U.S. patent application number 15/954201 was filed with the patent office on 2019-10-17 for usb port and cable storage assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. Invention is credited to Paul Fernando Cepeda Rode, Oscar Hernandez Cervantes, Alfonso Rojas Galvan, Rodrigo Velasco Ramos.
Application Number | 20190319411 15/954201 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66995769 |
Filed Date | 2019-10-17 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190319411 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rojas Galvan; Alfonso ; et
al. |
October 17, 2019 |
USB PORT AND CABLE STORAGE ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An apparatus in the form of a USB port and cable storage
assembly includes a housing, a displaceable cord cleat and a USB
port carried on the cord cleat.
Inventors: |
Rojas Galvan; Alfonso;
(Mexico City, MX) ; Velasco Ramos; Rodrigo;
(Mexico City, MX) ; Hernandez Cervantes; Oscar;
(Naucalpan de Juarez, MX) ; Cepeda Rode; Paul
Fernando; (Mexico City, MX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
66995769 |
Appl. No.: |
15/954201 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/72 20130101;
H01R 31/06 20130101; H01R 13/516 20130101; B65H 75/4471 20130101;
H01R 13/4538 20130101; B65H 75/425 20130101; B65H 2701/3919
20130101; H02G 11/02 20130101; B65H 75/4473 20130101; H01R 2201/26
20130101; H01R 13/74 20130101; H02G 3/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/72 20060101
H01R013/72; H01R 13/516 20060101 H01R013/516; H01R 13/74 20060101
H01R013/74 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a housing including a cleat receiver
and opposed stop receivers; a cord cleat carried by said housing,
said cord cleat including a stem and a face plate wherein said stem
includes opposed stops that slide along said opposed stop receivers
as said cord cleat is displaced between a stowed position wherein
said stem is retracted into said cleat receiver and a deployed
position wherein said stem projects from said cleat receiver; a USB
port carried on said cord cleat; an actuator displacing said cord
cleat toward said deployed position; a guideway on said housing and
said cord cleat, said guideway including opposed rails carried on
said housing and opposed rail guides extending along said stem; and
a cord receiver along an outer edge of said face plate wherein said
opposed stops are carried on resilient lugs and said stem includes
a cavity and said USB port is in said cavity behind said face
plate.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. (canceled)
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator is a
spring-loaded damper.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said face plate includes a
push button receiver and said actuator includes a push button
engaging in said push button receiver in said face plate.
15. (canceled)
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said housing includes an
inner section held inside an outer section.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said cleat receiver is
defined between said outer section and said inner section.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said inner section is
substantially U-shaped.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said opposed rails are
carried on said inner section and said opposed stop receivers are
carried on said outer section.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said opposed rail guides
project from a first face of said stem and said opposed stops
project from a second face of said stem.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This document relates generally to the motor vehicle
equipment field and, more particularly, to a new and improved
apparatus in the form of a USB port and cable storage assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Motor vehicle drivers often utilize electronic devices such
as smart phones and navigation devices when operating a motor
vehicle. While such electronic devices are typically self-powered
by battery, that battery may be in need of charge in order to
ensure proper operation over the duration of any particular trip in
the motor vehicle. Toward that end, it is not uncommon to provide
the motor vehicle with a USB port that allows for charging of the
battery of the electronic device.
[0003] More particularly, a charge cord or cable is connected
between the electronic device and the USB port in order to complete
the charge connection. In many instances, that charge cord is much
longer than required to extend from the USB port to the position
where the electronic device is located in the motor vehicle. The
extra length of charge cord is untidy and may become an annoyance
to the driver even potentially interfering with the driver's
ability to freely reach and manipulate certain of the controls of
the motor vehicle. Further, the charge cord may become damaged as a
result of being pinched between, for example, an armrest and the
upper face of the center console or between a seat support and a
seat rack.
[0004] This document relates to a new and improved apparatus in the
form of a USB port and cable storage assembly that is very easy to
use, provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance when in use,
stows in a quick and efficient manner when not in use and provides
for efficient and effective management of the charge cable at all
times. As such, the apparatus represents a significant advance in
the art.
SUMMARY
[0005] In accordance with the purposes and benefits described
herein, a new and improved apparatus is provided. That apparatus
takes the form of a USB port and cable storage assembly comprising
a housing, a cord cleat and a USB port. The cord cleat is carried
by the housing and is displaceable between a stowed position and a
deployed position. The USB port is carried on the cord cleat.
