# US 12,007,811 B2 · Cable retractor for rotatable docking station

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- Number: US 12,007,811 B2
- Document ID: US12007811B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/223,595
- Filed: 2023-07-19
- Published: 2023-11-09
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2022-01-13
- Assignees: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
- Applicants: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
- Inventors: King Woo Cheung; Ningsheng Zhu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007811B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations}
- G06F 1/1616: {with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position}
- H01R 13/62: Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
- H05K 7/16: on hinges or pivots
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

## Abstract

A cable retractor includes a frame having first and second frame ends, opposing frame walls between the frame ends, and a track extending along one of the frame walls. A block slides along the track. A single first pulley is coupled to the block and is rotatable about a first axis that moves together with the block, the first pulley being the sole pulley that is rotatable about the first axis. A spring spool is mounted at the first frame end. A spring has a coiled part wound around the spring spool and has a segment that extends away from the coiled part and is coupled to the block. A single second pulley is disposed at the second frame end and is rotatable about a fixed second axis, the second pulley being the sole pulley that is rotatable about the second axis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rotatable docking station, comprising:
(a) a swivel mount assembly for rotational mounting of an electronic device to a mounting structure, the swivel mount assembly comprising:
(1) an assembly body, comprising:
(A) an insertable part configured to be inserted into an opening in the mounting structure, the opening extending from a first surface of the mounting structure to an opposing second surface of the mounting structure, the insertable part having a shape that conforms to a shape of the opening,
(B) a lip part attached to an end of the insertable part and being wider than the opening in the mounting structure such that the lip rests on the first surface upon the insertable part being inserted into the opening;
(2) a securing body configured to secure the assembly body to the mounting structure; and
(3) a rotatable body configured to be rotatable about an axis extending through the opening in the mounting structure, the rotatable body comprising:
(A) another insertable part configured to be inserted into an opening in the insertable part of the assembly body,
(B) a plate part attached to an end of the another insertable part such that the plate part is adjacent to the lip part of the assembly body upon the another insertable part being inserted into the opening in the assembly body, the plate part having at least one aperture formed therein,
(C) a plurality of sidewalls each joined at one end to the plate part, at least one of the sidewalls having at least one side aperture formed therein, and
(D) a platform part disposed at an opposing end of each of the plurality of sidewalls and being configured to support the electronic device, the platform part having at least one aperture formed therein, the at least one aperture in the plate part and the at least one aperture in the platform part being disposed at respective locations that permit a cable extending from the electronic device to pass through each; and
(b) at least one cable retractor coupled to another end of the another insertable part of the rotatable body, and comprising:
(1)a frame having first and second frame ends, opposing first and second frame walls disposed between the first and second frame ends, and a track extending along one of the first and second frame walls;
(2)a slideable block configured to slide along the track:
(3)a single first pulley coupled to the slideable block and rotatable about a first axis that moves together with the slidable block, the first pulley being the sole pulley that is rotatable about the first axis;
(4)at least one spring spool mounted at the first frame end:
(5)a spring having a coiled part wound around the at least one spring spool, and having a segment that extends away from the coiled part and is coupled to the slideable block; and
(6)a single second pulley disposed at the second frame end and rotatable about a fixed second axis, the second pulley being the sole pulley that is rotatable about the second axis;
(7) wherein
(A)an intermediate storage section of a cable is ordinarily disposed within the frame, a first end of the intermediate storage section extending through a first opening located in one of the first and second frame walls, and a second end of the intermediate storage section extending through a second opening located at the second frame end,
(B) the intermediate storage section of the cable extends from the first end of the intermediate storage section of the cable to the first pulley, then around the at least part of the first pulley, then from the first pulley to the second pulley, then around the at least part of the second pulley, and then from the second pulley to the second end of the intermediate storage section of the cable,
(C)in response to the second end of the intermediate storage section of the cable being pulled away from the frame, the first pulley and the slideable block are urged away from the first frame end toward the second frame end thereby permitting a portion of the intermediate storage section of the cable to be withdrawn from the frame, the first pulley being the sole pulley being urged away from the first frame end.

