Granted Patent B2

US 7,887,358 · App. 12/183,006 · Granted Feb 15, 2011

Assignee: Adtron Corporation

Abstract

Claims (47)

1. A connector clamp comprising:

a top clamp; and

a bottom clamp configured to rigidly engage the top clamp, the top clamp and the bottom clamp, when engaged, forcibly securing coupling between an external connector and an internal connecter in three dimensions without gaps and covering all surfaces of the internal connector.

2. The connector clamp of claim 1 wherein at least one resilient flexible material is attached to a surface of the top clamp that faces the external connector and the internal connector when coupled, the resilient flexible material for contacting a surface of at least one of the external connector and the internal connector.

3. The connector clamp of claim 1 wherein at least one resilient flexible material is attached to a surface of the bottom clamp that faces the external connector and the internal connector when coupled, the resilient flexible material for contacting a surface of at least one of the external connector and the internal connector.

4. The connector clamp of claim 2 wherein the resilient flexible material includes a vibration dampening foam that serves as a gasket for the top clamp.

5. The connector clamp of claim 3 wherein the resilient flexible material includes a vibration dampening foam that serves as a gasket for the bottom clamp.

6. The connector clamp of claim 1 wherein the top clamp includes:

a longitudinal section from which two opposite arms extend in a similar direction to define a space, each arm including an integrally formed hole, and

a bottom face, adjacent to the space, to which a gasket is attached, the gasket contacting at least one of the external connector and the internal connector when coupled.

7. The connector clamp of claim 1 wherein the bottom clamp includes:

an integrally formed set of holes to receive a set of screws for insertion into the top clamp, and

a top face to which a gasket is attached, the gasket contacting at least one of the external connector and the internal connector when coupled.

8. The connector clamp of claim 1 wherein the top clamp includes:

a longitudinal section from which two arms extend, each arm including an integrally formed hole, and

a bottom face to which a first gasket is attached, the first gasket contacting at least one of the external connector and the internal connector when coupled; and

the bottom clamp includes:

an integrally formed first set of holes to receive a first set of screws for insertion into the holes of the top clamp, and

a top face to which a second gasket is attached, the second gasket contacting at least one of the external connector and the internal connector when coupled.

9. The connector clamp of claim 8 wherein the bottom clamp includes an integrally formed second set of holes to receive a second set of screws for attachment to a hard drive.

10. The connector clamp of claim 8 wherein the first set of screws adjustably secure the external connector and the internal connector when coupled.

11. The connector clamp of claim 1 wherein the internal connector is a SATA connector.

12. The connector clamp of claim 1 wherein the internal connector is an SAS connector.

13. The connector claim of claim 1 wherein the external connector includes a communication connector for a communication cable.

14. The connector of claim 1 wherein the external connector includes a power connector for a power cable.

15. A connector clamp for a hard drive having a SATA connector for coupling with external connectors, comprising:

a top clamp including:

a longitudinal section from which two arms extend, each arm including an integrally formed hole, and

a bottom face to which a first gasket is attached, the first gasket contacting the external connectors when securely coupled with the SATA connector in three dimensions without gaps and covering all surfaces of the SATA connector; and

a bottom clamp including:

an integrally formed first set of holes to receive a first set of screws for insertion into the hard drive,

an integrally formed second set of holes to receive a second set of screws for insertion into the holes of the top clamp, and

a top face to which a second gasket is attached, the second gasket contacting the external connectors when securely coupled with the SATA connector in three dimensions without gaps and covering all surfaces of the SATA connector.

16. The connector clamp of claim 15 wherein the first gasket and the second gasket are each formed of a single continuous piece of vibration dampening material.

17. The connector clamp of claim 15 wherein the top clamp includes pin holes for receiving pins to engage the hard drive, the pins securing the top clamp with the hard drive.

18. A method for securing connectors, comprising:

attaching a top clamp to a hard drive having a first connector and covering all surfaces of the first connector;

mating a power connector and a communication connector to the first connector;

attaching a bottom clamp to the hard drive;

positioning the top clamp and the bottom clamp on opposite sides of the mated power connector, the communication connector, and the first connector; and

creating, by the top clamp and the bottom clamp, a securing force on the mated power connector, the communication connector, and the first connector in three dimensions without gaps.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

positioning a first gasket between the bottom clamp and the mated power connector, the communication connector, and the first connector; and

positioning a second gasket between the top clamp and the mated power connector, the communication connector, and the first connector.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

connecting the top clamp and the bottom clamp with screws; and

adjusting the screws to vary the securing force.

Assignments (13)

Continuity (2)