PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10279971-B2
Application Number: US-201715701040-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Cable retainers for packaging

Abstract:
Cable retainers for cables are disclosed. The cable retainers may include a panel having a pair of loop locks. The loop locks may engage each other to form a loop. The cable retainer may include a first and a second retention loop. Each retention loop may have a finger with a slot formed at a fold line of the finger. Each retention loop may also have a flap with a tab formed at a fold line of the flap. The finger and the flap of the first retention loop may be located directly across the panel from one another. The finger of the second retention loop may be located at a first end of the panel while the flap of the second retention loop may be located at a second end of the panel. The tabs and slots of each retention loop may interlock to form a rectangular cable passage. The cable may also include a reinforcement structure disposed in a retention loop. The reinforcement structure may be stepped reinforcement structure. The cable retainer may be formed entirely of paper and may be formed without and adhesive.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cable retainer comprising:
 a base panel having a tab formed in an interior of the base panel and spaced from an edge of the base panel; 
 a rectangular retention loop extending from the base panel and formed of retention loop panels folded at right angles relative to each other; 
 a slot formed in the retention loop; 
 a stepped reinforcement structure extending from the base panel, the stepped reinforcement structure comprising:
 a step platform; 
 step sidewall panels; and 
 mating panels, 
 
 wherein the tab and slot interlock to form a cable passage defined by one of the mating panels, one of the step sidewall panels, and one of the retention loop panels; and 
 wherein the retainer is formed entirely of paper, with no adhesive. 
 
     
     
       2. The cable retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the cable retainer is a single integrally formed piece. 
     
     
       3. The cable retainer of  claim 2 , wherein the single integrally formed piece is formed from a flat blank. 
     
     
       4. The cable retainer of  claim 3 , wherein the stepped reinforcement structure is formed of panels folded at right angles relative to each other. 
     
     
       5. A packaged cable comprising:
 the cable retainer of  claim 1 ; 
 a wound cable extending through the cable passages. 
 
     
     
       6. The packaged cable of  claim 5 , wherein the cable is wound such that each loop of the cable is in contact with immediately adjacent loops along a majority of each loop. 
     
     
       7. A cable retainer comprising:
 a base panel having a tab formed in an interior of the base panel and spaced from an edge of the base panel; 
 a stepped reinforcement structure having mating panels mated to the base panel; 
 a rectangular retention loop extending from the base panel and formed of retention loop panels folded at right angles relative to each other; and 
 a slot formed in the retention loop, 
 wherein the tab and the slot interlock to form two cable passages, and 
 wherein the retainer is formed entirely of paper, with no adhesive. 
 
     
     
       8. The cable retainer of  claim 7 , wherein the mating panels are high-frequency welded to the base panel. 
     
     
       9. The cable retainer of  claim 7 , wherein the tab and slot are removably interlocked. 
     
     
       10. A packaged product comprising:
 the cable retainer of  claim 7 ; 
 a wound cable extending through the cable passages; and 
 a product retained by a product panel. 
 
     
     
       11. A cable retainer comprising:
 a retention loop having an interlocking tab and slot; 
 a stepped reinforcement structure interior of the retention loop; and 
 a product display panel configured to receive and display a product disposed on the product display panel, 
 wherein the stepped reinforcement structure and the retention loop define cable passages, and 
 wherein the retainer is formed entirely of paper, with no adhesive. 
 
     
     
       12. The cable retainer of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a foldable port securement member; 
 wherein the port securement member is configured to mate with a port of a retained cable. 
 
     
     
       13. A packaged product comprising:
 the cable retainer of  claim 11 ; 
 a wound cable extending through the cable passages; and 
 a product located in the product display panel, 
 wherein the product is a charger. 
 
     
     
       14. The packaged product of  claim 13 , wherein the stepped reinforcement structure centrally supports the product within the cable retainer. 
     
     
       15. The cable retainer of  claim 11 , wherein the retention loop is comprised of retention loop panels defined by folds. 
     
     
       16. The cable retainer of  claim 15 , wherein the tab is formed in the interior of a retention loop panel and spaced from any fold between panels of the retention loop. 
     
