Patent Publication Number: US-7909185-B1

Title: Wrap and roll light cord holder

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a non-provisional of pending U.S. application No. 60/629,315 filed Nov. 19, 2004, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for storing lights or other objects strung on a cord or cords, such as holiday lights, where lights or objects strung on a cord can be easily wrapped around the apparatus for storage, and then, easily unwound to use the lights or objects. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a lightweight storage device that allows a user to wrap a string of lights about a rod, which offers protection to the saved string(s) of lights. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Decorative light packages typically comprise plastic frames such as those disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,971,200 and 5,168,999, that support the decorative bulb and socket assemblies of decorative light strings in aligned rows, with the connecting wires folded therebetween. Such frames are inserted into cardboard boxes or sleeves at the factory. It is often a difficult and time-consuming task to reinsert the decorative light strings back into the original packaging modules for storage following use. Because of this, such light strings are frequently coiled up and placed into boxes or bags, where they can become tangled, causing difficulty when they are subsequently reused. 
     Various devices have previously been disclosed for use in storing decorative light strings that are easier to work with than the original packaging and are intended to reduce the likelihood of tangling. Such devices are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,261,529; 4,586,675; 4,917,323 and 5,064,067. Reels or apparatuses with arms around which cords or lights strung on cords can be wound are known in the art. However, these storage structures cannot separate sections of lights strung on a cord and provide a storage device that protects the lights from breakage. 
     Moreover, these known storage devices may be cumbersome and heavy so that a user may have difficulty in gathering the lights and encounter more difficulty when trying to restring the lights in a decorative fashion. 
     Therefore, there exists a continuing need for new and improved lights strung on a cord holder, which can be used to easily gather the lights strung on a cord onto the holder, store the lights without lights breaking, and easily remove the lights from the holder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to create an apparatus for storing lights or objects strung on a cord or cords, such as holiday lights, where lights or objects strung on a cord can be easily wrapped around the apparatus for storage, and then, easily unwound to use the lights or objects. 
     This may be achieved by a lightweight storage device for objects strung on a cord or cords that includes an elongated rod having two ends and being made of lightweight material, a foot on each end of the elongated rod, and a plurality of separating elements spaced along the elongated rod where each plurality of separating elements includes a number of pegs circumferentially disposed about a plane intersecting with the elongated rod and wherein the length of each peg in each separating element is approximately the same and is of a length so that at least two of the pegs are capable of holding the elongated rod stationary and the length of each peg is such that a string of objects wrapped about the elongated rod are spaced from the ground when the lightweight storage device is placed on the ground. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the feet may have slots or grooves that function to hold secure plugs of lights, extension cords, phone cords and the like. 
     The foot of the elongated rod may be attached via a threaded fastener or dowel. The threaded fastener or dowel is inserted into a hole or recess at the end of the elongated rod and the hole or recess may be used to receive extension pieces to the lightweight storage device. 
     The elongated rod of one embodiment of the invention has at least two separating elements and the area between the separating elements is capable of receiving a cord having approximately 100 objects or lights. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, an extension piece may be added to the elongated rod to hold even more objects or lights. The extension piece is an elongated rod with at least one separating element. One end of the extension has a foot with a slot for receiving a plug, while the other end has a fastener, such as a headless screw extending from a hole or recess centrally located within the end of the elongated rod. 
     A method of storing objects strung on a cord according to one embodiment of the invention includes placing an end of a cord of objects on a foot of a lightweight storage device, rotating the lightweight storage device thereby causing the cord of objects to be wrapped along an area of the elongated rod of the lightweight storage device between first adjacent separating elements of the lightweight storage device, when the area between the first adjacent separating elements is full, continue rotating the elongated rod so that the next wrap of the cord of objects is in the area between the second adjacent separating elements of the lightweight storage device, and when finished wrapping the cord of objects, the lightweight storage device may be stored away. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  schematically depicts a wrap and roll cord saver according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a string of holiday lights wrapped around the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  schematically depicts a child using the wrap and roll saver to decorate a holiday tree; and 
         FIG. 4  depicts a wrap and roll cord saver and an extension piece according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Looking at  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, a lightweight storage device  10  for objects strung on a cord or cords is shown. Lightweight storage device  10  includes an elongated rod  12  having two ends  14 . The elongated rod  12  may be made of lightweight material, such as wood or plastic and preferably has a centrally located hole or recess at each end  14 . A foot  16  is disposed on each end  14  of the elongated rod and may be secured to an end  14  of the elongated rod  12  by a dowel or threaded fastener either friction-fitted or screwed within the centrally located hole. Elongated rod  12  may be from approximately 15 inches to 22 inches long and has a diameter of up to approximately 3 inches. 
     Elongated rod  12  has a plurality of separating elements  18  spaced along its longitudinal axis. Each plurality of separating elements  18  includes a number of pegs  20  circumferentially disposed about a plane intersecting with elongated rod  12 . The length of each peg  20  in each separating element  18  is approximately the same and is of a length so that at least two of the pegs  18  are capable of holding the elongated rod  12  stationary. In addition, the length of each peg  20  is such that a string of objects  24  wrapped about the elongated rod are spaced from the ground when the lightweight storage device is placed on the ground. There may be three to four separating elements disposed along elongated rod  12 . 
