Field

The present invention relates to a cable-securing device, a connector, and an appliance. The appliance is preferably a domestic appliance, such as a kitchen appliance.

Background

Small domestic appliances, particularly kitchen appliances, are typically electrically powered. Typically this power is sourced externally via a cable which attaches to an external supply via a plug which is removably attachable to a socket. As the appliance may be a variable distance from the socket, the cable must be of sufficient length to reach a socket placed distantly to the appliance (e.g., 2m-5m away) but also be capable of accommodating excess lengths of cable when attaching to a socket located more closely (2m or less).

Excess cable can be untidy and should be tidied away. This can be achieved using a cable-wrap, meaning a device around which the spare cable can be wrapped to be kept out of the way. However, the cable may become unwrapped from the cable wrap, and may obstruct operation of the device or other tasks.

Another solution is a so-called “stuffer box” within the appliance into which spare cable can be stuffed through a hole from which the cable exits and from which it cannot easily re-exit by itself when stuffed inside it. However, this suffers from the drawback that the interior of the stuffer-box is not accessible from the outside and thus the cable may become tangled within it. Moreover as the cable is pushed through the hole into the stuffer-box it collects within the box in a disordered fashion making poor use of the space within it meaning that the capacity of the box is limited.

A further solution is a spring-loaded cable-retract device. However, this is complicated, expensive, and often fails once the spring starts to lose its resilience.

The present invention aims to at least partially ameliorate the above-described problems of the prior art. Summary of the Invention

In an aspect of the invention, there is described a cable-securing device. The cable securing device is suitable for a cable connecting an appliance to a plug. The cable securing device comprises: a cable-retaining section configured to retain a cable; and an attachment section configured to be removably attached to an appliance or to another cable-securing device.

The attachment section may comprise: a plug configured to plug into a socket and be removably retained therein; or a socket configured to receive and removably retain a plug therein. The plug may be rounded in shape. The plug may be partly spherical. The attachment section may comprise a magnet or be magnetic.

The cable-retaining section may be hoop-shaped or “C” shaped. The cable-retaining section preferably is flat or has a planar-shape. The cable-retaining section may be substantially rectangular in cross-section. For example, in a cross-section taken in a plane through which the length of the cable extends. The cable-retaining section may be configured to removably receive a cable within it. The cable-retaining section and the attachment section may be removably attached to each other.

In another aspect of the invention, there is described a connector. The connector comprises a cable and at least a one cable-securing device, such as the cable-securing device as aforesaid or as described herein.

The cable-retaining section of the cable-securing device may be configured to retain the cable in such a way as to allow the cable-securing device to be moved along the length of the cable whilst the cable is retained by the cable-securing device, preferably wherein the cable-securing device is shaped such that there is friction when sliding the cable securing device along the cable. The cable-retaining section may be shaped or configured such that the cable is a tight fit in the cable-securing device. The cable- retaining section of the cable-securing device may be configured to selectively retain the cable in such a way as to prevent movement of the cable relative to the cable-retaining section. The connector may further comprise a plug, preferably wherein the cable-retaining section is dimensioned such that the plug cannot pass through the cable-retaining section. The cable may be an electrical cable and the plug an electrical plug. For example, the cable may be a cable for supplying electrical power to an appliance and the plug may be a plug for connecting the cable to a power socket.

The connector may further comprise a further cable-securing device, wherein the attachment section of the said cable-securing device is configured to be removably attached to the attachment section of the further cable-securing device. For example, one of the cable-securing device and further cable-securing device comprises a socket and the other of the cable-securing device and further cable-securing device comprises a plug configured to plug into the socket and be removably retained therein.

In another aspect of the invention, there is described an appliance. The appliance may comprise an attachment section configured to attach to the attachment section of a cable-securing device, such as the cable-securing devices as aforesaid or as described herein. The appliance may be a domestic appliance such as a kitchen appliance. For example, it may be a food processing device.

The appliance may comprise a motor, and the attachment section of the appliance provide ventilation for the motor.

The attachment section of the appliance may comprise a plug configured to plug into a socket and be removably retained therein. The attachment section of the appliance may comprise a socket configured to receive and removably retain a plug therein. The appliance may further comprise a sloped portion surrounding the socket and inclined towards the socket.

