Abstract
The invention is a circular cable spool with an internal perimeter disposable to retain a power adaptor at its distal portions by friction fit. In most embodiments, sidewalls of the spool will extend axially and distally from opposite ends of the circular spooling surface, disposed to spool and retain a cable between them. Power adaptors intended for electronic devices are, in general, nominally square or rectangular in profile (typically box-like in volume), whether the corners of the adaptors have radii or not. In order to retain a square power adaptor within a round interior perimeter, the adaptor must be held at its distal portions by friction, generally at its corner portions, to the interior perimeter of the spool. Accommodations in the design of the cable spool allow the tangs of the power adaptor to straddle the spool, by limiting the thickness of the spool to fit between the tangs, as provided by a radius between the interior perimeter and a sidewall, and further by including a relief slot in a sidewall or interior perimeter that facilitates insertion of the adaptor within the interior perimeter of the spool. Accommodating the tangs to fit around the spool in such as manner in measure to facilitate the assembly of the adaptor within the interior perimeter provides a more compact assembly, desirable for transporting portable devices and their cables and adaptors together in an organized fashion.
Claims
1. A cable spool to store a cable featuring a circular spooling surface, wherein a circular interior perimeter of the spool is disposed to retain a nominally square, rectangular or otherwise shaped power adaptor at its distal portions by friction fit.
2. A cable spool, as described in claim 1, with sidewalls extending distally from the spooling surface to retain the cable within a gap between the sidewalls.
3. A cable spool, as described in claim 2, where sidewalls are flat and parallel.
4. A cable spool, as described in claim 2, where the tangs of the power adaptor straddle the sidewalls or other portions of the spool upon assembly.
5. A cable spool, as described in claim 1, where the distal portions are the corners of a power adaptor.
6. A cable spool, as described in claim 1, where the distal portions are rounded corners of a power adaptor.
7. A cable spool, as described in claim 1, where the distal portions are two corners and the ends of the tangs of a power adaptor.
8. A cable spool, as described in claim 4, where a relief slot is disposed to facilitate straddling the tangs around the sidewalls of a cable spool during insertion by preventing interference of the tangs to the sidewalls.
9. A cable spool, as described in claim 4, where a relief slot in a sidewall is disposed to facilitate straddling the tangs around the sidewalls of a cable spool during insertion by preventing interference of a tang to a sidewall, after which upon insertion the adaptor can be rotated within the circular aperture to move the tang away from the slot to retain the adaptor therein in a locked position by creating an interference between the tang and the sidewall that would prevent the rotation of the adaptor out of the locked position.
10. A cable spool, as described in claim 4, in which a radius or notch where the interior perimeter connects to a sidewall is disposed to facilitate straddling the tangs around the sidewalls of a cable spool during insertion by preventing interference of the tangs to the sidewalls.
11. A cable spool, as described in claim 2, where a plug retainer between the sidewalls is disposed to receive a retain a plug prior to spooling.
12. A cable spool, as described in claim 11, where a tool, such as a plug at an opposing end of a cable, is used to push a plug at an end of a cable into the plug retainer.
13. A cable spool, as described in claim 2, where a plug retention flange is disposed to retain a plug between the sidewalls of the spool by mechanical or friction fit to prevent the plug from falling out of the gap, causing the cable to unspool, and without the need for slots to retain the cable.
14. A cable spool, as described in claim 2, where a slit in the flexible material of a sidewall is disposed to be deformable to provide access of a cable into a slot, where it is considered retained therein, providing a measure of retention to fix the cable in place during spooling or prevent the cable from unspooling.
15. A cable spool, as described in claim 14, where there is a circular array of three slits and slots through a sidewall of the spool.
16. A cable spool, as described in claim 1, where the material comprising it is elastomeric.
17. A cable spool, as described in claim 1, where the material comprising it is silicone.
18. A cable spool, as described in claim 1, where the material comprising it is thermoplastic.
19. A cable spool, as described in claim 1, where the material comprising it is a thermoset material.
20. A cable spool, as described in claim 1, where the spool is injection molded.
21. A cable spool, as described in claim 1, where the spool is liquid silicone rubber molded.
22. A cable spool, as described in claim 1, where the spool is vacuum casted.
23. A cable spool, as described in claim 1, where the spool is made form a single part.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of cable spool, showing a nominally circular, flat cable spool with a circular interior perimeter and a slot in a sidewall.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of cable spool illustrated in FIG. 1, showing an adjacent power adaptor in a position prior to installation into the interior perimeter.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of cable spool illustrated in FIG. 1, with a power adaptor shown at an intermediary position during power adaptor insertion into the interior perimeter.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a side view of the first embodiment of cable spool illustrated in FIG. 3, shown at an intermediary position during power adaptor insertion into the interior perimeter.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a top elevation view of the first embodiment of cable organizer illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0041] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view, in section, of the first embodiment of cable organizer, taken along section lines A-A of FIG. 5.