     
       17. The cable retainer of  claim 15 , wherein the retention loop is comprised of five retention loop panels. 
     
     
       18. The cable retainer of  claim 11 , further comprising a product panel extending from the product display panel. 
     
     
       19. The cable retainer of  claim 18 , wherein the product panel is high-frequency welded to the product display panel. 
     
     
       20. The cable retainer of  claim 11 , wherein the stepped reinforcement structure is comprised of three stepped reinforcement panels.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/467,917, filed Mar. 23, 2017, titled “Cable Retainers for Packaging,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to cable retainers. More particularly, the described embodiments relate to cable retainers formed entirely of paper. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some embodiments described herein, a cable retainer includes a panel with of pair of loop locks configured to engage each other to form a loop. A first and a second retention loop may attach to the panel. Each retention loop includes a finger having a slot formed at a fold line of the finger and a flap having a tab formed at the fold line of the flap. The finger and flap of the first retention loop may be located directly across the panel from one another while the finger and flap of the second retention loop may be located at a first end and a second end of the panel, respectively. The tab of the flap mates with the slot of the finger to form a cable passage. The cable passage may be rectangular. The tab may be removed from and reinserted into the slot. The cable retainer may be formed entirely of paper, with no adhesive. 
     The cable retainer may be a single integrally formed piece and may be formed from a flat blank. The cable retainer may also be coated (e.g., with a laminate). Folds in the cable retainer may be preformed in the single integrally formed piece. The cable retainer may be formed entirely of a recyclable material (e.g., a paper-based material such as cardboard, paperboard, or cardstock) and may have the same number of fingers extending from the top side as the bottom side of the panel. The cable retainer may have all the fingers extending from one side of the panel. 
     The cable retainer may include a port securement member configured to mate with a retained cable. The port securement member may be foldable. The port securement member in the folded configuration may engage the port of a wound cable secured by the cable retainer. 
     A packaged cable disclosed herein may include a cable retainer and a wound cable extending through the retention loop of the cable retainer. The cable may be wound such that each loop of the cable is in contact with immediately adjacent loops along a majority of each loop. 
     In some embodiments fingers and tabs for a cable retainer may include finger segments and flap segments, respectively. A finger and flap may together form a retention loop, and may be coupled together by a tab formed at a fold line between the two flap segments and a slot formed at a fold line between two of the finger segments. A rectangular cable passage may be formed when the tab engages the slot. Each finger segment may be folded at a right angle relative to an adjacent finger segment. Similarly, each flap segment may be folded at a right angle relative to an adjacent flap segment. A panel may extend between retention loops to form a cable retainer. A finger and a flap segment adjacent the panel may be folded at a right angle relative to the panel. 
     The cable retainer formed of retention loops may include a wound cable that extends through the retention loops of the cable retainer. The loops of the wound cable may be disposed on the same plane. A removal tab may extend from the cable retainer to aid the user in removing a packaged cable from product packaging. The removal tab may be, for example, semi-circular. 
     The cable retainer may include a panel having at least three folds. One of the folds may not extend entirely across the panel. The fold may connect to a cut-out of the panel. A second of the folds may be formed in the cut-out and may be interrupted by a tab such that the second of the folds does not extend entirely across the cut-out. The cut-out may have a semi-circular end. A tab formed in the cut-out may have a semi-circular end and semi-circular ends of the tab and the cut-out may point in opposite directions. According to some embodiments disclosed herein, the cable retainer is formed entirely of paper, with no adhesive. 
     In some embodiments a cable retainer has a base panel with a tab formed from a fold in the base panel. The fold forming the tab may be located a distance from an edge of the base panel. A retention loop extends from the base panel. The retention loop is formed of retention loop panels and may have a rectangular shape. A slot is formed in one of the retention loop panels. A stepped reinforcement structure extends from the base panel. The stepped reinforcement structure has a step platform, step sidewall panels, and mating panels. The tab and the slot are configured to interlock to form a cable passage defined by the mating panel, the sidewall panel, and the retention loop panel. The interlocking structure allows the cable retainer to be formed entirely of paper and without the use of adhesives. 
     In some embodiments, the cable retainer may be formed of a single integrally formed piece and may be formed from a flat blank. The rectangular retention loop and stepped reinforcement structure may be formed from panels. Each panel of the retention loop and stepped reinforcement structure may be disposed at a right angle relative to each adjacent panel of the retention loop and reinforcement structure. A wound cable may be packaged using the retainer described above. The wound cable may extend through the cable passage and each loop of the wound cable may be in contact with immediately adjacent loops along a majority of each loop. In this way, each loop of the wound cable is disposed in the same plane. The wound cable may be located in the cable retainer such that a plane of the wound cable is parallel to a sidewall of the stepped reinforcement structure. 
     In some embodiments a cable retainer may include a base panel. The base panel includes a tab formed from a fold in the base panel. The fold forming the tab may be spaced from an edge of the base so that that tab is interior the base panel and not at an edge of the base panel. The cable retainer may also include a stepped reinforcement structure. The stepped reinforcement structure may be mated to the base. The stepped reinforcement structure may be coupled to the base panel using high frequency welding. The stepped reinforcement structure may also be used to centrally support a retained product. That is, the retained product may be supported by the reinforcement structure such that it is held above the base panel. A rectangular retention loop extends from the base panel and has a slot configured to receive the tab. When the slot and tab interlock, two cable passages are formed. In this way, the cable retainer can be formed entirely of paper and with no adhesives. Further, the tab may be removed from, and reinserted into, the slot without damaging the cable retainer. 
