IP Library Granted Patent US 7,361,050
Granted Patent B2
US 7,361,050 · App. 11/282,875 · Granted Apr 22, 2008

Cable management device for use in connection with a power center, and cable management system comprising same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,361,050
App. No.
11/282,875
Granted
Apr 22, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cable management device for use in connection with a power center ( 210, 500, 810 ) comprises a perimeter wall ( 110, 410, 710 ) defining a passageway ( 120, 420, 720 ) capable of receiving a cable ( 820 ) coupled to the power center, and an attachment feature ( 130, 430, 450, 730 ) adjacent to the perimeter wall and capable of removably engaging the cable management device with at least one of the power center and a power cord ( 220, 817 ) of the power center.

Claims (82)

1. A cable management device for use in connection with a power center, the cable management device comprising:

a perimeter wall defining a passageway capable of receiving a cable coupled to the power center; and

an attachment feature adjacent to the perimeter wall and capable of removably attaching to the cable management device with at least one of the power center and a power cord of the power center,

wherein:

at least a portion of the attachment feature protrudes from the perimeter wall;

the perimeter wall has a first end and a second end adjacent to the first end;

the second end overlies the first end such that an opening exists in the perimeter wall; and

the opening is configured to admit the cable coupled to the power center.

2. The cable management device of claim 1 wherein:

the attachment feature is capable of removably attaching, at any time, the cable management device to only one of the power center and the power cord of the power center.

3. The cable management device of claim 1 wherein:

the attachment feature:

protrudes away from the perimeter wall;

is made of a flexible material; and

has a substantially Y-shape.

4. The cable management device of claim 1 further comprising:

a second attachment feature adjacent to the perimeter wall,

wherein:

the second attachment feature is capable of removably engaging the cable management device with the power cord of the power center; and

the attachment feature is capable of removably engaging the cable management device with the power center.

5. The cable management device of claim 4 wherein:

the second attachment feature comprises an indentation in the perimeter wall and has a substantially semicircular shape capable of engagement with the power cord; and

the attachment feature protrudes away from the perimeter wall and comprises a substantially planar portion capable of engagement with the power center.

6. The cable management device of claim 1 wherein:

the power center comprises at least one of a surge protector, a power strip, an uninterruptible power supply, and a television.

7. The cable management device of claim 1 further comprising:

a support piece within the passageway,

wherein:

the support piece separates the passageway into a first passageway and a second passageway, both of which are capable of receiving a cable coupled to the power center.

8. The cable management device of claim 1 wherein:

the attachment feature is capable of removably attaching to only the power cord of the power center.

9. The cable management device of claim 1 wherein:

the attachment feature is capable of removably attaching to only the power center.

10. A cable management system for use in connection with a power center, the cable management system comprising:

a cable management device comprising:

a first wall section;

a support piece having a first end and a second end, the support piece coupled at the first end to the first wall section and extending away from the first wall section;

a second wall section coupled to the second end of the support piece and having a channel therein, the second wall section comprising a first attachment feature of the cable management device; and

a second attachment feature coupled to the first wall section, wherein:

the first attachment feature is located in the channel;

the first wall section and the second wall section are portions of a perimeter wall that defines a passageway capable of receiving a cable coupled to the power center;

the first attachment feature is capable of removably engaging the cable management device with a power cord of the power center; and

the second attachment feature is capable of removably engaging the cable management device with the power center.

11. The cable management system of claim 10 wherein:

the first attachment feature comprises an indentation in the perimeter wall and has a substantially semicircular shape capable of engagement with the power cord; and

the second attachment feature protrudes away from the perimeter wall and comprises a substantially planar portion capable of engagement with the power center.

12. The cable management system of claim 11 further comprising:

a mounting rail; and

a second cable management device comprising:

a second perimeter wall defining a second passageway capable of receiving a cable coupled to the power center; and

a second attachment feature adjacent to the second perimeter wall and capable of removably engaging the second cable management device with at least one of the power center and a power cord of the power center,

wherein:

the cable management device and the second cable management device are coupled to the mounting rail.

13. The cable management system of claim 10 wherein:

the support piece is within the passageway; and

the support piece separates the passageway into a first passageway and a second passageway, both of which are capable of receiving the cable coupled to the power center.

14. The cable management system of claim 10 wherein:

the perimeter wall is formed from a flexible material; and

the perimeter wall contains at least one opening capable of admitting the cable coupled to the power center.

15. A cable management system comprising:

a power center comprising:

a casing; and

an attachment mechanism; and

a cable management device comprising:

a cable management portion having a cable retaining feature capable of holding one or more cables; and

an attachment section adjacent to the cable management portion and capable of coupling the cable management device with at least one of the attachment mechanism of the power center and a cord associated with the power center,

wherein:

at least a portion of the attachment section protrudes from the cable management portion;

the cable management portion has a first edge and a second edge overlaying the first edge; and

the cable management portion is configured such that the one or more cables can enter the cable retaining feature between the first edge and the second edge.

16. The cable management device of claim 15 wherein:

the one or more cables can be coupled to and removed from the cable retaining feature while the attachment section is coupled to the at least one of the power center and the cord associated with the power center.

17. The cable management device of claim 15 wherein:

the cord associated with the power center is removably attachable to the power center.

18. The cable management device of claim 15 wherein:

the cord associated with the power center is a power cord of the power center.

19. The cable management device of claim 15 wherein:

the attachment section comprises a portion with a substantially Y-shape.

20. The cable management device of claim 15 wherein:

the attachment section comprises:

an indentation in the perimeter wall and capable of engaging the cord associated with the power center; and

a substantially T-shaped section protruding away from the perimeter wall and capable of engaging the power center.

Assignments (4)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 12, 2012
From: BELKIN INTERNATIONAL, INC
To: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 027844/0525 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2011
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, L/C ISSUER AND SWING LINE LENDER
To: BELKIN INTERNATIONAL, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS BELKIN CORPORATION); BELKIN, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS BELKIN LOGISTICS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 027008/0824 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2007
From: MORI, KENNETH; WADSWORTH, JOHN
To: BELKIN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 018992/0088 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 23, 2006
From: BELKIN CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 017209/0030 →