EP1038336B1 - Reel-shaped shell for dc power supply adaptor - Google Patents

Reel-shaped shell for dc power supply adaptor Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1038336B1
EP1038336B1 EP97949103A EP97949103A EP1038336B1 EP 1038336 B1 EP1038336 B1 EP 1038336B1 EP 97949103 A EP97949103 A EP 97949103A EP 97949103 A EP97949103 A EP 97949103A EP 1038336 B1 EP1038336 B1 EP 1038336B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
reel
shell
shaped shell
power supply
output cable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97949103A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1038336A1 (en
Inventor
Giordano Seragnoli
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
STMicroelectronics SRL
Original Assignee
STMicroelectronics SRL
SGS Thomson Microelectronics SRL
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by STMicroelectronics SRL, SGS Thomson Microelectronics SRL filed Critical STMicroelectronics SRL
Publication of EP1038336A1 publication Critical patent/EP1038336A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1038336B1 publication Critical patent/EP1038336B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/665—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in electronic circuit
    • H01R13/6675—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in electronic circuit with built-in power supply
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/72—Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to DC power supply adaptors for portable apparatuses that may be directly plugged in a standard mains socket and more specifically to a shell for such an accessory permitting an orderly arrangement of the DC output cable and jack termination when packing and transporting the adaptor.
  • More and more electronic appliances, instruments and apparatuses such as PCs, cellulars, phones, scientific instruments and the like are being designed and manufactured in a portable version, usually including rechargeable battery packs.
  • DC powered apparatuses are normally sold complete with an inventory of essential accessories that most often includes a DC power supply-adaptor for powering the apparatuses from a standard mains socket, when available, and/or for recharging the battery pack, when present in the portable apparatus.
  • a DC power supply-adaptor for powering the apparatuses from a standard mains socket, when available, and/or for recharging the battery pack, when present in the portable apparatus.
  • DC power supply adaptors are normally configured as a box-like plastic container of the power supply circuitry, provided with a standard plug extension for connecting to a standard socket (mains). From the box-like container emerges a relatively long DC output cable, usually terminated with a standard jack or equivalent connection plug.
  • Equally familiar are the tediousness of gathering the relatively long DC output cable into a manageable bunch of loops of bended cable, of harnessing the bunch of cable loops with an elastic band or more often with a plastified twistable metal wire, whenever if becomes necessary to pack the DC power supply adaptor for carrying it along with the instrument.
  • the shell of the invention provides for a permanent resilient impact absorbing outer protection of the box-like plastic container of the power supply circuitry.
  • Such a shell is defined in the claim divided into two parts with regard to the disclosure of US-A-5 531 333.
  • the shell of the invention has a reel like shape, the main hollow portion of which houses the box-like plastic container of the DC power supply adaptor.
  • the tubular wall of the reel-shaped shell has an aperture of a size sufficient for the termination jack and the output cable to pass through it, to be eventually wound over the reel-shaped shell when the adaptor must be packed for transportation.
  • the reel-shaped shell has two integral flexible straps extending from opposite sides of a first flange portion of the reel-shaped shell. Once the DC output cable has been wound on the reel-shaped shell. the free ends of the two straps, having cooperating buckle means, are. brought into engagement with each other for tightly closing over the assembly and holding in place the wound-on cable.
  • the entire shell and integral straps are made of an elastomer, such as a natural or synthetic rubber.
  • the shell practically becomes an integral part of the DC power supply adaptor remaining always on the box-like plastic container of the adaptor, protecting it from accidental drops on hard floors in view of the impact absorbing resilient properties of the shell surrounding the box-like plastic container of the adaptor.
  • the shell of the invention may be produced by injection molding in a single piece.
  • it is made of a moldable elastomer as a natural rubber or a synthetic rubber-like material, having good shock-absorbing properties.
  • the shell 1 has a typical reel shape defined by a lower flange portion 2 and an upper flange portion 3 terminating a substantially tubular portion 3 of the shell.
  • the shell 1 defines a main hollow portion 4, the dimensions of which match the dimensions of the box-like plastic container 5 of the DC power supply adaptor in order to house it completely, with the exception of the standard plug extension 6.
  • plug extension 6 of the adaptor may have any shape depending on the local standard of power outlets.
  • the DC output cable 7 and its standard jack termination (not shown in the figures) are passed through a dedicated aperture 8 purposely made through the tubular wall 3 of the reel-shaped shell.
  • the shell 1 may define secondary hollow portions 9 and 9' along the side from which the DC output cable 7 emerges from the adaptor case 5, in order to accommodate the reinforcing grommet 10 that is customarily present at the insertion point of the cable 7 in the case 5 of. the adaptor.
  • the inner wall 11 is provided of a slot 12 projectively aligned with the aperture 8 through the outer tubular wall 3 of the reel-shaped shell 1.
  • two integral flexible straps 13 and 14 extend from the bottom flange portion 2 and their free ends are provided with cooperating buckle means 15 and 16 respectively.
  • the cable 7 When packing the adaptor for transportation, the cable 7 is completely wound over the outer surface of the tubular portion 3 of the reel-shaped shell 1, the free ends of the two straps 13 and 14 are brought together so as to tighten wound cable and the buckle means 15 and 16 are engaged to retain the wound cable and relative jack termination neatly over the reel-shaped shell.
  • the resilient shock absorbing character of the reel-shaped shell 1 protects the hosted box-like plastic container 5 of the adaptor from accidental impacts on hard surfaces, greatly enhancing the sturdiness of the adaptor.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Buffer Packaging (AREA)
  • Storage Of Web-Like Or Filamentary Materials (AREA)

