Patent Application
20230098936
Aspects of the example implementations relate to an apparatus for winding cables, and more specifically, an apparatus configured to wind a cable within an integrated apparatus, with the cables being wound in an ordered manner so that cables of multiple devices are not interwoven with each other.
Related art cables, such as for electronics on a desk in a commercial or residential setting, are typically connected directly from the electronic device to an outlet, sometimes via a conduit or an aperture in the desk. Thus, when multiple electronics devices are used in a setting such as a student desk or an office desk, the wires of different electronic devices may become entangled with one another. Thus, it becomes difficult for a user to remove one or more electronic cables, such as when removing a charger and charging wire for travel with a mobile device, installing a new electronic device, removing or deprecating an old electronic device, etc. Further, the related art approach results in a messy, tangled arrangement of the cables, which takes effort and time of the user to organize. Further, some related art users may not be able to easily reach such cables, due to physical injury or limitation, or due to the configuration or location of the desk.
Aspects of the example implementations address at least the foregoing related issues. More specifically, an apparatus is provided that includes a curved surface that can accept one or more cables to be rolled or wound thereon, such that the one or more cables are wound and organized independently of one another.
According to an aspect, an apparatus is provided for winding at least one cable includes a cover, a top portion attached to the cover, and a base attached to the top portion. A surface of the base is configured to be attached to a stationary object. The top portion includes a sloped surface configured to receive the at least one cable, such that the at least one cable remains detangled from one another and are externally invisible when are fully wound around the sloped surface.
According to another aspect, a stationary object is provided that includes an apparatus for winding at least one cable, and a platform on which the apparatus is attached. The apparatus includes a cover, a top portion attached to the cover, and a base attached to the top portion. A surface of the base is configured to be attached to the platform, and the top portion includes a sloped surface configured to receive the one or more cables, such that at least one cable remains detangled and is externally invisible when are fully wound around the sloped surface.
A general architecture that implements the various features of the disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate example implementations of the disclosure and not to limit the scope of the disclosure. Throughout the drawings, reference numbers are reused to indicate correspondence between referenced elements.
The following detailed description provides further details of the figures and example implementations of the present application. Reference numerals and descriptions of redundant elements between figures are omitted for clarity. Terms used throughout the description are provided as examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the use of the term “automatic” may involve fully automatic or semi-automatic implementations involving user or operator control over certain aspects of the implementation, depending on the desired implementation of one of ordinary skill in the art practicing implementations of the present application. Further, sequential terminology, such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., may be used in the description and claims simply for labeling purposes and should not be limited to referring to described actions or items occurring in the described sequence. Actions or items may be ordered into a different sequence or may be performed in parallel or dynamically, without departing from the scope of the present application.
As can be seen from the drawings, the apparatus according to the example implementations is designed to organize the accumulation of one or more cables. The cables may remain in an organized state with respect to one another, independent of the size (e.g., length, diameter, density and/or mass) of the cables, the usage with different devices, or the like. The example implementations may be employed in various settings, including but not limited to home, industry, retail, commercial or others.
The apparatus includes a cover 10, a top portion 20 attached to the cover 10, and a base 30 attached to the top portion 20.
A bottom surface of the base 30 is configured to be attached to a stationary object. The top portion 20 includes a sloped surface configured to receive at least one cable, such that the at least one cable remains detangled and is externally invisible when are fully wound around the sloped surface.
In an exemplary embodiment, the bottom surface of the base 30 is configured to be fixably or permanently attached to a stationary object.
In another exemplary embodiment, the bottom surface of the base 30 is configured to be detachably attached to the stationary object.
The detachable attachment of the bottom surface of the base 30 the stationary object may be arranged by an adhesive, a tape, such as a double-side tape, Velcro®, female and male connections such as screws/bolts and nuts, etc.
In an exemplary embodiment, the top portion 20 is detachably attached to the cover 10.
In another exemplary embodiment, the cover 10 and top portion 20 are a unitary piece that attaches to the base 30.
As shown in
The top portion 20 rotates around an axial direction of the cylindrical enclosure 31 to change a gap 50 between a top surface of the cylindrical enclosure 31 and a bottom surface of the cover 10.
The one or more cables passes through the gap 50 to wind around sloped surface 21 of the top portion 20.
After the at least one cable is wound around the sloped surface 21, the at least one cable exits the apparatus through the gap 50.
One of the top portion 20 and the base 30 includes a female connector 41 configured to engage with a male connector 42 provided in an other one of the top portion 20 and the base 30.
By engaging the female connector 41 to the male connector 42, the gap 50 between a top surface of the base 30 and a bottom surface of the cover 10 changes to provide a space for the at least one cable to pass through the gap 50 for winding around the sloped surface 21.
