WO1999031768A1

WO1999031768A1 - Reel-shaped shell for dc power supply adaptor

Info

Publication number: WO1999031768A1
Application number: PCT/IT1997/000310
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giordano Seragnoli
Original assignee: Stmicroelectronics S.R.L.
Priority date: 1997-12-12
Filing date: 1997-12-12
Publication date: 1999-06-24
Also published as: EP1038336B1; EP1038336A1; DE69715475T2; DE69715475D1

Abstract

An outstandingly effective shell (1) for a DC power supply adaptor (5) of portable apparatuses provides for an easy retrieval and orderly disposition of the DC output cable (7) and of its termination without requiring the use of separate elastic straps or similar holding means, 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 (5). In addition, the shell (1) of the invention provides for a permanent resilient impact absorbing outer protection of the box-like plastic container (5) of the power supply circuitry.

Description

REEL-SHAPED SHELL FOR DC POWER SUPPLY ADAPTOR

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.

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

C L A I M S

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 ) has a reel shape defining at least a hollow portion (4) housing said box-like container (5);

an aperture (8) in a tubular wall (3) of the 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 );

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.

2. The shell of claim 1 , characterized in that it is of a shock absorbing elastomer.