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Extension cord carrierRelated Patent Categories: Supports: Racks, Special Article, Receptacle SupportExtension cord carrier description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070039912, Extension cord carrier. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to devices and methods for carrying elongated objects, and more specifically to carriers for electric extension cords. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Elongated objects such as cord, rope, wire, string and the like can be employed in variety of private and commercial uses. For example, electrical extension cords are typically used both in private and commercial settings to facilitate the use of electrical tools and devices at desired locations. [0003] A problem with the use and storage of extension cords is that they are easily tangled or knotted unless carefully managed. Typically, cords are gathered by hand into a small, circular, semi-circular or elliptical coil for carrying and storage. Such coils, however, tend to unravel unevenly in use and sometimes simply fall apart during use or transport of the cord, leading to tangles and knots. In addition, the coils must be hung up or secured with ties during storage to avoid tangling. [0004] Another common method of storing cords is to wrap the cord around an object or cord-wrapping device. Various prior devices for storing cords or other elongated objects are described in U.S. Application 2004/0007640, entitled "Units For Storing Flexible Elongated Objects," U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,529, entitled "Device For Winding And Storage Of Ropes And The Like," U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,426, entitled Extension Cord Caddy," U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,809, entitled "Gathering And Storing Device For Electric Cable," U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,815, entitled "Support For Coiled Articles," U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,458, entitled "Rope Caddy," and U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,035, entitled "Flexible Member Caddy," all of which are all hereby incorporated by reference herein. [0005] All of these prior cord-wrapping devices, however, suffer from the common drawback of being unwieldy and difficult to manage in use, particularly when used with heavy gauge or lengthy extension cords. For example, the device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,777 is held on one arm of the user while the cord is wound on the device using the other hand. If such a device is used with lengthy or heavy gauge cord, however, the arm holding the device may be heavily loaded and subjected to a twisting movement, possibly causing strain. Other devices, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,778,125 and 4,177,961 have a laterally extending handle for gripping with one hand while the cord is wound with the other hand. As the cord is wound, however, these devices may place a heavy, twisting, load on the wrist of the hand holding the handle, again causing strain. Devices such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,563 rest on the ground and thereby avoid problems with wrist and arm loading, but may still be awkward to use due to the lateral winding direction of the cord and proximity to the ground of the lower winding area. Still other devices, such as disclosed in U.S. Published Application No. 2004/0007640, have no handle at all, making the device difficult to manage in use. All these devices may be generally difficult to grip, lift, and carry when fully wound with heavy cord. [0006] Moreover, prior cord devices typically do not provide capability for storing more than one cord with the device. Another drawback of some prior cord-wrapping devices is that they enable unwinding of only one end of the extension cord at a time, since one end of the cord is trapped under the wrapped coils of cord. It is often desirable, however, to have either or both ends of the cord simultaneously available for unwinding, depending on whether one requires free cord at the male or female end of the cord. [0007] Moreover, prior cord-wrapping devices often either do not provide means for easily securing the cord to inhibit undesired unwrapping or provide securing structures only at locations proximate the ends. If the cord is wound so that the end of the cord does not coincide with a securing structure, or if the cord is partially unwound, the cord can further unwrap leading to tangles and knots. [0008] A further drawback of prior devices is that a separate structure generally must be employed to prop or hang the device for use or storage. If not propped or hung, the device may rest on the cord itself, inhibiting unwinding of the cord when desired in use. Also, the device may clutter the floor of a storage area when not is use. [0009] What is needed in the industry is a cord carrier that addresses the limitations of prior cord-wrapping devices. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The present invention addresses the need of the industry for an improved cord carrier. In embodiments of the cord carrier of the invention, multiple extension cords are conveniently stored and used with the same carrier. The carrier may enable rapid and easy winding of the cords from a standing position while not imposing undue strain on the wrists and arms of a user. The carrier may be self-supporting on any horizontal surface or may be hung. Further, the carrier includes multiple securing structures to enable the cords to be secured proximate the male and female ends and at virtually any point along the length of the cord. [0011] According to an embodiment of the invention, the carrier may include a generally columnar body portion with a handle proximate one end of the carrier and a base portion proximate the opposite end of the carrier. The body portion has a first storing region and a second storing region which may be configured as a pair of laterally extending lobes or wings on opposing sides of the carrier. The carrier may facilitate storing two or more cords simultaneously in the first and second storing regions. Moreover, the handle portion and the base portion allow