IP Library › Granted Patent US 12676920

Granted Patent B1

US 12676920 · App. 19/433,820 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Communication adapter apparatus

Inventors: Soren Sibbesen (Jamestown, NC); Brian Lewis Piper (Seattle, WA); Quentin Wade Forbes (Winston Salem, NC); Richard Kennedy (Antioch, TN)

Assignee: Pioneer Square Brands, Inc.

H04L69/08

View Patent ↗

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…

Monitor This Case

Get email alerts when status or documents change.

Order Certified Copies

Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.

Order via The Patent Place →

Pre-filled with this patent's details

Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12676920
App. No.: 19/433,820
Granted: Jul 7, 2026
Kind: B1

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A communication adapter system couples a first communication interface to a second communication interface while providing controlled flexing between ends. The system includes a port assembly, a plug assembly, and an intermediate flex assembly. The port and plug assemblies may house standardized or proprietary connectors, including but not limited to USB Type-A, USB Type-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet (RJ45), audio jacks, and Lightning-type connectors supporting corresponding data and power protocols. The flex assembly includes grooves and ribs formed in an elastomeric body to allow repeated bending and may optionally enclose a plastically deformable member that retains a user-selected bent configuration for strain relief. Exterior curvilinear surfaces, ridges, and textured grip regions facilitate ergonomic handling and tactile end identification.

Claims (120)

1 . A communication adapter system for coupling a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the communication adapter system comprising:

(I) a port assembly couplable with the first communication interface;

(II) a plug assembly couplable with the second communication interface; and

(III) a flex assembly extending between the port assembly and the plug assembly and configured to allow the port assembly and the plug assembly to flex with respect to one another,

wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface are each configured to carry a communication signal associated with at least one communication protocol

wherein the port assembly includes:

a first curvilinear side,

a second curvilinear side positioned opposite from the first curvilinear side,

a top extending between the first curvilinear side and the second curvilinear side, and

a bottom extending between the first curvilinear side and the second curvilinear side.

2 . The communication adapter system of claim 1 ,

wherein the top of the port assembly includes:

a narrow portion positioned closer to the flex assembly than to a port end of the port assembly,

a middle portion extending from the narrow portion, and

an end portion extending from the middle portion toward the port end of the port assembly.

3 . The communication adapter system of claim 1 ,

wherein the port assembly includes a port end having:

a port opening, and

a plurality of port-end sides surrounding the port opening,

wherein the plurality of port-end sides are arranged to key the port opening for a single insertion orientation of a mating connector.

4 . A communication adapter system for coupling a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the communication adapter system comprising:

(I) a port assembly couplable with the first communication interface;

(II) a plug assembly couplable with the second communication interface; and

(III) a flex assembly extending between the port assembly and the plug assembly and configured to allow the port assembly and the plug assembly to flex with respect to one another,

wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface are each configured to carry a communication signal associated with at least one communication protocol

wherein the flex assembly includes:

a first circumferential groove,

a first circumferential rib adjacent to the first circumferential groove,

a second circumferential groove adjacent to the first circumferential rib, and

a second circumferential rib adjacent to the second circumferential groove,

wherein the first circumferential groove and the second circumferential groove locally reduce a wall thickness of the flex assembly to increase bending compliance of the flex assembly.

5 . The communication adapter system of claim 4 ,

wherein the flex assembly defines a medial region having a reduced cross-sectional profile relative to adjacent portions of the port assembly and adjacent portions of the plug assembly, and

wherein the medial region is positioned substantially midway between the port assembly and the plug assembly.

6 . A communication adapter system for coupling a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the communication adapter system comprising:

(I) a port assembly couplable with the first communication interface;

(II) a plug assembly couplable with the second communication interface; and

(III) a flex assembly extending between the port assembly and the plug assembly and configured to allow the port assembly and the plug assembly to flex with respect to one another,

wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface are each configured to carry a communication signal associated with at least one communication protocol

wherein the plug assembly includes:

a first plug-side surface having a first tapered portion, a first ridge portion, and a second tapered portion, and

a second plug-side surface positioned opposite from the first plug-side surface and having a second tapered portion, a second ridge portion, and a third tapered portion,

wherein the first ridge portion and the second ridge portion define tactile features for identifying the plug assembly by touch.

7 . The communication adapter system of claim 6 ,

wherein the plug assembly further includes a plug top having:

a first inclined portion extending from the flex assembly,

a plug ridge portion extending from the first inclined portion, and

a second inclined portion extending from the plug ridge portion toward a plug end of the plug assembly,

wherein the plug ridge portion is aligned with at least one of the first ridge portion and the second ridge portion.

8 . A communication adapter system for coupling a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the communication adapter system comprising:

(I) a port assembly couplable with the first communication interface;

(II) a plug assembly couplable with the second communication interface; and

(III) a flex assembly extending between the port assembly and the plug assembly and configured to allow the port assembly and the plug assembly to flex with respect to one another,

wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface are each configured to carry a communication signal associated with at least one communication protocol

wherein the port assembly and the plug assembly are formed of a rigid or semi-rigid polymer material, and

wherein the flex assembly is formed of an elastomeric material having greater flexibility than the rigid or semi-rigid polymer material,

wherein the flex assembly is configured to flex in response to a bending force applied between the port assembly and the plug assembly and to return toward an unflexed configuration when the bending force is removed.