### Claim 2

A rotatable docking station, comprising:
(a) a swivel mount assembly for rotational mounting of an electronic device to a mounting structure, the swivel mount assembly comprising:
(1) an assembly body, comprising:
(A) an insertable part configured to be inserted into an opening in the mounting structure, the opening extending from a first surface of the mounting structure to an opposing second surface of the mounting structure, the insertable part having a shape that conforms to a shape of the opening,
(B) a lip part attached to an end of the insertable part and being wider than the opening in the mounting structure such that the lip rests on the first surface upon the insertable part being inserted into the opening;
(2) a securing body configured to secure the assembly body to the mounting structure; and
(3) a rotatable body configured to be rotatable about an axis extending through the opening in the mounting structure, the rotatable body comprising:
(A) another insertable part configured to be inserted into an opening in the insertable part of the assembly body,
(B) a plate part attached to an end of the another insertable part such that the plate part is adjacent to the lip part of the assembly body upon the another insertable part being inserted into the opening in the assembly body, the plate part having at least one aperture formed therein,
(C) a plurality of sidewalls each joined at one end to the plate part, at least one of the sidewalls having at least one side aperture formed therein, and
(D) a platform part disposed at an opposing end of each of the plurality of sidewalls and being configured to support the electronic device, the platform part having at least one aperture formed therein, the at least one aperture in the plate part and the at least one aperture in the platform part being disposed at respective locations that permit a cable extending from the electronic device to pass through each; and
(b) at least one cable retractor coupled to another end of the another insertable part of the rotatable body, and comprising:
(1)a frame having first and second frame ends, opposing first and second frame walls disposed between the first and second frame ends, and a track extending along one of the first and second frame walls:
(2)a slideable block configured to slide along the track:
(3)a single first pulley coupled to the slideable block and rotatable about a first axis that moves together with the slidable block, the first pulley being the sole pulley that is rotatable about the first axis:
(4)at least one spring spool mounted at the first frame end;
(5)a spring having a coiled part wound around the at least one spring spool, and having a segment that extends away from the coiled part and is coupled to the slideable block; and
(6)a single second pulley disposed at the second frame end and rotatable about a fixed second axis, the second pulley being the sole pully that is rotatable about the second axis:
(7) wherein
(A)an intermediate storage section of a cable is ordinarily disposed within the frame, a first end of the intermediate storage section extending through a first opening located in one of the first and second frame walls, and a second end of the intermediate storage section extending through a second opening located at the second frame end,
(B) the intermediate storage section of the cable extends from the first end of the intermediate storage section of the cable to the first pulley, then around the at least part of the first pulley, then from the first pulley to the second pulley, then around the at least part of the second pulley, and then from the second pulley to the second end of the intermediate storage section of the cable,
(C)in response to the second end of the intermediate storage section of the cable being pulled away from the frame, the first pulley and the slideable block are urged away from the first frame end toward the second frame end thereby permitting a portion of the intermediate storage section of the cable to be withdrawn from the frame, the first pulley being the sole pulley being urged away from the first frame end, and
(D) the at least one spring spool comprises
(i)first and second spring spools each mounted at the first frame end, wherein
(ii)a first coiled part of the spring is wound around the first spring spool, a second coiled part of the spring is wound around the second spring spool, and an intermediate segment of the spring connects the first and second coiled parts and is coupled to the slideable block.

