# US 2021/0344148 A1 · Multi-port usb cable with cable retention and methods of making and using > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0344148 A1 - Document ID: US20210344148A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/862,100 - Filed: 2020-04-29 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-29 - Assignees: National Products, Inc. - Applicants: National Products, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey D. Carnevali; Scott Anderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210344148A1 ## CPC - H01R 31/02: Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92) - G06F 13/4282: {on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247)} - H01R 13/5845: {the strain relief being achieved by molding parts around cable and connections} - H01R 13/6392: {for extension cord} - G06F 2213/0042: Universal serial bus [USB] - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A USB cable that includes a cable coupling element selected from a first connector, a printed circuit board, or a device, as well as a multi-port connector that includes a multi-port connector including a housing, at least two ports defined by the housing, at least two female USB connectors disposed within the housing, and at least two retention arms extending from the housing. The USB cable also includes conductors electrically coupling the first connector to the at least two female USB connectors and a jacket extending between the first connector and the multi-port connector, wherein the conductors are at least partially disposed within the jacket. In another USB cable, in addition to or as an alternative to the retention arms, each of the at least two female USB connectors is spaced at least 10 mm from the opening of the port through which the female USB connector is accessible. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A USB cable, comprising a cable coupling element selected from a first connector, a printed circuit board, or a device; a multi-port connector comprising a housing, at least two ports defined by the housing, at least two female USB connectors disposed within the housing, and at least two retention arms extending from the housing, wherein a different one of the at least two female USB connectors is accessible through each of the at least two ports and a different one of the at least two retention arms is disposed adjacent an opening of each of the at least two ports; a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the cable coupling element to the at least two female USB connectors; and a jacket extending between the cable coupling element and the multi-port connector, wherein the conductors are at least partially disposed within the jacket. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The USB cable of claim 1, wherein each of the retention arms comprises a narrow neck portion adjacent to the housing and a wider band-retention portion adjacent to the narrow neck portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The USB cable of claim 1, wherein the at least two ports is exactly two ports and the at least two female USB connectors is exactly two female USB connectors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The USB cable of claim 3, wherein the at least two retention arms is exactly two retention arms are disposed opposite each other with two ports between the two retention arms. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The USB cable of claim 1, further comprising at least two retention bands, wherein each of the retention bands configured to be disposed around a cable attached to one of the at least two female USB connectors and one of the retention arms. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The USB cable of claim 1, wherein each of the ports has an opening defined by the housing and each of the at least two female USB connectors is spaced at least 20 mm from the opening of the port through which the female USB connector is accessible. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The USB cable of claim 1, wherein each of the ports has an opening defined by the housing and each of the at least two female USB connectors is spaced at least 30 mm from the opening of the port through which the female USB connector is accessible. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The USB cable of claim 1, wherein cable coupling element is the first connector and the first connector is selected from a USB A connector, USB 3.0 A connector, USB B connector, USB 3.0 B connector, USB C connector, USB Mini-A connector, USB Mini-B connector, USB Micro-A connector, USB Micro-B connector, USB 3.0 Micro-B connector, or a Lightning connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The USB cable of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two USB female connectors is selected from a USB A connector, USB 3.0 A connector, USB B connector, USB 3.0 B connector, USB C connector, USB Mini-A connector, USB Mini-B connector, USB Micro-A connector, or a USB Micro-B connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The USB cable of claim 1, wherein all of the at least two USB female connectors are a same type of USB connector. ### Claim 11 A USB cable, comprising: a cable coupling element selected from a first connector, a printed circuit board, or a device; a multi-port connector comprising a housing, at least two ports defined by the housing, and at least two female USB connectors disposed within the housing, wherein a different one of the at least two female USB connectors is accessible through each of the at least two ports, wherein each of the ports has an opening defined by the housing and each of the at least two female USB connectors is spaced at least 10 mm from the opening of the port through which the female USB connector is accessible; a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the cable coupling element to the at least two female USB connectors; and a jacket extending between the cable coupling element and the multi-port connector, wherein the conductors are at least partially disposed within the jacket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The USB cable of claim 11, further comprising at least two retention arms extending from the housing of the multi-port connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The USB cable of claim 12, wherein each of the retention arms comprises a narrow neck portion adjacent to the housing and a wider band-retention portion adjacent to the narrow neck portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The USB cable of claim 12, further comprising at least two retention bands, wherein each of the retention bands configured to be disposed around a cable attached to one of the at least two female USB connectors and one of the retention arms. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The USB cable of claim 11, wherein the at least two ports is exactly two ports and the at least two female USB connectors is exactly two female USB connectors. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The USB cable of claim 11, wherein each of the at least two female USB connectors is spaced at least 20 mm from the opening of the port through which the female USB connector is accessible. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The USB cable of claim 11, wherein each of the at least two female USB connectors is spaced at least 30 mm from the opening of the port through which the female USB connector is accessible. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The USB cable of claim 11, wherein the cable coupling element is the first connector and the first connector is selected from a USB A connector, USB 3.0 A connector, USB B connector, USB 3.0 B connector, USB C connector, USB Mini-A connector, USB Mini-B connector, USB Micro-A connector, USB Micro-B connector, USB 3.0 Micro-B connector, or a Lightning connector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The USB cable of claim 11, wherein each of the at least two USB female connectors is selected from a USB A connector, USB 3.0 A connector, USB B connector, USB 3.0 B connector, USB C connector, USB Mini-A connector, USB Mini-B connector, USB Micro-A connector, or a USB Micro-B connector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The USB cable of claim 11, wherein all of the at least two USB female connectors are a same type of USB connector.