Abstract:
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a device includes a cable having a periphery and an extrusion surrounding the periphery. The extrusion includes a main body portion, a male protrusion and a female indentation. The main body portion has an outer periphery. The male protrusion is disposed at the outer periphery. The female indentation is additionally disposed at the outer periphery. The device enables easy organization by connection of a plurality of cables, prevents entanglement of the plurality of cables, and enables easy removal of at least one cable from the plurality of cables without disrupting the organization of the remainder of the plurality cables.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The prevalence of electronic devices, ranging from home theater systems to computers, has led to systems with many individual components. Each of these components may include or require the use of at least one cable for power or communication with at least one or more other components. As such, systems having many individual components typically require a multitude of cables to interconnect and power these devices. Since the number of cables increases with the number of components, a greater likelihood for cable entanglement is possible for multi-component systems. 
         [0002]    One conventional method of arranging such a plurality of cables in a system of components is the use of one-way attachable straps. Specifically, a one-way attachable strap typically includes a head portion having a hole therein, a tail portion, and a bendable strap portion located between the head portion and the tail portion. The bendable strap portion typically has a plurality of barbs or locking sections and is looped around a plurality of bunched cables. The tail portion is then fed through the hole in the head portion of the one way attachable strap. Finally, the bendable strap potion is pulled through the hole until the plurality of cables is tightly held together. The barbs or locking sections of the bendable strap portion prohibit removal from the hole of the head portion. 
         [0003]    Although useful in the organization of a collection of cables for a conventional home electronic system, typically, a plurality of such straps may be required to be spaced along a length of closely grouped cables to prevent entanglement. Further, the one-way attachable straps must be removed. Accordingly, if a cable within a system of components which uses one or more conventional one-way attachable straps needs to be moved, or even removed, at least one of the plurality of straps must be cut, or otherwise destroyed. Once one or more of the one-way attachable straps has been removed, the organization of the remainder of the plurality of cables is disrupted. Therefore, the organization of the plurality of cables in the system must be regrouped prior to being retained by a new strap. 
         [0004]      FIG. 11  illustrates a typical set-up for a sound system using two cables. In the figure, a person  1114  watches television  1102  via receiver  1104 . Receiver  1104  provides a right audio signal along a cable  1106  to a speaker  1110  and provides a left audio signal along a cable  1108  to a speaker  1112 . Each of cables  1106  and  1108  travel a distance A from respective outputs of receiver  1104  to a first conventional one-way attachable strap. Cables  1106  and  1108  travel along a common distance and direction B, wherein they are typically connected together via a plurality of spaced conventional one-way attachable straps. A last conventional one-way attachable strap is disposed where the paths of cables  1106  and  1108  diverge, wherein cable  1106  travels a distance and direction C to speaker  1110  and wherein cable  1108  travels a distance and direction D to speaker  1112 . 
         [0005]    If either one of cable  1106  or cable  1108  needs to be replaced or moved, each of the conventional one-way attachable straps must be destroyed. Once moved or either one of cables  1106  or  1108  are moved or replaced, new conventional one-way attachable straps may need to be deployed to maintain the originally intended level of organization. Although this may not seem to be too much of a burden, the size of the burden increases dramatically as the number of cables increases, as discussed below with respect to  FIG. 12 . 
         [0006]      FIG. 12  illustrates an underground communication cable system. In the figure, a tunnel  1202  is disposed below an urban street  1202  and is accessible via a ladder  1206  in a manhole  1208 . A plurality of communication cables  1210  are strung along a wall or ceiling of tunnel  1202 . The plurality of communication cables is held tightly together via a plurality of spaced one-way attachment straps  1212 . In the event that one or more of the individual communication cables becomes damaged, the one-way attachable straps must be removed, the one or more individual cables must be removed or repaired, and new one-way attachable straps must then be applied. Although tightly bunched together via the one-way attachment straps  1212 , the individual communication cables within the plurality of communication cables  1210  may become intertwined as they run the length of tunnel  1202 . As such, separating any specific one or any specific plurality of cables for removal or repair becomes a lengthy process. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a device that enables easy organization of a plurality of cables, prevents entanglement of the plurality of cables, and enables easy removal of at least one cable from the plurality of cables without disrupting the organization of the remainder of the plurality cables. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that enables easy organization by connection of a plurality of cables, prevents entanglement of cables, and enables easy removal of at least one cable from the plurality of cables without disrupting the organization of the remainder of the plurality of cables. 
