Abstract:
A modular electrical cord shield system, including snap-together cord shield segments through a central channel of which an electrical cord extends. Successive segments are joined to shield electrical cords of varying length by male and female junction structures at ends of each cord shield segment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of The Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to child protection products.  
           [0003]    2. Background Information  
           [0004]    Each and every year, numerous children are injured through accidental interaction with electrical cords and sockets. One source of danger for children (and pets, for that matter) relates to chewing of electrical cords. With but a little persistence, a child or pet can chew through the insulation on a household electrical cord in surprisingly little time. Of course, direct contact between a wet mouth and electricity will almost surely have catastrophic consequences.  
           [0005]    Few, if any, practical measures for protecting children (and pets) from the dangers of electrical cords as described above are available. Clearly, electrical cords could be made to be virtually impenetrable, but to do so would raise costs of all appliances and extension cords, in order to protect only a relatively small portion of the consuming population. However laudable and justifiable such a measure would be, manufacturers would surely resist any requirement of this nature, based on economic grounds. Furthermore, any new such measure would not address the millions of existing, unprotected cords.  
           [0006]    Consumers might somehow add layers of protection, such as by further wrapping cords with, for example, duct tape. However, measures such as these are of questionable efficacy, are unattractive, and are difficult to reverse once the need passes (as the child or pet grows beyond the chewing stage).  
           [0007]    It would well-serve society as a whole to provide a vital protection to its young children (and secondarily, of course, to its pets) in relation to chewing of electrical cords. Ideally, such a protective measure would, in addition to providing effective protection, involve articles that could be added to existing, standard electrical cords, and which could be removed once no longer needed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a protective shield for electrical cords.  
           [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a child protective shield for electrical cords, which shield is readily added to, and removed from existing electrical cords.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a child protective shield for electrical cords, which shield is adaptable to varying lengths of electrical cord. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one cord shield segment of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outer surfaces of two adjacent cord shield segment members which, if snapped into intended configuration, will assume the configuration of a complete cord shield segment of FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the interior surfaces of two adjacent cord shield segment members which, if snapped into intended configuration, will assume the configuration of a complete cord shield segment of FIG. 1, such view showing the portions of the central channel through which an electrical cord will extend as defined by the two cord shield segment members.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the male and female junction members of two cord shield segment members (as opposed to four, as in ordinary use) which segment members are interfaced as when complete cord shield segments are joined. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]    Referring to FIG. 1, one cord shield segment  1  of the present system includes two cord shield segment members  10 . Each segment member  10 , in the preferred embodiment, constitutes one-half of a cylindrical conduit. When two segment members  10  are snapped together, they form a cylindrical conduit  12  with a central channel through which a standard, household electrical cord (not shown in the drawings) may be extended.  
         [0016]    Referring principally to FIGS. 1 and 4, at first and second ends respectively of each segment member  10  are male segment junctions  14  and female junctions  16 . Both male segment junctions  14  and female junctions  16  are, in the preferred embodiment, formed in concert by the two segments members  10  which form any one cord shield segment  10 . When assembled, the components of each male segment junction  14  and female junction  16  define a cord orifice  18  through which an electrical cord may extend from one cord shield segment to another. As reflected, in part, in FIG. 4, any number of cord shield segments  12  may be assembled in serial fashion to form a cord shield of any desired length. The nature of interaction between adjacent cord shield segments  12 , by way of male segment junctions  14  and female junctions  16 , is clearly depicted in FIG. 4, even though such is a cross-sectional view of such interaction.  
         [0017]    Referring in combination to FIGS. 1 and 2, cord shield segment members  10  are, in the preferred embodiment, made to interface in a snap-together manner. Snap tabs  20  and snap tab recesses  22  are complimentarily shaped and positioned to achieve this functionality.  
         [0018]    It is expected that vacuum molding from plastic materials will be the preferred mode of manufacture for embodiments of the present invention. However, alternative modes of manufacture and/or materials may appear to persons skilled in the plastics manufacturing arts.  
         [0019]    As shown in the drawings, the annular surfaces of cord shield segment members  10  are formed for allowing partial bending to accommodate desired path preferences for users. However, it should be understood that shields with smooth surfaces, not intended or configured for bending, will fall within the scope of the present invention if such otherwise include the features of at least some of the appended claims.  
         [0020]    Use of the present cord shield system is straight forward: One lays a length of electrical cord along the channel half of a first shield segment member  10 , and then snaps a second shield segment member  10  to the first shield segment member  10  to form a closed conduit. This is repeated as appropriate to the length of cord to be shielded. As successive shield segments  12  are applied to the electrical cord, they are snapped together, with male segment junctions  14  joining female junctions  16  as described and shown above.  
         [0021]    As and when need for cord protection passes, the cord shield system may be readily removed.  
         [0022]    Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.