Forming a cable connection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10700486-B2
Application number	US-201916364761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2019
Priority date	May 31, 2016
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A method of forming a cable connection system. A base and a rack are provided, and the base is coupled with the rack, using a coupling mechanism, during a connect mode of operation. The rack includes a first rack surface and a second rack surface perpendicular to the first rack surface, wherein the first rack surface is perpendicular to a raised floor surface, wherein the second rack surface is on, and parallel to, the raised floor surface. The base is coupled to cables connected to the rack, wherein the base includes a first base surface, a second base surface perpendicular to the first base surface, and an array of slots into which corresponding network servers are screwed into place. The coupling mechanism includes a group of base connectors on the first surface of the base and a group of rack connectors on the first surface of the rack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming a cable connection system, said method comprising:
providing a rack comprising a first rack surface, a second rack surface perpendicular to the first rack surface, and an array of slots into which corresponding network servers are screwed into place, wherein the first rack surface is perpendicular to a raised floor surface that is above a floor surface, wherein the second rack surface is on, and parallel to, the raised floor surface, and wherein the slots of the array of slots are sequenced in a first direction perpendicular to the raised floor surface and extend above the raised floor surface in the first direction;
providing a base mechanically and electrically coupled to a plurality of cables, wherein the base comprises a first base surface and a second base surface perpendicular to the first base surface, wherein the first base surface is perpendicular to the raised floor surface, wherein the second base surface is on, and parallel to, the raised floor surface;
providing a line connection mechanically and electrically connected to the rack, wherein the plurality of cables electrically connected to the base are electrically connected to the line connection, wherein the line connection is configured to electrically connect to any given slot of the array of slots, wherein the line connection is disposed between the raised floor surface and a first slot of the array of slots, and wherein the first slot is closer to the raised floor surface than is any other slot of the array of slots; and
coupling the base with the rack, using a coupling mechanism, during a connect mode of operation, said coupling mechanism comprising at least three base connectors on the first surface of the base and a a respective at least three rack connectors on the first surface of the rack, wherein the at least three base connectors are mechanically and electrically connected to the respective at least three rack connectors during the connect mode of operation which facilitates connection, via the line connection, of any cable of the three cables to said any given slot of the array of slots.

2. The method of claim of 1 , said method comprising:
configuring the base and the rack to be substantially detachably coupled to each other.

3. The method of claim 1 , said method comprising:
configuring the base to facilitate a substantial coupling of the base with the rack.

4. The method of claim 1 , said method comprising:
fabricating the base in a substantially U-shape.

5. The method of claim 1 , said method comprising:
providing a distribution and/or a number of the base connectors to facilitate a specified coupling between the base and the rack.

6. The method of claim 1 , said method comprising:
providing the base as a substantially detachable unit.

7. The method of claim 1 , said method comprising:
providing the base connectors to be substantially detachable from the base.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the base is parallel to, and substantially flush with, the first surface of the rack.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rack connectors substantially correspond with, and are coupled to, the base connectors during the connect mode of operation.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rack extends above the base in the first direction.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least three base connectors are uniformly distributed on the first surface of the base.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least three base connectors are nonuniformly distributed on the first surface of the base.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said providing the base comprises providing a shape of the base.

14. The method of claim 1 , said method comprising:
choosing a total number of base connectors for the at least three base connectors.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Rodriguez Jean-Michel

Classifications

• H01R35/02

  Flexible line connectors {without frictional contact members} · CPC title

• H01R43/26 Primary

  for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device (structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629) · CPC title

• H05K7/1491

  having cable management arrangements (management of optical cables G02B6/444; in telecommunication cabinets H04Q1/06) · CPC title

• H01R13/627

  Snap or like fastening · CPC title

• H05K7/1492

  having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications · CPC title