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US 2011/0078879 A1Published application
Device for Organizing and Maintaining the Patency of Lines
OwnerPeter Z. Yaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One aspect of the invention relates to a device that efficiently folds and organizes tubing and cords while not compromising their function. In certain embodiments, the device provides dynamic length adjustment in the form to reducing line length, and the device organizes the lines in parallel, making it easier to identify their connections.
Claims27
A folding unit, comprising:
- a first arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
- a second arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
- a pin pivotally coupling the proximal end of the first arm and the proximal end of the second arm, the first arm and the second arm being configured for rotation about the pin between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the distal end of the first arm and the distal end of the second arm are at opposite ends of the folding unit, and in the closed position the distal end of the first arm and the distal end of the second arm are adjacent to each other;
- a wheel configured and positioned for rotation around the pin;
- a first protrusion on the first arm;
- a first indentation on the second arm;
- wherein said first protrusion is complimentary to said first indentation, and said first protrusion fits into said first indentation on the second arm when the device is in the closed position;
- a first longitudinal groove on the first arm and a second longitudinal groove on the second arm, wherein said first longitudinal groove and said second longitudinal groove are on the same side of the device when the device is in the open position;
- a first u-shaped piece positioned at or near the end of the first longitudinal groove and sized to house a line;
- a second u-shaped piece positioned at or near the end of the second longitudinal groove and sized to house a line;
- wherein the first u-shaped piece and the second u-shaped piece are sized so that one u-shaped piece fits inside the other u-shaped piece while leaving a space for a line to move there through;
- a third piece positioned between the first u-shaped piece and the wheel and slidably connected to the first longitudinal groove, comprising a first curved notch that is sized to house and attach to a line;
- a fourth piece positioned between the second piece and the wheel and slidably connected to the second longitudinal groove, comprising a second curved notch that is sized to house and attach to a line;
- a second protrusion on the first arm;
- and
- a second indentation on the first arm;
- wherein said second protrusion is complimentary to said second indentation, and said second protrusion and said second indentation are located on opposite sides of the first arm.
14 more elements
A device for organizing and maintaining the patency of lines comprising a plurality of folding unit;
- wherein each folding unit comprises:
- a first arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
- a second arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
- a pin pivotally coupling the proximal end of the first arm and the proximal end of the second arm, the first arm and the second arm being configured for rotation about the pin between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position the distal end of the first arm and the distal end of the second arm are at opposite ends of the folding unit, and in the closed position the distal end of the first arm and the distal end of the second arm are adjacent to each other;
- a wheel configured and positioned for rotation around the pin;
- a first protrusion on the first arm;
- a first indentation on the second arm;
- wherein said first protrusion is complimentary to said first indentation, and said first protrusion fits into said first indentation on the second arm when the device is in the closed position;
- a first longitudinal groove on the first arm and a second longitudinal groove on the second arm, wherein said first longitudinal groove and said second longitudinal groove are on the same side of the device when the device is in the open position;
- a first u-shaped piece positioned at or near the end of the first longitudinal groove and sized to house a line;
- a second u-shaped piece positioned at or near the end of the second longitudinal groove and sized to house a line;
- wherein the first u-shaped piece and the second u-shaped piece are sized so that one u-shaped piece fits inside the other u-shaped piece while leaving a space for a line to move there through;
- a third piece positioned between the first u-shaped piece and the wheel and slidably connected to the first longitudinal groove, comprising a first curved notch that is sized to house and attach to a line;
- a fourth piece positioned between the second piece and the wheel and slidably connected to the second longitudinal groove, comprising a second curved notch that is sized to house and attach to a line;
- a second protrusion on the first arm;
- and
- a second indentation on the first arm;
- wherein said second protrusion is complimentary to said second indentation, and said second protrusion and said second indentation are located on opposite sides of the first arm;
- and
- each folding unit is connected to an adjacent folding units by either the joining of its second protrusions to the second indentation on another folding unit or by the joining of its first u-shaped piece or second u-shaped piece with its complementary u-shaped piece on another folding unit.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.