Abstract:
A wire, cable and cord organizer comprises a winding reel for storing wires, cables, such as computer cords, audiovisual cables, and the like. The organizer can comprise a plurality of different sizes suitable for various wires, cords, cable types and lengths. The organizer includes a hinged cover that protects and allows removal of an enclosed reel. The organizer has a crank handle that can lock in multiple positions to prevent unintended unrolling of a length of wire, cable, or cord stored on the reel. Both ends of the cable protrude from slots in the organizer to provide access to either end of the cable as needed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are currently no applications co-pending with the present application. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to winding and storing cable, cords, and wires. More particularly, the present invention relates to cable, wire, and cord winders and organizers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Long electrical wires, cables and cords are often used to provide power to yard care equipment and powered tools. Other types of long electrical cables are often used with audio-visual equipment and computers to connect microphones, cameras, recording equipment, and the like. Mechanical wires, cables, and cords are often used as guy wires, temporary fencing, and support structures for flags, ensigns, and other signaling devices. In fact, long wires, cables, and cords, both electrical and mechanical are common devices that while very useful tend to tangle, causing knots, delayed use, damage, aggravation and safety hazards. 
     When wires, cables, and cords are not being used they are usually coiled up in a loose fashion or manually wound around a reel of some type. However, coiling or winding a long wire, cable, or cord often induces tension twists that causes tangles, knots, and damage when the wire, cable or cord is later uncoiled or unwound. Those tangles and knots can seriously delay deployment and use of the wire, cord, or cable. In addition, tangles and knots can shorten the useable lifespan of the wire, cord, or cable, which can increase costs and waste time. 
     After being coiled or wound the wire, cable, or cord is often simply tossed into a pile where they cannot only become tangled with other cables, but are subject to damage from contact with other items or become a safety hazard if stepped on. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a device that can easily coil and uncoil long wires, cables, and cords. Beneficially, the device would also protect the wound item from physical damage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for devices that can easily coil and uncoil long wires, cables, and cords in a manner such that the wound items are protected from physical damage. 
     A winding and storage system that is in accord with the present invention includes a housing that is defined by a circular outer perimeter wall and a housing back wall. The perimeter wall includes an exit port while the housing back wall includes a centrally located input port. A reel having circular and parallel walls that extend outward from a reel hub so as to define a cable space is located in the housing. The reel hub includes a hollow input end that pivots on the input port and a solid end that includes an engagement slot. A reel cable slot is defined between the parallel walls. The hollow hub end and the reel cable slot define a path through the housing back wall into the cable space. 
     The winding and storage system further includes a cover having a plurality of locking holes adjacent its outer perimeter. The cover is dimensioned to mate with the circular outer perimeter wall. At least one (1) hinge pivotally connects the cover to the housing such that the cover selectively closes the housing. A catch selectively retains the cover in place. A hand crank assembly having a drive spool mechanism passes though and is retained in the cover. The drive spool mechanism includes an engagement tab that mates with the engagement slot when the cover closes the housing. The hand crank assembly further includes a handle having a lock pin that is disposed to selectively engage with a locking hole of the plurality of locking holes. The handle is attached to the drive spool mechanism by a crank locking mechanism that selectively prevents the handle from turning. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric front view of a winding and storage system  10  that is in accord with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric rear view of the winding and storage system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the winding and storage system  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  when it is open; 
         FIG. 4   a  is a side view of the winding and storage system  10  shown in shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 ; and, 
         FIG. 4   b  is a section view of the winding and storage system  10  taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  winding and storage system 
               15  cover 
               20  hand crank assembly 
               25  crank handle 
               30  handle hub 
               35  locking hole 
               40  crank locking mechanism 
               45  first direction arrow 
               47  lock tab 
               50  second direction arrow 
               55  housing 
               60  exit port 
               65  connection support clips 
               70  housing cable slot 
               75  reel hub 
               77  hub slot 
               80  cable 
               82  “L”-shaped slot 
               85  reel 
               87  reel view hole 
               90  hinge 
               96  third direction arrow 
               97  back wall 
               100  holding tab 
               102  holding slot 
               105  outer face 
               110  inner face 
               120  reel cable slot 
               130  engagement slot 
               135  engagement tab 
               140  drive spool mechanism 
               145  flip hinge 
               150  lock pin 
               155  fastener 
               157  perimeter wall 
