JP2010166713A - Foldable cable - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foldable cable with a structure which enables the cable to be folded in a simple operation for storage in the folded state. <P>SOLUTION: The foldable cable includes a cable case formed with a plurality of hollow unit cases 10a connected in series and a cable 16 supported on the inner surface of the cable case at a predetermined position and extending in the cable cases connected in series. With the unit cases arranged in series, the cable 16 is bent in a W-shaped state at the connecting section between the two adjacent unit cases. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cable that can be folded.

  Various electric appliances and home appliances are provided with a power cord or a power cable for connecting to a power source such as an outlet. When the device is not used, it is preferable to keep the power cable small or store it in the device or the case.

  In order to keep the power cable small, it is common to fold the power cable to an appropriate length, wind it around a loop of an appropriate size, tie it with a string, or fasten it with a cord. However, even if the power cable is kept in the proper length when the device is not in use, the power cable still extends from the device and does not look good. There is a risk of

  When the device is not used, the power cable may be wound around the reel for storage. When using the device, pull the power plug out of the reel, and when the device is used, wind the power cable around the reel. Although such a reel is convenient, it is necessary to secure a space for accommodating the reel in the device, and the cost of the reel itself is high, so that it cannot be adopted for all devices.

  Therefore, a cord holder has been proposed in which a power cable or a power cord is attached along a large number of rod-shaped links, and the length of the power cable can be arbitrarily adjusted by expanding and contracting the links (for example, (See Patent Document 1).

  In addition, it has been proposed to hold a cable in a folded state by attaching a cap-like fixing device to a portion where the cable is bent so that a large number of folded portions are formed in the cable (see, for example, Patent Document 2). ).

  In addition, it has been proposed that a holder is attached to a flat cable at an appropriate interval, and the flat cable is bent and folded between the holders (see, for example, Patent Document 3). In this case, it is possible to always extend or fold the flat cable in the same shape by attaching a spring between the holders and biasing the holder in the direction in which the distance between the holders is increased.

JP-A-8-64293 JP-A-4-340296 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-52180

  In the folding structure using the cord holder proposed in Patent Document 1, the cable is attached along the link while the cable is wound around the rotation axis of the link. Bending with a small curvature can damage the cable.

  In the folding structure using the cap-shaped fixing device proposed in Patent Document 2, the cap-shaped fixing device is simply attached and the cable is bent, and a portion for storing the bent cable needs to be provided. Further, since the cable is bent with a small curvature by the cap-shaped fixing device, the cable may be damaged.

  The folding structure proposed in Patent Document 3 is particularly applicable to flat cables, and cannot be applied to single-wire cables. In addition, it is necessary to provide a portion for storing the folded flat cable.

  Therefore, a cable folding structure that can fold the cable with a simple operation and can store the cable in the folded state is desired.

  A cable case formed by connecting a plurality of hollow unit cases in series; and a cable extending in the cable case supported in a predetermined position on the inner surface of the cable case and connected in series. Then, in a state where the unit cases are aligned in a straight line, a foldable cable is provided in which the cable is bent in a W shape at a connection portion between two adjacent unit cases.

  According to the foldable cable described above, the cable case can be folded by a simple operation, and accordingly, the cable accommodated in the cable case can be easily folded.

