Patent Abstract:
A cord management device securable to objects lacking a cord management system. An embodiment includes a flexible substratum on which two outwardly facing hooks are secured in a longitudinally spaced manner. An embodiment further includes a receptacle adapted to receiving and temporarily house the prongs on an electrical cord. The flexible substratum preferably includes an adhesive, magnet or fastener to temporarily or permanently secure the device to objects. The device is thereby attachable to an object to aid in the securement of an electrical cord.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates, generally, to the management of cords. More specifically, it relates to the management of electrical cords connected to devices not equipped with a means for organizing and storing the electrical cords connected to said devices. 
     2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
     There are many electronic devices that require electrical cords and yet fail to include a means for organizing and storing their respective electrical cords when the devices are not in use. These cords can become tangled or are left in a messy heap, which can be a tripping hazard. Some attempt to wrap the electrical cord around the object itself, but the cord rarely remains securely wrapped. 
     Accordingly, what is needed is a versatile cord management device that can be attached to nearly any object and provides a structure for securely restraining an electrical cord and the cord&#39;s plug. However, in view of the art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the field of this invention how the shortcomings of the prior art could be overcome. 
     All referenced publications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Furthermore, where a definition or use of a term in a reference, which is incorporated by reference herein, is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply. 
     While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate disclosure of the invention, Applicant in no way disclaims these technical aspects, and it is contemplated that the claimed invention may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein. 
     The present invention may address one or more of the problems and deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. However, it is contemplated that the invention may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the claimed invention should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed herein. 
     In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge, or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for an aftermarket cord management device is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious invention. 
     The novel structure includes a pair of outwardly facing hooks disposed in a longitudinally spaced configuration. The hooks are preferable attached to a top surface of a flexible substratum. The bottom surface of the substratum includes adhesive, magnet(s), or fastener(s), thereby allowing the device to be secured to an object in need of a cord management device. 
     An embodiment includes a receptacle secured between the pair of outwardly facing hooks. The receptacle has two or more apertures adapted to receive prongs extending from the plug end of an electrical cord. In an embodiment, the receptacle is offset from the midline between the two hooks, such that a surface opposite of the surface containing the two or more apertures is closer to the nearest hook than the surface having the apertures. 
     An embodiment includes a catch and a receptacle. The catch has a bottom surface with an adhesive, fastener, or magnet for attaching the catch to an object. The receptacle has a side containing two or more apertures adapted to receive prongs extending from a plug end of an electrical cord, and a bottom surface with an adhesive, fastener, or magnet for attaching the receptacle to an object. The catch is preferably secured to an object in an orientation where the catch is facing the side of the receptacle having the two or more apertures. 
     An embodiment includes a flexible substratum on which the catch and receptacle are secured. The substratum in turn has a bottom surface with an adhesive, fastener, or magnet, thereby allowing the device to be secured to an object in need of a cord management device. 
     In an embodiment, the receptacle and the catch are manufactured as a single unit and adapted to separate into two components prior to use, using for example a perforated seam. 
     These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this disclosure proceeds. 
     The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the disclosure set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention secured to a cylindrical object, highlighting the flexibility of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the substratum wrapping around a curved corner of an object to highlight the flexibility of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with a cord coiled around the longitudinally spaced hooks. 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the present invention displaying the apertures in the receptacle. 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the present invention displaying the apertures in the receptacle. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention that uses a receptacle without the hooks. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment having a receptacle and a catch. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an embodiment having a receptacle and a catch. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an embodiment in which the receptacle and catch are sold as a single separable unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The present invention is a novel apparatus attachable to any device for securing an electrical cord and plug. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present invention includes substratum  102  having top surface  104  and bottom surface  106 . Substratum  102  is preferably flexible to conform to the surface over which the substratum is laid. As depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the flexibility of substratum  102  allows the apparatus to easily conform to cylindrical objects and rounded edges. 
     Bottom surface  106  includes an adhesive, fastener, one or more magnets, or another securing instrument known to a person of ordinary skill in the art (not shown) to ensure that substratum  102  can be secured to an object. Bottom surface  106  may use a fastener that provides temporary or permanent affixation to the object on which substratum  102  is secured. 
