System and method for securing and/or for aligning a device

• US 7,154,039 B1
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sennco Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sennco Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Marszalek, Christopher, Horvath, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US11/294,293
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/59, 174/53, 174/60, 174/50.52, 174/135, 174/17.R, 439/501, 439/502, 439/535, 280/47.19, 280/47.2, 280/47.26, 191/12.4, 220/4.02, 220/3.8, 220/3.6, 248/906
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets

Abstract

A system and a method secure and/or align a device attached to a fixture. The system and the method have a retractable reel with a cable for attaching, for connecting and/or for securing the device to the fixture. The system and the method have a housing with an opening and a slit for aligning and/or for centering the device with respect to the housing, the retractable reel and/or the fixture. The cable extends outward with respect to the retractable reel and/or extends through the housing via the opening. The system and the method have a connector for attaching, for connecting and/or for securing the cable to the device. The housing has a recession for receiving the connector and/or for aligning the connector and/or the device. The connector and/or the device is centered and/or is aligned with respect to the recession, the housing and/or the retractable reel via the opening in the housing and the cable. A fastener and/or an adhesive connects, secures and/or attaches the device to the connector and/or the housing to an exterior surface of the fixture.

Claims

1. A system for securing a device to a fixture, the system comprising:

a housing having a first side and a second side wherein the first side is opposite to the second side wherein the first side of the housing has a recession extending inward with respect to the second side of the housing and further wherein the housing has an opening extending from the recession through the housing to the second side of the housing;

a cable having a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the cable extends through the opening of the housing;

a retractable reel connected to the second end of the cable wherein the retractable reel is adjacent to the second side of the housing wherein the first end of the cable extends from the first side of the housing; and

a connector having a first side and a second side wherein the first side is opposite to the second side wherein the connector has walls defining an exterior surface wherein the first end of the cable is connected to the connector wherein the device connects to the first side of the connector wherein the recession is sized to receive the connector wherein the first end of the cable moves inward with respect to the housing and further wherein the opening in the housing aligns the connector with respect to the recession.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a layer adhered to the first side of the connector wherein the layer attaches the device to the connector.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a receptor connected to the connector wherein the receptor has an opening to receive the first end of the cable.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a slit formed in the housing wherein the slit receives the cable.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a fastener connected to the first end of the cable wherein the fastener attaches the cable to the connector.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a fastener extending outward with respect to the exterior surface of the connector wherein the fastener attaches the device to the connector.

7. A system for aligning a device wherein the device is secured to a fixture, the system comprising:

a housing having a perimeter defined by edges and a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the first end of the housing has a recession extending inward with respect to the second end of the housing wherein the housing has a slit extending from the perimeter inward with respect to the recession wherein the slit extends from the recession through the housing to the second end of the housing;

a cable having a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the cable extends through the housing via the slit wherein the slit is sized to receive the cable wherein the first end of the cable extends from the first end of the housing wherein the second end of the cable is connected to the fixture; and

a connector having walls defining an exterior surface wherein the first end of the cable is connected to the connector wherein the device is attached to the exterior surface of the connector wherein the first end of the cable moves inward with respect to the recession of the housing wherein the slit of the housing aligns the connector with respect to the recession of the housing wherein the recession of the housing is sized to receive the exterior surface of the connector.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a retractable reel attached to the second end of the cable wherein the retractable reel moves the first end of the cable inward with respect to the first end of the housing.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a layer adhered to the exterior surface of the connector wherein the layer attaches the device to the exterior surface of the connector.

10. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a fastener connected to the first end of the cable wherein the fastener attaches the cable to the connector.

11. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a receptor connected to the connector wherein the receptor has an opening to receive the first end of the cable.

12. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

an attaching means extending from the exterior surface of the connector wherein the connector clamps the device to the connector.

13. A method for securing a device to an exterior surface of a fixture, the method comprising the steps of:

forming an opening in a housing wherein the housing has a first side and a second side wherein the first side is opposite to the second side wherein the first side of the housing has a recession extending inward with respect to the second side wherein the opening extends from the recession through the housing to the second side of the housing;

inserting a cable into the opening of the housing wherein the cable has a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the first end of the cable is connectable to the fixture and the second end extends from the first side of the housing;

connecting the first end of the cable to a connector having walls defining an exterior surface wherein the recession of the housing is sized to receive the exterior surface of the connector; and

aligning the connector with respect to the recession via the cable and the opening in the housing wherein the first end of the cable and the connector move inward with respect to the first side of the housing wherein the connector is insertable into the recession of the housing.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

attaching the housing to the exterior surface of the fixture.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

adhering a layer to the exterior surface of the connector.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

attaching the device to the connector.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

connecting the first end of the cable to the connector.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

forming a slit in the housing wherein the slit extends from the recession through the housing to the second side of the housing wherein the slit receives the cable.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

displaying the device on the exterior surface of the fixture.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

removing the cable from the opening in the housing.