GB2498928A

GB2498928A - A cable tidier for electric cables

Info

Publication number: GB2498928A
Application number: GB1200960.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Togonu-Bickersteth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-01-19
Filing date: 2012-01-19
Publication date: 2013-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2032-01-19
Also published as: GB2498928B; GB201200960D0

Abstract

A cable tidier 2 for electric cables 4 comprises a first side 6, a second side 8, and a periphery 10, with a plurality of holes 12 extending through the cable tidier from the first side to the second side, and a plurality of slots 14 extending from the periphery to the holes. Each hole can receive a cable, and the slot enables the cable to be slid into and out of the hole. An optional cover 20 can conceal the cables between tidiers these can attach to the tidier using a hook-and-loop fastening strip 24 or may clip on. The tidier is preferably resilient, for example being made of silicone rubber, but may be rigid. The tidier may include colour-coded inserts (16, Fig 8) to identify the holes. The tidier may be disc-shaped, or may be rectangular with a slot in each edge.

Description

A CABLE TIDIER FOR ELECTRIC CABLES

This invention relates to a cable tidier for electric cables.

In homes, offices and factories, it often occurs that a variety of different pieces of electrical equipment are fed by a number of different electric cables. In order to keep the cables together and looking as neat as possible, it is known to tie the cables together with a cable tie. When the cables are tied together with a cable tie, it is often difficult to identify individual cables. In addition, the tied cables often do not look neat.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a cable tidier for electric cables, which cable tidier comprises a first side, a second side, a periphery, a plurality of holes, and a plurality of slots, and the cable tidier being such that the holes and the slots extend through the cable tidier from the first side to the second side, the holes are located inwardly of the periphery, the slots extend from the periphery to the holes, there is one of the slots for each one of the holes, each one of the holes is for receiving a different cable, the slot enables the cable to be slid into and out of the hole for the slot, and the slot is narrower in width than the hole so that the cable does not fall out of the hole through the slot.

The electrical cables can be of any desired diameter and length. They can provide electrical power to whatever electrical items are required, for example loud speakers, televisions, computers and lamps. The cables extend completely through the cable tidier and they are separated from each other by the parts of the cable tidier between the holes.

The cable tidier may be one in which the periphery is a circular periphery so that the cable tidier is disc shaped.

Alternatively, the cable tidier may be one in which the periphery is a rectilinear periphery so that the cable tidier has straight edges. In this case, the cable tidier may have one of the slots in each one of the edges.

In all embodiments of the invention, the cable tidier may be one in which there are eight of the slots and eight of the holes. More or less than eight slots and eight holes may be employed. Thus, there may be an even or odd number of the slots and the same number of the holes, for example 4, 6 or 7 of the slots and the same number of holes.

The holes will usually be circular holes. Other shapes for the holes may however be employed so that, for example, the holes may be square holes.

The cable tidier may include a coding arrangement for the cables.

The coding arrangement may be a colour coding arrangement or a numbering coding arrangement. When the coding arrangement is a colour coding arrangement then the colour coding arrangement may be a different colour for each one of the slots and its associated hole. Other types of coding arrangement may be employed.

The cable tidier may be made of a resilient material. The resilient material may be a rubber or a resilient plastics material. Alternatively, the cable tidier may be made of a rigid material, for example a rigid plastics material.

The present invention also provides a cable tidying system comprising a plurality of the cable tidiers of the invention.

The cable tidying system may include a cover for the cable tidiers. In this case, the cable tidying system may include fixing means for fixing the cover to the cable tidiers. Preferably, the cover is a flexible cover. The cover may however be a rigid cover if desired.

The fixing means may comprise a matrix of plastics members of the type that push together for fixing and that pull apart for unfastening. Preferably the matrix of plastics members is that sold under the Registered Trade Mark Velcro, but other matrices of plastics members may be employed. Alternatively, the fixing means may be a clip fixing means by which the cover clips to the cable tidiers. Alternatively, other types of fixing means may be employed, for example locking pins registering in locking holes.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a cable tidying system comprising four cable tidiers and three covers;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the part encircled A in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of the part of the cable tidying system shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of the part of the cable tidying system as shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an end view of the part of the cable tidying system as shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the part encircled B in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the cable tidiers shown in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is an end view of the cable tidier as shown in Figure 7;

Figures 9 and 10 are views from each side of the cable tidier as shown in Figure 8;

Figures 11 and 12 are end views from each end of the cable tidier as shown in Figure 8;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one of the covers shown in Figure 1;

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the cover shown in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is an end view of the cover as shown in Figure 14; and

Figure 16 is a side view of the cover as shown in Figure 14.

Referring to Figures 1-6, there are shown four cable tidiers 2 for electric cables 4. Each cable tidier 2 comprises a first side 6, a second side 8, and a periphery 10. The cable tidier 2 also comprises a plurality of holes 12 and a plurality of slots 14.

The cable tidier 2 is such that the holes 12 and the slots 14 extend through the cable tidier 2 from the first side 6 to the second side 8. The holes 12 are located inwardly of the periphery 10. The slots 14 extend from the periphery 10 to the holes 12.