[0006] The apparatus may further include an actuator that displaces
the cord cleat toward the deployed position. In addition, the
apparatus may include a guideway. That guideway may include opposed
rails carried on the housing and opposed rail guides carried on the
cord cleat.
[0007] The cord cleat may include a stem and a face plate. That
face plate may be carried on a distal end of the stem. The face
plate may include a cord receiver along an outer edge thereof.
[0008] In at least one of the many possible embodiments of the
apparatus, the opposed rail guides extend along the stem. Further,
the housing may include opposed stop receivers. In addition, the
stem may include opposed stops that slide along the opposed stop
receivers as the cord cleat is displaced between the stowed
position and the deployed position. Further, the opposed stops may
be carried on resilient lugs.
[0009] In at least one of the many possible embodiments of the
apparatus, the stem may include a cavity and the USB port may be
provided in the cavity behind the face plate. Further, the face
plate may include a pushbutton receiver. In addition, the actuator
may include pushbutton engaging in the pushbutton receiver in the
face plate. In at least some of the many possible embodiments of
the apparatus, the actuator may be a spring-loaded damper.
[0010] The housing may include an inner section held inside an
outer section. A cleat receiver may be defined between the outer
section and the inner section. The stem of the cord cleat may be
received in the cleat receiver.
[0011] In at least some of the many possible embodiments of the
apparatus the inner section may be substantially U-shaped. The
opposed rails may be carried on the inner section and the opposed
stop receivers may be carried on the outer section. Further, the
opposed rail guides may project from a first face of the stem and
the opposed stops may project from a second face of the stem in the
opposite direction.
[0012] In the following description, there are shown and described
several preferred embodiments of the apparatus. As it should be
realized, the apparatus is capable of other, different embodiments
and its several details are capable of modification in various,
obvious aspects all without departing from the apparatus as set
forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the
drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in
nature and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0013] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and
forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of
the apparatus and together with the description serve to explain
certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus.
[0015] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the assembled apparatus
wherein the cord cleat thereof is in the stowed position.
[0016] FIG. 2B illustrates the apparatus held in a trim panel of a
motor vehicle with the cord cleat in the stowed position.
[0017] FIG. 2C is a view similar to FIG. 2B but illustrating how a
charge cord may pass through the cord receiver in the face plate of
the cord cleat and project from the apparatus and the trim panel in
a manner that allows attachment to an electronic device.
[0018] FIG. 3A is a detailed perspective view of the apparatus
illustrating the cord cleat in the deployed position.
[0019] FIG. 3B is a view similar to FIG. 3A but illustrating the
apparatus received in a trim panel of a motor vehicle.
[0020] FIG. 3C is a view similar to FIG. 3B but illustrating a
charge cord having one end connected to the USB port carried on the
cord cleat, an intermediate section of the charge cord wrapped
around the stem of the cord cleat and the distal end of the charge
cord passing through the cord receiver in the face plate of the
cord cleat.
[0021] FIG. 4A is a detailed front perspective view of the cord
cleat.
[0022] FIG. 4B is a detailed rear perspective view of the cord
cleat.
[0023] FIG. 5A is a detailed front perspective view of the
housing.
[0024] FIG. 5B is a rear perspective view of the housing.
[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiments of the apparatus, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, illustrating the new and
improved apparatus 10 which takes the form of a USB port and cable
storage assembly. The apparatus 10 includes a housing 12, a cord
cleat 14 and an actuator 16. The cord cleat 14 is carried by the
housing 12 and is displaceable between a stowed position, best
illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C, and a deployed position, best
illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C. In the illustrated embodiment, the
actuator 16 comprises a spring-loaded damper 18 having an
extendable piston 20 adapted to displace the cord cleat 14 toward
the deployed position.
[0027] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5A, the housing 12
includes an inner section 22 held inside the outer section 24. In
the illustrated embodiment, the inner section 22 is substantially
U-shaped. A cleat receiver 26 is defined between the inner section
22 and the outer section 24.
[0028] The cord cleat 14 includes a stem 28 and a face plate 30.
