GB2405268A - Cable tidy for desk-top computers - Google Patents

Abstract

A cable-junction for desk-top computers includes sockets for connecting cables from the computer to the mains (11, Fig. 2), and drum-shaped spaces (12, Fig. 2) and channels (10, Fig. 2 and 22, Fig. 3) to enable excess cable lengths to be tidied by being spooled and to enable cables between items of hardware to be run in all directions, all contained within a box 6 with a single mains lead 7, that cables may enter or leave from and in a variety of different directions, and attachable to the rear of a computer desk by two adjustable clamps (14, Fig 2). Preferably a switch and light are mounted at desk-top level (9, 24, 25, Fig 4). The cable-junction may contain sockets for connection to the internet, and for connection to other electronic equipment connected to the computer system.

Description

CABLE-JUNCTION FOR DESK-TOP COMPUTERS

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.....................DTD: The invention relates to a shallow box to be mounted vertically at the back of a computer desk, containing the appropriate mains, audio, video and other sockets to enable a fall multi-media computer system to be connected, and containing appropriate spaces t'or keeping mains cables and cables between items of hardware tidy and enclosed, and providing a single mains lead and plug The invention therefore provides mains and other connections, and tidy cable management, as a single integrated product.

No such accessory is currently available as for as I am. aware A range of multi-socket surge-protected mains extension leads, with various other t'acilities for connections such as audio, telephone and internet connections, is available There is also a junction box to position on a desk under a monitor, but this does not tidy cables For tidying cables, a range of split-sided flexible plastic pipes can be bought. There is also a 'tunnel' cable managing product but this does not show the essential features OT fulfil the functions of the invention The disadvantages of what is available at present are I The multi-socket block of an extension lead either hangs from cables behind the desk, or sits on the floor beneath the desk, being unsightly and collecting dust This prevents easy moving of the desk or workstation, and inhibits cleaning under and behind the desk or workstation 2 The tell-tale 'on' light, and on / ot't' switch, found on many of the available extension leads are therefore often not In easy line of vision for the computer user Additionally, the user has to crawl under the workstation to reach the onloff switch. The under-monitor box mentioned above provides accessible switches, but does not solve cable problems.

3. Cable-tidying plastic pipes are of limited use as cables from different items of' hardware come from different angles and locations and therefore cannot be bunched together into a single tidy route 4 Cable-tidying plastic tubes are of limited use as cables are of very different lengths So, even if they can run together for part of their run, a coil of excess cable from one or more of the items of hardware, impossible to feed into the tidying tube, is left exposed.

No product currently available provides both cable-connections and tidy cable management in a single integrated product In short, users still have no solution to the problem commonly known as computer cable 'spaghetti' Accordingly, the invention addresses and solves this problem The invention provides a multi-socket extension block sat'ely located and fixed to the rear of the desk, leading to a single corkscrew-wire mains lead and plug, so that moving the desk and cleaning is quick and easy by unplugging one mains plug with a self-contracting lead and no cables or socket-blocks rest on the floor The invention provides eight positions for cables from different items of hardware to enter from different angles The invention provides a range of drum-shaped spaces between the perimeter entry holes and the central multi-socket block, each with a central pillar around which cable can be wound, varied in diameter to suit bulky or light cables, so that the excessive length of cables is taken up neatly inside the invention, by being wound around a pillar within a drum-shaped space, or 'spooled' Around the perimeter of the invention is a continuous channel fir cables between two items of hardware (such as between CPU and printer) so that these can enter and leave the box at the appropriate angles to suit the positions of the items of hardware, and for cables running from an entry-hole to a channel leading to a drum-shaped spooling space and from there to a connecting socket The invention provides a tell-tale 'on' light and on / off switch conveniently and visibly positioned at the top of the box and thus effectively on the user's desk surface.

