WO2009155615A1

WO2009155615A1 - An accessory for a power- or data cord

Info

Publication number: WO2009155615A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2008/000050
Authority: WO
Inventors: Petrus Johannes Naude
Original assignee: Petrus Johannes Naude
Priority date: 2008-06-18
Filing date: 2008-06-18
Publication date: 2009-12-23

Abstract

This invention relates to an accessory for a power- or data cord having a connector or an electronic device fast with one of its ends. The invention relates also to a method of facilitating connection of a connector provided at one end of a power- or data cord to an electronic device, and to a method of facilitating use of a computer mouse having a data cord attached thereto. In accordance with one key aspect of the invention there is provided an accessory for a power- or data cord having a connector or an electronic device fast with one end thereof, the accessory including an attachment portion for attachment to a structure, and a securing portion for interacting with the attachment portion, the accessory, when the securing portion interacts with the attachment portion, defining at least one retaining formation for receiving and retaining a power- or data cord having a connector or an electronic device fast with one end thereof downstream of said connector or electronic device, so that movement of an end portion of the power- or data cord between the accessory and the connector or electronic device is restricted relative to said structure to which the attachment portion of the accessory is attached. The attachment portion and the securing portion may be constructed such that, when the securing portion interacts with the attachment portion, each retaining formation is generally in the form of a passage for receiving a power- or data cord.

Description

PROPOSED TITLE: AN ACCESSORY FOR A POWER- OR DATA CORD

THIS INVENTION relates to an accessory for a power- or data cord having a connector or an electronic device fast with one of its ends. The invention relates also to a method of facilitating connection of a connector provided at one end of a power- or data cord to an electronic device, and to a method of facilitating use of a computer mouse having a data cord attached thereto.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided an accessory for a power- or data cord having a connector or an electronic device fast with one end thereof, the accessory including an attachment portion for attachment to a structure, and a securing portion for interacting with the attachment portion, the accessory, when the securing portion interacts with the attachment portion, defining at least one retaining formation for receiving and retaining a power- or data cord having a connector or an electronic device fast with one end thereof downstream of said connector or electronic device, so that movement of an end portion of the power- or data cord between the accessory and the connector or electronic device is restricted relative to said structure to which the attachment portion of the accessory is attached.

The attachment portion and the securing portion may be constructed such that, when the securing portion interacts with the attachment portion, each retaining formation is generally in the form of a passage for receiving a power- or data cord.

The attachment portion may include a base and a passage-defining formation fast with and projecting operatively upwardly from the base, the securing portion including a roof and a passage-defining formation fast with and projecting operatively downwardly from the roof, with the passage-defining formation of the attachment portion and the passage-defining formation of the securing portion together defining said at least one passage for receiving a power- or data cord when the securing portion interacts with the attachment portion. Further to the securing portion including a roof there is also a passage- defining formation with groove-like channels with nipples forming part of the securing portion defining at least one passage for receiving a power - or data cord when the securing portion interacts with the attachment portion.

The attachment portion and the securing portion may be provided with complimentary connection formations for at least partially releasably securing the securing portion to the attachment portion to interact therewith to define said at least one retaining formation.

The connection formations of the attachment portion and the securing portion may include at least one clip.

The attachment portion and the securing portion and their connection formations may be constructed such that the securing portion is separable from the attachment portion.

In one embodiment, the attachment portion and the securing portion when connected together may define a plurality of passages for receiving a like plurality of power- or data cords, the passages extending alongside one another, being located side-by-side. At least one of the passages may have a different size than the other passages, such that the accessory provides for retaining of differently sized power- or data cords. The attachment portion may be elongated, the passage-defining formation thereof being oriented to define a plurality of operatively upwardly opening formations located side-by-side and extending transversely across the base, each formation being for forming part of a separate passage, the securing portion also being elongated, and the passage-defining formation thereof defining a like plurality of operatively downwardly opening formations located side-by-side and extending transversely to the roof for forming, together with said formations defined by the attachment portion, said plurality of passages.

