DEVICE FOR SECURING ELECTRICAL CHARGING CABLES TOGETHER

Abstract

Device (1) for securing together cables for the electrical charging of an electronic apparatus (2), said electronic apparatus comprising two connectors (211, 221), each connector being connectable to a charging plug, characterized in that it comprises: a first portion (3) for connection to a first connector (211), and a second portion (4) provided with a housing (45) for the insertion of a connection cable (6) dedicated to a second connector (221),

said first portion (3) and said second portion (4) being secured together by securing means.

Claims

1. Device for securing together cables for the electrical charging of an electronic apparatus, said electronic apparatus comprising two connectors, each connector being connectable to a charging plug, the device comprising: a first portion for connection to a first connector, and a second portion provided with a housing for the insertion of a connection cable dedicated to a second connector, said first portion and said second portion being secured together by securing means.

2. Device for securing electric charging cables together according to claim 1, wherein said securing means comprise: a T-shaped groove formed on the upper surface of said first portion, and a tab formed on the lower surface of said second portion.

3. Device for securing electric charging cables together according to claim 1, wherein said first portion comprises first means of abutment with said second portion and said second portion comprises second means of abutment with said first portion.

4. Device for securing electric charging cables together according to claim 1, wherein said housing for inserting a cable is shaped so as to pass through from a distal edge to a proximate edge of said second portion.

5. Device for securing electric charging cables together according to claim 1, wherein said housing for inserting a cable comprises a first recess adapted for guiding said cable and a second recess adapted for receiving a head of said cable.

6. Device for securing electric charging cables together according to claim 5, wherein said first recess and said second recess are coaxial.

7. Device for securing electric charging cables together according to claim 2, wherein said tab has a slot along its length, leading into said first recess and said second recess.

8. Device for securing electric charging cables together according to claim 1, wherein said device is made out of a flexible material.

9. Device for securing electric charging cables together according to claim 1, wherein said first portion comprises a first charging plug adapted to get connected to said first connector.

10. Device for securing electric charging cables together according to claim 1, wherein said first portion comprises an integrated cable provided with a USB plug.

Description

4. LIST OF FIGURES

[0040] These features as well as others shall appear more clearly from the following description of one embodiment given by way of a simple illustrative and non-exhaustive example and from the appended figures of which:

[0041] FIG. 1 is a perspective or three-quarter view of the device for the securing together of the cables and an electronic payment device comprising two connectors;

[0042] FIG. 2 is a perspective or three-quarter view of the device for the securing of the cable alone;

[0043] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the two portions constituting the device for the securing together of the cables;

[0044] FIG. 4 is a set of views (top view, side view, front view, rear view, section view) of a first portion of the device;

[0045] FIG. 5 is a set of views (top view, side view, front view, rear view, section view) of a second portion of the device:

[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates the procedure for setting up the device for the securing together of cables for the charging of an electronic payment device;

[0047] FIGS. 7A and 7B present two types of a second portion that can be adapted to two types of connection cables;

[0048] FIG. 8 presents one particular embodiment of the device for the securing together of the cables, when the charging is done by USB.

5. DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

5.1. General Principle

[0049] The general principle of the present technique is that of facilitating the electrical charging of an electronic apparatus comprising two connectors, each connectable to a charging plug by means of a device for the securing together of charging cables. More specifically, this securing is done in proximity to the connection plugs (the plugs that get inserted into the female connectors). Such a device can be used firstly to make sure that the two plugs of the two cables are optimally connected to the corresponding female connectors. Such a device also makes sure that the cables do not get entangled with each other. Such a device enables the insertion of the two plugs of the two cables simultaneously. Such a connector makes sure that when one of the two plugs is accurately inserted, the other plug too is accurately inserted.

[0050] Such a device for the securing together of cables comprises two portions: [0051] a first portion for connection to a first connector; and [0052] a second portion provided with a housing for inserting a connection cable connected to a second connector.

[0053] The first portion can also be provided with a housing for inserting cables, in order to receive a charging cable adapted to the second connector.

[0054] The first portion and the second portion are joined together through a securing means belonging to the group comprising clips, screws, systems comprising male and female parts.

