Cable management systems for product display

Abstract

A cable retraction mechanism for displaying merchandise mounted on a display post in a retail location. The cable retraction mechanism includes a cable assembly having a coiled or equivalent elastically stretchable section. The mechanism also includes a coaxial housing that is connected to a portion of the cable assembly. The reciprocating motion or action of the shuttle within the housing facilitates extension and retraction of the cable assembly in a manner that is independent of the coiled section.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cable management system for use in displaying one of a plurality of electronic devices in a commercial setting, comprising:
 a cable assembly that provides an electrical coupling to a displayed electronic device, the cable assembly being extendable and retractable;   a mounting member for carrying the displayed electronic device, and wherein the cable assembly at least partially extends into and is electrically coupled to the mounting member, and further, the cable assembly is connected to the mounting member in a manner so as to facilitate extension and retraction movements of the cable assembly and mounting member for respectively lifting and replacing the mounting member to and from a retail display while the mounting member is coupled to the cable assembly; and   a swivel assembly that is in-line in the cable assembly for enabling at least a portion of the cable assembly to rotate while maintaining the electrical coupling to the displayed electronic device during extension and retraction movements of the cable assembly, in a manner so as to reduce torsional forces placed on the cable assembly during said extension and retraction movements.   
     
     
       2. The cable management system of  claim 1 , wherein the swivel assembly couples an end of the extendable and retractable cable assembly to the mounting member. 
     
     
       3. The cable management system of  claim 1 , wherein the extendable and retractable cable assembly has a first end connected to the mounting member and a second end connected to an upstream power supply, and wherein the swivel assembly couples the second end of the cable assembly to the upstream power supply. 
     
     
       4. A cable management system for use in displaying one of a plurality of electronic devices in a commercial setting, comprising:
 a cable assembly that is extendable and retractable relative to a display surface, the cable assembly providing an electrical coupling to a displayed electronic device, with the cable assembly having a modular connector;   a mounting member head for carrying the displayed electronic device, the mounting member head having an internal portion shaped to receive a swivel assembly; and   a swivel assembly received within the mounting member head for electrically coupling the cable assembly to the mounting member head and the displayed electronic device via the modular connector, and when so connected, the swivel assembly being in-line relative to the cable assembly for enabling the mounting member head to rotate relative to the cable assembly while maintaining the electrical coupling to the displayed electronic device during extension and retraction movements of the cable assembly, in a manner so as to reduce torsional forces placed on the cable assembly during the extension and retraction movements.   
     
     
       5. The cable management system of  claim 4 , wherein the extendable and retractable cable assembly has a first end connected to the mounting member head and a second end connected to an upstream power supply. 
     
     
       6. The cable management system of  claim 4 , including a second cable assembly for electrically coupling the displayed electronic device to the extendible and retractable cable assembly. 
     
     
       7. A cable management system for use in displaying one of a plurality of electronic devices in a commercial setting, comprising:
 a cable assembly that provides an electrical coupling to a displayed electronic device, the cable assembly comprising an elastically extendable and retractable cable;   a swivel assembly;   a mounting member for carrying the displayed electronic device, the mounting member having an internal portion sized and shaped to receive the swivel assembly, and wherein said cable assembly is electrically coupled to the mounting member, wherein said mounting member is supported by a base surface having an opening, and further, the cable assembly extends through said opening and is connected to the mounting member in a manner so as to facilitate extension and retraction movements of the cable assembly and mounting member for respectively lifting and replacing the mounting member to and from a retail display while the mounting member is connected to the cable assembly; and   a dual return tension assembly;   wherein the swivel assembly is in-line in the cable assembly and is enclosed within and retained by said internal portion for enabling at least a portion of the cable assembly to rotate while maintaining the electrical coupling to the displayed electronic device during extension and retraction movements of the cable assembly, in a manner so as to reduce torsional forces placed on the cable assembly during said extension and retraction movements; and   wherein the dual return tension assembly is biased to retract said mounting member, wherein the dual return tension assembly comprises a shuttle connected to the cable assembly, wherein the shuttle is slidable to compress a spring in a manner that compresses the spring to create a spring tension in response to an extension movement of the mounting member to a lift position for the mounting member, wherein the spring tension and an elastic tension provided by the cable assembly are biased to retract the mounting member away from the lift position.   
     