The attachment portion may be provided with an attachment formation for attaching it to a said structure. The attachment formation of the attachment portion may include an adhesive layer located at the base of the attachment portion. In a particular embodiment, the attachment formation may be in the form of a strip of re-usable or permanent double-sided adhesive material, one side of the strip being attached to the base of the attachment portion, the other side of the strip facing away from the base of the attachment portion and being covered by a release strip releasable to expose said adhesive layer.

The accessory may be of synthetic plastics construction, typically being in the form of a moulding formed by an injection moulding process.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of facilitating connection of a connector provided at one end of a power- or data cord to an electronic device, the method including securing the power- or data cord adjacent said connector, at a position downstream of said connector, to a structure for receiving an electronic device, so that dislocation of the connector from said structure is resisted, thereby permitting easy connection of the connector to an electronic device located on the structure.

The power- or data cord may be releasably secured to said structure. The power- or data cord may, in one embodiment, be in the form of a charger cord of a cellular telephone. In another embodiment, the power- or data cord may be a cord associated with a laptop or notebook computer.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of facilitating use of a computer mouse having a cord connected thereto, the method including securing the cord, at a position downstream from the mouse, to a structure associated with use of the mouse, thereby resisting undesired movement of a portion of the cord between said position at which the mouse is secured to the structure and the mouse relative to the structure under influence of a portion of the cord downstream of said position at which the cord is secured to the structure.

The structure may be a desk on which the mouse is located and operated.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of facilitating use of the securing portion of the embodiment for corporate messaging or brand promotion purposes. The securing portion is designed with a surface area on the upward facing side that allows for printing or labeling for corporate communications and promotions information.

The invention is now described, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of an accessory in accordance with the invention for a power- or data cord having a connector or an electronic device fast with one end thereof;

Figure 2 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of an attachment portion forming part of the accessory shown in Figure 1 as seen from above;

Figure 3 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of the attachment portion shown in Figure 2 as seen from below;

Figure 4 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of a securing portion forming part of the accessory shown in Figure 1 as seen from above;

Figure 5 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of the securing portion shown in Figure 4 as seen from below; Figure 6 shows, schematically, another embodiment of an accessory in accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of an attachment portion forming part of the accessory shown in Figure 6 as seen from above;

Figure 8 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of the attachment portion shown in Figure 7 as seen from below;

Figure 9 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of a securing portion forming part of the accessory shown in Figure 6 as seen from above;

Figure 10 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of the securing portion shown in Figure 9 as seen from below; Figure 11 shows, schematically, a further embodiment of an accessory in accordance with the invention;

Figure 12 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of an attachment portion forming part of the accessory shown in Figure 11 as seen from above; Figure 13 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of the attachment portion shown in Figure 12 as seen from below;

Figure 14 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of a securing portion forming part of the accessory shown in Figure 11 as seen from above; and Figure 15 shows, schematically, a three-dimensional view of the securing portion shown in Figure 14 as seen from below.

With reference to Figures 1 - 5 of the drawings, an accessory 10 in accordance with the invention for a power- or data cord having a connector or an electronic device fast with one end thereof is generally designated by reference numeral 10. The accessory 10, as will be described in more detail hereunder, in use serves to secure such a power- or data cord, at a position downstream from its connector or electronic device, to a structure such as, for example, a table, a desk, or the like. In use, the accessory restricts movement of a portion of such a power- or data cord between the accessory 10 and the connector or electronic device relative to such a structure, thereby ensuring that said portion of the cord, and when applicable said connector or electronic device, is not dragged from the structure under gravity by a length of the cord downstream of the accessory 10 when said length of cord hangs down from or is moved from the structure.

