CABINET

- INVENTEC CORPORATION

A cabinet includes chassis with an inner surface, a drawer slidably connected with the chassis, a cable chain comprises a plurality of chain monomers, and a spring fastened on the inner surface. Each immediately-adjacent two chain monomers are pivotally concatenated, and the cable chain is bendable within the same plane. An end of the cable chain is connected the inner surface and the cable chain bends back to connect the drawer with the other end thereof. The spring contacts a part of the cable chain to push the part of the cable chain toward the inner surface.

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Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to China Application Serial Number 200810181059.X, filed Nov. 20, 2008, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a cabinet for electronic devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cable protecting and storing module.

2. Description of Related Art

A cabinet for large server may contain a lot of electronic devices like hard discs, video disc players, processors, and fans. The cabinet may have connectors disposed thereon to electrically connect the electronic devices and a power supply to electrically connect the electronic devices and a print circuit board.

The connectors in the cabinet are often designed to be hot swappable or hot pluggable, which means the ability to remove electronic devices from the server without rebooting while it is operating. The cabinet is usually designed to have a large chassis with many drawers to contain electronic devices, and connectors disposed on the drawers to connect the electronic devices and a circuit board fixed in the chassis. When the drawers are pulled out of the chassis, the connectors and the circuit board may be disconnected, and therefore power supplying and data communication of the electronic devices may stop.

However, sometimes the drawer is pulled out of the chassis to check if the electronic device is well functioned, instead of to replace the electronic device. Disconnecting the electronic device repeatedly during operating may interact the operating server, stop calculation, and furthermore damage the server and the electronic device.

To solve the above problem, a cable may be added to connect the connector and the circuit board. Since the cable is flexible, it may bend or stretch when the drawer is pushed In or pulled out of the chassis, and the connection between the connector and the circuit board may not be cut off.

The cable must be long enough to allow the entire drawer pulled out of the chassis, which may cause problems to store the cable. Specifically, when the drawer is pushed into the chassis, the cable may be bent to interpose between the drawer and the chassis to stop the drawer moving, or may press the electronic devices or electronic components of the server nearby, or may be winded around.

Therefore, a new cable protecting module and a cabinet thereof to limit the route of the cable when it stretches or bends is needed.

SUMMARY

A cabinet to limit the rouge of the cable when the cable is bending and stretching is provided. The cabinet has a chassis, a drawer a cable chain, and a spring. The chassis has an inner surface, and the drawer is slidably connected with the chassis.

The cable chain comprises a plurality of chain monomers. Each immediately-adjacent two chain monomers are pivotally concatenated. The cable chain is bendable within the same plane. One end of the cable chain is connected the inner surface of the chassis and the cable chain bends back to connect the drawer with the other end thereof.

The spring is fastened on the inner surface and contacts a pad of the cable chain to push the pair of the cable chain toward the inner surface. Therefore, the spring may push the part of the cable chain to move toward or against the inner surface.

Additionally, this invention provides another cabinet. The cabinet has a chassis, a drawer, a cable chain, and a spring. The chassis has an inner surface, and the drawer is slidably connected with the chassis.

The cable chain has a plurality of clockwise chain monomers concatenated to form at least a clockwise section, and a plurality of counter-clockwise chain monomers concatenated to form at least a counter-clockwise section and at least a lengthening section, wherein an included angle between each two immediately-connected clockwise chain monomers consists of a range of 0 degree to 180 degrees, and an included angle between each two immediately-connected counter-clockwise chain monomers consists of a range of 180 degrees to 360 degrees.

The lengthening section is connected the inner surface of the chassis and bent back to be series connected to the clockwise section. The counter-clockwise section is connected the drawer and series connected to the clockwise section.

The clockwise section, the counter-clockwise section and the lengthening section are bendable within the same plane. When the drawer slides forward to the chassis along the slide, the clockwise section and the counter-clockwise section are bent back and forth between the chassis and the drawer.

The spring is fastened on the inner surface and contacts a part of the lengthening section to push the part of the lengthening section toward the inner surface of the chassis. In one embodiment of this invention, the spring pushes the part of the lengthening section against the inner surface.

