GB2348183A

GB2348183A - Cable tidy systems

Info

Publication number: GB2348183A
Application number: GB9906505A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward James Harding
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-23
Filing date: 1999-03-23
Publication date: 2000-09-27
Also published as: GB9906505D0; GB9927064D0; GB9924819D0; GB9907869D0

Abstract

A cable tidy 1 suitable for attachment to or integral incorporation into an electrical device. The cable tidy can take the form of a reel which may wind the cable from the midpoint or from one end. The cable tidy may have a manual or sprung drum 5,6 to retract the cable 2 and may have one or more cables running through it. The cable tidy may maintain a complete or partial electrical connection to the device which can be connected through a sprung rotating mechanism in the centre of the device. The cable may be extended from the cable tidy by pulling, the cable may be retained in the extended position until the cable is gently tugged, when potential energy stored in a sprung mechanism 13 is used to retract the cable, or alternatively a button 4,7 might be used to retract the cable. The cable tidy can be stacked if more than one tidy is needed. The cable tidy can be used with mobile phones, computers, personal stereos, battery rechargers or watches.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING CABLES TIDYING SYSTEMS AND ELECTRICAL DEVICES The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to lead or cable tidying systems, it is especially applicable to mobile phones, computers, Walkman and other electrical devices, though it is in no way limited to these devices.

Mobile phones, computers, Walkman and many other items and devices are now very popular, though they are all subject to using leads and cables in some way, which can be clumsy and awkward to attach or to store away.

Ideally the user of the given device, should be able to simply pull the lead or cable from the mobile phone, computer or other electrical device, and then plug it in, or use it, in respect to its intended use. In its broadest sense the present invention provides a method of storing the excess length of a cable within an electrical item, or indeed shortening any cable to its required length within or outside an electrical item.

The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Ref A shows a cable tidy device I which may be used on a length of cable 2. The cable may pass through the funnel 3, and be recoiled when the button 4 is pressed or activated, this mechanism is further described in Ref B. The cable tidy may work in the same way or incorporate the same electrical mechanisms and mechanical workings as any of the other cable tidy devices described within these pages and references A, B, C, D, E, F, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and in any give combination of the these components.

Ref B shows a cross section through the cable tidy 1 with the coil drum 5,6 to which the cable may be bound or released. The release mechanism is activated once the button 4,7 is pressed allowing the stoppers 10 to be freed form the retaining stoppers 11, and thus allowing the stored potential energy within the coiled spring 13 to be released. Then the spring 13 may cause the coil drum 5,6 to rotate freely and thus recoil the cable 2. The coil drum 5,6 is naturally pushed out, towards the button through the spring 9, until such time as the button is pressed. The cables 2 may be pulled out from the cable tidy, this is due to the stoppers 10,11 only resisting each other when the drum is rotated in a certain direction, If the stoppers are rotated in the opposing direction they may then slide freely over each other.

Ref C, D shows a cross section through an electrical cable tidy. This device may comprise of the outer casing 20 with the cable 21 running into it, and around the coil drum 23,22. The coil drum and cable revolve around the central positive and negative terminals 24,25 to which the electrical connection is kept through the revolving electrical terminals 27,28 being attached to the end of the cable 21. The non-conductive area 29 is designed as to isolate the negative and positive from each other. The terminal 25 may be kept in contact with terminal 27 through a spring 26. The coil spring 30 may keep the cable 21 under constant tension; an elasticised system may be used instead of the spring.

The terminals 24,25 may be connected directly to a circuit board, or to wires which will carry the current to the required terminal. The casing 20 may have a stopper button system 31,32,33 which will lock the cable in place once activated.

Ref E Shows an electrical cable tidy 42 which may be mounted to a device, this diagram shows the cable tidy attached to a mobile phone 66, though it is in no way limited to being incorporated to this device. It may be attached to the device through a clip system, or a pealed of adhesive patch may be used. 40 shows an ear piece, which may be used to listen to the mobile phone from a distance, this ear piece may also incorporate a microphone.