     The cable retainer may also include a product panel extending from the base panel. The product panel may reinforce the structure of the cable retainer. The product panel may also engage and retain a product retained in the cable retainer. In some uses, the product may be a charger. 
     In some embodiments, a cable retainer includes a product panel configured to receive a product and a pair of cable passages configured to receive a wound cable of the product located in the product receiving portion. The cable passages may be defined by a retention loop and a stepped reinforcement structure. The stepped reinforcement structure is located interior of the retention loop. The retention loop may be formed by interlocking a tab and with a slot. The tab and the slot may be formed on the retention loop. The tab and slot may be removably interlocked. Using the interlocking tab and slot allows the cable retainer to retain a cable without the use of adhesives. 
     In some embodiments, a cable retainer has a retention loop formed from adjacent panels. The panels may be defined by folds in the retention loop. A tab of the retention loop may be fold interior of one of the panels and spaced from a fold. In some embodiments, the retention loop is comprised of five panels. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows packaging with a cable retainer. 
         FIG. 2  shows the cable retainer in a flat configuration. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the cable retainer folded about a wound cable. 
         FIG. 4  shows a slice section view along the line  4 - 4 ′ in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a cable retainer in a flat configuration. 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the cable retainer folded about a wound cable. 
         FIG. 7  shows a detail slice section view along the line  7 - 7 ′ in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  shows a free body diagram of the detailed slice section view in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a cable retainer folded about a wound cable and product. 
         FIG. 10  shows the cable retainer blank used form the cable retainer of  FIG. 9  in a flat configuration. 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a cable retainer formed from the blank of  FIG. 10  in an open configuration. 
         FIG. 12  shows a detail slice section view along the line  12 - 12 ′ in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the claims. 
     Many products utilize cables in some form or another. For example, an electronic device may utilize one or more cables to receive or transmit power and/or data (e.g., audio or video signals). In some instances, it may be desirable to store and/or package the cable(s) (e.g., between uses, in transit, or while presented for sale). 
     Cable retainers protect cables and products from damage and facilitate brand recognition. Cable retainers also contribute to effective and attractive packaging and may be an important tool used to attract and retain customers. In some embodiments, cable retainers are easily undone for removal of a cable. This can reduce customer frustration. 
     While ease of operating cable retainers to access a retained cable may be desirable from a customer standpoint, efficiency and cost in manufacturing and constructing (assembling) cable retainers may be a consideration for manufactures and/or sellers of the packaging. For example, environmental considerations may play a role in developing cable retainers. Cable retainers made out of recyclable and/or biodegradable material can reduce environmental impact. Additionally, cable retainers that utilize minimal resources, from a material, energy, and/or labor perspective, may be desirable. For example, it may be desirable to make a cable retainer from a single raw product, such as, for example, paper. Further, cable retainers that require a relatively small number of manufacturing and/or assembly steps may reduce costs (e.g., manpower and machine costs) associated with the packaging. Maintaining desired aesthetics and function of cable retainers in view of such environmental and resource considerations can be a challenge. 
     The retainers discussed herein may be used to hold, display, and/or transport cables (e.g., power and/or data cables), whether separately or as connected to a product. The cable retainers discussed herein may hold and display wound cable in an aesthetically appealing and customer-friendly fashion. The cable retainers may maintain a wound cable in a compact configuration. A cable retainer may be disposed in a cavity of a packaging container, which may present a wound cable in a fashion that facilitates easy and intuitive removal of the cable retainer and/or wound cable from the packaging by a customer, such as, for example, by releasing a tab of the cable retainer from a slot of the cable retainer. 
     A cable retainer may be folded about the wound cable and secured to itself with the use of a tab and slot coupling. The cable retainer may present to a customer one or more free ends releasably attached to other portions of the cable retainer. Pulling the free ends may release an attachment, for example a tab from a slot, between the cable retainer and the packaging and/or between different portions of the cable retainer. Pulling on the free ends may cause the cable retainer to unfold, thereby allowing a wound cable to be removed from a packaging container and/or the cable retainer. In some embodiments, the cable retainer may be re-constructed (e.g., re-folded) by re-attaching the free ends to respective portions of the cable retainer. 
     Cable retainers discussed herein and features thereof may be used to package merchandise other than wound cables. In such cases, the retainer may function as a “product retainer” or “accessory retainer.” For example, cable retainers discussed herein may be used to package products having a cable (or cord) physically attached to them, such as a wired headset, wired earphones, mouse, keyboard, charger, charging station, docking station, or other device. Also, packaging and cable retainers may be used to package non-wired products. For example, the cable retainers may be used to package products by being partially folded about the product. Such products/accessories may include but are not limited to, wireless headphones, wireless headsets, remote controls, or printed materials. 