[0042] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of cable spool, with power adaptor of FIG. 2 shown in a stored position, showing distal portions of the adaptor fitted with the circular interior perimeter of the spool, where the embodiment of the adaptor features tangs that straddle the spool.
[0043] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of cable spool, with power adaptor of FIG. 7 shown in a stored position, clearly showing the distal portions of the adaptor coincident with the interior perimeter of the cable spool.
[0044] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view, in section, of the first embodiment of a cable spool, taken along section lines B-B of FIG. 8.
[0045] FIG. 10 is a perspective of view of the first embodiment of a cable spool, shown in FIG. 7, where the adaptor is rotated so that the tangs are moved away from a slot on a sidewall of the spool.
[0046] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cable spool, shown at the commencement of power adaptor insertion.
[0047] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of cable spool illustrated in FIG. 11, shown at the termination of power adaptor insertion, showing distal portions of the adaptor fitted with the circular interior perimeter of the spool.
[0048] FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of cable spool illustrated in FIG. 12, shown at the termination of power adaptor insertion, clearly showing the distal portions of the adaptor coincident with the interior perimeter of the cable spool.
[0049] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of cable spool, shown at the termination of power adaptor insertion.
[0050] FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the third embodiment of cable spool illustrated in FIG. 14, shown at the termination of power adaptor insertion, clearly showing the distal portions of the adaptor coincident with the interior perimeter of the cable spool, where the tangs protruding from the adaptor straddle a radius on the interior perimeter of the cable spool disposed to receive them.
[0051] FIGS. 16 to 26 are views of a fourth embodiment of a cable spool.
[0052] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of a cable spool, revealing thin flexible edges 52 around a slot 44 and a plug retention flange 54.
[0053] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of a cable spool, showing a cable 60 hooked into a slot 44 in a sidewall 42, where the cable 60 is able to lie flatter due to thin flexible edges 52 around the slot 44.
[0054] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of a cable spool, revealing a slot 44 through a spooling surface 38 to an interior perimeter 34 that provides a means to hook a proximal plug 62 (not shown) of a cable 60 (not shown) therein, and a plug retainer 56 in the form of a recess disposed to retain a proximal plug 62 (not shown).
[0055] FIG. 19 is a side view of the fourth embodiment, revealing similar aspects as FIG. 18.
[0056] FIG. 20 is a section view along section line C-C as seen in FIG. 19.
[0057] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment shown with a cable 60 in proximity, with a proximal plug 62 and a distal plug 64 at either end of the cable 60, positioned in a first step of assembling the cable 60 to the cable spool 30.
[0058] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the spool 30 and cable 60 of FIG. 21 showing a second step of assembly, where the distal plug 64 is used to push the proximal plug 62 into a plug retainer 56.
[0059] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the spool 30 and cable 60 of FIG. 22 showing a third step of assembly, where the cable 60 is looped around the spool 30, prior to spooling the cable 60 into the spool 30.
[0060] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the spool 30 and cable 60 of FIG. 23 showing a fourth step of assembly, where the cable 60 is fully spooled around spool 30, showing the distal plug 64 retained between the sidewalls 42 of the spool 30 by friction fit, aided by plug retention flanges 54 extending from the interior portion of the sidewalls 42 that provide grip to the distal plug 64 during insertion while freely allowing the passage of the cable 60 into the gap 40 during spooling.
[0061] FIG. 25 is a top view of the assembly of FIG. 24.
[0062] FIG. 26 is a section view along section line D-D as seen in FIG. 25, revealing cable 60 within the spool 30 and a proximal plug 62 retained within the plug retainer 56 fashioned as a recess in either sidewall 42 of the spool 30 within the gap 40.
TERMS
[0063] The following terms are referenced in the drawings and written application:
[0064] 30 cable spool
[0065] 32 adaptor
[0066] 34 interior perimeter
[0067] 35 distal portions
[0068] 38 spooling surface
[0069] 40 gap
[0070] 42 sidewalls
[0071] 43 distal perimeter
[0072] 44 slot
[0073] 46 tang
[0074] 48 radius
[0075] 50 slit
[0076] 52 thin flexible edge
[0077] 54 plug retention flange
[0078] 56 plug retainer
[0079] 58 interior perimeter slot
[0080] 60 cable
[0081] 62 proximal plug
[0082] 64 distal plug
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0083] A cable spool generally identified by reference numeral 30, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 26.
