Patent Publication Number: US-2022225760-A1

Title: Desk attachment apparatus and system to eliminate dropped items, provide wire management, and support for functional and artistic displays

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     Copyright Notice 
     A portion of this disclosure contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 C.F.R 1.71(d). 
     Background of the Inventive Concept 
     1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present inventive concept relates to a desk top attachable apparatus and system that can be attached to an edge of a desk top to manage electrical wires and to prevent the electrical wires from falling into a gap between the desk and a wall, and to keep the wires in an organized and separated fashion on a surface of the desk top. 
     The present inventive concept also relates to a desk top attachable apparatus and system that can be attached to an edge of a desk and to receive multiple objects therein by inserting a portion of the objects therein to support the objects in a vertically standing position above the surface of the desk top. 
     The present inventive concept also relates to a desk top attachable apparatus and system that can be attached to an edge of a desk top to provide a dam between an edge of the desk and a wall in which the desk may be placed adjacent thereto in order to prevent objects from falling into a gap existing between the edge of the desk top and the wall. 
     2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Wires for electrical devices such as computers, mobile phones, mobile phone chargers, monitors, Ipads®, etc., are required to extend from an electrical outlet to a surface of a desk top in order to feed electricity to such electrical devices, which generally rest on the desk top while being electronically operated or charged. When such wires extend from an electrical outlet to the desk top, these wires often become twisted between each other and tangled up, and are then difficult to untangle, and sometimes require a substantial amount of time to untangle. Such wires are also prone to continuously sliding off the desk top as a result of a gravitational pull on the wires, often sliding between the desk and a wall in which the wires are being electronically charged, making it difficult to retrieve the wires and place them back on the desk top, only to slide back off the desk top. Some attempts to manage electrical wires at a desk are listed below, as follows. 
     Mitchell (US Patent Publication No. 2009/0255702) describes an organizing and wire management apparatus that is an elongated tube-like structure  20  with a channel  24  extending along the length thereof. Wires can be fed through the structure  20 , and a resilient strip  22  or cushion  22 -A made of foam can be inserted into the structure  20  to hold wires in place. This tube-like structure  20  must be fastened to a leg or a surface of the desk with brackets  40  and screws  70  in order to keep the structure  20  secured to the desk or along a leg of the desk, or to prevent the structure  20  from moving around on the desk. Alternatively, this structure  20  requires a stand  81  in which the structure  20  is inserted in order to keep the structure upright on a floor or other surface. Further, it requires a substantial amount of time and labor to feed electrical wires through the structure  20  and along the resilient strip  20  and out of the channel  24 . Wolff et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,561) describes a wiring enclosure device  12  for desks. This enclosure is in the form of an elongated tubular enclosure that becomes mounted at a rear edge of a desk. More specifically, this device includes a flange  20  that extend along a top surface of a desk, while the tubular enclosure to hold wires therein, while the flange  20  rests on a surface of a desk. The flange  20  requires screws  23  to be inserted therethrough in order to maintain the device at an edge of a desk. A flexible wiper strip  25  is required to be inserted into an inner recess under a lip  16  and must be either adhered thereto with an adhesive or heat welded. This wiper strip  25  includes a thin lower edge  26  which lays on the desk top surface as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Wolff et al. requires gluing a wiper strip  25  to the body  12  of the enclosure as well as screwing a flange  20  to a surface of a desk in order to maintain the device  12  in place at an edge of a desk. 
     There is a need for an easily attachable and detachable device and system, to a desk top surface, that can receive electrical wires extending from an electrical outlet and hold these electrical wires on the desk top surface while keeping these wires separate and tangle free. 
     There is also a need for an easily attachable and detachable device and system, to a desk top surface, that can receive portions of objects desired to be seated on the desk top surface such that these objects remain vertically upright in a desirable and artistic fashion. 