     A cable retainer may be used to retain a cable (which may also be referred to as a cord). Typically, a cable has a length many times greater than its width. For packaging, a cable may be coiled upon itself (i.e., wound) to create a compact configuration to occupy a compact area, in order to efficiently store/package the cable. The cable may be wound any suitable number of times. Adjacent cable windings may be flush with one another. In some embodiments, the wound cable contained in the cable retainer may be described as a hanked cable. A hanked cable may have a visually appealing symmetry. In some embodiments, separate coils of the hanked cable have outer tangent lines that lie in the same plane. An exemplary, hanked cable is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,073,727, issued Jul. 7, 2015, titled “Systems and Methods for Hanking a Cable,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
     A cable retainer may be composed of a recyclable material (e.g., a biodegradable or compostable material). For example, the cable retainer may be composed of a paper-based product such as, for example, cardboard or paperboard (e.g., solid bleached sulfate (SBS)). The cable retainer may also be composed of a polymeric material such as, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polystyrene, polymer blends including one or more of these polymers, or co-polymers including one or more of these polymers). In some embodiments, all or some of the exterior surfaces of the cable retainer may be laminated. 
     Additionally, the packaging and/or cable retainers may be manufactured in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way. For example, a cable retainer may be constructed of a single integrally formed piece of material. This piece of material may be folded into a configuration that holds and secures a wound cable, either alone or within a cavity of a packaging container. The foldable material may be a single piece of material cut by a single operation (e.g., a single die cutting operation). In some embodiments, the foldable material may be die cut from a stock material (e.g., a sheet or roll of material). Single integrally formed pieces of material cut by a single cutting operation may facilitate efficient and reproducible manufacturing of cable retainers. Moreover, such manufacturing may reduce waste material during manufacturing. Finally, mechanically interlocking portions of the packaging, for example, using a tab and slot, may reduce or completely eliminate adhesives from the cable retainer. 
     In some embodiments, the retainer may include a reinforcement structure. The reinforcement structure may be a separate component coupled to a portion of the retainer. The reinforcement structure may also be formed from a portion of the retainer&#39;s blank. Forming the reinforcement structure from a portion of the retainer&#39;s blank may increase the efficiency of producing the cable retainer and reduces the number of components. 
     The reinforcement structure may improve the structural properties of the retainer, increasing the retainer&#39;s resistance to deformation while retaining a cable. A platform of the reinforcement structure may be used to locate and support a retained product. The reinforcement structure may also define or partially define a cable passage for a retained cable. A cable retention loop may, individually or together with the reinforcement structure, define a cable passage. The cable retention loop may extend from a base portion of the retainer and around the reinforcement structure. The retention loop may restrain the retained cable and also a packaged product. 
     Retainers described herein and the principles that guide their operation are applicable to a wide variety of product retention and packaging applications. For example, a retainer may also retain a product. And, in some embodiments, the retainer may retain a product and a cable of the product. For example, the retainer may retain a charger for an electronic device and the charger&#39;s power cable (the power cable being a cable that transfers power from a power source to the charger). 
     These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to the figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. 
     In some embodiments, for example as shown in  FIG. 1 , a cable retainer  200  may retain a wound cable  110  in a cavity  120  of product packaging  100 . Product packaging  100  may be used to package, for example, a cable alone, or a cable with other components, such as, for example, an electronic device. Product packaging  100  may include one or more additional cavities  120  for holding accessories. In some embodiments, wound cable  110  includes plugs  162 . Plugs  162  may be, for example, Universal Serial Bus (USB) plugs (which may also deliver power), a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) plug, an Ethernet plug, or a Lightning plug, manufactured by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , cable retainer  200  may include a panel  210 . Panel  210  may have a panel thickness  290  (see  FIG. 4 ) of a sheet of paper or cardstock, for example, 0.1 millimeters to 1 millimeter. Panel  210  may be made entirely from paper. As used herein, paper includes paper-based materials (i.e., cellulose pulp compacted into a flat sheet and dried). Panel  210  may be made entirely from recycled paper. Additionally, the paper forming panel  210  may include a coating on its exterior surface to augment or otherwise change its visual and structural characteristics. For example, the coating may be a laminate applied to a surface of panel  210  to increase its strength or to give it a glossy appearance. A laminate may be applied to select portions of panel  210  or may be applied to the entire surface of panel  210 . The coating may be tailored to the specific application of cable retainer  200 . In some embodiments, the coating may be formed of a recyclable material. In this way, the coating and cable retainer  200  may be recycled without the need to separate the coating and the cable retainer and may be recycled in a single stream. The cable retainer may be formed of a single integrally formed piece. The cable retainer may also be formed of multiple pieces that mechanically lock or are otherwise coupled to one another. The integrally formed piece may be formed from a blank. 
     A removal tab  270  may be hingedly coupled to panel  210 . Removal tab  270  may be folded up from panel  210  at fold lines  240 . Removal tab  270  may aid a customer in removing cable retainer  200  with wound cable  110  from product packaging  100 . 
     Fingers  220  are hingedly coupled to panel  210  at a fold line  240 . One or more segments (e.g. a finger segment  250 ) may connect fingers  220  to panel  210 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , fingers  220  include finger segments  250  disposed between, and hingedly coupling, panel  210  and fingers  220 . Fingers  220  include finger tips  224 . Fingers  220  are formed symmetrically from panel  210  about center  218  of panel  210 . Slots  232  may be cut into fingers  220 . Slots  232  may be a single, narrow cut through fingers  220  or slots  232  may have a wider geometry such as an oval cut out (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     Fold lines  240  may be formed by, for example, structurally weakened regions of cable retainer  200  (e.g., grooves, perforated lines, and depressions formed in cable retainer  200 ). Such structurally weakened regions may be formed, for example, by pre-folding, compressing, or removing material from the surface of cable retainer  200 . For example, grooves may be V-shaped or U-shaped and formed in a surface of cable retainer  200 . The fold lines may be preformed into the single integrally formed cable retainer. 