The accessory 10 includes an attachment portion 12 (see in particular Figures 2 and 3) which is in the form of a synthetic plastics moulding, being provided with an attachment formation 14 (described in further detail hereunder) by means of which it is in use attached to a structure, for example a table, a desk, or the like, on which a computer or other electronic device associated with the power- or data cord which is to be retained by the accessory 10 is associated. The accessory 10 further includes a securing portion 16 which is also in the form of a synthetic plastics moulding and, in use, interacts with the attachment portion 12 as described below. In this example, the securing portion 16 is releasably securable to the attachment portion 12 so that it and the attachment portion 12 are separable from each other. With the securing portion 16 secured to the attachment portion 12, the accessory 10 defines a retaining formation 18 in which a power- or data cord (shown in broken lines in Figure 1 and designated by reference numeral 20) is received and held captive. In the example shown in Figure 1 , the power- or data cord 20 has an electrical connector in the form of a charging plug 22 for a cellular telephone connected to its end. The accessory 10 is attached to a desk 15 providing a surface on which a cellular telephone to be charged is to be located.

When the attachment portion 12 is attached to a structure, and the charger power cord 20, and accordingly the charger plug 22, is retained by the accessory 10, i.e. when the cord 22 is received by the retaining formation 18 and held captive therein, a length of the cord 20 between the accessory 10 and the plug 22 cannot be dragged from the desk 23 under gravity by a portion of the cord 20 on the other side of the accessory 10, i.e. that portion of the cord 20 between the accessory 10 and the charger plug 22. For clarity, said portion of the cord 20 between the accessory 10 and a wall socket connecting plug (not shown) connected to the other end of the cord 20 is designated by reference numeral 20.1.

Referring now in .particular to the attachment portion 12, it is roughly egg- shaped in outline when seen in plan, including a generally flat base having an under face 26 and an upper face 28. A recess 30 intrudes into the under face 26 of the base 24, in which recess 30 the aforedescribed attachment formation 14 is located. In this example, the attachment formation 14 is in the form of a strip of double-sided adhesive tape (shown in broken lines only), one side thereof being attached to the under face 26 of the base 24, the other face thereof, i.e. a face thereof facing away from the under face 26, being covered by a release strip (not shown) releasable to expose an adhesive layer by which the attachment portion 12 is attached to a structure such as the aforementioned desk 23. A rim 32 is fast with and projects operatively upwardly from a peripheral edge of the base 24. The attachment portion 12 provides a retaining formation, generally designated by reference numeral 34, defined by two laterally spaced limbs 36 between which the power cord 20 is snugly received, and two semicircular recesses 38, 40 provided at opposing ends of the rim 32, which recesses 38, 40 cradle the cord 20. The recesses 38, 40 and a space defined between the two limbs 36 define one half of the retaining formation 18, which as will become more apparent hereunder is generally in the form of a passage, through which the power cord 20 extends. Turning now to the securing portion 16, it is also generally egg-shaped in outline when seen in plan, including a roughly flat roof 42 and a downwardly depending rim 44 fast with a peripheral edge of the roof 42. Between its ends, the securing portion 16 is provided with two clip fingers 46, 48 fast with and projecting downwardly from the rim 44. In use, the clip fingers 46, 48, when the securing portion 16 is secured to the attachment portion 12, are received by complementary clip recesses 50, 52 defined by the attachment portion 12. The securing portion 16 (as shown in Figure 4) has a surface area 42 designed for corporate promotions and communications information printing and or labelling. The design of the retaining formation 16 is such that the formation can remain on a cellular charger cord when the charger is to be removed from the structure through the use of releasable and reusable type adhesive 14. Keeping the retaining information on the cellular charger cord even if the charger is moved around extends and improves the corporate promotional communications value of the retaining formation 10.

