System for presenting electrically supported devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10282339-B2
Application number	US-201715704597-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2017
Priority date	Sep 14, 2016
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

Systems for presenting electrically supported devices and methods for assembling the same are provided. A platform assembly may be equipped with one or more features for enabling a support module assembly to be easily removed from a bottom table surface of a table and replaced with another support module subassembly (e.g., to physically upgrade the support module assembly) while maintaining the position of a user device and/or cable assembly with respect to the table).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cable assembly for electrically coupling with a cable module connector subassembly of a support module assembly comprising a support mating feature, wherein the cable module connector subassembly comprises a cable module connector contact, the cable assembly comprising:
a cable subassembly comprising an electrical conductor extending between a first conductor end and a second conductor end; and
a module cable connector subassembly comprising:
a boot structure comprising an interior boot surface and an exterior boot surface extending from a first boot open end to a second boot open end, wherein the interior boot surface defines a boot space;
a module cable connector contact that is electrically coupled to the second conductor end at an electrical coupling location within the boot space;
a cap; and
a ring, wherein:
the ring is positioned about a portion of the cap;
the exterior boot surface comprises a boot mating feature operative to mate with the support mating feature; and
the module cable connector subassembly is operative to interface with the support module assembly for electrically coupling the module cable connector contact to the cable module connector contact when the boot mating feature is mated with the support mating feature.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the module cable connector subassembly is operative to interface with the support module assembly for electrically coupling the module cable connector contact to the cable module connector contact when the module cable connector contact is moved along a linear axis towards the cable module connector contact; and
when the boot mating feature is mated with the support mating feature, the module cable connector contact is properly oriented along the linear axis with respect to the cable module connector contact for electrically coupling the module cable connector contact to the cable module connector contact.

3. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the module cable connector subassembly is operative to interface with the support module assembly for electrically coupling the module cable connector contact to the cable module connector contact when the module cable connector contact is moved along a linear axis towards the cable module connector contact; and
when the boot mating feature is mated with the support mating feature, the module cable connector contact is properly oriented about the linear axis with respect to the cable module connector contact for electrically coupling the module cable connector contact to the cable module connector contact.

4. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the module cable connector subassembly provides a superset of a universal serial bus (“USB”) Type-C connector.

5. The cable assembly of claim 4 , wherein the module cable connector contact provides a male-type connector contact.

6. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the module cable connector contact provides a male-type connector contact.

7. A cable assembly for electrically coupling with a cable module connector subassembly of a support module assembly comprising a support mating feature, wherein the cable module connector subassembly comprises a cable module connector contact, the cable assembly comprising:
a cable subassembly comprising an electrical conductor extending between a first conductor end and a second conductor end; and
a module cable connector subassembly comprising:
a boot structure comprising an interior boot surface and an exterior boot surface extending from a first boot open end to a second boot open end, wherein the interior boot surface defines a boot space; and
a module cable connector contact that is electrically coupled to the second conductor end at an electrical coupling location within the boot space, wherein:
the exterior boot surface comprises a boot mating feature operative to mate with the support mating feature;
the module cable connector subassembly is operative to interface with the support module assembly for electrically coupling the module cable connector contact to the cable module connector contact when the boot mating feature is mated with the support mating feature;
the cable subassembly further comprises a memory cable component extending between a first memory cable end and a second memory cable end;
at least a portion of the memory cable component is configured to define a curved shape between the first memory cable end and the second memory cable end absent any external force applied to the cable assembly;
the module cable connector subassembly further comprises a cap that is at least partially positioned within the boot space;
the electrical conductor passes through the cap; and
the second memory cable end is fixed to the cap.

8. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
another portion of the cap is positioned within the boot space; and
the ring enables robust retention of the module cable connector subassembly within a portion of the support module assembly when the module cable connector contact is electrically coupled to the cable module connector contact.

9. The cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
another portion of the cap is positioned within the boot space; and
the ring prevents fluid ingress into a portion of the support module assembly when the module cable connector contact is electrically coupled to the cable module connector contact.

10. A cable assembly for electrically coupling with a cable module connector subassembly of a support module assembly comprising a support mating feature, wherein the cable module connector subassembly comprises a cable module connector contact, the cable assembly comprising:
a cable subassembly comprising an electrical conductor extending between a first conductor end and a second conductor end; and
a module cable connector subassembly comprising:
a boot structure comprising an interior boot surface and an exterior boot surface extending from a first boot open end to a second boot open end, wherein the interior boot surface defines a boot space; and
a module cable connector contact that is electrically coupled to the second conductor end at an electrical coupling location within the boot space, wherein:
the exterior boot surface comprises a boot mating feature operative to mate with the support mating feature;
the module cable connector subassembly is operative to interface with the support module assembly for electrically coupling the module cable connector contact to the cable module connector contact when the boot mating feature is mated with the support mating feature;
the support module assembly comprises the cable module connector contact positioned below a top surface of a support structure;
the module cable connector subassembly further comprises a cap;
the electrical conductor passes through the cap; and
the cap is positioned above the top surface of the support structure when the module cable connector contact is electrically coupled to the cable module connector contact.

11. A cable assembly for electrically coupling with a cable module connector subassembly of a support module assembly comprising a support mating feature, wherein the cable module connector subassembly comprises a cable module connector contact, the cable assembly comprising:
a cable subassembly comprising an electrical conductor extending between a first conductor end and a second conductor end; and
a module cable connector subassembly comprising:
a boot structure comprising an interior boot surface and an exterior boot surface extending from a first boot open end to a second boot open end, wherein the interior boot surface defines a boot space; and
a module cable connector c

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Woosley Clayton R
• Rao Aditya
• Feng Bo
• Kumka David S
• Briskey Joseph I
• Kim Min Chul
• Yuan Paul Z
• Liao Yufan
• Tziviskos George
• Schwalbach Charles A
• Wong Eric H
• Kosecoff David B
• Michalske Steven C
• Smith Ariadne G

Classifications

• H01R13/6633

  with inductive component, e.g. transformer · CPC title

• G06F13/4282

  on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247) · CPC title

• H01R13/631

  for engagement only · CPC title

• H01B9/02

  with screens or conductive layers, e.g. for avoiding large potential gradients · CPC title

• G11B33/122

  Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches · CPC title