     Cable retainer  200  may include one or more flaps  230 . Flaps  230  may be formed in panel  210  and may be cut from the interior of the panel  210  such that cable retainer  200  may be formed from a single piece of paper. Flaps  230  may be coupled to panel  210  at flap fold lines  241 . Flap folding members  236  may be located between, and hingedly coupled to, flaps  230  and panel  210 . Flap folding members  236  may have a width approximately the same as finger segments  250 . Flaps  230  may have a flap end  231  defining an extreme point of flaps  230 . 
     Flaps  230  may include tabs  234 . Tabs  234  may be formed from flaps  230  when flaps  230  are folded at a flap fold line  241 . For example, tabs  234  may interrupt fold lines  241  such that fold line  241  does not extend entirely across flap  230 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , flaps  230  have tabs  234  formed opposite of flap ends  231 . Tabs  234  may be formed in the same plane, and remain in the same plane, as flaps  230 . Tabs  234  may be semi-circular and may face the opposite direction as a semicircular end portion of flaps  230 . In some embodiments, tabs  234  may be folded from flaps  230  to lie in a different plane. 
     In operation, cable retainer  200  may be configured to fold from a flat configuration (see e.g.,  FIG. 2 ) to a folded configuration (see e.g.,  FIG. 3 ). In the folded configuration, fingers  220  and flaps  230  may be folded about their respective fold lines  240 / 241  to folded positions. 
     A method of constructing a cable retainer according to one embodiment will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2-4 . Cable retainer  200  of  FIG. 2  may be used to form cable retainer  200  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     Folding flaps  230  at flap fold lines  241  extends tabs  234  toward center  218  of panel  210 . When flaps  230  and fingers  220  are folded, tabs  234  may pass through slots  232 . Once tabs  234  pass through slots  232 , fingers  220  and flaps  230  are restrained from folding back towards the flat state. In this way, cable retainer  200  may be made without the use of adhesive, using only the mechanical interlocking of tabs  234  and slots  232 . Folding flaps  230  and fingers  220  creates cable passages  260 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , cable passages  260  are rectangular, which helps securely hold cables by providing applied forces at contact points at tangents along the sides of the cable, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
     Finger tips  224  may be folded toward center  218  of panel  210 . Fingers  220  are folded until parallel to panel  210  and finger segments  250  are perpendicular to panel  210 . Fingers  220  and finger segments  250  may be folded at finger fold lines  240 . Flaps  230  may be folded at flap fold lines  241 . Each fold at flap fold lines  241  of flaps  230  may be a right-angle fold such that flap ends  231  of flaps  230  moves further from center  218  of panel  210 . In this way, flaps  230  are parallel to panel  210  and fingers  220  and flap folding members  236  are perpendicular to panel  210 . In some embodiments, flaps  230  lie between fingers  220  and panel  210  in the folded configuration. 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of cable retainer  200  in a folded configuration. Cable retainer  200  has wound cable  110  extending through cable passages  260 . Wound cable  110  may be looped through cable passages  260  multiple times (e.g., one or more loops of wound cable  110  may extend though cable passages  260 ). Each loop of wound cable  110  extending through cable passages  260  is disposed on the same plane. For example, wound cable  110  may be disposed on a plane parallel to panel  210  or parallel to flap folding member  236 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , folding flaps  230  creates voids  238  in panel. Voids  238  may be used to align cable retainer  200  in cavity  120  of product packaging  100 . 
     A customer may remove cable retainer  200  from product packaging  100  by pulling removal tab  270 . Cable retainer  200  may be sufficiently stiff such that removal tab  270  remains substantially perpendicular to panel  210  when cable retainer  200  containing wound cable  110  is held by removal tab  270  only. Removal tab  270  may take a variety of shapes, including, for example, semi-circular. 
     A customer may remove wound cable  110  from cable retainer  200  by pulling finger tips  224  away from center  218  of panel  210 . Pulling finger tips  224  will cause tabs  234  to slide though slots  232  thereby releasing fingers  220  and tabs  234  from one another. Once fingers  220  and tabs  234  are released, wound cable  110  may be removed from cable retainer  200 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a slice section view of cable retainer  200  and wound cable  110  taken at line  4 - 4 ′ of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4  shows cable retainer  200  in the folded configuration. Folded fingers  220  and folded flaps  230  form cable passages  260 . Wound cable  110  lies in cable passages  260 . As discussed above, cable passages  260  are formed by panel  210 , finger segments  250 , fingers  220 , flaps  230 , and flap folding members  236 . Fingers  220  and flaps  230  lie parallel to one another and tabs  234  extend from the rear of flaps  230  toward center of panel  218 , passing through slots  232  formed in fingers  220 . Finger fold lines  240  and flap fold lines  241  are also shown for reference. 
       FIG. 5  shows a cable retainer  300  according to some embodiments disclosed herein. Cable retainer  300  includes panel  301 . Flaps  310  extend from an upper side  304  of panel  301 . In some embodiments, flaps  310  have flap fold lines  316  formed thereon. For example, fingers  320  may extend from a lower side  306  of panel  301 . Flaps  310  on upper side  304  and fingers  320  on lower side  306  may be located such that when cable retainer  300  is formed into a loop, each flap  310  is opposite a finger  320 . In this way, each finger  320  is paired with one flap  310 . Cable retainer  300  may be formed into a loop by connecting loop locks  302 . 