The securing portion 16 defines the other half of the retaining formation 18. In particular, the rim 44 of the securing portion 16, at its opposing ends, is provided with two semi-circular recesses 54, 56 which are in register with the recesses 38, 40 of the attachment portion 12 when the securing portion 16 is attached to the attachment portion 12. Further, the securing portion 16, on an underface 57 thereof is provided with an operatively downwardly projecting limb 58 for pressing down on the power- or data cord 20 when it is received by the retaining formation 18. In particular, the limb 58, when the securing portion 16 is secured to the attachment portion 12, spans a gap defined between the limbs 36 of the attachment portion 12.

In use, the aforementioned release strip of the attachment formation 14 is released, and the attachment portion 12 is attached to a work surface provided by a desk 15 or the like. The power cord 20 is then operatively located relative to the attachment portion 12, such that it extends through that half of the retaining formation 18 defined by the attachment portion 12. Thereafter, the securing portion 16 is secured, by means of the aforedescribed clip fingers 46, 48 to the attachment portion 12, such that the power cord 20 is retained and held captive by the accessory 10. By virtue of the accessory 10 being attached to a desk 15 or the like, movement of that portion of the power- or data cord 20 between the accessory 10 and the charger plug 22 is restricted. The charger plug 22 thus remains on the desk 15, so that it is always in easy reach. The accessory 10 thus serves to retain cellular telephone charger plug in a desired position on a table, desk or the like, such that that end portion of the cable is not dragged from the table, desk or the like under gravity by a downstream portion of the cable, downstream from the accessory 10, 70.

In order to release the power cord 20 from the accessory 10, the securing portion 16 is released from the attachment portion 12, thereby permitting removal of the power cord 20 from that half of the retaining formation 18 defined by the attachment portion 12.

Referring now to Figures 6 - 10 of the drawings, another embodiment of an accessory in accordance with the invention is generally designated by reference numeral 70. The accessory 70, in most respects, resembles the accessory 10 and, accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, like reference numerals used to indicate parts or features of the accessory 10 are used to indicate like parts or features of the accessory 70. The accessory 70 is, as will be described hereunder, to be used in the context of a computer mouse.

In the example shown in Figures 6 - 10, the rim 32 of the attachment portion

12 of the accessory 70 is spaced inwardly from an edge of the base 24, so that the securing portion 16 is received over and covers the rim 32 when it is secured to the attachment portion 12. Further, in this example, the attachment portion 12 includes two sets of limbs 36 respectively being located adjacent opposing ends of the attachment portion 12.

The securing portion 16, in this example, is roughly dome-shaped, being more or less profiled like a computer mouse, such that the roof 42 and the rim 44 of the securing portion 16 are not clearly distinguishable. In this example, the clip fingers 46, 48, by virtue thereof that the securing portion 16 is in use, as briefly mentioned above, received over the rim 32 of the attachment portion 12, located on the underface 57 of the securing portion 16, being more in the form of stubs projecting towards each other than fingers. In use, as foreshadowed above, the cord to be retained by the accessory 70 is the cord of a computer mouse 72. Accordingly, the accessory 70 can, instead of a desk or the like, be attached to a monitor or computer box or case.

Apart from the above, the accessory 70 functions in exactly the same fashion as the accessory 10 and, accordingly, its functioning is not described further.

Referring now to Figures 11 - 15 of the drawings, a further embodiment of an accessory in accordance with the invention is generally designated by reference numeral 80. The accessory 80, in most respects, resembles the accessory 10 and, accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, like reference numerals used to indicate parts or features of the accessory 10 are used to indicate parts or features of the accessory 80.

There are two main functional differences between the accessory 80 and the accessory 10. Firstly accessory 80 is intended to retain a plurality of power- or data cords in desired positions relative to a structure such as a desk 15, and secondly accessory 80 allows for power - or data cords to be retained functionally through and on top of the retaining formation. As far as construction is concerned, the attachment portion 12 of the accessory 80 does not include a rim 32, and the clip fingers 46, 48 of the accessory 80 are fast with the attachment portion 12. It follows that the clip recesses 50, 52 of the accessory 80 are provided by the securing portion 16. Securing portion 16 has the groove-like channels protruding through it 85 allowing for power - or data cords to be retained on top of the securing portion 16 of which there can be one or more of said groove-like channels 85. Inside the groove-like channels there is small nipple features 86 protruding upward and or sideward from the groove-like channel that have the function to secure a power - or data cord 84 that might be laid in the groove- like channel to be retained.