Description

This invention relates generally to DC power supply adaptors for portable apparatuses that may be directly plugged in a standard mains socket and more specifically to a shell for such an accessory permitting an orderly arrangement of the DC output cable and jack termination when packing and transporting the adaptor.
More and more electronic appliances, instruments and apparatuses such as PCs, cellulars, phones, scientific instruments and the like are being designed and manufactured in a portable version, usually including rechargeable battery packs.
These as other DC powered apparatuses are normally sold complete with an inventory of essential accessories that most often includes a DC power supply-adaptor for powering the apparatuses from a standard mains socket, when available, and/or for recharging the battery pack, when present in the portable apparatus.
These familiar DC power supply adaptors are normally configured as a box-like plastic container of the power supply circuitry, provided with a standard plug extension for connecting to a standard socket (mains). From the box-like container emerges a relatively long DC output cable, usually terminated with a standard jack or equivalent connection plug.
Equally familiar are the tediousness of gathering the relatively long DC output cable into a manageable bunch of loops of bended cable, of harnessing the bunch of cable loops with an elastic band or more often with a plastified twistable metal wire, whenever if becomes necessary to pack the DC power supply adaptor for carrying it along with the instrument.
This basic accessory of so many apparatuses, whether it is to be packed into a dedicated transportation bag of the instrument itself and of its accessories or into a bag, case or luggage together with a mass of other personal belongings, is extremely awkward to handle because of the dangling bunch of looped output cable.
Their awkward assembly increases the risk of mishandlings and these accessories may be accidentally dropped on hard surfaced floors and their plastic case may break making the accessory no longer usable.
It has now been found and represents the object of the present application an outstandingly effective shell for a DC power supply adaptor of portable apparatuses that provides for an easy retrieval and orderly disposition of the DC output cable and of its termination without requiring the use of separate elastic straps or similar holding means, thus providing for a compact assembly without any dangling part that is far more easy to pack and to handle for transportation and use than the nude adaptor.
In addition, the shell of the invention provides for a permanent resilient impact absorbing outer protection of the box-like plastic container of the power supply circuitry.
Such a shell is defined in the claim divided into two parts with regard to the disclosure of US-A-5 531 333.
Substantially, the shell of the invention has a reel like shape, the main hollow portion of which houses the box-like plastic container of the DC power supply adaptor. The tubular wall of the reel-shaped shell has an aperture of a size sufficient for the termination jack and the output cable to pass through it, to be eventually wound over the reel-shaped shell when the adaptor must be packed for transportation.
The reel-shaped shell has two integral flexible straps extending from opposite sides of a first flange portion of the reel-shaped shell. Once the DC output cable has been wound on the reel-shaped shell. the free ends of the two straps, having cooperating buckle means, are. brought into engagement with each other for tightly closing over the assembly and holding in place the wound-on cable.
According to a preferred embodiment of the shell of the invention, the entire shell and integral straps are made of an elastomer, such as a natural or synthetic rubber.
The shell practically becomes an integral part of the DC power supply adaptor remaining always on the box-like plastic container of the adaptor, protecting it from accidental drops on hard floors in view of the impact absorbing resilient properties of the shell surrounding the box-like plastic container of the adaptor.
  • Figure 1 is a prospective view of the reel-shaped shell of the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a sectional view of the shell of the invention including a phantom line profile of the DC power supply adaptor hosted into the shell.
    • With reference to Fig. 1, the shell of the invention, indicated with 1 as a whole, may be produced by injection molding in a single piece. Preferably it is made of a moldable elastomer as a natural rubber or a synthetic rubber-like material, having good shock-absorbing properties.
    The shell 1 has a typical reel shape defined by a lower flange portion 2 and an upper flange portion 3 terminating a substantially tubular portion 3 of the shell.
    As more visible in Fig. 2, the shell 1 defines a main hollow portion 4, the dimensions of which match the dimensions of the box-like plastic container 5 of the DC power supply adaptor in order to house it completely, with the exception of the standard plug extension 6.
    Of course, the plug extension 6 of the adaptor may have any shape depending on the local standard of power outlets.
    The DC output cable 7 and its standard jack termination (not shown in the figures) are passed through a dedicated aperture 8 purposely made through the tubular wall 3 of the reel-shaped shell.
    As shown in the example illustrated in the figures, the shell 1 may define secondary hollow portions 9 and 9' along the side from which the DC output cable 7 emerges from the adaptor case 5, in order to accommodate the reinforcing grommet 10 that is customarily present at the insertion point of the cable 7 in the case 5 of. the adaptor.
    The inner wall 11 is provided of a slot 12 projectively aligned with the aperture 8 through the outer tubular wall 3 of the reel-shaped shell 1.
    As depicted in Fig. 1, two integral flexible straps 13 and 14 extend from the bottom flange portion 2 and their free ends are provided with cooperating buckle means 15 and 16 respectively.
    When packing the adaptor for transportation, the cable 7 is completely wound over the outer surface of the tubular portion 3 of the reel-shaped shell 1, the free ends of the two straps 13 and 14 are brought together so as to tighten wound cable and the buckle means 15 and 16 are engaged to retain the wound cable and relative jack termination neatly over the reel-shaped shell.
    As may be more readily appreciated from the cross sectional view of Fig. 2, the resilient shock absorbing character of the reel-shaped shell 1 protects the hosted box-like plastic container 5 of the adaptor from accidental impacts on hard surfaces, greatly enhancing the sturdiness of the adaptor.

