Systems for communicatively coupling computing devices

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to computers. More specifically, the invention relates to systems for communicatively coupling computing devices.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#The present invention, as defined in the claims, can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed on clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting a representative embodiment of a computer system of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram depicting a portion of a representative embodiment of the interface device of FIG. 1, with the interface device positioned adjacent to a representative embodiment of an adapter to which the interface device can be mounted.

#As described in greater detail herein, the present invention involves the use of interface devices that are configured to facilitate intercommunication of computing devices. Preferably, such an interface device can be conveniently, matingly engaged with an associated computing device without damaging components of either the interface device or the computing device to which it is being connected. In some embodiments, this is accomplished by providing one or more alignment members of the interface device, each of which is adapted to engage a corresponding alignment feature of the computing device. By engaging the alignment feature(s) with the alignment member(s), a user of such an interface device can properly align the corresponding connectors of the interface device and the computing device. Thus, the present invention can potentially eliminate damage to components of interface devices and/or computing devices typically caused during installation of an interface device by ensuring proper alignment of the connectors of such devices prior to physical engagement of the connectors.

#Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals indicate corresponding components throughout the several views, FIG. 1 depicts a representative embodiment of a computer system 10 of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, computer system 10 includes an interface device 100 that is used to communicatively couple a first computing device 102 with a second computing device 104. By way of example, computing device 102 can be a personal computer and computing device 104 can be a printer or multi-function device. As used herein, the term “multi-function device” refers to a computing device that is capable of performing more than one of copying, faxing, scanning and printing. Note, in FIG. 1, a single interface device is used to interconnect two computing devices. In other embodiments, various other numbers of interface devices and/or computing devices can be used.

#A schematic diagram depicting a portion of a representative interface device 100 and a corresponding portion of a representative computing device 104 is shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, interface device 100 includes an interface adapter 202 and a interface communication connector 204. Connector 204 is adapted to communicatively couple with connector 206 of computing device 104. Interface adapter 202 includes a body 208 that encases at least a portion of connector 204. The body is configured for a user to grasp, such as when the connectors are being communicatively coupled to each other.