The accessory 80 is expected to be particularly advantageously applicable to use of laptop or notebook computers which require a plurality of power- or data cords 82, each having an electrical or data plug 84 at its end to be connected and disconnected therefrom on a regular basis. Typically, the accessory 80 can be used at a work desk to retain all the power- or data cords 82, and accordingly their associated plugs 84, associated with a laptop or notebook computer in place relative to the work desk 15, thereby facilitating connection of these plugs 84 to a laptop or notebook computer.

The accessory 80 is further expected to be particularly advantageously applicable to power cords of notebook computers and or mobile phones where the cords can be laid in the groove-like channels 85 forming part of the securing portion 16 to be retained and secured to a surface area and easily lifted out of the groove-like channels without having to separate the attachment portion 12 and securing portion 16 to remove the cords. The groove-like channels 85 allow for the frequent laying and removal of power cords without having to separate and clip together the securing portion 16 and attachment portion 12 of the accessory.

In this example, as foreshadowed above, the attachment portion 12 and the securing portion 16 of the accessory 80 provide a plurality of formations for forming part of retaining formations 18, which plurality of formations extend side-by-side alongside each other. In particular, the attachment portion 12 and the securing portion 16 are elongated, the aforementioned formations for forming part of the retaining formations 18 being defined transversely to the length of the accessory 80. As can be seen in Figures 11 - 15, the respective retaining formations 18 are shaped and sized to accommodate differently sized power- or data cords 82.

Apart from the aforedescribed structural differences, the accessory 80 functions in exactly the same fashion as the accessory 10 and, accordingly, functioning of the accessory 80 is not described further.

Although not shown as such in any of the drawings, an outer face of the securing portions 16 of the accessories 10, 70, 80 can be provided with advertising or branding material. The accessories 10, 70, 80 can be of any colour, can be black or white, or a combination thereof.

The invention as described and illustrated provides an accessory which retains a specified end of a power- or data cord in a predetermined position relative to a structure, such that said end of the power- or data cord is always freely accessible.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An accessory for a power- or data cord having a connector or an electronic device fast with one end thereof, the accessory including an attachment portion for attachment to a structure, and a securing portion for interacting with the attachment portion, the accessory, when the securing portion interacts with the attachment portion, defining at least one retaining formation for receiving and retaining a power- or data cord having a connector or an electronic device fast with one end thereof downstream of said connector or electronic device, so that movement of an end portion of the power- or data cord between the accessory and the connector or electronic device is restricted relative to said structure to which the attachment portion of the accessory is attached.

2. An accessory as claimed in Claim 1, in which the attachment portion and the securing portion are constructed such that, when the securing portion interacts with the attachment portion, each retaining formation is generally in the form of a passage for receiving a power- or data cord.

3. An accessory as claimed in Claim 2, in which the attachment portion includes a base and a passage-defining formation fast with and projecting operatively upwardly from the base, the securing portion including a roof and a passage-defining formation fast with and projecting operatively downwardly from the roof, with the passage-defining formation of the attachment portion and the passage-defining formation of the securing portion together defining said at least one passage for receiving a power- or data cord when the securing portion interacts with the attachment portion.

4. An accessory as claimed in Claim 3, in which the attachment portion and the securing portion are provided with complimentary connection formations for at least partially releasably securing the securing portion to the attachment portion to interact therewith to define said at least one retaining formation.

5. An accessory as claimed in Claim 4, in which the connection formations of the attachment portion and the securing portion include at least one clip.