This invention also provides another cabinet to contain electronic devices and cables. The cabinet has a chassis with an inner surface, a drawer slidably connected with the chassis, a cable chain connecting the chassis and the drawer, and a spring fastened on the inner surface of the chassis.

The cable chain has clockwise chain monomers and counter-clockwise chain monomers. The clockwise chain monomers are concatenated to form clockwise sections, wherein an included angle between each two immediately-connected clockwise chain monomers is limited in a range of 0 degree to 180 degrees. The counter-clockwise chain monomers are concatenated to form counter-clockwise sections and at least a lengthening section, wherein an included angle between each two immediately-connected counter-clockwise chain monomers is limited in a range of 180 degrees to 360 degrees.

The lengthening section is connected the inner surface of the chassis and bent back to be series connected to one of the clockwise sections. The clockwise sections and the counter-clockwise sections are alternatively arranged and connected in a series. Either one of the clockwise sections or one of the counter-clockwise sections is connected the drawer. The clockwise sections, the counter-clockwise sections and the lengthening section are bendable within the same plane. When the drawer slides forward to the chassis along the slide, the clockwise sections and the counter-clockwise sections are bent back and forth between the chassis and the drawer.

The spring fastened on the inner surface contacts a part of the lengthening section to push the pad of the lengthening section toward the inner surface of the chassis. In an embodiment of this invention, the spring pushes the part of the lengthening section against the inner surface of the chassis.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional view of a cabinet according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 1B is a three-dimensional view of the cabinet shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of a cable chain according to another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3A is a three-dimensional view of a cable chain according to another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3B is a three-dimensional view of a clockwise section of the cable chain shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a side view of the clockwise section shown in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 3D is a three-dimensional view of a counter-clockwise section of the cable chain shown in FIG. 3A; and

FIG. 3E is a side view of the counter-clockwise section shown in FIG. 3D.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Please refer to FIG. 1A. FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional view of a cabinet 100 according to another embodiment of this invention. The cabinet 100 has a chassis 110 and a drawer 120. The drawer 120 is sidably connected with the chassis 110. In the embodiment of this invention, the drawer 120 is connected to the chassis 110 via the slide 112.

The slide 112 may be disposed on the chassis 110 or the drawer 120 or other element of the cabinet 110. Specifically, the slide 112 is fastened on an inner surface of the chassis 110. The slide 112 connects an outside surface of the drawer 120. Therefore, the drawer 120 may slide forward or backward to the chassis 110 along the slide 112. The drawer 120 may be pushed to be stored inside the chassis 110, and may be pulled out of the chassis 110. Please notice that the types and shapes of the slide 112 are many. Although slide 112 is demonstrated in this specification as an example, it does not limit the scope of this invention.

The drawer 120 has a space therein to contain at least an electronic device 10. Some connectors (not shown) may be disposed in the drawer 120 to connect the electronic device 10 and electronic components of the server like a circuit board or power supply. In the embodiment of this invention, the connectors may connect the electronic device 10 and at least a cable 12, and the cable 12 may connect to the electronic components of the server out of the drawer 120.

Please refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 2 at the same time. FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of a cable chain 130 according to another embodiment of this invention. The cabinet 100 further Includes a cable chain 130 having a continuous tube 102 to contain the cable 12, which may secure the cable 12 from hitting the chassis 110, the drawer 120 elements and/or electronic devices disposed nearby.

In the embodiment of this invention, the cable chain 130 comprises many chain monomers 150 series connected each other. Each immediately-adjacent two chain monomers 150 are pivotally concatenated. The chain monomer 150 may rotate around the connected chain monomer 150, and therefore the cable chain 130 may bend or turn.

In the embodiment of this invention, the cable chain 130 is bendable within the same plane. Therefore, each chain monomer 150 may rotate around the connected chain monomer 150 in a plane.

The cable chain 130 has two ends. One end of the cable chain 130 is fastened on an inner surface 114 of the chassis 110. The cable chain 130 bends back to connect the drawer 120 with the other end thereof. In other words, the cable chain 130 makes at least a U-turn, which may be located on the same side of the two ends of the cable chain 130.

