Abstract:
A system and apparatus are provided for managing cables, wires, and cords, and more particularly, to organize and route cables and wires in various directions. For example, there is provided an apparatus comprising: a cable clip with a rigid circular base and a flexible dome-shaped head, wherein the base includes a central aperture and an adhesive layer covered by a protective film on one side and is integrated with the dome-shaped head on the other side. The dome-shaped head has a plurality of slots that extend radially across the head and intersect with one another, forming an opening. In one embodiment, each slot has circular shaped arcuate openings on opposites sides creating first and second transit paths for a cable or wire. The resulting dome-shaped head has a plurality of retaining arms that receive cables, retains them, and can be attached to a surface by a variety of methods.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is directed toward an apparatus for managing cables, wires, cords, and the like, and more particularly, to a cable clip for organizing and routing cables and wires in various directions. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    The tangling and disarray of cords and wires associated with computers, appliances, and other machines is all too common. Anyone who has tried to set up a computer and all accessories knows that separating the wires is a burdensome task. Once they are detangled, maintaining order is also challenging. Similarly, the wires attached to other devices, such as cellular phones, rechargers, PDA&#39;s, etc. are also difficult to manage. Inherent in the organization and management of wires, is the need to route them in a desired direction or path. 
         [0005]    There are many products available that assist in organizing, managing and routing wires. These products vary in form and composition. The simplest cord organizer is the widely used nylon wire tie, having a head and a pawl that loops around the wires. A general-purpose nylon wire tie can group wires together and when used in conjunction with an adhesive backed mounting base, it can be used to anchor wires to a flat surface. However, a typical general-purpose nylon wire tie cannot be reused, because the head is self-locking and once the pawl is inserted into the head it is locked in and is cut off in order to remove the wire tie. A releasable cable tie has interlocking teeth along its pawl and is adjusted by depressing a tab connected to the head. The releasable cable tie can be reused, however, it is generally not compatible with an adhesive backed mounting base and thus cannot anchor wires to a flat surface. 
         [0006]    Cord clips are another commercially available product used for organizing cables. Generally, cord clips have an adhesive backed base and a retaining arm designed to hold cords. The use of a cord clip is advantageous over a releasable cable tie, in that the cord clip can attach cords to a flat surface in addition to organizing them. Additionally, cord clips that have thicker retaining arms are advantageous over general-purpose ties, as they partially cover the cords, thus allowing for slightly more stable positioning. However, cord clips are often very small and flimsy, and cannot hold large cords or cables. Also, cord clips are difficult to handle, in that the rounded retaining arm of the clip is made of rigid plastic and a has a small range of motion. This rigid structure can only be raised a rather limited amount and the cables inserted in the clip invariably are smaller in diameter than that of the clip. A cable that is slightly larger than the cord clip would have to be forced in to the clip, likely resulting in damage to the cable or breaking of the cord clip. 
         [0007]    Known cord organizers have mountable bases with hooks or channels that allow for turning and looping cords. For example, one known organizer has multiple swivel hooks aligned along the top and bottom of the base that allow for the cords to be wrapped around them, but has at least two drawbacks. Firstly, each hook extends straight up or down. Because they do not curve around the cord, they fail to encase the cord. If a long cord is not wrapped around the hooks tightly or if it is tugged at and the tension is released, the cord will easily unwind and will tangle. Secondly, these swivel hooks can become loosened over time and break off, once again, causing the cord to unwind. The organizer is generally very bulky and is intended to be used in clinical settings for medical machine cords. It is not intended to route wires. 
         [0008]    Another known cord organizer has a base with channels and posts designed to receive cables and loop them along the base. This product makes it possible to run wires in parallel channels along the base plate. However, the channels and posts are rigid in their design and are thus too limiting in terms of the cables they can hold. Moreover, this product does not route cables. Instead, the channels that extend from the base are designed to have the cables pass through them and loop around the posts in order to organize the cables. 
         [0009]    Thus, the various cord organizers described above fail to route cables, wires, and cords at a desired angle. Further, because these cord organizers are designed merely to bunch wires together, they fail in directing a wire in a particular path. Although multiple products can potentially be used in conjunction with each other to direct a wire or cord at a particular angle, this is far too cumbersome and aesthetically unpleasant. 
         [0010]    For each of the foregoing reasons, a need exists for a product that provides for convenient organization and management of cables, wires, and cords and is designed to manage cables of varying sizes securely, allowing for stable grounded routing in a desired angle, without damaging them. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention provides a cable clip for organizing, managing and routing wires that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art. The cable clip includes a head for routing one or more cables in three or more directions and has a rigid base. In one embodiment, the head comprises a flexible dome-shaped head and the base is circular in shape. The dome-shaped head includes a first slot that extends radially across the dome-shaped head and is perpendicular to a second slot that extends radially across the dome-shaped head, each slot having arcuate openings of a circular shape on opposing ends. Each arcuate opening provides an entry or exit point for a cable or wire and each slot is a transit path for the same. The first slot with arcuate openings has larger arcuate openings then the second slot with arcuate openings. The two slots and four arcuate openings result in four retaining arms having a rounded contour that encase and maintain wires in the dome-shaped head. Because the dome-shaped head is made of a flexible material, the retaining arms allow for convenient entry and exit for cables of varying sizes, as well as removal and reinsertion of the cables without destruction of the invention. It should be appreciated that a different number of slots and arcuate openings as well as different sized slots and different shaped arcuate openings could also be advantageously utilized in order to vary the number, size and directions of cables that could be routed using a single cable clip. 
         [0012]    The cable clip can be mounted to a flat surface from its circular base. In a first embodiment of the invention, the cable clip can be affixed to a flat surface using an adhesive layer covering the circular base. In another embodiment of the invention, a screw can be inserted through the central aperture of the circular base in order to attach the cable clip to a wall or desk using a drill or similar device. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a friction fit pin can be inserted into the central aperture of the circular base in order to affix the cable clip into a hole, such as in a wall or desk. Finally, all three embodiments can be incorporated into one cable clip, in which the adhesive layer is covered by a protective film. This allows the user to have the option of peeling off the protective film to use the adhesive layer, or keeping the protective film intact in order to use either a screw or friction fit pin to attach the cable clip to a flat surface. 
         [0013]    A more complete understanding of the cable clip will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of at least three embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an perspective view of an exemplary cable clip having a circular base covered with an adhesive layer and a peel-off protective film. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary cable clip of  FIG. 1  and illustrates the circular base affixed to a dome-shaped head. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the cable clip and illustrates two possible transit paths for a single cable through the dome-shaped head of the cable clip. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the cable clip and illustrates two transit paths for multiple cables through the dome-shaped head of the cable clip. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates a screw coupled to the cable clip that is used to screw the cable clip to a flat surface. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates a friction fit pin coupled to the cable clip that is used to affix the cable clip to a flat surface. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary use of the cable clip for routing cables and wires along a straight path on a wall and a second exemplary use of the cable clip for routing cables and wires in a ninety-degree direction, around a corner, on a ceiling. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  further illustrates an exemplary use of the cable clip for directing a cable or wire in an approximate ninety-degree direction. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  another exemplary use of a cable clip as a cable plug end, for holding the ends of loose cables. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    The present invention provides a cable clip for organizing and routing cables, wires and the like. More particularly, the present invention satisfies the need for a product that provides for convenient organization of wires and that is also designed to route wires of varying sizes securely, allowing for stable grounded routing at a desired angle, with no damage to the wires. In the detailed description that follows, like element numerals are used to describe like elements shown in one or more of the figures. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  provides an perspective view of a cable clip  1 . The cable clip  1  includes a generally circular base  2  made from a rigid material and in one embodiment, a dome-shaped head  3  made from a flexible material. The circular base  2  has a generally flat back surface  4  with a central aperture  5 . In one embodiment, the underside of the back surface  4  may include an adhesive layer  6  for permanent or releasable attachment of the cable clip  1  to a corresponding flat surface such as a wall or desk. The adhesive layer  6  is covered by a protective film  7  that can be peeled off when ready for use.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the cable clip  1 . The rigid circular base  2  is permanently affixed to the bottom  8  of the flexible dome-shaped head  3  during the manufacturing process by either injection molding, creating one unitary structure, or by permanent adhesive. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the flexible dome-shaped head  3  extends downward from the top portion and at the bottom portion, encircles the outer perimeter  9  of the circular base  2 , thereby enclosing the circular base  2 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that the head of the cable clip is not limited to being dome-shaped. Instead, in other embodiments the cable clip includes a head for routing one or more cables in three or more directions. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the exemplary cable clip  1 . The flexible dome-shaped head  3  has a first slot  10  that extends radially along the dome-shaped head  3  and a second slot  11  that extends radially along the dome-shaped head  3 , although offset circumferentially from the first slot  10  by roughly 90° forming an opening  12  at the top of the dome-shaped head  3  (see  FIG. 2 ). Furthermore, the first and second slots  10 ,  11  form arcuate openings  13 ,  14  on opposite sides of the dome-shaped head  3  and provide first and second transit paths  15 ,  16 . Arcuate opening  13 ,  14  are circular in shape, with the diameter of arcuate opening  13  being approximately twice that of acruate opening  13 . This allows once cable clip to be utilized with varying sizes of cables or wires. The resulting dome-shaped head  3  has four retaining arms  17   a - 17   d , that extend up from the circular base  2  towards the center of the dome-shaped head  3  and correspond with the opening  12  at the top of the dome-shaped head  3 . It should be appreciated that a different number of slots and arcuate openings as well as different sized slots and different shaped arcuate openings could also be advantageously utilized in order to vary the number, size and directions of cables that could be routed with the cable clip. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the cable clip  1  is intended to engage a cable, wire or the like. A cable  18  can enter the cable clip  1  from any of the arcuate openings  13 ,  14 , travel across the transit paths  15 ,  16  and exit from the opposite arcuate openings  13 ,  14 , with arcuate opening  14  accommodating larger diameter cables than arcuate opening  13 . Additionally, a cable  18  can be inserted into the cable clip  1  from the opening  12  at the top of the dome-shaped head  3 , as the flexible retaining arms  17   a - 17   d  allow for the opening  12  to expand to receive a cable  18  by flexing outward. Furthermore, the retaining arms  17   a - 17   d  are intended to maintain the cable  18  in the dome-shaped head  3  by flexing back to their original position, thus providing for easy ingress and egress for the cable  18 . The retaining arms  17   a - 17   d  also provide enclosure for the cable  18 . 
         [0027]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the cable clip  1  can be attached to a flat surface by peeling off the protective film  7  (see  FIG. 1 ) and attaching the cable clip  1  to the flat surface (e.g., wall, desk, table, etc.) with the adhesive layer. In another embodiment of the present invention, a screw  19  can be inserted through the central aperture  5  of the circular base  2  of the cable clip  1 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Thus, the cable clip  1  can be securely attached to an object that is made of wood (e.g., wall, desk, table or other furniture item) by using a screw  19 . This provides for a stable clip that will securely hold a cable  18 . In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the cable clip  1  can be affixed to a surface (e.g., wall, table, desk, etc.) using a friction fit pin  20 . Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a friction fit pin  20  is attached to the cable clip  1  by being inserted through the central aperture  5  of the circular base  2 . The friction fit pin  20  has a head portion  21  that is bigger than the central aperture  5  of the circular base  2  and allows for the friction fit pin  20  to attach to the circular base  2 . The friction fit pin  20  has a tail end portion  22  with multiple tabs  23 . The tail end  22  of the friction fit pin  20  can be inserted into a hole in a surface (e.g., wall, table, desk, etc.), wherein the cable clip  1  will be securely held in place by the multiple tabs  23  in conjunction with the friction fit pin  20 . It should be appreciated that other sizes and shapes of screw  19  and friction fit pin  20  could be routed using the cable clip  1  for a particular application. 
         [0028]    The above-described three embodiments can be incorporated into one cable clip  1 , in which the protective film  7  covers the adhesive layer  6 . This allows the user to have the option of peeling off the protective film  7  to use the adhesive layer  6 , or keeping the protective film  7  intact in order to use either a screw  19  or a friction fit pin  20  to attach the cable clip to a flat surface. 
         [0029]    The present invention can be used for multiple purposes. In addition to organizing cables and wires, the cable clip  1  can also route and manage wires.  FIG. 7  illustrates the use of the cable clip  1  as a way to route wires along a wall and ceiling in a desired direction or path. As shown in  FIG. 7 , multiple cable clips  1  can be used to route wires in either a straight path or at an angle in a corner. Thus, the present invention allows for easy routing of a cable  18  at approximately 90 degrees. This is further illustrated in  FIG. 8 . A cable  18  can enter the first slot  10  through one arcuate opening  13  along the first transit path  15 , be directed into the second slot  11  by being turned roughly 90 degrees, and can then exit the cable clip  1  out of the adjacent arcuate opening  14 , having passed through the second transit path  16 . In this instance, the retaining arm  17   b  between the adjacent arcuate openings  13  and  14  will securely hold the cable  18  in place. It should be appreciated that other angles between the transit paths could be used as desired for a particular application. 
         [0030]    Cable clip  1  can also be used to take-up excess slack in a cable or cord by looping the cable several times back and forth between arcuate openings  13  and  14  (not shown) or looping a cable or cord back upon itself and inserting the looped cable or cord into slot  10  or slot  11  (not shown). 
         [0031]    Yet another use of the cable clip  1  is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Here, the cable clip  1  can be attached to a flat surface by any of the attachment methods described above and a cord or cable  18 , for example one that is attached to a cellular phone charger, can be managed by the cable clip  1 . The cable clip  1  is thus used as a cable plug end, allowing for the cable to sit on top of the desk when the cellular phone is not attached to its charging cable. This eliminates the nuisance of the charging cable falling to the floor and allows for convenient and easy accessibility to the charging cable  18 . Here the cable clip  1  is primarily used to hold a cord or cable in place and is advantageous over the prior art described above, because it eliminates the need to wind the cable around a spool. 
         [0032]    It is readily apparent that the present invention solves the problems posed by the prior art and overcomes their disadvantages. The flexible dome-shaped head  3  of the cable clip  1  has multiple advantages, in that it is intended to receive larger cables and wires, encloses them thereby protecting the wires and also allows for convenient ingress and egress. Unlike nylon wire ties, cables and wires can be inserted and removed from the present invention multiple times without having to destroy the invention. It solves the problems of exposed wires that are simply bunched together with ties and allows for easy entry and encasement of wires, unlike the adhesive back cord clips. It holds the wires safely and securely and eliminates the risk of unwinding and tangling. Unlike the rigid channels and posts of prior art cable organizers, the arcuate openings  13 ,  14  of the present invention outlined by the flexible retaining arms  17   a - 17   d  are intended to receive larger and/or multiple cables of varying sizes and the flexible material of the retaining arms  17   a - 17   d  do not damage the cables. Moreover, the rigid circular base  2  allows for better anchoring to flat surfaces as compared to the prior art, that utilize thin plastic bases that are generally attached to a flat surface with adhesive pads. 
         [0033]    Having thus described several embodiments of a cable clip and system used to organize, manage and routes cables and wires, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the within cable clip and system have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. It should be apparent that many of the inventive steps described above would be equally applicable to other cable clips with various numbers and sizes of arcuate openings on the cable clip head, as well as heads with other than a dome-shape.