     There is also a need for an easily attachable and detachable device and system, to a desk top surface, that can remain seated between the desk top edge and a wall in which the desk is placed adjacent thereto to prevent objects, such as pens, pencils, etc., from falling into a gap between the desk top surface and the wall. 
     Summary of the Inventive Concept 
     The present general inventive concept provides an easily attachable and detachable device and system, to a desk top surface, which can receive electrical wires extending from an electrical outlet and hold these electrical wires on the desk top surface while keeping these wires separate and tangle free. The present general inventive concept also provides an easily attachable and detachable device and system, to a desk top surface, which can receive portions of objects desired to be seated on the desk top surface such that these objects remain vertically upright in a desirable and artistic fashion. The present general inventive concept also provides an easily attachable and detachable device and system, to a desk top surface, which can remain seated between the desk top edge and a wall in which the desk is placed adjacent thereto to prevent objects, such as pens, pencils, etc., from falling into a gap between the desk top surface and the wall. 
     Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept. 
     The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a desk top edge attachment apparatus to retain electrical wires above a surface of the desk top and in an organized manner and to receive and maintain display objects thereon in an upright manner, the apparatus comprising: a body including a predetermined length, width and height; a plurality of holes extending through a center portion from a top to a bottom thereof and spaced apart by a predetermined distance along the length thereof to receive and retain electrical wires therethrough; a plurality of slits corresponding with and aligned with respective ones of the plurality of holes, the slits extending from the respective hole through a back surface of the body; a first groove extending along a front face of the body along the length thereof to form a front top lip protruding above a top of the first groove and a front bottom lip protruding below a bottom of the first groove, the groove being configured to tightly cover a protruding edge of a desk top such that the lip protruding from the top thereof rests on a surface of the desk top; and a second groove extending along a back face of the body along the length thereof to form a lip protruding from a top of the second groove and a lip protruding from a bottom of the second groove, the second groove being configured to receive an insert formed of the same dimensions as the second groove to block wires received therein from being removed through the respective slit. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, desk top edge attachment apparatus further comprises an adhesive material attached along the length of a back wall of the first groove to adhere to a side edge of a desk top. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the adhesive material is a double-sided tape. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the adhesive material includes a strip of hooks and a strip of loops, each strip having an adhesive on a back side to stick to the back wall of the first groove or the side edge of the desk top. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, desk top edge attachment apparatus further comprises an insert having a height, length and width equal to the height, length and width of the second groove, the insert being configured to tightly fit into the second groove to close the slits. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, desk top edge attachment apparatus further comprises an extension member having a height and length equal to the height and length of the desk top edge attachment apparatus body, the extension member including: a protruding member which protrudes from a front surface and along a length thereof and is configured to have the same dimensions as the second groove and to be inserted into the second groove of the body of the desk top edge attachment apparatus; and a back groove formed in a back surface along a length thereof and configured to receive a protruding member of another extension member or an insert having the same dimensions as the protruding member. 
     In another exemplary embodiment the predetermined width of the body and lips is three inches at the top surface and at the bottom surface, and the width of the body is two inches from a back wall of the first groove to a back wall of the second groove. 
     In another exemplary embodiment the predetermined height of the body is two inches, such that the height of the front top and bottom lips are one half inch, the height of the back top and bottom lips are one half inch and the height of the first and second grooves are one inch. 
     The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a desk top edge attachment apparatus to retain electrical wires above a surface of the desk top and in an organized manner and to receive and maintain display objects thereon in an upright manner, the apparatus comprising: a body including a plurality of holes extending through a center portion thereof, each of the plurality of holes being spaced apart by a predetermined distance along a length thereof, the holes being configured to receive and retain electrical wires therethrough; a plurality of slits aligned with and corresponding with a respective one of the plurality of holes, the slits extending from the respective hole through a back surface of the body; a front upper lip protruding outward from a top portion of a front side thereof and along the length thereof; and a back groove extending along a back side thereof and along the length thereof to form an upper back lip protruding from a top portion of the body and a lower back lip protruding from a bottom portion of the body, the back groove being configured to receive an insert formed of the same dimensions as the back groove to block wires received in the holes from being removed through the respective slit. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, desk top edge attachment apparatus may further comprise an extension member having a height and length equal to the height and length of the desk top edge attachment apparatus body, the extension member including: a protruding member which protrudes from a front surface and along a length thereof and is configured to have the same dimensions as the back groove and to be inserted into the back groove of the body of the desk top edge attachment apparatus; and a back groove formed in a back surface along a length thereof and configured to receive a protruding member of another extension member or an insert. 
