Stretchable USB Receptacle with Retractable Cable Reel
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited space in electronic devices like notebook computers often results in USB receptacles being covered by larger peripheral devices, making them unusable, and long connecting cables are prone to kinking or damage due to excessive bending.
Innovation Solution
A stretchable USB receptacle system with a cable reel and accommodating recess allows the USB receptacle to be extended and retracted, enabling better utilization of USB ports and preventing cable damage by managing cable length through a retractable mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the connecting cable is made long to extend the using scope of the USB receptacle, then the usability is improved, but the cable is prone to kinking, breaking and damage due to exceeding bending
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting cable is stored within the cable reel, which is nested inside the accommodating recess of the electronic device body. When not in use, the cable is retracted into the reel, protecting it from damage. When needed, the cable can be extended outward from the reel, providing flexible connectivity while maintaining protection during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable reel is designed to rotate, allowing the connecting cable to be dynamically extended and retracted. This rotational mechanism enables the cable length to be adjusted based on usage needs while keeping the cable properly managed and protected when not in use, preventing kinking and excessive bending.
2Area of stationary object
If the USB receptacle is disposed in limited space to maintain compact appearance, then the device compactness is improved, but the receptacle is covered by peripheral devices making it unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The USB receptacle is extracted from the main body of the electronic device and mounted on the connecting cable instead. This allows the receptacle to be separated from the device body, enabling users to extend it outward when needed for better accessibility, while the device itself maintains its compact appearance when the receptacle is retracted.
Solution Approach 2:
The USB receptacle position becomes dynamic rather than fixed. It can be extended outward from the device body via the retractable cable mechanism when accessibility is needed, and retracted back to maintain compact appearance when not in use, providing flexible spatial arrangement.
3Reliability
If the connecting cable is made short to prevent kinking and damage, then the cable durability is improved, but the connecting distance is limited reducing practicability
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting cable is nested within the cable reel structure. The reel acts as a compact storage container that holds the cable in a coiled configuration, effectively packing a long cable into a small space. This allows the cable to be short during storage (preventing damage) while providing extended length when deployed (increasing connecting distance).
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device having a stretchable USB receptacle is provided. An extending connecting cable is added to the USB receptacle on the electronic device. In normal condition, the connecting cable is accommodated in a cable reel to make the USB receptacle accommodated in an accommodating recess of the electronic device to keep consistency of the appearance. In using condition, the USB receptacle may be taken out and used in a needed place by drawing out the connecting cable. This overcomes the disadvantage that the conventional adjacent USB receptacles may be interfered with each other, and the scope of use also increases.