Abstract:
A connecting structure for a portable electronic device cord comprises a substantially arc-shaped binding member having an outwardly convex surface projecting toward the interior of the device case from an opening in the case through which the cord passes, the binding member forming an integrated single unit with an interior wall of the case. The cord, one end of which is secured to a board within the device, is wrapped around the surface of the arc-shaped binding member and thereby bent at substantially a right angle as it extends through the binding member by which it is securely held and out the case opening. By firmly securing the cord to the case in this fashion the need for an external bush is eliminated and the cord can be wrapped snugly around the device without bending at sharp angles, thus increasing ease of transport and reducing the possibility of the cord breaking loose from the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a structure for connecting a cord of a portable electronic device to a case of that device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Typically, an electronic device such as an AC adapter for charging a portable telephone, etc., is equipped with a power cord. 
     The conventional structure for connecting the cord to the portable electronic device, such as that for the AC adapter  1  and main unit connector  2  shown in FIG. 7, involves providing a flexible bush  6   a ,  6   b  on that part of the cord  3   a ,  3   b  adjacent to and extending directly outward from the case  4  of the AC adapter or the case  5  of an electronic device main unit. 
     When transporting the electronic device, such as the AC adapter shown in FIG. 8, the cord  3   a  is typically wrapped or wound around the case  4  of the AC adapter  1  so as to be out of the way. In so doing, the bush  6   a  flexes so as to accommodate the bending of the cord  3   a  as it is wrapped or wound around the case  4 . 
     However, when the cord  3   a  is wrapped around the case  4  as described above the bush  6   a  bulges outward, interfering with the snug wrapping of the cord  3   a  and hence the convenient transport of the device. 
     Additionally, although the bush  6   a  is flexible, repeated wrapping and unwrapping of the cord  3   a  can cause the cord  3   a  to break off from the case  4  at the location of the bush  6   a.    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting structure for a portable electronic device cord in which the problems described above are solved. 
     The above-described object of the present invention is achieved by a connecting structure for a portable electronic device cord comprising a binding member for binding the cord to the case. 
     Additionally, the above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the connecting structure as described above, wherein the binding member is integrally provided within the case so as to form a single unit. 
     According to the invention described above, by providing a binding member for securely binding the cord to the case inside the case itself the need for an external flexible bush is eliminated, thus improving the compactness with which the cord may be wrapped around the electronic device case and thereby improving the ease with which the device is transported. 
     Additionally, the above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the connecting structure as described above, wherein the binding member has an outwardly convex surface and the cord is wrapped around the binding member at substantially a right angle. 
     According to the invention described above, by wrapping the cord around the outwardly convex binding member the cord, when wrapped around the device case, describes a substantially arc-like form with no sharp bends, thus reducing the possibility of the cord being broken off from the case. 
     Additionally, the above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the connecting structure as described above, wherein a flexible buffer member is provided at least between the cord and the binding member. 
     According to the invention described above, by providing a flexible buffer member between at least the cord and the binding member the cord can be more securely attached to the case and the possibility of the cord being broken off from the case can be reduced. 
     Additionally, the above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the connecting structure as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the cord is knotted within the case. 
     According to the invention described above, by knotting the cord within the case the possibility of the cord being broken off from the case can be reduced. 
    
    
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram showing side and partial cutaway views of a first embodiment of a connecting structure according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a diagram of a side view of an AC adapter having a first embodiment of a connecting structure according to the present invention, showing a state in which the cord is wrapped around the adapter; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway view of an AC adapter showing a first variation of a first embodiment of a connecting structure according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway view of an AC adapter showing a second variation of a first embodiment of a connecting structure according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway view of an AC adapter showing a third variation of a first embodiment of a connecting structure according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway view of a connecting structure connected to a main unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a diagram of side and front views of a conventional AC adapter cord connecting structure; and 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of a conventional AC adapter in a state in which the cord is wrapped around the adapter. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A detailed description will now be given of an embodiment of a portable electronic device cord connecting structure according to the present invention, with reference to FIG.  1  through FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram showing side and partial cutaway views of a first embodiment of a connecting structure according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an AC adapter  10  has a case  12 , a plug  14 , a cord  16  to be connected to the main unit and, as shown in the partial cutaway, a binding member  18  for binding the cord  16  to the case  12 . The case  12  houses a DC converter board not shown in the diagram. The plug  14  is provided on one side of the case  12 . An opening is formed in the case  12  where the cord  16  is provided. The binding member  18  is formed so as to have an outwardly convex surface projecting toward the interior of the case  12 , in such a way that the cord  16 , when wrapped around the surface of the binding member  18 , bends in a substantially arc-shaped curve. 
     Additionally, the cord, one end of which is connected to the board not shown in the diagram, is covered by a flexible, tube-like buffer member  20 . The buffer member  20  may be composed of a flexible resin, and in particular, a polyolefin resin or other heat-shrinkable material, with the buffer member being heat-shrinkably formed on the cord  16 , is desirable. 
     The cord  16  is restrained by the binding member  18  at the point at which the cord  16  is covered by the insulating member  20 . The cord  16  is bent or wrapped around the binding member  18  at substantially a right angle and attached to the DC converter board. 
     A description will now be given of the operation of this first embodiment of the AC adapter cord connecting structure. 
     FIG. 2 is a diagram of the left side of an AC adapter having a first embodiment of a connecting structure according to the present invention, showing a state in which the cord is wrapped around the adapter during transport. 