         [0009]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a device includes a cable having a periphery and an extrusion surrounding the periphery. The extrusion includes a main body portion, a male protrusion and a female indentation. The main body portion has an outer periphery. The male protrusion is disposed at the outer periphery. The female indentation is additionally disposed at the outer periphery. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an extrusion includes a main body portion, a male protrusion and a female indentation. The main body portion has an outer periphery, a hollow core and a slit from the outer periphery to the hollow core. The male protrusion is disposed at the outer periphery. The female indentation is additionally disposed at the outer periphery. 
         [0011]    Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention are set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates an oblique view of an extrusion in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with one male protrusion and one female indentation; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-section of the extrusion of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  illustrates the connection interface between two samples of an extrusion of  FIG. 1 , prior to connection; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  illustrates the connection interface between the two samples of an extrusion as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , after connection; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a portion of a cross-section of an extrusion in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a portion of a cross-section of another extrusion in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-section of an extrusion in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary extrusion process in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-section of an extrusion having a slit for interior access in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-section of an extrusion having a slit for interior access in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the slit has a male protrusion on one side and a female indentation on the other side for detachable connection; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-section of an extrusion having a slit for interior access in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  illustrates another exemplary extrusion process in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  illustrates a typical set-up for a sound system using two cables; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  illustrates an underground communication cable system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    The following description details several embodiments of the present invention as represented by the accompanying figures. 
         [0028]    One exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  illustrates an oblique view of an extrusion in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with one male protrusion and one female indentation.  FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-section of the extrusion of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    In this embodiment, an extrusion  100  includes a main body portion  102  that surrounds a cable  104 . Main body portion  102  includes a male protrusion  106  and a female indentation  108 . Protrusion  106  and indentation  108  permit detachable connection with other extrusions of similar design, as discussed in more detail below. Further, cable  104  may comprise any type of cable, non-limiting examples of which include an electrically conducting coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, a combined electrically conducting coaxial and fiber optic cable, a bundle of electrically conducting coaxial cables, a bundle of fiber optic cables and a bundle of combined electrically conducting coaxial and fiber optic cables. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate connection between two extrusions as illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3A  shows a male protrusion  304  on a main body portion  300  of a first extrusion and a female indentation  306  on a main body portion  302  of another extrusion before connection. To connect the two extrusions, male protrusion  304  on main body portion  300  is inserted into female indentation  306  in main body portion  302  as seen in  FIG. 3B . Once connected, the design of the male protrusion  304  and the female indentation  306  provides a resistance to disconnection as discussed in more detail below. 
         [0032]    Male protrusion  304  includes a narrow section  308  and wide section  312 . Narrow section  308  extends from main body portion  300  to wide section  312 . Wide section  312  is much wider than narrow section  308 . The shape of wide section  312  in  FIG. 3A , is shown to have a circular cross-section. 
         [0033]    Female indentation  306  includes narrow section  310  and a wide section  314 . Narrow section  310  of female indentation  306  is of a sufficient size as to house narrow section  308  of male protrusion  304 . Similarly, wide section  314  of female indentation  306  is of sufficient size and shape as to house wide section  312  of male indentation  304 . 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 3B , male protrusion  304  fits into female indentation  306  and narrow section  310  of female indentation  306  provides resistance to retain wide section  312  of male protrusion  304  within wide section  314 . 
         [0035]    A cable with the extrusion in accordance with the present invention could quickly and easily be connected to another similar cable with an extrusion as discussed above. For example, returning to  FIG. 11 , suppose cables with extrusions were used in accordance with the present invention. In such a system, once the cables with extrusions were connected to each other along the common distance and direction B, the two cables may be manipulated as a single cable along the common distance and direction B to increase organization and eliminate tangling. Further, after connection, the two cables may be quickly and easily disconnected from one another in order to move or replace one or both cables. 
         [0036]    The first embodiment of the present invention shows male protrusion  304  and female indentation  306  having respective wide portions  312  and  314  with a circular cross-section. Of course, any shape of cross section may be used so long as the width of the wide section is equal to or greater than the width of the narrow section, to facilitate detachable connection. 
         [0037]    Two other exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B . 
         [0038]      FIG. 4A  shows a wide section  402  of a male protrusion  400  with a square cross-section. For this embodiment, a corresponding female indentation would have a wide section with a size and shape sufficiently corresponding to wide section  402 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4B  shows a wide section  406  of a male protrusion  404  with a barb cross-section. For this embodiment, a corresponding female indentation would have a wide section with a size and shape sufficiently corresponding to wide section  406 . 