It is a figure which shows the whole folding cable by one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the foldable cable which extended completely and was made into linear form. It is a figure which shows the foldable cable fully folded. It is a figure which shows the inside of a foldable cable case. It is a figure which shows the state which removed the power cable from the foldable cable case. It is a figure which shows the inside of a unit case. It is a figure which expands and shows the connection part of the unit cases in FIG. It is a figure which expands and shows the connection part of unit cases in the state in the middle of folding a foldable cable case. It is a figure which expands and shows the connection part of the unit cases in FIG. It is a figure which expands and shows the connection part of unit cases in the state which folded the foldable cable case completely. It is a figure for demonstrating the process of assembling a foldable cable. It is a figure which expands and shows the connection part of unit cases at the time of providing a pin as a cable shape maintenance protrusion in a unit case. It is a figure which shows the state of the power cable at the time of accommodating a power cable in a unit case. It is a figure which expands and shows the connection part of unit cases in the state in the middle of folding a foldable cable case. It is a figure which expands and shows the connection part of unit cases in the state which folded the foldable cable case completely. It is a figure which shows the example which provided the AC adapter in the middle of the foldable cable. It is a figure which shows the state which folded the foldable cable case in FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an entire folding cable according to an embodiment. The foldable cable shown in FIG. 1 is formed by accommodating a foldable cable case 10 and a power cable 16 having an AC plug 12 connected to one end and a power plug 14 connected to the other end. The cable accommodated in the foldable cable case 10 is not limited to the power cable, and may be a device connection cable or any other cable.

  The foldable cable case 10 is formed by connecting a plurality of unit cases 10a having appropriate lengths in series, and a power cable 16 extends through each unit case 10a. A connecting portion between the unit cases 10 a is covered with a flexible bellows cover 22.

  The unit case 10a can be formed of a metal plate or a resin plate, but is preferably a resin molded product. The bellows cover 22 can be formed of thin rubber or plastic.

  The state shown in FIG. 1 is a state in which the foldable cable case 10 is appropriately folded, and when the foldable cable case 10 is folded, the internal power cable 16 is also folded. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the foldable cable case 10 is completely extended and straightened, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the foldable cable case 10 is completely folded.

  When the power cable 16 is not used, it is preferable to hold the foldable cable case 10 in a folded state as shown in FIG. A band or a strap for fixing in a folded state may be attached to the foldable cable case 10 in advance.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing the inside of the foldable cable case 10. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the foldable cable case 10 is completely extended and aligned. FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which the power cable 16 is removed from the foldable cable case 10. FIG. 6 is a view showing the inside of the unit case 10a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the power cable 16 has a mounting portion 16a with a hole. The attachment portion 16a can be integrally formed when the outer covering of the power cable 16 is formed of, for example, vinyl chloride. By inserting the pin 10b, which is a cable fixing projection provided inside the unit case 10a, into the hole of the attachment portion 16a, the power cable 16 is attached and accommodated inside the unit case 10a. The inner diameter of the hole of the attachment portion 16a is preferably slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pin 10b. By allowing the attachment portion 16a to rotate around the pin 10b, the power cable 16 at the connection portion of the unit case 10a can have a degree of freedom of deformation. When the unit case 10a is a resin molded product, the pins 10b can be formed integrally with the unit case 10a.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a connection portion between the unit cases 10a in FIG. At the connecting portion between the unit cases 10a, the power cable 16 is bent into a W shape. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the power cable 16 extends obliquely downward from the position of the pin 10b in one unit case 10a, is folded near the outlet of the unit case 10a, and extends obliquely upward. Exists. The power cable 16 is further folded back at the center of the connecting portion and extends downward, and further folded near the entrance of the adjacent unit case 10a and extends obliquely upward. In this way, by forming three gently folded portions in the connection portion, the power cable 16 can be folded 180 degrees with a margin when the foldable cable case 10 is folded.

  A reverse-bending preventing portion 10c extends from the end of the unit case 10a. In the state where the foldable cable case 10 is extended and straightened, at the connecting portion between the unit cases 10a, as shown in FIG. 7, the tip of the reverse bending prevention portion 10c extending from the unit cases 10a on both sides is shown. The surfaces abut against each other. The tip of the reverse bending prevention portion 10c is bent 90 degrees, and the tip surface is somewhat wide. When the unit cases 10a on both sides are aligned in a straight line (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7), the reverse bending on both sides is performed. The tip of the prevention unit 10c comes into contact with the surface.

