IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,154,608
Granted Patent B1
US 10,154,608 · App. 15/497,579 · Granted Dec 11, 2018

Cable management

Inventors: Keith C. Johnson (Medway, MA); Thomas Thibodeau (Whitinsville, MA); Jeffrey M. Lewis (Maynard, MA)
Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
H05K7/1491A47B88/40F16F1/10F16L3/012H05K7/1492
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,154,608
App. No.
15/497,579
Granted
Dec 11, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

A spring-pulley system is configured for use within an IT component and includes a cable assembly configured to electrically couple a fixed portion of an IT component to a slidable portion of the IT component. A pulley assembly is configured to engage the cable assembly. A spring assembly is configured to bias the pulley assembly toward a first position to absorb any slack in the cable assembly.

Claims (34)

1. A spring-pulley system configured for use within an IT component, the spring-pulley system comprising:

a cable assembly configured to electrically couple a fixed portion of the IT component to a slidable portion of the IT component, wherein the cable assembly is configured to be drawn out of a first end of the spring-pulley system in a direction opposite of the direction of sliding of the slidable portion of the IT component while sliding the slidable portion of the IT component out from a front side of the IT component;

a pulley assembly configured to engage the cable assembly; and

a spring assembly configured to bias the pulley assembly toward a first position to absorb any slack in the cable assembly;

wherein the spring-pulley system is incorporated into a side of the slidable portion of the IT component.

2. The spring-pulley system of claim 1 wherein a first end of the cable assembly is coupled to the fixed portion of the IT component.

3. The spring-pulley system of claim 1 wherein a second end of the cable assembly is coupled to the slidable portion of the IT component.

4. The spring-pulley system of claim 1 wherein the spring assembly includes at least one constant force spring.

5. The spring-pulley system of claim 4 wherein the at least one constant force spring includes at least one coil configured to be coupled to the pulley assembly.

6. The spring-pulley system of claim 1 wherein the cable assembly is a portion of an internal cable bundle.

7. The spring-pulley system of claim 1 wherein the cable assembly is configured to provide electrical power from the fixed portion of the IT component to the slidable portion of the IT component.

8. The spring-pulley system of claim 1 wherein the spring-pulley system is coupled to the slidable portion of the IT component.

9. The spring-pulley system of claim 1 wherein the cable assembly is configured to electrically couple at least a portion of a cabling module to at least a portion of an external cable termination module.

10. The spring-pulley system of claim 9 wherein the cabling module is included within the slidable portion of the IT component.

11. The spring-pulley system of claim 9 wherein the external cable termination module is included within the fixed portion of the IT component.

12. A spring-pulley system configured for use within an IT component, the spring-pulley system comprising:

a cable assembly configured to electrically couple a fixed portion of the IT component to a slidable portion of the IT component, wherein a first end of the cable assembly is coupled to the fixed portion of the IT component and a second end of the cable assembly is coupled to the slidable portion of the IT component, wherein the cable assembly is configured to be drawn out of a first end of the spring-pulley system in a direction opposite of the direction of sliding of the slidable portion of the IT component while sliding the slidable portion of the IT component out from a front side of the IT component;

a pulley assembly configured to engage the cable assembly; and

a spring assembly configured to bias the pulley assembly toward a first position to absorb any slack in the cable assembly;

wherein the spring-pulley system is incorporated into a side of the slidable portion of the IT component.

13. The spring-pulley system of claim 12 wherein the spring assembly includes at least one constant force spring.

14. The spring-pulley system of claim 13 wherein the at least one constant force spring includes at least one coil configured to be coupled to the pulley assembly.

15. The spring-pulley system of claim 12 wherein the spring-pulley system is coupled to the slidable portion of the IT component.

16. The spring-pulley system of claim 12 wherein the cable assembly is configured to electrically couple at least a portion of a cabling module to at least a portion of an external cable termination module.

17. The spring-pulley system of claim 16 wherein the cabling module is included within the slidable portion of the IT component.

18. The spring-pulley system of claim 16 wherein the external cable termination module is included within the fixed portion of the IT component.

19. A spring-pulley system configured for use within an IT component, the spring-pulley system comprising:

a cable assembly configured to electrically couple a fixed portion of the IT component to a slidable portion of the IT component, wherein the cable assembly is a portion of an internal cable bundle and is configured to provide electrical power from the fixed portion of the IT component to the slidable portion of the IT component, wherein the cable assembly is configured to be drawn out of a first end of the spring-pulley system in a direction opposite of the direction of sliding of the slidable portion of the IT component while sliding the slidable portion of the IT component out from a front side of the IT component;

a pulley assembly configured to engage the cable assembly; and

a spring assembly configured to bias the pulley assembly toward a first position to absorb any slack in the cable assembly;

wherein the spring-pulley system is incorporated into a side of the slidable portion of the IT component.

20. The spring-pulley system of claim 19 wherein:

a first end of the cable assembly is coupled to the fixed portion of the IT component; and

a second end of the cable assembly is coupled to the slidable portion of the IT component.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (042769/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.)
Reel/Frame 059803/0802 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 042768 FRAME 0585 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; MOZY, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058297/0536 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST (CREDIT) Recorded Jun 12, 2017
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; MOZY, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042768/0585 →
PATENT SECURITY INTEREST (NOTES) Recorded Jun 12, 2017
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; MOZY, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042769/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2017
From: JOHNSON, KEITH C; THIBODEAU, THOMAS; LEWIS, JEFFREY M
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 042440/0473 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,413,060 US 12,603,483