Abstract:
An apparatus including a power supply unit, and a plurality of extensions extending outwardly from opposing side surfaces of the power supply unit, the extensions cooperating with the power supply unit to form a channel between the extensions, wherein at least one end of each of the plurality of extensions defines a recess in the at least one end that is configured to receive and retain a part of a flexible portion of an electrical power cord.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the full benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/498,241, filed Jun. 17, 2011, and titled “Power Supply Cord Storage,” the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to management and storage of power supply cords for electric and electronic devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electric and electronic devices, such as computers, printers, displays, or other devices derive power from a domestic source, such as a 120 or 240 volt outlet or line. The power supply for providing power to these devices usually includes a power supply unit that transforms or modifies electrical energy and one or two associated power cords. The power cords usually include a high voltage line cord that couples to and derives power (typically AC) from a wall outlet and connects to the power supply unit, and an output line (typically lower voltage DC) that couples to the power supply unit and the electric or electronic devices to be driven by the converted electricity. When not in use, or when a user, for example, is traveling, a user will often wrap the power cords, around the power supply unit, for storage or management of the cords and power supply unit. However, these and other wrapping methods fail to facilitate the orderly wrapping or maintenance of the associated power cords, nor do they provide for the securing of the power cord ends. Invariably, the unsecured ends and the cords become loose and tangled or for lack of a readily usable storage solution, the power cords are simply left in a jumble to be untangled later. Typically, laptops and other power supply units are delivered with a “Velcro®-like” tape intended to secure the cords to the body of the power supply unit. This turns out to be an inefficient and mediocre solution to the problem at best and users then tend to ignore the tape or find it annoying and remove it. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosed implementations provide a simple, quick, and convenient means of managing the orderly use and storage of power cords of portable electric and electronic power supply units. It may be implemented in the initial manufacture and made a part of the power supply unit or it may be implemented retrospectively by being attached either releasably or permanently to the power supply unit body. The design assists in the maintenance of orderly control of the power cord(s) whether being extended partially or fully. For example, the recesses formed in the ends of the extensions or guides discussed herein allow capture of various sized power cords at any location along the flexible portion of the cord, so that if a user wants to shorten or lengthen the cord during use, the present implementations provide a quick, unique, and easy means of doing so. 
     In one general aspect, an apparatus includes a power supply unit, and a plurality of extensions extending outwardly from opposing side surfaces of the power supply unit, the extensions cooperating with the power supply unit to form a channel between the extensions, wherein at least one end of each of the plurality of extensions defines a recess in the at least one end that is configured to receive and retain a part of a flexible portion of an electrical power cord. 
     Implementations can optionally include one or more of the following features. For example, each end of each of the plurality of extensions defines a recess configured to receive and retain a part of the flexible portion of the electrical power cord. The recess includes a wedge-shaped notch configured to receive and retain a part of the flexible portion of the electrical power cord. The recess includes a substantially circular notch and wherein the at least one end of each of the plurality of extensions further defines a retention mechanism for retaining the part of the flexible portion of the electrical power cord within the recess. The recess includes a wedge-shaped notch configured to receive and retain a part of the flexible portion of the electrical power cord. The recess includes a substantially circular notch and wherein the at least one end of each of the plurality of extensions further defines a retention mechanism for retaining the part of the flexible portion of the electrical power cord within the substantially circular notch. The plurality of extensions are integral with the power supply unit or are releasably attachable to the power supply unit. The apparatus further includes an adhesive material disposed along a length of a side of each of the plurality of extensions, the adhesive material configured to interact with the power supply unit to releasably attach the plurality of extensions to the power supply unit. The adhesive material includes one of glue, adhesive strips, or a hook and loop fastener material. The recess is defined within a clip disposed on at least one end of each of the plurality of extensions. When not in use, the plurality of extensions are disposed within the power supply unit, and when in use, extend from the power supply unit. 
     In another general aspect, an apparatus includes at least two longitudinally extending guides configured to be coupled to opposite side surfaces of a power supply unit such that, when coupled to the power supply unit, the guides cooperate with the power supply unit to form a channel between the guides, at least one end of each of the guides defining a recess in the at least one end that is configured to receive and retain a part of a flexible portion of an electrical power cord and to cooperate with the power supply unit to retain the power cord in a wrapped arrangement substantially within the channel. 