9 . The communication adapter system of claim 8 ,

wherein at least one of the first communication interface and the second communication interface is configured to carry at least one communication protocol selected from the group consisting of:

USB 1.1, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2, USB4, a USB Type-A connector protocol, a USB Type-B connector protocol, a USB micro-B connector protocol, a USB mini-B connector protocol, a USB Type-C connector protocol, Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, DisplayPort Alternate Mode over USB Type-C, DVI, VGA, 10BASE-T Ethernet, 100BASE-TX Ethernet, 1000BASE-T Ethernet via RJ45, RS-232, RS-485, I2C, SPI, CAN bus, a 3.5 mm TRS audio protocol, a 3.5 mm TRRS audio protocol, a Lightning-type protocol, and a proprietary charging or data protocol.

10 . A communication adapter system for coupling a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the communication adapter system comprising:

(I) a port assembly couplable with the first communication interface;

(II) a plug assembly couplable with the second communication interface; and

(III) a flex assembly extending between the port assembly and the plug assembly, the flex assembly including

(A) an elastomeric body, and

(B) an internal plastically deformable member positioned within the elastomeric body,

wherein the flex assembly is configured to be bent into a flexed configuration and to retain the flexed configuration until the flex assembly is re-bent into a different configuration, and

wherein at least one of the first communication interface and the second communication interface is configured to carry a communication protocol

wherein the elastomeric body of the flex assembly surrounds the internal plastically deformable member and defines a plurality of circumferential grooves and circumferential ribs,

wherein the circumferential grooves are configured to concentrate bending of the flex assembly near the internal plastically deformable member, and

wherein the circumferential ribs are configured to maintain an external profile of the flex assembly under bending.

11 . The communication adapter system of claim 10 ,

wherein the internal plastically deformable member includes a metal wire embedded within the elastomeric body of the flex assembly.

12 . The communication adapter system of claim 10 ,

wherein the metal wire extends along a longitudinal axis of the flex assembly from a region adjacent to the port assembly to a region adjacent to the plug assembly, and

wherein the metal wire has a yield strength selected to allow manual bending by a user while resisting unintentional bending during normal use.

13 . A communication adapter system for coupling a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the communication adapter system comprising:

(I) a port assembly couplable with the first communication interface;

(II) a plug assembly couplable with the second communication interface; and

(III) a flex assembly extending between the port assembly and the plug assembly, the flex assembly including

(A) an elastomeric body, and

(B) an internal plastically deformable member positioned within the elastomeric body,

wherein the flex assembly is configured to be bent into a flexed configuration and to retain the flexed configuration until the flex assembly is re-bent into a different configuration, and

wherein at least one of the first communication interface and the second communication interface is configured to carry a communication protocol

wherein the port assembly is overmolded onto a first end of the elastomeric body, and

wherein the plug assembly is overmolded onto a second end of the elastomeric body opposite from the first end of the elastomeric body,

wherein the overmolding forms a unitary structure that resists separation of the port assembly, the flex assembly, and the plug assembly when the flex assembly is repeatedly bent into and out of the flexed configuration.

14 . The communication adapter system of claim 13 ,

wherein at least one of the first communication interface and the second communication interface is configured to carry at least one communication protocol selected from the group consisting of:

wherein the flex assembly is configured to retain a flexed configuration that provides strain relief for at least one connector associated with the communication protocol.

15 . A communication adapter system for coupling a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the communication adapter system comprising:

(I) a port assembly couplable with the first communication interface;

(II) a plug assembly couplable with the second communication interface;

(III) a flex assembly extending between the port assembly and the plug assembly; and

(IV) textured grip regions including

(A) a first textured grip region positioned on the port assembly, and

(B) a second textured grip region positioned on the plug assembly,

wherein the first textured grip region and the second textured grip region are configured to increase friction between the communication adapter system and a hand of a user, and

wherein the communication adapter system is configured for use with at least one communication protocol

wherein the first textured grip region includes a first textured top portion and a first textured bottom portion on the port assembly, and

wherein the second textured grip region includes a second textured top portion and a second textured bottom portion on the plug assembly,

wherein the first textured top portion and the second textured top portion are aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis of the communication adapter system.

16 . A communication adapter system for coupling a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the communication adapter system comprising:

(I) a port assembly couplable with the first communication interface;

(II) a plug assembly couplable with the second communication interface;

(III) a flex assembly extending between the port assembly and the plug assembly; and

(IV) textured grip regions including

(A) a first textured grip region positioned on the port assembly, and

(B) a second textured grip region positioned on the plug assembly,

wherein the first textured grip region and the second textured grip region are configured to increase friction between the communication adapter system and a hand of a user, and

wherein the communication adapter system is configured for use with at least one communication protocol

wherein at least one of the first textured grip region and the second textured grip region includes a plurality of raised ridges extending in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the communication adapter system, and

wherein at least one of the raised ridges is aligned with a ridge portion of the plug assembly configured to be engaged by a thumb of the user.

17 . The communication adapter system of claim 16 ,

wherein the port assembly includes a port opening sized and shaped to receive a connector for at least one communication protocol selected from the group consisting of:

and

wherein the plug assembly includes a plug end sized and shaped to mate with a connector for at least one communication protocol selected from the group consisting of: