Abstract:
A variety of arrangements for management of DC power cords in AC-to-DC power converters. These arrangements include a frame for wrapping the cord around, in which the AC power plug may or may not be pivotably attached to the frame. The AC-to-DC power conversion circuitry may be miniaturized and contained within either the AC power plug or the frame. In addition, other arrangements include a retractable reel for the DC power cord that may be located within the frame or within the AC power plug.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/683,576, entitled “Cable Management Techniques for Cell Phone Chargers,” filed May 23, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Many modern consumer devices include a power converter associated with the power cable for converting AC outlet power to DC power used by the consumer device. This is particularly the case with portable and rechargeable consumer devices. These may typically include either (1) a converter located with the plug that interfaces with the AC wall outlet (e.g., occupying a volume of approximately 3″×2″×2″); or (2) a converter located at an intermediate position between the AC plug and the consumer device (e.g., occupying a volume of approximate 5″×2″×1″).  
         [0003]     These large housings and the power cords associated with them are sometimes inconvenient for persons who need to use these consumer devices in mobile applications. Not only is the large volume of the housing undesirable, but the amount of loose cord is undesirable and burdensome to users.  
         [0004]     Cellular telephones typically have a rechargeable battery that can be charged by a phone charger or power cord that includes a power converter therein, as described above. It is highly desirable to provide a more convenient phone charger for consumers.  
         [0005]     The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     The following embodiments and aspects of thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools, and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, and not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.  
         [0007]     One aspect relates to an AC-to-DC power converter. The converter includes an AC power plug, adapted for mating engagement with an AC power outlet; a cord housing to which the AC power plug is attached; a DC power cord having a DC power plug at one end thereof, adapted for mating engagement with a DC power inlet; a retraction mechanism attached to the DC power cord that resiliently urges the DC power cord into the housing; and AC-to-DC power conversion circuitry electrically connected between the AC power plug and the DC power cord.  
         [0008]     The AC power plug may be pivotably attached to the cord housing. The AC power plug may include a plurality of prongs, wherein the cord housing may include a frame defining a central void into which the prongs are received when the AC power plug is pivoted a sufficient amount. The AC power plug may be pivoted through an angular extent of 360 degrees. The AC power plug may be pivoted through an angular extent of approximately 180 degrees. The retraction mechanism may include retraction of the DC power cord through a pivot point for the AC power plug. The retraction mechanism may be separated from the AC power plug.  
         [0009]     Another aspect relates to an AC-to-DC power converter that includes a housing; AC power prongs extending from the housing, the prongs adapted for mating engagement with an AC power outlet; a DC power cord having a DC power plug at one end thereof, adapted for mating engagement with a DC power inlet; a retraction mechanism within the housing that resiliently urges the DC power cord into the housing; and AC-to-DC power conversion circuitry located within the housing, the circuitry electrically connected between the AC power prongs and the DC power cord.  
         [0010]     The housing may be generally box-shaped. The box-shaped housing may have six substantially equally-sized walls. The walls may generally solid, with an opening in one wall to allow the DC power cord to extend therethrough and openings in another wall to allow the AC power prongs to extend therethrough. The one wall and the another wall may be on opposite faces of the box-shaped housing.  
         [0011]     Another aspect relates to an AC-to-DC power converter that includes an AC power plug, adapted for mating engagement with an AC power outlet; a frame to which the AC power plug is pivotably attached; a DC power cord having a DC power plug at one end thereof, adapted for mating engagement with a DC power inlet; and AC-to-DC power conversion circuitry electrically connected between the AC power plug and the DC power cord; wherein the frame is adapted for manually wrapping the DC power cord there around.  
         [0012]     The frame may define a central void into which a plurality of prongs of the AC power plug can be received when the AC power plug is sufficiently pivoted. The frame may include raised features on outer opposite sides thereof to act as cord guides to aid in wrapping the DC power cord around the frame. The pivotable attachment of the AC power plug to the frame may allow the frame to hang downward in a generally vertical orientation when the AC power plug is engaged with a generally vertical AC power outlet. When the frame hangs downward in this fashion, it may be adapted for grasping by a user to engage or disengage the AC power plug from the AC power outlet.  