         [0040]    The exemplary embodiment discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  illustrate a single male protrusion and a single female indentation. Further, while main body portion  102  is illustrated to contain both male protrusion  106  and female indentation  108 , those of skill in the art will appreciate that only one of them may be formed on main body portion  102 , or multiple male protrusions  106  or female indentations  108  may be formed. As such, a cable with at least one male protrusion may be connected to/disconnected from another cable with one female indentation. 
         [0041]    Male protrusion  106  and/or female indentation  108  may generally extend the length of cable  104 . Alternatively, male protrusion  106  and/or female indentation may be formed along segments of portions of the length of cable  104 . Likewise, only one of male protrusion  106  or female indentation  108  may be formed to generally extend along the length of cable  104 , while the other is formed in segments or portions of the length of cable  104 . 
         [0042]    Other embodiments of the present invention include one male protrusion or one female indentation. As such, a cable with at least one male protrusion may be connected to/disconnected from another cable with one female indentation. Other embodiments of the present invention include a plurality of male protrusions, a plurality of female indentations and pluralities of both male protrusions and female indentations. 
         [0043]    Another embodiment of the present invention that includes pluralities of both male protrusions and female indentations will now be described with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-section of an extrusion  500  that includes a plurality of male protrusions  504  and a plurality of female indentations  506  on a single main body portion  502 . With this embodiment, one extrusion may be connected to up to eight other extrusions. Each of the four male protrusions  504  may be connected to a corresponding female indentation of another instance of an extrusion. Further, each of the four female indentations  506  may be connected to a corresponding male protrusion of another instance of an extrusion. Of course any number of male protrusions and any number of female indentations may be used. Further, any shape of cross-section may be used so long as the width of the wide section is equal to or greater than the width of the narrow section, to facilitate detachable connection. 
         [0045]    A plurality of cables, each with an extrusion in accordance with the present invention, could quickly and easily be connected to other similar cables with extrusions as discussed above. For example, returning to  FIG. 12 , suppose cables with extrusions were used in accordance with the present invention. In such a system, once the cables with extrusions were connected to each other, the plurality of cables may be manipulated as a single cable along line  1210  to increase organization and eliminate tangling. Further, after connection, any number of cables may be quickly and easily disconnected from any of the other cables for removal or replacement. 
         [0046]    An extrusion in accordance with the present invention may be fabricated by any extrusion technique known to those of skill in the art. Plastic extrusion commonly uses plastic chips or pellets, which are usually dried in a hopper before going to a feed screw. The chips or pellets form a polymer resin that is then heated to a molten state by a combination of heating elements and shear heating from the extrusion screw. The screw forces the resin through a die, forming the resin into the desired shape. The extrusion is cooled and solidified as it is pulled through the die or water tank. Non-limiting examples of plastic extrusion techniques include overjacketing extrusion techniques and tubing extrusion techniques. 
         [0047]    In overjacketing extrusion techniques, such as in a cable coating process, bare cable (or bundles of jacketed cables, filaments, etc) is pulled through the center of a die similar to a tubing die. Many different materials are used for this purpose depending on the application. Essentially, an insulated cable is a thin walled tube which has been formed around a bare cable. There are two different types of extrusion tooling used for coating over a cable. They are referred to as either “pressure” or “jacketing” tooling. The selection criteria for choosing which type of tooling to use is based on whether the particular application requires intimate contact or adhesion of the polymer to the cable. If intimate contact or adhesion is required, pressure tooling is used. If it is not desired, jacketing tooling is chosen. The main difference in jacketing and pressure tooling is the position of the pin with respect to the die. For jacketing tooling, the pin will extend all the way flush with the die. When the bare cable is fed through the pin, it does not come in direct contact with the molten polymer until it leaves the die. For pressure tooling, the end of the pin is retracted inside the crosshead, where it comes in contact with the polymer at a much higher pressure. 
         [0048]    In tubing extrusion techniques, plastic tubing, such as drinking straws and medical tubing, is manufactured by extruding molten polymer through a die of the desired profile shape (square, round, triangular). Hollow sections are usually extruded by placing a pin or mandrel inside of the die, and in most cases positive pressure is applied to the internal cavities through the pin. Sometimes tubing with multiple lumens (holes) must be made for specialty applications. For these applications, the tooling is made by placing more than one pin in the center of the die, to produce the number of lumens necessary. In most cases, these pins are supplied with air pressure from different sources. In this way, the individual lumen sizes can be adjusted by adjusting the pressure to the individual pins. 