The spring 140 is fastened on the inner surface 114 of the chassis 110 near where the end of the cable chain 130 fastened. The spring 140 contacts a part of the cable chain 130 to push the part of the cable chain 130 toward the inner surface 114. Therefore, the part of the cable chain 130 may be pushed by the spring 140 to move toward the inner surface 114 or may be pushed against the inner surface 114.

In the embodiment of this invention, the spring 140 is a torsional spring, which may has two arms 142 and 144 connecting a twisted portion 146. When a distance (or an inner angle) between the two arms 142 and 144 is changed, the twisted portion 146 may be twisted, which may generate a spring force.

In the embodiment of this invention, the arms 142 and 144 are separated contacted the cable chain 130 and the chassis 110. Specifically, the twisted portion 146 is fastened on the inner surface 114 of the chassis 110, the arm 144 is contacted the inner surface 144, and the arm 142 is contacted a part of the cable chain 130.

Please refer to FIG 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 2 at the same time. FIG. 1A shows that the drawer 120 is located inside the chassis 110. FIG. 1B shows that the drawer 120 is pulled out of the chassis 110.

The drawer 120 may move along the slide 112. Therefore, the drawer 120 may be pulled out of the chassis 110 along the slide 112, or may be pushed backward into the chassis 110 along the slide 112.

When the drawer 120 is pushed out of the chassis 110, the drawer 120 may bring the end of the cable chain 130 fastened thereon to move. Since the other end of the cable chain 130 is fastened on the chassis 110, the entire cable chain 130 may not moves but stretch instead. Each chain monomers 150 of the cable chain 130 may be rotated to change the shape of the cable chain 130, and furthermore to stretch the cable chain 130 as shown in FIG. 1B.

When the cable chain 130 is stretching, the part of the cable chain 130 contacted the arm 142 of the spring 140 may be pulled away from the inner surface 114. The distance (or the included angle) between the arms 142 and 144 may be changed, and therefore, a spring force may be generated and transferred to the cable chain 130 via the arm 142. A direction of the spring force is toward the inner surface 114 of the chassis 110.

On the contrary, when the drawer 120 is pushed back to the chassis 110 along the slide 112, the drawer 120 may bring the end of the cable chain 130 fastened thereon to move. Since the other end of the cable chain 130 is fastened on the chassis 110, the cable chain 130 may bend as shown in FIG. 1A.

When the cable chain 130 is bending, the part of the cable chain 130 contacted the arm 142 of the spring 140 may be pushed to move toward the inner surface 114 due to the spring force, and rest of the cable chain 130 may be pulled by the part of the cable chain 130 contacted the arm 142. Therefore, the spring 140 may help limit the route of the cable chain 130 during stretching and bending.

The amount of the spring force is proportional to the amount of the twisted portion 146 is twisted which is proportional to the distance (or the included angle) between two arms 142 and 144. In the embodiment of this invention, when the arm 142 pushes the part of the cable chain 130 against the inner surface 114 of the chassis 110, the spring force may be smaller. When the cable chain 130 and the arm 142 have been pulled away from surface 114 as shown in FIG. 1B, the spring 140 may generate a larger spring force. In the embodiment of this invention, the spring force is from about 0 Newton to about 4 Newtons.

As the above, the cable chain 130 comprises many series connected chain monomers 150. Therefore, the maximum of the spring force may be limited in order not to break the connection of the chain monomers 150. Specifically, the chain monomers 150 may rotate to stretch the cable chain 130 when the drawer 120 and the cable chain 130 are pulled out of the chassis 110. The part of the cable chain 130 contacted the arm 142, which may be one of the chain monomer 150, may be pulled away from the inner surface 114 by other chain monomers 150 series connected thereof and may be pushed toward the inner surface 114 by the arm 142 of the spring 140 at the same time. If the spring force is too large at that moment, the connection between two immediately-connected chain monomers 150, wherein one of them is contacted the arm 142, may be broken. In the embodiment of this invention, the maximum of the spring force is from about 3 Newtons to about 4 Newtons. In a preferable embodiment, the maximum of the spring force is from about 3 Newtons to about 3.5 Newtons.

Please refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 2. The cable chain 130 may be formed by many series connected chain monomers 150.