     For example, in one embodiment, there may be 16 holes drilled in an elongated rod  12  for four spacing elements  18  disposed along the elongated rod  12 . The four holes for each spacing element  18  are evenly spaced from around the circumference of elongated rod  12 . The four holes are for holding pegs  20  of each spacing element  18 , and may be about a half an inch to 1 inch apart depending upon the diameter of elongated rod  12 . 
     Pegs  20  may extend about 2-3 inches from the periphery of elongated rod  12  and are about a quarter inch in diameter. Pegs  20  may be friction fitted within the holes drilled into elongated rod  12 , or the pegs may be attached in other equivalent ways known to those skilled in the art. Each spacing element  18  may have four pegs and each spacing element  18  may be disposed about 6 inches from another spacing element  18 . The area between adjacent spacing elements provides sufficient space for wrapping a cord or cords with approximately 100 objects. Pegs  20  perform a standing effect, which prohibits the objects wrapped on the lightweight storage device  10  from touching the floor or table or ground. 
     Feet  16  may be provided with slots to secure cord ends, such as an electrical plug of a cord to be wrapped around the elongated rod, so that the cord will not unravel unless a user wants to unwrapped the saved objects on a cord. Feet  16  may be secured with a threaded fastener so that the feet can be removed, if desired, to add an extension piece. 
     A lightweight extension piece  10 ′ may be used to add additional protected storage areas to a lightweight storage device  10  (see  FIG. 4 ). The lightweight extension piece has an elongated extension rod  12 ′ with centrally located holes on either side of the extension rod, a foot on one end of the elongated extension rod  12 ′, and a fastener  22  extending from the hole on the other end of the elongated extension rod  12 ′ where the fastener  22  is adapted to be inserted into a centrally located hole on an end of the lightweight storage device  10 . 
     The lightweight extension piece may include at least one separating element  18 ′ spaced along the elongated extension rod  12 ′ where the at least one separating element  18 ′ includes a number of pegs  20 ′ circumferentially disposed about a plane intersecting with the elongated extension rod  12 ′ and wherein the length of each peg  20 ′ in each separating element  18 ′ is approximately the same and is of a length so that at least two of the pegs  20 ′ are capable of holding the elongated extension rod  12 ′ stationary and the length of each peg  20 ′ is such that a string of objects  24  wrapped about the elongated extension rod  12 ′ are spaced from the ground when the lightweight storage device  10 , to which the extension piece is attached, is placed on the ground. 
     Pegs  20  may separate different kinds of wires or cords. The pegs of each separating element also enable the lightweight storage device to stand up so that none of the objects strung on the wrapped cord(s) touch the ground, floor or table. Moreover, even if the lightweight storage device is inadvertently rolled on the floor, table or ground, the objects strung on the wrapped cord(s) may be protected from the floor, table or ground. Generally, pegs  20  do not roll and cause the lightweight storage device  10  to remain stationary unless acted upon by an outside force. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lightweight storage device according to the invention is easy to use: both for storing objects on a cord and unwrapping stored objects on a cord. The method of storing objects strung on a cord includes placing an end of a cord of objects on a foot of a lightweight storage device of the present invention, rotating the lightweight storage device thereby causing the cord of objects to be wrapped along an area of the elongated rod of the lightweight storage device between the first adjacent separating elements of the lightweight storage device, when the area between the first adjacent separating elements is full, continue rotating the elongated rod so that the next wrap of the cord of objects is in the are between the second adjacent separating elements of the lightweight storage device, and when finished wrapping the cord of objects, the lightweight storage device may be stored away. This method is simple and easy to do as a result of the wrap and roll action. Consequently, a small adult or even a child could easily store away lights, for example, that were decorating a holiday tree. 
     Similarly, the method of unwrapping objects strung on a cord employs the same wrap and roll action. This method includes taking a lightweight storage device with objects on a cord wrapped around an elongated rod of the storage device, and rotating the lightweight storage device in the opposite direction with which the objects were wrapped around the elongated rod thereby unwinding the cord of objects so they can be placed in a decorative manner on another object to be decorated. 
     If additional lights or objects strung on a cord need to be saved, an extension piece can easily and quickly be added to a lightweight storage device. The extension piece may either be screwed into a centrally located hole on the elongated rod of the lightweight storage device, or, it may be friction fit into the hole of the elongated rod. This may be done easily with a snap and a twist or by screwing the extension piece to the elongated rod. 
     Applicant envisions that a bag with a hand or shoulder tote may be used with the wrap and roll cord saver to keep dust off objects strung on wrapped cord(s). The bag may be of nylon material or other easily foldable material. The length of the bag should be long enough to receive a lightweight storage device  10  of a wrap and roll cord saver and a lightweight extension piece  10 ′. The bag may have a zipper for easy access to the stored lightweight storage device  10 . 
     The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. All examples presented are representative and non-limiting. The above-described embodiments of the invention may be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.