The invention will be of neat and clean design, easy to fix and use, and durable Preferably the invention is made from the following materials The containing box and lid to be made from moulded plastic of an appropriate kind Each cable-entry point may be lined with a 'sleeve' filled with foam rubber to be dust-proof The two clamps for fixing to the desk to be made from a strong metal or plastic material, with rubber pads on the gripping faces of the clamps to protect the desk It is envisaged that a manufacturer would produce a range of the invention, front a straightforward model, through intermediate models, to a top-of-the-range model. The differences between models in the range will be lal that different numbers and kinds of sockets are provided and Ibl that different numbers of spooling spaces and channels for cables are pr ovided.

The example shown in the accompanying drawings is a version of the invention from the middle of the envisaged range of products.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE I shows the invention fixed to a computer desk and in use FIGURE 2 shows the interior of the containing box with spooling-spaces and channels, and the central multi-socket block FIGURES 3 shows a cross-section view of part of the invention to show how a cable is tidily run in channels, spooled, and connected FIGURE 4 (FIGURES 4A, 4B, 4C and 41)) shows the method of fixing the invention to various desks by means of adjustable clamps, and shows the tell-tale light and on / off'switch

[Description

As shown in FIGURE 1, the invention 6 is a shallow box fitting to the rear of a desk which acts as a tidy junction-box t'or the many cables connecting different items of hardware of a desk-top computer The whole desk-top computer system is connected to the mains by a single mains lead and plug 7 and to an interact socket by the optional internet connection 23. FIGURE I shows a medium-level computer comprising a monitor 1, a keyboard 2, loudspeakers 3, a mouse cable 4 (in the drawing the mouse itself is behind the monitor and therefore not shown), a tower-case CPU 5, and a printer 8 The user has clear access to and sight of the on / off switch and tell-tale light assembly 9 FIGURE 2 shows the interior of the invention with a suggested arrangement of channels and spools for cables and a centrally-mounted multi-socket block. The version of the invention shown in this description would be approximately 40cm wide x 40cm tall x 6cm deep. A channel 10 runs around the perimeter of the containing box in order to take cables either to the opening towards that cable's allotted socket, or to the exit-hole nearest to that cable's destination So, t'or example, a mouse cable would enter the box at the lower hole next to the CPU, run around the perimeter of the box in the channel 10, and exit at work-top level through an exit-hole at the top of the box Or, the CPU mains lead might enter the box through the middle side hole, then run around the perimeter until meeting a channel. that will lead it to one of the mains sockets, at an appropriate angle The central multi-socket block 11 is shown with four mains sockets, and some other kinds of socket such as internet, aerial or audio connections Around the central multi- socket block are four large drum-shaped spaces 12 and four smaller drum- shaped spaces 13, each with a central pillar (18, Fig 3), each sited on the run of a channel (22, Fig 3) leading from the perimeter channel 10 to the central multi- socket block I I, in order to allow any excess cable to be spooled neatly around the pillar ( 18, Fig 3), and held in the drum-shaped space 12 or 13 The number and sizes of these drum- shaped spaces will vary according to the level of model in a range of models of the invention The number and variety of sockets in the central block 11 will vary similarly The larger drum-shaped spaces 12 are for thick cables such as mains or printer cables The smaller drum-shaped spaces 13 are for thinner cables such as mouse, microphone, keyboard, speaker and interact cables The adjustable clamps 14 for fixing to a desk are at each end of'the top of the containing box (6, Fig I) Eight cable enty-or-exit holes IS are shown so that cables can enter and leave the invention tidily, next to the hardware to which they are connected, wherever on or beneath the desk the items of hardware are located 'these entry-or-exit holes 15 are shown lined with a sleeve' filled with foam rubber to be dustproof The mains lead 7 is shown leading from the bottom of the box. Next to this is a socket t'or an optional interpret connection 23. A socket for internet connection, 23, is provided rather than a taxed cable as the user may prefer to have wireless hiternet connection FIGURE 3 shows a cross-section from one side of the invention to the centre through one of the large drum-shaped spaces 12, to show how a cable 20 can enter the box through an entry-or-exit hole 15. The cable is shown crossing the perimeter channel 10, then passing through a half-depth channel 22 into the drum-shaped space 12, where any excess length of cable can be wound or spooled around the pillar 18 The ] cable is then shown leaving the spooling space 12 through another half-depth channel 22 leading to the central multi-socket block I I and is shown with its plug 21 plugged into one of the mains sockets. The shaped interior of the invention 17 should be made from a suitable plastic material The figure shows the lid 19 fixed in place to ensure that the cable cannot unspool t'rom around the pillar 18. The lid should be removable to give easy access to the interior and so that plugs do not need to be removed t'rom cables while feeding them through enty-or-exit holes and channels and spooling them in drum-shaped spaces The lid is to be light of an appropriate plastic material and may be fixed by 'snapping' on to flanges at the tops of side walls of the box.

