Security/tether cable

Abstract

A power/security cord for use in a retail display includes the combination of at least one spring steel strand and at least one conductor coiled into the shape of a curly-Q cord. The steel strand provides a physical barrier against cutting the cord. The conductor provides wiring for power.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a cord configured for connection with a mounting member for use in a retail display, the cord having a cord length that terminates at a first cord end portion and a second cord end portion, wherein the cord length includes a first non-coiled portion, a second non-coiled portion, and a coiled portion between the first and second non-coiled portions, wherein the cord length is extensible via the coiled portion in response to a pulling force, and wherein the coiled portion is terminated on each end by wire clips; wherein the cord comprises (1) a conductor, (2) a mechanical cable, (3) a sheath that surrounds the conductor and the mechanical cable, (4) an electrical connector at the first cord end portion and configured for electrical connection with the mounting member, (5) a strain relief connector at the first cord end portion and configured for non-electrical connection with the mounting member, and (6) a molded fitting at the first cord end portion, wherein the molded fitting fits around the conductor and the mechanical cable and is shaped to provide branching that branches the strain relief connector away from the electrical connector; wherein the conductor is formed from a first material; wherein the conductor extends along the cord length such that the conductor includes a first non-coiled conductor portion, a second non-coiled conductor portion, and a coiled conductor portion between the first and second non-coiled conductor portions; wherein the mechanical cable is formed from a second material, wherein the second material has a higher cut-resistance than the first material; wherein the mechanical cable also extends along the cord length such that the mechanical cable includes a first non-coiled mechanical cable portion, a second non-coiled mechanical cable portion, and a coiled mechanical cable portion between the first and second non-coiled mechanical cable portions; wherein a portion of the mechanical cable extends from the molded fitting, wherein the portion of the mechanical cable that extends from the molded fitting has an end that terminates at the strain relief connector to provide a non-electrical connection to the mounting member; wherein the mechanical cable has an end that terminates at the strain relief connector to provide a non-electrical connection to the mounting member, wherein the cord is thereby independently connectable to the mounting member via both (1) the conductor and the electrical connector, and (2) the mechanical cable and the strain relief connector; and wherein the strain relief connector is adapted to provide strain relief for the electrical connector when the electrical connector and the strain relief connector are connected to the mounting member, and wherein the strain relief connector comprises a ferrule and washer fitting.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second material comprises spring steel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electrical connection comprises a power connection.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cord further comprises a plurality of the mechanical cables surrounded by the sheath.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the cord further comprises a plurality of the conductors surrounded by the sheath.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the mechanical cables and the conductors are interwoven together inside the sheath.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the mechanical cables and the conductors run longitudinally parallel to each other inside the sheath.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein at least one of the conductors is positioned inside the sheath radially inward relative to a plurality of the mechanical cables.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cord further comprises a central filler core inside the sheath, wherein the central filler core is positioned inside the sheath radially inward relative to the mechanical cables and the conductors.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the sheath comprises an exterior sheath and an interior sheath, wherein the exterior sheath surrounds the interior sheath, and wherein the interior sheath surrounds the mechanical cables and the conductors.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cord further comprises (1) an electrical connector at the second cord end portion and configured for electrical connection with an anchor of the retail display, and (2) a strain relief connector at the second cord end portion and configured for non-electrical connection with the anchor; wherein the conductor has another end that terminates at the electrical connector at the second cord end portion to provide an electrical connection to the anchor; and wherein the mechanical cable has another end that terminates at the strain relief connector at the second cord end portion to provide a non-electrical connection to the anchor.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising the mounting member and the anchor, wherein the cord is configured to tether the mounting member to the anchor, and wherein the mounting member is adapted to hold an electronic hand-held device for presentation to a customer.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the cord further comprises a second molded fitting at the second cord end portion; wherein the second molded fitting is shaped to provide branching that branches the strain relief connector at the second cord end portion away from the electrical connector at the second cord end portion.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second material comprises Kevlar.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cord coiled portion, the coiled conductor portion, and the coiled mechanical cable portion are arranged in a Curly-Q configuration.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conductor comprises electrical wire.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the mounting member, wherein the mounting member is adapted to hold an electronic hand-held device for presentation to a customer, and wherein the mounting member includes a recess for receiving the strain relief connector.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second non-coiled portions of the cord are flexible.