41 show a possible protective holding sleeve for an ear piece or other item that is used once the cable is fully recoiled. 43 show the cable and 44,56 the cable drum. 45 shows the outer surface of the recoil button which may be flexible, allowing the button undemeath 46 to be activated, this button pushes the drum 44 down, and release the retaining catches 48 from 52, allowing the coil drum 44,56 to spin freely. The drum can then recoil the cable 43 through the potential energy within the spring 54. Or other given elasticised or sprung system. The electrical circuit is maintained through the cable by a sprung central terminal 49,50, and 51. The terminal 49 allows the terminal 50,51 to revolve freely with the coil drum, whilst electrical contact with the terminals is maintained. The cable tidy 42 may also use the electrical contact terminals as described in references C, E, J, K, P. The cables 58 may then run from the electrical terminals to the desired source, in this diagram they run to plug 60,59 which may be suited for a given item. The plug 60,59 in Ref E is designed as to fit the connection terminal on a mobile phone. The cable tidy may work in the same way or incorporate the same electrical mechanisms and mechanical workings as any of the other cable tidy devices described within these pages and references A, B, C, D, E, F, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and in any give combination of the these components.

Ref F shows a view of the back of a mobile phone 66, with a cable tidy 42 mounted at its base. 40 shows an ear piece which may allow the user to listen to the phone from a distance, and communicate through the microphone 65, which may also be incorporated within the ear piece if desired. 66 shows another holding recess were the ear piece or microphone may be stored until required, and 45 shows a view of a cable recoil or release button.

Ref G shows a view of the back of a mobile phone 66 with a cable extending from a possible access hole 70, the cable may have an ear piece 40 or a charging socket at the end of it. The cable diagram in Ref G shows other possible components 71,72 being a microphone, which may be flexible and light, the cable may also incorporate a microphone 65.

Ref I shows a cross section of a mobile phone 66, with the cable tidy 75 incorporated inside. The cable tidy may work in the same way or incorporate the same electrical mechanisms and mechanical workings as any of the other cable tidy devices described within these pages and references A, B, C, D, E, F, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and in any give combination of the these components. 78 shows a possible circuit board within a mobile phone, to which the cable tidy may be incorporated The cable tidy may fit to any given part of the mobile phone, either internally or externally, this also applies to any other electrical item or any other item. 80 shows a possible button, which may be used to release or retain the cable tidy, this button, may activate a cable grip system 81,83 and may be sprung 82. It must be understood that the concept of this grip system may work in many ways.

Ref J shows a section of a coil drum 90,91 which may maintain an electrical contact with many cables 92,97 through a series of circular circuits running around the drum.

These circuits allow the current to run through the cables 97 and through the sprung connection terminals 96, which maintain a pressure contact with the circuits 94 on the drum. The current may then be carried through cables from the circuit 94 or connection points 95 to the centre of the coil drum 91. At this point the cables may be enclosed as one single cable and run freely out from the cable tidy to any given source. This electrical coil drum system as described may be incorporated into any of the other cable tidy devices described within these pages and references A, B, C, D, E, F, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and in any give combination of the these components.

Ref K shows a cross sectional side view through a mobile phone, which contains a cable tidy 100. This cable tidy may be incorporated into the phone as described in Ref H, and may vary in its combination of components. The cable tidy shows a central terminal 101, 103,104 which may clip into place 102. The casing to this terminal 101 may be sprung and serve to create a contact force between terminals 103 and the outer terminals 104 and thus maintain a contact between the two terminals, whilst allowing the terminals 103 to revolve freely within the terminals 104.105 show the possible connections between the circuit board 76 and the terminals 104, allowing the current to flow freely, and completing the circuit. The cable tidy may work in the same way or incorporate the same electrical mechanisms and mechanical workings as any of the other cable tidy devices described within these pages and references A, B, C, D, E, F, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and in any give combination of the these components.

Ref L shows another example diagram of how a cable tidy may be incorporated into a device, in this case a watch. The cable 43 may be contained within the casing of the watch 110,111 and pulled out at will. This watch may also work as a mobile phone, or include other devices that may require a cable tidy. The cable tidy may work in the same way or incorporate the same electrical mechanisms and mechanical workings as any of the other cable tidy devices described within these pages and references A, B, C, D, E, F, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and in any give combination of the these components.

Ref M shows a cable tidy stack system 120, designed for use with more than one cable, and may work using the same fundamental principles that apply to the other cable tidy as described in Ref A, B.

