Magnetic cord management system

• US 8,841,556 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CJD LLC (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Original Assignee: CJD LLC (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Rothbaum, Wayne Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): WOOD, KIMBERLY T
• Application Number:
  US13/550,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20120279756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 248/683, 248/206.5, 248/207, 248/309.4, 455/66.1, 455/90.3, 455/569.1, 381/55, 381/74, 381/124, 174/36, 174/111, 174/69, 174/135
• US Class Current: 174/111
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/00 Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes attaching ropes or cables to lift cars or cages B66B7/08, to winch drums or barrels B66D1/34; ground anchors E02D5/00; anchoring devices for prestressed members E04C5/00; rope clamps in earth drilling E21B19/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/02 with parts deformable to grip the cable or cables; Fastening means which engage a sleeve or the like fixed on the cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0252 PM holding devices H01F7/021, H01F7/0215, H01F7/0226 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A cord management apparatus comprises one or more magnets, configurable to be coupled to an electronic cord. The apparatus comprises one or more sheaths configured to be coupled to at least a portion of the electronic cord, wherein the one or more sheaths are configured to be magnetically attached to the magnet. A cord management device comprising one or more pliable sheaths is described also.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an electronic cord, the cord having an un-branched segment and a branched segment with at least two branches;

a magnetic material sheath extending substantially the entire length of at least the un-branched segment of the cord and coupled to the cord;

one or more first magnets distinct from the sheath and coupled to the un-branched segment; and

one or more second magnets distinct from the sheath and distributed along at least one of the branches of the branched segment;

wherein the one or more first magnets, the one or more second magnets, and the sheath are configured to couple to one another.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more second magnets are each configured to magnetically couple to a corresponding one of the one or more second magnets on another of the at least two branches.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the branched segment comprising two branches, each branch comprising an earphone coupled thereto, wherein the one or more second magnets are remote from the earphones.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each respective branch comprises a single second magnet located at a midpoint between an end of the respective branch and a joint between the respective branch and the un-branched segment.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the magnetic sheath extends substantially the entire length of the cord;

a first branch of the at least two branches includes the one or more second magnets;

a second branch of the at least two branches includes no second magnets; and

the one or more second magnets are configured to magnetically couple the first branch to the second branch.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheath is seamless.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheath is symmetric around the cord.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheath substantially encloses a cross-section of the cord.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheath presents a non-hooking surface around the cord.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic material of the sheath is magnetized and is configured to attach to an unmagnetized portion of an object.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the object comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a communications device, an audio device, a multimedia device, an entertainment device, and a personal computing device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic material of the sheath is unmagnetized and is configured to attach to a magnetized portion of an object.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the object comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a communications device, an audio device, a multimedia device, an entertainment device, and a personal computing device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic material of the sheath is configured to attach the cord to itself.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises a pliable material.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises a mesh material.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises a paint that includes a magnetic material.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetic material is a ferrous material.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more first magnets are configured to couple to the sheath at any location along the length of the sheath.