19. An apparatus comprising: a cord configured for connection with a mounting member for use in a retail display, the cord having a cord length that terminates at a first cord end portion and a second cord end portion, wherein the cord length includes a first non-coiled portion, a second non-coiled portion, and a coiled portion between the first and second non-coiled portions, wherein the cord length is extensible via the coiled portion in response to a pulling force, and wherein the coiled portion is terminated on each end by wire clips; wherein the cord comprises (1) a conductor, (2) a mechanical cable, (3) a sheath that surrounds the conductor and the mechanical cable, (4) an electrical connector at the first cord end portion and configured for electrical connection with the mounting member, (5) a strain relief connector at the first cord end portion and configured for non-electrical connection with the mounting member, and (6) a molded fitting at the first cord end portion, wherein the molded fitting fits around the conductor and the mechanical cable and is shaped to provide branching that branches the strain relief connector away from the electrical connector; wherein the conductor extends along the cord length such that the conductor includes a first non-coiled conductor portion, a second non-coiled conductor portion, and a coiled conductor portion between the first and second non-coiled conductor portions; wherein the mechanical cable is formed from spring steel or Kevlar; wherein the mechanical cable also extends along the cord length such that the mechanical cable includes a first non-coiled mechanical cable portion, a second non-coiled mechanical cable portion, and a coiled mechanical cable portion between the first and second non-coiled mechanical cable portions; wherein the conductor has an end that terminates at the electrical connector to provide an electrical connection to the mounting member; wherein a portion of the mechanical cable extends from the molded fitting, wherein the portion of the mechanical cable that extends from the molded fitting has an end that terminates at the strain relief connector to provide a non-electrical connection to the mounting member, wherein the cord is thereby independently connectable to the mounting member via both (1) the conductor and the electrical connector, and (2) the mechanical cable and the strain relief connector; and wherein the strain relief connector is adapted to provide strain relief for the electrical connector when the electrical connector and the strain relief connector are connected to the mounting member, and wherein the strain relief connector comprises a ferrule and washer fitting.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the cord further comprises (1) a plurality of the mechanical cables surrounded by the sheath, and (2) a plurality of the conductors surrounded by the sheath, and wherein at least one of the conductors is positioned inside the sheath radially inward relative to a plurality of the mechanical cables.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the cord further comprises (1) an electrical connector at the second cord end portion and configured for electrical connection with an anchor of the retail display, and (2) a strain relief connector at the second cord end portion and configured for non-electrical connection with the anchor; wherein the conductor has another end that terminates at the electrical connector at the second cord end portion to provide an electrical connection to the anchor; and wherein the mechanical cable has another end that terminates at the strain relief connector at the second cord end portion to provide a non-electrical connection to the anchor.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the cord further comprises a second molded fitting at the second cord end portion; wherein the second molded fitting is shaped to provide branching that branches the strain relief connector at the second cord end portion away from the electrical connector at the second cord end portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings, like reference numerals and letters refer to like parts throughout the various views, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a coiled power/security cord in accordance with the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the coiled power/security cord in accordance with the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view, showing how the coiled power/security cord connects to a housing;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view showing a specific retail display where the coiled power/security cord might be used;

(6) FIG. 5 is a view showing alternative uses of the coiled power/security cord;

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of coiled or non-coiled versions of the power/security cord in accordance with the invention

(8) FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but shows yet another embodiment;

(9) FIG. 8 is a pictorial view similar to FIG. 3, but shows how cord strain relief is implemented;

(10) FIG. 9 is an enlargement of the pictorial view shown in FIG. 8 and illustrates how a strain-relief ferrule is captured in a fixture;

(11) FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but with the strain-relief ferrule missing; and

(12) FIG. 11 is a schematic showing an alternative embodiment of the power/security cord described here, and illustrates how a non-coiled version of the cord may be used in connection with a reeled configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, shown generally at 10 is an improved power/security cord constructed in accordance with one embodiment. The cord 10 shown in FIG. 1 extends out from a countertop housing 12 mounted to a top surface 14 of a display countertop. The cord 10 connects under-the-counter electronics to a mounting member 16 that is attached to a smart phone or similar electronic hand-held device 18. On the right-hand side of FIG. 1, the hand-held 18 is shown returned to a resting position on part 12.