  Here, a coil spring 20 is provided between the unit cases 10a on both sides, and urges the unit cases 10a on both sides to pull each other. Therefore, the tip of the reverse bending prevention part 10c on both sides comes into contact with the surface and the surface is brought into a stable state when the surface is pressed against each other by the pulling force of the coil spring 20. The power to maintain is working. Accordingly, when the unit case 10a is rotated from the folded state (the state shown in FIG. 10) to the state shown in FIG. 7 through the state shown in FIG. 9, the unit case 10a is hardly bent to the opposite side. Therefore, from the folded state shown in FIG. 10, the unit cases 10 a on both sides are rotated in the direction of natural opening by the pulling force of the coil spring 20, and when the straight state shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the unit case 10a on both sides is biased and pulled by the coil spring 20, but means for biasing the unit case 10a on both sides is not limited to the coil spring. For example, an elastic body such as a torsion spring or rubber may be provided between the unit cases 10a on both sides to bias the unit cases 10a on both sides.

  In this embodiment, the bellows cover 22 is provided so that the connection part between the unit cases 10a of both sides may be covered. The bellows cover 22 is formed of a thin sheet such as plastic or rubber. The bellows cover 22 is attached to the end portions of the unit cases 10a on both sides so as to cover the power cable 16 and the reverse bending prevention portion 10c at the connection portion.

  The bellows cover 22 is a very thin sheet. When the unit case is completely folded as shown in FIG. 10, the inner portion of the bellows cover 22 is folded between the two reverse-bend preventing portions 10c. It will get in. When the interval between the two reverse-bend preventing parts 10c is narrow, it is preferable that the reverse-bending preventing part 10c is slightly bent so that the distance between the two reverse-bending preventing parts 10c is increased in the state shown in FIG. .

  Next, a method for assembling the above foldable cable will be described with reference to FIG.

  Each unit case 10a has a hollow column shape with a square cross section, and pins 10b are provided near both ends of the inner surface of one side surface as a cable fixing projection. The side surface opposite to the inner surface provided with the pin 10b can be removed, and as shown in FIG. 11A, a unit case 10a opened in a U-shape can be obtained. The reverse-bending preventing portion 10c is a side surface perpendicular to the side surface on which the pin 10b is provided, and is attached to the side surface far from the pin 10b, and a part thereof extends from the end of the unit case 10a. .

  First, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), the two unit cases 10a are arranged in a row with the front end surface of the reverse bending prevention portion 10c being brought into contact with each other. Next, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the power cable 16 is accommodated in the unit case 10 a while inserting the pins 10 b of the unit case 10 a into the holes of the attachment portions 16 a of the power cable 16. At this time, the power cable is bent at the connecting portion of the unit case 10a so as to draw a W shape as described above. Then, both ends of the coil spring 20 are fixed to the unit cases 10a on both sides.

  Next, as shown to 11 (c), the bellows cover 22 is attached to the connection part of the unit case 10a, a side plate is attached to the open side of the unit case 10a, and the unit case 10a is closed.

  In a similar manner, as shown in FIG. 11D, the power cable 16 is accommodated in the unit case 10a while further connecting the unit case to both sides of the unit case 10a. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 1, the foldable cable in which the power cable 16 is accommodated in the foldable cable case 10 is assembled.

  The foldable cable assembled as described above can be easily folded so that the unit cases 10a overlap as shown in FIG. 3 by being bent at the connecting portion of the unit case 10a. Therefore, when the device is not used, the foldable cable can be kept small in a folded state, and a large storage space is not required.

  Further, the unit cases 10a are biased by the coil springs 20 in the direction of pulling each other, and naturally open from the folded state and become linear as shown in FIG. Therefore, when using the foldable cable, it is not necessary to extend all the unit cases 10a one by one, and the power cable 16 can be easily used.

  Further, since the power cable 16 is accommodated in the foldable cable case 10 and can be bent only in the folding direction with a relatively large curvature, there is no unnecessary twist in the cable. As a result, an excessive force is not applied to the power cable 16 during folding, and damage to the power cable 16 can be prevented.