[0055] The disposition of the two portions is adapted to the disposition of the connectors of the electrical apparatus. The first portion thus faces the first connector while the second portion faces the second connector.

[0056] Should the two connectors be situated side by side or one on top of the other, the device enables a simultaneous and facilitated connection to these two connectors.

[0057] Here below, one specific embodiment of the invention is described. It is clear however that the invention is in no way limited to this embodiment. The advantages procured by this device of the invention can be obtained with other shapes and other securing means. The proposed technique is based on the availability of a device enabling the securing together of two charging cables, the plugs of which are of a type that is identical (micro-USB) or different (micro-USB and Lightning). It can be specified that the plug of a cable corresponds to that portion of the cable comprising the male connector. Thus, any type of layout and configuration having these characteristics for the charging or simultaneous electrical supply of two connectors joined to each other or proximate to each other is covered by the present technique.

5.2 Description of One Embodiment

[0058] FIGS. 1 and 2 present a device (1) for the securing together of electrical charging cables of an electronic apparatus (2), especially an electronic payment device in which a payment terminal (21) and a communications terminal (22) are associated in a back-to-back configuration.

[0059] Such an electronic payment device, as represented partially in FIG. 1, comprises two connectors (211, 221), a first connector (211) being associated with the payment terminal (21), a second connector (221) being associated with the communications terminal (22).

[0060] The payment terminal (21) and the communications terminal (22) can respectively be charged by the connection of these two connectors (211, 221) with charging plugs.

[0061] As presented in FIGS. 1 and 6, the two connectors (211, 221) are placed side by side, making it difficult to insert the two respective charging plugs.

[0062] The proposed technique overcomes this drawback by proposing a device (1) for the securing together of cables comprising two complementary portions (3, 4) that get assembled together so as to secure the cables and their corresponding charging plugs, and facilitate their connection with the two connectors (211, 221).

[0063] In the embodiment described, a first cable (5) provided with a first charging plug (51) is integrated with the first portion (3). In another embodiment, the first portion (3) can be provided with a housing for inserting a cable in order to receive different types of cables for different types of connectors of electronic apparatuses. In such an embodiment, the first portion (3) then resembles the second portion (4).

[0064] These two complementary portions (3, 4) are represented in a perspective or three-quarter view in FIGS. 2 and 3. A first portion (3) comprises a T-shaped groove (31) on a part of the length of its upper surface, this groove (31) being used for the sliding guidance of a tab or tongue (41) of a complementary shape formed on the lower surface of a second portion (4).

[0065] The first portion (3) appreciably forms a block 25 mm long, 15 mm wide and 8 mm high in the embodiment described. The groove (31) extends by about 15 mm on the length of the first portion (3) as illustrated by the set of views of FIG. 4. This groove (31) takes a T-shape extending on about 12 mm over the width of the first portion (3).

[0066] The second portion (4) also appreciably forms a block 20 mm long, 15 mm wide and 8 mm high as illustrated by the set of views of FIG. 5. The tab (41), with the T-shape complementary to the shape of the groove (31), extends on about 15 mm on the length of the second portion (4) and 12 mm on the width of this second portion (4).

[0067] The shape and the dimensions of the two portions (3, 4) are given here with reference to the particular embodiment described. They are of course not exhaustive.

[0068] The first portion (3) comprises means to abut the second portion (4), and the second portion (4) comprises means to abut the first portion (3). Indeed, the groove (31) is shaped so that it does not lead into the proximate edge (32) of the first portion (3), thus forming a first shoulder (4). The term “proximate edges” herein designates the edges of the portions closest to the charging plugs. By opposition, the term “distal edges” designates the edges of the portions opposite the proximate edges, i.e. those furthest away from the charging plug. The tab (41) for its part is shaped so that it does not lead into the distal edge (43) of the second portion (4), thus forming a second shoulder (44).

[0069] Thus, the two shoulders (34, 44) make it possible to position the two portions (3, 4) relative to each other at the end of the sliding guidance of the tab (41) of the second portion (4) in the groove (31) of the first portion (3). The proximate end of the tab (41) comes to abut the first shoulder (34) while at the same time the distal end of the groove (31) comes to abut the second shoulder (34).