     A port securement member  312  may extend from one of the upper side  304  and lower side  306  of cable retainer  300 . Port securement member  312  may have fold lines  318  formed thereon. Port securement member  312  may be folded at fold lines  318  and may be inserted into a plug  162  of a wound cable  110 . Port securement member  312 &#39;s natural spring between the folded portions of port securement member  312  may frictionally hold port securement member  312  inside of plugs  162 . A port slit  308  may also be formed into panel  301 . In some embodiments, port securement member  312  may pass through port slit  308 . 
     A method of constructing a cable retainer according to one embodiment will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Cable retainer  300  of  FIG. 5  may be used to form cable retainer  300  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Flaps  310  may be folded at a right angle at each of flap fold lines  316  such that an upper flap segment  311  of flap  310  is parallel to panel  301  and a lower flap segment  313  is perpendicular to panel  301 . Once folded, tabs  314  extend in the same plane as upper flap segment  311  beyond lower flap segment  313 . Fingers  320  are folded at a right angle at each of fold lines  318 . Fingers  320  are composed of three segments. As shown in  FIG. 5  for example, each of fingers  320  has a finger first segment  315 , a finger second segment  317 , and a finger third segment  319 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of cable retainer  300  in a folded configuration. Cable retainer  300  has wound cable  110  extending through a cable passage  360 . Wound cable  110  may be looped through cable passage  360  multiple times (e.g., one or more loops of wound cable  110  may extend though cable passage  360 ). Each loop of wound cable  110  that extends through cable passage  360  is disposed on the same plane. For example, wound cable  110  may be disposed on a plane parallel to panel  301 . 
     According to some embodiments, a customer may remove wound cable  110  from cable retainer  300  by pulling finger tips  330  in the direction of tabs  324 . Pulling finger tips  330  will cause tabs  314  to slide though slots  232  thereby releasing fingers  220  and tabs  314  from one another. Once fingers  320  and tabs  314  are released, wound cable  110  may be removed from cable retainer  300 . 
       FIG. 7  shows cable passage  360  according to some embodiments. Cable passage  360  is formed of finger first segment  315 , flap segments  313 , panel  301 , and flaps  310 . Finger first segment  315  is parallel to upper flap segment  311 . Finger second segment  317  is parallel to flap  310 &#39;s lower flap segment  313  and finger third segment  319  is parallel to lower flap segment  313 . Tabs  314  are parallel to finger tabs  324 . 
     As stated above, cable passage  360  is formed from panel  301 , fingers  320 , and flaps  310 . Tabs  314  extend through slot  321  and are parallel with finger tabs  324 . Finger tabs  324  are formed when fingers  320  are folded at fold line  326 . The portion of finger first segment  315  that was previously adjacent finger tabs  324  becomes slot  321  through which tabs  314  may extend. 
       FIG. 8  shows a free body diagram of the cable passage shown in  FIG. 7 . Wound cable  110  may be compressed by the walls of cable passage  360 , and may act as a spring exerting forces on cable passage  360 . The forces exerted by wound cable  110  contained in cable passage  360  can be resolved into horizontal force  402  and vertical force  406 . 
     Cable passage  360  resists horizontal force  402  and vertical force  406  with tabs  314 , slots  321 , and finger tabs  324 . With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , horizontal force  402  is resisted by the interference of tabs  314  with the boundary of slots  321  and finger tabs  324 . Vertical force  406  is resisted by the interference of tabs  314  with the boundary of slots  321 . In this way, cable passage  360  is able to retain shape without the use of adhesives. 
     A reinforcement structure may also be formed into a cable retainer to increase the resistance to deformation of the cable retainer when the cable retainer holds a wound cable.  FIGS. 9-12  show a cable retainer with a reinforcement structure in various states of assembly and use according to some embodiments. The reinforcement structure, together with other portions of the cable retainer, may define cable passages for the wound cable. The retainer shown in  FIGS. 9-12  may also retain a product together with its cable. 
       FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of cable retainer  500  in the assembled configuration. Cable retainer  500  retains product  700  and retained wound cable  110 . Cable retainer  500  may package product  700  and wound cable  110  without the use of adhesives and only with mechanical interlocking structures. In some embodiments, cable retainer  500  may be formed by folding panels of cable retainer  500  around product  700  and wound cable  110 . A panel of cable retainer  500  may engage a tab formed in another panel of cable retainer  500  to complete the assembly and to provide an easy way for a user to open cable retainer  500  and release product  700  and wound cable  110 . According to these and other embodiments, cable retainer  500  may be formed as an integrally formed piece (e.g., of sheet material, such as paper) that includes a series of panels. 
     In some embodiments, for example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , cable retainer  500  uses a reinforcement structure  510  to form cable passages. Reinforcement structure  510  also maintains the structure of cable retainer  500 . Cable retainer  500  serves to package retained product  700  and product  700 &#39;s wound cable  110 . Plug  162  is coupled to the opposite end of wound cable  110  from product  700 .  FIG. 9  shows plug  162  disposed between a base panel  502  and a reinforcement platform  512  of cable retainer  500 . 
     Cable retainer  500  may be formed in whole or in part from a flat blank. For example,  FIG. 10  shows cable retainer  500  from  FIG. 9  as a blank in a flat configuration. Cable retainer  500  includes several panels (including, for example,  516 ,  514 ,  512 ,  502 ,  504 ,  540 ,  508 ,  506 ,  509 ,  520 ). Cable retainer  500  may be formed of paper in a similar manner as cable retainer  200  discussed above. Cable retainer  500 &#39;s panels are separated by fold lines  503  and  599 . As disclosed above, fold lines  503  and  599  may be formed by, for example, structurally weakened regions of cable retainer  500  (e.g., grooves, perforated lines, and depressions formed in cable retainer  500 ). Such structurally weakened regions may be formed, for example, by pre-folding, compressing, or removing material from the surface of cable retainer  500 . For example, grooves may be V-shaped or U-shaped and formed in a surface of cable retainer  500 . The fold lines may be preformed into the single-integrally formed cable retainer  500 . 