     In another exemplary embodiment the desk top edge attachment apparatus may further comprise a two-sided adhesive having the first side attached along the length of the front side of the body under the front upper lip and a second side configured to attach to a side of a desk such that the front lip rests on a desk top surface. 
     In another exemplary embodiment the predetermined width of the body and upper front and back lips is three inches, and the width of the body is two inches from the front side thereof under the front upper lip to a back wall of the second groove. 
     In another exemplary embodiment the predetermined height of the body is two inches, such that the height of the front top lip is one half inch, the height of the back top and bottom lips are one half inch and the height of the second groove is one inch. 
     The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a desk top edge attachment system to retain electrical wires above a surface of the desk top and in an organized manner and to receive and maintain display objects thereon in an upright manner, the apparatus comprising: a body including: a plurality of holes extending vertically through a center portion thereof along a length thereof, the plurality of holes being spaced apart by a predetermined distance and configured to receive and retain electrical wires therethrough; a plurality of slits corresponding with and aligned with respective ones of the plurality of holes, the slits extending from the respective hole through a back surface of the body; a front upper lip protruding outward from a top portion of a front side thereof and along the length thereof; and a back groove extending along a back side thereof and along the length thereof to form a back upper lip protruding from a top of the body and a back lower lip protruding from a bottom of the body; and an extension member having a height and length equal to a height and length of the desk top edge attachment apparatus body, the extension member including: a protruding member which protrudes from a front surface along a length thereof and is configured to be inserted into the back groove of the body of the desk top edge attachment apparatus; and a back groove formed in a back surface along a length thereof and configured to receive a protruding member of another extension member. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the system may further comprise a two-sided adhesive having the first side attached along the length of the front side of the body under the front lip and a second side configured to attach to a side of a desk such that the front lip rests on a desk top surface. 
     In another exemplary embodiment the system may further comprise an insert having a height, length and width equal to the height, length and width of the back groove of the body and the back groove of the extension to tightly fit into the back groove of the body to close off the slits and to tightly fit into the back groove of the extension. 
     In another exemplary embodiment the body has a width of two inches and a height of two inches, the front upper lip and back upper and lower lips protrude from the body by approximately one half inch and have a height of one half inch, and the back groove has a height of approximately two inches and a width of approximately one half inch. 
     In another exemplary embodiment the front groove has a height of one inch and a width of one half inch. 
     In another exemplary embodiment the system may further comprise an insert having a height, length and width equal to the height, length and width of the back groove of the body and the back groove of the extension to tightly fit into the back groove of the body to close off the slits and to tightly fit into the back groove of the extension. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other features and utilities of the present inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a desk dam apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a side view of the desk dam apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a desk dam insert, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates a desk dam extension, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 2D  illustrates the use of multiple desk dam extensions in unison, and the desk dam insert, in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 2B and 2C ; 
         FIG. 2E  illustrates a side view of the desk dam apparatus of  FIG. 1  in combination with the extension of  FIG. 2C  and the insert of  FIG. 2B ; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a top view of the desk dam apparatus in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a front view of the desk dam apparatus in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a side view of a desk dam extension in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a perspective view of the desk dam extension according to exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a top view of the desk dam apparatus in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 4A and 4B ; 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates a front view of the desk dam apparatus in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 4A and 4B ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates prospective operational view of the desk dam apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates another prospective operational view of the desk dam apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates still another prospective operational view of the desk dam apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     The drawings illustrate a few exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept, and are not to be considered limiting in its scope, as the overall inventive concept may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The elements and features shown in the drawings are to scale and attempt to clearly illustrate the principles of exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept. In the drawings, reference numerals designate like or corresponding, but not necessarily identical, elements throughout the several views. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept while referring to the figures. Also, while describing the present general inventive concept, detailed descriptions about related well-known functions or configurations that may diminish the clarity of the points of the present general inventive concept are omitted. 
