Cord management system

• US 8,615,849 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2010
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CJD LLC (ViacomCBS Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CJD LLC (ViacomCBS Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rothbaum, Wayne Philip, Conner, Allison S., Curtis, Robert B., Damon, Jonas K., Sanchez, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain, James
• Application Number:
  US12/908,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20110252609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 24/16.R, 24/17.R, 243/03, 243/06, 242/98, 244/42, 24300-302, 439/501, 206/320, 206/702, 248/74.3, 248/206.5, 16/21
• US Class Current: 24/16.R
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0263 Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/15 Protecting or guiding telephone cords
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/14 Bale and package ties, hose clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2708 Combined with diverse fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/34 Combined diverse multipart fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3497 Button fastening element including another fastener element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/39 Cord and rope holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3987 Loop, adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A cord management system includes a case and a strap. The strap has a first attachment point at a first location on the strap and a second attachment point a second location on the strap. The strap also includes at least two modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, the first attachment point is attached to the second attachment point so that a first segment of the strap located between the first attachment point and the second attachment point forms a loop configured to secure a cord that is wrapped around the case. In a second mode of operation, the first attachment point is detached from the second attachment point so that the first segment no longer forms the loop. In some embodiments, the strap is permanently attached to the case, while in other embodiments the strap is semi-permanently attached to the case.

Claims

1. A cord management system, comprising:

a case for an object; and

a strap permanently attached to the case;

the strap comprising;

at least one first attachment point at a first location on the strap; and

at least one second attachment point at a second location on the strap;

wherein the strap includes at least two modes of operation;

in a first mode of operation;

the first attachment point is attached to the second attachment point; and

the first attachment point is attached to a first location on a surface of the case; and

in a second mode of operation;

the first attachment point is detached from the second attachment point;

the first attachment point is attached to the first location on the surface of the case; and

the second attachment point is attached to a second location on the surface of the case.

2. The cord management system of claim 1, wherein in the first mode of operation, a first segment of the strap located between the first attachment point and the second attachment point forms a loop.

3. The cord management system of claim 2, wherein in the second mode of operation, the first segment no longer forms the loop.

4. The cord management system of claim 1:

wherein the first attachment point is a first magnetic material;

wherein the second attachment point is a second magnetic material;

wherein in the first mode of operation, the first magnetic material is magnetically attached to the second magnetic material; and

wherein in the second mode of operation, the first magnetic material is magnetically detached from the second magnetic material.

5. The cord management system of claim 4, wherein one of the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material is a magnet or set of magnets.

6. The cord management system of claim 1:

wherein the first attachment point is a hook portion of a hook and loop attachment mechanism;

wherein the second attachment point is a loop portion of a hook and loop attachment mechanism;

wherein in the first mode of operation, the hook portion is attached to the loop portion; and

wherein in the second mode of operation, the hook portion is detached from the loop portion.

7. The cord management system of claim 1:

wherein the first attachment point is a stud portion of a snap attachment mechanism;

wherein the second attachment point is a socket portion of a snap attachment mechanism;

wherein in the first mode of operation, the stud portion is attached to the socket portion; and

wherein in the second mode of operation, the stud portion is detached from the socket portion.

8. The cord management system of claim 1:

wherein the first attachment point is a button;

wherein the second attachment point is a button hole;

wherein in the first mode of operation, the button is attached to the button hole; and

wherein in the second mode of operation, the button is detached from the button hole.

9. The cord management system of claim 1, wherein the case comprises a cord-attachment mechanism located on the case.

10. The cord management system of claim 9, wherein the cord-attachment mechanism includes a hole in the case.

11. The cord management system of claim 10, wherein the hole in the case includes a grommet.

12. The cord management system of claim 10, wherein the hole is in an elastic portion of the case, wherein the hole is configured to expand when a cord is inserted into the hole, and wherein when the cord is in the hole, the hole is configured to exert a predetermined force against the cord to removably attach the cord to the case.

13. The cord management system of claim 1, wherein the first attachment point and the second attachment point are selected from the group consisting of:

magnets;

magnetic material;

hook and loop attachment mechanisms;

adhesives;

suction devices;

friction mechanisms;

buckles;

hinges;

springs;

bistable springs;

sleeves that insert into slots;

plastic interlocking strip fasteners;

pegs that insert into holes;

snaps;

buttons; and

a van der Waals force attachment mechanism.

14. The cord management system of claim 1, wherein the first and the second attachment points each include one or more magnets, and the surface of the case includes a magnetic material.

15. The cord management system of claim 1, wherein the strap is dimensioned such that, in the second mode of operation, the strap fits within an outer perimeter of the surface of the case.

16. A cord management system, comprising:

a case for an object; and

a strap semi-permanently attached to the case;

the case comprising;

a first semi-permanent case attachment element at a first location on the case; and

a second semi-permanent case attachment element at a second location on the case;

the strap comprising;

a first semi-permanent strap attachment element at a first location on the strap, the semi-permanent strap attachment element configured to semi-permanently attach to the first semi-permanent case attachment element;

a second semi-permanent strap attachment element at a second location on the strap, the second semi-permanent case attachment element configured to semi-permanently attach to the second semi-permanent case attachment element;

at least one first attachment point at a third location on the strap; and

at least one second attachment point at a fourth location on the strap;

wherein the strap includes at least two modes of operation;

in a first mode of operation;

the first attachment point is attached to the second attachment point; and

the first semi-permanent strap attachment element is semi-permanently attached to the first semi-permanent case attachment element; and

in a second mode of operation, operation;

the first attachment point is detached from the second attachment point;

the first semi-permanent strap attachment element is semi-permanently attached to the first semi-permanent case attachment element; and

the second semi-permanent strap attachment element is semi-permanently attached to the second semi-permanent case attachment element.

17. The cord management system claim 16, wherein in the first mode of operation, a first segment of the strap located between the first attachment point and the second attachment point forms a loop.

18. The cord management system of claim 17, wherein in the second mode of operation, the first segment no longer forms the loop.

19. The cord management system of claim 16, wherein the first semi-permanent case attachment element is a magnet and the first semi-permanent strap attachment element is a magnetic material.

20. The cord management system of claim 16, wherein the first semi-permanent case attachment element is a first magnet and the first semi-permanent strap attachment element is a second magnet.

21. The cord management system of claim 20, wherein the first magnet is stronger than the second magnet.

22. A method for manufacturing a cord management system, comprising:

forming a case for an object;

forming a strap permanently attached to the case;

the strap comprising;

at least one first attachment point at a first location on the strap; and

at least one second attachment point at a second location on the strap;

wherein the strap includes at least two modes of operation;

in a first mode of operation;

the first attachment point is attached to the second attachment point; and

the first attachment point is attached to a first location on a surface of the case; and

in a second mode of operation;

the first attachment point is detached from the second attachment point;

the first attachment point is attached to the first location on the surface of the case; and

the second attachment point is attached to a second location on the surface of the case.