Patent ID: 8481869

Claim:
A container for taking up and temporarily storing a central portion of an elongate flexible member connecting two fixed stations, comprising: (a) a housing presenting along at least one surface thereof a longitudinal slot formation for receiving said central portion of the flexible member in a folded configuration with linear end portions of the member extending outwardly from respective ends of the housing; and (b) a retaining member at each end of the housing for receiving and releasably gripping a respective linear end portion of the flexible member to provide tautness on the respective linear end portion; wherein: each retaining member defines a contoured fitting slot having a cable opening cooperating with a slot region that opens to an outer edge of the retaining member such that the respective linear end portion can be slid though the slot region and gripped within the cable opening; the retaining members are releasably connected to the housing; each retaining member comprises a male portion that extends longitudinally into a respective end of the housing, wherein the cable opening extends longitudinally within the male portion enabling the linear end portion received therein to be releasably gripped along a length of the cable opening; and the housing comprises inwardly extending convex flap members integral with the edges of said longitudinal slot formation to provide a press fit for lengths of the central portion of said flexible member.