Magnetic and locking cable connectors

• US 7,963,773 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Craig Palli, John Haddick, Ralph F. Osterhout
• Original Assignee: Craig Palli, John Haddick, Ralph F. Osterhout
• Inventors: Haddick, John, Osterhout, Ralph F., Palli, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta; Tho D
• Application Number:
  US12/343,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20090269943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 439 38- 40
• US Class Current: 439/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/504 different pieces being moulded, cemented, welded, e.g. ultrasonic, or swaged together
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6599 Dielectric material made conductive, e.g. plastic material coated with metal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43635 HDMI
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a cable connector. The cable connector may have magnetic properties and/or a locking mechanism. The cable connector may be an HDMI connector and the cable may be an HDMI cable. Further, the connector may be plugged into the corresponding male/female connector port and be held in position by the magnetic properties associated with the connector and the port and/or by a lock lever mechanism. The magnetic array may be moved various distances in various directions. In addition, the connector and/or cable may include a processor, an integrated circuit, an indicator, an LED and/or a user interface.

Claims

1. A device connector, comprising:

a device connector for a data cable, the device connector having a magnetic portion;

a magnetically attractive element with a shape adapted to mate with the device connector and magnetically connect to the magnetic portion; and

a double-sided adhesive element, wherein the double-sided adhesive element is adhered to the magnetically attractive element and positioned to adhere to a device.

2. The device connector of claim 1, wherein the data cable is a High Definition Multimedia Interface cable.

3. The device connector of claim 1, wherein the device connector is a HDMI connector.

4. The device connector of claim 1, further comprising, an integrated circuit.

5. The device connector of claim 1, further comprising, a processor.

6. The device connector of claim 5, wherein the processor provides status information.

7. A method of attaching a data cable to a device, comprising:

adhering a double-sided adhesive element to a magnetic element, leaving an exposed side of the magnetic element and an adherence side of the adhesive element;

magnetically attaching the exposed side of the magnetic element to a device connector of the data cable; and

pressing the device connector onto a data port of a device such that the adherence side adheres to at least one of the device and the data port.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data cable is a High Definition Multimedia Interface cable.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the device connector is a HDMI connector.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the device connector comprises an integrated processor.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the device connector comprises an integrated circuit.