Patent Application
20130313157
A portion of the disclosure of this patent application document contains material that is subject to copyright protection including the drawings. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to the field of organizing electronic cords. More specifically, the application relates to a portable devices configured to carry electronic cords.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have been reportedly over 350 million devices sold by Apple Computer which use the specialized USB cable for power and synchronization of their devices, referred to as a “Sync cable.” Portable electronic devices, such as those sold Apple, are often used all day long, which drains the internal rechargeable batteries. Having a sync cable on hand while being near any modern computer or other USB power source, allows recharging of one's tablet or smart phone by plugging into that USB port.
These cables may break or get misplaced, and often take up too much room to fit comfortably in a pocket or purse. The ends of electronic cables are also subject to breakage, by dropping them, being stepped on, bending, and other stresses due to use.
Some electronic cable holders, such as retractable Ethernet cable holders, have been developed to store a cable within a small case or holder; however, these do not also protect the end connectors. The longer electronic cables are not always desired, because they cause the device to be bulkier or add additional stresses to the cables themselves. Some cable holders have shorter cords; however, the holder itself again tends to get in the way of ease of use. This is particularly the case, when keys or other items may be attached to the cable holder. These other holders that do have a through-hole for a keychain also, tend to be very difficult to add to or remove from a keychain. Thus, adding more bulkiness to the system as one tries to use an electronic sync cable with an attached holder and set of keys all positioned between a portable electronic device and the host computer or power source.
Therefore a device is needed that is not bulky, can easily be added to and removed from a keychain, such that the cable can separately detach from the holder and does not require an unnecessary length of electronic cable to be used or stored within the holder.
The present application seeks to solve the above stated concerns.
Illustrative embodiments of the present invention, shown in the drawings, are more fully described in the Detailed Description section. It is to be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the forms described in this Summary of the Invention or in the Detailed Description. One skilled in the art can recognize that there are numerous modifications, equivalents, and alternative constructions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.
One portable cable carrier embodiment described herein includes a main body or housing having an attachment hook extending from a proximal end; a first cavity formed within the main body on the proximal end that is configured to be mated with an electronic connector; a second cavity formed on the distal end of the main body that is configured to be mated with a separate electronic connector; and at least one open channel along a side of the main body that is configured to retain a portion of an electronic cord, wherein the attachment hook and main body together form a partially-enclosed through-hole or aperture.
This and other embodiments are described in more detail herein.
The present application seeks to provide a solution to the aforementioned problems by creating a portable electronic cable carrier device that protects the connector ends of an electronic cable, easily attaches to and removes from a keychain, allows the complete removability of an electronic cable, and is configured to securely lock the carrier and cable around an object, such as a keychain ring, so a force on the portion secured to the keychain ring will not release the carrier and cable.
For purposes of this application, a detent may refer to, but is not limited to, any of a catch, spring-operated ball, cavity, hole, channel, opening, slit, or other mechanism configured for positioning and holding one mechanical component in relation to another in a manner such that the components may be released by applying a force to one or both of the components. In some instances the detent is configured to temporarily keep a component in a certain position relative to that of another, wherein the components may be released from each other by applying a force to one or both components. The detent may also be configured in a manner that the force required to release the connected mechanical components is required to be in a specific direction or plane.
The attachment hook 108, as discussed, is configured to form part of a partially-enclosed through-hole, and is also used as a locking fulcrum mechanism. For example, a sync cable having a USB connector on one end and a 30-pin connector on the other end, may securely lock around portable cable carrier 100, by mating the USB connector end into the proximal cavity 120, routing the cable portion of the sync cable around the attachment hook 108, along the side channel 150, through open channel 140, around side channel 152 where the cable portion connects with the second 30-pin connector and then mating the 30-pin connector into distal cavity 130. (See
When attempting to remove the USB connector end a force is created in the opposite direction and actually pulls the 30-pin connector portion into cavity portion 130. Since the distal end of the main body 105 does not have a attachment hook the 30-pin connector end may be inserted into the cavity portion 130 in a slightly rotating manner. Detents along the sides of the 30-pin connector may secure it into cavity 130. However, a slightly rotating force allows for the 30-pin connector to be rotatably removed from cavity 130. It should be noted that the internal portion of cavity 130 may be configured to function as detent for electronic connectors that may be devoid of a catch or detent. Again, a force on the USB side increases tension or force in the cable, while the attachment hook prevents removal, because it directs the cable to pull or put a force on the 30-pin connector that is not in the same direction and slightly rotating that would allow the 30-pin connector to be released, which in turn also prevents the USB connector end from being released. A force (and in this embodiment slightly rotating force) on the 30-pin connector, however, releases the connector from cavity 130 and allows for the cable to slidably move within the channels releasing any tension on the USB connector side and allowing for the removal of the USB connector from cavity 120.
Alternatively, and not shown, the short sync cable may be completely separated from the removable portable cable carrier. This allows for the portable carrier to not interfere with the interface connection between a portable electronic device and host computer or power source. This is particularly useful where minimal physical interference is desired. Another advantages of this type of system is a keychain or key ring may be easily removed also minimizes the amount of physical structure between an electronic device and host computer. Another advantage of the ability to completely detach a short sync cable is it allows any sync cable that malfunctions to be replaced while not having to replace the portable cable carrier.
It should be noted although many thicknesses and materials may be used for the attachment hook 108, one that is strong enough to act as a locking fulcrum is desired. In fact, one of the downsides to other cable carriers is that the thickness of the walls of the other carriers needs to be of a certain dimension in order to provide adequate support, thus making it difficult to get key chain rings on and off. Alternatively as contemplated in the embodiments with a partially-enclosed through-hole, the key chain ring may be looped over the attachment hook 108 with the connector end 210 coming through the ring prior to being mated with the matching cavity portion 120. Again, once the second connector 240 is inserted into cavity portion 130, the partially-enclosed through-hole 110, now becomes completely-enclosed and securely and removably locked.
In other embodiments it is contemplated to have a completely-enclosed through-hole, wherein a sync cable or other electronic cable may be securely attached to the carrier.
It is contemplated that the portable cable carriers described herein may be manufactured from a single piece of material, multiple pieces press-fit or glued together, or other techniques including inserting an internal rib framework to make the portable cable carrier lightweight and strong.
In other embodiments multiple open channels exist to accommodate electronic cables with a longer cord portion. The extra channels allow for additional tacking back and forth within the main body portion of the portable cable carrier.
While several embodiments have been described herein that are exemplary of the present invention, one skilled in the art will recognize additional embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention.