The attachment section of the appliance may comprise a socket configured to receive and removably retain a plug of the cable-securing device therein and the socket of the attachment section of the appliance may comprise a first section and a second section connected to the first section, wherein the attachment section of the cable-securing device may comprise a plug configured to plug into the socket of the attachment section of the appliance and be removably retained therein, wherein the plug of the attachment section of the cable-securing device may only be inserted into the second section via the first section, wherein the plug of the attachment section of the cable-securing device may only be removed from the socket of the attachment section of the appliance via the first section. The appliance may further comprise a sloped portion surrounding the socket of the attachment section of the appliance and inclined towards the socket of the attachment section of the appliance.

The socket may be shaped such that the plug is moveable in the socket between a first position and a second position, wherein the plug may (preferably only) be inserted into and removed from the socket when the plug is positioned in the first position, and wherein the plug cannot be removed from the socket when in the second position unless first moved to a position other than the second position, preferably to the first position.

The socket may comprise a first section and a second section connected to the first section, wherein the plug may only be inserted into the second section via the first section, wherein the plug may only be removed from the socket via the first section. For example, the first and second section may be openings in the appliance, wherein the opening of the first section is larger than the opening of the second section. The plug preferably slides from the first section into the second section. In some embodiments, the first section is contiguous. In others, the first section is not contiguous. If the first section is not contiguous, the plug may be removed from different positions relative to the appliance.

The appliance may further comprise a cable-wrap, preferably wherein the cable-wrap is a niche formed circumferentially around the appliance. The combination of the cable wrap and cable-securing device mean that the cable can stowed up to and near the end point. The cable-wrap and the attachment section may be spaced apart; preferably wherein the attachment section is spaced above the cable wrap (in normal use of the appliance).

The cable-wrap and the cable-securing device are preferably separate components. The cable-securing device and the appliance are preferably separate components. As used herein, the term ‘separate components’ preferably connotes distinct components; and/or components which are not directly connected and/or may move relative to each other. The cable-wrap may be shaped such that the cable can be wrapped about a vertical axis when the appliance is used normally / is placed upright on a surface. For example, the cable-wrap may be formed such that the cable can be wrapped around the base of the appliance. The cable-wrap may be formed as at least one of a groove, a recess, and a narrowed portion of the appliance. The cable-wrap may be formed at or near to the base of the appliance; and/or may be spaced above a bottom surface of the appliance. In an alternative, the cable-wrap may be a separate component to the appliance.

The appliance may further comprise at least one cable-securing device, such as a cable securing device described herein. The appliance may further comprise a connector, such as a connector described herein, preferably wherein the cable is permanently retained within the cable-retaining section of the cable-securing device. The connector may or may not be removably attached to the appliance.

In another aspect of the invention, there is described a kit of parts comprising an appliance as described herein, and at least one of: a cable-securing device as described herein; and a connector as described herein, preferably wherein the cable is permanently retained within the cable retaining section of the cable-securing device. The connector may or may not be removably attached to the appliance.

Any apparatus feature as described herein may also be provided as a method feature, and vice versa. As used herein, means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure, such as a suitably programmed processor and associated memory.

Any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and vice versa. Furthermore, any, some and/or all features in one aspect can be applied to any, some and/or all features in any other aspect, in any appropriate combination.

It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects of the invention can be implemented and/or supplied and/or used independently.

In this specification the word 'or' can be interpreted in the exclusive or inclusive sense unless stated otherwise.

Furthermore, features implemented in hardware may generally be implemented in software, and vice versa. Any reference to software and hardware features herein should be construed accordingly.

Whilst the invention has been described in the field of domestic food processing and preparation machines, it can also be implemented in any field of use where efficient, effective and convenient preparation and/or processing of material is desired, either on an industrial scale and/or in small amounts. The field of use includes the preparation and/or processing of: chemicals; paints; building materials; clothing materials; agricultural and/or veterinary feeds and/or treatments, including fertilisers, grain and other agricultural and/or veterinary products; oils; fuels; dyes; cosmetics; plastics; tars; finishes; waxes; varnishes; beverages; solders; alloys; effluent; and/or other substances, and any reference to “food” herein may be replaced by such working mediums.

The invention described here may be used in any kitchen appliance and/or as a stand alone device. This includes any domestic food-processing and/or preparation machine, including both top-driven machines ( e.g . stand-mixers) and bottom-driven machines ( e.g . blenders). It may be implemented in heated and/or cooled machines. It may be used in a machine that is built-in to a work-top or work surface, or in a stand-alone device. The invention can also be provided as a stand-alone device.

