Abstract:
A support comprising a handhold in the center with two ends extending straight out in opposite directions away from the handhold for winding and storing a rope or cord in a secure condition in a figure-8. configuration around the ends of the support using a flexible tie affixed at one end to the center of the support to wrap around and secure the rope or cord to the support when the other end of the tie is fastened to a cleat located in the center of the support. A method of winding and releasing a line on the support.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to a support and method especially adapted for winding, holding, storing and releasing a rope or cord in a tangle free condition. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    Ropes or cords have many uses but reuse presents a problem because they are prone to tangling after they are unwound from their original packaging, stretched out and used. When prepared for storage after first use, it is commonplace for the individual user to hold one end of the cord or rope in one hand, wind it around his elbow and back over his hand in continuous loops and then store it in that condition after separation from the forearm. When reused after storage in the described condition the rope or cord requires careful effort to avoid tangling and knotting when the cord is unwound to its full length. 
         [0003]    An extreme example of tangling occurs when attempting to reuse a string of Christmas lights after storage. The uneven surface provided by the lights that protrude from the cord increases tangling enough so that some users simple throw the Christmas lights away after one use rather than attempt to untangle them when attempting reuse after storage. 
         [0004]    Figure-8 configurations for winding a string or line over a piece of wood held in the hand have been utilized for many years by kite flyers and construction workers. It was eventually realized that, if a rope or cord is wound in a figure-8. configuration and subsequently released all at once, it will unwind without tangles. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,586,675 and 7,455,258 provide examples of supports or holders designed to take advantage of this configuration to wind, store and release cords and ropes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,643 discloses winding and storing lines in a figure-8 configuration on a holder that is not suitable for releasing the line quickly in a tangle free condition. 
         [0005]    The present invention accomplishes the same results as these combined teachings to wind ropes or cords around a support quickly and easily in a figure-8. configuration, store them securely in that condition and take advantage of the tangle and knot free release when reused, all in a significantly simpler, more convenient and more economical manner. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Disclosure of Invention 
       [0006]    The present invention most broadly comprises a support or holder that resembles a stick having a handhold in the center, two ends extending straight out in opposite directions from the handhold, an elongate flexible tie with one end fixedly attached to the center and means also located in the center for fastening the free end of the tie. Means for hanging the support for storage can be provided at one end of the support. When used the support is held in the center with one hand, a line (e.g., a rope or cord) is wound around the ends with the free hand in a figure-8 configuration. Continuing with the free hand, the tie is wound around the center of the figure-8 and the support and then fitted into the fastening means. To release the line for reuse, one end of the support (preferably the hanging end if hanging means are present) is held with one hand and the other hand is used to free the tie from the fastening means, unwind and drop the free end of the tie. The free hand then engages the line and together the hands move the line off the free end of the support through the openings in the figure-8 allowing the line to fall down in a knot and tangle free condition ready for reuse. 
         [0007]    For convenience the word “line” will be used throughout this specification to signify an elongate flexible object that is suitable for winding around a support in a figure-8 configuration. A “rope” or “cord” is an obvious example of such an elongate object. Twine and string are other examples. Garlands, like those used to decorate Christmas trees, are still other examples. Hoses like those commonly used for gardening, especially those that collapse and flatten when not in use, are other examples. Welding hoses are other examples. 
         [0008]    Thus while holding the stick like support in the center section in one hand, a line can be wound in a figure-8 configuration around the ends of the support with the other hand. No arms protruding from a stick are required such as those depicted in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,586,675 and 7,455,258. Instead of using arms to secure the line to the support such as those described in the aforesaid patents, a flexible tie attached at one end to the center of the support can be wound around the line attached to the support and secured at the other end to a fastening means (most preferably a V or U-shaped cavity with projections on its inside surfaces) also located in the center of the support. When reused the line can be released in a tangle free condition by holding one end of the support in one hand, releasing the free end of the tie from the fastening means and unwinding the tie with the other hand. Still holding one end of the support with one hand, holding the line with the other hand, pulling the support out through the loops or openings formed by the figure-8 and dropping the line, the line will drop in a knot and tangle free condition. 