     Implementations can optionally include one or more of the following features. For example, the at least two longitudinally extending guides include a substantially rectangular or oval cross-sectional body. The at least two longitudinally extending guides are shaped to match the contours of the side surfaces of the power supply unit or comprise materials that permit the guides to substantially conform to the contours of the side surfaces of the power supply unit. Each end of each of the guides defines a recess configured to receive and retain a part of the flexible portion of the electrical power cord, the recess comprising a wedge-shaped notch. Each end of each of the guides defines a recess configured to receive and retain a part of the flexible portion of the electrical power cord, the recess comprising a substantially circular notch, and wherein each end of each of the guides further defines a retention mechanism for retaining the part of the flexible portion of the electrical power cord within the substantially circular notch. Each of the guides further includes an adhesive material disposed along a length of a side of each of the guides, the adhesive material configured to interact with the power supply unit to couple the plurality of guides to the power supply unit. The adhesive material includes one of glue, adhesive strips, or a hook and loop fastener material. The recess is defined within a clip disposed on at least one end of each of the plurality of guides. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an implementation of a cord wrap for a power supply unit. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the cord wrap of  FIG. 1  with portions of the cords wrapped about the power supply unit. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate another implementation of a cord wrap for a power supply unit. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate another implementation of a cord wrap for a power supply unit. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates another implementation of a cord wrap for a power supply unit. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates another implementation of a cord wrap for a power supply unit. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates another implementation of a cord wrap for a power supply unit. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates another implementation of a cord wrap for a power supply unit. 
         FIGS. 9A-9C  illustrate other implementations of a cord for a power supply unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate like elements,  FIG. 1  illustrates an implementation of a cord wrap or cord caddy  100  for a power supply unit  10 . Power supply unit  10  is used to provide electric power to any number of consumer electronic devices, such as computers, laptop computers, printers, displays, and other electric and electronic devices. A high voltage power cord  17  may be releasably connected at one of its ends to the power supply unit  10  at a port (not shown) formed in the power supply unit  10 , and at an opposite of its ends to, for example, a wall outlet via common electrical prongs (not shown) formed at the end of the power cord  17 . The high voltage power cord  17  delivers power from a domestic source, such as a 120 or 240 volt wall outlet to the power supply unit  10 . A second low voltage power cord  15  may also be connected, or releasably connected, at one end to the power supply unit  10 , such as for example to port  20  formed in the power supply unit  10 , and at an opposite end of the cord  15  to a receiving port formed in the electronic device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the power supply unit  10  may include one or more extensions or guides  30 . The extensions or guides  30  may be formed during, for example, the manufacture of the power supply unit  10  by extending opposite side surfaces  12 ,  14  in a longitudinal or transverse direction thereby forming guides  30  opposite one another at opposite ends  16 ,  18  of the power supply unit  10 . Alternatively, the extensions or guides  30  may be permanently or releasably coupled to the power supply unit  10  after the unit  10  has been manufactured or during manufacture of the unit  10 , as will be discussed in more detail below. The extensions or guides  30  may extend beyond the outer periphery of the power supply unit  10  for a desired length, for example, 25.4 mm to 50.8 mm (1 to 2 inches), depending upon the length of the high and low voltage power cords used. The extensions or guides  30  form channels or trough areas  40 ,  50  between them, respectively. The channel or trough areas  40 ,  50  generally conform to the width of the power supply unit  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , using the power supply unit  10  as a core or base, the high and low voltage cords  17 ,  15  connected to the power supply unit  10  may be wound around the power supply unit  10 , for example, in a longitudinal or transverse direction around the power supply unit  10 , such that the cords are held in place between the guides  30  at opposite ends of the power supply unit  10 . In order to prevent the cords from unwinding, one or more of the extensions or guides  30  may include a recess, notch or other opening, such as wedge-shaped notches  60  formed in the extensions or guides  30 . Once the power cords are wound around the power supply unit  10 , end portions of the power cords may be inserted and wedged into the notches  60  to retain a portion of the cords in position. In order to remove the cords from the respective notches  60 , a user simply has to pull the end portions of the power cords from the notches  60  at which point the user may unwind the cords from around the power supply unit  10  to the extent needed or desired. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , in addition to forming the extensions or guides  30  during manufacture of the power supply unit  10 , the extensions or guides may be retrofit onto an existing power supply unit  10 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 3A , B, the extensions or guides  130  may be formed separate from the power supply unit  10  in the form of strips having a length such that they extend beyond the ends of the power supply unit  10  by a desired amount (e.g., 25.4 mm to 50.8 mm (1 to 2 inches)). An adhesive material  90  such as glue, adhesive strips, hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®, or other suitable material may be provided along a length of the extensions or guides  130  as shown in  FIG. 3A . Alternatively, the adhesive material  90  may be provided along a length of the side of the power supply unit  10 . The guides  130  may be brought into contact with the respective sides of the power supply unit  10  in order to form the power cord wrap assembly as shown in  FIG. 3B . The guides  130  may be shaped or configured to match or generally conform to the shape of the power supply unit  10 . For example, a number of power supply units  10  have slightly-angled side surfaces due to the design of the casing of the power supply unit  10 . In those instances, the guides  130  may be shaped, for example, with an angle that closely or substantially matches the angle of the side surface of the power supply unit  10  to assist in adhering the guides  130  to the power supply unit  10 . In addition, the adhesive material  90  may be formed such that any space between the guides  130  and the side of the power supply unit  10  are taken up or absorbed by the adhesive material  90  when the guides  130  are brought into contact with the sides of the power supply unit  10 . It should be understood that the guides  130  may have any suitable shape in order to conform to the shape of the power supply unit  10 . 
