Abstract:
A reusable bundling device for wrapping and securing bundles of cable, rope, hose, electrical cords and other elongated members. The bundling device includes a flexible strap having one surface covered with hook members and an opposed second surface covered with a plurality of loop members. The hook members are releasably engagable with the loop members to encircle and retain the bundle. A detachable engagement means is provided for detachably engaging a first end of the flexible strap to a portion of the cord. Further, the bundling device is color coded as a means to facilitate the identification of useful information pertaining to the cord and as means to rematch the strap once removed from the cord.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a bundling device for bundling and identifying elongated members such as cords, cables, hoses and the like. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A wide array of devices such as straps or ties are known in the prior art for use in retaining elongated members such as various cords, wires, and cables while in use and when coiled for storage. The terms “wires”, “cables”, “cords”, and “hoses” are considered equivalents for the purpose of the instant application, and are used interchangeably herein. The devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist of expected, obvious, and familiar structural configurations, notwithstanding the wide variety of designs encompassed by the crowed prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of a myriad of objects and requirements. 
         [0005]    Descriptions of such heretofore devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,381 to Frankel; U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,410 to Bryant; U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,743 to Hahn; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,050 to Korsen; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,603 to Reed. 
         [0006]    While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do have the disadvantage of being time consuming or cumbersome to use, in some cases are easily dislodged resulting in the cord becoming loose, do not provide visual indications of useful information pertaining to the cord and/or the bundling device, and are not capable of organizing a group of similar cords. Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved cord bundling device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention overcomes the limitations and disadvantages present in the art by providing a cord bundling and organizing device which is easily used, readily removably attachable to a cord, capable of organizing large groups of similar cords and bundling devices, and provides visual indications of useful information pertaining to the cord and/or the bundling device. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, and generally in one aspect, the present invention provides a bundling device including a flexible strap member of a preselected length having opposed first and second surfaces and opposed first and second end portions. A detachable engagement means for detachably engaging the first end portion of the flexible strap member to a portion of an elongated member. The first surface of the flexible strap member includes a plurality of hook members, and the second surface of the flexible strap member includes a plurality of loop members that are releasably engagable with the plurality of hook members to circumferentially enclose a plurality of additional elongated members. The detachable engagement means includes a first color coding as a means to facilitate the identification of the elongated members circumferentially enclosed by the bundling device. The flexible strap member is color coded and the detachable engagement means further includes a second color coding to correspond to the flexible strap color code as a means to facilitate the matching of the flexible strap member with the detachable engagement means. 
         [0009]    In general, in another aspect, the present invention provides a bundling device including a flexible strap member of a preselected length having opposed first and second surfaces and opposed first and second end portions. A detachable engagement means for detachably engaging the first end portion of the flexible strap member to a portion of an elongated member. The detachable engagement means having a first member being affixable along a portion of an elongated member, and a second member affixed to the first end portion of the flexible strap member and being releasably engagable with the first member. 
         [0010]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
         [0011]    Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0012]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0013]    For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the bundling device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the bundling device; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the bundling device in use bundling a plurality of members; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the bundling device showing an example of a color code arrangement; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the bundling device showing a second example of a color code arrangement. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5  of the drawings, reference numeral  10  generally designates the bundling device of the present invention. Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bundling device  10  includes a flexible strap member  12  of a preselected length. The strap member  12  has opposed first and second ends  14 ,  16 , and opposed first and second surfaces  18 ,  20 . The first surface  18  is provided with a plurality of hook members  22 , and the second surface  20  is provided with a plurality of loop members  24 . The second end  16  can include a pull strap  17  extending therefrom. The bundling device  10  further includes a detachable engagement means shown generally at  26  for releasably attaching the first end  14  of the strap member  12  to a portion of an elongated member  28 , such as a cord to be bundled. 