     Cable retainer  500  may include groups of panels configured to form different structures of cable retainer  500 . In some embodiments, cable retainer  500  may include panels to form a cable retention loop and panels to form reinforcement structure  510  of the cable retainer. For example, cable retainer  500  shown in  FIG. 10  includes two groups of panels: retention loop panels  505  and reinforcement structure panels  507 . Retention loop panels  505  form a retention loop  511  in the finished cable retainer  500 . Reinforcement structure panels  507  form reinforcement structure  510  in the finished cable retainer. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the two groups of panels are separated by fold line  599 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , retention loop panels  505  include a base panel  502 , side wall panels  504 ,  506 , a product display panel  508 , and a release panel  509 . Side wall panel  504  is disposed between base panel  502  and product display panel  508 . Side wall panel  506  is disposed between product display panel  508  and release panel  509 . 
     Reinforcement structure panels  507  extend from base panel  502  of retention loop panels  505 . Reinforcement structure panels  507  include mating panels  516 , a reinforcement platform  512 , and reinforcement structure side walls  514 . Mating panels  516  are located at opposite ends of reinforcement structure panels  507 , with one of mating panels  516  extending from base panel  502 . Reinforcement structure side walls  514  are disposed between reinforcement platform  512  and mating panels  516 . Reinforcement structure  510  may be said to be a stepped structure because of the paneled design of reinforcement structure  510 . That is, reinforcement structure side walls  514  may be a step of reinforcement platform  512 . 
     Reinforcement structure panels  507  may be secured to retention loop panels  505  to form reinforcement structure  510 .  FIGS. 10 and 11  show reinforcement structure  510 &#39;s mating panels  516 . Mating panels  516  may be coupled to retention loop panels  505  with or without the use of adhesives. For example, as shown in  FIG. 11 , mating panels  516  may be coupled to base panel  502  using high frequency welding to couple mating zones  550  of mating panels  516  to base panel  502  without using adhesives. In some embodiments, rear reinforcement structure panels  557  and  559  may extend from reinforcement platform  512  and base panel  502 , respectively instead of a port securement member  540 . Rear reinforcement structure panels  557  and  559  may be mated when cable retainer  500  is in the folded or partial folded configuration. Rear reinforcement structure panels  557  and  559  may be high frequency welded together and may partly close one end of reinforcement structure  510 . 
       FIG. 10  shows product panel  520 . Product panel  520  extends from product display panel  508 . Product panel  520  and product display panel  508  include voids  522 . Voids  522  may permit a customer to view a retained product upon opening product packaging  100 , thereby promoting immediate identification of product  700  and intuitive unpacking by the user. Voids  522  may be any number of shapes and may correspond to a shape of a retained product or a portion thereof. Further, product panel  520 &#39;s void may mirror or partially mirror the shape of void  522 . In some embodiments, such as cable retainer  500  shown in  FIG. 10 , product panel  520  is folded on to product display panel  508 . Product panel  520  may be secured to product display panel  508  with or without the use of adhesives. For example, product panel  520  may be secured to product display panel  508  using high-frequency welding. 
     Cable retainer  500  may be formed by folding the flat, integrated panel shown in  FIG. 10  at the identified fold lines.  FIG. 10  shows fold lines  503  in thin dotted lines, thick dotted lines, or dot-dash lines. According to some methods of forming cable retainer  500 , the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10  may be folded with each thin dotted line representing an upward 90 degree fold, each thick dotted line representing a downward 90 degree fold, and each dot-dash line representing a 180 degree fold. Fold line  599 , which separates the retention loop panels  505  and reinforcement structure panels  507  may be folded 180 degrees out of the page such that mating panel  516  is parallel to base panel  502 . 
       FIG. 11  shows cable retainer  500  of  FIG. 10  in a partially assembled configuration. In this configuration,  FIG. 11  is configured to receive a product, such as, for example, a wound cable, which may be placed over reinforcement structure  510 . Reinforcement structure  510  is formed on base panel  502 . Reinforcement structure  510  prevents deformation of base panel  502  and reinforces the structure of cable retainer  500 . Reinforcement structure  510  is formed by folding reinforcement structure panels  507  as described, and securing mating zones  550  to base panel  502 . Reinforcement structure side walls  514  extend perpendicular to mating panels  516 . Reinforcement platform  512  extends between reinforcement structure side walls  514 . Products, product accessories, or cable components may be located in the space between reinforcement platform  512  and base panel  502 . For example, plug  162  of a wound cable retained in cable retainer  500  may be placed in this space, as shown in  FIG. 9 . Plug  162  may engage a port securement member  540  of cable retainer  500 . Port securement member  530  may be folded and inserted into plug  162  to hold plug  162  in place. 
       FIG. 11  also shows slot  501  on release panel  509 . Slot  501  is engaged by tab  518  formed in base panel  502  when cable retainer  500  is closed. Retention loop  511  may be secured to itself by interlocking tab  518  and slot  501 . Tab  518  is formed by raising tab  518  out of base panel  502  for insertion into slot  501 . Unlike tabs  234  in cable retainer  200  above, tab  518  is not formed on a fold line, but is formed between fold lines of a panel, thus making it positionable along a face of cable retainer  500 , not necessarily at a corner thereof. Tab  518  is spaced apart the edge of base panel  502  and is interior to base panel  502 . Tab  518  may be connected to base panel  502  at tab fold line  555 .  FIG. 12  shows a slice section view of tab  518  engaged with slot  501 . 
       FIG. 11  also shows a plug securement member  540  extending from base panel  502 . As discussed above, plug securement member  540  is configured to engage plug  162  of retained wound cable  110 . Plug securement member  540  secures plug  162  to cable retainer  500  to prevent plug  162  from moving. Plug securement member  540  also locates plug  162  during the packaging process to aid in efficient packaging that present a visually appealing packaged product. 