     It should be noted that the cord  16  is bound to the case  12  within the case proper  12  and that the section of the cord  16  adjacent to and extending directly outward from the case  12  is not provided with a projecting portion such as the conventional bush. As a result, the cord  16  can be wrapped flush against the exterior of the case  12 , thus making transport easier. 
     Additionally, the cord  16  is wrapped about the binding member  18  so as to describe substantially an arc shape. As a result, the cord is not bent at a sharp angle and thus the possibility of breakage is reduced. 
     It should be noted that one end of the cord  16  is bent at substantially a right angle and held securely between the binding member  18  and the buffer member  20  so as to prevent the cord from coming loose. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway view of an AC adapter showing a first variation of a first embodiment of a connecting structure according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the AC adapter  22  has a case  24 , a cord  26  and a binding member  28  for binding the cord  26  securely to the case  24 . 
     A hole is formed in one wall  29  of the case  24  at which the cord  26  is provided. The binding member  28  is formed so as to have an outwardly convex surface projecting toward the interior of the case  24  and forms a single unit with the case wall  29 . As a result, the cord  26 , when wrapped around the surface of the binding member  28  bends in a substantially arc-shaped curve. 
     Additionally, substantially the entire outwardly convex surface of the binding member  28  is covered with a flexible buffer material  30 . 
     The cord  26  is held in place by the binding member  28  covered by the flexible buffer member  30 . The cord  26  is wound around the binding member at substantially a right angle and the end of the cord is attached to a built-in board not shown in the diagram. 
     The first variation of the first embodiment of the connecting structure according to the present invention as described above achieves the same effect as the first embodiment of the connecting structure according to the present invention. 
     A description will now be given of a second variation of the first embodiment of a cord connecting structure according to the present invention with reference to FIG.  4 . FIG. 4 shows a partial cutaway view of an AC adapter showing a second variation of a first embodiment of a connecting structure according to the present invention. The AC adapter  32  has a case  34 , a cord  36 , and a binding member  38  for binding the cord  36  to the case  34 . 
     A hole is formed in one wall  39  of the case  34  at which the cord  36  is provided. The binding member  38  is formed so as to have an outwardly convex surface projecting toward the interior of the case  34  and forms a single unit with the case wall  39 . A cylindrically shaped holding member  42  curved at substantially a right angle for bending the cord  36  at substantially a right angle and holding the cord  36  in place at substantially that right angle is extended from the binding member  38 . A projection  43  is formed at the tip of the holding member  42  so as to more securely hold the cord  36  in place. 
     Additionally, a knot  44  is formed in the cord  36  near the end of the cord  36  connected to the built-in board not shown in the diagram. The end of the cord  36 , including the knot  44 , is covered by a flexible buffer member  46 . 
     The cord  36  is secured firmly in place by the binding member  38  at the location at which the cord is covered by the flexible buffer material  46 , with the projection  43  at the tip of the holding member  42  biting into the buffer material  46  so as to hold the cord  36  firmly in place. 
     The second variation of the first embodiment of the connecting structure according to the present invention as described above achieves the same effect as the first embodiment of the connecting structure according to the present invention. Additionally, by forming a knot  44  in the cord  36  and having the projection  43  on the holding member  42  bite into the buffer material  46  covering the cord  36 , the breaking off of the cord from the case can be more securely prevented. 
     A description will now be given of a third variation of the first embodiment of a cord connecting structure according to the present invention, with reference to FIG.  5 . FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway view of an AC adapter showing a third variation of a first embodiment of a connecting structure according to the present invention. The AC adapter  50  has a case  52 , a cord  54  and a binding member  56  for binding the cord  54  to the case  52 . 
     A hole is formed in one wall  57  of the case  52  at which the cord  54  is provided. The binding member  56  forms a single unit with the case wall  57 . A through-hole aperture portion  58  describing a one-quarter circle arc is formed on the binding member  56 . The portion of the through-hole aperture portion  58  through which the cord  54  passes is expanded in an arc shape, with an opening at the hole in the case  52  at which the cord  54  is provided. 
     The end of the cord  54  that is connected to the built-in board not shown in the diagram is inserted into and through the through-hole aperture portion  58  and secured thereby. 
     The third variation of the first embodiment of the connecting structure according to the present invention as described above achieves the same effect as the first embodiment of the connecting structure according to the present invention. 
     A description will now be given of a second embodiment of the connecting structure according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway view of a connecting structure connected to a main unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The main unit connector  60  has a case  62 , a connection terminal  64 , a cord  66  and a binding member  68  for binding the cord  66  to the case  62 . 
     The connection terminal  64  for connecting to the main unit is provided on the case  62 . A hole is provided on an edge of a side of the case  62  opposite the side on which the connection terminal  64  is provided. On the interior side of the hole a binding member  68  having an outwardly convex surface toward the interior of the case  62  is provided, with the binding member  68  forming a single unit with the wall of the case  62 . As a result, the cord  66  is bent in substantially an arc when wrapped around the binding member  68 . 
     The cord  66  is held in place by the binding member  68  covered by a flexible buffer member  70 . The cord  66  is wound around the binding member  68  at substantially a right angle and an end of the cord is attached to a built-in board not shown in the diagram. 
     The second embodiment of the cord connecting structure according to the present invention as described above achieves the same effect as the first embodiment of the cord connecting structure according to the present invention. 
     The above description is provided in order to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their invention. The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments and variations, and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The present application is based on Japanese priority application No. 10-324168 filed on Nov. 13, 1998, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.