“Food processing” as described herein should be taken to encompass chopping, whisking, stirring, kneading, mincing, grinding, shaping, shredding, grating, cooking, freezing, making ice-cream, juicing (centrifugally or with a scroll), or other food processing activities involving the physical and/or chemical transformation of food and/or beverage material by mechanical, chemical, and/or thermal means. “Food processing attachment” encompasses any attachable component configured, for example on rotation and/or energising, to carry out any of the previously described food processing tasks. Brief Description of Drawings

One or more aspects will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings having like-reference numerals, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic, not-to-scale, partly cut-away drawing of an appliance according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective, partial drawing of the cable-wrap of the device of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a perspective, drawing of the cable-wrap of Fig. 2 with the cable-securing device removed from its hole;

Fig. 4 is a side-on drawing of the cable-wrap of Fig. 2 with the cable shown;

Fig. 5a is a top-down drawing demonstrating operation of the cable-securing device of Fig. 2 during wrapping/unwrapping;

Fig. 5b is a is a top-down drawing demonstration operation of the cable-securing device of Fig. 2 when wrapped; and

Figs. 6a-6d are drawings of the cable-securing device of Fig. 2 from differing perspectives.

Specific Description

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary appliance 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The appliance 100 in this case is a motorised food processing device having a base 110, a cable-wrap niche 120, a cable 130, and a container 140 enclosed by a removably-attachable lid 160.

The cable-wrap niche 120 may be co-operatively formed between the container 140 and the base 110. This reduces the need for an additional cable-wrap component. The cable- wrap 120 is preferably provided at or near the base 110 of the appliance 100, as this both allows the weight of the cable 130 to better preserve the appliance 100 in an upright position, and prevents pulling on the cable 130 accidentally toppling the appliance 100.

The container 140 has an internal cavity 144 in which a food processing tool 143 can be driven to rotate by an electric motor 142. The electric motor 142 receives power from cable 130 which in turn receives electrical power from an electrical socket via the plug 131.

The cable 130 can be tidied by wrapping it onto the cable-wrap niche 120 recessed below the main surface of the appliance 100 and hence is unlikely to interfere with other operations going on around the appliance 100. To prevent the cable 130 becoming unwrapped from the cable-wrap niche 120 it can be retained in place using the cable securing device 150, which is insertable and removably-retained within a socket 141 that is shaped and dimensioned to at least partially receive the cable-securing device 150.

In alternative embodiments, no socket may be required, so that the cable-securing device 150 is removably attachable to a portion of the appliance 100 not comprising a socket. For example, at least a portion of the appliance 100 may be magnetic or contain a magnet and the cable-securing device 150 may comprise a magnet. For another example, at least a portion of the appliance 100 may contain a magnet and the cable securing device 150 may be magnetic.

The socket 141 may have a removable attachment means within it. These could include a magnet, spring-loaded elements, Velcro, clips, latches etc. Additionally or alternatively the cable-securing device 150 may have the removable attachment means formed on it. The socket 141 may be a cavity or it may simply be a through-hole through an external wall of the container 140.

The cable-securing device 150 and socket 141 may be shaped such that the cable securing device 150 is moveable between a position in which the cable-securing device 150 can be removed from the socket 141 and a position in which the cable-securing device 150 cannot be removed from the socket 141 unless moved to another position. For example, the cable-securing device 150 and socket 141 may be shaped such that the cable-securing device 150 is pivotable between a position in which the cable- securing device 150 can be removed from the socket 141 and a position in which the cable-securing device 150 cannot be removed from the socket 141 unless pivoted. For another example, the cable-securing device 150 and socket 141 may be shaped such that the cable-securing device 150 is slidable between a position in which the cable securing device 150 can be removed from the socket 141 and a position in which the cable-securing device 150 cannot be removed from the socket 141 unless slid to another position.

The socket 141 may be located and shaped such that it provides venting to the electric motor 142 of the appliance 100.

As shown in Figs. 2-4, the socket 141 is located above the niche 120 on a side-surface of the container 140. The mouth of the socket 141 may have an inwardly-sloped section surrounding it in order to guide the cable-securing device 150 into it. The socket 141 may alternatively be located on the base 110, or even within the niche 120, but it is preferably located so as to be on a horizontal ly-outwards facing surface so as to be easily accessible.