     According to some embodiments, portions of cable retainer  500  define cable passages  600 . For example, reinforcement structure side walls  514 , mating panels  516 , side wall panels  504 ,  506 , and product display panel  508 , when folded, define cable passages  600 .  FIG. 11  shows cable passages  600  before closed off by side wall panels  504 ,  506 , and product display panel  508 . Cable passages  600  are configured to receive wound cable  110 . Wound cable  110 , as described above, may be wound such that each loop of the wound cable  110  is immediately adjacent to another loop of wound cable  110 . The immediately-adjacent loops of wound cable  110  may be placed in cable passages  600  and retainer loop panels  505  may be folded about retained wound cable  110 . According to some embodiments, reinforcement structure  510  is assembled and a product  700  is placed on reinforcement platform  512 . Wound cable  110 , coupled to product  700 , is placed such that a side wall formed by wound cable  110  is parallel to reinforcement structure side wall  514 . Once in place, retainer loop panels  505  may be folded around product  700  at fold lines  503 . 
       FIG. 11  also shows product panel  520  secured to product display panel  508 . Product panel  520  may be secured to product display panel  508  using high frequency welding. Product panel  520  and product display panel  508  have concentrically aligned voids  522  that allow a portion of a retained product to be visible to a customer interacting with a product retained in cable retainer  500 . 
     Product panel  520  serves at least two functions. First, product panel  520  increases the rigidity of product display panel  508 . This helps restrain a retained product. Second, product panel  520  increases the thickness of product display panel  508  thereby increasing product display panel  508 &#39;s resistance to tearing or deflecting. 
       FIG. 12  shows a slice section view of cable retainer  500  taken at the line  12 - 12 ′ in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 12  shows cable retainer  500  in the folded configuration. Cable passages  600  are formed from reinforcement structure  510  and retention loop  511 . Reinforcement structure  510  has a generally rectangular cross section and is formed by coupling mating panels  516  to base panel  502  at mating zones  550 . Reinforcement structure side walls  514 , mating panels  516 , product display panel  508 , and side wall panels  504 ,  506  form the generally rectangular structure of cable passages  600  as shown. Tab  518  passes through slot  501  in release panel  509  to secure release panel  509  to base panel  502  to form retention loop  511 .  FIG. 12  shows panels of cable retainer  500  having a panel thickness  590 . 
     Wound cable  110  may be compressed by retention loop  511 . Wound cable  110  may also act as a spring and exert force parallel to base panel  502 . The force exerted by wound cable  110  is countered by tab  518  and slot  501 &#39;s interlocked coupling. The interlocked coupling of tab  518  and slot  501  allows cable retainer  500  to be assembled without the use of an adhesive. 
     A customer wishing to access product  700  in cable retainer  500  can pull release panel  509  away from base panel  502 . This will remove tab  518  from slot  501 . Once tab  518  is removed from slot  501 , the customer may “unwrap” product  700  from cable retainer. Product display panel  508 , which includes void  522 , will slip off of retained product as product display panel  508  is lifted away from product  700 . Once product display panel  508  is lifted away, a customer will be able to access product  700  and wound cable  110  in cable retainer  500 . The use of interlocking tab  518  and slot  501  also reduces customer frustration because cable retainer  500  remains a unitary piece after product  700  and wound cable  110  are removed. This reduces the number of pieces of waste the customer will need to dispose of or recycle. 
     Retainers using mechanical interlocks such as those described herein may be used to retain material or products for storage, shipping, packaging, or displaying. For example, a retainer using a mechanical interlock may be used to bundle pencils together. Further, retainers may be used to bundle related customer products such as, for example, a printer cord and printer ink, into a single integrated packaging unit. The retainer may also retain a cable and a portion of a retained product, such as, for example, a charger and charging cable or headphone cables and headphones. 
     The foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. These exemplary embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. All specific details described are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. 
     It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings, and that by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, one may readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. 
     The Detailed Description section is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the claims. 
     The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed. 
     The phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan. 
     The breadth and scope of the present invention(s) should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the claims and their equivalents.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20170911
Publication Date: 20190507
Grant Date: 20190507
Priority Date: 20170323
Inventors: MCCARREN, JONATHAN M.
UYEDA, Mark T.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "B65D73/0085", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65H2701/3919", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65D61/00", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65D85/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65D73/0042", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65H75/364", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65H55/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65D85/04", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65H2701/5112", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65D73/0078", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65H75/36", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65H2701/5112", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65H75/364", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65H75/36", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65D73/0078", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65H2701/3919", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65H2701/3919", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65H55/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65D85/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65D73/0085", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65D73/0042", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "B65D61/00", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 63581761