         [0021]    The detachable engagement means  26  includes a first member  30  that is fixedly attached to a portion of the cord  28  and a second member  32  that is separate from the first member and which is fixedly attached to the first end  14  of the strap member  12 . The first and second members  30  and  32  include cooperating structures which permit the members to be detachably engagable to each other. In an exemplary embodiment, the first member  30  includes a structure to which the second member  32  can be clipped to in a resilient manner. For example, the first member  30  can include a cylindrically body portion and the second member  32  can include a clip body adapted to at least partially encircle the body portion of the first member. It is important to note, the spirit of the detachable engagement means  26  is to provide a first element that is fixedly attachable to a portion of a cord and a second element that is fixedly attached to a portion of a strap, wherein the first and second elements are detachably engagable with each other, thereby permitting the flexible strap member  12  to be removably attached to the cord  28 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the bundling device  10  is shown securing a bundle of members  35  (e.g. cable, cord, hose, etc.). The flexible strap member  12 , secured at the first end  14  to a portion of the cord by the detachable engagement means  26 , is wrapped around the bundle of members  35  and secured to itself by the plurality of hook members  22  that are releasably engagable with the plurality of loop members  34  to circumferentially enclose the members. The strap member  12  may be removed from the bundled members  35  by pulling tab  17  away from the bundled members, thereby disengaging the hook members  22  from the loop members  24 . The strap member  12  may be completely removed by decoupling the first and second members  30  and  32  of the detachable engagement means  26 . The preselected length of the strap member  12  is dependent upon the overall circumference of the desired bundle. 
         [0023]    The bundling device  10  includes a color code as a means to identify useful information about a particular cord and as a means to correctly match a strap member  12  to a cord from which it was removed. The important aspect of this feature is found in situations where numerous cords of different properties, such as gauge, length, voltage rating or purpose are utilized concurrently at a job site or work site. It is desirable to, first, be able to remove the strap member  12  from a cord when the cord is in use to prevent wearing of the strap member and to prevent the strap member from interfering with the manipulation of the cord while in use. Additionally, it is desirable to be able to learn useful information pertaining to a particular cord quickly and easily simply by looking at visual indication associated with the cord. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in providing the above described color coding, the first member  30  of the detachable engagement means  26  includes a first color code  34 , and the second member  32  includes a corresponding color code  34 ′. Additionally, the first member  30  includes a second color code  36  of a color different from the first color code  34 . The strap member  12  includes a color code  36 ′ that corresponds to the second color code  36  of the first member  30 . The first color code  34  permits matching of the second member  32  with the first member  30 . The second color code  36  permits matching of the strap member  12  with first member  30 , thereby facilitating the matching of the strap member with the correct cord. 
         [0025]    With a comparison between  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a quick understanding of the color code system can be attained. For example, the cords  28  and  28 ′ of  FIGS. 4 and 5  respectively have one similar property, such as gauge, and one dissimilar property, such as length, i.e. the cords  28  and  28 ′ have the same gauge but different lengths. With reference to the color coding of the bundling devices  10  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  the similar and dissimilar properties are easily ascertained. The gauge of the cords  28  and  28 ′ is indicated by the first color code  34  which is the same in both examples, and the length of the cords are indicated by the second color code  36  which is different in both examples. Therefore, either through memorization of the color codes or using a color chart, one can easily learn the various properties the each cord. 
         [0026]    Additionally, the color coding further ensures the correct matching between a strap member  12  and an associated cord  28 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the color code  34 ′ of second member  32  matches the first color code  34  on the first member  30 , and additionally, the color code  36 ′ of the strap member  12  matches the color code  36  on the first member. Likewise in  FIG. 5 , color codes  34  and  34 ′ match and color codes  36  and  36 ′ match, thereby indicating a correct pairing between the cord  28  and the strap member  12 . To further increase visibility of color code  36 ′, the pull tab  17  can include the color code. 
         [0027]    The first member  30  of the detachable engagement means  26  can include two half body portions  38 ,  40  that are detachably secured to each other to facilitate the attachment of the first member to a portion of the cord  28 . One half body member carries the first color code  34  and the second half body member carries the second color code  36 . In this manner, a plurality of half body portions having various color codes can be provided and then selected for attachment to a particular cord in accordance with the proprieties of the cord that are selected to be indicated. Additionally, a plurality of strap members  12  can be provided with various common color code combinations for pairing the with a particular cord. 
         [0028]    It is important to note, while the above described example is related to an electrical cord, the identified information can include myriad of specific information pertaining not only electrical cords, but hoses, ropes and the like as well. For example, for a hose, the color coding could indicate the pressure rating of the hose, the length of the hose, the hose end fittings or a particular use of the hose. Additionally, for a rope or the like, the color coding could indicate the tensile strength of the cord, the material of the cord, or the length of the cord etc. 
         [0029]    A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.