The cable-securing device 150 may be attachable to another cable-securing device attached to the same cable 130. The two cable-securing devices may contain complementary attachment features - for example, the cable-securing devices might both contain magnets, or one cable-securing device may comprise a magnet and the other a magnetic material. One cable-securing device may comprise a socket analogous to the socket described in relation to the appliance 100.

The base 110 may include feet 111 as shown in Fig. 4. Such feet may be adjustable in height to control the height of the appliance 100. Alternatively or additionally such feet may be connected to weight sensors for weighing the appliance 100 or its contents. The base 100 may be integrally formed with the container 140 (e.g., by injection moulding) or releasably attachable thereto. In a further alternative an additional tubular niche component 120 may be integrally formed with or releasably attachable to the container 140 and/or base 110.

As shown in Figs. 5a-5b the cable-securing device 150 can be slid along the cable 130 to adjust the retained length relative to the socket 141. The plug 131 serves as an end-stop preventing the cable-securing device 150 from sliding off the end of the cable. The cable securing device 150 is stopped from sliding off at the other end by the appliance 100. The cable can be wound either clockwise or anti-clockwise around the main body of the appliance 100 and then retained in place relative thereto with the cable-securing device

150 connecting with the socket 141 . The cable-securing device 150 may be shaped and configured such that there is friction when sliding the cable-securing device 150 along the cable 130.

In some embodiments, the cable-securing device 150 is configured to retain the cable 130 in such a way as to prevent movement of the cable relative to the cable-securing device. For example, the cable-securing device 150 might be configured to selectively retain the cable 130 in this way. In some embodiments, the cable-securing device is configured to be slid along the cable, then adjusted such that it retains the cable in such a way as to prevent movement of the cable relative to the cable-securing device, and then readjusted such that it can be slid along the cable 130 again.

Details of the construction of an exemplary cable-securing device 150 can be seen in Figs. 6a-6d. The cable-securing device 150 has an “O’Vhoop-shaped retaining section

151 which is shaped and dimensioned to receive the cable 130. The hoop of the retaining section 151 may optionally be openable to allow the cable 130 to be removed entirely from it. Alternatively the retaining section 151 may be a “C”-shaped and able to resiliently retain the cable 130 within it unless removed against the resilience of the “C”- shape by the user. Permanent retention of the cable 130 within the cable-securing device 150 has the advantage of preventing the cable-securing device 150 accidentally being lost, whilst releasable attachment of the cable-securing device 150 to the cable 130 has the advantage of greater utility/flexibility.

The cable-securing device 150 also has a roughly globe/spherical-shaped plug-section 152, which as shown in Fig. 3 is inserted into the socket 141. A globe/sphere-shaped plug-section 152 can have the advantage that the rounded sides of the plug-section 152 can help guide the plug-section 152 into the socket 141. Such a shape also tends to deflect impacts thus reducing the chance of accidental damage, and allows spring- loaded elements or other retaining means of the socket 141 to easily slide over it during attachment and/or removal. A sphere-shape can also be relatively easy to manufacture. However, the plug-section 152 may also be fork-shaped, conical, or any other suitable shape.

In some embodiments, the cable-securing device 150 may comprise a plug that is resiliently deformable between a first shape, a second deformed shape, and a third shape. The plug is complemented by a socket 141 into which the plug may only be inserted and removed from when the plug is in the deformed shape. Once inserted into the socket, the plug changes shape to the third shape so as to removably retain the plug within the socket. The third shape may be the first shape.

The plug-section 152 and the retaining section 151 are interconnected by a connection 153. The connection 153 may be a removably attachment means (e.g., screw-thread connection, clip etc.) to allow the plug-section 152 and retaining section 151 to be separable and re-attachable. The connection 153 may be narrower than the plug-section 152 to facilitate retention of the cable-securing device 150 within the socket 141. For example, if the connection 153 is narrower than the plug-section 152, when the plug- section 152 has passed through a hole the fit between the cable-securing device 150 and the hole becomes looser, allowing the cable-securing device to lower slightly which acts to help keep the plug-section 152 in place.