         [0013]     In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein be considered illustrative rather than limiting.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cord management frame for wrapping power cord there around.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the frame of  FIG. 1  with an AC power plug having pivoted into a storage position, and with a DC power cord having been wrapped there around.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a cord management frame for wrapping power cord there around, the frame hanging downward as an AC power plug is engaged with an AC power outlet.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the frame of  FIG. 3 , showing a DC power cord wrapped around the frame.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the frame of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the frame of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a cell phone charger having a cord retraction device thereon.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the charger showing how each of the AC power cord and the DC power cord can be extended from or retracted into a housing thereof.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a cell phone charger having a cord retraction device thereon.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the charger of  FIG. 9 , showing an AC power cord and a DC power cord retracted into a housing thereof.  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the charger of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the charger of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 13  is a side view of an AC-DC power converter, shown in an extended position.  
         [0028]      FIG. 14  is a top view of the power converter of  FIG. 13 , shown in an extended position.  
         [0029]      FIG. 15  is a side view of the power converter of  FIG. 13 , shown in a retracted position.  
         [0030]      FIG. 16  is a top view of the power converter of  FIG. 13 , shown in a retracted position.  
         [0031]      FIG. 17  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of an AC-DC power converter, shown in an extended position and with a cord retraction reel, the remainder of an AC power plug, and cords shown in phantom, and showing the direction that the AC power plug can be pivoted to a retracted position.  
         [0032]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of an AC-DC power converter, with a DC power cord partially extended therefrom.  
         [0033]      FIG. 19  is a side view of the power converter of  FIG. 18  showing a retraction reel, AC-DC power conversion circuitry, the remainder of an AC power prong, and interconnections therebetween in phantom. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0034]     Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which assist in illustrating the various pertinent features of the present invention. Although the present invention will now be described primarily in conjunction with cell phone chargers, it should be expressly understood that the present invention may be applicable to other applications where cable management is required/desired. In this regard, the following description of a cell phone charger is presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the following teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described herein are further intended to explain modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the present invention.  
         [0035]     One technique for managing the power cable associated with a cell phone charger  30  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In this technique, the AC-to-DC power converter circuitry for converting AC wall power to the DC power required by a cell phone has been miniaturized and placed into a wall plug  32  that is only slightly oversized from a standard two-pronged wall plug. Such circuitry is well known to those of skill in the art. A small, light-weight, relatively inexpensive, cable management frame  34  is pivotably mounted to the wall plug  32  as seen in  FIG. 1 . The frame  34  may be composed of plastic, for example.  FIG. 1  shows one scenario in which the plug  32  is in a position with the prongs extending therefrom so as to be in position to mate with a wall outlet.  FIG. 2  shows another scenario in which the plug  32  has been pivoted relative to the frame  34  so that the prongs are within the interior of the frame  34 . The arrow  35  in  FIG. 1  shows the direction the power plug  32  can be pivoted in to move it relative to the frame  34 . In either scenario, the remaining DC power cable  36  can be wrapped around the frame as shown in one of the drawings of  FIG. 1 . The frame  34  may include features or arms  38  that extend out from the main frame so as to make it easier to wrap the cable  36  around the frame and keep it in place.  
         [0036]      FIGS. 3-6  show an alternative embodiment of a power converter  40  that can be engaged with a wall outlet  42 . In this case, the pivotable mounting of the frame  44  to the wall plug  46  is located relatively closer to the prongs  48  of the wall plug. Rather than pivoting the wall plug  46  180 degrees so that the prongs  48  are within the interior of the frame  44 , the pivotable nature allows the frame  44  to drop into a vertical position while the wall plug  46  is plugged into the vertically-oriented wall outlet  42 . This may assist the user by providing the user with more convenient surfaces to grasp in sorting and removing the plug  46  from the wall outlet  42 . This may be helpful, as consumer devices are often plugged into power strips or outlets that may be in difficult to reach positions. The converter  40  of  FIG. 2  includes features  50  on the frame  44  that can retain the wrapped cable  52  in position and the prongs  48  of the plug  46  can be used to retain the wrapped coils of the cable  52  in position on an opposite end of the frame  44 .  
