Abstract:
A cord holding device and method of use. An embodiment of the device includes a sheet of material having a turned end. The turned end is selectively positionable between a closed orientation and an open orientation. In the open orientation, an opening is formed between the turned end and the sheet to allow for the cord to be inserted within an interior section. In the closed orientation, the turned end wraps around the cord to retain it within the device. A method of using the device comprises mounting the device to a position to receive the cord. A holding section is unturned an amount to allow for the cord to be inserted within the interior section of the holding section. After cord insertion, the holding section re-turns and wraps around the cord.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) and 120 to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/088,170, filed Mar. 23, 2005, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, and which application is a nonprovisional of, and claims priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/562,708, filed Apr. 16, 2004, expired, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT STATEMENT  
       [0002]     All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and of other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Cord organization has become more difficult as additional machines and devices make their way into home and business use. These cords can become unmanageable due to many factors including length and number. Unorganized cords may not only be visually unappealing and cumbersome, but they may also lead to preventable injuries. Creating a safe, efficient and aesthetically pleasing environment is important to many businesses and individuals.  
         [0004]     Some cords become easily tangled alone along their length or with other cords. The process of untangling these cords may lead to undue frustration and wasted time. Also, locating a specific cord in a tangled mass of cords can be problematic and physically difficult especially when cords are located in a restricted space.  
         [0005]     A large amount of time and resources is devoted to making homes and businesses aesthetically pleasing. Unsecured cords can be visually unpleasant and can give an entire home or office an unorganized appearance. In some homes and businesses, it is important to have an environment that appears organized and shows attention to detail. Keeping the cords off the floor adds to the aesthetically pleasing appearance.  
         [0006]     Cords can also be hazardous to safety when inadvertently moving objects themselves or interfering with the movement of individuals and objects. Because tripping and falling over cords is common and can lead to serious injuries, it can be important for owners of homes and businesses to prevent their family, pets, employees and visitors from coming into contact with cords. Cords may also move other objects or get in the way and cause injury to valuable equipment and objects. By taking active steps to secure cords that can be potentially hazardous, homes and businesses may be able to avoid human injury and damage to equipment.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     The present invention is directed to embodiments of a device to hold a cord. The device may be constructed from a single sheet of resilient material having a turned end. The turned end is biased towards a first position having a turned orientation. The end may also be forced to an open orientation forming an opening for insertion of a cord into an interior section.  
         [0008]     One method of using the device may include unturning a holding section and forming an opening between the holding section and a base section. The cord may then be inserted into the interior section of the holding section. Finally, the cord may be released causing the holding section to re-turn and reduce the size of the opening and prevent inadvertent removal of the cord. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the device according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device positioned partially behind a face plate according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the device in a closed orientation according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the device in an open orientation according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the device in a closed orientation according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the device in a closed orientation according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the device in a closed orientation according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the device in use with a power strip according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of two separate devices arranged in an overlapping configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the device in a closed orientation according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 11 a  side view of the device in a closed orientation according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 12 a  side view of the device in a closed orientation according to one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 13 a  side view of the device in a closed orientation according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     The present invention is directed to embodiments of a cord holding device.  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the device, generally denoted as  10 , having a base section  20  and a holding section  40 . The holding section  40  is selectively positionable between a closed orientation and an open orientation.  FIG. 2  illustrates the device  10  with the base section  20  positioned behind a face plate  90  of an electrical outlet with the holding section in the closed orientation to hold a cord  96 .  
         [0023]     The device  10  in this embodiment is constructed from a single piece of material. The base section  20  comprises a first area of the material, and the holder section  40  comprises a second area. In one embodiment, the holder section  40  is formed by an area of the material adjacent to an edge  61 . The material is resilient and provides for the holder section  40  to be in the closed orientation when no exterior force is applied ( FIG. 3 ), and the open, extended orientation when acted upon by an exterior force ( FIG. 4 ). Once the force is removed, the holder section  40  returns towards the closed orientation. The device  10  may be constructed of a variety of materials, such as extruded or molded plastic, and aluminum.  
         [0024]     The base section  20  provides for securing the device  10  to a mounting surface. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the base section  20  is substantially flat to mount behind the face plate  90  or receptacle. An opening  21  may extend through the base section  20  for insertion of one or more plugs  94  into the electrical outlets. A back side of the base section  20  may be equipped with adhesive, VELCRO, magnetic strips, and other mounting means to attach the device  10  to the mounting surface. Additionally, fasteners (not illustrated)) may mount the base section  20  to the mounting surface.  