As the cable-securing device 150 is preferably only partially received within the socket 141 (e.g., only plug-section 152 extends into the socket 141) the remainder of the cable securing device 150 (e.g., retaining section 151) remains outside the socket 141 and is available for use as a grip grippable by the user for insertion/removal of the cable securing device 150. To further facilitate this, the retaining section 151 is preferably partly planar in shape similar to the grip of a key (e.g., rectangular in cross-section as seen particularly in Fig. 6d). The surface of at least a portion of the retaining section 151 may be embossed with a pattern to further facilitate the gripping of the cable-securing device 150 by a user.

The cable-securing device 150 is preferably food-safe and dishwasher-safe. For example, it may be made of a substance such as nylon or a similar food- safe/dishwasher-safe plastic, or have a housing made of such a substance completely surrounding and sealing an interior with non-food-safe/dishwasher-safe material within it.

Whilst the appliance 100 has been described as being a food processing appliance with a food processing tool 143 it could be a different kitchen appliance. For example the tool 143 and motor 142 could be replaced with (or augmented with) a heating and/or cooling element. Alternatively the appliance may be any one of a vacuum cleaner, steam-iron, dry-iron, garment steamer, air conditioner, fan, dehumidifier, hand-mixer, stand-mixer, hot-plate, blender, electric tool, computer, television, coffee machine, printer, photocopier, scanner, lamp, radiator, space-heater, medical device, or other electrically- powered equipment, or indeed non-electrically-powered equipment.

Whilst the cable 130 has been described as an electrical cable, it may instead be any other elongate flexible object which can be wound and re-wound onto something. This includes hoses, pipes, fabric, tapes, belts, ropes, cords, chains etc.

As used herein, the term "removable attachment” ( and similar terms such as “ removably attachable "), as used in relation to an attachment between a first object and a second object, preferably connotes that the first object is attached to the second object and can be detached (and preferably re-attached, detached again, and so on, repetitively), and/or that the first object may be removed from the second object without damaging the first object or the second object; more preferably the term connotes that the first object may be re-attached to the second object without damaging the first object or the second object, and/or that the first object may be removed from (and optionally also re-attached to) the second object by hand and/or without the use of tools (e.g. screwdrivers, spanners, etc.). Mechanisms such as a snap-fit, a bayonet attachment, and a hand- rotatable locking nut may be used in this regard.

“Food safe” in this context means any substance that does not shed substances harmful to human health in clinically significant quantities if ingested. For example, it should be BPA-free.

“Dishwasher safe” means that it should be physically and chemically stable during prolonged exposure to the conditions prevailing within a dishwasher machine. For example it should be able to withstand exposure to a mixture of water and a typical dishwasher substance (e.g., washing with Fairy™ or Finish™ dishwasher tablets and water, at temperatures of 82 degrees centigrade for as long as 8 hours without visibly degrading (e.g., cracking)).

It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

Reference numerals appearing in the claims are by way of illustration only and shall have no limiting effect on the scope of the claims.

The following lists a number of aspects:

1. A cable-clip, comprising a cable-retaining section configured to slidingly receive and secure a cable within it, and a plug-section configured to plug into a socket and be removably retained therein.

2. The cable-clip of aspect 1 , wherein the plug-section is rounded in shape.

3. The cable-clip of aspect 2, wherein the plug-section is partly spherical.

4. The cable-clip of any preceding aspect wherein the cable-retaining section is hoop-shaped or “C” shaped.

5. The cable-clip of any preceding aspect wherein the cable-retaining section has a planar-shape, and is preferably substantially rectangular in cross-section.

6. The cable-clip of any preceding aspect wherein the cable-retaining section is configured to removably receive a cable within it.

7. The cable-clip of any preceding aspect wherein the cable-retaining section and the plug-section are removably attached to each other.

8. An electrical cable comprising the cable-clip of any preceding aspect. 9. The electrical cable of aspect 8, further comprising an electrical plug, wherein the cable-retaining section is dimensioned such that the electrical plug cannot pass through it.

10. An appliance comprising the cable of either one of aspects 8-9, wherein the appliance comprises the socket configured to removably received the plug- section.

11. The appliance of aspect 10, further comprising a cable-wrap.

12. The appliance of aspect 11 , wherein the cable-wrap is a niche formed circumferentially around the appliance. 13. The appliance of any one of aspect 10-12, wherein the appliance further comprises a sloped portion surrounding the socket and inclined towards the socket.