer.

Description of Embodiment

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 shows a desk top equipped with a built-in insert to which cable connections to a computer may be made;
Figure 2 shows one embodiment of desk top attachment to which cable connections to a computer may be made; and
Figures 3 and 4 show an alternative desk top attachment enabling computer connections thereto.
Figure 1 shows the top of a desk, specially built or adapted to receive inserts 10 enabling power and data connections to be made to a computer supported on the desk, without trailing the computer-connected cables confusingly around the office space to floor or wall power and data supply points.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, although this is not visible in the drawing, the insert 10 extends to the underside of the desk to enable its connection to power and data sources. The computer itself receives power and data via the insert 10, which includes a cover or lid 12 closable when the insert is not in use.
Figure 1 shows a power plug 14 on the end of a cable 16 which is fully retractable into the insert 10 when not in use. Also shown are pin connectors 18 by which data is communicatable to and from the computer on conventional but relatively short connecting cables 19. It is to be noted that the cover or lid 12 shuts to a nearly closed position when the insert is in use by means of a moulding on the underside which includes two ribs 13, 15 the front corners of which are adapted to engage the front edge of the opening which is closed by the lid 12 when the latter is lowered, to prevent its closure of the opening and permit cables such as 16, 19 to pass therebelow, but which can be pushed rearwardly against the hinge to dislodge the front corners of the ribs from the front edge and permit the lid 12 to drop flush with the desktop in the absence of cables.
Figure 2 shows an attachment 20 for fitting to the back of a desk top to enable computer connections to be made.
The attachment 20 is somewhat L-shaped, and has a back portion 22 from which cable connections are established to adjacent power and data points in the floor or wall.
The top portion 24 of the attachment has a cover 25 which when opened gives access to a retractable power plug 26 and pin connectors 28 for data communication.
Figures 3 and 4 show a different embodiment of attachment 30, again L-shaped to fit around the back corner of a desk top. Lockable connections to adjacent power and/or data points are made via the back portion 32 of the attachment, as indicated at 33, but the top portion 34 includes an openable transparent cover 36, hinged at 37, enabling cable connections 38 to a computer to be made through a slotted portion of a side wall 40 of the attachment.
The attachment also includes cable tensioners 42, by means of which the cables connecting to the computer can be drawn relatively taut, reducing spare lengths trailing over the desk. The cable tensioners 42 conveniently take the form of pulley-like wheels slidable in the forward/backward direction of the attachment.
Means may be provided for securing the attachment to the desk, or it may sit freely in position around the corner of the back of the desk top.
Although the invention does not eliminate the requirement for cables connecting to power and/or data sources in the floor or wall adjacent the desk, it does substantially reduce the cable lengths extending over the working space on the desk top.

Claims

A desk insert or attachment, which can be wired up to power and data sources for a computer, and which incorporates within it at least one plug and at least one pin connector respectively enabling a computer to be connected to receive power and data via the insert or attachment.
An insert or attachment according to claim 1, wherein at least either the power plug or the pin connector is connected at the end of a cable withdrawable from the insert or attachment and retractable into the insert or attachment when not in use.
An insert or attachment according to claim 2, wherein the power plug is connected at the end of a withdrawable cable and the pin connector or connectors for data supply are fixed within the insert or attachment for connection of a cable thereto.
An insert or attachment according to any of claims 1 to 3, having a cover closing off access to the plug and pin connector(s) when a computer is not in permanent use.
An insert or attachment according to claim 4, wherein the cover has movable underside formations enabling the cover to be propped in a nearly closed condition providing a gap for the passage of cables when a computer connected to the insert or attachment is in use.
A desk attachment according to any of claims 1 to 5, incorporating tensioners for taking up surplus lengths in cables connecting to the attachment from the computer.
A desk attachment according to any of claims 1 to 6, having means enabling it to be fixed to the desk.
A desk attachment according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the attachment is L-shaped, with portions for extending round the back corner edge of the top of a desk.
A desk attachment according to claim 8, wherein the back portion has an openable cover enabling a cable, connected to a plug for connecting to a power or data socket on an adjacent floor or wall, to be fitted to connectors in said back portion beneath the cover.
A desk attachment according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the portion extending over the desk top has a separate cover for the plug and/or connector(s) which connect by cable to the computer.
A desk attachment according to claim 10, wherein the said separate cover is cut away at its front edge to provide slots for accommodating cables extending from the plug and pin connector(s) to the computer.