WO2004020321A1

WO2004020321A1 - Manual apparatus for the connection of machines and vehicles to energy outlets

Info

Publication number: WO2004020321A1
Application number: PCT/SE2003/001314
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abdullah Alhomsi
Original assignee: Abdullah Alhomsi
Priority date: 2002-08-30
Filing date: 2003-08-26
Publication date: 2004-03-11
Also published as: AU2003253549A1; SE520245C2; SE0202558D0; SE0202558L

Abstract

The invention concerns an apparatus for the manual connection of electric machines and vehicles to energy outlets. The apparatus comprises a rigidified cord (3-2), at which a plug-in device (2-2) is affixed, and a receptacle (4-1) for housing the same. The cord is housed by manual linear feeding steps and travels in the receptacle according to a determined pattern by means of curbing arrangements until a predefined housing pattern is reached wherein, a compact housing is achieved. A manual extraction of the cord can occur in one step by which a determined length of the cord is obtained.

Description

MANUAL APPARATUS FOR THE CONNECTION OF MACHINES AND VEHICLES TO ENERGY OUTLETS

Technical field The invention at issue relates to apparatus by which machines, including industrial machines and electrical appliances, and vehicles, including trailers, can be manually connected to stationary or mobile energy supply sources; e.g. a household appliance to an electrical outlet mounted on a wall or a travel/transport trailer to an outlet fitted on the towing vehicle, that comprises one or several electrical wires fitted with a connection plug and an arrangement for housing the wires, which can be either freestanding or, for example, mounted on a wall or on the machine.

Background Art

Manual connection apparatus are used to facilitate user accessibility to the connection wires and, consequently, facilitate the connection of electrical appliances, machines, vehicles and trailers and to arrange the wires after concluded usage and, consequently, eliminate the risk of loss. Attempts to achieve manual connection apparatus have been made and have resulted in a number of known applications. One of these comprises a cord and a housing chamber with two or several fixed rods or poles, on the side or beneath the appliance, around which the cord is wrapped. Another application comprises an integrated space in which the electric connection wires are pushed. Another application is intended for vehicles and utilizes a case, with a sliding cover in the driving direction on which the vehicles registration plate is arranged, and in which a cord that is connected to the vehicle can be . wrapped. Another application comprises a reel arrangement that can be mounted in the vehicle and from which the cord can be manually extracted before usage and mechanically retracted after a manual disconnection and initialization ofthe retraction mechanism. Another related apparatus is a known system for the automatic connection of vehicles to supply sources for the transfer of liquid fuel, gas or energy that comprises a partially rigid, partially elastic transfer element on which a plug-in device is installed. The transfer element is extended from the vehicle towards a stationary supply unit wherein the transfer element's partial rigidity is utilized partly to bridge the distance between the vehicle and the supply unit and partly to enable the transfer element to be pointed and directed by means of a guiding arrangement in the supply unit towards an output device in which the connection is achieved. The transfer element is extended from the vehicle by means of, for example, a reel, which is driven by an electric motor, or by means of any other extending mechanism that can be installed behind the registration plate.

The usage of the above-mentioned applications has been limited because the apparatus does not allow for an aesthetically acceptable compact product and/or because of the difficulty to wind the wires or the cord particularly in a frozen condition and/or because the apparatus does not allow a production cost that results in a low consumer price corresponding to the attained user benefit.

The usage and hence the commercialization of a storage apparatus sets the following demands: 1- the manual restoring of the wires after usage to the storage state can be made easily and quickly. 2- the apparatus does not comprise moving parts, for example a slip ring connector which can freeze or limit reliability or life length. 3- the apparatus is simple and allows production at a low cost that results in a low consumer price in proportion to the obtained benefit. 4- the apparatus allows for product applications that are compact and aesthetically acceptable and can be installed or integrated in the machine/vehicle without a significant negative effect on the appearance ofthe vehicle. 6- the apparatus can be adapted to the physical dimensions and shape ofthe machine.

Commercialization of any ofthe known apparatus in large-scale has been limited. The difficulty being to satisfy the above named requirements with an apparatus that comprises simple components and therewith low production costs and can be integrated/installed in the majority of machines and vehicle types without altering their appearance.