         [0009]    Although the tie can take the form of a rope or a heavy string, the tie is preferably constructed more like the elastic portion of a bungee cord. When stretched, its circumference is reduced. When relaxed, it returns to its larger size. Thus, when stretched, it will fit easily into a jamming cleat like those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,361,938 and 3,574,900 and this specification. When relaxed, it expands enough to press against the walls of the cavity present in such a cleat and thereby firmly secures a line to the support. When stretched again the tie can easily be released from the cavity. While a rope has the ability to give enough to be stress fitted into such a cavity and maintain its position when relaxed, it tends to wear more when forced into and subsequently released from the cavity than a more elastic cord. Such a cavity is non-directional (i.e., approachable from the front or back of the support) and merely requires force to secure the tie in the cavity. 
         [0010]    The tie is affixed at one end (hereinafter the fixed end) to the center section of the support, for example, by threading the other end (hereinafter the free end) through a hole sized at the exit end to accommodate the diameter of the tie and press fitting the fixed end into the entrance portion of the same hole to accommodate the larger size of the fixed end of the tie. Most preferably the fixed end is knotted so it is large enough to resist passage through the exit end of the hole but will fit snugly in the entrance end of the hole. The knotted portion can be held more securely in place by a cover that can also serve as identifying means for the support. Alternatively a ring or cap larger in circumference than the tie can be attached to the fixed end of the tie and stress fitted into the opening. 
         [0011]    The cord holder in U.S. Pat. No. 7,455,258 releases the cord by turning an arm down from an upward position to allow the cord to drop off the holder by tilting the holder. Such moveable arms require a more complex construction than the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,675 uses a hinge in the center of the holder to turn the otherwise stationary arms in toward the center of the figure-8. formed by a cord wound on the holder so the cord can fall off the holder, again a more complex construction than the present invention to accomplish the same result. The support of the present invention releases a line wound in a figure-8 on the support by holding one end of the support in one hand, placing the other hand on the line, pulling the support and the line apart through the openings in the figure-8 and allowing the line to fall off the support. 
         [0012]    The means for fastening the free end of the tie can be molded or cut into the support or added as a separate part, but molding the fastening means into the support is preferred since it is less costly and works well. 
         [0013]    For storage purposes, one end of the support is preferably fashioned to provide means for hanging the support. The support is preferably made in one piece from a hard moldable plastic to reduce the cost of manufacture with hanging means (e.g., a hook and/or an eye) at one end and a center section adapted to provide a handhold, means for permanently affixing one end of a tie, and separate means for removably affixing the other end of the tie. The hanging means can be shaped and sized to hang on any system for hanging tools. Slat boards or pegboards are examples of such systems. For mountain climbers a C-clip can be added in place of the hook or eye to allow more secure attachment to the belt of the climber. 
         [0014]    One end of a line can be held in the hand holding the center of the support while the other hand winds the line around the ends of the support in a figure-8. configuration. The line itself can have an eye or loop (normally present on ski ropes) in one end adapted to fit over one end of the support to eliminate the need for holding the end of the line in the hand before winding the line around the ends of the support. Alternatively one end of a line can be cinched to one end of the support by wrapping an elastic figure-8 shaped material around the line, passing one end of the figure-8 through the opening at the other end and using the exposed end to fit over the end of the support. More preferably a notch can be cut into the top surface on one side of the support to provide a place where one end of a line with or without a loop can be fitted before winding the line on the support. The notch is preferably U-shaped and slanted so the open end is closer to the end of the support than the closed or bottom end of the notch. The side of the U closest to the end of the support is also curved slightly toward the end of the support as it approaches the top surface of the support so the line can slide off the support without catching on the notch. The notch is preferably located nearer to the center than the end of the support since more space is available for the notch in that location without weakening the support. 
