Fliptop module and insert for holding multiple types of connectors and cables

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12548938-B2
Application number	US-202318522303-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2023
Priority date	Nov 29, 2023
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

A holder insert is insertable within a module of a fliptop unit for supporting a variety of connectors that may be stored in the module. A platform part has a first surface, an opposing second surface, and an aperture. A pair of arms located at opposite ends of the platform part each extend away from the platform part and have an end section that is mountable at a height within the module. A sleeve extends from the platform part and surrounds the aperture, extending its depth. At least one gap extends from an edge of the platform part to the aperture, and from the first surface to the second surface and at least part way along the sleeve. The holder insert is a single piece of elastic material. A load being placed on the holder insert deforms the holder insert and changes a width of the at least one gap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A holder insert that is insertable within a module of a fliptop unit for supporting any one of a variety of connectors that may be stored in the module, the holder insert comprising:
(a) a platform part having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and an aperture formed therein having a depth that extends at least through the platform part; (b) a pair of arms that are located at opposite ends of the platform part, each one of the pair of arms extending away from the platform part and having an end section that is configured to be mountable at a particular height within the module; and (c) a sleeve that extends from the second surface of the platform part to an end surface thereof and that substantially surrounds the aperture in the platform part and thereby extends the depth of the aperture to the end surface of the sleeve; (d) wherein
(1) at least one gap is formed in the holder insert, the at least one gap extending in one direction from an edge of the platform part to the aperture in the platform part, and extending in another direction from the first surface of the platform part to the second surface of the platform part and then through a wall of the sleeve along a depth of the sleeve at least part way to the end surface of the sleeve, and
(2) the holder insert is formed of a single piece of elastic material such that upon a load being placed on the holder insert, the holder insert deforms and a width of the at least one gap changes.

2 . The holder insert of claim 1 , wherein each one of the pair of arms includes
(a) a bend section that extends from the second surface of the platform part and bends into a direction away from the sleeve; and (b) a further section that extends outward from an end of the bend section and that terminates at the end section.

3 . The holder insert of claim 1 , wherein each one of the pair of arms includes
(a) an upright section that extends from the second surface of the platform part and has a length greater than the depth of the sleeve; (b) a bend section that extends from an end of the upright section and bends into a direction away from the sleeve; and (b) a further section that extends from an end of the bend section and that terminates at the end section.

4 . The holder insert of claim 1 , wherein the at least one gap includes
(a) a first gap that extends in the one direction from the edge of the platform part to the aperture in the platform part, and that extends in the another direction from the first surface of the platform part to the second surface of the platform part and then through the wall of the sleeve along an entire depth of the sleeve to the end surface of the sleeve.

5 . The holder insert of claim 4 , wherein the at least one gap includes
(a) a second gap that extends in a direction opposite to the one direction from the edge of the platform part to the aperture in the platform part, and that extends in the another direction from the first surface of the platform part to the second surface of the platform part and then through the wall of the sleeve along a part of the depth of the sleeve and terminates part way along the sleeve.

6 . The holder insert of claim 1 , wherein
(a) an inner wall of the sleeve is cylindrically shaped.

7 . The holder insert of claim 1 , wherein
(a) the holder insert is configured to be mountable within the module in an upright orientation.

8 . The holder insert of claim 7 , wherein
(a) upon the holder insert being mounted within the module in the upright orientation,
(1) the holder insert is arranged to receive a connector head such that a portion of the connector head rests at least upon an intersection of the first surface and the aperture, and
(2) a cable extending from an end of the connector head passes through the aperture and exits at the end surface.

9 . The holder insert of claim 8 , wherein
(a) the holder insert is further configured to be alternatively mountable within the module in an upturned orientation.

10 . The holder insert of claim 9 , wherein
(a) upon the holder insert being mounted within the module in the upturned orientation,
(1) the holder insert is arranged to receive a connector head such that a portion of the connector head rests at least upon an intersection of the end surface and the aperture, and
(2) a cable extending from an end of the connector head passes through the aperture and exits at the first surface.

11 . The holder insert of claim 1 , wherein
(a) the load being placed on the holder insert is a connector head that increases the width of the at least one gap, thereby increasing a circumference of the aperture.

12 . The holder insert of claim 1 , wherein
(a) the load being placed on the holder insert is a connector head, and (b) the connector head is at least one of an HDMI® connector head, a USB-A connector head, a USB-C® connector head, a USB Micro-B connector head, a Surefire® connector head, or a Lightning® connector head.

13 . A holder insert that is insertable within a module of a fliptop unit for supporting any one of a variety of connectors that may be stored in the module, the holder insert comprising:
(a) a platform part having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and an aperture formed therein having a depth that extends at least through the platform part; (b) a pair of arms that are located at opposite ends of the platform part, each one of the pair of arms extending away from the platform part and having an end section that is configured to be mountable at a particular height within the module, each one of the pair of arms including
(1) a bend section that extends from the second surface of the platform part and bends into a direction away from the sleeve, and
(2) a further section that extends outward from an end of the bend section and that terminates at the end section; and
(c) a sleeve that extends from the second surface of the platform part to an end surface thereof and that substantially surrounds the aperture in the platform part and thereby extends the depth of the aperture to the end surface of the sleeve; (d) wherein
(1) a first gap is formed in the holder insert, the first gap extending in one direction from the edge of the platform part to the aperture in the platform part, and then extending in another direction from the first surface of the platform part to the second surface of the platform part and then through a wall of the sleeve along an entire depth of the sleeve to the end surface of the sleeve,
(2) a second gap is formed in the holder insert, the second gap extending in a direction opposite to the one direction from the edge of the platform part to the aperture in the platform part, and extending in the another direction from the first surface of the platform part to the second surface of the platform part and then through the wall of the sleeve along a part of the depth of the sleeve, terminating part way to the end surface of the sleeve,
(3) the holder insert is configured to be mountable within the module in an upright orientation and is further configured to be alternatively mountable within the module in an upturned orientation, such that
(A) upon the holder insert being mounted within the module in the upright orientation, the holder insert is arranged to receive a connector head such that a portion of the connector head rests at least upon an intersection of the first surface and the aperture, and
(B) upon the holder insert being mounted within the module in the upturned orientation, the holder insert is arranged to receive the connector head such that a portion of the connector head

Assignees

• Crestron Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Gupta Pooja
• Joy Edward

Classifications

• H01R13/516

  Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing {, hoods} · CPC title

• H01R13/514

  composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them · CPC title

• H01R9/03

  Connectors arranged to contact a plurality of the conductors of a multiconductor cable {, e.g. tapping connections} · CPC title

• H01R13/44

  Means for preventing access to live contacts {(making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036)} · CPC title

• B65H75/362

  with stored material housed within a casing or container (B65H75/368 takes precedence) · CPC title