The solutions, which encompass the pushing or wrapping of the wires in a housing chamber imply many manual steps and/or that the chamber must be significantly large in comparison to the volume of the wires and/or that the user should turn the machine around before extending or retracting the wires. Additionally, pulling ofthe wires out of such apparatus may result in a wire length leaving the housing chamber that exceeds the length intended by the user. Solutions, which comprise a reel with automatic retraction, imply a relatively thick apparatus alternatively an apparatus with a large diameter if a certain wire length is to be obtained. Additionally, the reel solution may comprise a slip ring connector that implies partly an increase in costs and partly an increase in complexity that entails a decrease in reliability. The related automatic solution comprises, in addition, a mechanism for extending the transfer element, for example: an electric motor, which implies a significantly more complex and expensive apparatus. The purpose of the present invention is to specify a simple, commercially viable apparatus for the manual connection of machines, electric appliances, vehicles and trailers to fixed and mobile energy supply sources, which comprises one or several wires, hereafter called cord, at which a plug-in device is affixed, and a receptacle for housing the cord that allows a compact product without the utilization of expensive or moving parts, which is easy to install or integrate in the majority of machines and vehicle types and can be manufactured to a low cost.

This purpose is achieved by means of a simple apparatus for the manual connection of machines, vehicles and trailers to fixed or mobile energy supply sources, which comprises a cord at which a plug-in device is affixed and a receptacle for housing the cord, that display the distinctive characteristics as presented in the following description and patent claims.

Summary ofthe Disclosed Invention The purpose of the present invention is to specify a simple apparatus for the manual connection of machines to energy supply sources that comprises a cord at which a plug-in device is affixed and at least one receptacle for housing the cord after completed usage, which allows for a compact design without expensive or moving parts, can be easily installed or integrated in the machine/vehicle and can be manufactured at a low cost.

The invention at issue specifies, herewith, an apparatus for the manual connection of machines, including electric appliances, vehicles and trailers, to fixed or mobile energy supply sources, which can be free-standing or affixed to the machine and comprised of: a cord for energy transfer, equipped with an adapted flexible rigidifying arrangement and a suitable plug-in device, intended for the connection ofthe machine, at least one adapted receptacle, for housing the cord including the rigidifying arrangement, equipped with at least one curbing arrangement the purpose of which is to define a specified traveling pattern throughout the extraction and feeding of the cord, wherein; an extraction of an intended length of the cord can be accomplished by one or several, mainly linear, extraction steps which results in a defined movement of at least one curved part ofthe cord in the receptacle and in the cord being forced to travel alongside at least one ofthe curbing arrangements and that only the intended cord length, equivalent to the extraction step, travels out ofthe receptacle; a complete housing is accomplished by means of one or several manual, mainly linear, feeding steps, which results in a defined movement of at least one curved part of the cord in the receptacle and in the cord being forced to travel alongside at least one of the curbing arrangements until an intended housing is completed which, herewith, results in an intended length of the cord being housed in a predefined housing pattern.

In one embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, at least one ofthe curbing arrangements is curved or crescent-formed in the travel direction ofthe cord which forces the cord to change its direction while traveling in the receptacle and/or defines the travel pattern during feeding and extraction. In other embodiments of the apparatus according to the present invention, the rigidifying arrangement is comprised of a core, with adapted rigidity and flexibility, made of, for example, plastic material, fiberglass or carbon fiber or a steel spring or a combination thereof.

In other embodiments of the apparatus according to the present invention, the rigidifying arrangement is comprised of material the flexibility and rigidity of which is adapted and in which the cord is imbedded or encased.

In an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the rigidifying arrangement is comprised of a spring-shaped casing of adapted rigidity and flexibility. In other embodiments of the apparatus according to the present invention, the rigidifying arrangement comprises a tube-like arrangement of adapted rigidity and flexibility.

In another embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, at least one of the curbing arrangements is comprised of at least one curbing element that is separated from the following curbing arrangements, in the cord travel direction, for example, to reduce the apparatus weight or to facilitate the drainage of accumulated water or to facilitate the bending ofthe apparatus.

In an embodiment ofthe apparatus according to the present invention, the curbing elements are able to rotate to reduce the friction resistance during feeding ofthe cord. In other embodiments of the apparatus according to the present invention, the apparatus comprises at least two receptacles in two different planes whereby the housing capacity is increased.

In another embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the receptacle is installed behind the registration plate ofthe vehicle. In another embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the apparatus is provided with an arrangement intended for collecting an additional cord length to the length housed by feeding the receptacle.