               160  input port 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4   b , and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an isometric front view of the storage system  10 , the winding and storage system  10  includes a circular cover  15  that selectively closes a circular housing  55 . The cover  15  and housing  55  are dimensioned to be approximately the same size and have diameters that depend on the size of a cable  80  (see  FIG. 2 ) that is being used. In practice the cover  15  and the housing  55  are made available in at least three (3) different sizes. A “small” version of about two (2) inches in diameter would be suitable for earphones and similar small cables. A “medium” version of approximately three (3) inches in diameter would be suitable for computer cables and similarly sized cables. A “large” version of approximately four-and-a-half inches (4½ in.) in diameter would be useful for speaker wires, extension cords, or the like. However, for some applications the cover  15  and housing  55  should be eighteen inches (18 in.) or more in diameter for use with even larger cables  80 . Thus it should be understood that the storage system  10  is highly flexible and that its size is not a limiting factor. It is also envisioned that different versions of the storage system  10  are color-coded to assist the user in selecting the right version and type of cable  80  for use with each application. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the storage system  10  includes a hand crank assembly  20  comprising a crank handle  25  and a centrally located handle hub  30 . The cover  15  is provided with a series of locking holes  35  that are located near the perimeter of the cover  15  as shown. The handle hub  30  is provided with a crank locking mechanism  40  which allows the crank handle  25  to be pulled away from the cover  15  in a perpendicular manner as indicated by a first direction arrow  45  by a distance of approximately one-half inch (½ in.). When pulled out, the hand crank assembly  20  is free to rotate about the handle hub  30  as depicted by a second direction arrow  50  (see also  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b ). Also visible in this figure is a portion of the housing  55  with a first exit port  60  visible at its top. 
     Refer next to  FIG. 2 , an isometric rear view of the system  10 . This figure more clearly depicts the design of the housing  55  and the first exit port  60 . The housing  55  has a back wall  97  that is provided with connection support clips  65  as shown. It is envisioned that the connection support clips  65  are spring loaded clips affixed to the housing  55  using threaded fasteners  155 . The support clips  65  enable easy attachment of the system  10  to a belt of a user (also see  FIG. 4   a ). The back wall  97  further includes an input port  160 . The housing further includes an outer perimeter wall  157  that is integrally connected to the back wall  97 . 
     The use of the support clips  65  is especially appropriate when the system  10  is used with portable headphones such as while listening to a portable music player. However, in some applications instead of the connection support clips  65  other types of connections such as hook-and-loop-type fasteners, carabiner clips, locks, or the like can be used to fasten the system  10  to other movable or stationary objects. As such, the use of any particular type of connection support clips  65  is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. 
     The housing  55  also has a housing cable slot  70  through the back wall  97  which works in conjunction with a reel hub  75  having both a hub slot  77  and a reel cable slot  120  to apply a cable  80  into an interior reel  85  (also shown in  FIG. 3 ). The hub slot  77  and the reel cable slot  120  guide the cable  80  along the hub slot  77  and reel cable slot  120  so as to pass into a reel space defined by the reel  85 . The cable  80  is then subsequently routed upward and out an exit port  60  in the housing  55 . Extraneous amounts of cable  80  are wound on a reel hub  75  of the interior reel  85  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4   b ). 
     Referring now to both  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the reel  85  is securely contained within the housing  55  by fastening the cover  15  against the housing  55  by use of hinges  90  and holding tabs  100 . Additionally, the reel cable slot  120  of the reel  85  allows the user to insert and wind an intermediate portion of the cable  80  within the central hollow reel hub  75 . Thus winding can occur without access to the endpoints of the cable  80 . Once secured, the cable  80  is wound around the reel  85  as necessary to take up the slack, and then exit out the exit port  60  at the top of the housing  55 . 
       FIG. 3  presents an isometric view of the system  10  when the cover  15  is opened. The cover  15  is affixed to the housing  55  with the hinges  90 . The hinges  90  are beneficially positioned along the bottom of the housing  55  where they are aligned with each other along a common centerline. When the cover  15  is closed it is secured via the holding tab  100  which mates with corresponding holding slots  102  in the cover  15  by a snap or friction fit. 
     The reel  85  is removable and centrally located in the housing  55 . The reel  85  has a circular outer face  105  and a parallel circular inner face  110 . The outer face  105  is provided with a series of reel view holes  87  for observing how much cable  80  is within the system  10  when viewed through the housing cable slot  70  of the housing  55  (also see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     The inner face  110  has a centrally located engagement slot  130  which mechanically connects to a matching engagement tab  135  of a drive spool mechanism  140  of the hand crank assembly  20 . The engagement of the engagement slot  130  and engagement tab  135  allows for the reel  85  to be turned as necessary to reel in or play out additional cable  80  during use of the system  10  (see  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b ). 