         [0025]     The holder section  40  holds and releases the cord  96  from the device  10 . The holder section  40  is biased towards the closed orientation as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The closed orientation has a turned configuration forming an interior section  41  sized to hold the cord  96 . The edge  61  is positioned in proximity to the line A that marks the beginning of the holder section  40 . In this embodiment, the turned configuration forms a cylindrical section that forms about a 360° turn. A gap  42  is formed at the edge  61  to facilitate insertion of the cord  96 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates the holder section  40  in the open, extended orientation. The edge  61  of the holder section  40  is substantially spaced away from the base section  20  forming an enlarged gap  42  and interior section  41  for insertion of the cord  96 . Once the cord  96  is inserted and the exterior force is released, the holder section  40  will return towards the closed orientation. The size of the cord  96  may prevent a complete return, resulting in the holder section  40  applying a squeezing force to maintain the cord  96 . Further, the gap  42  may be larger than in the fully closed orientation as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . If the cord  96  is smaller than the interior section  41  in the closed orientation, the holder section  40  substantially surrounds the cord  96  to prevent inadvertent removal and the gap  42  will be about the same as in the closed orientation.  
         [0027]     Another embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 5  with the holder section  40  in the closed orientation. In this embodiment, the turn exceeds 360° as the edge  61  wraps beyond the beginning of the holder section  40  identified by line A. In this embodiment, a limited section of the holder section  40  has a two-ply construction.  FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment in which the turn is less than 360° with the edge  61  not fully returning to the beginning of the holder section  40  identified at line A. In one embodiment, the amount of turn is at least 270° which prevents the gap  42  from being too large such that the cord  96  could inadvertently be removed from the device  10 .  
         [0028]     The size of the gap  42  formed in the closed orientation may vary depending upon the embodiment.  FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment having a small gap  42  positioned directly beyond the edge  61 . The embodiment of  FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment with a larger gap  42 .  FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment that does not include a gap  42 . The edge  61  of the holder section  40  contacts the base section  20 .  
         [0029]     A grip  43  may extend outward from the holder section  40 . The grip  43  provides for grasping by a user to apply an opening force to the holder section  40  to move it towards the open orientation. In one embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the grip  43  is positioned at a mid-area of the holder section  40 .  FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment with the grip  43  at the edge  61  of the holder section  40 . The grip  43  of  FIG. 6  also functions as a guide to assist in inserting the cord  96  into the interior section  41 . The angled configuration funnels the cord  96  towards the edge  61  and into the interior section  41 .  FIG. 11  illustrates another grip  43  formed by the holder section  40 . An indent forms a surface that is gripped by the user to move the holder section  40  towards the open orientation. Various sizes and shapes of indents may be used to form the grip  43 .  FIG. 12  illustrates another embodiment with a section of the holder section  40  having a roughened surface forming the grip  43 . Again, the user is able to grasp the holder section  40  and apply a force to move it towards the open orientation. The grip  43  of  FIG. 12  may be constructed of a softer material than the remainder of the holder section  40 .  
         [0030]     In use, the device  10  is mounted in a location where cords  96  are present, such as an electrical receptacle, computer area, television setting, telephone kiosk, etc. Prior to cord  96  insertion, the holder section  40  assumes the closed orientation. Moving the holder section  40  to the open orientation may be caused by the user grasping the holder section  40  and/or grip  43  and applying a force, or forcing the cord through the gap  42  and hence causing the holder section  40  to open. Once the cord  96  is inserted, the resiliency of the material causes the holder section  40  to return towards the closed orientation to maintain the cord  96  attached within the device  10 .  
         [0031]     Removal of the cord  96  from the holder section  40  is possible in a number of ways. The user may grasp the holder section  40  and/or grip  43  and move the holder section  40  towards the open orientation thus allowing for cord removal. Similarly, the user may grasp the cord  96  and pull thus applying an opening force to move the holder section  40 . In another embodiment, the cord  96  can be slid laterally and removed from the holder section without actually moving the holder section  40  towards the open orientation.  
         [0032]     The extent that the holder section  40  is moved towards the open orientation is dependent upon the size of the cord  96 . For small cords, the holder section  40  may only be moved a limited amount to form a gap  42  sized to receive the cord  96  into the interior section  41 . For larger cords, the holder section  40  is moved a more substantially amount.  