         [0049]    An exemplary method of fabricating the embodiment of  FIG. 5  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0050]    First, a blank  600  of the material for extrusion is created by known methods. If the extrusion is to have a cable in the interior section, this cable  602  may be formed into blank  600  by known methods. Next, blank  600  is forced by known methods through a die  604  with a cross-section  610  resembling the cross-section of extrusion  500  in  FIG. 5 . Die  604  has a general circumference corresponding to main body portion  502 . Die  604  also has indentations  606  to create female indentions  504  and notches  608  to create male protrusions  502 . Once blank  600  has been forced through die  604 , the resulting product  612  is the finished extrusion. Product  612  includes the male protrusions  502  and female indentations  504  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0051]    The embodiments discussed above include a cable therein. Embodiments of the present invention have a hollow core, to facilitate housing of cables after fabrication of the extrusion. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention having a hollow core will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 7-10 . 
         [0052]    Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . In this embodiment, extrusion  700  includes a main body portion  702  having a hollow interior section  704 . Access to interior section  704  is available from a slit  706  in main body portion  702 . Unlike the extrusion shown in  FIG. 1 , extrusion  700  does not contain a cable in interior section  704 . This allows for application of extrusion  700  around a cable or other material after extrusion  700  is fabricated. 
         [0053]    Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
         [0054]    In this embodiment, extrusion  800  includes a main body portion  802  having a hollow interior section  804  and a slit  806  to allow access to interior section  804 . One side  814  of slit  806  includes a male protrusion  810 . The opposite side  812  of the slit  806  includes a female indentation  808  that corresponds to the size and shape of male protrusion  810 . Male protrusion  810  and female indentation  808  are shaped to facilitate detachable connection with each other, to hold main body portion  802  closed during normal use. Extrusion  800  may receive a cable or other material therein by first opening main body portion  802  at slit  806 , by inserting cable or other material, and then connecting male protrusion  810  to female indentation  808  to secure cable or other material within interior section  804 . Slit  806  may later be reopened to replace the cable or other material within interior section  804 . 
         [0055]    Further, the exemplary embodiment discussed above with respect to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  includes a single male protrusion and a single female indentation on the periphery of the extrusion. Other embodiments of the present invention include a plurality of male protrusions, a plurality of female indentations and pluralities of both male protrusions and female indentations. 
         [0056]    Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
         [0057]    In this embodiment, extrusion  900  includes a main body portion  902  having a hollow interior section  904 . Access to interior section  904  is available from a slit  906  in main body portion  902 . Unlike the extrusion shown in  FIG. 5 , extrusion  900  does not contain a cable in interior section  904 . This allows for application of extrusion  900  around a cable or other material after extrusion  900  is fabricated. Further, extrusion  900  includes gaps  908  opposite male protrusions  912 . Gaps  908  allow extra space in interior section  904  to allow larger or more cables in interior section  904 . Additionally, gaps  908  allow for extrusion  900  to be made out of less material than a similar embodiment without the gaps. Extrusion  900  also includes reinforcing sections  910  behind female indentations  914 . Reinforcing sections  910  provide structural support to respective female indentations  914 . 
         [0058]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9  include male protrusions and female indentations having respective wide portions with a circular cross-section. Of course, any shape of cross-section may be used so long as the width of the wide section is equal to or greater than the width of the narrow section, to facilitate detachable connection. 
         [0059]    An exemplary method of fabricating an extrusion in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 9-10 . 
         [0060]    First, a blank  1000  of the material for extrusion is created by known methods. Next, blank  1000  is forced by known methods through a die  1002  with a cross-section resembling the cross-section of extrusion  900  in  FIG. 9 . Die  1002  has general circumference corresponding to main body portion main body portion  902 . Die  1004  also has indentations  1006  to create female indentions  914  and notches  1008  to create male protrusions  912 . A pin  1004  or a piercing mandrel is then placed in the path of blank  1000  to cut a hollow interior as blank  1000  is forced through die  1002 . Once blank  1000  has been forced through die  1002 , the resulting product  1010  is the finished extrusion. Product  1010  includes male protrusions  912  and female indentations  914  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0061]    The present invention provides benefits over conventional cable organization techniques. Unlike conventional methods of cable organization, the present invention allows for individual cables to be replaced or removed without undoing the current organization of the other cables that are organized. Additionally, the present invention allows for great ease in connecting and disconnecting exemplary extrusions to enable simpler organization of a multitude of cables versus conventional methods. 
         [0062]    The foregoing description of various preferred embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiments, as described above, were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.