U.S. patent application number 12/785642 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-28 for cable package.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Heiko Bub, Sebastian Goebel, Hans-Juergen Meyer, Hauke Schormair.
Application Number | 20100270191 12/785642 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40174730 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100270191 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bub; Heiko ; et al. |
October 28, 2010 |
Cable Package
Abstract
A cable package is provided. The package includes a package
container for accommodating a cable wherein the package container
is sectionally realized in a dimensionally stable fashion; and
holding means for holding a cable end and/or a connector connected
to the cable end in a cable processing position, wherein the
holding means are provided on a wall of the package container.
Inventors: |
Bub; Heiko; (Erzhausen,
DE) ; Schormair; Hauke; (Griesheim, DE) ;
Meyer; Hans-Juergen; (Wiesbaden, DE) ; Goebel;
Sebastian; (Kriftel, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY;Global Legal Department - IP
Sycamore Building - 4th Floor, 299 East Sixth Street
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
|
Assignee: |
The Procter & Gamble
Company
Cincinnati
OH
|
Family ID: |
40174730 |
Appl. No.: |
12/785642 |
Filed: |
May 24, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 1/00 20130101; H02G
3/00 20130101; B65H 2701/34 20130101; B65H 75/362 20130101; H02G
11/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/320 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/86 20060101
B65D085/86 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 8, 2008 |
EP |
08 014 168.2 |
Aug 6, 2009 |
WO |
2009/053451 |
Claims
1. A cable package comprising: a package container for
accommodating a cable wherein the package container is sectionally
realized in a dimensionally stable fashion; and holding means for
holding a cable end and/or a connector connected to the cable end
in a cable processing position, wherein the holding means are
provided on a wall of the package container.
2. The cable package according to claim 1, wherein the wall
includes a cable through-opening.
3. The cable package according to claim 2, wherein the cable
through-opening forms a clamping groove that is open toward one
side of the wall.
4. The cable package according to claim 2, wherein the holding
means are formed by the cable through-opening and/or integrated
into the cable through-opening.
5. The cable package according to claim 1, wherein the holding
means include clamping means for clamping the cable in a
predetermined cable processing position.
6. The cable package according to claim 2, wherein the cable
through-opening forms a clamping groove that is tapered toward one
side.
7. The cable package according to claim 1, wherein the holding
means are formed in such a way that the cable end protrudes from
the wall of the package container.
8. The cable package according to claim 1, wherein the package
container includes at least one stacking surface.
9. The cable package according to claim 1, wherein the package
container comprises a trough-shaped base body that includes the
holding means on one of its side walls.
10. The cable package according to claim 1, wherein the package
container is a folding box.
11. The cable package according to claim 1, wherein the package
container is in the form of a dimensionally stable moulded plastic
part selected from the group consisting of a deep-drawn part, an
injection-moulded part and a moulded EPS part.
12. The cable package according to claim 1, wherein the package
container includes cube-shaped inner and outer bodies and is open
on at least one side, wherein the inner body is accommodated in the
outer body.
13. The cable package according to claim 1, wherein the cable is
flexible.
14. The cable package according to claim 1, wherein the package
container includes gripper contact surfaces in predetermined
positions relative to the holding means in order to take hold of
the cable package in a mechanized fashion.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of prior co-pending
International Application No. PCT/IB2009/053451 filed Aug. 6, 2009,
designating the United States, which claims the benefit of European
Patent Convention Application No. EP 0814168.2, filed on Aug. 8,
2008, the substance of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a cable package with a
package container that serves for accommodating a cable to be
packaged and is at least sectionally realized in a dimensionally
stable fashion. The present disclosure also relates to a method for
installing a cable end on a connector such as a plug, a power
supply unit and the like with the aid of such a cable package.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The automated processing of cables is still difficult and
until now only realized to a limited degree with justifiable costs.
It is particularly difficult to take hold of and exactly position
flexible cables such as, for example, electric power cables with
the grippers of a manipulating device, especially if the
corresponding cable is delivered in the form of bulk material and
more or less entangled.
