Abstract:
A device is provided that includes a flexible elongated member and a spiral member. The spiral member is engaged with at least a portion of the flexible elongated member. The spiral member asserts a biasing force on the flexible elongated member to prevent the flexible elongated member from becoming tangled.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/250,215 filed Oct. 9, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Flexible elongated members such as extension cords, coax, cables, wires, ropes etc. are subject to become tangled which can lead to wasted time and frustration on the part of the user. For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a relatively tangle resistant flexible elongated device. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    The above-mentioned problems of current systems are addressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. The following summary is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding some of the aspects of the invention. 
         [0004]    In one embodiment, a device is provided that includes a flexible elongated member; and a spiral member. The spiral member is engaged with at least a portion of the flexible elongated member. The spiral member asserts a biasing force on the flexible elongated member to prevent the flexible elongated member from becoming tangled. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof be more readily apparent, when considered in view of the detailed description and the following figures in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a flexible elongated member with a spiral member of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the flexible elongated member with the spiral member of  FIG. 1  in a rolled up configuration; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a flexible elongated member having a portion with a coating  202  of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4A  is a close up view of a spiral member on an outer surface of a flexible elongated member of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4B  is a close up view of a spiral member encased in a covering of a flexible elongated member of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4C  is a close up view of a spiral member on an inner surface of a flexible member of yet another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a close up view of a spiral member coupled to a ground of a flexible member of one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0013]    In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof. 
         [0015]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a flexible elongated member that includes a spiral member that exerts a biasing force on the elongated member to help prevent the elongated member from becoming tangled. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a top view of a tangle resistant flexible elongated member  100  of an embodiment is illustrated. The tangle resistant flexible elongated member  100  including a spiral member  102  and a flexible elongated member  10 . As illustrated, the spiral member  102  encases the elongated member  101 . The spiral member  102  is made from a material that provides a biasing force on the elongated member  101  that acts to help prevent the elongated member  101  from becoming entangled with itself.  FIG. 1  further illustrates that the tangle resistant flexible elongated member  100  in this example embodiment is an extension cord. 
         [0016]    As stated above, the spiral member  102  is made from material that exerts a biasing force on the elongated member  101 . Any type of material that can provide the biasing force can be used. Example materials include, but are not limited to, metals, plastics, composite materials, vinyl, fiberglass, rope etc. Although, the spiral member  102  is illustrated as having a spiral shape any type of biasing member can be used that provides a biasing force on the elongated member to prevent it from becoming tangled. The flexible elongated member  101  can be any type of flexible elongated member  101  that is prone to get tangled. Example elongated members  101 , include but are not limited to, cords, extension cords, coax, cable, wire, rope, hoses, etc. In  FIG. 1 , the elongated member  100  is illustrated as an extension cord having a first female end  104  and a second male end  106 . The male end  106  includes power contacts  110   a  and  110   b  and ground contact  108 . As further stated above, the spiral member  102  provides a biasing force on the flexible elongated member  101  to prevent the flexible elongated member  101  from becoming tangled. When the tangle resistant flexible elongated member  100  is prepared for storage (wound up), the spiral member  102  helps provide a tangle resistant storage configuration of the elongated member  101  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment a coating  202  is used to cover the spiral member  102  and the elongated member  101 . In particular,  FIG. 3  illustrates a partial coating  202  of the elongated member  101 . The coating  202  helps prevent the spiral member  102  from getting caught on objects as the elongated member  100  is moved. The coating  202  is made from a material that is flexible so the elongated member  101  can be rolled up when not in use and so the coating  202  does not fall off or fall apart. Any type of flexible coating material can be used that accomplishes this task. Example coatings  202  include, but are not limited to, plastic, rubber, vinyl, etc. A coating  202  can be used on an embodiment where the spiral member (of the bias member) is positioned around an outer surface of the elongated member  101 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a close up partial view of a spiral member  402  and an elongated member  401  of a tangle resistant flexible elongated member  400  of one embodiment. In this embodiment, the spiral member  402  is positioned around an outer surface of the elongated member  401 . This embodiment may also include a coating  408  similar to coating  202  discussed above. The tangle resistant flexible elongated member  400  can be any type of elongated flexible device as stated above, including, but not limited to, an electric extension cord, a coax, a cable, a wire, a rope, and a hose such as a water hose and a gas hose and the like.  FIG. 4B  illustrates a close up partial view of another tangle resistant flexible elongated member  420  of one embodiment. In this embodiment, the spiral member  422  is received in the elongated member (which includes a cover  421 ). That is, in this embodiment the spiral member  422  is formed into the elongated member&#39;s cover  421 . This example embodiment is an extension cord  420  including a pair of power wires  424   a  and  424   b  and a ground wire  426  that are received in the cover  421 . In one embodiment, the power wires  424   a  and  424   b  include a neutral wire  424   a  and a hotwire  424   b .  FIG. 4C  illustrates yet another embodiment of a tangle resistant flexible elongated member  430 . In this embodiment, the spiral member  432  is positioned inside of an inner surface of a cover  431  of the elongated member  430 . Here again, the tangle resistant flexible elongated member  430  is an electric extension cord with a pair of power wires  424   a  and  424   b  and a ground wire  426  received in the cover  431 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of a tangle resistant flexible extension cord  500 . This embodiment, illustrates the spiral member  508  (biasing member) being positioned around an outer surface of the elongated member  506  (cord). Although, the spiral member  508  is positioned around the outer surface of the elongated member  506  in this example embodiment, in other embodiments it is positioned within a cover of the elongated member or inside the inner surface of the cover of the elongated member. The extension cord  500  is further illustrated as including a male end  502  having power connectors  512   a  and  512   b  and ground  510  and a female end  504  having female connectors (including a female ground connector  520 ) that are electrically coupled to the respective male end connectors  512   a ,  512   b  and  510 . In this embodiment, the spiral member  508  is made from a conductive material. The spiral member  508  in this embodiment is further coupled to the coupling (i.e. to the ground wire  514  of the extension cord  500 ) between the male ground connector  510  and the female ground connector  520 . In particular, in this embodiment a first end the spiral member  508  is coupled to the ground wire  514  about a first connection point  516  in the male end  502  of the extension cord  500  and a second end of the spiral member  508  is coupled to the ground wire  514  about a second connection point  518  in the female end  504  of the extension cord  500 . 
         [0020]    Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.