Cord shortener

• US 7,032,854 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc. (Dorel Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cosco Management Incorporated (Dorel Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Marsden, Andrew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVERA, WILLIAM ARAUZ
• Application Number:
  US10/698,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20050092861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 242/388, 242/388.1, 242/388.5, 242/398, 242/405, 242/405.1, 242/407, 242/588, 242/588.4, 242/588.6, 206/409, 206/702, 191/12.R, 191/12.2 R, 191/12.4
• US Class Current: 242/388.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/34 electric cords or electric power cables
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4473 without arrangements or adaptations for rotating the core or former
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

A cord shortening device includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion. One of the portions includes a post configured to windably receive a first section of a length of cord. At least one of the portions has an opening at one end for mating second and third sections of the length of cord.

Claims

1. A cord shortening device, comprising:

a monolithic housing having a first portion and a second portion monolithically connected by a living hinge, the monolithic housing being adapted to open and close by at least one of the first and second portions rotating about the living hinge;

one of the portions including a monolithically incorporated post configured to windably receive a first section of a length of cord;

at least one of the first and second portions having an opening at at least one end of at least one of the portions to receive second and third sections of cord;

a securing mechanism including interlocking elements, the securing mechanism being monolithically incorporated with the housing and configured such that when the first and second portions are closed on each other, they are held releasably secure; and

wherein the first portion has an opening on a first surface, the opening configured to receive at least a part of the post when the first and second portions are closed on one another.

2. The device of claim 1, the monolithic housing further having at least one enclosing mechanism formed by the opening when the first and second portions are closed on each other configured to releasably enclose at least one of the second and third sections of the length of cord.

3. The device of claim 2, further including a securing mechanism monolithically incorporated with the housing and configured such that when the first and second portions are closed on each other, they are held releasably secure, and the first section of the length of cord is stored in the monolithic housing and the second and third sections of the length of cord are enclosed, respectively, by the at least one enclosing mechanism.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one enclosing mechanism includes two enclosing mechanisms, one for each of the second and third sections of the length of cord.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein both of the first and second openings have a substantially equal portion of the opening which is formed when closed.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the interlocking elements include a protrusion on the first portion that securedly and releasably mates with a recess in the second portion.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the interlocking elements include a protrusion on the second portion that securedly and releasably mates with a recess in the first portion.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the post is monolithically included in the second portion and the interlocking elements include a top portion of the post that securedly and releasably mates with at least a part of an edge of the opening on the first surface of the first portion.

9. A cord shortening device, comprising:

a monolithic housing having a first portion and a second portion monolithically connected by a living hinge, the monolithic housing being adapted to open and close by at least one of the first and second portions rotating about the living hinge;

one of the portions including a monolithically incorporated post configured to windably receive a first section of a length of cord;

at least one of the first and second portions having an opening at at least one end of at least one of the portions to receive second and third sections of cord; and

wherein the monolithically incorporated post is monolithically included in the second portion and the monolithically incorporated post has a height such that it protrudes through an opening in a first surface of the first portion when the first and second portions are closed on one another.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the post is monolithically included in the second portion and the post has a height such that it only reaches essentially up to an underside of the first surface of the first portion when the first and second portions are closed on one another.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the post is centered in the second portion.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the monolithic housing is made of molded plastic.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the monolithic housing is of a clam-shell configuration.

14. A cord shortening device, comprising:

a monolithic housing having a first portion and a second portion monolithically connected by a living hinge, the monolithic housing beingadapted to open and close by at least one of the first and second portions rotating about the living hinge;

one of the portions including a monolithically incorporated post configured to windably receive a first section of a length of cord;

at least one of the first and second portions having an opening at at least one end of the at least one portion to receive second and third sections of cord; and

a connecting element attached to the second portion.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein an attachment of the connecting element is via an interference fit in a lower opening of the second portion.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the connecting element, when attached to the device, is adapted to releasably attach the device to a support.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the connecting element is a suction cup.