Structure and Relationship of Parts:
[0084] A cable spool 30, as depicted in FIGS. 1 to 10, features a nominally circular interior perimeter 34 separated from a nominally circular spooling surface 38 by the material wall thickness of the spool 30. Sidewalls 42 extend distally from the spooling surface 38, having a distal perimeter 43 generally circular in design typically with a theoretical center coincident with that of the interior perimeter 34. Between sidewalls 42 is a gap 40 into which cable (not shown) can be introduced and spooled around the spooling surface 38, the sidewalls 42 retaining a cable therein the gap 40.
[0085] Preferred embodiments have sidewalls 42 that are nominally parallel to each other to maintain a flat, compact design. Preferred embodiments also feature a radius 48 between the interior perimeter 34 and a sidewall 42 for aesthetic and functional purposes described in the operation section of this application.
[0086] Some embodiments also feature a slit 50 in sidewall 42 providing access of a cable (not shown) to a position within a slot 44, the material of sidewall 42 being elastomeric so as to deform at slit 50 to allow access of the cable therethrough, where it is considered fixedly retained therein slot 44. Multiple slits 50 and slots 44 may feature on the spool 30.
[0087] Though embodiments feature parallel sidewalls 42, radii 48, a slot 44 and slit 50, these features may be absent or modified in form in some alternative embodiments. Embodiments with slots feature a circular array of three slots 44 and slits 50 on a sidewall 42 of a spool 30 in preferred embodiments for aesthetic reasons and for the purpose of choosing a specific length of cable to be retained exteriorly of the cable spool 30. Three slots 44 and slits 50 provides ample variation of cable length selection without being overly redundant in number of slots 44 and slits 50.
Operation:
[0088] FIG. 1 depicts a cable spool 30 featuring a circular interior perimeter 34, designed to friction fit an adaptor 32 (not shown) at its distal portions 36. Cable (not shown) can be spooled around spooling surface 38, accessible by passing a cable through gap 40 between sidewalls 42 of the cable spool 30, until the cable comes to rest against spooling surface 38, and is spooled around the spool 30 to retain and store it within the sidewalls 42. A plug end of the cable (not shown) placed within the gap 40 may rest against the spooling surface 38 of the spool 30, or be passed through a slot 44 in a sidewall 42 or interior perimeter 34 where it can be hooked and retained to aid as a brace for the cable during spooling.
[0089] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of cable spool 30 of FIG. 1, showing an adjacent power adaptor 32 in a position prior to installation into the interior perimeter, and showing the placement of tangs 46 of the power adaptor 32 adjacent to a slot 44 in the spool 30.
[0090] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of cable spool 30, with a power adaptor 32 shown at an intermediary position during power adaptor 32 insertion into an interior perimeter 34 of the spool 30. A slot 44 is disposed to provide means to receive an anterior (as depicted in this figure) tang 46 of adaptor 32 to enter the slot 44 to avoid interference during assembly of power adaptor 32 to spool 30. FIG. 3 also depicts a radius 48 joining the interior perimeter 34 with a sidewall 42, disposed to provide means to receive tangentially a posterior tang 46 of adaptor 32 to avoid interference during assembly of adaptor 32 to spool 30; radius 48 may alternatively be fashioned as a notch (not shown) for similar purposes or providing relief space for tangs 46.
[0091] FIGS. 4 to 6 show alternative views of the spool 30 and adaptor 32 of FIG. 3 in the process of installation, clearly showing a tang 46 of the adaptor 32 recessed in a slot 44, and another tang 46 resting tangentially against a radius 48 as the adaptor 32 is inserted into the interior perimeter 34.
[0092] FIG. 7 shows adaptor 32 in a position of final assembly to spool 30, such that the distal portions 36 of the adaptor 32, represented by its corners, are coincident with the interior perimeter 34 of the spool 30, generally in a friction or pressure fit fashion to retain the adaptor fixedly therein.
[0093] FIGS. 8 and 9 are alternative views of the assembly of FIG. 7, FIG. 8 being a top view showing clearly the distal portions 36 of the adaptor 32 being coincident with the interior perimeter 34 of the spool 30, generally in a friction or pressure fit fashion to retain the adaptor fixedly therein, the sharp corners of the distal portions 36 of the rectangular shaped adaptor 32 touching the interior perimeter 34 of the spool 30 as seen in plan view, and FIG. 9 showing tangs 46 flush, coincident and parallel to sidewalls 42.
[0094] FIG. 10 shows adaptor 32 in a position of an additional assembly locking step within spool 30, where the adaptor 32 is rotated within interior perimeter 34, positioning tangs 46 away from slot 44 as a means to more fixedly retain adaptor 32 to spool 30, preventing the tangs 46 or adaptor 32 from twisting out of the spool 30.