     As also shown in  FIGS. 3A , B, the guides  130  may also include notches or openings  60  as discussed above, or any of other suitable retention mechanisms for retaining a portion of the cords once the cords are wrapped about the power supply unit  10  for storage. Alternatively, the extensions or guides  130  may also include clips  95  ( FIGS. 4A , B) made from a metal, plastic or other suitable material for securing a portion of the cords once the cords are wrapped around the power supply unit  10  to help prevent the cord from unwrapping. For example, once the cords are wrapped around the power supply unit  10 , a portion of the cords may be snapped into place and received by the clips  95  (as shown in  FIG. 4B ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an alternative cord wrap  200  is shown. The power supply unit  10  may include one or more extensions or guides  30 . The extensions or guides  30  may be formed during, for example, the manufacture of the power supply unit  10  by extending opposite side surfaces  12 ,  14  in a longitudinal or transverse direction thereby forming guides  30  opposite one another at opposite ends  16 ,  18  of the power supply unit  10 . Alternatively, the extensions or guides  30  may be releasably coupled to the power supply unit  10  after the unit  10  has been manufactured or during manufacture of the unit  10 . The extensions or guides  30  may extend beyond the outer periphery of the power supply unit  10  for a desired length, for example, 25.4 mm to 50.8 mm (1 to 2 inches), depending upon the length of the high and low voltage power cords  15 ,  17  used. The extensions or guides  30  form channels or trough areas  40 ,  50  between them, respectively. The channel or trough areas  40 ,  50  generally conform to the width of the power supply unit  10 . In the implementation shown in  FIG. 5 , at least one end portion  35  of the extensions or guides  30  is formed in a substantially L-shaped configuration. The end portions  35  serve to further aid in retaining the wrapped cords  15 ,  17  in position around the periphery of the power supply unit  10 . For example, as the cords  15 ,  17  are wrapped around the power supply unit  10 , they tend to fill up the space formed by the channels or trough areas  40 ,  50 . As the cords  15 ,  17  fill up the space, the outer portion of the wrapped cords  15 ,  17  may contact the end portions  35  such that the end portions  35  exert a force on the wrapped section of cords to help limit or prevent movement of the cords once the wrap is complete. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative implementation for preventing the cords from unwinding once the cords  15 ,  17  are wrapped around the power supply unit  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , one of the ends of the extensions or guides  30  may include one or more receptacles  70  formed in the shape and configuration of electrical prongs or plugs so that once the high voltage power cord  17  is wrapped around the power supply unit  10 , the pronged or plugged end (not shown) of the power cord  17  may be plugged into the receptacles  70 . Likewise, one of the ends of the extensions or guides  30  may include a hole or opening  80  formed to receive or mate with the connector end (not shown) of the low voltage power cord  15  once it is wrapped around the power supply unit  10 . By receiving the respective ends of the power cords  15 ,  17 , receptacles  70  and opening or hole  80  provide a convenient way of retaining the cords  15 ,  17  in a wrapped configuration around the power supply unit  10 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an implementation of the cord wrap with recesses formed in the ends of the extensions or guides  30  having substantially oval cross-sectional shaped body portions, in the shape of a circular notch or groove  100  for receiving a portion of the flexible part of an electrical power cord, such as the flexible portions  200 ,  205  of the power cords illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In order to further restrict movement and retain the flexible portions  200 ,  205  within the notch or grooves  100 , the ends of the extensions or guides  30  are formed with retention fingers, clasps or other mechanisms  105  through which the flexible portions  200 ,  205  may pass and remain entrapped in the notch or grooves  100  until a user pulls the flexible portions  200 ,  205  through the mechanisms  105  to free the flexible portions  200 ,  205  from the recesses  100 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an alternative implementation of the extensions or guides  30  of  FIGS. 3A and 3B . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , instead of the extensions or guides  30  including notches or openings  60  as discussed above with respect to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the guides  30  may include recesses formed in the shape of a circular notch or groove  100  for receiving a portion of the flexible part of an electrical cord (not shown). Like the implementation shown in  FIG. 7 , in order to further restrict movement and retain the flexible portions  200 ,  205  within the notch or grooves  100 , the ends of the extensions or guides  30  are formed with retention mechanisms  105  in a similar manner as described above with respect to the implementation of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIGS. 9A-9C  illustrate alternative implementations of a cord wrap assembly  200  for use with a power supply unit  210 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 9A-9C , the power supply unit  210  includes electrical prongs  220 , which may be plugged into, for example, a wall outlet. The prongs  220  are movable between an open or extended position ( FIG. 9A ) and a closed position ( FIGS. 9B ,  9 C). Including the prongs  220  as part of the power supply unit  210  eliminates the need for an additional high voltage power cord as discussed above. A low voltage power cord  215  may also be connected, or releasably connected, at one end to the power supply unit  210  and at an opposite end of the cord  215  to a receiving port formed in an electronic device, such as, for example, a laptop computer, phone, or wireless router device. As shown in  FIG. 9C , the cord  215  may include a connecter  215   a , such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, formed at one of its ends for connecting to a mating USB receiving port (not shown) in the electronic device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9A , the power supply unit  210  may include one or more extensions or guides  230  formed integral with the body of the power supply unit  210  and formed with openings for receiving a portion of the power cord  215  as discussed above. Alternatively, the guides  230  may be removably attached to the power supply unit  210  as described above. Referring to  FIGS. 9B and 9C , the extensions or guides  230  may be attached or disposed on the power supply unit  210  such that they are movable between a closed position when not in use ( FIG. 9B ) and an open or extended position ( FIG. 9C ). The extensions or guides  230  may extend beyond the outer periphery of the power supply unit  210  for a desired length, for example, 25.4 mm to 50.8 mm (1 to 2 inches) or less, depending upon the length of the power cord used and the dimensions of the particular power supply unit  210 . Referring to  FIG. 9C , using the power supply unit  210  as a core or base, the power cord  215  may be wound around the power supply unit  210 , for example, in a longitudinal or transverse direction around the power supply unit  210 , such that the cord  215  is held in place between the guides  230  at opposite ends of the power supply unit  210 . Once the cord  215  is wound around the power supply unit  210 , a clip  240 , which is slidably or permanent attached to a portion of the power cord  215  may be used to retain another portion of the cord  215  as shown in  FIG. 9C . Alternatively, one or more of the extensions or guides  230  may include a recess, such as a notch or other opening as discussed above to assist in retention of the cord  215  in a wrapped configuration about the power supply unit  210 . Alternatively, a clip, such as clip  95  ( FIGS. 4A ,  4 B), may be provided on one or more of the extensions or guides  230  or the power supply unit  210  to assist in retention of the cord in a wrapped configuration about the power supply unit  210 . 
     A number of implementations and alternatives have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, although the extension or guides  30  are shown as substantially flat longitudinally extending elements, the extensions or guides  30  may have any suitable shape such as cylinders, oval cross-sectional, rectangular cross-sectional, or other shapes and configurations to optimize contact with the power supply unit  10 . Moreover, although the extensions or guides  30  are shown extending from the body of the power supply unit  10 , the extensions or guides  30  may be disposed within the body when not in use and moved to a position extending away from the body when in use. For example, the extensions or guides  30  may reside in mating pockets formed in the power supply unit  10  when not in use, and triggered, by the push of a button or manually to extend from the power supply unit  10 . Moreover, the extensions or guides  30  may be made from any suitable materials, such as plastic, metals, or applicable material. In addition, although the cord wrap of, for example,  FIG. 1  has been shown with notches or grooves  60  formed in each of the guides  30 , the cord wrap can be formed with only one guide  30  having a groove  60 , or with grooves  60  formed in the ends of two or more of the guides  30 . 
     Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the disclosure.