  Further, since the power cable 16 is covered with the unit case 10a and the bellows cover 22, even when the power cable 14 is attached to a device and the power plug 14 is inserted into an outlet, the power cable 16 is less likely to get entangled or caught on the foot. Become.

  In the above-described embodiment, since the power cable 16 is merely bent and accommodated in the connection portion, the W shape may be deformed while the folding is repeated. Therefore, a structure for maintaining the shape of the power cable 16 (the shape bent in a W shape) at the connection portion of the unit case 10a may be provided in the unit case 10a.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the structure for maintaining the shape of the power cable 16 (the shape bent in a W shape) is provided with a pin 10d as a cable shape maintaining projection in addition to the pin 10b in the unit case 10a. It is a thing. The pin 10d is provided at a position where the power cable 16 is folded in the vicinity of the end in the longitudinal direction of each unit case 10a. In FIG. 12, the pin 10d is provided at a position on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the unit case 10a with respect to the pin 10b which is a cable fixing protrusion, and at a position opposite to the pin 10b in the width direction of the unit case 10a. When the unit case 10a is a resin molded product, the pins 10d can be formed integrally with the unit case 10a.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state of the power cable 16 when the power cable 16 is accommodated in the unit case 10a. The power cable 16 is attached to the cable fixing projection 10b and attached to the cable fixing projection 10b. The power cable 16 is hooked on the pin 10d that is the cable shape maintaining projection and folded back, and then extends to the connection portion. 10a.

  By providing the pin 10d, the pin 10d is provided in the W-shaped folded portion of the power cable 16 at the connection portion, so that the power cable 16 does not move greatly away from the position of the pin 10d in this portion. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the deformation of the power cable 16 during the folding or in the folded state is restricted by the pin 10d and is always W-shaped when it is linearly extended as shown in FIG. It will return to.

  Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described. In some cases, an electric adapter is provided with an AC adapter in the middle of a power cable in order to operate with direct current. Also in the foldable cable according to the above-described embodiment, an AC adapter may be provided on the way.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example in which an AC adapter is provided in the middle of a foldable cable. In the example shown in FIG. 16, the foldable cable case 10 is provided between the AC adapter 30 and the power plug 14 and between the AC adapter 30 and the AC plug 12. The structure of the foldable cable case 10 is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the example shown in FIG. 16, each unit case 10 a of the foldable cable case 10 is approximately the same length as the casing of the AC adapter 30, and the AC adapter 30 is folded in a state in which the foldable cable case 10 is folded. It can be fixed on the housing. As shown in FIG. 17, the housing of the AC adapter 30 is provided with an engagement hole 30a as a first engagement portion, and an engagement protrusion 10e is provided as a second engagement portion on the outside of the unit case 10a. The engagement protrusion 10e of the unit case 10a is shaped and sized to fit into the engagement hole 30a of the AC adapter 30.

  The foldable cable case 10 on the power plug 14 side and the foldable cable case 10 on the AC plug 12 side are folded and fixed with the lock belt 32, and placed on the casing of the AC adapter 30. At this time, the folded foldable cable case 10 is fitted into the engagement hole 30a of the AC adapter 30 by fitting the engaging protrusion 10e provided in the lowermost unit case 10a of the folded foldable cable case 10 into the AC adapter 30. It can be fixed to the AC adapter 30.

  As described above, by folding the foldable cable case 10 to the AC adapter 30 in a folded state, the foldable cable and the AC adapter can be kept small.

