Patent Publication Number: US-6705574-B2

Title: Cable mounting structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a cable mounting structure, and more particularly to the cable mounting structure for mounting the cable to a controller case to be employed in a game controller or the like. 
     A related-art mounting structure of this type will be described referring to FIG.  3 . In the drawing, the cable mounting structure  1  is so constructed that an insertion hole  4  is formed in an engaging part of a side plate  3  of a case  2  which is composed of an upper case and a lower case (only the lower case is shown in this figure), a cable  5  is inserted into the case  2  through the insertion hole  4 , and at the same time, the cable  5  is retained in the case  2 . 
     More specifically, several pieces of boss ribs  7  are provided in an upright manner on a bottom plate  6  of the case  2  in proximity to and apart from one another. By passing the cable  5  around the boss ribs  7 , the cable  5  is pressed to the boss ribs  7  to be retained between them. In the drawing, numerals  8  and  9  designate connectors. 
     In this manner, the cable  5  is retained in the case  2 , and maintains retaining force against a force from an exterior of the case  2 . 
     However, in a method for retaining the cable by the boss ribs  7 , there has been a problem in quality that a bite of the cable  5  is likely to occur, resulting in a break down of the cable  5  or a drop of the cable  5  because the boss ribs  7  may be broken due to a stress. There has been a further problem that an assembling work for passing the cable  5  around the boss ribs  7  has been inferior in workability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cable mounting structure in which damages of the cable and the cable mounting members can be avoided to improve the product quality, and the workability for mounting the cable can be enhanced. 
     In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a cable mounting structure, comprising: 
     a cable; 
     a casing body formed with a through hole through which the cable is inserted; 
     a first retainer, secured to a first part of the cable and fitted with the through hole; and 
     a second retainer, attached on the casing body while holding a second part of the cable. 
     In this configuration, since the cable can be reliably and easily mounted, the retaining force against a force from the exterior of the casing body can be well maintained, and the workability can be improved. 
     Preferably, the first retainer is an elastic member having a groove fitted with an edge of the through hole. In this configuration, the flexibility of the cable will not be damaged. 
     Preferably, the second retainer includes a retaining member provided on the casing body while being formed with a guide groove, and a holding member detachably fitted into the guide groove. In this configuration, the second retainer can be easily fabricated and assembled. 
     Here, it is preferable that the holding member includes a semitubular portion in which the second part of the cable is placed and flat pieces protruded from both side portions of the semitubular portion and extending in an axial direction of the semitubular portion. The guide groove includes a first groove and a second groove, into which the flat pieces are fitted. 
     Further, it is preferable that a stopper is formed on one end portion in the extending direction of each flat piece to plenarily position the semitubular member at a predetermined position with respect to the retaining member. 
     Preferably, a part of the guide groove is made narrow to retain the holding member fitted therein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cable mounting structure according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cable holder in the cable mounting structure; and 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a related-art cable mounting structure. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     One preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail referring to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the cable mounting structure  11  is so constructed that an insertion hole  14  is formed in an engaging part of a side plate  13  of a case  12  which is composed of an upper case (not shown) and a lower case  12   a , a cable  15  is inserted into the case  12  through the insertion hole  14 , and at the same time, the cable  15  is retained in the case  12 . In the drawing, numeral  20  designates a connector. 
     More specifically, an elastic body  16  formed with a plurality of annular grooves  16   a  is secured around an outer periphery of the cable  15 . Moreover, there is provided inside the case  12 , a cable holder  17  which will be described below. A circumferential edge of the insertion hole  14  is held by wall portions of the annular grooves  16   a  of the elastic body  16 , and the cable  5  is retained by the cable holder  17 , so that the cable  15  can be mounted to the case  12 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the cable holder  17  is formed of a U-shaped flat plate, and includes sliding portions  17   a  formed at its both end portions, in an outwardly bent at a substantially right angle. Further, there are provided stoppers  17   b  in a shape of protuberance at one longitudinal end of each sliding portion  17   a.    
     Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 1, there are provided on an inner bottom face  18  of the case  12 , laterally arranged retainers  19  which are formed with guide grooves  19   a  so as to guide and hold the sliding portions  17   a . A part of each guide groove  19   a  is made narrow so as press and retain the associated sliding portion  17   a , when the sliding portions  17   a  are slid to a predetermined position. The cable holder  17  is plenarily positioned with respect to the retainers  19  by the stoppers  17   b.    
     The cable  15  is first embraced by the cable holder  17 , and then the sliding portions  17   a  of the cable holder  17  are slid into the guide grooves  19   a  of the retainers  19 , so that the cable  15  can be held in the case  12  by the cable holder  17 . 
     Accordingly, the cable  15  is retained by the side plate  13  of the case  12 , because the elastic body  16  fixed to the cable  15  is retained at the circumferential edge of the insertion hole  14  which is formed in the engaging part of the case  12 , and at the same time, held on the inner bottom face  18  of the case  12  by the cable holder  17  and the retainers  19 . 
     Since the elastic body  16  can be easily formed, and can reliably retain the cable  15 , maintaining the retaining force against an external force, but will not damage flexibility of the cable  15 . 
     In addition, the cable holder  17  can also hold the cable  15  easily and reliably, and improvement of the quality can be attained, eliminating those probabilities such as a bite or a rapture of the cable, a crack of the boss ribs, damages of the cable and the mounting members which have been likely to occur in the related-art structure. At the same time, the workability can be enhanced, because the cable mounting structure can be easily fabricated and assembled, and the cable can be easily mounted by the structure. 
     Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. Such changes and modifications as are obvious are deemed to come within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention as defined in the appended claims.