In the embodiment of this invention, each chain monomer 150 has a through hole 152 penetrated thereof to allow at least a cable 12 passing through. The chain monomer 150 further has a joining hole 154 and a joining axis 156 separately disposed on two openings of the through hole 152. One chain monomer 150 may use the joining hole 154 thereof to pivot on the joining axis 156 of another chain monomer 150, and therefore those two chain monomers 150 may be series connected.

Please notice that the types and shapes of the cable chain 130 and the chain monomers 150 thereof are many, and the connection may change as well. Although a type of chain monomers 150 is demonstrated in this specification as an example, it does not limit the scope of this invention.

The chain monomer 150 may connect another chain monomer 150 via its own joining axis 156 and may rotate around the joining axis 156 in a range of angles. Due to different designs, the range of angles may be different, which will be described below.

Additionally, when the chain monomers 150 are concatenated, the through holes 152 of every chain monomers 150 may join each other to form a continuous tube 132. The continuous tube 102 may be used to contain at least a wire like a cable 12.

In the embodiment of this invention, the cable 12 may be disposed inside the continuous tube 102 of the cable chain 130. An end of the cable 12 may extend out of the end of cable chain 130 fastened on the chassis 110 to connect the electronic components of the server. The other end of the cable 12 may extend out of the end of cable chain 130 fastened on the drawer 120 to connect the electronic device 10. In another embodiment of this invention, the cable 12 may connect the electronic device 10 through connectors (not shown) disposed on the drawer 120.

In the embodiment of this invention, the chain monomer 150 may rotate around the connected chain monomer 150 clockwise and counter-clockwise. In another embodiments of this invention, the chain monomer 150 may only rotate around the connected chain monomer 150 clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Please refer to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C. FIG. 3A is a three-dimensional view of a cable chain 130 according to another embodiment of this invention. FIG. 38 is a three-dimensional view of a clockwise section 180 of the cable chain 130 shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3C is a side view of the clockwise section 180 shown in FIG. 3B.

In the embodiment of this invention, the cable chain 130 includes many clockwise chain monomers 160 concatenated to form clockwise sections 180. Each clockwise chain monomer 160 may use the joining hole 154 thereof to pivot on the joining axis 156 of another clockwise chain monomer 160. The clockwise chain monomer 160 may rotate around the joining axis 156 clockwise, which means the clockwise chain monomer 160 may rotate around the connected clockwise chain monomer 160 clockwise.

A first included angle al between each two immediately-connected clockwise chain monomers 160 is limited in a range of 0 degree to 180 degrees, wherein the first included angle a1 is a vectorial angle. Specifically the clockwise chain monomer 160a may use the joining axis 156 thereof to connect the joining hole 154 of the clockwise chain monomer 160b. The angle between the clockwise chain monomer 160a and the clockwise chain monomer 160b is the first included angle a1. The clockwise chain monomer 160a may rotate around the clockwise chain monomer 160b clockwise (as the first direction 200) or counter-clockwise (as the second direction 210) as long as the first included angle al is limited from about 0 degree to about 180 degrees.

The range of the first included angle a1 may change as well as the design of the clockwise chain monomers 160 are changed. For example, the first included angle a1 may be limited in a range of about 120 degrees to about 180 degrees. In the embodiment of this invention, the first included angle a1 is limited in about 90 degrees to about 180 degrees. Therefore, only two situations may happen. In one situation, the two connected clockwise chain monomers 160 may line up, which means the first included angle a1 is about equal to 180 degrees. In the other, the clockwise chain monomer 160 may rotate clockwise around the connected clockwise chain monomer 160, which is connected via joining axis 156 thereof. In other words, the clockwise section 180 may only bend clockwise, not counter-clockwise.

Each clockwise chain monomer 160 has stoppers disposed thereof to stop the clockwise section 180 from bending counter-clockwise. Many different kinds of structure may be used to complete the above limitation. Stoppers described are used as an example and should not limit the scope of this invention.

In the embodiment of this invention, a first stopper 162 and a second stopper 164 are disposed separately on two opposite openings of the through hole 152. The second stopper 164 is fastened on the clockwise chain monomer 160 and may move with the clockwise chain monomer 160 when rotating. The first stopper 162 is a block located in a path of the second stopper 164 of the connected clockwise chain monomer 160 when the second stopper 164 moves counter-clockwise with the connected clockwise chain monomer 160. In the embodiment, when the first included angle a1 is about equal to 180 degrees the first stopper 162 may touch the second stopper 164 to stop the second stopper 164 from moving forward.