     It will be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. Thus, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a first element without departing from the teachings of this disclosure. 
     Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. 
     All terms including descriptive or technical terms which are used herein should be construed as having meanings that are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. However, the terms may have different meanings according to an intention of one of ordinary skill in the art, case precedents, or the appearance of new technologies. Also, some terms may be arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, the meaning of the selected terms will be described in detail in the detailed description of the invention. Thus, the terms used herein have to be defined based on the meaning of the terms together with the description throughout the specification. 
     Also, when a part “includes” or “comprises” an element, unless there is a particular description contrary thereto, the part can further include other elements, not excluding the other elements. 
     Hereinafter, one or more exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept are directed to  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a desk dam apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. The apparatus  100  is referred to as a “desk dam” as the apparatus  100  is configured to be attachable to and detachable from an edge of a desk top of a desk in order to close any gap that may exist between the desk top and a wall in which such a desk may be placed adjacent thereto. 
     The desk dam apparatus  100  may include a plurality of holes  102  equally distanced apart and along a length L thereof. The holes  102  may extend entirely through a middle of a body portion B of the desk dam apparatus  100  and from a top to a bottom thereof, as illustrated in  FIG. 2A . The holes  102  are configured to have a diameter large enough to receive electrical wires therethrough, yet small enough to prevent electrical connectors at the ends of the wires from extending therethrough. The holes  102  can be formed to have a diameter of approximately 0.25 inches, and can be spaced apart from each other at a distance d of approximately 2 inches. However, the diameter of each hole  102  can be configured to correspond with diameters of wires intended to be used to electrically charge electronic devices seated on a desk top. Further, the distance d between adjacent holes  102  can be configured in accordance with the thickness/diameter of the wires intended to be used. 
     The desk dam apparatus  100  may also include a plurality of slits  104  that extend therethrough along a back portion thereof. The slits  104  can be configured to align with respective ones of the holes  102  such that an electrical wire can be slid through a slit  104  unit the wire reaches and rests in a corresponding hole  102 . The slits  104  are provided to allow wires to be placed in a respective hole  102  while electrical connectors attached to an end of a corresponding wire are too large to fit through the hole  102 . 
     The desk dam apparatus  100  may be configured to have a height H of approximately 2 inches from top to bottom thereof. The desk dam apparatus may also be configured to have a width W of approximately 3 inches from front F to rear R thereof. However, the height H and width W of the desk dam apparatus  100  can be configured to be larger or smaller depending on the desk top surface in which it is intended to be used therewith. For the purposes of describing an exemplary embodiment of the desk dam apparatus  100  herein, all references of the height H thereof will be inferred to be 2 inches, and all references to the width W thereof will be inferred to be 3 inches. The length L of the desk dam apparatus  100  can formed to any desired length depending on the desk top surface in which the desk dam apparatus  100  is to be used therewith. Generally, the desk dam apparatus  100  will have a length L of approximately 24 inches. However, the length L can be larger when intended to be used with long desk top surfaces, and can be cut to be shorter when desired. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2A , the desk dam apparatus  100  may also include a front groove  106  extending along the entire length L thereof at a front portion F thereof. The front groove  106  is provided to allow an edge of a desk top surface to be seated therein so that the desk dam apparatus  100  rests over the edge of a desk top. The front groove  106  can be formed to be disposed at a distance h 1  from the top T of the desk dam apparatus  100  and at a distance h 3  from the bottom of the desk dam apparatus  100 , and to have a height h 2  of approximately 1 inch, which generally corresponds with the thickness of a common desk top. However, the height h 2  of the groove  106  can be formed to any height which corresponds with the thickness of a desk top in which the desk dam apparatus  100  is intended to be used. In accordance with this present exemplary embodiment, the front groove  106  is configured to be disposed along a center of the front portion F of the desk dam apparatus  100  such that a lip LP having a thickness h 1  of approximately 0.5 inches is formed above the front groove  106  and a lip LP having a thickness h 3  of approximately 0.5 inches is formed below the front groove  106 . The lip LP can be configured to extend outward from the body B by approximately 0.5 inches. However, the lip LP can be configured to extend to a large amount from the body B depending on the desk top edge in which the desk dam apparatus  100  is intended to be used therewith. 
