IP Library Granted Patent US 11,396,925
Granted Patent B2
US 11,396,925 · App. 16/787,609 · Granted Jul 26, 2022

Cable chain for use in cable management

Inventors: Megan Wingfield (Madison, AL); Bernard D. Strmiska (Round Rock, TX); Robert B. Curtis (Georgetown, TX); Destin Ray (Cypress, TX); Matthew Parmlee (Bullard, TX); Elliot Le (New Braunfels, TX); Henry Gomez (Houston, TX); William Beck (San Antonio, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
F16G13/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,396,925
App. No.
16/787,609
Granted
Jul 26, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cable assembly may include a cable communicatively coupling a first information handling resource to a second information handling resource and a cable chain for guiding a routing of the cable, the cable chain comprising a plurality of cable chain links. Each cable chain link may include a plurality of coupling features for rotatably coupling, about an axis, such cable chain link to another cable chain link, one or more limiting features for limiting a rotation of such cable chain link to the other cable chain link, and an opening formed in such cable chain link and configured such that the cable chain has a lengthwise opening along one side of the cable chain which forms a channel for receiving the cable.

Claims (47)

1. A system comprising:

a first information handling resource;

a second information handling resource; and

a cable assembly comprising:

a cable communicatively coupling the first information handling resource to the second information handling resource; and

a cable chain for guiding a routing of the cable, the cable chain comprising a plurality of cable chain links, each cable chain link comprising:

a plurality of coupling features for rotatably coupling, about an axis, such cable chain link to another cable chain link;

one or more limiting features for limiting a rotation of such cable chain link to the other cable chain link; and

an opening formed in such cable chain link and configured such that the cable chain has a lengthwise opening along one side of the cable chain which forms a channel for receiving the cable.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one cable chain link comprises a pair of receiving features configured to receive a retention feature for retaining the cable within the channel.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cable chain links comprises:

a plurality of first cable chain links of a first type, wherein limiting features of the plurality of first cable chain links limit rotation of such first cable chain links such that a curved portion of the cable chain comprising only the first cable chain links would have the lengthwise opening on an inside of such curved portion; and

a plurality of second cable chain links of a second type, wherein limiting features of the plurality of second cable chain links limit rotation of such second cable chain links such that a curved portion of the cable chain comprising only the second cable chain links would have the lengthwise opening on an outside of such curved portion.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cable chain links are formed from at least one of a plastic or a polymer.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of cable chain links are formed using injection molding.

6. A cable assembly comprising:

a cable for communicatively coupling a first information handling resource to a second information handling resource; and

a cable chain for guiding a routing of the cable, the cable chain comprising a plurality of cable chain links, each cable chain link comprising:

a plurality of coupling features for rotatably coupling, about an axis, such cable chain link to another cable chain link;

one or more limiting features for limiting a rotation of such cable chain link to the other cable chain link; and

an opening formed in such cable chain link and configured such that the cable chain has a lengthwise opening along one side of the cable chain which forms a channel for receiving the cable.

7. The cable assembly of claim 6 , wherein at least one cable chain link comprises a pair of receiving features configured to receive a retention feature for retaining the cable within the channel.

8. The cable assembly of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of cable chain links comprises:

a plurality of first cable chain links of a first type, wherein limiting features of the plurality of first cable chain links limit rotation of such first cable chain links such that a curved portion of the cable chain comprising only the first cable chain links would have the lengthwise opening on an inside of such curved portion; and

a plurality of second cable chain links of a second type, wherein limiting features of the plurality of second cable chain links limit rotation of such second cable chain links such that a curved portion of the cable chain comprising only the second cable chain links would have the lengthwise opening on an outside of such curved portion.

9. The cable assembly of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of cable chain links are formed from at least one of a plastic or a polymer.

10. The cable assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of cable chain links are formed using injection molding.

11. A cable chain for guiding a routing of a cable, the cable chain comprising a plurality of cable chain links, each cable chain link comprising:

a plurality of coupling features for rotatably coupling, about an axis, such cable chain link to another cable chain link;

one or more limiting features for limiting a rotation of such cable chain link to the other cable chain link; and

an opening formed in such cable chain link and configured such that the cable chain has a lengthwise opening along one side of the cable chain which forms a channel for receiving a cable.

12. The cable chain of claim 11 , wherein at least one cable chain link comprises a pair of receiving features configured to receive a retention feature for retaining the cable within the channel.

13. The cable chain of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of cable chain links comprises:

a plurality of first cable chain links of a first type, wherein limiting features of the plurality of first cable chain links limit rotation of such first cable chain links such that a curved portion of the cable chain comprising only the first cable chain links would have the lengthwise opening on an inside of such curved portion; and

a plurality of second cable chain links of a second type, wherein limiting features of the plurality of second cable chain links limit rotation of such second cable chain links such that a curved portion of the cable chain comprising only the second cable chain links would have the lengthwise opening on an outside of such curved portion.

14. The cable chain of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of cable chain links are formed from at least one of a plastic or a polymer.

15. The cable chain of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of cable chain links are formed using injection molding.

16. A cable chain link comprising:

a plurality of coupling features for rotatably coupling, about an axis, such cable chain link to another cable chain link to form at least a portion of a cable chain;

one or more limiting features for limiting a rotation of such cable chain link to the other cable chain link; and

an opening formed in such cable chain link and configured such that the cable chain has a lengthwise opening along one side of the cable chain which forms a channel for receiving a cable.

17. The cable chain link of claim 16 , further comprising a pair of receiving features configured to receive a retention feature for retaining the cable within the channel.

18. The cable chain link of claim 16 , wherein the cable chain link comprises one of:

a first cable chain link of a first type, wherein limiting features of the first cable chain link limits rotation of such first cable chain link with respect to one or more other cable chain links to which it is coupled such that a curved portion of the cable chain comprising only first cable chain links would have the lengthwise opening on an inside of such curved portion; and

a second cable chain link of a second type, wherein limiting features of the second cable chain link limits rotation of such second cable chain link with respect to one or more other cable chain links to which it is coupled such that a curved portion of the cable chain comprising only second cable chain links would have the lengthwise opening on an outside of such curved portion.

19. The cable chain link of claim 16 , wherein the cable chain link is formed from at least one of a plastic or a polymer.

20. The cable chain link of claim 19 , wherein the cable chain link is formed using injection molding.

Assignments (19)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052851/0917) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0509 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052852/0022) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0582 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053311/0169) Recorded Jun 23, 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
Reel/Frame 060438/0742 →
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 (052851/0081) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0441 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052771 FRAME 0906 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0298 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0169 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052851/0081 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052851/0917 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052852/0022 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 052771/0906 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2020
From: PARMLEE, MATTHEW
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 051786/0377 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2020
From: LE, ELLIOT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 051786/0432 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2020
From: STRMISKA, BERNARD D.; CURTIS, ROBERT B.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 051786/0265 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2020
From: BECK, WILLIAM
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 051786/0560 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2020
From: WINGFIELD, MEGAN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 051786/0221 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2020
From: GOMEZ, HENRY
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 051786/0511 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2020
From: RAY, DESTIN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 051786/0330 →