Additionally, when the clockwise chain monomers 160 are concatenated, the through holes 152 of every clockwise chain monomers 160 may join each other to form a continuous tube 132.

Please refer to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3D, and FIG. 3E at the same time. FIG. 3D is a three-dimensional view of a counter-clockwise section 182 of the cable chain 130 shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 3E is a side view of the counter-clockwise section 182 shown in FIG. 3D.

In the embodiment of this invention, the cable chain 130 includes many counter-clockwise chain monomers 170 concatenated to form counter-clockwise sections 182. Please notice that the types and shapes of the counter-clockwise chain monomer 170 are many, and the connection of the counter-clockwise chain monomers 170 may change as well. Although some counter-clockwise chain monomers 170 are demonstrated in this specification as an example, it does not limit the scope of this invention. In the embodiment of this invention, each counter-clockwise chain monomer 170 has a joining hole 154 and a joining axis 156. One counter-clockwise chain monomer 170 may use the joining hole 154 thereof to pivot on the joining axis 156 of another counter-clockwise chain monomer 170, and therefore those two counter-clockwise chain monomers 170 may be series connected.

A second included angle a2 between each two immediately-connected counter-clockwise chain monomers 170 is limited in a range of 180 degrees to 360 degrees, wherein the second included angle a2 is a vectorial angle. Specifically, the counter-clockwise chain monomers 170a may rotate around the counter-clockwise chain monomers 170b clockwise or counter-clockwise (as the second direction 210) as long as the second included angle a2 is limited from about 180 degree to about 360 degrees.

The range of the second included angle a2 may change as well as the design of the counter-clockwise chain monomers 170 are changed. For example, the second included angle a2 may be limited from about 180 degrees to about 300 degrees. In the embodiment of this invention, the second included angle a2 is from about 180 degrees to about 270 degrees. Therefore, only two situations may happen. In one situation, the two counter-clockwise chain monomers 170 may line up, which means the second included angle a2 is equal to about 180 degrees. In the other, the counter-clockwise section 182 may only bend counter-clockwise, not clockwise.

To stop the counter-clockwise section 182 from bending clockwise, the counter-clockwise chain monomer 170 has stoppers disposed thereof. In the embodiment of this invention, a first stopper 162 and a second stopper 164 are disposed separately on two opposite openings of a through hole 152 of the counter-clockwise chain monomer 170. The second stopper 164 is fastened on the counter-clockwise chain monomer 170 and may move with the counter-clockwise chain monomer 170 when rotating. The first stopper 162 is a block located in a path of the second stopper 164 of the connected counter-clockwise chain monomer 170 when the second stopper 164 moves clockwise. In the embodiment, when the second included angle a2 is about equal to 180 degrees, the first stopper 162 may touch the second stopper 164 and stop the second stopper 164 from moving forward. Please notice that stoppers described are used as an example, and should not limit the scope of this invention. In fact, many different kinds of structures may be used to complete the above limitation.

Additionally, when the counter-clockwise chain monomers 170 are concatenated, the through holes 152 of every counter-clockwise chain monomer 170 may join each other to form a continuous tube 132.

Please refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 3A at the same time. The cable chain 130 shown in FIG. 3A has a plurality of clockwise sections 180 and a plurality of counter-clockwise sections 182 alternatively arranged and connected in a series. The clockwise sections 180 and the counter-clockwise sections 182 are bendable within the same plane. Because the clockwise sections 180 may only bend clockwise and the counter-clockwise sections 182 may only bend counter-clockwise, the cable chain 130 may bend back and forth like a letter W.

The cable chain 130 further includes a lengthening section 184 to lengthen the cable chain 130, which may provide designers more possibility of the location of circuit board (not shown) or other connectors. The lengthening section 184 has a plurality of concatenated monomers. Each monomer of the lengthening section 184 may rotate around the connected monomer clockwise and/or counter-clockwise. The clockwise sections 180, the counter-clockwise sections 182 and the lengthening section 184 are bendable within the same plane. Please notice that the types and shapes of the monomer are many, and the connection of the monomers may change as well. The monomers of the lengthening section 184 may be chain monomers 150 as shown in FIG. 2, clockwise chain monomers 160 as shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, or counter-clockwise chain monomers 170 as shown in FIG. 3D and FIG. 3E. In the embodiment of this invention, the monomers of the lengthening section 184 are counter-clockwise chain monomers 170.