In another embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the apparatus is connected via, for example, a relay to an alarm, for instance, the vehicle signal horn, which is activated if the vehicle engine is started while the cord is connected to the energy source.

In another embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the receptacle is bendable for adaptation to the shape ofthe machine, for instance, to the shape of the bumper or to the vehicle/trailer base frame.

In another embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, at least one curbing arrangement is a sector of a rectangular, round or oval pipe the axle of which is parallel to the feeding direction of the cord alongside the same curbing arrangement. In another embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the plug-in device is collapsible for better adaptation to apparatus thickness and appearance.

In an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the rigidifying arrangement comprises different materials and/or material combinations alongside the cord, which results in the different parts of the cord maintaining different flexibility and rigidity characteristics.

In another embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, at least one ofthe curbing arrangements is constituted of a part of a machine, for example, a vehicle bumper or a towing beam of a trailer or part of a free-standing construction, for example, a wall or a railing. The use of a part of a machine or of a construction as a curbing arrangement aims at better integration of the apparatus and/or at lowering its production cost.

Brief Description o he Drawings

Henceforth reference is made to the attached figures for a better understanding of the present invention and its examples and embodiments:

Fig. 1 shows an example that illustrates the apparatus main components and how it can be integrated in an electric compliance, namely a food processor.

Fig.2 and fig.3 show two design examples ofthe rigidifying arrangement. Fig. 4 shows another embodiment example of the apparatus that comprises a free-standing receptacle.

Fig. 5 shows the same apparatus as in fig. 4 in a disassembled state, which illustrates an example ofthe curbing arrangement design. Fig. 6 illustrates the traveling pattern throughout the feeding and extraction of the cord ofthe apparatus in fig. 4.

Fig. 7 illustrates how the curbing arrangements in fig. 4 can comprise smaller fixed or rotating curbing elements.

Fig. 8 shows an apparatus that is comprised of two receptacles of which the first is fed by the manual insertion force and the second is fed by the first.

Fig. 9 shows an apparatus intended for installation behind the registration plate of a vehicle, which is provided with an arrangement in the shape of a frame for collecting an additional cord length to the one that can be fed into the receptacle.

Fig. 10 illustrates a bendable apparatus that has a flexible receptacle for adaptation to the shape ofthe machine, for example, the vehicle bumper.

Fig. 11 shows an apparatus, intended for installation in a trailer, which has a relatively long rectangular receptacle.

Fig. 12 illustrates a similar apparatus to that in fig. 11 that comprises a receptacle in which the curbing arrangements are constituted of sections of a pipe the axle of which is parallel to the travel direction ofthe cord.

Fig. 13 shows a collapsible plug-in device that is adapted to the receptacle thickness.

Fig. 14 shows how the plug-in device in fig. 13 can be transformed from collapsed to usage position and how it can be integrated in the apparatus that is intended for installation behind the registration plate.

Fig. 15 shows an apparatus with a rigidifying arrangement that comprises different material combinations along the cord.

Fig. 16 illustrates an apparatus that is integrated in a trailer with rigidifying arrangements that comprises different material combinations along the cord.

Detailed Description of preferred Embodiments

A detailed description of an apparatus according the present invention for manual connection of machines, including electric appliances, vehicles and trailer to stationary and mobile energy supply sources follows below. The apparatus according the present invention facilitates manual housing ofthe cord in a compact and simple receptacle, which does not comprise any moving or complex parts that can reduce reliability.

This facilitates, for example, management ofthe cord of some electric appliances as printers and household machines after usage or during transportation. Concerning machines, vehicles and trailers, the apparatus facilitates their connection by normalizing the location of the cord and/or housing the cord in a compact and imperceptible manner and protect it after usage.

The apparatus in figure 1 is integrated in a household appliance, namely a food processor 1-1 that is shown in the figure from beneath with the base plate 1-2 as transparent. The cord 1-3, which is housed in a thin chamber, is equipped with a rigidifying arrangement and a bipolar plug-in device 1-4, is permanently attached to the curbing arrangement 1-5 with a suitable fastener. The figure shows the cord during feeding immediately before complete housing is achieved and generally illustrates the predefined housing pattern. The figure also shows how the receptacle can be integrated in the appliance without notable effect on its appearance or height. The apparatus in this example houses more than 1 m cord length if the length ofthe food processor is 30 cm.