[0004] In the manufacture of electric appliances, charging
components or the like that are equipped with a permanently
attached power cable or of plug-in power supply units that feature
a permanently attached cable for being connected to an end device,
a large portion of the power cable installation needs to be carried
out manually. This applies, in particular, to the delivery of the
power cable to a desired automated installation on the device.
Since a power cable is a flexible part, an economical automated
delivery could not be realized in the desired fashion until now if
the cable is supplied in the form of bulk material. In this state,
the cable ends or power plugs and cable ends are not defined and
can only be taken hold of with a very high technical expenditure.
This is the reason why the power cable delivery was usually carried
out manually until now.
[0005] According to one known proposal for automating the cable
installation, a power cable is manufactured immediately before the
installation. In this case, the cable is delivered to the power
cable manufacture from a roll and cut to the required length,
wherein the power plug is subsequently attached and the cable is
then connected to the device. Due to this special manufacturing
sequence, both cable ends are always in a defined position.
However, this method is not suitable for instances, in which a
corresponding cable in the form of a prefabricated accessory part
is additionally processed, for example, in the small electric
appliance industry that does not have a separate cable manufacture
at its disposal.
[0006] It is desirable to develop an improved cable package and an
improved method for to installing a cable end of the initially
cited type, of eliminating the disadvantages of the state of the
art and of additionally developing the latter in an advantageous
fashion. Accordingly, there is a need for the automated handling of
the cable to be processed such that the cable end can be exactly
positioned and installed in a largely automated fashion on a
connector such as a plug, a power supply unit, a charging device
and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one embodiment, a cable package is provided.
The package includes a package container for accommodating a cable
wherein the package container is sectionally realized in a
dimensionally stable fashion; and holding means for holding a cable
end and/or a connector connected to the cable end in a cable
processing position, wherein the holding means are provided on a
wall of the package container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] While the specification concludes with claims which
particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter that
is regarded as the invention, it is believed the various
embodiments will be better understood from the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a cable
package according to one embodiment in the form of a folding box,
wherein a cable end to be processed projects from the face of said
package container;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective representation of a cable
package according to another embodiment in the form of a moulded
EPS part, wherein a cable end to be processed projects from the
face of said package container;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective representation of a cable
package according to another embodiment in the form of a deep-drawn
part, wherein a cable end to be processed projects from the face of
said package container;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective representation of a cable
package according to another embodiment in the form of an
injection-moulded part, wherein a cable end to be processed
projects from the face of said package container;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a sectional perspective representation of the face
of a package container according to one embodiment, in which the
container wall with the cable end protruding therefrom is set back
relative to the adjacent container walls such that the cable end is
recessed in a cable receptacle recess, but still accessible from
outside;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective representation of the face
of the package container according to FIG. 5, wherein a connector
that is realized in the form of a plug and installed on the cable
end is positioned in the receptacle recess instead of the cable
end;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a sectional perspective representation of the face
of the package container according to FIG. 5, wherein a connector
that is realized in the form of a charging device for an electric
toothbrush and installed on the cable end is positioned in the
receptacle recess instead of the cable end;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective representation of the
cable receptacle recess of the package container according to FIG.
7, wherein said cable receptacle recess is partially closed by a
package band;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective representation of the
receptacle recess of the package container according to FIGS. 7 and
8, wherein snap-in means for snapping in the accommodated connector
are provided on one of the adjoining walls;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective representation of the
cable package according to FIG. 1 during the installation of the
connector on the cable end, wherein the package container is taken
hold of by the gripping instrument of a manipulating device and the
cable end is processed by an installation head; and
[0019] FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a cable package
during different installation steps according to another
embodiment, in which the package container comprises an outer body
and an inner body that is displaceably accommodated therein,
wherein the cable is accommodated in this inner body and the cable
end to be processed leads out of the inner body on the face
thereof.