a user to brace the device against, for example, the user's leg or hip with one arm, which leaves the user's other arm free to wrap an elongated object around one of the storing regions. In this way, the handle and base portions of the present invention permit an individual to comfortably wrap an elongated object onto the carrier in a standing position without causing undue strain on the wrists, arm, or back. In addition, the base portion allows the storing device to freely stand in an upright position on generally horizontal surfaces such as a table or floor, which can facilitate storage and/or transport of the carrier. In some embodiments, each of the first and second storage regions may accommodate a separate cord up to about 100 feet in length and 12-gauge in diameter, or 200 feet of a single 12 gauge cord wrapped on both storage regions. [0012] The storing devices of the present invention generally include one or more securing structures, which facilitate securing the free ends of elongated objects stored on the storing devices. Securing the free ends of an extension cord may help keep the cord tightly wrapped on the storing device and can prevent the cord from becoming unwrapped and/or tangled. Additionally, securing the free ends of the cord can make it easier to unwind and/or use the cord. If the free ends are secured at desired locations on the carrier, subsequent use of the elongated object can be easier, since the user will not have to invest significant amounts of time locating one of the free ends. The securing structures can be positioned on the handle portion, the base portion, the storage regions, or combinations thereof. [0013] In one aspect, the invention pertains to a carrier for elongated objects including extension cords. The carrier has a handle portion, which may be generally t-shaped, proximate one end of the carrier and a base portion proximate the opposite end of the carrier. The carrier can further include a first storage region positioned between the handle portion and the base portion, wherein the first storage region is further defined by a first recess portion proximate the handle portion and a second recess portion proximate the base portion. In these embodiments, the carrier can further include a second storage region adjacent the first storage region, wherein the second storage region is defined by a plurality of openings positioned along the periphery of the second storage region, and wherein the second storage region is further defined by a first recess portion proximate the handle portion and a second recess portion proximate the base portion. The carrier can further include at least one receptacle having a series of openings adapted to receive and secure the prongs of the male end of an electrical cord. [0014] In a second aspect, the invention pertains to a carrier for storing elongated objects having a handle portion proximate one end of the carrier and a base portion proximate the opposite end of the carrier. In these embodiments, the carrier can further include a storage region positioned between the handle portion and the base portion, wherein the storage region is defined by a plurality of openings positioned along a peripheral portion of the storage region, and wherein portions of the storage region proximate the plurality of openings are angled to facilitate securing the free end of an elongated object in the plurality of openings. [0015] In a third aspect, the invention pertains to a method of storing an electrical extension cord, the method including the step of winding an electrical extension cord around a storage region of a carrier. In these embodiments, the carrier includes a handle portion proximate one end of the carrier and a base portion proximate the opposite end of the carrier. The carrier may further include a first storage region positioned between the handle portion and the base portion, wherein the first storage region is defined by a first recess portion proximate the handle portion and a second recess portion proximate the base portion. In some embodiments, the carrier can further include a second storage region adjacent the first storage region, wherein the second storage region is positioned between the handle portion and the base portion, and wherein the second storage region is defined by a first recess portion proximate the handle portion and a second recess portion proximate the base portion. The carrier can further include at least one outlet having a series of openings adapted to receive and secure the prongs of the male end of an electrical cord. [0016] In another aspect, a carrier for at least one electrical extension cord includes an elongated body portion presenting a pair of opposing ends and having a handle portion proximate one of the opposing ends and a base portion proximate the other of the opposing ends. A pair of lobes project on opposing sides of the elongated body portion, each lobe defining a storage region for winding at least a portion of the electrical extension cord thereon. The carrier further includes at least one cord securing structure defined in the elongated body portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a carrier of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 1a is a front elevation view of a carrier according to the present invention with two extension cords stored thereon; [0019] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the carrier of FIG. 1; [0020] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the carrier of FIG. 2; Continue reading about Extension cord carrier... Full patent description for Extension cord carrier Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Extension cord carrier patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Extension cord carrier or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Rotational stand for game equipment Next Patent Application: Hook-on type rail Industry Class: Supports: racks ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Extension cord carrier patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.26403 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Medical: Surgery , Surgery(2) , Surgery(3) , Drug , Drug(2) , Prosthesis , Dentistry 174 |
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