Additionally, since the clockwise sections 180, the counter-clockwise sections 182, and the lengthening section 184 are series connected, the through holes 152 thereof may join to form the continuous tube 152 to contain at least a cable 12.

In the embodiment of this invention, an end of the lengthening section 184 is connected the inner surface 114 of the chassis 110 and the other end thereof is series connected to one of the clockwise sections 180. The clockwise sections 180 are alternatively arranged and series connected to the counter-clockwise sections 182.

Therefore, the lengthening section 184 is located at an end of the cable chain 130, and the other end of the cable chain 130 is either one of the clockwise sections 180 or one of the counter-clockwise sections 182, which is depend on the length of the cable chain 130 and the needs of the designer. In the embodiment of this invention, the last section of the cable chain 130 is one of the counter-clockwise sections 182, which is fastened on the drawer 120.

As described above, the included angle between the connected clockwise chain monomers 160 is limited. It may take at least 3 clockwise chain monomers 160 to make a U turn. Accordingly, the number of the clockwise chain monomers 160 of each clockwise section 180 may not be less than 3. Similarly, the number of the counter-clockwise chain monomers 170 of each counter-clockwise section 106 may not be less than 3. Furthermore, the number of the monomers of the lengthening section 184 may be larger than the sum of a number of the clockwise chain monomers 160 of one clockwise section 180 and a number of the counter-clockwise chain monomers 130 of one counter-clockwise section 106. The number of the chain monomers 110 of the lengthening section 184 may not less than 6.

However, when too many clockwise chain monomers 160 are connected in one clockwise section 120, the clockwise section 120 may bend to form a circuit, which may press other sections. Therefore, the number of the clockwise chain monomers 160, as well as the number of the counter-clockwise chain monomers 130, may be limited. In the embodiment, the number of the clockwise chain monomers 160 of each clockwise section 180 may not be more than 6. Similarly, the number of the counter-clockwise chain monomers 130 of each counter-clockwise section 106 may not be more than 6.

In the foregoing, the cabinet 100 and the cable chain 130 this invention disclosed may protect the cable 12 from being damaged during pulling or pushing the drawer 120. The rouge of the cable 12 may be limited by the cable chain 130 and the spring 140 during stretching and/or bending.

The spring 140 contacts part of the cable chain 130 to push it toward the inner surface 114 of the chassis 110, which may help the cable chain 130 to bend between the chassis 110 and the drawer 120. Therefore, the cable 12 may no longer press the electronic components nearby or interpose between the drawer 120 and the chassis 110 to stop the drawer 120 moving.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A cabinet, comprising,

a chassis having an inner surface;
a drawer being slidably connected with the chassis;
a cable chain comprises a plurality of chain monomers, each immediately-adjacent two chain monomers being pivotally concatenated, one end of the cable chain is connected the inner surface and the cable chain bends back to connect the drawer with the other end thereof, wherein the cable chain is bendable within the same plane; and
a spring fastened on the inner surface and contacted a part of the cable chain to push the part of the cable chain toward the inner surface.

2. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the spring pushes the part of the cable chain against the inner surface.

3. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein a spring force of the spring is from 0 Newton to about 4 Newtons.

4. The cabinet of claim 3, wherein the maximum of the spring force is from about 3 Newtons to about 3.5 Newtons.

5. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein each chain monomer comprises a through hole, and when the chain monomers concatenated, the through holes thereof joined each other to form a continuous tube for containing at least a cable.

6. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein the cable chain comprising:

a plurality of clockwise chain monomers concatenated to form a plurality of clockwise sections, wherein an included angle between each two immediately-connected clockwise chain monomers consists of a range of 0 degree to 180 degrees; and
a plurality of counter-clockwise chain monomers concatenated to form a plurality of counter-clockwise sections, and the clockwise sections and the counter-clockwise sections being alternatively arranged and connected in a series, wherein an included angle between each two immediately-connected counter-clockwise chain monomers consists of a range of 180 degrees to 360 degrees.