[0020] The figures herein are not necessarily drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] According to the present disclosure, a cable package is
included for positioning the cable end to be processed and to
suitably design the package for this purpose such that it is not
only possible to easily take hold of and precisely position the
package, but also to place the to cable into a defined position
relative to the package container that is at least sectionally
realized in a dimensionally stable fashion for this purpose. As
described herein, the cable package is characterized in that
holding means for holding a cable end and/or a connector connected
to the cable end in a cable processing position are provided on a
wall of the package container that is at least sectionally realized
in a dimensionally stable fashion. This makes it possible to move
the cable end or a connector installed thereon into a defined
position, for example, relative to an installation head or probe by
correspondingly positioning the cable package that can be taken
hold of in a much simpler and more precise fashion than a cable of
undefined flexibility. According to this embodiment, the cable end
can be connected to said connector, preparations of the cable
required for producing this connection can be carried out or the
finished connection between the cable and the connector can be
checked.
[0022] The cable fixed on the package container may be prepared, in
particular, for being contacted with the terminals of a connector
and subsequently installed on the connector. The preparations
carried out prior to the actual installation of the connector may
comprise, for example, splicing of the stranded conductors of an
electric cable, stripping the insulation, bending the individual
stranded conductors into the respective installation position,
crimping the cable, i.e., attaching a crimp-type connector,
soldering the cable conductors, contact-bonding the line
connections and/or casting the cable end in an insulation.
[0023] Depending on the type of connector to be installed, other
preparatory steps can be carried out while the cable is
advantageously arranged in the package container and held on a wall
or in the vicinity of a wall with its cable end such that the cable
end can be positioned by positioning the package container. The
package container with the cable ends held thereon is not only
advantageous for the actual installation of a connector, but also
for subsequent testing steps. For example, a functional test that
is usually carried out as part of the final installation can be
simplified with the package container. The connector that is
installed on the cable end and consists, for example, of a plug,
can be connected to an electric test circuit in order to check the
electric conductivity while the cable is arranged in the package
container and the cable end or the connector installed thereon is
held in an exactly defined position on the package container by the
holding means.
[0024] Functional elements arranged in other sections of the cable
may be alternatively or additionally checked. For example, switches
and/or measuring points on a cable section accommodated in the
package container can be delivered to a test station. For this
purpose, to the package container may comprise other holding means
that fix the cable and/or the functional component installed
thereon such as, for example, the aforementioned switch in a
defined position relative to the package container.
[0025] Since the flexible cable is arranged in a cable package of
the above-described type, it can be cost-efficiently handled
automatically in a production line with simple manipulating means
such as, for example, the gripping instrument of a manipulator.
Furthermore, the installed and finished cable is advantageously
arranged in a package that can also be automatically handled in a
secondary packaging line. Small appliances such as, for example,
power supply units, switches, line filters and the like can also be
packaged with two outgoing cables or plugs, on which switching
processes, measurements and the like can be automatically carried
out through corresponding recesses in the package container. The
positions of switches and measuring points are defined by the
package container in this constellation. In contrast to loose
cables, the package also makes it possible to automatically
identify the cable and/or a device installed thereon based on
relevant information such as, for example, batch numbers, test
results or material numbers.
[0026] In another embodiment, the cable package is characterized in
that the wall, on which the aforementioned holding means are
provided, and/or another wall of the package container features a
cable through-opening such that the cable can extend through the
wall and, in particular, from an inner side of the package
container to an outer side. In this case, the holding means are
advantageously realized in such a way that the cable end and/or the
connector connected thereto is positioned on an outer side of the
package container. This makes it possible to also carry out the
cable installation, testing and/or processing while the package
container is closed and to simply gain access to the cable and/or
the connector installed thereon from an outer side. It would also
be possible, in principle, to hold the cable end in a predefined
position on an inner side of the package container with the
aforementioned holding means and to carry out the above-described
installation, testing and processing steps in the interior of the
package container. However, the arrangement of the processing
position on an outer side of the package container such that the
cable extends through the wall makes it easier to gain access with
corresponding installation tools. Additionally, the package does
not have to be opened in order to process the cable, i.e., the
processing can be carried out while the package remains closed such
that the attachment of the package can be separated from the
additional processing and the cable can be transported between
these steps in a particularly to simple fashion.
