# US 2021/0242645 A1 · Retracting Systems for Providing Access to Adapters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0242645 A1 - Document ID: US20210242645A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/837,239 - Filed: 2020-04-01 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-30 - Assignees: Legrand AVD - Applicants: Legrand AVD - Inventors: Jennifer Dawn Crotinger; Child Kuan Leok Sun; Terry Lynn Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210242645A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/60: Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged - H01R 31/06: Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94) - B65H 75/4434: {actuated by pulling on or imparting an inclination to the material} - B65H 75/446: {for releasably or permanently attaching the frame to a wall, on a floor or on a post or the like} - B65H 75/4471: {Housing enclosing the reel} - H01R 13/72: Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder - H01R 27/00: Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts ({for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35}; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90) - H02G 11/02: using take-up reel or drum - B65H 2701/35: Ropes, lines - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract An adapter system is provided that facilitates convenient access to a plurality of adapters, e.g., DVI-D to HDMI adapter(s), Micro-HDMI to HDMI adapter(s), Mini-HDMI to HDMI adapter(s), Mini-DisplayPort to HDMI adapter(s), DisplayPort to HDMI adapter(s), VGA to HDMI adapter(s), MNL to HDMI adapter(s), and/or USB to HDMI adapter(s). The adapter system includes an elongated wire that features a plurality of adapters mounted/secured with respect thereto. The wire is at least partially stored within a housing and extends therefrom. The adapters are mounted/secured with respect to a portion of the wire that extends from the housing. The housing includes a retraction mechanism that facilitates retraction of the wire into the housing for convenient storage thereof. The present disclosure further provides structures that are configured and dimensioned to receive the disclosed housing, e.g., in office, commercial and/or residential environments, thereby facilitating access to the adapters that are mounted/secured with respect to the wire. In use, the disclosed adapter system permits a user to readily access and individually utilize each of the adapters mounted/secured with respect to the wire on an as-needed basis and to store at least the portion of the wire that does not include mounted/secured adapters within a housing. Retraction of the wire into the housing is facilitated by the disclosed retraction mechanism. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for providing access to a one or more adapters, comprising: a. a housing that defines an internal region; b. an elongated wire or cable that is at least partially positioned within the internal region of the housing and that extends from the housing; c. an automatic retraction mechanism positioned within the internal region of the housing and acting upon the elongated wire or cable; and d. one or more adapters connected with respect to the elongated wire or cable that is positioned external to the internal region of the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a strain relief element mounted with respect to the housing and defining a channel through which the elongated wire or cable extends. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more adapters are selected from the group consisting of DVI-D to HDMI adapter(s), Micro-HDMI to HDMI adapter(s), Mini-HDMI to HDMI adapter(s), Mini-DisplayPort to HDMI adapter(s), DisplayPort to HDMI adapter(s), VGA to HDMI adapter(s), MHL to HDMI adapter(s), and/or USB to HDMI adapter(s). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more adapters include identifying indicia. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the identifying indicia include color indicia. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more adapters are movably mounted with respect to the wire or cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the movement of the one or more adapters is limited by (i) a first stop located between the housing and the adapters, and (ii) a second stop located adjacent to a free end of the wire or cable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, further comprising a further stop positioned between the one or more adapters and the housing to control the minimum distance between the one or more adapters and the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the retraction mechanism includes a lock-out feature that prevents retraction of the wire until released. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a pull tab mounted with respect to a free end of the elongated wire or cable. ### Claim 11 An assembly that provides access to one or more adapters, the assembly comprising: a. a mounting structure that defines at least one outer wall, the mounting structure defining a receiving region that is configured and dimensioned to receive a housing; b. a housing removably positioned within the receiving region of the mounting structure and that defines an internal region; c. an elongated wire or cable that is at least partially positioned within the internal region of the housing and that extends from the housing; d. an automatic retraction mechanism positioned within the internal region of the housing and acting upon the elongated wire or cable; and e. one or more adapters connected with respect to the elongated wire or cable that is positioned external to the internal region of the housing ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the mounting structure is adapted to be mounted with respect to a wall or other surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the mounting structure is adapted to be positioned on a flat surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13, wherein the flat surface is a table, counter or other piece of furniture. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the elongated wire extends beyond the mounting structure for user access thereto. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, wherein the retraction mechanism includes a lock-out feature that prevents retraction of the wire until released. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a pull tab mounted with respect to a free end of the elongated wire or cable. ### Claim 18 An assembly that provides access to one or more adapters, the assembly comprising: a. a mounting plate that defines at least two mounting flange regions and a mounting surface between the at least two mounting flange regions; b. a housing removably mounted with respect to the mounting surface of the mounting plate and that defines an internal region; c. an elongated wire or cable that is at least partially positioned within the internal region of the housing and that extends from the housing; d. an automatic retraction mechanism positioned within the internal region of the housing and acting upon the elongated wire or cable; and e. one or more adapters connected with respect to the elongated wire or cable that is positioned external to the internal region of the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The assembly of claim 18, wherein the housing is mounted in (4) possible orientations relative to a wall or other surface when mounted to the mounting plate, thereby permitting user access to the elongated wire or cable along different axes based on the orientation of the mounting plate relative to the wall or other surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The assembly of claim 18, wherein the retraction mechanism includes a lock-out feature that prevents retraction of the wire until released. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The assembly of claim 18, further comprising a pull tab mounted with respect to a free end of the elongated wire or cable. ### Claim 22 An assembly that provides access to one or more adapters, the assembly comprising: a. a mounting subassembly that is adapted for mounting within a recessed region associated with a table box; b. a housing mounted with respect to the mounting subassembly, the housing defining an internal region; c. an elongated wire or cable that is at least partially positioned within the internal region of the housing and that extends from the housing; d. an automatic retraction mechanism positioned within the internal region of the housing and acting upon the elongated wire or cable; and e. one or more adapters connected with respect to the elongated wire or cable that is positioned external to the internal region of the housing ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The assembly of claim 22, further comprising a table box that defines a recessed region, and wherein the mounting assembly is mounted within the recessed region of the table box. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The assembly of claim 23, wherein the table box includes a cover and wherein, when the cover of the table box is in a closed orientation, the one or more adapters are shielded from view and access within the table box. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The assembly of claim 24, wherein the table box is mounted at least partially within a cavity defined by a table, a desk or other surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The assembly of claim 23, wherein the retraction mechanism includes a lock-out feature that prevents retraction of the wire until released. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The assembly of claim 23, further comprising a pull tab mounted with respect to a free end of the elongated wire or cable.