         [0033]     The term “cord” is used broadly herein to refer to the class of objects that may be maintained by the device  10 . Specific types of cords may include cables, electrical cords, computer cables, telephone cords, Christmas lights, fiber optic cables, etc. This term is used herein to denote a general classification and is understood to include a wide variety of members. The device  10  is designed to hold a single strand of cord  96 , or a gathered bundle ( FIG. 2 ).  
         [0034]     The base section  20  and holder section  40  may have a variety of sizes and widths depending upon the application. The embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a larger base section  20  that extends between two separate holder sections  40  formed at each longitudinal end of the device  10 .  FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment with a smaller base section  20 . The base section  20  may have a length greater than or less than the holder section  40 .  FIG. 10  illustrates another embodiment having a small base section  20  that leads into the holder section  40 . In this embodiment, an additional base  20   a  is fastened to the base section  20  via a fastener  60 . Fasteners  60  may include rivets, screws, adhesives, etc.  
         [0035]     The holder section  40  has a turned orientation to capture and maintain the cord  96 . The turned orientation may be form a substantially circular cross-sectional holder section  40  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 5 ,  6 ,  7 , and  11 . The turned orientation may also have substantially flat sides, such as the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 12 . In one embodiment (not illustrated), the turned section forms a polygonal sphere.  
         [0036]      FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment having a turned configuration adjacent to the edge  61 . The curve functions as both a grip to contact the holder section  40 , and as a guide for inserting the cord  96 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 13  illustrates another embodiment having a holder section  40  oriented in an opposite direction. An intermediate bend  33  between the base  20  and holder section  40  causes the turned orientation to be opposite from the previous embodiments. The gap  42  is positioned away from the base section  20 . This embodiment functions in substantially the same manner by moving between the closed and open orientation to maintain a cord  96 .  
         [0038]     The device  10  may be used in a variety of settings.  FIG. 2  illustrates the device  10  in use with an electrical receptacle. This embodiment features two holder sections  40  on the longitudinal edges of the base section  20 .  FIGS. 3-7  illustrate another embodiment having a single holder section  40 .  FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment for use with a power strip. This embodiment has a length sized to conform with the length of the power strip and holder sections  40  extending along the lateral sides of the base section  20 .  FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment with multiple holder sections  40  positioned on the same side of the base section  20 . In this embodiment, a first device  10  such as that illustrated in  FIG. 1  is positioned over a second device as illustrated in  FIGS. 3-7 . This configuration provides for additional cord storage capacity.  
         [0039]     When used with an electrical receptacle, the device  10  may be connected in a number of different manners. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the faceplate  90  is removed from the electrical receptacle (not illustrated) by removal of a fastener from the mounting hole  91 . The device  10  is inserted over the receptacle with the device opening  21  positioned to not interfere with the outlets. The faceplate  90  is then re-mounted over the device  10  with the openings  92  aligning with the outlets in the receptacle to receive the plug  94 . The excess cord  96  is bundled and maintained within the holder section  40 . In another embodiment, the entire receptacle is removed from the wall and the device  10  is positioned behind the receptacle. Fasteners that hold the receptacle in position on the wall also function to hold the device  10 . Another embodiment includes the receptacle being loosened an adequate amount to allow for the device  10  to be positioned behind the receptacle. Once in position, the receptacle is firmly reattached.  
         [0040]     In one embodiment, the holder section  40  may have a tapered configuration with the thickness of the holder section  40  decreasing towards the edge  61 . In one embodiment, the entire holder section  40  has a tapering thickness from the inner section indicated by line A to the edge  61 . In another embodiment, a limited section of the holder section  40  is tapered. In one embodiment, an inner section of the holder section  40  has a thickness of about 0.050 inches and tapers to a thickness of about 0.035 inches.  
         [0041]     One embodiment features a combined device  10  and faceplate  90 . In this design, the base section  20  also functions as a faceplate to extend over the outlets in the electrical receptacle. The holding section  40  extends outward from what is essentially the faceplate and operates in the same manner as the other embodiments.  
         [0042]     The present invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the invention. In one embodiment, the holding section  40  may have a width that is different than the base section  20 . In one specific embodiment, the width of the holding section  40  tapers inward. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.