[0027] The aforementioned cable through-opening may, in principle,
be realized in different ways, for example, in the form of a bore.
According to another embodiment, however, the cable through-opening
advantageously forms a clamping groove that is open toward one side
of the respective wall and into which the cable to be positioned
can be simply inserted transverse to its longitudinal direction.
This eliminates threading of the cable that may be quite cumbersome
depending on the size of the through-opening and also significantly
simplifies the attachment of the package.
[0028] The holding means may be arranged, in principle, at a
distance from the aforementioned through-openings, but are
preferably provided at least in the vicinity of said
through-opening. In one particularly advantageous additional
development of the invention, the holding means are integrated into
the aforementioned through-opening or are formed by this
through-opening, respectively.
[0029] The holding means may be designed in different ways. In
order to ensure that the cable is held in a stable fashion and the
package can be easily attached, it would be possible to provide
form-fitting holding means, in one example, in the form of elastic
clips and/or snap-in means, into which the cable and/or the
connector installed thereon can be respectively clipped or snapped.
In another embodiment, the holding means are realized in a clamping
fashion and feature corresponding clamping means, in one example,
in the form of a clamping groove for clamping the cable in the
respective cable processing position. In an additional development
of the invention, said clamping groove may form part of the
aforementioned cable through-opening that, in turn, at least
sectionally forms a laterally tapered clamping slot, into which the
cable to be positioned merely needs to be inserted transverse to
its longitudinal direction in order to be clamped and held in
position. At its base, the clear width of said clamping groove is,
in one example, adapted to the cable diameter in such a way that a
cable sheath is held in position with a press fit and cannot slip
or pull out, namely while simultaneously preventing damages
thereto.
[0030] Depending on the processing steps to be carried out on the
cable, the cable end or the connector installed thereon may be held
in different alignments relative to the package container. In one
embodiment, the cable end is positioned such that it protrudes from
the wall, particularly held such that it projects from the wall of
the package container substantially perpendicularly. In this case,
the processing position may be chosen such that the cable end or to
the connector installed thereon is exposed on all sides and spaced
apart from other container walls in order to freely access the
cable end from all sides.
[0031] According to one embodiment, the cable end can be pulled out
of the package container by a certain distance prior to or during
the installation of the connector or the preparation of the cable
for this installation in order to simplify the processing of the
cable end. This may be realized, for example, by pulling out the
cable end that slides through the holding means by a certain
distance while the package container is held by the holding device.
Alternatively or additionally, the package container may feature
two parts that can be moved relative to one another, such that they
are displaceably guided on one another, wherein the cable end can
be pulled out by the aforementioned distance by displacing the two
parts relative to one another and, after the installation of the
connector, reinserted together with the installed connector by
displacing the container parts back into their original
position.
[0032] In one embodiment, simple storage and simple transport of
the pre-configured cables may be achieved by providing that the
package container is stackable. To this end, the package container
may feature at least one plane stacking surface that is positioned
and arranged such that it can be securely placed on another
identically designed package container. The package container has,
in particular, an essentially plane bottom that may, if applicable,
feature projecting leg areas in order to also securely stand on
uneven surfaces and to achieve the removal from a completely smooth
surface without suction.
[0033] In one embodiment, the package container may be cube shaped,
wherein the package container includes a trough-shaped base body
that features the holding means and/or the through-opening for the
cable end or the connector installed thereon on one of its side
walls, and wherein said side wall consists of a face wall that
adjoins the bottom of the package container.
[0034] In another embodiment, the trough-shaped base body may form
an inner body of the package container that is displaceably
accommodated in an outer body that, in one example, is also cube
shaped similar to a matchbox, wherein the outer body is realized
open on the side, on which the cable end is held on the inner body,
so as to be able to take hold of and, if applicable, pull out the
cable end by a certain distance. The latter can be achieved by or
during a displacement of the inner body relative to the outer
body.