### Claim 3

A cable retractor, comprising:
(a) a frame having first and second frame ends, opposing first and second frame walls disposed between the first and second frame ends, and a track extending along one of the first and second frame walls;
(b) a slideable block configured to slide along the track;
(c) a single first pulley coupled to the slideable block and rotatable about a first axis that moves together with the slidable block, the first pulley being the sole pulley that is rotatable about the first axis;
(d) at least one spring spool mounted at the first frame end;
(e) a spring having a coiled part wound around the at least one spring spool, and having a segment that extends away from the coiled part and is coupled to the slideable block; and
(f) a single second pulley disposed at the second frame end and rotatable about a fixed second axis, the second pulley being the sole pulley that is rotatable about the second axis;
(g) wherein
(1) an intermediate storage section of a cable is ordinarily disposed within the frame, a first end of the intermediate storage section extending through a first opening located in one of the first and second frame walls, and a second end of the intermediate storage section extending through a second opening located at the second frame end,
(2) the intermediate storage section of the cable extends from the first end of the intermediate storage section of the cable to the first pulley, then around the at least part of the first pulley, then from the first pulley to the second pulley, then around the at least part of the second pulley, and then from the second pulley to the second end of the intermediate storage section of the cable,
(3) a second end of the intermediate storage section extends through a second opening located at the second frame end,
(4) in response to the second end of the intermediate storage section of the cable being pulled away from the frame, the first pulley and the slideable block are urged away from the first frame end toward the second frame end thereby permitting a portion of the intermediate storage section of the cable to be withdrawn from the frame, the first pulley being the sole pulley being urged away from the first frame end,
(5) the at least one spring spool further comprises
(A) first and second spring spools each mounted at the first frame end, wherein
(B) a first coiled part of the spring is wound around the first spring spool, a second coiled part of the spring is wound around the second spring spool, and an intermediate segment of the spring connects the first and second coiled parts and is coupled to the slideable block,
(6) the spring exerts a nearly constant retraction force on the slideable block such that, in response to the second end of the intermediate storage section of the cable being at least partly pulled away from the frame and then released, the spring pulls the slideable block and the first pulley back toward the first frame end and retracts the withdrawn portion of the intermediate storage section of the cable back toward the frame, the first pulley being the sole pulley pulled back toward the first frame end,
(7) the cable retractor further comprises
(A) a staple catch disposed at one of (i) the slideable block or (ii) the frame at the second frame end, and
(B) a latch part disposed at another of (i) the slideable block or (ii) the frame at the second frame end,
(C) in response to the second end of the intermediate storage section of the cable being pulled away from the frame, the slideable block is drawn to the second frame end until the latch part engages the staple catch and prevents the spring from pulling the slideable block and the first pulley back toward the first frame end, and
(D) in response to the latch part releasing the staple catch, the spring pulls the slideable block and the first pulley back toward the first frame end and retracts the withdrawn portion of the intermediate storage section of the cable back toward the frame, the first pulley being the sole pulley pulled back toward the first frame end.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A rotatable docking station, comprising:
(a) a swivel mount assembly for rotational mounting of an electronic device to a mounting structure, the swivel mount assembly comprising:
(1) an assembly body, comprising:
(A) an insertable part configured to be inserted into an opening in the mounting structure, the opening extending from a first surface of the mounting structure to an opposing second surface of the mounting structure, the insertable part having a shape that conforms to a shape of the opening,
(B) a lip part attached to an end of the insertable part and being wider than the opening in the mounting structure such that the lip rests on the first surface upon the insertable part being inserted into the opening;
(2) a securing body configured to secure the assembly body to the mounting structure; and
(3) a rotatable body configured to be rotatable about an axis extending through the opening in the mounting structure, the rotatable body comprising:
(A) another insertable part configured to be inserted into an opening in the insertable part of the assembly body,
(B) a plate part attached to an end of the another insertable part such that the plate part is adjacent to the lip part of the assembly body upon the another insertable part being inserted into the opening in the assembly body, the plate part having at least one aperture formed therein,
(C) a plurality of sidewalls each joined at one end to the plate part, at least one of the sidewalls having at least one side aperture formed therein, and
(D) a platform part disposed at an opposing end of each of the plurality of sidewalls and being configured to support the electronic device, the platform part having at least one aperture formed therein, the at least one aperture in the plate part and the at least one aperture in the platform part being disposed at respective locations that permit a cable extending from the electronic device to pass through each; and
(b) at least one cable retractor of claim 3 coupled to another end of the another insertable part of the rotatable body.