Device and method for coiling a flexible material

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to the field of devices and methods used in organizing long, slender, flexible materials (e.g., an electrical cable). More particularly, this invention relates to a device and method for coiling such a flexible material and maintaining it in its coiled form.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is generally accepted that long, slender, flexible materials, including electrical cables, are difficult to organize or maintain in an organized state, especially during transport or storage. Many seek to organize such materials by coiling them and, preferably, securing them such that they remain more or less in their coiled form. This can be very tedious, however, even leading some to disregard the virtue of organization altogether. Commonly, such persons can be seen transporting multiple electrical cables (or other long, slender, flexible materials) in a single tangled, knotted mass. Such practices can increase frustration and decrease efficiency. They can also reduce the lifespan of the electrical cables (or other long, slender, flexible materials). Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a coiling device that is simple and can be used quickly.

One of the various embodiments of present invention includes (1) a cylinder that defines a cylindrical exterior surface having at least one groove that is straight and runs parallel to the axis of the cylinder and (2) a reel, around which a flexible material can be coiled. Each groove is provided for receiving at least part of an open tie (e.g., an open cable tie). The reel defines an axial through-opening for removably receiving the cylinder therethrough, such that the axis of the cylinder and the axis of the reel coincide. The cylinder is inserted in the reel via the axial through-opening, such that each groove is partially covered by the reel, resulting in a channel that later assists in preventing the open tie(s) from coming out of the groove(s) prematurely, i.e., before open ties are closed around the reel and the coiled flexible material. The flexible material is coiled around the reel and, thereafter, an open tie is introduced into each groove. Each open tie, which now occupies at least some of the space between the cylindrical exterior surface and the reel, is then closed around the reel and the coiled flexible material. The reel and the closed tie(s) cooperate to stabilize the coiled flexible material in its coiled state, even following the removal of the cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the device for coiling a flexible material;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stabilized coil of flexible material that results from practicing the invention using the embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the device for coiling a flexible material;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the stabilized coil of flexible material that results from practicing the invention using the embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a variant of one of the components (i.e., the reel) of the embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the method for preparing a stabilized coil of flexible material; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the method for preparing a stabilized reel of coiled flexible material

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