    Claims (1)

    1. A shell (1) for a DC power supply adaptor of portable apparatus having a box-like plastic container (5) of the power supply circuitry, a standard plug (6) for connection to a mains socket and a relatively long DC output cable (7) terminating with a standard jack, characterized in that said shell (1) is made of a shock absorbing elastomer and has a reel-like shape defining at least a tubular hollow portion (4) housing said box-like container (5);
         an aperture (8) in an outermost wall (3') of the tubular reel-shaped shell (1) through which said jack and output cable (7) pass to the exterior of the shell, for being eventually wound over the reel-shaped shell (1); and
         strap means (13, 14) extending from a first flange portion (2) of said reel-shaped shell (1) and having cooperating buckle means (15, 16) at their respective ends engaging together tightly over the other flange portion (3) of the reel-shaped shell (1) for holding in place the wound-on output cable (7) during packing and/or transportation.
    EP97949103A 1997-12-12 1997-12-12 Reel-shaped shell for dc power supply adaptor Expired - Lifetime EP1038336B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (1)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    PCT/IT1997/000310 WO1999031768A1 (en) 1997-12-12 1997-12-12 Reel-shaped shell for dc power supply adaptor

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP1038336A1 EP1038336A1 (en) 2000-09-27
    EP1038336B1 true EP1038336B1 (en) 2002-09-11

    Family

    ID=11332739

    Family Applications (1)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP97949103A Expired - Lifetime EP1038336B1 (en) 1997-12-12 1997-12-12 Reel-shaped shell for dc power supply adaptor

    Country Status (3)

    Country Link
    EP (1) EP1038336B1 (en)
    DE (1) DE69715475T2 (en)
    WO (1) WO1999031768A1 (en)

    Families Citing this family (1)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    GB2343911A (en) * 1998-08-20 2000-05-24 Tsai Li Hui Chou Power cable binder mounting arrangement

    Family Cites Families (4)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    US1696495A (en) * 1927-07-11 1928-12-25 Malte J Malling Electric appliance
    GB2241838B (en) * 1989-11-13 1994-01-12 Graham Backhouse Plug
    US5507667A (en) * 1994-05-11 1996-04-16 Asian Micro Sources, Inc. Power cord securing and storage device
    US5531333A (en) * 1994-10-18 1996-07-02 Vara; James E. Storage system for electrical appliances, powercords and adapters

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    DE69715475T2 (en) 2003-01-09
    WO1999031768A1 (en) 1999-06-24
    EP1038336A1 (en) 2000-09-27
    DE69715475D1 (en) 2002-10-17

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