The cable tidier 2 is also such that there is one of the slots 14 for each one of the holes 12. Each one of the holes 12 is for receiving a different cable 4. The slot 14 enables the cable 4 to be slid into and out of the hole 12 for the slot 14. This sliding may be by a push or pull motion. The slot 14 is narrower in width that the hole 12 so that the cable 4 does not fall out of the hole 12 through the slot 14.

The periphery 10 is a circular periphery so that the cable tidier 2 is disc shaped. The holes 12 are circular holes.

The cable tidier 2 includes a coding arrangement for the cables 4. The coding arrangement is a colour coding arrangement in the form of inserts 16 that fit into the holes 12 and their slots 14. Each insert 16 is of a different colour to the other inserts 16 so that each slot 14 and associated hole 12 are of an individual colour as shown by their insert 16. The inserts 16 are silicone rubber inserts. Other resilient materials may be employed.

The main body of the cable tidier 2 is made of a resilient material such for example as a rubber or a resilient plastics material. A presently preferred material is silicone rubber.

The four cable tidiers 2 comprise part of a cable tidying system 18. The cable tidiers 2 may be spaced at any suitable and appropriate distance apart, for example 6 inches (15mm).

Figure 1-6 also show an optional feature for the cable tidying system 18. More specifically, Figures 1-6 show optional covers 20 for the cable tidiers 2. The cable tidying system 18, when including the covers 20, includes fixing means 22 for fixing the covers 20 to the cable tidiers 2. The fixing

means 20 comprises a plurality of strips 24, 26. There are two of strips 24 for each one of covers 20, with one of the strips 24 being on each of two opposite edges of the cover 20. There is a plurality of the strips 26 positioned in receiving grooves 28 around the circumference 10 of the cable tidiers 2. The strips 24, 26 are matrices of plastics material of the type that press together for fastening and which pull apart for unfastening. Preferably, the strips 24, 26 are made of Velcro (Registered Trade Mark). The strips 24 and/or 26 may also be colour coded.

With the covers 20 in position, the entire cable tidying system 18 looks neat. As can be best appreciated from Figures 1, 3 and 4, the covers 20 can easily be removed to show the various runs of the cables 4 if desired. Figures 7-12 show various views of one of the cable tidiers 2, and Figures 13 - 16 show various views of one of the covers 20. The covers 20 may be made for example as a flexible fabric panel.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the cables 4 may be electric cables of any suitable and appropriate diameter and length. The cables 4 may be connected to any suitable and appropriate equipment, and they may be provided with any suitable and appropriate plugs 30 as shown in Figure 1. The cable tidier 2 may alternatively be such that it has a rectilinear periphery 10, so that, for example, the cable tidier may then be square, rectangular or octagonal. The fixing means 22 may alternatively be a clip fixing means so that the covers 20 clip to the cable tidiers. One

single long cover may be employed instead of a plurality of short covers 20. Other types of coding arrangement may be employed so that, for example, only the slots could be colour coded, or the coding arrangement could be a numbering coding arrangement. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A cable tidier for electric cables, which cable tidier comprises a first side, a second side, a periphery, a plurality of holes, and a plurality of slots, and the cable tidier being such that the holes and the slots extend through the cable tidier from the first side to the second side, the holes are located inwardly of the periphery, the slots extend from the periphery to the holes, there is one of the slots for each one of the holes, each one of the holes is for receiving a different cable, the slot enables the cable to be slid into and out of the hole for the slot, and the slot is narrower in width than the hole so that the cable does not fall out of the hole through the slot.

2. A cable tidier according to claim 1 in which the periphery is a circular periphery so that the cable tidier is disc shaped.

3. A cable tidier according to claim 1 in which the periphery is a rectilinear periphery so that the cable tidier has straight edges.

4. A cable tidier according to claim 3 in which the cable tidier has one of the slots in each one of the edges.

5. A cable tidier according to any one of the preceding claims in which there are eight of the slots and eight of the holes.

6. A cable tidier according to claim 1 in which the periphery is a circular periphery so that the cable tidier is disc shaped.

7. A cable tidier according to any one of the preceding claims and including a coding arrangement for the cables.

8. A cable tidier according to claim 7 in which the coding arrangement is a colour coding arrangement or a numbering coding arrangement.

9. A cable tidier according to claim 8 in which the coding is a colour coding arrangement, and in which the colour coding arrangement is a different colour for each one of the slots and its associated hole.

10. A cable tidier according to any one of the preceding claims and made of a resilient material.

11. A cable tidier for electric cables, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A cable tidying system comprising a plurality of the cable tidiers as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

13. A cable tidying system according to claim 12 and including a cover for the cable tidiers.

10

14. A cable tidying system according to claim 13 and including fixing means for fixing the cover to the cable tidiers.

15. A cable tidying system according to claim 14 in which the fixing means comprises a matrix of plastics members of the type that press together for fastening and that pull apart for unfastening.

16. A cable tidying system according to claim 14 in which the fixing means is a clip fixing means by which the cover clips to the cable tidiers.