Abstract:
A cable organizer for ease of managing cables includes a holding sleeve and a cable guide. The holding sleeve is shaped as an elongated tube with a first opening and a second opening. A receiving slit nonlinearly extends from the first opening to the second opening along the holding sleeve. The cable guider is composed of a pair of hinged opposing shells to form a conduit with an inlet and outlet through which the cables are so surrounding field in therein. When the cable organizer is in use, the cable guider slide along with the holding sleeve to widen the receiving slit in order to allow the cables being placed into the holding sleeve. Thereafter, the receiving slit returns to its original position and holds the cables therein, thereby achieving organization of cables.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for organization of cables, and more particularly to a cable organizer having a tubular sleeve for gathering and receiving more then one cables therein along the length thereof. 
     2. Description of Related Arts 
     Organization of cables of computer systems and electronic and/or electrical appliances is a headache to everybody. For example, a personal computer contains a number of cables to connect monitors, power supplies and other peripherals such as printers, scanners, speakers, modems, keyboard, mouse, microphone, web cam, external hard drive, zip drive, rewritable CD/DVD Rom, and etc. All those cables are generally mixed up and entangled with each other that may not only cause unnecessary damage to the cables&#39; isolating skins but also increase the risk of electric short due to the damaged or worn out cables. In addition, the intertwined cables appear as a nuisance to the neatness of their surroundings. Thus, it is desirable to have a device to organize the cables for safety concerns and to create a better sense of neatness. 
     One conventional solution to organize cables is to use a tape tying up all the cables together. The tape may be made of plastic or fabric, with or without automatic buckling mechanism. One or more tapes may be used to tie up the cables in order to achieve a better layout. However, the tied-up cables are still directly exposed to sharp objects that may cause damage to the isolating skin of the cables and result in electric short. The tape method is too troublesome and time consuming because the user has to hold the cables together in one hand and tie the tape around the cables a round after a round with his or her other hand. Also, if the user needs to move the computer and its peripherals or to add one or more cables, the user has to remove the tapes and re-tape the cables again. 
     Another conventional solution is to fit the cables into an elastic tube so that they can be held together for purposes of neatness and protection from direct exposure to sharp objects. When the elastic tube is in use, one needs to fit the electric plug of the cable into the tube first, and then woks the electric plug through the tube in order to place the whole cable along the tube. The process will be repeated as many times as all the cables are organized in the tube. Apparently, this solution does not work while the electric plug of a cable is plugged into a socket. Additionally, the use of the elastic tube is very time-consuming and inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A main objective of the present invention is to provide a cable organizer which can hold a number of cables in a tubular elongated holding sleeve to achieve the safety concern and a better sense of neatness. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cable organizer which can hold the cables received therein firmly in position and has a flexibility of even making a 360 degree bending with the cables therein. 
     Another objective of the present invention to provide a cable organizer which elongated nonlinear receiving slit not only provides a flexibility of the holding sleeve but also can enhance its cable holding ability to prevent the cables enclosed therein from escaping easily. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cable organizer which enables the user to add a cable therein or to remove a cable therefrom anytime easily. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cable organizer wherein two or more holding sleeves are able to be used to enclose sections of the cables so as to cover the whole length of the cables. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cable organizer wherein two or more holding sleeves are capable of connecting end to end to achieve a predetermined length. Also, the holding sleeve can be cut to shorten its length. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cable organizer which cable guider can hold the bundle of cables together easily and guide them into the holding sleeve easily by simply running through the holding sleeve, so that the user has no need to use his or her hand to hold the cables and push the cables into the holding sleeve that substantially eases and speeds up the operation. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cable organizer which resilient arc-shaped holder arms will close up the cable channel immediately and automatically to receive the cables just running through the holding sleeve by means of the cable guider. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cable organizer which holding sleeve is a one-piece body without any connection of parts while the cable guider is a two-piece clamp body so that its manufacturing cost is relatively economic. 
     In order to accomplish the above objectives, the present invention provides a cable organizer which comprises an elongated holding sleeve having a first opening and a second opening and defining a cable channel extending between the first opening and the second opening, wherein a nonlinear receiving slit provides on a circumferential surface thereof and extends from the front opening to the rear opening along the length of the holding sleeve. When the cable organizer is in use, the receiving slit is flexibly widened to allow a portion of the cables being placed within the elongated tube. After the portion of the cables are placed into the tube, the receiving slit returns to its original shape so as to securely hold the cables along the receiving channel and protect the cables from exposure to sharp objects. 