Figure 2 shows a rigidifying arrangement that is comprised of a spring- shaped casing. The cord, which encompasses 3 different connection wires 2-1, is connected to the three- pole plug-in device 2-2 and is protected by a tube 2-3. The rigidifying arrangement in this example consists of a spring-casing 2-4 made of a tightly coiled acid-resistant steel spring with a 1.8 mm wire diameter.

Figure 3 illustrates another example ofthe rigidifying arrangements in the shape of a core. The core, which can be made of a suitable material, for example, fiberglass or carbon fiber, is comprised in this example of a steel spring 3-2 and placed together with the cord 3-1 in a suitable hose 3-3.

Figure 4 shows a stand-alone apparatus 4-1 which can be installed, for example, on an industrial machine for connection by the plug-in device 4-2 or installed on a wall for the connection of several machines or vehicles by an outlet instead of the plug-in device shown in the figure. The apparatus in fig. 4, which will be further illustrated in figures 5 and fig. 6, is compact and has a total thickness 4-3 of 11 mm and houses a cord that is rigidified with a spring-shaped casing the diameter of which is 8 mm.

Figure 5 shows the same apparatus as in figure 4 in a disassembled state. The receptacle comprises 7 different curbing arrangements. Five of these, 5-1 to 5-5, limit the cord's lateral movement and have surfaces in the receptacle of a height slightly larger than the diameter ofthe cord 5-6 to facilitate its travel. The other two, 5-6 and 5-7, are parallel and confine the cord movement to one plane. Three of these curbing arrangements, 5-2, 5- 4 and 5-5, have curved surfaces to force the cord 5-8 to change direction throughout feeding and/or to define a travel pattern throughout extraction. The figure illustrates the cord immediately before a complete extraction is achieved wherein a certain cord length 5-9 is retained in the receptacle.

Figure 6 illustrates the travel pattern of the cord during extraction from housed state 6-1 through halfway extraction state 6-H to the state immediately before completed extraction 6-_H and, thereafter, during feeding through halfway feeding state 6-IV back to housed state 6-V wherein a complete housing is achieved. The manual extraction force 6-1 instigates that the curved part ofthe cord 6-2 presses on the curved part 6-3 which imposes a differential travel of the part 6-4 alongside the curbing arrangement 6-5 and an alike travel of part 6-6 wherein both part 6-2 and 6-3 reposition to the right 6-7 in the figure and the extraction ofthe cord is initiated. The extraction continues as state 6-II illustrates with a continuous differential travel until the state 6-III immediately before a complete extraction is achieved after which the part 6-8 moves towards the curbing arrangement 6-9 simultaneously as complete extraction is achieved. When feeding is initiated with successive feeding steps, and when the manual force 6-10 reposition the part 6-11, the part 6-12 may reposition, because ofthe rigidity and a sufficient friction alongside part 6-13, to the left in the figure which implies simultaneous movement of both parts. If the friction is not sufficient, the part 6-11 reaches the curbing arrangement 6-14. Thereafter, the parts 6- 13 and 6-12 are fed alongside the curbing arrangement 6-8 until the state 6-15 and complete housing is reached. The rigidity of the cord prevents it, during extraction and feeding, from uncontrollably twisting inwards toward the middle of the receptacle and permits the insertion of a long part ofthe cord by holding it, for instance, 30 cm apart from the receptacle in the beginning if every feeding step. The apparatus in figure 6 performs as a Active cable reel ofa variable diameter and a fixed eccentric axle.

Figure 7 shows how the curbing arrangements can encompass separated fixed 7- 1 or rotating curbing elements 7-2. Replacement of large curbing arrangements with small can decrease the apparatus weight or facilitate drainage for outdoor usage. Rotating elements can decrease friction and further facilitate the cord extraction and feeding. If only one side of these elements is fixed, the apparatus will be bendable with retained performance as shown in figure 10. Figure 8 shows how the apparatus can comprise two receptacles in different, parallel planes. The cord is fed in the receptacle in zone 8-1 to the upper receptacle 8-1, which is separated from the lower one 8-JH by means ofthe shared curbing arrangement 8- 2 which is slashed in the figure for the purpose of illustration. The cord travels in the upper receptacle at feeding until reaching area 8-3 where it is forced by the curbing arrangement 8-4 to change both direction and travel plane to the lower receptacle wherein the travel pattern is similar to that in figure 1. The extraction instigates firstly that the cord travels in the upper receptacle until it reaches the curbing arrangement 8-5 before it begins to be extracted from the lower receptacle. The two receptacles in this example are parallel and the cord travels, mainly, in two horizontal planes. The apparatus can be designed so that the lower receptacle forms an angle of 90 degrees to the upper, i.e. is turned around the right edge of the receptacle in the figure, and the cord travels vertically in this receptacle. This modification and many others that encompass other angles between the receptacles can allow for a better adaptation to particular machine shapes. Figure 9 illustrates an apparatus intended for the connection of vehicles to the electricity mains, which is equipped with an arrangement for collecting an additional cord length to the one that can be housed by feeding the receptacle.