(14) Referring now to FIG. 2, the general construction of the power/security cord 10 will now be described. Outwardly, this embodiment takes the form of a curly-Q cord having a multiple number of coils (the coils are tight when cord 10 is relaxed), as indicated generally at 20. Overall, looking at the outside, this general construction would be familiar. The specific construction details that are different (the interior of the cord and strain relief features) are discussed below.

(15) Each end of the power/security cord 10 has a conventional electrical connector 22 (e.g., RJ12 connector) which would be familiar to a person skilled in the art. Directing attention briefly to FIG. 6 (a cross-sectional view of cord 10), the interior of the cord 10 consists of a number of spring steel strands, each one of which is indicated by numeral 24. Also inside the FIG. 6 embodiment are a plurality of conductors (wires), each one indicated by numeral 26. Each conductor 26 is surrounded by its own insulation 28.

(16) The combination of steel strands 24 and conductors 26 are collectively surrounded by a thin sheath 30; which is further surrounded by an exterior sheath 32. This interior configuration represents the span between the opposite ends 22 of the cord 10 shown in FIG. 2, including the coiled portion 20.

(17) Turning to FIG. 2, the coiled portion 20 is terminated on each end by conventional ABS wire clips 34, 36. Outwardly of the coiled portions are non-coiled (straight) portions 38, 40, respectively. These portions 38, 40 terminate in molded fittings 42, 44 that lead to end connectors 22. While described as straight it is to be understood that these portions are not necessarily stiff. They are flexible.

(18) The steel strands 24 inside the coils 20 continue through the straight portions 38, 40 and exit, with each end terminated by a brass ferrule and washer fitting 46, 48. This arrangement relieves the strain on the electrical end connectors 22 that are branched away from ferrule/washer 46, 48.

(19) More specifically, and referring now to FIG. 8, the ferrule/washer combination 46, 48 are fit into a recess 50 in a housing 52 to which the cord 10 is connected. The recess 50 is better seen in FIG. 10.

(20) The housing 52 might be the same as item 16 in FIG. 1 or it could be a different kind of mounting member like, for example, the surface anchor generally indicated at 54 in FIG. 5. FIG. 3 is a side view that shows how two cords 10 might plug into opposite sides of a housing 52. FIG. 4 shows yet another kind of display arrangement where the cord 10 could be used. In any case, the recess 50 captures the ferrule/washer combination 46, 48 and allows it to relieve any strain put on connector 22 during the course of pulling the cord 10 while the consumer examines the product 18.

(21) It is important to understand that at least one steel strand 24 is included in the cord 10 and at least one conductor 26. However, as reflected in FIG. 7, compared to FIG. 6, the numbers of steel strands 24 and conductors 26 can be a variable depending on the specific application and the desired balance between cut-resistance, flexibility, extension/retraction, and power requirements. In FIG. 7, for example, the steel strands 24 are arranged radially outwardly relative to the conductors 26. In this embodiment, the conductors 26 circle a central filler 56.

(22) To summarize, these embodiments enable the construction of a coiled cord for use as a power/security tether in retail displays. It is anticipated that the steel strands will be made of spring steel and coiled in the shape illustrated at 20 in FIG. 2. Alternatively, it is conceivable that braided steel strands may be used in combination with conductors or it is possible an arrangement of parallel steel strands and conductors could be used. These latter two examples might be suitable for using the cord uncoiled on a reelwith the reel providing extension and retraction of the tether. In other words, it is conceivable that a non-coiled version of cord 10 could be housed within a conventional reel structure, schematically indicated at 58 in FIG. 11, with the strain relief on the cord's end as described above. In such case, the cord 10 would simply reel and unreel in the same way as conventional retractors, which are reel-based tether systems common in the art relating to retail security systems. The reel 58 schematically indicated in FIG. 11 is a common component in the retail security field and would be familiar to the skilled person. There are many examples of these kinds of reels illustrated in the patent literature.

(23) The foregoing sets forth the best mode for carrying out the invention. Whether limited to coiled or non-coiled applications, it is to be understood that the scope of patent protection is not to be limited by the foregoing description. Instead, the scope of patent protection is to be limited only by the claim or claims that follow below.