     The cable organizer further comprises a cable guider including a tubular guiding holder, which is arranged to hold around a length portion of the cables and slide along the length of the cables, and a slit divider inclinedly extended from an inlet end of the tubular guiding holder to form an inserter head which is constructed to be able to insert in holding sleeve from one of the first and second openings thereof and slide through the cable channel to the other opening in such a manner that when the slit divider slides through the cable channel of the holding sleeve, the inlet end of the tubular guiding holder is positioned inside the cable channel. Therefore, when the tubular guiding holder slides from a previous length portion to a current length portion along the length of the cables while the slit divider is sliding through the cable channel, the previous length portion of the cables will be placed inside the cable channel of the holding sleeve so that the length of the cables which equals to the length of the holding sleeve can be easily placed inside the holding sleeve along the cable channel by simply running the slit divider of the cable guider through the cable channel of the holding sleeve. 
     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
     These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is perspective view illustrating a cable organizer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention while operating to place a bundle of cables therein. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a cable guider of the cable organizer according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the cable guider of the cable organizer according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative mode of the cable organizer according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  4 , a cable organizer  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the cable organizer  10  comprises a holding sleeve  12  arranged to engage cables  22  therein by means of a cable guider  14 , 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the holding sleeve  12  comprises an elongated tubular body made of elastic material such as plastic or foam material, which has a first opening  122  at one end and a second opening  123  at the other end defining a cable channel  121  between the first and second openings  122  and  123 . In order to provide a better flexibility of the holding sleeve  12 , a first set of C-shaped slots  131  is spacedly and paraellelly along a front side of the holding sleeve  12  longitudinally and a second set of C-shaped slots  132  is formed spacedly and paraellelly along a back side of the holding sleeve  12  longitudinally, wherein the first and second sets of C-shaped slots  131 ,  132  are arranged intervally to maintain a whole and continuous body. The first and second sets of C-shaped slots  131  enable the holding sleeve  12  to bend as much as 360 degrees along its rear side and front side respectively, so that the holding sleeve  12  can be bent to fit any predetermined angle such the wall corners and desk side edges. 
     The holding sleeve  12  further has a nonlinear receiving slit  20  which is continuously extended from the first opening  122  to the second opening  123  and incorporated with the first set of C-shaped slots  131  to define a zigzag shape, illustrating as the dotted line in FIG.  1 . Accordingly, between every two C-shaped slots  131  of the first set of the C-shaped slots  131 , the holding sleeve  12  forms a pair of holder arms  151 ,  152 , wherein one of the holder arms  151  is longer than the other holder arms  152 . 
     By separating the long and short holder arms  151 ,  152 , the size o f the c able channel  121  can be enlarged and the width of the zigzag shaped receiving slit  20  is flexibly widened to receive cables  22  into the holding sleeve  12 . Then, since the holding sleeve  12  is preferably made of resilient materials, after the cables  22  are placed therein, the two holder arms  151 ,  152  can automatically return to their original position to close up the receiving slit  20  and the cable channel  121  immediately that prevents the cables  22  from escaping the confinement of the holding sleeve  12 . 
     In order to assist the user to place the bundle of cables  22  into the cable channel  121  in an easier and more effective manner, the cable organizer  10  further comprises a cable guider  30  for gathering the bundle of cables  22  and inserting the bundle of cables  22  into the cable channel  121  by slidably running through the holding sleeve  12 . A s shown in FIG. 2, the cable guider  30  includes a tubular guiding holder  31  and a slit divider  32  inclinedly extended from an inlet end  311  of the tubular guiding holder  31  to form a conical inserter head  321 . Preferably, the slit divider  32  is approximately 15 to 35 degrees inclined from guiding holder  31 . 