[0035] In order to prevent the projecting cable ends or projecting
connectors from interfering to with the stacking of the cable
packages, one embodiment has a wall, on the outer side of which the
cable end or the connector installed thereon is held in the
aforementioned cable processing position. The wall with the cable
positioned on the outer side thereof is set back relative to the
other adjoining walls of the package container such that the cable
end or the connector projecting from the wall is practically
concealed under the cover formed by the other protruding container
walls. The wall with the cable positioned on the outer side thereof
may, in particular, be set back relative to the adjoining container
walls in such a way that said walls define a cable receptacle
recess, in which the cable end and/or the connector installed
thereon can be positioned.
[0036] In one embodiment, the cable receptacle recess is open
and/or only partially closed toward at least one side and the cable
end lying in the cable receptacle recess remains visible and, in
one example, also accessible. If a displaceable inner body is
provided, the outer body of the package container may be longer
than the inner body such that the corresponding projection of the
outer body defines the aforementioned receptacle recess.
[0037] In another embodiment, the package container may be a
folding box. Alternatively, the package container may be a
dimensionally stable moulded plastic part. For example, the package
container may consist of a deep-drawn part, an injection-moulded
part or even a moulded EPS part. The design in the form of a
moulded plastic part provides the advantage of making it possible
to realize more or less arbitrarily shaped package contours. It is
also easily possible, in particular, to integrally mould special
gripper contact surfaces, for example, in the form of depressions
or projections such that the cable package can be taken hold of
accurately with respect to reference points.
[0038] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the cable package 1 may
be in the form of a folding box that comprises a substantially
cubical package container 2 with a trough-shaped base body 15 that
can be closed with a cover 20. This cover 20 is, in one example,
connected to the trough-shaped base body 15 on one side by means of
a fold such that the cover 20 can be folded over in order to close
the open upper side of the base body 15 and locked, for example,
with a push-in clip. If the package container 2 is in the form of a
folding box, the package container 2 is conventionally produced
from a suitable blank that is folded accordingly and, if
applicable, connected by means of bonding, clamps or other folded
edge connections.
[0039] According to FIG. 1, the package container 2 features two
cable through-openings 11 that are in the form of slot-shaped
clamping grooves 13 on opposite walls 4 and 7 that form the face
walls of the trough-shaped base body 15 and adjoin the bottom 8
thereof. In this case, the clamping grooves 13 are open toward the
open upper side of the base body 15 and their cross section or
clear width is tapered from the open side toward its base. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the clamping grooves 13 have a
substantially V-shaped contour, wherein the end of the clamping
groove 13 is located on the face walls 4 and 7 such that the cable
3 is positioned centrally with its projecting cable ends 3a and 3b.
In this embodiment, the trough-shaped base body 15 of the package
container 2 forms a receptacle space, in which the cable 3 can be
accommodated in a meander-shaped or, if applicable, coiled fashion.
According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, only the cable ends 3a
and 3b project from the face walls 4 and 7 of the package container
2 through the aforementioned cable through-openings 11. The tapered
contour of the clamping grooves 13 forms holding means 9 for
holding the cable ends 3a and 3b in a defined position relative to
the cubical body of the cable package 1.
[0040] In order to install a connector 10, for example, in the form
of a plug on the cable 3 or on the ends 3a and 3b of the cable 3,
respectively, one may proceed as described below: initially, the
cable 3 is placed into the interior of the package container 3. The
cable ends 3a and 3b are then pressed into the clamping grooves 13
of the cable through-openings 11 transverse to the longitudinal
direction of the cable from the open side until they lie on the
bottom of the clamping grooves. The clamping grooves 13 have such
dimensions that the cable ends 3a and 3b are held in position by
means of a press fit. The package container 3 can subsequently be
closed by folding over the cover 20. As shown in FIG. 10, the
package container 2 is then taken hold of by the gripping
instrument or the attached grippers 21 of a manipulator or
manipulating device 22 that forms part of an automated installation
station, wherein the sidewalls 4, 5, 6 and 7, as well as the bottom
8 of the package container 2, form gripper contact surfaces 17,
relative to which the cable ends 3a and 3b are exactly positioned.