6. An accessory as claimed in any one of Claims 3 - 5 inclusive, in which the attachment portion and the securing portion and their connection formations are constructed such that the securing portion is separable from the attachment portion.

7. An accessory as claimed in any one of Claims 3 - 6 inclusive, in which the attachment portion and the securing portion when connected together define a plurality of passages for receiving a like plurality of power- or data cords, the passages extending alongside one another, being located side-by-side.

8. An accessory as claimed in Claim 7, in which at least one of the passages has a different size than the other passages, such that the accessory provides for retaining of differently sized power- or data cords.

9. An accessory as claimed in Claim 8, in which the attachment portion is elongated, the passage-defining formation thereof being oriented to define a plurality of operatively upwardly opening formations located side-by-side and extending transversely across the base, each formation being for forming part of a separate passage, the securing portion also being elongated, and the passage-defining formation thereof defining a like plurality of operatively downwardly opening formations located side-by-side and extending transversely to the roof for forming, together with said formations defined by the attachment portion, said plurality of passages.

10. An accessory as claimed in any of the Claims 3 - 9 inclusive, in which the securing portion has at least one groove-like channel protruding through it with nipples on the inside that facilitate the laying and retaining of power - and or data cords on top of the retaining formation to retain such cords to a said structure, with such laying and removing of cords enabled without having to separate and connect together the attachment and securing portions of the retaining formation.

11. An accessory as claimed in any one of Claims 3 - 10 inclusive, in which the attachment portion is provided with an attachment formation for attaching it to a said structure.

12. An accessory as claimed in Claim 11, in which the attachment formation of the attachment portion includes an adhesive layer located at the base of the attachment portion.

13. An accessory as claimed in Claim 12, in which the attachment formation is in the form of a strip of re-usable or permanent double-sided type adhesive material, one side of the strip being attached to the base of the attachment portion, the other side of the strip facing away from the base of the attachment portion and being covered by a release strip releasable to expose said adhesive layer, with the said double-side adhesive facilitating the attaching and removing of the attachment portion to and from the structure.

14. An accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is of synthetic plastics construction.

15. A method of facilitating connection of a connector provided at one end of a power- or data cord to an electronic device, the method including securing the power- or data cord adjacent said connector, at a position downstream of said connector, to a structure for receiving an electronic device, so that dislocation of the connector from said structure is resisted, thereby permitting easy connection of the connector to an electronic device located on the structure.

16. A method as claimed in Claim 15, in which the power- or data cord is releasably secured to said structure.

17 A method as claimed in Claims 15 and 16, where the retaining formation that retains power cords for cellular chargers, can be attached or released from the structure it retains the cord to, facilitated by the use of re-usable double side adhesive, thereby in facilitating the possibility for the retaining formation to remain on the power cord when the charger is remover from the structure area.

18. A method as claimed in Claims 3 - 10, and 17 that provides advertising and branding space on the outer face of the securing portion of the retaining formation.

19. A method as claimed in Claims 17 and 18 where the provision of advertising and branding space are extended in its exposure through the possibility of the retaining formation remaining on the power cord of a cellular charger in cases where the charger is removed from the area of the structure, this facilitated by the use of re-usable double side adhesive.

20. A method of facilitating use of a computer mouse having a cord connected thereto, the method including securing the cord, at a position downstream from the mouse, to a structure associated with use of the mouse, thereby resisting undesired movement of a portion of the cord between said position at which the mouse is secured to the structure and the mouse relative to the structure under influence of a portion of the cord downstream of said position at which the cord is secured to the structure.

21. A method as claimed in Claim 20, in which the structure is a desk on which the mouse is located and operated.

22. An accessory as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 - 15 of the drawings.

23. A method as claimed in Claim 15, substantially as herein described.

24. A method as claimed in Claim 17, substantially as herein described.

25. A method as claimed in Claim 18, substantially as herein described.