     The desk dam apparatus  100  can be made entirely of a foam-like material or similar porous structure that can be cut to a desired length, as well as being strong enough to retain electrical wires within the holes  102 . The material in which the desk dam apparatus  100  is formed is also made of a material that can support a wire with display objects extending therefrom, or figurines or other display pieces, in an upright vertical manner, as will be described in more detail with respect to  FIGS. 6 through 8 . 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment herein, a strip of double sided adhesive  110  can be adhered along the inside of the front groove  106  along the height h 2  such that when the front groove  106  is disposed over an edge of a desk top the adhesive  110  will stick to the edge of the desk top, thus adhering the desk dam apparatus  100  to the edge of the desk top. Alternatively, a hook and loop type system (i.e., Velcro®) can be used to attach the desk dam apparatus  100  to the edge of a desk top by adhering a strip of hooks or loops to the inner wall of the front groove  106  while adhering the other one of the strips of hooks or loops to the edge of the desk top such that when the strip of hooks and loops are placed in contact the desk dam apparatus  100  is adhered to the edge of the desk top. 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2A , the desk dam apparatus  100  may also include a rear groove  108  extending along an entire length of a rear portion R thereof. The rear groove  108  is configured to allow an insert  200  (described with reference to  FIG. 2B ) to be tightly fitted therein to contain the wires from being pulled out of the slits  104 . The rear groove  108  can be configured similar to the front groove  106  in that rear groove  108  can be formed to be disposed at a distance h 1  from the top T of the desk dam apparatus  100  and at a distance h 3  from the bottom of the desk dam apparatus  100 , and to have a height h 2  of approximately 1 inch. In accordance with this present exemplary embodiment, the rear groove  108  is configured to be disposed along a center of the rear portion R of the desk dam apparatus  100  such that a lip LP having a thickness h 1  of approximately 0.5 inches is formed above the rear groove  108  and a lip LP having a thickness h 3  of approximately 0.5 inches is formed below the rear groove  108 . The thickness of the lip LP can be adjusted depending on the strength of the material being used so that the upper lip LP can withstand the weight of objects being placed on the top T of the desk dam apparatus  100 . 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates an insert  200  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, the insert  200  can be configured to have a height H 2  of approximately 1 inch or slightly larger in order to tightly fit into the rear groove  108  of the desk dam apparatus  100 . The insert  200  can also be configured to have a width W 2  to correspond with a width w 2  of the lip LP extending from the top and bottom of the desk dam apparatus  100 . The measurements of the insert  200  can be configured to conform with the height and width of the corresponding rear groove  108  in order to tightly fit therein and remain completely within borders of the rear groove  108 . 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates a desk dam apparatus extension  210  according to another exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. The extension  210  can include a body portion  210   a  having a height H corresponding with the height H of the desk dam apparatus  100 , and a length L corresponding with the length L of the desk dam apparatus  100 . The desk dam apparatus extension  210  can also include a protrusion  210   b  extending from a front portion F thereof. The protrusion  210   b  can be configured to extend from a center of the front portion F of the extension  210  along the entire length L thereof and to protrude by a length equal to the depth of the front groove  106  of the desk dam apparatus  100  such that the protrusion  210   b  fits entirely into the front groove  106  while the front portion F thereof rests against the rear portion R of the desk dam apparatus  100 . A height h 2  of the protrusion  210   b  can be configured to be the same as, or slightly larger than the height h 2  of the front groove  106  such that the protrusion  210   b  fits tightly within the front groove  106 . A width W of the desk dam apparatus extension  210  can be configured to be approximately 1 inch, and the protrusion  210   b  thereof can be configured to protrude by an amount equal to the depth of the front groove  106 , which for this exemplary embodiment is approximately 0.5 inches (the same as the extent in which the lip LP is described to protrude from the body B of the desk dam apparatus  100  with reference to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2A ). A rear groove  218  can be formed at the back of the desk dam apparatus extension  210  to receive the insert  200  therein, or to receive a protrusion  210   b  of another desk dam apparatus extension  210 , as described in more detail below while referring to  FIG. 2D . 