     Referring to FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, the guiding holder  31  is arranged to hold around a length portion of the cables  22  and slide along the length of the cables  22 . The slit divider  32  is constructed to be able to insert in the holding sleeve  12  from one of the first and second openings  122  or  123  thereof and slide through the cable channel  121  to the other opening  122  or  123  in such a manner that when the slit divider  32  slides through the cable channel  121  of the holding sleeve  12 , the inlet end  311  of the guiding holder  31  is positioned inside the cable channel  121 , as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Therefore, when the guiding holder  31  slides from a previous length portion to a current length portion along the length of the cables  22  while the slit divider  32  is sliding through the cable channel  121 , the previous length portion of the cables  22  will be placed inside the cable channel  121  of the holding sleeve  12  so that the length of the cables  22  which equals to the length of the holding sleeve  12  can be easily placed inside the holding sleeve  12  along the cable channel  121  by simply running the slit divider  32  of the cable guider  32  through the cable channel  121  of the holding sleeve  12 . 
     Accordingly, referring to FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, the cable guider  30  is a specially designed tool that is used to engage the cables  22  into the holding sleeve  12 . The cable guider  30  is composed of two symmetrical halves, i.e. a pair of semicircular opposing shells  33 ,  34 . Each of the opposing shells  33 ,  34  comprises an upper portion forming one half of the guiding holder  31  and a lower portion forming one half of the slit divider  32 , so that when the pair opposing shells  33 ,  34  are pivotally hinged edge to edge together by means of a hinge device  35 , the two halves of the guiding holder  31  and the two halves of the slit divider  32  are combined to form the guiding holder  31  and the slit divider  32  respectively. The cable guider  30  further includes a retaining means  36  for normally retaining the opposing shells  33 ,  34  together, i.e. maintaining the cable guider  30  in a closed condition, until a separating force is applied to open the guiding holder  31  by separating the opposing shells  33 ,  34  about the hinge device  35 , as shown in FIG.  3 . When the separating force is released, the retaining means  36  will close up the two opposing shells  33 ,  34  automatically, as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     According to the preferred embodiment, the cable guider  30  further comprises a pair of handles  37  integrally protruded from the two halves of guiding holder  31  and the retaining means  36  is a C-shape spring having two ends biased against the two halves of the guiding holder  31  and penetrating through the pair of handles  37 , so that when the two handles  37  are pressed towards each other, the two opposing shells  33 ,  34  hingedly open a bout the hinge device  3   5  provided at the roots of the two handles  3   7  t o c lamp around a bundle of cables  22  and to stretch out the C-shaped spring  36 , as shown in FIG.  3 . When the compression force applied to the two handles  37  is released, the C-shape spring presses the two opposing shells  33 ,  34  to hingedly close about the hinge device  35  so as to hold the bundle of cables  22  in position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the two opposing shells  33 ,  34  are closed together, the guiding holder  31  substantially forms a cable conduit  310  having two ends functioning as the inlet end  311  and a guiding end  312 . The inserter head  321  serves as a leading part for the cable guider  30  to enter the first or second opening  122 ,  123  of holding sleeve  12 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, an alternative mode of the holding sleeve  12 ′ is shown in detail according to above preferred embodiment of the present invention. The holding sleeve  12 ′ has a continuous S-shape receiving slit  20 ′ extending from a first opening  122 ′ to a second opening  123 ′ along a longitudinal side thereof Because the cables placed within the holding sleeve  12 ′ are not likely to meet the curve of the receiving slit  20 ′, they would not easily escape the confinement of the holding sleeve  12 ′. It is noted that the cables may be push into the holding sleeve  12 ′ with assistance of the cable guider  30  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     The present invention has certain advantages over the conventional solutions to organization of cables. First, the holding sleeve  12  is capable of applying to the cables that arc already plugged into sockets. Because the cables can be engaged into the holding sleeve  12  via the receiving slit  20 , it saves troubles and hassles of trying to work cables through the holding sleeve  12  from the first opening  122  to the second opening  123 . Second, the nonlinear receiving slit  20  has the advantage of preventing the cables from escaping the confinement of the holding sleeve  12 , while keeping it convenient to separate them simply by pulling them a part with hands. Moreover, when the holding sleeve  12  is used together with the cable guide  30 , the whole process of organization of cables can be done in seconds by clipping cables with the cable guide  30 , engaging the cable guider  30  with the holding sleeve  12 , and moving the cable guider  30  through the holding sleeve  12 . When the process is done, the holding sleeve  12  will give the cables better protection and a neater looking for purposes of beauty. 
     One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.