Patent Application
20110195599
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a cable, and more particularly to a flat restorable cable capable of restoring back to its spirally wound shape after the use for connecting two electronic devices over a short distance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Physical connection between two electronic devices usually relies on a cable or a wire connected therebetween. Although physical connection is more reliable than wireless connection, the cable or wire should be always available by the time a connection is required. When the physical connection is not required, the cable or wire should be disconnected and stored well in order not to be messy and get passers-by stumbled.
The storage issue opens the door to retractable cables or cable retractors. With reference to
With reference to
The above-mentioned conventional retractable cable and the telephone handset cord are still too large and thick to be carried in a pocket of a shirt or a paint. Especially, the conventional retractable cable involves with more parts and inevitably makes it more expensive. In terms of size and cost reduction, conventional retractable cable and the telephone handset cord need to be further refined.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a flat restorable cable addressing an inexpensive and portable means for connecting two electronic devices over a short distance.
To achieve the foregoing objective, the flat restorable cable has a cable body and two connectors.
The cable body is wound to take a spirally wound form, wherein the cable body is extended by pulling two ends of the cable and restores back to the spirally wound form once either end of the cable is released.
The two connectors are securely mounted to respective ends of the cable body.
The maximum thickness of the flat restorable cable is just the thickness of one of the two connectors having larger thickness and the outer diameter of the cable and the cable is about a palm size. Due to less part required, the cable is more inexpensive than the conventional retractable cable. Therefore, the cable of the present invention provides an inexpensive and portable solution to connect two electronic devices over a short distance.
With reference to
The cable body (1) is wound to have a spirally wound form, is extended by pulling two ends of the cable body (1), and restores back to the original spirally wound form once either end of the cable body (1) is released. The cable body (1) is flat in thickness and the spirally wound form may be circular, oval-like or square.
The two connectors (2, 2′) are securely mounted to respective ends of the cable body (1) and used to respectively connect with two external compatible interfaces. Certain portion of each connector (2)(2′) may be integrally formed with the cable body (1). Depending on the interfaces to be connected, the two connectors (2, 2′) can be both in male form, both in female form or one in male form and the other in female form. In consideration of types of the interfaces to be connected, the two connectors (2, 2′) may be of types selectively chosen from one or two types of USB, mini USB, macro USB, e-SATA, HDMI standards.
When the cable body (1) is fully restored to the original spirally wound shape, the thickness of the cable is no more than the total of the thickness of one of the two connectors (2, 2′) with a larger thickness and the outer diameter of the cable. The size of the restored cable should be able to be smoothly received in a pocket of a shirt or a pant.
To the extent that the cable body (1) is not broken, the cable body (1) can be extended as long as possible to connect with two interfaces of two electronic devices. After finishing the use of the cable, the cable can be disconnected from the connected electronic devices and restored to its original spirally wound shape by releasing either end of the cable.
Given the thin and compact size, the flat restorable cable of the present invention can be conveniently carried in a pocket of a shirt or a pant. In contrast to conventional retractable cables, the cost of the present invention is more inexpensive as a result of less part required. Accordingly, the flat restorable cable addresses an inexpensive and portable solution to connect two electronic devices having compatible interfaces with the connectors of the cable over a short distance.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