       FIG. 2D  illustrates where two desk dam apparatus extensions  210  can be engaged together, thus forming a single desk dam apparatus extension  210  with twice the width W of one desk dam apparatus extension  210 . It is to be noted that with the configuration of the desk dam apparatus extension  210 , multiple desk dam apparatus extensions  210  can be fitted together to fill in larger gaps that may occur between the edge of a desk top and a wall in which a desk may be placed adjacent thereto. Further, the insert  200  in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2B  can be fitted into the last one of a plurality of desk dam apparatus extensions  210  connected together in order to close the exposed rear groove  218  of the last one of the plurality of fitted desk dam apparatus extensions  210 . 
     It is to be noted that since the exposed rear surface R of the last one of the plurality of fitted desk dam apparatus extensions  210  will press against a wall in which the corresponding desk top surface is adjacent thereto, the combination of the desk dam apparatus  100 , adhered to the edge of the desk top, together with the one or more desk dam apparatus extensions  210  will be secured between the desk top edge and a wall in which the desk is disposed adjacent thereto, thus providing a secure desk dam between an edge of a desk top and an adjacent wall. 
       FIG. 2E  illustrates a side view of the desk dam apparatus  100  in combination with the extension  210  and the insert  200 , as a system. The desk dam apparatus  100  is connected to the extension  210  by inserting the protrusion  210   b  of the extension  210  into the rear groove  108  of the desk dam apparatus  100 , and the insert  200  is connected to the extension  210  by inserting the insert  200  into the rear groove  218  of the extension  210 . As illustrated, the front groove  106  is slid over an edge of a desk top  250  until the adhesive  110  comes into contact with the edge of the desk top  250 . The protrusion  210   b  of the extension  210  is inserted into the back groove  108  of the desk dam apparatus  100 , and the insert  200  is inserted into the back groove  218  of the extension  210 . Finally, a back end of the upper and lower lips LP are pressed against a wall  270 , and a back surface  200   b  is also pressed against the wall  270 . 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates a top view of the desk dam apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 . As illustrated, the holes  102  extend completely through the desk dam apparatus  100  from top T to the bottom thereof, and the slits  104  extend from a respective hole  102  through to the rear R of the desk dam apparatus  100 . 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates a front view of the desk dam apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a side view of a desk dam apparatus  400  according to another exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. Similar to the desk dam apparatus  100  in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the desk dam apparatus  400  is also configured to be attachable to and detachable from an edge of a desk top of a desk in order to close any gap that may exist between the desk top and a wall in which such a desk may be placed adjacent thereto. 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates a perspective view of the desk dam apparatus  400  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4A . As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the desk dam apparatus  400  may also include a plurality of holes  402  equally distanced apart and along a length L thereof. The holes  402  may extend entirely through a middle of a body portion B of the desk dam apparatus  400  from a top T to a bottom thereof, similarly to the desk dam apparatus  100  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2A . The holes  402  are configured to have a diameter large enough to receive electrical wires therethrough, yet small enough to prevent electrical