         [0015]    Preferably the center of the support can be fashioned into a handhold that includes a fully enclosed opening in the center of the support shaped and sized to allow the fingers of the hand to fit into the opening while the thumb and fingers are wrapped over the top of the support. Such a handhold, sometimes referred to as a grip handle, is commonly used for hand tools such as a saw or a drill. This configuration requires the center of the support to be larger from top to bottom than the two ends. The top surface of the support is preferably rounded in a shallow convex configuration and raised above the level of the ends of the support to provide the space necessary for the opening for the fingers in the handhold. The bottom surface of the support is preferably rounded in a shallow concave configuration. An indentation can be provided on the top surface of the support for the thumb of the hand holding the support to help position the hand in the most favorable and comfortable position on the support. Indentations can also be provided in the top surface of the opening for the fingers of the hand holding the support. Providing a fully enclosed opening for the fingers of the hand holding the support not only avoids the necessity of winding a line directly over the fingers but also provides a smoother bottom surface for the line to slide off the support. 
         [0016]    With the hand thus positioned on the support the means used to fasten the free end of the tie to the support can be left exposed. The end of the support opposite the hanging means is preferably used to fix one end of a line on the support, preferably in a notch, before beginning to wind the line around the support. Preferably the ends of the support are tapered so they are larger in circumference where they attach to the handhold section and narrow as they extend away from the handhold section. The ends can also be separate pieces that attach to the center section to provide more versatility to accommodate different sized lines to be wound and stored on the same handhold section. 
         [0017]    The word “cleat” as used in this specification does not refer to the common wedge or anvil shaped piece fastened to and projecting from the top surface of a supporting structure like a boat or dock but to the less common jamming cleat type that includes a cavity instead of projecting from the top surface. A jamming cleat also provides a non-directional means for securing the loose end of the tie in place by the simple expedient of press fitting the loose end of the tie securely into the cleat. One example of such means would be a V- or narrow U-shaped cavity with narrow parallel ridges on the walls of the cavity such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,938 and the present specification. When a tie is pressed into such means the ridges also provide more friction to hold the tie in place. 
         [0018]    As used in this specification the word “tie” means any elongate flexible object that can be affixed at one end to the center portion of the support, wrapped around a line attached to the support and thereafter secured by the loose end to a cleat from either direction. An elastic tie is preferred because it wears better by fitting more easily into and out of the cleat when stretched and also stays more securely in the cleat when it expands. 
         [0019]    Thus when winding the line on the support, the hand holding the support using the indentations is turned in a more counterclockwise direction to facilitate winding the line more securely on the support. Tapering to narrow the ends of the support as they extend away from the wider center section also facilitates both initially pulling a looped or notched end of the line toward the center of the support before beginning to wind the line on the support and later when releasing the line by pulling the support and the line apart through the openings in the figure-8. 
         [0020]    Using the preferred embodiment of the invention, the hanging end of the support can be grasped in one hand while the free hand releases the tie from the cleat, unwinds and drops the tie, then moves over the wound line. The hands press in opposite directions to separate the line from the support through the openings in the figure-8 and allow the line to drop off the support. The fully enclosed handhold makes it easier to slide the line over the smooth surfaces on the top and bottom of the support and thereby allow the line to fall down in a completely untangled and knot free condition. 
         [0021]    In summary the product of the present invention expressed broadly is a support for storing a line comprising a stick having a center section, a first end, a second end, an elongate flexible tie having a first end and a second end, and a cleat wherein
       the center section is adapted to serve as a handhold,   the two ends of the stick extend horizontally in both directions away from the handhold and are adapted to enable a user to wind a line around the ends of the stick in a figure-8 configuration,   the first end of the tie is affixed to the center section,   the cleat is located in the center section and   the free end of the tie is adapted to fit into the cleat after the tie is wrapped around both the center section and a line wound on the support.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the support. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the support. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  a cross-section of the handhold at A-A. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section of a portion of the handhold. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section depicting a portion of the handhold that includes the thumb indentation. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section depicting the I-beam shape of the two ends of the support. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the support with a rope wound around the support and secured by the tie. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the support with a string of Christmas lights wound around the support in a figure-8 configuration. 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  is a cutout of the handhold accompanied by a hand holding the support. 