This specification discloses the following matters.
(Appendix 1)
A cable case formed by connecting a plurality of hollow unit cases in series;
A cable extending in the cable case supported in a predetermined position on the inner surface of the cable case and connected in series;
The foldable cable in which the cable is bent in a W shape at a connecting portion between two adjacent unit cases with the unit cases aligned in a straight line.
(Appendix 2)
A foldable cable according to appendix 1,
An attachment part in which an attachment hole is formed is formed at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the cable,
A foldable cable in which a cable fixing protrusion provided on an inner surface of the unit case is inserted into the mounting hole, whereby the cable is accommodated and fixed in the cable case.
(Appendix 3)
The foldable cable according to appendix 2,
The cable fixing projection is a foldable cable which is a pin formed integrally with the unit case on the inner surface of the unit case.
(Appendix 4)
The foldable cable according to any one of appendices 1 to 3,
A foldable cable in which an elastic member is provided at a connection portion between two adjacent unit cases among the unit cases, and the two unit cases are pulled together by the elastic member.
(Appendix 5)
The foldable cable according to appendix 4,
The connection portion is provided with a reverse bending prevention portion extending from an end portion of each of the two unit cases, and when the unit cases are arranged in a straight line, the end surfaces of the reverse bending prevention portions abut each other. Folding cable that touches.
(Appendix 6)
The foldable cable according to any one of appendices 2 to 5,
A foldable cable in which a cable shape maintaining protrusion is provided in the vicinity of the cable fixing protrusion, and the cable is folded back by the cable shape maintaining protrusion to be bent in a W shape.
(Appendix 7)
The foldable cable according to appendix 6,
The cable shape maintaining protrusion is a foldable cable that is a pin formed integrally with the unit case on the inner surface of the unit case.
(Appendix 8)
The foldable cable according to any one of appendices 1 to 7,
A foldable cable provided with a bellows-like cover so as to surround the power cable at the connection portion.
(Appendix 9)
The foldable cable according to any one of appendices 1 to 8,
The cable is a power cable in which an AC plug is connected to one end and a power plug is connected to the other end, and the AC plug and the power plug are provided on the opposite end side of the cable case.
(Appendix 10)
The foldable cable according to appendix 9,
A foldable cable in which an AC adapter is connected in the middle of the power cable, and the cable case is divided into a portion between the AC adapter and the AC plug and a portion between the AC adapter and the AC plug.
(Appendix 11)
The foldable cable according to appendix 10,
A first engagement portion is formed on the AC adapter, and a second engagement portion is formed on a unit case closest to the AC adapter, and the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are connected to each other. A foldable cable for fixing the cable case to the AC adapter by being engaged.
(Appendix 12)
The foldable cable according to appendix 10,
The foldable cable, wherein the first engagement portion is an engagement hole formed in a casing of the AC adapter, and the second engagement portion is an engagement protrusion formed in the unit case.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Folding type cable case 10a Unit case 10b Pin 10c Reverse bending prevention part 10d Pin 10e Engagement protrusion 12 AC plug 14 Power plug 16 Power cable 16a Mounting part 20 Coil spring 22 Bellows cover 30 AC adapter 30a Engagement hole 32 Lock belt

Claims (5)

A cable case formed by connecting a plurality of hollow unit cases in series;
A cable extending in the cable case supported in a predetermined position on the inner surface of the cable case and connected in series;
The foldable cable in which the cable is bent in a W shape at a connecting portion between two adjacent unit cases with the unit cases aligned in a straight line. The foldable cable according to claim 1,
An attachment part in which an attachment hole is formed is formed at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the cable,
A foldable cable in which a cable fixing protrusion provided on an inner surface of the unit case is inserted into the mounting hole, whereby the cable is accommodated and fixed in the cable case. The foldable cable according to claim 1 or 2,
A foldable cable in which an elastic member is provided at a connection portion between two adjacent unit cases among the unit cases, and the two unit cases are pulled together by the elastic member. The foldable cable according to claim 3,
The connection portion is provided with a reverse bending prevention portion extending from an end portion of each of the two unit cases, and when the unit cases are arranged in a straight line, the end surfaces of the reverse bending prevention portions abut each other. Folding cable that touches. The foldable cable according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
A foldable cable in which a cable shape maintaining protrusion is provided in the vicinity of the cable fixing protrusion, and the cable is folded back by the cable shape maintaining protrusion to be bent in a W shape.