Patent Publication Number: US-2012037766-A1

Title: Cable management apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for managing cables and, more particularly, to an apparatus for bundling and hanging cables from a surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Organizing electrical cables is necessary to prevent unattractive and disorderly exposed cables, cords and wires and to prevent cables from tangling. However, the process of organizing cables is time consuming and laborious. Conventional methods for organizing cables include unplugging all cables from all electrical power sources and equipment and untangling and separating the cables and wires. Next, the cables are threaded through a cable track according to the desired path of the cables, leaving ends free. Once threaded through the cable track, the cables may be reconnected to the electrical power source and equipment such as televisions, audio and visual equipment, computers, and such. 
     This method of organizing cables is disadvantageous for several reasons. As noted above, the process of organizing cables is labor-intensive and time consuming. Furthermore, cable tracks can be bulky and unattractive, and often do not fully obscure the cables from view. Finally, adding a cable to the cable track or removing a cable from the cable track requires time-consuming disassembly of the entire cable track assembly by hand. 
     Therefore, there exists a need for an improved device for organizing and hanging cables to obscure cables from view. There also exists a need for an improved device for organizing and bundling cables to allow for easy addition of individual cables to bundles and removal of individual cables from bundles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a cable management apparatus comprises a base mountable on a surface, a grooved collar slidably received on a post extending outwardly from the base, and a flexible elastic loop threaded through the collar for supporting a bundle of cables, wires, or cords. 
     Also according to the present invention, the post of the base is axially apertured to receive a fastener for permanently attaching to the base on a surface such as a wall or furniture. 
     The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention become more apparent in light of the present invention described in the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cable management apparatus for organizing and bundling cables having a base, a grooved collar, and a flexible elastic loop, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the base of  FIG. 1  being mounted to a wall by inserting a fastener through an axial aperture in the base; 
         FIG. 3  is a front exploded view of the grooved collar of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  a rear exploded view of the grooved collar of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front exploded view of the grooved collar engaging the flexible elastic loop of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the grooved collar of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view the cable management apparatus of  FIG. 1  being tied around a bundle of cables; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the base of  FIG. 1  mounted to the wall by pressure sensitive adhesive between the wall and the base; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the cable management apparatus of  FIG. 1  mounted to furniture. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a cable management apparatus  10  for bundling cables  12  includes a base  14 , a flexible elastic loop  16 , and a grooved collar  20 . As used herein, the term “cable” is defined as any elongated object adapted to being bundled including, but not limited to, cables, wires, cords, and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the base  14  includes a backing  22  and a post  24  extending outwardly from the backing  22  and having an axial aperture  26  for receiving a fastener  30  through the aperture  26 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the grooved collar  20  includes a pair of spaced flanges  32 ,  34  defining grooves  36 ,  38 , therein, respectively, for receiving the flexible elastic loop  16 . Together, grooves  36  and  38  form an interior cavity  39 . The first flange  32  of the collar  20  includes one or more tabs  40  and the second flange  34  includes one or more receptacles  42  adapted to receive the tabs  40  of the first flange  32 . The first flange  32  and second flange  34  also include one or more ribs  50  to support the flexible elastic loop  16  within the interior cavity  39 . The ribs  50  may grip the flexible elastic loop  16  to prevent the flexible elastic loop  16  from moving within the interior cavity  39 . Optionally, the first flange  32  and the second flange  34  may be ultrasonically welded together for additional strength. As may be appreciated, the first flange  32  and the second flange  34  may be permanently joined by any available means. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the flexible elastic loop  16 , when relaxed, includes a hanging loop portion  60  that is received within the interior cavity  39  of the grooved collar  20  and a tightening loop portion  62 . The flexible elastic loop  16  may be tied into a slipknot configuration  64 , in which the tightening loop portion  62  is wrapped circumferentially around a bundle of cables  12  as the grooved collar  20  is inserted into the tightening loop portion  62 . In this configuration, a pair of aligned, closed support loops  66  are formed which support the bundle of cables  12 . 
     In operation, the grooved collar  20  is preassembled by resting the hanging loop portion  60  of the flexible elastic loop  16  upon the ribs  50  of the first flange  32  or second flange  34 . The first flange  32  and second flange  34  are engaged by inserting the tabs  40  of the first flange  32  into the receptacles  42  of the second flange  34  and snapping the flanges together, thereby forming the interior cavity  39  between the flanges and securing the hanging loop portion  60  within the interior cavity  39 . The base  14  is then mounted to a wall  70  or other surface by inserting the fastener  30  through the axial aperture  26  of the post  24  and into the wall  70 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Optionally, the base  14  may be mounted to the wall  70  or other surface by applying pressure sensitive tape  80  between the backing  22  of the base  14  and the wall  70 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     To bundle the cables  12 , the tightening loop portion  62  is wrapped circumferentially around the desired configuration of cables, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The grooved collar  20  is then inserted through the tightening loop portion  62 , thereby closing the pair of aligned, closed support loops  66  circumferentially around the bundle of cables  12  in a slipknot configuration  64 . The grooved collar  20  is then slid onto the post  24  of the base  14 , thereby securing the bundled cables  12  to the wall  70 . Optionally, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the cable management apparatus  10  may be used to bundle cables  12  and secure the bundle of cables  12  to furniture  100 , such as a cabinet or a desk. 
     The primary advantage of the present invention is the ease of operation. As described herein, cables  12  may be selectively bundled by simply wrapping the flexible elastic loop  16  around the bundle and threading the collar  20  through the tightening loop portion  62  to hold the bundle of cables  12  in place. The grooved collar  20  is then easily slid onto the base  14  for hanging the bundle of cables  12  from a wall, furniture, or any other surface. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to easily add and remove cables  12  to and from the bundle. For example, as previously discussed, bundling the cables  12  and hanging the bundle from any surface is a simple, fast, and straightforward process. Therefore, as will be appreciated, adding or removing a cable to or from a bundle may be easily and quickly achieved. This is advantageous when adding a new electronics device to an existing system, or when removing a device from the system. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is the ability to obscure cables  12  from view when mounted to an irregular shaped cabinet. In particular, unlike cable tracks, which are linear and stiff, a series of bases of the present invention can be mounted along irregular surfaces of furniture at any desired location. Similarly, the present invention can be used to hang a bundle of cables  12  from a wall at various points of curvature along the wall or other surface. 
     Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. For example, the present invention could function without the grooved collar  20  by providing a hook on the post  24  and hanging the hanging loop portion  60  of the flexible elastic loop  16  directly on the hook. Furthermore, although the base  14  of the present invention has been described as mounted by a fastener or tape, any available means of attaching the base  14  to a surface could be employed. For example, hook and loop fasteners or glue could secure the base  14  to a surface. In addition, although the grooved collar  20  has been described as a two-part assembly, it will be appreciated that the grooved collar  20  could be provided as a single integral unit. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the flexible elastic loop  16  could be provided in the form of a rubber band or a continuous bungee cord. Therefore, these and other changes in form and detail are covered by the claims appended hereto in order to encompass the true spirit and scope of the present invention.