         [0037]     As can be appreciated, there are many possible alternatives and modifications of the designs described in  FIGS. 1-6 . For example, the housing could take nearly any other shape, be composed of different suitable materials, and/or have other features that would make the housing convenient and useful.  
         [0038]     Another technique for managing the cable associated with the cell phone charger is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . In this case, a power converter is again contained with a slightly-oversized housing  60  associated with the wall plug  62 . A cable retraction device  64 , such as a cable reel, is located on a DC power cable  66  as shown. The spring-loaded cable reel  64  can retract any unused portion of cable  66  so as to minimize the amount of loose cable when transporting the device as well as to reduce the amount of loose cable when the device is in use.  
         [0039]      FIGS. 9-12  show an alternative embodiment of the cable management retraction device of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . In this case, the differences between the two embodiments are largely cosmetic.  
         [0040]      FIGS. 13-16  show another embodiment of a power converter  70 . In this converter  70 , a frame  72  has a retraction device built therein (such as a spring or a conventional retraction reel) that is attached to a DC power cord  74 . The DC power cord  74  has a DC power plug  76  at an end thereof, the DC power plug being suitable for connection to a mobile device such as a mobile telephone or laptop computer. The frame  72  also has an AC power plug  78  pivotably attached thereto. This pivotable mounting allows the AC power plug  78  to be pivoted between an extended position in which the prongs  80  of the plug face outward ( FIG. 14 ) (for engagement with an AC power outlet) and a retracted position in which the prongs of the plug face inward ( FIG. 16 ). In this embodiment, the retracted DC power cord  74  may pass through the pivot point of the AC power plug  78 .  
         [0041]     In another embodiment somewhat similar to that shown in  FIGS. 13-16 , a converter  90  includes a frame  92  in which a retraction mechanism  94  is contained therein for resiliently urging a DC power cord  96  into the housing. The cord  96  has a DC power plug  98  at one end thereof. An AC power plug  100  is pivotable mounted to the frame  92  and is pivotable in the direction shown by the arrow  102 . The plug  100  is electrically connected to the retraction mechanism  94  by another cord  104 . AC-to-DC power conversion circuitry may reside in the AC power plug  100 , the retraction mechanism  94 , the DC power plug  98 , and/or elsewhere in the converter  90 . In this case, the retraction mechanism  94  and DC power cord  96  are separate from the AC power plug  100  and are located in a position to allow the plug  100  to pivot without interaction therewith.  
         [0042]     Another embodiment of a power converter  110  is shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . This converter is formed as a six-sided box-shaped housing  112  having an opening  114  formed in one wall thereof to allow a DC power cord  116  to pass therethrough. The cord  116  has a DC power plug  118  on one end thereof. Inside of the housing  112  is a retraction mechanism  120  that resiliently urges the DC power cord  116  into the housing. An opposite wall of the housing  112  has at least two AC power prongs  122  extending therethrough for mating with an AC power outlet. Internally in the housing  112 , the prongs  122  are electrically connected to AC-DC power conversion circuitry  124 , which is in turn connected to the DC power cord  116  within the retraction mechanism  120 .  
         [0043]     It is believed that the techniques disclosed herein for managing the power cable associated with cell phone chargers have not previously been employed for several reasons. First of all, cell phone chargers are very aggressively priced. Excess materials and features are not typically introduced. In this case, because of the extensive cost savings realized by containing a power converter within the AC wall plug, the possibility of adding convenience features such as those disclosed herein is now possible. Second, previous cell phone chargers included large housings to contain the power converter and on a relative basis, the power cord may not have presented as much of a nuisance as did the large housing. Now that the large housing has been virtually eliminated, the relative nuisance of the power cable has increased and is now addressed.  
         [0044]     The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such variations, modifications, permutations, additions, and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.