Multidirectional linecord

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11158987-B2
Application number	US-202016735157-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2020
Priority date	Jan 6, 2020
Publication date	Oct 26, 2021
Grant date	Oct 26, 2021

Abstract

An electrical cord includes a housing with a cavity and a connector rotatably connected to the housing. The electrical cord also includes a strain reliever connected to the housing and a cable connected to the connector. The cable extends through the cavity and connects to the strain reliever.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical cord comprising:
a housing with a cavity bordered by a plurality of sides;
a connector rotatably connected to a first side of the plurality of sides of the housing;
a strain reliever connected to a second side of the plurality of sides of the housing;
a first cable connected to the connector, the first cable extending through the cavity and connected to the strain reliever;
a second cable connected to the connector, the second cable extending through the cavity and connected to the strain reliever;
a first detent feature to inhibit rotation of the connector from a first position;
a second detent feature to inhibit rotation of the connector from a second position; and
a third detent feature to inhibit rotation of the connector from a third position;
wherein the first side is adjacent to the second side;
wherein the third position is located between the first position and the second position;
wherein the first cable and the second cable are parallel when the connector is in the first position; and
wherein the first cable and the second cable are twisted when the connector is in the second position.

2. The electrical cord of claim 1 , wherein a length of the first cable that is located in the cavity is at least 1.5 times a distance between where the cable connects to the connector and where the cable connects to the strain reliever.

3. The electrical cord of claim 2 , wherein the length of the first cable that is located in the cavity is between 1.8 and 2.2 times the distance between where the cable connects to the connector and where the cable connects to the strain reliever.

4. The electrical cord of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises:
a first portion; and
a second portion;
wherein the housing surrounds a section of the connector when the first portion and the second portion are connected together.

5. The electrical cord of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises:
a first portion; and
a second portion;
wherein the housing surrounds a section of the strain reliever when the first portion and the second portion are connected together.

6. The electrical cord of claim 1 , further comprising:
an anti-rotation feature connected to the housing that limits rotation of the connector to less than 360 degrees with respect to the housing.

7. The electrical cord of claim 6 , wherein:
the connector can rotate at least 180 degrees with respect to the housing; and
the anti-rotation feature allows the connector to be rotatable through 270 degrees of rotation with respect to the housing.

8. The electrical cord of claim 1 ,
wherein the first detent feature and the second detent feature are positioned on a circumferential surface of the second side.

9. The electrical cord of claim 1 , wherein the strain reliever is rotatably connected to the housing.

10. A method of making an electrical cord comprising:
stripping an end portion of a jacket of bulk wire to expose a first conductor and a second conductor;
connecting the first conductor to a first contact of a connector;
connecting the second conductor to a second contact of a connector;
connecting a strain reliever to the first conductor and the second conductor;
connecting the connector to a housing so that the connector can rotate with respect to the housing; and
connecting the strain reliever to the housing;
wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are positioned in a cavity in the housing when the connector and the strain reliever are connected to the housing;
wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are unjacketed from the strain reliever to the connector;
wherein the housing includes a first detent feature to inhibit rotation of the connector from a first position, a second detent feature to inhibit rotation of the connector from a second position, and a third detent feature to inhibit rotation of the connector from a third position;
wherein the third position is located between the first position and the second position;
wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are parallel when the connector is in the first position; and
wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are twisted when the connector is in the second position.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the connector is limited in rotation to less than 360 degrees with respect to the housing.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the connector can rotate at least 180 degrees with respect to the housing.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein connecting a strain reliever to the first conductor and the second conductor comprises overmolding a strain reliever around the first conductor and the second conductor.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein connecting the connector to a housing so that the connector can rotate with respect to the housing comprises connecting a first portion of the housing to a second portion of the housing to surround a section of the connector.

15. A server room comprising:
a power outlet;
a server; and
an electrical cord connected to the server and to the power outlet, the electrical cord comprising:
a connector that is rotatable between a first position and a second position;
a housing with a cavity, wherein the housing is rotatably connected to the connector;
a strain reliever rotatably connected to the housing; and
a first cable connected to the connector, the first cable extending through the cavity and connected to the strain reliever;

wherein the first position is for connecting to the power outlet if the power outlet is located in a ceiling of the server room, and the second position is for connecting to the power outlet if the power outlet is located in a floor of the server room.

16. The server room of claim 15 , wherein the first position is 180 degrees from the second position, and the connector is rotatable through 270 degrees of rotation.

17. The server room of claim 15 , wherein the electrical cord further comprises:
a second cable connected to the connector, the second cable extending through the cavity and connected to the strain reliever.

18. The server room of claim 15 , wherein the electrical cord further comprises:
a first detent to inhibit rotation of the connector from the first position; and
a second detent to inhibit rotation of the connector from the second position.

19. The server room of claim 15 , wherein:
the electrical cord further comprises a second cable connected to the connector, the second cable extending through the cavity and connected to the strain reliever; and
the housing further comprises:
a first detent feature to inhibit rotation of the connector from a first position;
a second detent feature to inhibit rotation of the connector from a second position; and
a third detent feature to inhibit rotation of the connector from a third position;
wherein the third position is located between the first position and the second position;
wherein the first cable and the second cable are parallel when the connector is in the first position; and
wherein the first cable and the second cable are twisted when the connector is in the second position.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Monahan Robert John
• Shirk/Heath Sandra J
• Schaefer Paul

Classifications

• H01R13/5816 Primary

  for cables passing through an aperture in a housing wall, the separate part being captured between cable and contour of aperture · CPC title

• H01R13/5845

  the strain relief being achieved by molding parts around cable and connections · CPC title

• H01R13/5841

  allowing different orientations of the cable with respect to the coupling direction · CPC title

• H01R35/02

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

• H05K7/1492

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