retract a cord

8/4/2019 Retract a Cord

1/38


2/38

The Complaint(s).

Mom has been less than thrilled for years with the hugevolume of cords and cables underneath our computer desk.

QuickTime and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to se e this picture.

(dramatization)


3/38

The Complaint(s).

My aunt called to let me know that she often finds her powercords just shy of their outlet. Or, at least, much less than 6 ft.of cord is needed.

QuickTime an d aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

(dramatization)


4/38

The Problem.

Almost all readily available extension cords are 6 feet long ormore. This is not always necessary, and for smaller spans,

this leaves a lot of unsightly slack.

QuickTime and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see t his picture.


5/38


6/38

The Prior Art.

Retractable wheels for extension cords exist, but these areusually made to handle around 30 or 40 foot cables.

Extension cords less than 6 feet long do exist, though theseare rarely found in stores and are usually less than a foot

long (and thus job specific).

QuickTim e and aTIFF (LZW) decompressor

are needed to see thi s picture.

QuickTime and aTIFF (LZW) decompressor



7/38


8/38

QuickTime and aTIFF ( Uncompressed) decompressor


The Solution.

A portable unit that houses a wound up and retractable 6 ft.extension cord. This way, slack is minimized, and aestheticsare preserved.

The design incorporates the features of many commonobjects already in use:

QuickTime a nd aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture. QuickTime and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to s ee this picture.


9/38

The Solution.

~1 in.

Front view Sideview


10/38

The Solution.

Front view, cutaway


11/38

The Solution.


12/38

The Design.Questions to Consider:

How will the device be oriented with respect to the wall?

Where will the wire leave the casing?

How will the cord retract?


13/38

The Design.For the most part, the structure lies flush with the wall. Itdoesnt plug into the outlet like the MacBook charger,because we want the pulling force to be tangential to thewall. Otherwise, the unit would fall out of the wall, withnothing to hold it there.


14/38

The Design.When choosing where the wire would exit its casing, I knewthat I wanted the wire to come off the roll readily, meaningthat the wire would have to leave at one of the corners.

1 2

3 4


15/38

The Design.At the same time, we want the least amount of rotation. Thiswill keep the prongs from warping and the unit from fallingout. Lines 3 and 4 are furthest from our pivot point, and willthus create the largest moment about it.

1 2

3 4X X


16/38

The Design.At the same time, we want the least amount of rotation. Thiswill keep the prongs from warping and the unit from fallingout. Lines 3 and 4 are furthest from our pivot point, and willthus create the largest moment about it.

1 2

3 4X X


17/38

The Design.

1

2


18/38

The Design.Most handheld retractable items require that you press abutton to roll whatever it is back up.

I dont think think this system would be conducive for thisdesign, as adjusting the length of the cord would involvehaving one hand on the casing and one at the end of thecord.

QuickTime a nd aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor





19/38

The Design.Instead, this device will work more like a non-mechanicalprojector screen or a window shade. Pulling on the cordslowly will lengthen it and lock the wire into place whenever itis let go. A quick tug, however, will cause the extension cord

to retract.


20/38

The Design.

A mechanism is provided such

as described in the above-identified copending applicationwhore entire disclosure is

herewith incorporated byreference for winding andunwinding the blind from a rod

U.S Patent 4,231,411 Nov. 4, 1980


21/38


22/38

The Design.

Retractable Extension Cord

U.S Patent 5,593,316 Jan. 14, 1997


23/38



The Advantages.(Industrial) Retractable Extension Cord as the prior art:

This design is more compact (6 ft. of wire), making it more

suitable for household use and for tasks that dont require 30feet of cord.

Length can be adjusted from a distance (without having topush a button on the base).

Sleeker looking.


24/38

The Advantages.Domestic Extension Cord as the prior art:

This design is still more compact (6 ft. of wire or less),making it more suitable for household use and for tasks thatdont require all 6 feet of cord. Also, in this sense its more

versatile.

Knot/tangle free

No slack - more aesthetically pleasing




25/38

The Disadvantages.

The cord may retract undesirably.

If the object that needs the extension cord is not along thewall, the wire wont come out smoothly in this direction:


26/38

The Marketing Strategy.

Retract

Cord

-a-


27/38

Retract

Cord-a-


2008


28/38


Sex Appeal.


29/38


QuickTime and a

TIFF ( Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.


are needed to see t his picture.






30/38



are needed to s ee this picture.

QuickTime and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this p icture.

QuickTime and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.




31/38

QuickTime and a





QuickTime an d a



32/38


The connection between your product and sex must besubliminal and non-obvious. The consumer should suddenlywant to buy the item, but not know why.

Along the same lines, a cool indie song can be playedduring the commercial to attract a younger, hipper audience.In the case of our extension cord, it should be somethingsimple, but connote innovation.


33/38


34/38


35/38

~3 in.

~3 in.


36/38

The Marketing Strategy.The appeal of the product is its simplicity (relative to the priorart).

Accordingly, all literature, advertisements and iconography(and PowerPoint presentations) will be simple themselves:

Black and white

Simple fonts


37/38

The Marketing Strategy.The packaging must be minimalistic itself not only toconserve materials, but to communicate the compact image.


38/38

The Materials.

The gear or rotating disk must turn easily enough such that

resistance doesnt cause the unit to fall out.

The wires must be thin as possible so to fit inside the casing,and to be wound up easier. The more compact, the better.

This is why I chose for there to only be one female partrather than several (like most extension cords).

retract a cord

Documents