           [0036]      FIG. 10  depicts a hand holding the support preparatory to winding the line around the support. 
           [0037]      FIG. 11  depicts the looped end of a rope attached to one end of the support before winding a line on the support. 
           [0038]      FIG. 12  provides a better perspective of the crisscross pattern formed by the figure-8. 
           [0039]      FIG. 13  depicts the way in which two hands work together to separate a rope from the support. 
           [0040]      FIG. 14  is cross-section in perspective to show structural features of the cleat to accommodate the tie. 
       
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  The support 
           2  The center section of the support 
           3  The hook on the first end of the support 
           4   a,   4   b  The first and second ends of the support 
           5  The handhold 
           6   a,    6   b,    6   c,    6   d  The indentations for the fingers of the hand holding the support 
           7  The indentation for the thumb 
           8  A rope wound around the support 
           9  A string of lights wound around the support 
           10  A hand in position on the support 
           11  The cleat or fastening means for the free end of the tie 
           12  The tie 
           13  The fixed end of the tie 
           14  The loop at the end of a rope 
           15  The free end of the tie 
           16  Top surface of the support 
           17  Bottom surface of the support 
           18  Opening in hook end of support 
           19  I-beam shape of the ends of the support 
           20  Section of handhold 
           21  Outward bulge in handhold to facilitate the optimal positioning of hand on support 
           22  Bottom surface of support 
           23  The cutout for fastening one end of line before winding the line on the support 
           24  Notch 
           25  Hole through which the tie is threaded 
           26  Top portion of groove through which the tie can be stress fitted 
           27  Bottom portion of groove through which the tie can be stress fitted 
           28  Ridge to add further security to keep the tie in place once fitted into the groove 
           29  Recess into which the knotted end of the tie can be fitted to affix the tie to the support 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention 
       [0070]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the support  1  showing the center section  2  of the support; the handhold  5  located in the center section  2 ; the indentations for the thumb  7  and fingers  6   a,    6   b,    6   c,    6   d;  the hook  3  on the first end of the support  1 ; the two ends  4   a,   4   b  of the support  1 ; the opening  18  also for hanging the support  1 ; the tie  12  affixed at one end  13  to the center section  2  of the support  1 ; the bottom surface  17  of the support  1 ; the cleat  11  in the center section  2  of the support  1  and the notch  24  into which one end of the line (e.g., a loop on the end of a ski rope or a plug on the end of an electrical cord) can be fitted before winding a line on the support  1 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 2  is a view of the top  16  of the support  1  to show the tie  12 , the outward bulge  21  in the handhold  5  and the indentation  7  for the thumb. 
         [0072]      FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  are cross sections to depict in greater detail the handhold  5 , the thumb indentation  7  and the I-beam shape  19  of the ends. 
         [0073]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are views depicting a rope  8  and a string of Christmas tree lights  9  respectively wound around the support  1 . These views taken together also display the following features of the support  1 , the center section  2 , the hook  3 , the first and second ends  4   a,   4   b,  the handhold  5 , the indentation for the thumb  7 , the tie  12  affixed at one end  13  in the center section  2  and secured at the other end in the cleat  11 , and an opening  18  in the hook  3  to provide additional means for hanging the support  1 .  FIG. 11 , in addition to showing some of the above features discloses how the loop end of a rope  14  can fitted into the notch  24  on one end  4   b  of the support  1 . 
