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US 6,712,320 B2Granted
Single-handed cord/cable management device
OwnerAlexander F. Riverainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a device for bundling cables, ropes, wires, or other long flexible materials that are desired to be bundled. The device comprises an arcuate strap for encircling bundled cables. The strap is preferably discontinuous, with first and second ends forming a mouth into a central cavity formed by an arcuate strap. Finger grips are located adjacent to the first and second ends, allowing fingers of a user to be used to pull the first and second ends of the strap to open the normally closed mouth of the device. The device also preferably includes engagement features on the first and second ends to allow the first and second ends to be forced into engagement to lock cables into the cavity formed by the arcuate shape of the strap.
Claims25
A cable bundling device comprising:
- a flexible arcuate strap portion, said strap portion having a first end and a second end, and an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface forming a perimeter of said flexible arcuate strap portion, wherein said first and second ends form a discontinuity in said perimeter of said arcuate strap portion, and wherein said inner surface forms a cavity;
- first and second finger grips, said first finger grip being located adjacent to said first end, and said second finger grip being located adjacent to said second end;
- wherein said first and second finger grips allow interposition of a finger between said flexible arcuate strap portion and said finger grip, wherein said first and second ends substantially abut each other when said flexible arcuate strap portion is in a relaxed state.
A cable bundling device comprising:
- a flexible arcuate strap portion, said flexible arcuate strap portion having a first end and a second end and a relaxed state, said first and second ends forming a discontinuity in a perimeter of said flexible arcuate strap portion, said flexible arcuate strap portion further having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the perimeter of the strap forms a cavity into which cables can be inserted, said cavity being oriented along a long axis, said long axis passing through an approximate center of said cavity;
- a first finger loop adjacent said first end, said finger loop forming an opening into which a user's digit may be extended, wherein said opening is substantially perpendicular to said long axis;
- a second finger loop adjacent said second end, said finger loop forming an opening into which a user's digit may be extended, wherein said opening is substantially perpendicular to said long axis;
- at least one male and one female engagement feature, wherein said male and female features interlock when said first and said second ends of said arcuate strap portion are forced into overlapping contact, and
- wherein said first and second ends of said flexible arcuate strap portion abut when said flexible arcuate strap portion is in a relaxed state.
2 more elements
A cable bundling device comprising:
- a flexible strap, said strap having a relaxed state, said strap in said relaxed state forming a cylindrical shell about an axis of rotation, said strap further having a width and an inner surface and an outer surface, said strap further having a discontinuity through said strap along a line substantially parallel to said axis of rotation;
- a first end, said first end forming a first boundary of said strap along said discontinuity;
- a second end, said second end forming a second boundary of said strap along said discontinuity, said second end being opposite from said first end across said discontinuity;
- a first finger grip located adjacent said first end, said first finger grip allowing insertion of a user's finger into such finger grip;
- and
- a second finger grip located adjacent said second end, said second finger grip allowing insertion of a user's finger into such finger grip.
3 more elements
A cable bundling device comprising:
- a flexible strap portion, said strap portion having a first end and a second end, said strap portion is a relaxed state forming an arcuate perimeter, wherein said first and second ends form a discontinuity in said perimeter of said strap portion;
- first and second finger grips, said first finger grip being located adjacent to said first end, and said second finger grip being located adjacent to said second end, wherein said first finger grip allows interposition of a finger between said flexible strap portion and said first finger grip, and said second finger grip allows interposition of a finger between said flexible strap portion and said second finger grip;
- wherein said first and second ends are separated from each other a distance smaller than a cable to be inserted into said device when said flexible strap portion is in said relaxed state.
A cable bundling device, said cable bundling device comprising:
- a cable bundling means for constraining substantially parallel bights of a cable, said cable bundling means having a relaxed state for restraining cables within said cable bundling means, said cable bundling means further comprising an opening for allowing cables to be placed within said cable bundling means, said cable bundling means further comprising a closed state for preventing said cable bundling means from being unintentionally opened;
- first and second opening means adjacent said opening for allowing a user to force said cable bundling means into an open state;
- and
- an engagement means for engaging said cable bundling means into said closed position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.