     
       8. The cable management system of claim 7, wherein said cable assembly includes a curly-Q cord. 
     
     
       9. The cable management system of claim 8, wherein the extendable and retractable cable assembly has a first end connected to the mounting member and a second end connected to an upstream power supply. 
     
     
       10. The cable management system of claim 9, including a second cable assembly for electrically coupling the displayed electronic device to the extendable and retractable cable assembly. 
     
     
       11. The cable management system of claim 7, further comprising:
 a housing assembly within which the dual return tension assembly, the spring, and a portion of the cable assembly are housed;   wherein the shuttle is slidably engaged within the housing assembly such that the shuttle slides along a path within the housing assembly in a manner that compresses the spring to create the spring tension in response to the extension movement of the mounting member.   
     
     
       12. The cable management system of claim 11, wherein the cable assembly, the spring, the shuttle, and the sliding path for the shuttle are co-axially disposed within the housing assembly. 
     
     
       13. The cable management system of claim 7, further comprising:
 another swivel assembly, wherein the another swivel assembly is positioned inside the shuttle and adapted to permit rotation of the cable assembly relative to the shuttle.   
     
     
       14. The cable management system of claim 7, wherein the spring tension and the elastic tension are independent of each other. 
     
     
       15. A cable management system for use in displaying one of a plurality of electronic devices in a commercial setting, comprising:
 a cable assembly that provides an electrical coupling to a displayed electronic device, the cable assembly comprising an elastically extendable and retractable cable;   a mounting member for carrying the displayed electronic device, wherein said cable assembly is electrically coupled to the mounting member, wherein said mounting member is supported by a base surface having an opening, and further, the cable assembly extends through said opening and is connected to the mounting member in a manner so as to facilitate extension and retraction movements of the cable assembly and mounting member for respectively lifting and replacing the mounting member to and from a retail display while the mounting member is connected to the cable assembly;   a swivel assembly that is in-line in the cable assembly and is enclosed within and retained by said mounting member for enabling at least a portion of the cable assembly to rotate while maintaining the electrical coupling to the displayed electronic device during extension and retraction movements of the cable assembly, in a manner so as to reduce torsional forces placed on the cable assembly during said extension and retraction movements; and   a dual return tension assembly that is biased to retract said mounting member, wherein the dual return tension assembly comprises a shuttle connected to the cable assembly, wherein the shuttle is slidable to compress a spring in a manner that compresses the spring to create a spring tension in response to an extension movement of the mounting member to a lift position for the mounting member, wherein the spring tension and an elastic tension provided by the cable assembly are biased to retract the mounting member away from the lift position.   
     
     
       16. The cable management system of claim 15, wherein said cable assembly includes a curly-Q cord. 
     
     
       17. The cable management system of claim 16, wherein the extendable and retractable cable assembly has a first end connected to the mounting member and a second end connected to an upstream power supply. 
     
     
       18. The cable management system of claim 17, including a second cable assembly for electrically coupling the displayed electronic device to the extendable and retractable cable assembly. 
     
     
       19. The cable management system of claim 15, further comprising:
 a housing assembly within which the dual return tension assembly, the spring, and a portion of the cable assembly are housed;   wherein the shuttle is slidably engaged within the housing assembly such that the shuttle slides along a path within the housing assembly in a manner that compresses the spring to create the spring tension in response to the extension movement of the mounting member.   
     
     
       20. The cable management system of claim 19, wherein the cable assembly, the spring, the shuttle, and the sliding path for the shuttle are co-axially disposed within the housing assembly. 
     
     
       21. The cable management system of claim 15, further comprising:
 another swivel assembly, wherein the another swivel assembly is positioned inside the shuttle and adapted to permit rotation of the cable assembly relative to the shuttle.   
     
     
       22. The cable management system of claim 15, wherein the spring tension and the elastic tension are independent of each other.