If applicable, the package container 2 may also feature reference
points in the form of recesses or projections. The cable 3 that is
arranged in the package container 2 and held by the holding means 9
at the cable ends 3a and 3b is exactly positioned relative to the
processing head 23 of an installation station by means of the cable
package. Said processing head 23 may carry out the initially
described installation, pre-processing, checking or testing steps
such as, for example, splicing, crimping, soldering and attaching
the connector 10.
[0041] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the package
container 2 may also be in the form of a moulded plastic part,
wherein FIG. 2 shows a moulded EPS part that also comprises a
trough-shaped base body 15, in the face walls 4 and 7 of which
cable through-openings 11 in the form of grooves that are open
toward one side or shell-shaped openings are provided similar to
the above-described embodiment in order to exactly position the
cable ends 3a and 3b. In this embodiment, the cable
through-openings 11 are arranged such that the inserted cable end
3a or 3b is clamped in position by closing the open upper side of
the base body 15, for example, with a not-shown cover or with a
gripping tool that is attached to the upper side of the base body
15.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the package container 2 in the
form of a plastic part or even a metallic deep-drawn part. Said
deep-drawn part also comprises a trough-shaped base body 15 that
features angled and/or protruding flange-like webs that are
realized peripherally and protrude transverse to the side walls 4,
5, 6 and 7. One respective cable through-opening 11 in the form of
a groove that is open toward the top is provided on opposite face
walls 4 and 7 in the above-described fashion, wherein said cable
through-openings may have the shape of a shell or, if applicable,
be realized in the form of a tapered clamping groove as illustrated
in FIG. 1.
[0043] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the package
container 2 may also be in the form of an injection-moulded plastic
part having holding means 9 such as, holding forks or holding
clips, with elastic clamping limbs, between which the cable 3 can
be inserted and clamped by elastically snapping the cable into the
respective holding means or by compressing the limbs in a plastic
fashion. As shown in FIG. 4, the holding means 9 are arranged on
rod-shaped carrier sections 24 that are arranged such that they
project relative to the base body 15 of the package container 2 and
are fixed thereon. Between the holding means 9, the package body
features a wind-up device in the form of two winding rods 25 that
are spaced apart from one another and around which the cable 3 can
be wound. In order to simply stack the package containers 2 without
interference from the projecting cable ends, the wall 4 or 7 of the
package container 2, through which the respective cable 3a or 3b
extends and from which said cable end 3a and 3b projects, may be
set back relative to the adjoining walls of the package container 2
as shown in FIG. 5. In other words, the adjoining walls may
protrude over the wall 4 holding the cable 3 such that the
projecting walls form a cable receptacle recess 16, in which the
cable end 3a or 3b is substantially concealed, together with the
outer side of the wall to holding the cable. Irrespective of the
projecting cable end 3, the protruding walls define a stacking
contour that significantly simplifies the stacking of the cable
packages 1. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, all adjoining
walls are realized in a protruding fashion, i.e., the bottom 8, the
two sidewalls 5 and 6 and the cover 20. If applicable, it may
already suffice to realize only one or two of the aforementioned
walls in a protruding fashion, for example, the two opposite side
walls 5 and 6. In one embodiment, the wall 4 holding the cable 3
may be set back at least as far as the cable end 3a projects from
said wall 4.
[0044] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the cable
receptacle recess 16 not only can accommodate the cable end 3
itself, but also a connector 10 installed thereon that may be in
the form of a plug as shown. FIG. 6 also shows that, if applicable,
the connector 10 installed on the cable may be held on the holding
means 9 of the cable package 1 instead of the cable 3 itself. In
the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the connector 10 is clamped
into the clamping groove 13 of the cable through-opening 11.