         [0074]      FIGS. 9 and 10  provide two views to depict more clearly a hand  10  in position to hold the support  1  while leaving the cleat  11  exposed. 
         [0075]      FIG. 12  provides a better view of the crisscross pattern formed by a rope  8  when fitted on the support  1 .  FIG. 13  provides a better view of the hands can be positioned on the support  1  and a rope  8  wound on the support to separate the rope  8  from the support  1 . 
         [0076]      FIG. 14  is a cutout in cross section to provide a better view of the openings in the center section  2  of the support  1  to secure both ends of the tie  12  to the support  1 . The free end  15  is threaded through hole  25  before affixing the other end  13 , usually knotted, into the bottom of the recessed opening  29  on the back of the support  1 . The top of recessed opening  29  is larger than the bottom to accommodate a cover (not shown) that doubles both to keep the fixed end of the tie  12  in place and to provide a place for a label for the support  1 . The cleat  11  is essentially a cavity with a narrow opening or groove  26  at the top through which a stretched tie  12  can be fitted and a larger opening at the bottom where an expanded tie  12  can fit snugly. A horseshoe shaped ridge  28  at the bottom of the cavity parallel to the front surface of the support  1  can provide further resistance to accidental release of the tie  12 . 
         [0077]    The preferred embodiment of the present support  1  can be produced in one piece from a hard plastic material by a conventional molding process well known to those of ordinary skill in the molding art. A preferred plastic is polyoxymethylene polymer having a molecular formula of (CH2O)n, known for its high stiffness, low friction and excellent dimensional stability. It could be made of wood or metal but would probably be more expensive to produce and may not hold up as well under all conditions of use. 
         [0078]    As an OEM product it is sized and fashioned to hold the particular line, most likely a cord or rope, to be wound and stored on the support by the manufacturer of the line. As a consumer product it would be produced in various sizes, for example, to accommodate the ropes, electrical cords or strings of Christmas tree lights in common use. For use on ropes used to tie boats to docks, it would be made large and strong enough to handle the larger size ropes used for that purpose. For ropes used by mountain climbers one end of the support  1  would preferably be fitted with a clasp or C-clip (not shown) for attachment to the equipment or belts used by climbers. To facilitate cooling without warping during the molding process the surface of the handhold  5  is ribbed and the rest of the support  1  is either hollow (not shown) or I-beam shaped  19 . 
         [0079]    The support  1  can be used to store the entire length of a line as well in the center portion of a line to shorten the line and thereby facilitate use of the line in a shortened condition where space is limited or crowded with other lines. Electrical cords are commonly longer than the length required to cover the distance between an appliance and the outlet to which it is connected. This is a more aggravating problem when multiple cords occupy the same space, for example behind computers, musical equipment or television screens and associated equipment. 
         [0080]    A colorful cloth or plastic bag (not shown) can be used to package a string of Christmas lights wound around the support  1 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The hook end  3  of the support  1  can stick out from the top of the bag using a drawstring to tie the top of the bag to the support  1 . 
         [0081]    The method of the present invention for attaching a line to the support  1  is carried out by holding the support  1  with one hand at the handhold  5  in the center section, securing one end of a line either in the hand on the handhold or other available means (such as the notch  24 ) for securing the end of the line, winding the line around the ends  4   a,   4   b  of the support  1  in a figure-8 configuration with the other hand, wind the tie  12  around the center section  3  of the support  1  and the attached line and fitting the free end  15  of the tie  12  into the cleat  11 . As shown in  FIG. 13  the method of the present invention for releasing the line from the support  1  is carried out by holding the support  1  at the first end  4   a  with one hand, holding the line with the other hand, pulling the support  1  and the line apart out through the loops in the line and allowing the line to drop free of the support  1  in a knot and tangle free condition. 
         [0082]    The foregoing provides both a general description of the present invention as well as a specific description of preferred embodiments. It should be understood that various substitutions, variations and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as further delineated in the following claims.