Retractable Data Cable Turntable for Tangle-Free Carrying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data cables are prone to tangling and inconvenient to carry due to their length and lack of efficient winding mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A data cable design featuring a turntable with a wire harness that rotates in response to extraction and retraction, utilizing an elastic device and a limit assembly to maintain the wire harness in an extracted state and facilitate automatic rewinding, reducing tangling and enhancing portability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the data cable is made long to extend usage range, then the usage flexibility is improved, but the cable becomes prone to tangling and inconvenient to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The wire harness is wound around the turntable structure, with the turntable itself nested within the shell. This nesting arrangement allows the long cable to be compactly stored within the cable body, eliminating tangling while maintaining length for usage flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The turntable is designed to rotate dynamically in response to extraction force on the wire harness. When the cable is pulled, the turntable rotates to unreel the cable; when released, it automatically rewinds. This dynamic response resolves the contradiction by making the cable self-managing rather than requiring manual coiling.
2Ease of operation
If the wire harness is kept extracted for easy access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the cable occupies more space and may tangle
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between extracted and wound states based on user interaction. The turntable rotates to maintain the cable in an extracted position during use, then automatically returns to a compact wound position when not in use, optimizing both accessibility and space efficiency at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic device provides self-service by automatically rewinding the cable when the user releases it. This eliminates the need for manual coiling and ensures the cable returns to a compact state without user intervention, reducing space occupation after use.
3Ease of operation
If the turntable rotates freely to unreel the cable, then the ease of operation is improved, but the cable may rotate uncontrollably and tangle
Solution Approach 1:
The limit assembly divides the turntable's rotation into distinct segments or positions. The first position allows unreeling, while the second position limits further rotation to prevent over-unreeling and tangling. This segmentation provides controlled freedom of movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The limit assembly provides mechanical feedback to the turntable rotation. When the turntable reaches the predetermined second position, the limit assembly engages to prevent further rotation, giving the user tactile feedback that the cable is fully unreeled and preventing uncontrollable rotation.
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 design allows for easy use and storage of the cable, minimizing tangling and reducing space occupation, thereby improving user convenience and extending the cable's service life.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic device connected to the shell and the turntable. The elastic device is configured to drive the turntable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A data cable and an electronic device are disclosed. The data cable may comprise: a shell, a turntable, and a wire harness wound on the turntable and configured to drive the turntable to rotate in a first direction. The data cable may comprise a switch and an elastic device connected to the shell and the turntable. The elastic device may be configured to drive the turntable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The switch may be configured to lock the turntable in response to release of the wire harness after being extracted from a first position that the wire harness is completely wound on the turntable, and unlock the turntable to rotate in the second direction in response to release of the wire harness after being extracted from a second position that the wire harness is partially wound on the turntable.