connectors at the ends of the wires from sliding therethrough. The holes  402  can be formed to have a diameter of approximately 0.25 inches, for example, and can be spaced apart from each other by a distance d of approximately 2 inches. However, the diameter of each hole  402  can be configured to correspond with diameters of wires intended to be used to electrically charge electronic devices seated on a desk top. Further, the distance d between adjacent holes  402  can be configured in accordance with the thickness/diameter of the wires intended to be used with the desk dam apparatus  400 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B , the desk dam apparatus  400  may also include a plurality of slits  404  that extend therethrough along a back portion thereof. The slits  404  can be configured to align with respective ones of the holes  402  such that an electrical wire can be slid through a slit  404  until the wire reaches and rests in a corresponding hole  402 . The slits  404  are provided to allow wires to be placed in a respective hole  402  while electrical connectors, attached to an end of a corresponding wire, are too large to fit through the corresponding hole  402 . 
     The desk dam apparatus  400  may be configured to have a height H of approximately 2 inches from a top T to a bottom thereof. The desk dam apparatus  400  may also be configured to have a width W of approximately 3 inches from a front portion F to a rear portion R thereof. Although the height H and width W of the desk dam apparatus  400  can be increased or decreased depending on the desk top to be used therewith, or the surrounding environment in which the apparatus  400  is intended to be used, for the purposes of describing this exemplary embodiment of the desk dam apparatus  400 , all references to the height H thereof will be inferred to be 2 inches, and all references to the width W thereof will be inferred to be 3 inches. 
     The desk dam apparatus  400  may include a front notch  406  extending along an entire length of the front portion F thereof. The front notch  406  is provided to create a lip LP at a top of the front portion F of the desk dam apparatus  400  which can rest over the edge of a desk top. This exemplary embodiment of the desk dam apparatus  400  is advantageous where an edge of a desk top does not extend passed a body of the desk, thus leaving no protruding edge in which a groove, such as the front groove  106  of  FIG. 1 , can be tightly slid thereover. The front notch  406  can be formed at a distance h 1  below the top T surface of the desk dam apparatus  400  and can extend to the bottom surface of the desk dam apparatus  400 . Accordingly, since the lip LP is configured to have a height h 1  of approximately 0.5 inches, similar to the height h 1  of the lip LP of the desk dam apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1 , the front notch  406  can be configured to have a height of approximately 1.5 inches, thus extending the entire remaining height of the desk dam apparatus  400  from a bottom of the lip LP to the bottom of the desk dam apparatus  400 . The height of the front notch  406  is not particularly important since this desk dam apparatus  400  according to this exemplary embodiment is not configured to enclose a protruding edge of a desk top. However, the lip LP should have a height h 1  sufficient to withstand weight that may be placed on the top surface T of the desk dam apparatus  400 . 
     Similar to the desk dam apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the desk dam apparatus  400  can be made entirely of a foam-like material or similar porous structure that can be cut to a desired length, as well as being strong enough to retain electrical wires within the holes  402 . The material in which the desk dam apparatus  400  is formed is also made of a material that can support a wire with display objects extending therefrom, or figurines or other display pieces, in an upright vertical manner, as will be described in more detail with respect to  FIGS. 6 through 8 . 
