Patent ID: 12214954

Throughout the figures, the same parts are always denoted using the same reference characters so that, as a general rule, they will only be described once.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Described in one or more embodiments herein is a novel soft-sided bag with dummy plugs to capture the ends of a cord and prevent any knots, while fully enclosing the cord to protect it. The bag can have a zipper or other closure to fully protect the cord for storage and transport. The bag can have handles that allow for easy handling, hanging, transporting, and storage. This novel bag simplifies the gathering and storing of an extension cord or string of lights without the risk of knotting. The bag eliminates the tedious time-consuming careful winding of a cord onto itself or onto one of many winding devices available.

In one or more embodiments, this bag has a male plug and female receptacle to contain both ends of the extension cord or string of lights. These plug ends can be dummy plugs with no electrical wiring. Once both ends of an extension cord or string of lights are plugged in, the cord will not knot. The balance of the cord can simply be gathered together with minimal care and placed into the bag. As long as the cord was not knotted to start with, then the cord will emerge unknotted.

An added benefit for extension cords is the fact that a user does not have to unwind the full length of an extension cord to get use from the extension cord. The user can simply unplug the male end of the extension cord from the dummy receptacle in the bag, plug this end into the live receptacle, and back away removing cord from the bag until the user reaches the desired length. At which point the user can put the bag down, unplug the female end of the extension cord from the dummy plug and use the extension, with extra length of cord still gathered up in the bag.

The bag described herein is not a fixed dimension hard-shell container that requires a predetermined amount of space regardless whether it is full, empty, or is storing a smaller cord. The bag does not have extra internal winding elements that complicate the manufacture of the bag, complicate the use of the bag, and increase the expense of the bag. The bag does not have a center feature for winding the cord around. The bag does not require the tedious and careful winding or placement of a cord that most devices do.

In accordance with the devices of the present application, a bag (herein referred to as “bag”) may include but is not limited to a soft-sided bag with handles, a bag with no handles, a container with one or more openings, a fabric bag, a canvas bag, a nylon bag, a leather bag, a paper bag, a plastic bag, a bag with a hard bottom, a compressible bag, and a rubber bag.

In accordance with the devices of the present application, a plug (herein referred to as “plug”) may include but is not limited to a male dummy plug, a female dummy plug, a non-active electrical plug, an active electrical plug, a rubber simulated male or female plug, a plastic male or female plug, a combination material male2or3prong plug or female2or3prong receptacles, or a snap in holder to grab the cord ends, or a pocket that captures the cord ends, or a cinch cord to hold the cord ends, the ends of a cord, the ends of a light string, or a cinch, string, or rubber bands.

In accordance with the devices of the present application, a cord (herein referred to as “cord”) may include but is not limited to an extension cord, a string of Christmas lights, a string of lights, power extender, drop cord, string lights, rope lights, extension lead, extension cable, power strip, a USB or other electronic cable, an extension cable, a phone cable, a coaxial cable, a rope, a string, a length of yarn, or any flexible linear device with plugs at each of the two ends.

In accordance with the devices of the present application, a zipper (herein referred to as “zipper”) may include but is not limited to a snap or snaps, a button or buttons, a tie, a flap, a Velcro strip, magnetic closure, or any other available bag closure mechanisms.

In one example embodiment shown inFIGS.1,3,4, and5, the bag1has a zipper5or other closure mechanism, handles4, a bag exterior3and a bag interior2. A female dummy plug7and a male dummy plug6are connected to the bag interior2, but can both extend beyond to the zipper5to make it easier to plug in cord male plug9and cord female plug10of extension cord8or of string of lights13. Both female dummy plug7and a male dummy plug6once connected to cord8or to string of lights13can be retracted back into bag1below zipper5with entire length of cord8or string of lights13. The zipper5can be closed to contain all of the cord8or string of lights13.

FIG.1is a top view of the bag1in accordance with this example embodiment of the invention. The bag1has a bag interior2and a bag exterior3. Bag1also has handles4and a zipper5. Extension cord8is connected to the bag by extension cord male plug9plugging into female dummy plug7, and extension cord female plug10plugging with male dummy plug6.

FIG.3is a side view of bag1in accordance with this example embodiment of the invention, with bag exterior3and handle4. Male dummy plug6and female dummy plug7are connected to the inside of bag1.

FIG.4is a side view of bag1in accordance with this example embodiment of the invention, with bag exterior3and handle4. Male dummy plug6and female dummy plug7are connected to the inside of bag1. Extension cord8is connected to the bag by extension cord male plug9plugging into female dummy plug7, and extension cord female plug10plugging with male dummy plug6.

FIG.5is a side view of bag1in accordance with this example embodiment of the invention, with bag exterior3and handle4. A cord13with lights14is plugged into dummy plugs inside the bag.

In another example embodiment, the bag has a dual operation zipper. In this example embodiment, the zippers can be operated to open both ends near the dummy plugs and keep the bag closed in the middle. This would allow either end of the extension cord, or both ends, to be removed from their respective dummy plugs and pulled from the bag, while keeping some portion of the cord secured in the bag.

In another example embodiment shown inFIGS.2and6, the bag1has an active adapter with male plug end11for the female end of the extension cord, and one or more female receptacles12that are fitted thru the wall of the bag. In this example, the plug11for the female end of the extension cord is electrically connected to receptacle12. Thus, the bag can act like a self-contained power strip, doling out enough wire to plug into an outlet and reach the job site.

FIG.2is a top view of the bag1in accordance with this example embodiment of the invention. The bag1has a bag interior2and a bag exterior3. Bag1also has handles4and a zipper5. Bag1has a built-in female dummy plug7. Bag1also has an active plug male11on the bag interior2that connects with active plug female receptacle12on the bag exterior3.

FIG.6is a side view of the bag1in accordance with this example embodiment of the invention, with bag exterior3and handle4. Female dummy plug7is connected to the interior2of the bag1. Active plug female receptacle12is connected to the bag exterior3and extends to the interior2of the bag1with an active male plug on the interior2.

In another embodiment, the dummy plugs are contained within the bag. In this embodiment an unknotted cord can simply be plugged into the male and female plugs and then the cord can be quickly gathered or looped into a bundle that conveniently fits inside the bag.

Now, a method of storing a cord in a bag to prevent knotting of the cord will be described. The initial step of the method comprises starting with a cord outside of the bag and in an unknotted condition. After which, the male and female ends of the cord are inserted into their respective dummy receptacles connected to the inside of the bag. Then, the cord is gathered up with reasonable care, and the gathered-up cord is placed in the bag. To utilize the cord, the user simply reverse this operation and removes the entire cord from the bag while making sure the ends are still connected to their dummy receptacles, and then proceeds to unplug the cord from the dummy receptacle and plug it into an actual electrical receptacle. Alternatively, to utilize the cord, the user unplugs the desired end, plugs it into the device or wall receptacle, and removes cord length from the bag as needed to reach the desired length or destination.

Any of the features or attributes of the above described embodiments and variations can be used in combination with any of the other features and attributes of the above described embodiments and variations as desired.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, it is apparent that this invention can be embodied in many different forms and that many other modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Moreover, while exemplary embodiments have been described herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the exemplary embodiments set forth above are merely illustrative in nature and should not be construed as to limit the claim(s) in any manner. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined only by the claim(s) and their equivalents, and not, by the preceding description.