7. A cabinet, comprising:

a chassis having an inner surface;
a drawer being slidably connected with the chassis;
a cable chain comprising: a plurality of clockwise chain monomers concatenated to form at least a clockwise section, wherein an included angle between each two immediately-connected clockwise chain monomers consists of a range of 0 degree to 180 degrees; and a plurality of counter-clockwise chain monomers concatenated to form at least a counter-clockwise section and at least a lengthening section, wherein an included angle between each two immediately-connected counter-clockwise chain monomers consists of a range of 180 degrees to 360 degrees, the lengthening section being connected the inner surface and bent back to be series connected to the clockwise section, and the counter-clockwise section being connected the drawer and series connected to the clockwise section, wherein the clockwise section, the counter-clockwise section and the lengthening section are bendable within the same plane, and when the drawer slides forward to the chassis along the slide, the clockwise section and the counter-clockwise section are bent back and forth between the chassis and the drawer; and
a spring fastened on the inner surface and contacted a part of the lengthening section to push the part of the lengthening section toward the inner surface,

8. The cabinet of claim 7, wherein each of the clockwise chain monomers and the counter-clockwise chain monomers has a through hole penetrated thereof, and the through holes joining each other to form a continuous tube for containing at least a cable.

9. The cabinet of claim 7, wherein the spring pushes the part of the lengthening section against the inner surface.

10. The cabinet of claim 6, wherein a spring force of the spring is from 0 Newton to about 4 Newtons.

11. The cabinet of claim 10, wherein the maximum of the spring force is from about 3 Newtons to about 3.5 Newtons,

12. A cabinet, comprising:

a chassis having an inner surface;
a drawer being slidably connected with the chassis;
a cable chain comprising: a plurality of clockwise chain monomers concatenated to form a plurality of clockwise sections, wherein an included angle between each two immediately-connected clockwise chain monomers consists of a range of 0 degree to 180 degrees; and a plurality of counter-clockwise chain monomers concatenated to form a plurality of counter-clockwise sections and at least a lengthening section, wherein an included angle between each two immediately-connected counter-clockwise chain monomers consists of a range of 180 degrees to 360 degrees, the lengthening section being connected the inner surface and bent back to be series connected to one of the clockwise sections, the clockwise sections and the counter-clockwise sections being alternatively arranged and connected in a series, and either one of the clockwise sections or one of the counter-clockwise sections being connected the drawer, wherein the clockwise sections, the counter-clockwise sections and the lengthening section are bendable within the same planer and when the drawer slides forward to the chassis along the slide, the clockwise sections and the counter-clockwise sections are bent back and forth between the chassis and the drawer; and
a spring fastened on the inner surface and contacted a part of the lengthening section to push the part of the lengthening section toward the inner surface.

13. The cabinet of claim 12, wherein each of the clockwise chain monomers and the counter-clockwise chain monomers has a through hole penetrated thereof, and the through holes joining each other to form a continuous tube.

14. The cabinet of claim 13, further comprising at least a cable disposed in the continuous tube.

15. The cabinet of claim 14, further comprising at least an electronic device located in the drawer and electrically connected to the cable.

16. The cabinet of claim 12, wherein a number of the clockwise chain monomers of each counter-clockwise section is from 3 to 6.

17. The cabinet of claim 12, wherein a number of the counter-clockwise chain monomers of each counter-clockwise section is from 3 to 6.

18. The cabinet of claim 12, wherein the spring pushes the part of the lengthening section against the inner surface.

19. The cabinet of claim 12, wherein a spring force of the spring is from 0 Newtons to about 4 Newtons.

20. The cabinet of claim 19, wherein the maximum of the spring force is from about 3 Newtons to about 3.5 Newtons.

Patent History
Publication number: 20100123377
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 1, 2009
Publication Date: May 20, 2010
Applicant: INVENTEC CORPORATION (TAIPEI CITY)
Inventor: Yung-Chin Hsu (TAIPEI CITY)
Application Number: 12/416,149
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Horizontally Movable (e.g., Drawer) (312/330.1)
International Classification: A47B 88/16 (20060101);