[0045] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the cable
receptacle recess 16 may also accommodate a charging device 26, for
example, for an electric toothbrush that is connected to the cable
3 accommodated in the interior of the package container 2. The
cable receptacle recess 16 may be entirely or partially closed, for
example, with a package band 27, wherein it would also be possible
to utilize, if applicable, a locking clip formed on one of the
walls 5 or 6 instead of a package band 27.
[0046] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, a form-fitting
holding element, may be in the form of a snap-in device 28,
provided in the region of the cable receptacle recess 16, namely in
one of the walls that define this cable receptacle recess, in order
to fix the connector 10 installed on the cable end 3a on the cable
package 1. The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 features a snap-in device
28 with a locking clip that is assigned to a through-opening. A
section of the connector 10 is threaded through said opening and
fixed with the locking clip.
[0047] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the cable
package 1 may also comprise an outer body 30 and an inner body 29
that is displaceably accommodated therein similar to a matchbox.
The outer body and the inner body may be in the form of extruded
profiles, for example, a cubical shape, such that the inner body 29
is displaceably guided in the outer body 30. In this embodiment,
the cable 3 is accommodated in the inner body 29 and held on
opposite face walls of the inner body 29 with its cable ends 3a and
3b in the above-described fashion. The outer body 30 is longer than
the inner body 29 and open on the sides of the cable ends 3a and 3b
so as to make it possible to take hold of the cable ends. If
applicable, the outer body may also be realized open on one side
only, namely depending on whether both cable ends 3a and 3b need to
be installed or only one cable end. Due to the projection of the
outer body 30, receptacle recesses 16 that are surrounded by the
outer body 30 are formed on the face ends of the inner body, namely
at the locations, at which the cable ends 3a and 3b emerge. Due to
this measure, clearly defined and, in particular, regular and
stackable outside contours without interfering projecting cables
are achieved.
[0048] A comparison between the four illustrations (a) to (d) of
FIG. 11 shows that the cable end 3a protruding from the inner body
29 is provided within the outer body in the delivery state
according to FIG. 11a. In order to respectively simplify the
installation and the pre-processing of the cable end, the cable end
3a according to FIG. 11b is pulled out of the package container 2
by a certain distance, wherein the inner body 29, on which the
cable end 3a is held, can be displaced in the outer body 30 toward
the open face thereof for this purpose. In this pulled-out
position, the connector 10 that, according to FIG. 11, may consist
of a charging device or a power supply unit of a small electric
appliance is then installed on the cable end in the described
fashion. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11d, the
connector 10 is, after its installation, pushed back into the inner
body 29 together with the cable 3 accommodated therein by
displacing the inner body 29 back into the outer body of the
package container 2 such that the connector 10 is quasi concealed
in the receptacle recess 16 formed in the projection of the outer
body 30.
[0049] According to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11b and 11c, the
other cable end 3b may lead out of the inner body 29 on the
opposite side of the inner body 29 with a power plug that may be
correspondingly installed previously or subsequently. In this case,
the surface of the outer body may feature an access opening 31 that
is, in one example, arranged such that the power plug can be
contacted through the outer body 30 in the installation position of
the inner body 29 in order to check the installed cable unit.
[0050] The described and illustrated cable package may, in
principle, be used with all types of cables, wherein special
advantages manifest themselves with cables that need to be
connected to a plug and/or a device or a different connector. These
cables may consist, for example, of cables for non-heating
appliances with a plug on both sides such as, for example, for
charging devices, in which the cable is permanently connected to
the charging device on one end and to a plug on the other end. It
would also be conceivable to utilize the cable package for all
electric appliances that feature a permanently connected cable with
a plug such as, for example, computer mice, keyboards, hand-held
blenders or coffee machines, as well as for connecting cables of
all types that feature a plug on one or both ends.
[0051] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm".
[0052] Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced
or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise
limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it
is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed
herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other
reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such
invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of
a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of
the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning
or definition assigned to that term in this document shall
govern.
[0053] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *