Anti-reversal end cap for universal passenger control unit

• US 6,735,309 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2001
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Royer, Joel D., Whitmer, David M., Lemanski, Gregory R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US09/847,835
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 379/438, 379/446, 379/455, 379/454
• US Class Current: 379/454
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/06 Hooks; Cradles

Abstract

An anti-reversal end cap with tab to prevent improper stowage of a handset into its cradle. The end cap is formed by joining two members together to route a cable from an in-flight entertainment system to the handset. The end cap has a protruding tab which interferes with the cradle if the handset is improperly stowed. The end cap can be taken apart to free the cable from the handset such that the cable does not need to be re-terminated. The tab on the end cap has a generally wedged shape to prevent binding with the cradle and to ensure smooth ejection.

Claims

1. A passenger control handset combination for communication with an on-board electronic system, said combination comprising:

a handset to be used by a passenger to communicate with said on-board electronic system, said handset comprising at least one protruding at a pre-dertermined position;

a cable coupling said handset and said on-board electronic system;

a cradle to stow said handset, said cradle comprising a venturi for receiving the tab wherein said tab is positioned to interfere with said venturi to prevent said handset from being pushed fully into said cradle if said handset is at an improper orientation.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said tab protrudes at a predetermined angle such that it does not bind said cradle during removal and during stowage.

3. An end cap to ensure proper stowage orientation of a handset in a cradle installed at an airline passenger'"'"'s seat, said handset being electrically connected to an on-board electronics system through a cable, said cable connecting between said handset and said electronics system through a passage on said cradle at one end and through said end cap at another end, said end cap comprising:

a tab, said tab being located and protruding at a predetermined position on said end cap, in such a way that said tab fits in said passage on said cradle only when said handset is stowed into said cradle in said proper orientation said tab interfering with said passage on said cradle to prevent said handset from being fully placed inside said cradle when said handset is placed in said cradle at an improper orientation.

4. The end cap of claim 3, wherein said tab has a predetermined dimension and shape such that it does not bind said handset to said cradle.

5. The end cap of claim 3, wherein said tab is placed alongside a portion of said cable as said portion enters said end cap.

6. The end cap of claim 5, wherein said tab has a predetermined width such that said tab does not interfere with said cradle when said handset is stowed into and removed from said cradle.

7. The end cap of claim 3, wherein said end cap is constructed by releasably assembling a plurality of members together, said members being formed in such a way to define an enclosed channel having entry and exit points within said end cap when joined together, said enclosed channel routing said cable within said end cap to provide stress relief on said cable.

8. The end cap of claim 7, wherein said entry and exit points are formed by joining said plurality of members such that said cable is removable from said handset by disassembling said plurality of members without having to re-terminate said cable.

9. A unitary end cap to align stowage of handset in a cradle installed on an airline passenger'"'"'s seat and to provide ready disassembly, said handset being connected to an on-board electronics system through a cable terminating between said handset and said electronics system, said cable passing through a passage on said cradle and through a opening on said end cap, said end cap comprising:

tab means on said end cap, said tab means being keyed to fit in said passage on said cradle only when said handset is properly stowed into said cradle;

a plurality of members being releasably assembled together to form said unitary end cap, each of said members being formed in a complimentary way to jointly define an enclosed channel having points of entry and exit on said end cap when said members are joined together, said channel routing said cable within said end cap to provide stress relief on said cable, said entry and exit points being formed by joining said plurality of members such that said cable becomes removable from said handset by disassembling said plurality of members without having to re-terminate said cable.

10. The end cap of claim 9, wherein said tab means comprises a generally wedge-shaped protrusion out from said end cap along side said cable.

11. The end cap of claim 9, wherein said plurality of members comprises a upper half and lower half members.

12. The end cap of claim 10, wherein said plurality of members comprises a upper half and lower half members.