Ref N shows another example diagram of how a cable tidy may be incorporated into a device, or used with a device. The cables 133 at the back of the computer are kept at the desired length with the cable tidy stack system as described in Ref M. It is also possible to incorporate an internal cable tidy to any device to shorten or lengthen these cables 133, in place of an external cable tidy 120. The front of the computer may incorporate one or more internal or external cable tidy. The internal cable tidy shown here may have a variety of uses. The cable tidy may work in the same way or incorporate the same electrical mechanisms and mechanical workings as any of the other cable tidy devices described within these pages and references A, B, C, D, E, F, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and in any give combination of the these components.

Ref O shows yet another example diagram of how a cable tidy may be incorporated into a device, in this case a Walkman 140. This external cable tidy may be attached or stuck to the surface of the Walkman, and plug directly into the relevant terminal. Or an internal cable tidy may be incorporated into the Walkman. The cable tidy may work in the same way or incorporate the same electrical mechanisms and mechanical workings as any of the other cable tidy devices described within these pages and references A, B, C, D, E, F, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and in any give combination of the these components.

Ref P shows another example of the possible external connectors and terminals. 150 show a connector that may be used along the length of the cable 43 connected to a cable tidy, allowing for a wide range of items to be connected. This example diagram shows a possible recharging system 151,152,154,153 allowing the desired unit to which the cable tidy is attached or incorporated to swap cable heads for any given task. These detachable connectors 150 may be male or female, and may screw or clip to each other.

It must be understood that the concept of incorporating this cable tidy The cable tidy may work in the same way or incorporate the same electrical mechanisms and mechanical workings as any of the other cable tidy devices described within these pages and references A, B, C, D, E, F, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and in any give combination of the these components.

Any of the described references, and specifically the diagrams C, E, J, K, P may contain a variety of central positive and negative terminals, and if the cable tidy requires more than one positive and one negative cable and terminal it may use a mufti terminal, as described in various references in these pages. It must also be understood that the individual connecting terminals within the mufti terminals are not limited to the set number shown in the diagrams.

It will be appreciated that there will be many designs of the cable tidy both external and internal which provide the desired effect. Similarly, many materials for their manufacturer will be appropriate, and there are many applications and devices to which the cable tidy can be applied and adapted.

All references, may have other types of cable or cable heads, e. g. a charging head, communications head etc.

The device may comprise of any part of the diagrams as described, and does not for example have to be surrounded by a case to work.

The cable tidy may work in the same way or incorporate the same electrical mechanisms and mechanisms as any of the other cable tidy devices described within these pages.

It may also use the mechanical principles that are within the present cable tidy systems that are available, though this proposed cable tidy herein may adapt the current systems, for example it may adapt a vacuum cleaner cable tidy recoil system so that it may become for example a cable tidy as described in reference A, B, M, N and may be placed along the length of a cable.

The cable tidy as described within these pages may also use the fundamental recoil mechanisms that are used within roller blinds, to recoil the cable.

Claims

CLAIMS A cable tidy being suitable for attachment too, or integrally incorporation into an electrical device, comprising a thin circular container, which may contain the cable for storage or release.

A cable tidy as wherein the device may be placed or incorporated preferably at the midpoint of a cable, which may wind in or release simultaneously both sides of the cable through a sprung or elasticised system, subject to a button being released or pressed.

A cable tidy as wherein the device may be placed or incorporated preferably at the midpoint of a cable, which may wind in or release simultaneously both sides of the cable, through a manual winding of the cable tidy.

A cable tidy wherein the device may have one or more than one cable running through it.

A cable tidy wherein the cable entering the device may maintain a complete or partial electrical connection to the device to which it is intended.

A cable tidy wherein the cable entering the device may maintain an electrical connection to the device to which it is intended through a sprung rotating mechanism within the centre of the cable tidy. The electrical path of the cable may then continue from the cable tidy, and connect with its intended unit or connection.

A cable tidy wherein the cable may be extended and extracted through the act of pulling, and then automatically be retained in the extended position until the cable is gently tugged. The act of tugging subsequently releases the catch mechanism and allows the sprung mechanism system within the cable tidy to retract the cable using its stored potential energy. This may be used for a cable tidy with one or more than one cable.