The face plate 30 is carried on the distal end of the stem 28. The
face plate 30 includes a cord receiver 32 along an outer edge
thereof. The stem 28 includes a cavity 34. A USB port 36 is
provided in the cavity 34 behind the face plate 30. A USB connector
38 connects the USB port 36 to a power source and, optionally, to a
onboard controller of the motor vehicle.
[0029] As also illustrated, the face plate 30 includes a pushbutton
receiver 40. The actuator includes a pushbutton 42 that is received
in the pushbutton receiver 40 and connected to the piston 20. One
pushes and then releases the pushbutton 42 in order to displace the
cord cleat 14 from the stowed position illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C
to the deployed position illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C.
[0030] The apparatus 10 further includes a guideway, generally
designated by reference numeral 44. In the illustrated embodiment,
the guideway 44 includes opposed rails 46 carried on the housing 12
(see FIG. 5A) and opposed rail guides 48 carried on the cord cleat
14 (see FIG. 4B). More particularly, as best illustrated in FIG.
5A, the opposed rails 46 are carried on the inner section 22 of the
housing 12. The opposed rails 46 extend along the stem 28 and are
received and slide along the opposed rails 46 of the housing 12.
More particularly, the opposed rail guides 48 project from an inner
or first face of the stem 28.
[0031] As best illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the stem 28 also
includes opposed stops 50. Each stop 50 is carried on a resilient
lug 52 integrally formed with the stem 28. The housing 12 includes
cooperating opposed stop receivers 54. In the illustrated
embodiment the opposed stop receivers 54 comprise elongated slots
carried on or provided in the outer section 24 of the housing
12.
[0032] As best illustrated in FIG. 4B, the opposed rail guides 48
project from the inner or first face of the stem 28 while the
opposed stops 50 project outwardly from the second or outward face
of the stem. When the apparatus 10 is assembled, the stem 28 of the
cord cleat 14 is received in the cleat receiver 26 formed between
the inner section 22 and outer section 24 of the housing 12. The
opposed rail guides 48 are received in and slide along the opposed
rails 46 of the housing 12. Further, the opposed stops 50 are
received in and slide along the elongated stop receivers 54 of the
housing 12. Here it should be appreciated that the resilient lugs
52 bend inward to allow initial insertion of the cord cleat 14 into
the housing 12 and then spring back to their normal position once
the opposed stops 50 clear the outer section 24 and are aligned
with the stop receivers 54. The opposed stops 50 engage the end of
the stop receivers 54 and prevent the cord cleat 14 from being
withdrawn from the housing 12 following assembly. Thus, it should
be appreciated that the opposes stops 50 establish the fully
deployed position illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C.
[0033] The apparatus 10 is easy to use. FIG. 2B illustrates the
apparatus 10 installed within an aperture of a trim panel 56. When
the cord cleat 14 is in the stowed position, the face plate 30 may
rest against or be flush with the front of the trim panel 56
thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance. When one
wishes to displace the cord cleat 14 into the deployed position,
one depresses and releases the pushbutton 42. In response, the
actuator 16 displaces the cord cleat 14 to the deployed position as
illustrated in FIG. 3B. One may then connect the charge cord 58 to
the now-exposed USB port 36 by plugging the connector 60 at one end
of the charge cord 58 into the USB port 36. The charge cord 58 may
then be wrapped around the stem 28 in the manner illustrated in
FIG. 3C. When a desired length of charge cord 58 remains free of
the stem 28, the charge cord may be inserted into the cord receiver
32 formed in the edge of the face plate 30. This leaves a desired
length of charge cord 58 extending from the face plate 30.
[0034] Next, one depresses the face plate 30 in the direction of
action arrow A until the cord cleat 14 is returned to the stowed
position illustrated in FIG. 2C where it is locked in place until
one again depresses the pushbutton 42 to release the actuator 16.
As should be appreciated from reviewing FIG. 2C, only the desired
length of charge cord 58 extends from the face plate 30 of the
apparatus 10 and the trim panel 56. An electronic device (not
shown) may then be connected to the device connector 62 at the
distal end of the charge cord 58 with all extra cord or slack
wrapped around the stem 28 where it is concealed from view. Thus,
the cord 58 is maintained tidy and out of the way so as to be
protected from inadvertent damage. Further, any annoyance the cord
might provide the driver when operating other controls of the motor
vehicle is substantially avoided.
[0035] The foregoing has been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the
scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with
the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably
entitled.
* * * * *