     Refer now again to  FIG. 3 . The system  10  allows fast and easy removal of the reel  85  as indicated by the third direction arrows  96 . Removal of the reel  85  enables a user to either load or unload the reel  85  with a different type of cable  80 . 
     Refer now to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  respectively, a side view and a section view of the system  10 .  FIG. 4   a  clearly depicts the connection support clips  65  on the back of the housing  55 , as well as the hinges  90  and the holding tabs  100  when the cover  15  is attached to the housing  55 . As shown, the crank handle  25  is connected to the hand crank assembly  20  via use of a flip hinge  145  which permits the crank handle  25  to swing out of the way when not needed or so as not to cause an obstruction. 
       FIG. 4   b  shows an “L” shaped slot  82  in the drive spool mechanism  140 . The “L”-shaped slot  82  selectively receives the crank locking mechanism  40  within the deep leg of the “L”-shaped slot  82 . This locks the handle hub  30  close to the cover  15 . This causes the lock pin  150  to engage with a locking hole  35 . When the crank locking mechanism  40  is retracted from the deep leg of the “L”-shaped slot  82  the handle hub  30  can move away from the cover  15 , which disengages the lock pin  150  from the locking hole, allowing the handle crank assembly  20  to turn. 
     Also visible is a lock pin  150  on the rear of the hand crank assembly  20 . The lock pin  150  selectively engages with one of the locking holes  35  when the hand crank assembly  20  is pushed in. This locks the reel  85  in a particular position so that it will not allow release of any more cable  80  (see also  FIG. 1 ). Disengagement of the lock pin  150  is accomplished by releasing the crank locking mechanism  40  from the drive spool mechanism  140  of the handle hub  30 . In use, the user would lift the crank locking mechanism  40  while pulling the hand crank assembly  20  outward for a distance of approximately one-half inch (½ in.) to disengage the lock pin  150  from the locking hole  35 . This frees the hand crank assembly  20  so that it can turn. When a satisfactory amount of cable  80  is removed from the reel  85  the hand crank assembly  20  is pushed back in and the crank locking mechanism  40  pressed downward to engage the lock pin  150  with one (1) of the locking holes  35 . 
     The drive spool mechanism  140  further comprises the integral and protruding engagement tab  135  which provides interlocking engagement with the corresponding engagement slot portion  130  of the reel hub  75  upon closing of the cover portion  15 . Turning the hand crank assembly  20  by the user results in rotational motion of the interior reel  85  to take up the cable  80  (also see  FIG. 3 ). In addition, the drive spool mechanism  140  includes lock tab  47  that locks the drive spool mechanism  140  to the inside of the cover  15 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention; only one particular configuration is shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the system  10  would be constructed in general accordance with  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4   b . The system  10  is envisioned as being made primarily of plastic components in an injection molding process. Prior to use, a user would select a suitable size of the system  10  to be used based upon the outer diameter of the user supplied cable  80  as well the total length of the cable  80 . 
     Actual use of the system  10  would commence by aligning the housing cable slot  70  and the reel cable slot  120 , and inserting an intermediate portion of the cable  80  through the open end of the reel hub  75 , up through the hub slot  77 , and out of the exit port  60 . The user may then wind an appropriate length of cable  80  by pulling out the hand crank assembly  20  from the center hub drive spool mechanism  140  by lifting the crank locking mechanism  40 . This releases the lock pin  150  from a corresponding locking hole  35 , thereby allowing the hand crank assembly  20  and subsequently the interior reel  85  to turn. As the reel  85  turns, excess cable  80  will be wound onto the reel  85 . Once the desired length of cable  80  is wound, the user will push in the hand crank assembly  20  and secure it by pressing down the crank locking mechanism  40  to insert the lock pin  150  into a corresponding locking hole  35 . This process can be reversed to feed-out a length of cable  80  from the system  10 , or to readjust the overall length of the cable  80  during different applications. 
     Another reel  85  may be installed or the original reel  85  removed from the housing  55  by winding the excess cable  80  onto the reel  85  as previously described; opening the cover portion  15  of the system  10  by disengaging the holding tabs  100  from the holding slots  102 ; folding the cover  15  downward away from the housing  55 ; and, sliding and removing the reel  85  from the housing  55 . At this time, a user may load an empty reel  85  or a reel  85  containing a different style or gauge of cable  80  into the housing  55  by routing a stationary end of the cable  80  out through the reel hub  75 ; sliding the reel  85  into the housing  55 ; routing the free end portion of the cable  80  out of the exit port portion  60  of the housing  55 ; and, closing and securing the cover  15  using the hinges  90  and fastening holding tabs  100 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.