The registration plate can be installed on a specified surface 9-1. The apparatus is, otherwise, similar the one in figures 5 and 6. The cord is fed in area 9-2. An additional cord length 9-4 is collected in a channel 9-3 by placing it the duct 9-5 and 9-6. The cord rigidity forces it to stretch out into the channel 9-3.

Figure 10 illustrates a bendable apparatus for the purpose of; for example, adaptation to the shape ofthe machine. The apparatus is drawn as straight 10-1 and as bent 10-2 for the purpose of illustration. The curbing arrangements 10-3 are separated to facilitate the intended bending. The figure shows how the distance between the curving arrangements widens 10-4 or narrows after bending and in order to allow for it without generating high stresses in the receptacle construction.

Figure 11 shows an apparatus that is mainly intended for installation on trailers. The curbing arrangements comprise a long rectangular, slightly flexible, plastic tube 11-1 and a block 11-2 to which the cord 11-3 is affixed. The plug-in device 11-4 is intended for connection with a related output device at the rear side of the towing vehicle for energy and signal transfer between the vehicle and the trailer. The apparatus, which can be installed on the trailer towing beam or base frame, illustrates the simplicity with which the apparatus can be designed. A similar apparatus with a suitable plug-in device can also be installed on the vehicle, for example, on its base frame for the connection to the electricity mains or to travel trailers.

Figure 12 shows another apparatus intended for trailers. The curbing arrangements are sectors of an oval pipe the axle of which is parallel to the cord travel direction and, in this example, together form an oval pipe 12-1. The rigidified cord 12-2, which is equipped with the plug-in device 12-3 is affixed to the hinged cover 12-4 and to the wiring of the trailer 12-5. When the cover 12-4 is turned to the left around an axle, which is not shown in the figure, the cord can be extracted totally from the receptacle. Feeding should preceded by a manual bending ofthe cord and fitting in the receptacle. Figure 13 shows a collapsible plug-in device that is adapted to one design ofthe apparatus. The device is shown in the collapsed position. When in use position, the plug-in device can substitute the standard, round three-pole plug. The cord in figure 13, which is rigidified with a spring-shaped casing 13-1 and comprises three connection wires 13-2, is connected to a cartridge 13-3. Two ofthe connection wires, namely the two mains phases, are connected in the cartridge to the moveable bipolar plug 13-4 by the spiral cord 13-5. The third connection wire is connected to two earth plates 13-6 that perform as two earth splints when the bipolar plug is moved to its intended position 13-7 in the ready-to-use position.

Figure 14 shows how the plug- in device can be transformed, from the rest position through turning and placing in the connection position, to a substitute the standardized round plug. The figure shows also how the plug-in device can be integrated in the apparatus for installation behind the registration plate of a vehicle described by figure 9. The plug-in device 14-1 is ofthe same thickness and height as the apparatus 14-2 and can be integrated in it without altering its appearance. The collapsible plug-in device can also be integrated, for example, in the apparatus that are incorporated in appliances such as computers, printers and household machines.

Figure 15 illustrates an apparatus the rigidifying arrangement of which involves different material combinations along the cord. The rigidifying arrangement in the figure results in two cord parts 15-1 and 15-2 that possess different flexibility and rigidity characteristics. Rigidifying of part 15-1 has been attained by means of a suitable rubber material while rigidifying of part 15-2 further includes an encircling, tightly coiled, steel spring. The cord part 15-1 has a lower minimum allowed bending radius, which allows for decreased dimension ofthe receptacle. Figure 16 shows an apparatus with curbing arrangement that constitutes a part of a machine. The figure shows how a section ofthe towing beam 16-1 of a trailer constitutes a receptacle with curbing arrangements and entirely integrates the apparatus in the trailer. The apparatus is adapted to the cross-sections ofthe beam and can utilize it as a receptacle thanks to the adaptation ofthe rigidifying arrangement, which results in a cord part 16-2 of relatively low rigidity and low allowed bending radius and a cord part 16-3 the rigidity of which is relatively high and facilitates feeding and housing. The total extractable cord length is determined by the length of part 16-3 of the cord, which is prevented from exiting the receptacle by the simple end arrangement 16-6. The cord part 16-2 is not intended to leave the receptacle and is connected to the trailer wiring 16-4 in a connection box in the end plug 16-5.