Variations:
[0095] FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment of a cable spool 30, where an adaptor 32 is positioned prior to assembly with a cable spool 30, wherein a circular interior perimeter 34 is disposed to receive the adaptor 32. The present embodiment does not feature a radius 48 between the interior perimeter 34 and a sidewall 42, though one may be present for aesthetic reasons or functional purposes to act as a funnel to aid in the insertion of the power adaptor 32.
[0096] FIG. 12 shows the embodiment of FIG. 11, where the adaptor 32 is inserted into the spool 30, where it is fixedly retained therein by friction fit between the distal portions 36 of the adaptor 32 and the interior perimeter 34 of the spool 30.
[0097] FIG. 13 shows a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 12, with the round, radius corners of the distal portions 36 of the square shaped adaptor 32 touching the interior perimeter 34 of the spool 30 as seen in plan view. Slots 44 and slits 50 are absent in the present embodiment, but may feature in alternative embodiments with other similar features. Where slots 44 and slits 50 are absent from an embodiment, the distal plug-end of a cable (not shown) may be jammed between the sidewalls 42 in a friction fit, or some other retention means.
[0098] FIGS. 14 and 15 shows a third embodiment of a cable spool 30 with a power adaptor 32 inserted in an interior perimeter 34 of the cable spool, where retracted tangs 46 of the adaptor 32 stick out from a distal portion 36 of the main body of the adaptor, and are accommodated by radii 48 such that the tangs 46 straddle the spool 30 in the clearance space created by the radii 48.
[0099] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a preferred fourth embodiment of a cable spool, revealing thin flexible edges 52 around a slot 44 and a plug retention flange 54 extending from an interior surface of a sidewall 42. A circular array of three slots 44 and slits 50 are disposed to retain a portion of a cable 60 (not shown) by inserting the cable 60 through a slit 50, deforming the elastomeric material of the spool 30, where it comes to be positioned within the slot 44, the slit 50 returning back to its state at manufacture through elastic retraction and shape memory due to the low compression set of the elastomeric material. Slots 44 may feature a narrowing of the material of the spool 30 closer to the slot 44 so that the cable 60 requires less bending to enter or exit the slot 44. The three slots 44 provide an option to the user to spool or unspool cable 60 to a desired length before retaining in an elected slot 44.
[0100] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of a cable spool, showing a cable 60 hooked into a slot 44 in a sidewall 42, where the cable 60 is able to lie flatter due to thin flexible edges 52 around the slot 44.
[0101] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of a cable spool, revealing a slot 44 through a spooling surface 38 to an interior perimeter 34 that provides a means to hook a proximal plug 62 (not shown) of a cable 60 (not shown) therein, and a plug retainer 56 in the form of a recess disposed to retain a proximal plug 62 (not shown).
[0102] FIG. 19 is a side view of the fourth embodiment, revealing similar aspects as FIG. 18.
[0103] FIG. 20 is a section view along section line C-C as seen in FIG. 19.
[0104] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment shown with a cable 60 in proximity, with a proximal plug 62 and a distal plug 64 at either end of the cable 60, positioned in a first step of assembling the cable 60 to the cable spool 30. The proximal plug 62 is represented in this example by an Apple Lightning plug, and the distal plug 64 by a USB plug.
[0105] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the spool 30 and cable 60 of FIG. 21 showing a second step of assembly, where the distal plug 64 is used to push the proximal plug 62 into a plug retainer 56 recessed within a spooling surface 38.
[0106] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the spool 30 and cable 60 of FIG. 22 showing a third step of assembly, where the cable 60 is looped around the spool 30, prior to spooling the cable 60 into the spool 30.
[0107] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the spool 30 and cable 60 of FIG. 23 showing a fourth step of assembly, where the cable 60 is fully spooled around spool 30, showing the distal plug 64 retained between the sidewalls 42 of the spool 30 by friction fit, aided by plug retention flanges 54 extending from the interior portion of the sidewalls 42 that provide grip to the distal plug 64 during insertion while freely allowing the passage of the cable 60 into the gap 40 during spooling.
[0108] FIG. 25 is a top view of the assembly of FIG. 24.
[0109] FIG. 26 is a section view along section line D-D as seen in FIG. 25, revealing cable 60 within the spool 30 and a proximal plug 62 retained within the plug retainer 56 fashioned as a recess in either sidewall 42 and the spooling surface 38 of the spool 30 within the gap 40 to provide relatively even spooling of a cable 60 around the spooling surface 38 and the proximal plug 62.
[0110] In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.
[0111] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the illustrated embodiments set forth as examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with a purposive construction of the claims in view of the description as a whole.