FIGURE 4 consists of four drawings FIGURES 4A 4B 4C and 4D to show by way of four examples that adjustable clamps 14 enable the invention to be compatible with a wide variety of different designs of furniture The invention is fixed to a desk by two adjustable clamps 14 at the top confers of the containing box 6. The invention can be fixed to as many different varieties of ot'fice furniture as possible so the two clamps 14 are able to grip different thicknesses of work-surface and are adjustable both vertically and horizontally in relation to the containing box 6 In this way the invention will be located conveniently behind various designs of desk being adjustable to sit higher or lower (vertical adjustment) and more flush or more proud (horizontal adjustment) with the back of the furniture The gripping surfaces of the two adjustable fixing clamps 14 are lined with rubber to prevent damaging or marking the desk. The assembly 9 carrying the on / of f switch 24 and tell-tale light 25 is mounted on top of one of' the clamps 14 so that a user has clear sight of the tell-tale light 25 and access to the on / oK switch 24 at work-surface level.

In FIGURE 4A the invention is fixed behind a desk with a thin worksurface 26 and a retractable keyboard-drawer 27 beneath 'I'he clamp 14 is vertically adjusted to allow the box (i to hang lower in order to accept cable from keyboard and mouse below the work-surface as well as cable from a monitor above the surface without pinching or kinking the cables In FIGURE 4E} the invention is fixed behind a desk with a solid back. The clamp 14 is horizontally adjusted so that the box 6 sits more proud of the back of the desk In FIGURE 4C the invention is shown fixed behind a desk where the metal desk- frame tube 28, is flush with the rear edge of the work-surt'ace 26 The adjustable clamp 14 opens widely and grips both work-surface and metal tube.

In FIGURE 4D the invention is shown fixed bend a computer desk which has a hole 29 in the work-surface 26 for cables to pass through to be out of sight beneath. The adjustable clamp 14 is extended vertically hi order that the invention can sit lower and accept cables from beneath the work-surt'ace 26 without pinching or kinking the cables In FlCURES 4A 4B 4C and 4D the clamp is shown with the assembly 9 with the on / off switch 24 and the tell-tale light 25 set into its top giving good visibility of and access to these for the user FIGURES 4A to 4D are examples only many other designs of desks exist However it is clear that the fully adjustable clamps 14 enable the invention to be fixed to and used successfully with virtually all designs of desks

Claims (1)

1. I A cablejunction and mains supply for desk-top computer systems including a box attachable to the back of a computer desk containing mains electrical and other appropriate sockets and connections and providing spaces inside to tidy and contain all cables, both those running fiom items of hardware to sockets and those running between items of hardware, and allowing cables to enter and exit the box in many dit't'erent directions 2 A box as claimed in Claim I where spaces are provided inside tor spooling excess lengths of cable 3 box as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2 where channels are provided inside to teed cables to sockets or through the box 4. A box as claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3 where holes are provided in the perimeter so that cables can enter and leave the box fiom and in many directions.

   box as claimed in Claim 1 Including clamps for fixing to a desk that are adjustable both horizontally and vertically in relation to the box 6 A box as claimed in Claim I and ('[aim 5 where an on / off switch and telltale light are mounted on one of the tixhg clamps in such a way as to be at work- surface level when the box is attached to a desk 7. A box as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metal, plastics material, or from a combination of these materials 8.A box substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings