Abstract:
A cable organizing device which mounts to an underside of a desk or to a wall, such that cables from computers and other equipment can be quickly and easily wrapped around the device, thus taking up the slack in each of the cables and keeping them off of the floor. The cable organizing device includes a plurality of loop hooks on each side, spaced apart such that individual cables can be wrapped around and between the loop hooks in a variety of ways. The device is designed to be easy and inexpensive to manufacture, yet sturdy and versatile in use. The cable organizing device can handle any type of wire or cable material, and the cables can be connected at both ends before being wrapped onto the cable organizing device. A mounting aid is included with the cable organizing device, thus making it easy for a person to install.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the priority date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/389,542, titled CABLE TRAY AND ORGANIZER, filed Oct. 4, 2010. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a device for organizing computer cables and, more particularly, to a device for organizing cables for computers and other equipment which mounts to an underside of a desk or workstation and provides an open tray area and numerous hooks for holding the cables off of the floor and preventing them from becoming entangled. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     With the proliferation of computers and other electronic devices in office environments, the problem of cable clutter has grown increasingly worse. A computer alone typically requires a power cable for each of a CPU and a monitor, a video cable from the CPU to the monitor, speaker cables, a network cable, and possibly other cables for a mouse and keyboard. In addition, a typical person&#39;s desk also includes a telephone with at least one cable, a power strip with several power cords plugged into it, and oftentimes other power cords for lamps, personal electronic device chargers, and so forth. Printers, fax machines, network hubs, and other electronic devices further add to the cable management problem. 
     In most office environments, there is no good way to deal with the cable clutter, especially since the cables are generally running to and from multiple locations so that it is not possible to simply place them in a built-in channel in a desk. As a result, the cables under a person&#39;s desk are typically just left laying on the floor, possibly tucked behind a computer unit or shoved into a corner. Invariably, the cables present a problem, as they get hooked on someone&#39;s foot, catch on a chair leg or wheel, get vacuumed over, or otherwise get in the way. Not only can these cable snags damage the cables themselves, but they can present a safety hazard for a person who might trip over or be shocked by a cable. 
     There is a need for a cable organizing device which is easy to install, provides the capacity for organizing all of the cables in and around a person&#39;s desk, and allows the cables to be quickly and easily stowed away—so that they are not laying on the floor where they can become entangled, tripped over, or damaged. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a cable organizing device is disclosed. The cable organizing device mounts to an underside of a desk, and cables from a computer and other equipment can be quickly and easily wrapped around the device, thus taking up the slack in each of the cables and keeping them off of the floor. The cable organizing device includes a plurality of loop hooks on each side, spaced apart such that individual cables can be wrapped around and between the loop hooks in a variety of ways. The device is designed to be easy and inexpensive to manufacture, yet sturdy and versatile in use. The cable organizing device can handle any type of wire or cable material, and the cables can be connected at both ends before being wrapped onto the cable organizing device. A convenient mounting aid is included with the cable organizing device, thus making it easy for a person to install. 
     Additional features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a typical office work area, showing the cable clutter that commonly exists; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view illustration of a cable organizing device which is designed to solve the cable clutter problem shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2   a  is an illustration of one of the loop hooks of the cable organizing device shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the cable organizing device, showing the configuration of the mounting arms, and the device&#39;s length and vertical spacing; 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the cable organizing device, showing the device&#39;s width and the configuration of the loop hooks; 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of the cable organizing device mounted under a desk, with several wires and cables being held by the device; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view illustration of an alternate embodiment of the cable organizing device which includes a feature for mounting to a wall or other vertical surface; and 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view illustration of an alternate embodiment of the cable organizing device in which a single serpentine-shaped piece of wire replaces many smaller pieces of wire. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The following discussion of the embodiments of the invention directed to a cable tray and organizer is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its applications or uses. For example, the disclosed device may be useful for organizing wires or cables in locations other than in an office workstation environment. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of a typical office work area  10 , including a desk  12 , a computer base unit  14 , a computer monitor  16 , and a telephone  18 . The computer base unit  14  typically has at least a power cord, a network cable, and a video cable attached to it. The computer base unit  14  may also have attached speaker cables, and cables for peripheral devices such as a mouse  20  and a keyboard  22 . The monitor  16  also requires a power cord and the video cable, while the telephone requires 1 or 2 cables as well. In many instances, the office work area  10  may also include a power strip, a printer and/or fax machine, and a network hub unit—none of which are shown in  FIG. 1 , for clarity. 
     The wires, cords, and cables described above, collectively known hereinafter as cables  24 , present a problem to the person inhabiting the office work area  10 . In total, there are frequently a dozen or more of the cables  24  running under and around the desk  12 , attaching various electrical and electronic devices. Although many desks, such as the desk  12 , include channels in which the cables  24  can be placed, these channels are often of limited utility because the cables  24  tend to be routed in all different directions. As such, the cables  24  don&#39;t lend themselves well to placement in a linear channel. Also, the channels are not conducive to picking up the arbitrary amounts of slack that exist, with a different amount of slack present in each of the cables  24 . As a result, the cables  24  often end up in a tangled heap on the floor. 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view illustration of a cable organizing device  30  which is designed to solve the cable clutter problem described above. The cable organizing device  30  is shown as a welded wire construction, but other materials and construction methods are possible, such as injection molded plastic. The cable organizing device  30  includes two longitudinal wires  32 , which provide a structural backbone for the cable organizing device  30 . Each of the longitudinal wires  32  has attached a mounting arm  34  at each end, with a screw hole  36  fashioned in the end of each of the mounting arms  34 . The screw holes  36  are sized to accept mounting screws  38 , which are screwed into a bottom surface of the desk  12  to semi-permanently mount the cable organizing device  30  to the desk  12 . Alternatively, two of the mounting arms  34  could be incorporated with each of the longitudinal wires  32  in a single piece of wire. 
     In another design, not shown, two of the mounting arms  34  on opposite ends of the cable organizing device  30  could be rotated 90 degrees about a longitudinal axis, so that the rotated mounting arms  34  would extend laterally instead of vertically. This would provide a different mounting option where the two rotated mounting arms  34  would be attached to a vertical surface underneath the desk  12 , while the two un-rotated mounting arms  34  would still be attached to the bottom horizontal surface of the desk  12 . 
     The cable organizing device  30  also includes a plurality of loop hooks  40 , spaced apart and alternately disposed on the left and right sides of the longitudinal wires  32 . Each of the loop hooks  40  includes two straight end portions  42 , and a U-shaped loop portion  44 , as shown in  FIG. 2   a . For each of the loop hooks  40 , both of the end portions  42  are welded to both of the longitudinal wires  32  at the four points where the wires touch. By alternating the arrangement of the loop hooks  40  on the left and right sides of the longitudinal wires  32 , it is possible to form a wire mesh tray area  46  in the center of the cable organizing device  30 . Only one extra cross-wire  48  may be needed at each end of the cable organizing device  30  in order to complete the wire mesh tray area  46 . The tray area  46  can be useful not only for supporting the cables  24 , but also for holding other devices, such as the power strip or the network hub device mentioned previously. 
     Mounting the cable organizing device  30  to the underside of the desk  12  can be simplified through the use of adhesive mounting pads  50 . The adhesive mounting pads  50  may be comprised of pieces of double-stick foam tape. The adhesive mounting pads  50  are first affixed to the top surface of each of the screw holes  36 . Then the entire cable organizing device  30  is pressed into position on the underside of the desk  12 , where it is temporarily held in place by the adhesive mounting pads  50 . The installer can then let go of the cable organizing device  30 , and use both hands to drive the mounting screws  38  into the underside of the desk  12 . At this point, the installation of the cable organizing device  30  is complete. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the cable organizing device  30 , showing the configuration of the mounting arms  34 , and the device&#39;s length and vertical sizing. In one preferred design embodiment, an overall height  52  of the cable organizing device  30  is about four inches, with a vertical distance  54  between the loop hooks  40  and the bottom surface of the desk  12  being about three inches. This vertical spacing is intended to provide enough room for the cables  24  to include multiple wraps of large diameter power cords, but still allow the cable organizing device  30  to maintain a low profile underneath the desk  12 . The vertical spacing also provides ample room for small electrical or electronic devices, such as a network hub or a power strip, to be placed in the tray area  46 . In one embodiment, an overall length  56  of the cable organizing device  30  is about 20 to 24 inches; however, a design about half that length may be useful for smaller spaces, and a longer design is also possible. 
       FIG. 4  is an end view of the cable organizing device  30 , showing the device&#39;s width and the configuration of the loop hooks  40 . In one embodiment, the loop hooks  40  extend laterally outward from the longitudinal wires  32  for a distance  58 , before bending upward in the loop portion  44 . An angle  60  between the loop portion  44  and the end portions  42  is preferably about 45 degrees. The cable organizing device  30  has an overall width  62  of about 6 inches in one design embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  shows the cable organizing device  30  mounted to the underside of the desk  12 . For simplicity, the mounting screws  38  are not shown in  FIG. 5 . The cable organizing device  30  provides a great deal of versatility in the management and organization of the cables  24 . First and foremost, the cable organizing device  30  is designed to handle the situation where each of the cables  24  is already attached at both ends. For example, consider a video cable  70 , which connects on one end to the computer base unit  14 , and on the other end to the monitor  16 . The video cable  70  does not need to be disconnected on either end before being wrapped onto the cable organizing device  30 . Rather, the video cable  70  can simply be hooked over or wrapped around two or more of the loop hooks  40 , as needed. The spacing between the loop hooks  40  allows any of the cables  24  to be wrapped over, under, and between the loop hooks  40  as necessary and convenient. 
     Furthermore, each of the cables  24  will likely have a different amount of slack. The cable organizing device  30  can pick up the slack in each of the cables  24  in several different ways. For example, a cable  72  may simply be draped over some of the loop hooks  40  as it passes by the cable organizing device  30 , thus holding the slack wire up off the floor. Likewise, a cable  74  may be zig-zagged over and under the loop hooks  40 , to pick up slack in the cable  74  and hold it securely in place in the cable organizing device  30 . A cable  76  may be coiled around and between any number of the loop hooks  40  on one side of the longitudinal wires  32 , to pick up more slack. And if any of the cables  24  has a great deal of slack wire to be taken up, it can be wrapped in a “FIG.  8 ” pattern around the loop hooks  40  on both sides of the cable organizing device  30 , or simply coiled up and placed in the tray area  46 . Also, where any of the cables  24  has a free end, it could be threaded through the loop hooks  40  from one side to the other side of the cable organizing device  30 . 
     The cable organizing device  30  is designed to allow the cables  24  to be wrapped onto it quickly and easily, yet hold the cables  24  securely. In most instances, no wire ties or other means are necessary to hold the cables  24  in place on the cable organizing device  30 ; the upturned design of the loop hooks  40  ensures that the cables  24  do not slip off. And the cable organizing device  30  can handle any type of wire or cable material, from large diameter power cords to thin speaker wire. Even flat ribbon cable will easily fit on the loop hooks  40 , thanks to their generous width. 
     Also, as mentioned above, small devices, such as a network hub or a power strip, can be placed in the tray area  46 , thus further reducing clutter on and under the desk  12 . Since a network hub, for example, necessarily has some of the cables  24  running to and from it, placing such a device in the cable organizing device  30  is a convenient solution, as the cables  24  can easily be spooled around the loop hooks  40 , either before or after connection to the network hub device. 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view illustration of a cable organizing device  80 , an alternate embodiment which includes a feature for mounting to a wall or other vertical surface. In the organizing device  80 , the loop hooks  40  on one side retain the shape described previously. However, loop hooks  82  on the other side are bent upward 90 degrees, to a vertical orientation, so that the loop hooks  82  would lie flat against a wall or other vertical surface. A mounting plug  84  and a mounting screw  86  are provided at each end, for mounting the organizing device  80  to the wall. The mounting plug  84  could be welded onto the loop hook  82 , or pressed into position in the loop hook  82 , so as to provide a rigid attachment. The organizing device  80  could be mounted using only the mounting plug  84  and the mounting screws  86  (to a vertical surface), only the screw holes  36  and the screws  38  (to a horizontal surface), or a combination thereof. 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view illustration of a cable organizing device  90 , an alternate embodiment in which a single serpentine-shaped piece of wire  92  replaces many smaller pieces of wire to form the loop hooks  40 . In this design, which may be less expensive to fabricate due to the smaller number of parts involved, the loop hooks  40  alternate position down the sides of the cable organizing device  90 . This design would result in a wider spacing of wires in the tray area  46 , which may be suitable for some applications. 
     The design of the cable organizing devices  30 ,  80  and  90  is such that they are easy and cost-effective to manufacture, yet sturdy and versatile in use. This is due to the combined structural and functional nature of the loop hooks  40  and the longitudinal wires  32 . The cable organizing devices  30 ,  80  and  90  provide a solution to the cable clutter problem which is simple, affordable, versatile, and easy to install. 
     The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.