Slack cable enclosure

The disclosure relates to storage devices for cable slack and in particular to an improved enclosure having a base and cover section that cooperate to provide openings for routing cables in and out of the enclosure.

Most, if not all, personal computers and similar devices are connected to one or more auxiliary devices or inputs with cables. These cables connect personal computers and similar devices to area networks, broadband sources, telephones, power sources, printers, fax machines, cameras, modems, display devices such as monitors, speakers and similar devices. A single computer can easily have four to six cable connections to such devices and inputs. Since these cables normally are supplied in standard lengths, the cables are almost always longer than necessary, resulting in excess cable or slack. The slack portions of multiple cables used in connection with, for example, a personal computer typically end up as a tangled snarl of different cables, shoved under, alongside or behind a desk, computer or elsewhere.

Cable reels with mechanisms for paying out and retracting single cables are known. Typically these devices have include a length of cable wound on a spring loaded or manually operated reel with a first connector on a first cable end adjacent the reel and a second connector on the second cable end. The user connects the first cable connector to the first connection point and pulls the second end of the cable to the second connection point, unreeling the cable from the spool or reel. Such devices may eliminate the slack in a single cable, but do not provide a solution for devices using multiple cable to connect to multiple other devices and sources.

An enclosure for storing cables includes a base section having a bottom wall, opposed first and second sidewalls, and opposed third and fourth sidewalls. The first sidewall has first and second ends joined to first ends of the third and fourth sidewalls along the height of the sidewalls, the second sidewall being joined to second ends of the third and fourth sidewall along the height thereof. The first, second, third and fourth sidewalls are joined to the bottom wall along lower edges of the sidewalls with the bottom wall, with opposed first and second sidewalls, and opposed third and fourth sidewalls defining a generally rectangular container having an open side and an outer length and width. The first and second sidewalls of the base section have first slots formed generally midway along the length thereof, each of the first slots extending through upper edges of the first and second sidewalls toward the bottom wall. Each of the first slots has a length less than the height of the first and second sidewalls so that the first and second sidewalls extend continuously from end-to-end below the slot. The third sidewall of the base section has a second slot extending through the upper edge toward the bottom wall, the second slot having a length less than the height of the third sidewall such that the third sidewall extends continuously from the first and second ends thereof beneath the slot.

A cover section of the enclosure includes a top wall, opposed first and second sidewalls and opposed third and fourth sidewalls with the first sidewall having first and second ends joined to first ends of the third and fourth sidewalls along the height of the sidewalls. The second sidewall is joined to second ends of the third and fourth sidewall along the height of the sidewalls with the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls being joined to the top wall along upper edges thereof. The top wall, opposed first and second sidewalls and opposed third and fourth sidewalls define a generally rectangular container having an open side having an inner length and width sufficiently larger than the outer length and width of the base section such that the base section fits into the open side of the cover section with the top wall of the cover section substantially parallel to the bottom wall of the base and the sidewalls of the base section inside of, and substantially parallel to, the side walls of the cover section.

The first and second sidewalls of the cover section each have third slots formed generally midway along the length of the sidewalls with each of the third slots extending through lower edges of the first and second sidewalls toward the top wall. Each of the third slots has a length less than the height of the first and second sidewalls such that the first and second sidewalls extend continuously from end-to-end above the third slot. The third sidewall of the cover section has a fourth slot formed generally midway along the length of the sidewall. The fourth slot extends through the lower edge of the third sidewall toward the top wall and has a length less than the height of the third sidewall such that the third sidewall extends continuously from end-to-end beneath the fourth slot.

The base section is received in the cover section with the first slots aligned with the third slots and the second slot aligned with the fourth slot. The slots have a length sufficient to define variable height first, second and third passageways through overlapping portions of the first, second and third sidewalls of the base section and cover section, the passageways having variable height to accommodate different numbers of cables routed through the enclosure by means of the passageways.

In one variation, the enclosure includes a latching mechanism having a first component secured to an outer surface of at least two opposing ones of the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls of the base section. A second component of the latching mechanism is secured to an inner surface of at least two opposing ones of the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls of the cover section. The first components engage the second components when the cover section is placed over the base section to releasably secure the cover section onto the base section with the slots of the cover section aligned and overlapping the slots of the base section to form a plurality of passageways through overlapping portions of the sidewalls of the cover section and sidewalls of the base section.

In one aspect, the third sidewall of the base section has a fifth slot extending through the upper edge toward the bottom wall. The fifth slot has a length less than the height of the third sidewall such that the third sidewall extends continuously from the first and second ends thereof below the fifth slot. The third sidewall of the cover section has a sixth slot extending through the lower edge toward the top wall, the sixth slot having a length less than the height of the third sidewall such that the third sidewall extends continuously from the first and second ends thereof above the sixth slot. The base section is received in the cover section with the fifth slot aligned with the sixth slot, the slots having a length sufficient to define a variable height fourth passageway through overlapping portions of the third sidewalls of the base section and cover section.

In another variation, the enclosure includes a plurality of first latching members secured to an outer surface of at least two opposing ones of the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls of the base section. A plurality of second components are secured to an outer surface of at least two opposing ones of the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls of the cover section. The first components engage the second components when the cover section is placed over the base section to releasably secure the cover section onto the base section at a plurality of selected heights with the slots of the cover section aligned and overlapping the slots of the base section to form a plurality of passageways through overlapping portions of the sidewalls of the cover section and sidewalls of the base section.

