Cart with cable management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9263869-B2
Application number	US-201313956812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2013
Priority date	Aug 1, 2012
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

A cart with one or more of a power supply system that includes an outlet box and a plurality of flexible receptacles, a bi-layer shelf, a positionable cable routing tray, and a removable cable management module.

First claim

We claim:

1. A cart for electronic devices, comprising:
a cabinet defining an interior space for storing a plurality of electronic devices;
one or more doors to provide selective access to the interior space;
one or more wheels supporting the cabinet to increase a portability of the cart; and
a power supply system having a plurality of cables for routing electrical power from an external source to each of the plurality of electronic devices, the power supply system including an outlet box within the interior space of the cart and a plurality of flexible receptacles extending from the outlet box, the plurality of flexible receptacles configured for facilitating connection of the plurality of electronic devices to the power supply system;
a bi-layer shelf comprising a lower layer configured for removably receiving and engaging a plurality of dividers, wherein each divider comprises a generally horizontal portion configured for being removably received and engaged in the lower layer and a generally vertical portion extending from the generally horizontal portion and configured for separating the plurality of electronic devices from each other when placed between adjacent dividers; and
a positionable cable routing tray within the interior space, wherein the cable routing tray comprises a first edge rotatably engaged with at least a portion of the cabinet and a second edge opposite the first edge, wherein the second edge is pivotable about the first edge about a generally horizontal axis from a generally horizontal position to a generally inclined position and at least a portion of the cable routing tray proximate the second edge is configured for removable engagement with at least a portion of the cabinet when the cable routing tray is in the generally horizontal position.

2. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the outlet box comprises circuitry operable to divide and distribute the electrical power to each of the plurality of flexible receptacles.

3. The cart of claim 1 , further comprising a vertical wall within the interior space of the cart, wherein the outlet box is mounted proximate the vertical wall within the interior space.

4. The cart of claim 3 , wherein:
the plurality of the electronic devices within the interior space are stored on one side of the vertical wall; and
the plurality of cables for routing electrical power from the device receiving electrical power extend from the plurality of the electronic devices, through the vertical wall, and connect to the plurality of flexible receptacles on an opposite side of the vertical wall.

5. The cart of claim 3 , comprising a plurality of shelves on the first vertical surface, wherein each of the plurality of shelves is located proximate a corresponding one of the plurality of flexible receptacles and configured for supporting and removably securing a power brick associated with one of the plurality of electronic devices.

6. The cart of claim 1 , further comprising a removable cable management module comprising a plurality of cables for routing electrical power to the plurality of electronic devices.

7. A cart for electronic devices, comprising:
a cabinet defining an interior space for storing a plurality of electronic devices;
one or more doors to provide selective access to the interior space;
one or more wheels supporting the cabinet to increase a portability of the cart;
a power supply system having a plurality of cables for routing electrical power from an external source to each of the plurality of electronic devices; and
a bi-layer shelf comprising a lower layer configured for removably receiving and engaging a plurality of dividers, wherein each divider comprises
a generally horizontal portion configured for being removably received and engaged in the lower layer; and
a generally vertical portion extending from the generally horizontal portion and configured for separating the plurality of electronic devices from each other when placed between adjacent dividers, wherein a plurality of cables for routing electrical power are routed through a space between the generally horizontal portion of each of the plurality of dividers and the lower layer of the bi-level shelf to which the plurality of the dividers are removably engaged,

the generally horizontal portions of the plurality of dividers forming an upper layer of the bi-level shelf to which the plurality of dividers are removably engaged, and
the upper layer and the lower layer defining a space, the space configured to receive at least one cable.

8. The cart of claim 7 , wherein the generally horizontal portion is configured for slidable engagement and disengagement with the lower layer.

9. A cart for electronic devices, comprising:
a cabinet defining an interior space for storing a plurality of electronic devices;
one or more doors to provide selective access to the interior space;
one or more wheels supporting the cabinet to increase a portability of the cart;
a power supply system having a plurality of cables for routing electrical power from an external source to each of the plurality of electronic devices; and
a positionable cable routing tray within the interior space, wherein the cable routing tray comprises
a first edge rotatably engaged with at least a portion of the cabinet; and
a second edge opposite the first edge, wherein the second edge is pivotable about the first edge about a generally horizontal axis from a generally horizontal position to a generally inclined position; and

at least a portion of the cable routing tray proximate the second edge is configured for removable engagement with at least a portion of the cabinet when the cable routing tray is in the generally horizontal position.

10. The cart of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of cables are routed along an upper surface of the cable routing tray such that the cables are enclosed when the second edge is in the generally horizontal position.

11. The cart of claim 9 , wherein the cable routing tray includes a plurality of channels and/or cleats for routing the cables along the routing tray.

12. A cart for electronic devices, comprising:
a cabinet defining an interior space for storing a plurality of electronic devices;
one or more doors to provide selective access to the interior space;
one or more wheels to increase a portability of the cart; and
a power supply system including a removable cable management module comprising:
a plurality of cables for routing electrical power to the plurality of electronic devices;
a plurality of connector slots configured for receiving and removably securing one or more of the plurality of cables;
a plurality of bosses configured for removably retaining at least a portion of the plurality of cables wrapped therearound; and
a plurality of hooks configured for removably retaining at least a portion of the plurality of cables extending therethrough.

13. The cart of claim 12 , wherein:
the cable management module comprises electrical circuitry for charging the plurality of electronic devices; and
the plurality of cables for routing electrical power are connected to the electrical circuitry.

14. The cart of claim 12 , wherein the cart is configured for slidably receiving and retaining the cable management module.

Assignees

• Ergotron Inc

Inventors

• Prince David J
• Fluhrer Robert W
• Trish Scott
• Tischer William D
• Asamarai Saeb
• Dahl Ryan

Classifications

• H02J2105/44

  Portable electronic devices · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/50 Primary

  acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• H02B1/52

  Mobile units, e.g. for work sites · CPC title

• G06F1/1632 Primary

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title