The present invention has been described with non-limiting examples and embodiments. It is the attached set of claims that describe possible embodiments for a person skilled in the art.

Claims

Patent Claims

1- An apparatus for the manual connection of machines, including electric appliances, vehicles and trailers, to fixed or mobile energy supply sources, which can be free-standing or affixed to the machine, characterized in that: a cord (1-3) for energy transfer, equipped with an adapted flexible rigidifying arrangement (2-4) and a suitable plug-in device (1-4), intended for the connection of the machine; at least one adapted receptacle (4-1), for housing the cord including the rigidifying arrangement, equipped with at least one curbing arrangement (11-1) the purpose of which is to define a specified traveling pattern throughout the extraction and feeding ofthe cord, and wherein; the extraction of an intended length of cord can be accomplished by one or several, mainly linear, extraction steps which results in a defined movement of at least one curved part of the cord (6-2) in the receptacle and in the cord being forced to travel alongside at least one of the curbing arrangements and that only the intended cord length, equivalent to the extraction step, travels out ofthe receptacle; and a complete housing occurs by means of one or several manual, mainly linear, feeding steps, which results in a defined movement of at least one curved part ofthe cord

(6-11), in the receptacle, and the cord being forced to travel alongside at least one ofthe curbing arrangements until an intended housing is completed which, herewith, results in an intended length ofthe cord being housed in a predefined housing pattern(6-V).

2- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: at least one ofthe curbing arrangements is curved or crescent-shaped (5-2, 5-4, 5-5) in the travel direction of the cord, which forces the cord to change its direction while traveling in the receptacle and/or defines the travel pattern during feeding and extraction.

3- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the rigidifying arrangement is comprised of a core (3-2), with adapted rigidity and flexibility, made of, for example, plastic material, fiberglass or carbon fiber or a steel spring or a combination thereof. 4- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the rigidifying arrangement is comprised of material the flexibility and rigidity of which is adapted and in which the cord is imbedded or encased.

5- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the rigidifying arrangement comprises a spring-shaped casing (2-4) of an adapted rigidity and flexibility. 6- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the rigidifying arrangement comprises a tube-like arrangement of an adapted rigidity and flexibility.

7- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: at least one of the curbing arrangements comprises at least one curbing element that is separated from the following curbing arrangements (7-1), in the cord travel direction, for example, to reduce the apparatus weight or to facilitate the drainage of accumulated water or to facilitate the bending ofthe apparatus.

8- An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that: the curbing elements are able to rotate (7-2) to reduce the friction resistance during feeding of the cord.

9- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the apparatus incorporates at least two receptacles (8-1, 8-II) on two different planes whereby the housing capacity is increased.

10- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the receptacle is installed behind the registration plate (9-1) ofthe vehicle.

11- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the apparatus is provided with an arrangement (9-3) for collecting an additional cord length to the one housed by feeding the receptacle.

12- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the cord is connected via, for example, a relay to an alarm, for instance, the vehicle signal horn, which is activated if the vehicle engine is started while the cord is connected to the energy source.

13- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the receptacle is bendable (10-2) for adaptation to the shape of the machine, for instance, to the shape of the bumper or to the vehicle/trailer base frame.

14- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: at least one curbing arrangement is a sector of a rectangular, round or oval pipe (12-1) the axle of which is parallel to the feeding direction of the cord alongside the same curbing arrangement. 15- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the plug-in device is collapsible (13-4) for better adaptation to the apparatus thickness and appearance.

16- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: the rigidifying arrangement comprises different materials along the cord, which results in the different parts (15-1, 15-2) ofthe cord maintaining different flexibility and rigidity characteristics. 17- An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: at least one ofthe curbing arrangements constitutes a part of a machine, for example, a vehicle bumper or a towing beam of a trailer or part (16-1) ofa machine or a construction.