FLEXIBLE ELECTRICAL CORD RETAINING SHEATH

Abstract

An electrical cord retention device incorporates a spiral coiled wall having a solid first portion extending from a first longitudinally extending edge commencing the spiral and a slotted second portion extending from a termination of the solid first portion substantially to a second longitudinally extending edge terminating the spiral.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of restraining electrical cords and more particularly to a flexibly expandable spiral wound sheath having a partially slotted wall for expanding to receive a coiled electrical cord and retaining the cord in the coiled condition.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electrical extension cords or other cabling such as computer component connection cords, overly long lamp or appliance cords can be disorganized and even dangerous when not properly constrained. To provide organization of cords cable ties such as zip ties or cable wraps, encircling bands with hook and loop fasteners on opposite sides or mechanical devices have been employed to hold coiled or folded electrical cords.

Prior art examples of various cord holders can be found in various patents and patent publications. For example, a rigid “cord organizer” is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,165 to Koppang which employs a rigid cylinder with a restricting inner profile to grasp the folded cord.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,817 to Anderson discloses a rigid cylindrical container for receiving a folded electrical cord and restraining the cord with an interior profile of the cylinder or a layered pierceable baffle.

US patent publication 2010/0192330 to Walker discloses a similar device with a rigid tubular container with interior tactile web material to restrain the cord and inwardly protruding teeth, tabs or fingers to further constrain the cord.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,092 to Platt discloses a rigid hexagonal tube with flared ends to receive a folded electrical cord.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,157 to Witt et al. discloses a bag with drawstring closures for loosely containing a coiled extension cord. An end of the cord may protrude from the closed aperture and the bag has a second aperture to allow a second end of the cord to protrude for use while present in the bag.

Similarly, US patent publication 2011/0203958 to Imburgia et al. discloses a cylindrical bag with mesh end caps which are closable with a drawstring.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,042,232 to Mask et al. discloses a coil container having accordion pleats which are collapsible and secured with encircling hook and loop straps.

Each of the prior art designs is either overly complex for simple household usage or is limited in size or flexibility due to rigid construction.

It is therefore desirable to provide a means for containing a coiled electrical cord which is inexpensive to fabricate, flexible for variable sizing and simple to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an electrical cord retention device incorporates a spiral coiled wall having a solid first portion extending from a first longitudinally extending edge commencing the spiral and a slotted second portion extending from a termination of the solid first portion substantially to a second longitudinally extending edge terminating the spiral.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the flexible electrical cord retaining sheath;

FIG. 2 is a first end view of the flexible electrical cord retaining sheath;

FIG. 3 is an opposite end view of the flexible electrical cord retaining sheath;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the flexible electrical cord retaining sheath;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the flexible electrical cord retaining sheath; and,

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the flexible electrical cord retaining sheath with a cord restrained therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention is described herein provides a flexible sheath for constraining electrical cords in a coiled or folded condition. While described herein for electrical cords such as extension cords, the embodiments may be employed to contain coiled or folded cords, cables, wire, rope or other filament type materials. As shown in FIG. 1, the sheath 10 has a spiral coiled wall 12 having a solid first portion 14 extending from a first longitudinally extending edge 16 commencing the spiral and a second slotted portion 18 extending from a termination of the solid first portion to a solid rim 20 proximate a second longitudinally extending edge 22 terminating the spiral. For the embodiment shown, the solid portion and slotted portion of the coiled wall have approximately equal area. However, the slotted portion may have greater or less overall area in the wall as may be determined for the desired flexibility of the sheath. As represented by arrow 24 in FIG. 2, the second longitudinally extending edge 22 and slotted portion 18 of the wall are sufficiently flexible for resilient deformation by expanding the rim 20 outwardly from a central axis 25 to partially unwind the spiral coil of wall 12 to allow for easy insertion of a coiled cord.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the slotted portion 18 of wall 12 incorporates tines 26 with intermediate slots 28. The slotted portion 18 has approximately ½ the area in the tines 26 as compared to the open area of the slots 28. In alternative embodiments, depending on the flexibility of the material from which the sheath is constructed, the tines 26 may be wider or narrower to achieve the desired flexibility and resilience. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the sheath is molded from a polymer plastic that is of such a hardness to allow the flexible sheath to open (unwind) to accept the cables or cords but not so rigid that the coiled ‘memory’ of the plastic sheath is lost if the coil is over expanded. In an exemplary embodiment, the sheath is molded from polyethylene.

Also as most clearly seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sheath 10 has a tapered profile with a larger diameter 30 at the lateral ends 32, 34 and a smaller diameter 36 at a waist 38. This configuration provides additional resilient constraint of a coiled cord at the waist 38 of the sheath 10.

FIG. 6 shows the sheath 10 with an inserted coiled cord 40. The resilient expandability of the spiral coiled wall 12 of the sheath allows a larger or smaller cord bundle diameter to be accommodated and the waist 38 of the sheath provides additional constraining force to maintain the coiled cord in the sheath.

Having now described the invention in detail as required by the patent statutes, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications and substitutions to the specific embodiments disclosed herein. Such modifications are within the scope and intent of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. An electrical cord retention device comprising:

a spiral coiled wall having a solid first portion extending from a first longitudinally extending edge commencing the spiral; and a slotted second portion extending from a termination of the solid first portion substantially to a second longitudinally extending edge terminating the spiral.

2. The electrical cord retention device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a solid rim proximate the second longitudinally extending edge, said slotted second portion terminating at the solid rim.

3. The electrical cord retention device as defined in claim 1 wherein the solid first portion and slotted second portion are of substantially equal area.

4. The electrical cord retention device as defined in claim 1 wherein the slotted second portion has fines with open areas intermediate the tines, said slotted portion having approximately ½ the area in the tines as compared to the open area of the slots.

5. The electrical cord retention device as defined in claim 2 wherein the solid rim may be resiliently urged outward from a central axis to expand the spiral coiled wall.

6. The electrical cord retention device as defined in claim 1 wherein the spiral coiled wall has a profile with a first diameter at lateral ends of the wall and a second diameter at a waist, said first diameter greater than said second diameter.

7. The electrical cord retention device as defined in claim 1 wherein the sheath is molded from polymer plastic.