     A two-sided adhesive  410  can be attached to a back wall within the front notch  406  and can extend the entire length thereof. An opposite side of the two-sided adhesive  410  can be adhered to the edge of a desk top. Alternatively, a hook and loop type system (i.e., Velcro®) can be used to attach the desk dam apparatus  400  to the edge of a desk top by adhering a strip of the hooks or loops to the inner wall of the front notch  406  while adhering the other one of the strips of hooks or loops to the edge of the desk top such that when the strip of hooks and loops are placed in contact with each other the desk dam apparatus  400  becomes adhered to the edge of the desk top. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the desk dam apparatus  400  may also include a rear groove  408  that extends along an entire length L of a rear portion R thereof. The rear groove  408  is configured to allow an insert  200  (see  FIG. 2B ) to be tightly fitted therein to contain the wires from being pulled out of the slits  404 . The rear groove  408  can be configured to be disposed at a distance h 1  from the top T of the desk dam apparatus  400  and at a distance h 3  from the bottom of the desk dam apparatus  400 . The rear groove  408  can also be configured to have a height h 2  of approximately 1 inch. However, the height h 2  of the groove  408  can be formed to any height which corresponds with a height of the insert  200 . In accordance with this present exemplary embodiment, the rear groove  108  is configured to be disposed along a center of the rear portion R of the desk dam apparatus  100  such that a lip LP having a thickness h 1  of approximately 0.5 inches is formed above the rear groove  108  and a lip LP having a thickness h 3  of approximately 0.5 inches is formed below the rear groove  108 . 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a top view of the desk dam apparatus  400  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates a front view of the desk dam apparatus  400  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the desk dam apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , with electrical wires inserted into respective holes  102 . For example, a common 120 volt electrical cord c 1  can be inserted into a hole  102  by sliding the cord c 1  through a slit  104  corresponding to the hole  102 . Once the cord c 1  is in the hole  102 , a connector portion c 1   a  of the electrical cord c 1  is retained above the top T of the desk dam  100  since the connector portion c 1   a  is too large to slide through the corresponding hole  102 . Similarly, an electrical cord c 2  used with a mobile phone or electronic tablet can be inserted into a hole  102  by sliding the cord c 2  through a slit  104  corresponding to the hole  102 . Once the cord c 2  is in the hole  102 , a connector portion c 2   a  of the electrical cord c 2  is retained above the top T of the desk dam  100  since the connector portion c 2   a  is too large to slide through the corresponding hole  102 . Similarly, a USB cord c 3  can be inserted into a hole  102  by sliding the cord c 3  through a slit  104  corresponding to the hole  102 . Once the cord c 3  is in the hole  102 , a USB connector portion c 3   a  of the electrical cord c 3  is retained above the top T of the desk dam  100  since the USB connector portion c 3   a  is too large to slide through the corresponding hole  102 . It is to be noted that any type of electrical cord with a connector end can be retained in one of the plurality of holes  102  to keep the electrical cord connector above a desk top surface for easy access, this preventing electrical cords and respective connectors from sliding off a desk top surface. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the desk dam apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , with a display object  702  inserted into the body B of the desk dam apparatus  100 . More specifically, any type of display object, figurine, or other display piece can be retained in an upright manner by inserting a wire  702   a , connected to the display object  702 , through a portion of the body B of the desk dam apparatus  100 . Since the desk dam apparatus  100  is formed of a foam-like material or similar porous structure, the wire  702   a  can be inserted therein, while being retained in an upright manner, thus displaying the display object  702  in a floating like fashion. 
     It is to be noted that the desk dam apparatus  400  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4A  can provide the same features and utilities as described above with respect to the desk dam apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the desk dam apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , with a display object  802  inserted into the body B of the desk dam apparatus  100  as well as a note sheet or other type of paper holder  804 . More specifically, any type of display object, figurine, note sheet holder, or other display piece can be retained in an upright manner by inserting a wire  802   a ,  804   a , connected to the display object  802  or not sheet holder  804 , respectively, through a portion of the body B of the desk dam apparatus  100 . Since the desk dam apparatus  100  is formed of a foam-like material or similar porous structure, the wires  802   a  and  804   a  can be inserted therein, while being retained in an upright manner, thus displaying the display objects, figurines, note sheet holders, etc., in a floating like fashion. 
     Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.