In another variation, the third sidewall of the base section is formed with a pair of spaced apart second slots extending through the upper edge toward the bottom wall, the second slots each having a length less than the height of the third sidewall such that the third sidewall extends continuously from the first and second ends thereof beneath the slots. The third sidewall of the cover section is formed with a pair of spaced apart fourth slots extending through the lower edge toward the top wall, the fourth slots each having a length less than the height of the third sidewall of the cover section such that the third sidewall extends continuously from the first and second ends thereof above the slots. The base section is received in the cover section with the spaced apart second slots aligned with the spaced apart fourth slots, the slots having a length sufficient to define a pair of variable height passageways through overlapping portions of the third sidewalls of the base section and cover section, the passageways having variable height to accommodate different numbers of cables routed through the enclosure by means of the passageways.

In another variation, the base section is formed with exactly one first open-ended slot in each of opposing first and second sidewalls and exactly two spaced apart open-ended second slots formed in the third sidewall. The cover section is formed with exactly one open ended third slot in each of opposing first and second sidewalls and exactly two spaced apart open-ended fourth slots formed in the third sidewall. The base section is received in the cover section with the first slots aligned with the second slots and the spaced apart third slots aligned with the spaced apart fourth slots, the slots having a length sufficient to define first, second, third and fourth slots of variable height that form passageways through overlapping portions of the first, second and third sidewalls of the base section and cover section, the passageways having variable height to accommodate different numbers of cables routed through the enclosure by means of the passageways.

In other aspects, the base and/or cover sections of the enclosures may be formed from one or more of plastic, wood, cardboard and sheet metal. One or more of the slots may be defined by a series of perforations wherein the slot is opened by removing a portion of the corresponding sidewall within the perforation. The enclosure may include brackets positioned adjacent one or more of the slots, the brackets configured to receive blanks to close the corresponding passageway. Alternatively, a flexible curtain may be positioned over one or more of the slots to close the corresponding passageway. In one variation, a cable/enclosure assembly includes one or a plurality of cables routed though one or more of the passageways of the enclosure.

In other variations, the length of the slots may be greater than 50% of the height of the sidewalls. In other variations, the length of the slots may be preferably from about 60% to about 80% of the height of the corresponding sidewalls. In preferred variations, the width of the slots may vary from about 20% of the length of the slots to about 50% of the length of the slots.

In yet another aspect, a plurality of enclosures for storing cables includes a set of nested base sections including an inner base section, an outer base section and a plurality of base sections disposed between the inner and outer base sections in nested relationship. Each base section has a bottom wall, opposed first and second sidewalls and opposed third and fourth sidewalls, the first sidewall having first and second ends joined to first ends of the third and fourth sidewalls along the height thereof. The second sidewall is joined to second ends of the third and fourth sidewall along the height thereof with the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls being joined to the bottom wall along lower edges thereof to define a generally rectangular container having an open upper side, an outer length and width and an inner length and width wherein each successive base section between the inner base section and the outer base section has a slightly smaller outer length, and width than the inner outer length, and width of an adjacent base section in which it is nested.

The first and second sidewalls of each of the nested base sections have first slots formed generally midway along the length thereof, each of the first slots extending through upper edges of the first and second sidewalls toward the bottom wall, each of the first slots having a length less than the height of the first and second sidewalls such that the first and second sidewalls extend continuously from the first and second ends thereof beneath the slot. The third sidewall of each of the nested base sections has a second slot formed generally midway along the length thereof, the second slot extending through the upper edge toward the bottom wall, the second slot having a length less than the height of the third sidewall such that the third sidewall extends continuously from the first and second ends thereof beneath the slot.

A set of nested cover sections corresponding to the nested base sections, include an inner cover section, an outer cover section and a plurality of cover sections disposed between the inner and outer cover sections in nested relationship. Each of the nested cover sections has a top wall, opposed first and second sidewalls and opposed third and fourth sidewalls. The first sidewall has first and second ends joined to first ends of the third and fourth sidewalls along the height thereof, the second sidewall being joined to second ends of the third and fourth sidewall along the height thereof. The first, second, third and fourth sidewalls are joined to the top wall along upper edges thereof to define a generally rectangular container having an open side having an inner length and width slightly larger than the outer length and width of the corresponding base section. Each successive cover section between the inner cover section and the outer cover section has a slightly smaller outer length, and a width than the inner length, and width of an adjacent cover section in which it is nested.

The first and second sidewalls of each of cover sections each has a third slot formed generally midway along the length thereof with each of the third slots extending through lower edges of the first and second sidewalls toward the top wall. Each of the third slots has a length less than the height of the first and second sidewalls such that the first and second sidewalls extend continuously from the first and second ends thereof above the third slot. The third sidewall of each of the cover sections has a fourth slot formed generally midway along the length that extends through the lower edge of the third sidewall toward the top wall; the fourth slot having a length less than the height of the third sidewall such that the third sidewall extends continuously from the first and second ends thereof beneath the fourth slot.

The nested enclosures may each include a latching mechanism that has a first component secured to an outer surface of at least one of the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls of each base section and a second component secured to an outer surface of at least one of the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls of each cover section. When each base section is received in the corresponding cover section with the first slots aligned with the third slots and the second slots aligned with the fourth slots, the slots have a length sufficient to define first, second, third and fourth passageways through overlapping portions of the first, second and third sidewalls of the base section and cover when a sidewall of the base section is abutted against an inside surface of the top wall of the corresponding cover section. The first component of the latching member engages the second component of the latching member to releaseably secure the cover section over the corresponding base section.

In another aspect, the nested enclosures are arranged such that the slots of each base section are aligned in the nested plurality of base sections and the slots of each of the cover sections are aligned in the nested plurality of cover sections.