Magnetized Cable Structure for Self-Coiling and Easy Unwinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cables used with electronic devices often become entangled when not in use, causing user frustration due to lack of effective management solutions.
Innovation Solution
A magnetized cable with an elongated flexible body component that produces a persistent magnetic field, allowing it to be easily coiled and maintained in a compact state for storage, featuring a pliable polymer binder with magnetic particles and a connector at each end.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cable is made flexible and elongated for easy handling, then ease of operation is improved, but the cable becomes prone to entanglement and difficult to manage when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The cable incorporates magnetic particles within its flexible body that generate magnetic attraction forces between different sections of the cable. This self-service mechanism automatically guides the cable into a coiled configuration and maintains it in that state without requiring external intervention, storage fixtures, or user effort to prevent entanglement.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable's physical properties are modified by incorporating magnetic particles into the flexible body, changing its magnetic field characteristics. This parameter change enables the cable to generate internal magnetic attraction forces that actively manage its own configuration, transforming it from a passive flexible object into an actively self-managing system that resists entanglement.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If magnetic particles are added to the cable to enable self-coiling, then cable management is improved, but the cable's flexibility and ease of manual manipulation may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic particles are distributed throughout the flexible body of the cable, creating localized magnetic attraction zones along its length. This local quality distribution ensures that magnetic forces act only when cable sections are in proximity during coiling, while the overall flexible structure remains unchanged and easily manipulable by hand when sections are separated.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic attraction force in the cable is dynamic rather than static - it activates automatically when cable sections come into proximity during coiling operations, and deactivates when sections are separated during manual manipulation. This dynamic behavior allows the cable to be easily handled when needed while self-coiling when stored.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the magnetic attraction force is increased to maintain the cable in a coiled state, then cable management is improved, but the cable becomes difficult to uncoil for use
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic particles are distributed throughout the flexible body rather than concentrated in one location, creating multiple weak magnetic attraction zones along the cable length. This partial distribution provides sufficient cumulative magnetic force to maintain the coiled state during storage, but the force is not excessive to prevent manual uncoiling when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The magnetic attraction assists in coiling and maintains the cable in a compact state, facilitating easy uncoiling when needed, thus improving cable management and reducing entanglement.
Implementation Method 1
an elongated flexible magnetized component (EFMC) that produces a persistent magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
Magnetic attraction between the first and second EFMC portions may be sufficient to actively assist a user who is manually coiling the magnetized cable
Data Source
AI summary
A disclosed magnetized cable produces a persistent magnetic field configured to aid in aligning and maintaining alignment of the cable while the cable is being looped, wound, or otherwise coiled for storage or transport and, when the cable is in a coiled state, maintaining the cable in coiled state while also permitting a user to easily uncoil the cable by hand.