     Top surface  104  includes first hook member  108  proximate to a first end of substratum  102  and second hook member  110  proximate to a second end of substratum  102 . Hooks  108 ,  110  are preferably curved or angular structural members directed away from each other. In an embodiment, first hook member  108  and second hook member  110  are arranged in opposing configuration such that the hooks are convexly oriented from the perspective of the midpoint of the substratum. Hooks  108 ,  110  in combination provide a structure about which cord  112  can be coiled as depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
     In an embodiment, top surface  104  of substratum  102  also includes receptacle  114 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , receptacle  114  includes apertures  116  configured to receive the prongs extending from the plug end of electrical cord  112 . As depicted in  FIG. 5A , an embodiment of receptacle  114  includes two slot-shaped apertures  116  to receive a two-prong electrical plug. Alternatively,  FIG. 5B  provides an embodiment of receptacle  114  having three apertures  116  to receive a three-prong electrical plug. The current figures depict receptacle  114  having various apertures  116  consistent with the most common electrical plugs found in the United States. It is considered, however, that an embodiment of receptacle  114  may have different aperture designs for receiving any configuration of prongs extending from any type of electrical plug. 
     Receptacle  114  is preferably located between hooks  108 ,  110 , but it is considered that receptacle  114  may be located outside of the two hooks. In addition, surface  114   a  of receptacle  114  having apertures  116  preferably faces one of the hooks  108 ,  110  to ensure that the cord&#39;s plug aligns generally with coiled cord  112 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
     In an embodiment, receptacle  114  is offset from the midpoint line between hooks  108 ,  110  such that surface  114   b , the surface opposite of  114   a , is closer to the nearest hook than surface  114   a . This is best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , wherein surface  114   b  is closer to hook  108  than surface  114   a . As a result, ample room is provided to accommodate the plug end of cord  112 , which is typically a more rigid section of the cord. 
     In an embodiment, surface  114   b  may be the surface of the receptacle that is oppositely disposed from substratum  102  to account for “low profile” plugs, i.e. prongs that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plug end of the electrical cord. In addition, surface  114   b  may be any surface except for the object-facing surface, i.e. the surface mated to substratum  102  or simply the surface having the ability to attach to an object. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of the present invention includes receptacle  114  without hooks  108 ,  110 . Receptacle  114  may rest atop a substratum or simply rely on a bottom surface  114   d  having an adhesive, fastener, one or more magnets, or another securing instrument known to a person of ordinary skill in the art (collectively denoted by reference numeral  118 ) to ensure that receptacle  114  can be secured to an object. The method of securing receptacle  114  may be temporary or permanent. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an embodiment includes receptacle  114  with catch  109 . In an embodiment, both receptacle  114  and catch  109  are secured to top surface  104  of a single substratum  102  or each is secured to their own independent substratum  102 . Alternatively, receptacle  114  and catch  109  may be used without a substratum and include their own respective securing instrument for attaching to a particular object. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , regardless of whether a receptacle  114  and catch  109  are used with substratum  102 , catch  109  preferably faces surface  114   a . As a result, cord  112  can be wrapped around an object between catch  109  and receptacle  114 , and the plug end can mate with receptacle  114  while catch  109  prevents cord  112  from sliding off of the object around which cord  112  is wrapped. Preferably, catch  109  is secured to an object proximate to the point at which cord  112  attaches to the object because electrical cords tend to loosen and slide from the end at which they attach to an object. 
     Alternatively, receptacle  114  can be secured to the object such that the longitudinal axis (axis extending between surface  114   a  and  114   b ) of receptacle  114  is misaligned with the longitudinal axis of catch  109 . For example, receptacle  114  may be perpendicularly oriented with respect to catch  109  such that receptacle  114  shown in  FIG. 8  would rotated 90-degrees in a clockwise direction prior to being secured to the object. As a result, the plug end of cord  112  would be parallel with the section of cord secured with catch  109  when the plug end mates with receptacle  114 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , an embodiment includes receptacle  114  and catch  109  being manufactured and sold as a single unit to reduce costs. The unit preferably includes a perforated seam to allow the two objects to easily separate and be positioned as desired. 
     It should be noted that catch  109  and hooks  108 ,  110  may have the same shape and thus capable of performing the same function. 
     In an embodiment, receptacle  114  is adapted to receive a portion of cord  112  rather than the prongs extending from the plug end of cord  112 . Instead of having prong apertures  116 , the alternative receptacle design has a cord receiving area adapted to receive and temporarily secure a cord. The alternative receptacle may have any shape and design known to a person of ordinary skill in the art such that the alternative receptacle is capable of temporarily securing a cord. 
     In addition, it should be noted that the optimal use of the device includes the following sequential steps for identifying an attachment location: (1) identifying a preliminary attachment location for the device, (2) securing the cord with the device, (3) adjusting the location of the device to ensure that the cord remains taught when secured, and (4) attaching the device at the adjusted location. These steps will ensure that the cord can be consistently secured to the device in an optimal location on the object that was lacking a cord management device. 
     Glossary of Claim Terms 
     Cord: is a flexible elongated object, typically containing an electrical conduit. 
     Hook: is an angular or curved object for holding or suspending something. 
     Outwardly Facing: is an orientation in which the curved or obtusely angled portion of the hooks face away from each other. 
     The advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7