[0070] This double abutment (34, 44) enables a precise positioning of the first portion (3) and the second portion (4) relative to each other: this means that the proximate edge (32) of the first portion (3) is aligned with the proximate edge (42) of the second portion (4) as shown in FIG. 2. This alignment ensures that the connection of the two portions with the second connectors (211, 221) of the electronic payment device is simultaneous and functional.

[0071] The second portion (4) of the device (1) is provided with a housing (45) for inserting a cable (6) as seen in the views of FIGS. 2 and 3. This housing (45) crosses the second portion (4) on its length, from its distal edge (43) up to its proximate edge (42).

[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 5, this housing (45) is formed by two adjacent and coaxial recesses (451, 452), a first recess (451) receiving and guiding the inserted cable (6) and a second recess (452) receiving the cable head (61). This cable head (61) comprises a charging plug (62) encased in a protective sheath formed out of the same material as the sheath of the cable (6).

[0073] The dimensions of the recesses are adapted respectively to the diameter of the cable (6) and to the dimensions of the cable head (61) so that this cable and cable head are nested into the housing (45). In the embodiment described, the first recess (451) has a diameter substantially equal to 4.5 mm and extends on about 12 mm. The second recess (452) is approximately 7 mm long, 8 mm wide and 5 mm high.

[0074] The second recess (452) has dimensions enabling the second charging plug (62) to be positioned appropriately in depth and in height so as to get inserted into the connector (221) of the electronic payment device.

[0075] The insertion of the cable (6) into the housing (45) of the second portion (4) is made possible by the presence of a slot (46) made on the length of the tab (41) and leading into the two recesses (451, 452). This slot, which is slightly narrower than the first cable-guiding recess (451), can be widened to let through the cable (6): to this end, the first portion (3) and the second portion (4) are made out of a flexible material of a plastic type so as to be slightly deformable. Besides, the first recess (451) possesses a diameter slightly smaller than that of the cable (6): thus when the cable is in position, it leads to a widening of the slot (46) because of the flexibility of the material of the second portion (4), thus forcing the sides of the tab (41) to rise outwardly. Thus, when the tab (41) of the second portion (4) is inserted into the groove (31) of the first portion (3), the two portions (3, 4) are held tightly against each other.

[0076] The process for positioning the device (1) for the securing together of the cables is described with reference to FIG. 6.

[0077] In a first stage, a cable (6), comprising a cable head (61) provided with a charging plug (62) is inserted into the housing (45) of the second portion (4) by means of the slot (46). The cable is held and the cable head (61) and the plug (62) are precisely positioned in the housing (45) by means of a sliding motion of the cable (arrow 1).

[0078] In a second stage, the tab (41) of the second portion (4) is inserted into the groove (31) of the first portion (3) by a sliding motion (arrow 2). The two portions (3, 4) then abut each other through the two shoulders (34, 44). When this positioning is done, the two charging plugs (51, 62) are disposed in a way that enables them to get inserted appropriately and operationally in the two connectors (211, 221) of the electronic payment device (2).

[0079] In a third stage, the two charging plugs (51, 62) are inserted simultaneously (arrow 3) into the two connectors (211, 221); the first plug (51) gets connected to the connector (211) of the payment terminal (21); the second plug (62) gets connected to the connector (221) of the communications terminal (22). The electrical charging of the two terminals (21, 22) is thus simultaneous.

[0080] In one particular embodiment, the second portion (4) can be adapted to the communications terminal (22) to be charged. FIGS. 7A and 7B present examples of two types of second portions (70, 80) corresponding to two types of communications terminals. These two types of communications terminals have for example different thicknesses, leading to a variation in the height-wise position of their charging connector. The two types of second portion (70, 80) presented by FIGS. 7A and 7B differ in that the cable-insertion housing (71, 81) is positioned on a different height. In the embodiment described, the position of the charging plug (72, 82) associated with the cable inserted into the housing (71, 81) thus varies by 1 mm in height.

[0081] FIG. 8 illustrates one particular embodiment in which the charging of the payment terminal is done by computer. More specifically, the charging is done by USB means. To this end, the first portion (3) has a cable (9) secured to this first portion (3), such a cable being provided at its extremity with a USB plug (91) capable of getting connected with the USB port of a computer.