The male connector 42 may include a bolt and the female connector 41 may include a nut that engages with bolt by rotating the top portion 20 around an axial direction of the bolt to change the gap 50 between a top surface of the base 30 and a bottom surface of the cover 10 to provide a space for the at least one cable to pass through the gap 50 for winding around the sloped surface 21.
The top portion 20 may include a cylindrical body 22 that extends from a bottom surface of the top portion 20 toward the cover 10.
The sloped surface 21 protrudes in a radial direction of cylindrical body 22 and from a side surface of the cylindrical body 22 toward to a bottom surface of the cover 10.
The sloped surface 21 includes a plurality of protrusions 23 each protruding in the radial direction of cylindrical body 22 and extending from a side surface of the cylindrical body 22 to the bottom surface of the cover 10.
An inner surface of each of the protrusions 23 is attached to the cylindrical body 22 and the bottom surface of the cover 10.
An outer surface of each of the protrusions 23 is configured to contact the at least one cable while the at least one cable winds around the sloped surface 21.
In an exemplary embodiment, a pair of bumps 24 protrudes in the radial direction of cylindrical body 22 and from the side surface of the cylindrical body 22.
In the radial direction of cylindrical body 22, the pair of bumps 24 protrudes more than each of the protrusions 23.
An inner surface of each of the bumps 24 is attached to the cylindrical body 22 and the bottom surface of the cover 10.
An outer surface of each of the protrusions 23 is configured to contact the at least one cable while the at least one cable winds around the sloped surface 21.
In another exemplary embodiment, a stationary object includes the apparatus shown in
As set forth above and shown in
A surface of the base 30 is configured to be attached to the platform.
The top portion 20 includes a sloped surface 21 configured to receive the at least one cable, such that at least one cable remains detangled and is externally invisible when is fully wound around the sloped surface 21.
The base 30 may include male connector 42, as shown in
An upper surface of the top portion 20 may include indentations 25 for inserting legs 11 of the cover shown in
The cover 10 and top portion 20 may be integrally formed together as unitary piece that attaches to the base 30.
As can be seen, the cover portion may be snap-fit into the top portion, and the top portion may be attached, such as threadably using one or more connection elements, to the base portion.
The example implementations generate an ordered appearance in the areas in which different devices are plugged in. At the same time, each of the cables for each of the electronic devices may be exposed such that the cables are organized in an independent and separable manner, without requiring the untangling or decoupling from other cables.
According to one present example implementation, the product may be affixed to a side or rear surface of a television, so as to organize the cables of the television and any adjacent electronic devices having cables, independent of the number of pieces or devices that are connected to the entertainment system. This example implementation may be located in the television environment of homes, restaurants, offices or any other installation where organization of a plurality of cables is required. For example, but not by way of limitation, it is possible to roll up separately all the devices that have an electrical connection, and thus have the cables of each one identified in order.
The example implementations may also be installed with respect to commercial, industrial, residential or other area of furniture or the like, such as bureaus. Accordingly, the cables of the lamps, telephone, cell phones, etc. may be organized independent of their respective sizes, and may be accessible independently of one another. Further, the cables are not seen as hanging below the furniture and to be able to have an organization of each cable separately. This aspect may have the benefit of permitted ease of moving, cleaning, etc. Additionally, there may be further benefits for users having pets, children, or moving objects (e.g., robot vacuum cleaner), to avoid injury or property damage.
According to additional example implementations, the apparatus may be scaled to a substantially larger size. Thus, the apparatus of the example implementations may be positioned adjacent to or behind any type of electrical appliance, as well as washing centers (e.g., laundromat), and with this avoid cables are hanging and in disorder. Further, damage from rodents may also be limited, due to the limited access to the cables.
Other aspects may involve use in a non-electronic aspect. For example, but not by way of limitation, the example implementations may be used to roll or wind a hose, such as a fuel hose, garden watering hose, or the like. A mixture of various types of hoses may also be stored, such as at industrial facilities, airports, factories or the like. In other words, segments such as industrial, commercial facilities, and/or communication infrastructure can be covered, to organize and avoid a risk that may cause the disorder of a cable or cables, which are loose.
Although a few example implementations have been shown and described, these example implementations are provided to convey the subject matter described herein to people who are familiar with this field. It should be understood that the subject matter described herein may be implemented in various forms without being limited to the described example implementations. The subject matter described herein can be practiced without those specifically defined or described matters or with other or different elements or matters not described. It will be appreciated by those familiar with this field that changes may be made in these example implementations without departing from the subject matter described herein as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63247985 | Sep 2021 | US |
