GB2518401A

GB2518401A - A Guide for a power cord

Info

Publication number: GB2518401A
Application number: GB1316713.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lloyd James Dall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-09-20
Filing date: 2013-09-20
Publication date: 2015-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 2033-09-20
Also published as: GB2518401B; GB201316713D0

Abstract

A guide for power cords has a main body 2 with fingers 3 that extend from the main body 2 to substantially enclose an open-ended space 4 between the fingers 3 and the main body 2, and a connection means 6 for connecting the guide to a surface. In use, the guide is connected at a desired location using the connection means 6, and an appliance power cord is located to run through the open-ended space 4. The open-ended space can be rounded in profile with rounded corners at the outer ends to prevent the power cord from snagging or wearing. The connection means can be attached to a lip 5 which extends from the main body substantially opposite the fingers. The connection means can comprise of a hook and loop type fastener, a reusable adhesive strip, a clip or a head and shaft attachment part such as a nail or screw. The fingers can be formed from a resiliently deformable material to allow the power cable to enter the space 4. This guide can be attached to an ironing board surface to control an iron power cable during use.

Description

A guide for a power cord

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a guide for a power cord. More particularly, the present invention relates to a guide for power cords for tools which can be securely and removably located at a position close to where the tool is being used. Even more particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a guide for the cord of an iron which holds the cord clear of a user and of the ironing location.

Background

Most power tools are mains powered and require a connection between a mains outlet or power point and the tool itself via a length of flex or cable. An iron is a typical example. When a user wishes to press or iron items such as clothing, bed linen or similar, they will set up an ironing board at a convenient location close to a power point, place an item to be ironed on the ironing board, and use an iron to smooth out these items. Irons are usually directly powered from a mains power source, with the main body or working portion of the iron connected to the mains power source or socket via a length of flex or cable that extends between the iron and power point in use. This length of cable can get in a users way when they are ironing, and the weight of the length of cord extending from the ironing board surface (at around waist height) to the floor can tug and pull on the iron. This can create inconvenience for a user, who is required to move the cable around when they are positioning the iron for use. Trailing lengths of cord can create a tripping hazard.

Loops of the cable or flex can also in some circumstances end up in contact with the hot working surface of the iron, potentially melting or burning the cable and causing live wires to become exposed.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: US5607125 describes and shows an ironing cord holder which will keep the cord out of the way when ironing. The holder has a pair of spring biased spindles which rotate in opposite directions from each other. The spindles are spaced apart so that an iron cord will fit between them in a tight friction fit. When the iron is moved away from the cord holder, the spindles will rotate and tighten the springs. When the iron is moved toward the cord holder, the springs will pull the cord, thereby keeping the cord out of the way while ironing.

W0200418763 describes and shows an electric cable lead-in to an ironing board. A power outlet is mounted at the obtuse end of the ironing board and is connected to an electric cable that extends from the base of the stand through the interior space of the stand which rests in a pivotable manner against the obtuse end. The electric cable can be retracted inside a receiving device and can be pulled out thereof.

EP1094584 describes and shows a holder for an electrical cable for an iron, which is positioned at the ironing board in relation to the ironing surface with a holding rod. A second holder carries a supply hose to carry water or steam to the iron. The holders for the cable and hose are parallel to each other, and have the same cross section.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a guide for the power cord of tools which goes some way to overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public or industry with a useful choice, It is a further object of the present invention to provide a guide for the power cord of an iron which goes some way to overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public or industry with a useful choice.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect the present invention provides a guide for power cords, comprising: a main body; fingers that extend from the main body outwards and towards one another to substantially enclose an open-ended space between the fingers and the main body; and a connection means associated with the main body for connecting the guide to a surface.

The connection means allows the guide to be securely yet removably located on an independent structure or surface, such as near to a user's work area, while the open-ended enclosed space is typically elongate and equipped to hold a power cord along its length so that the guide locates, constrains and guides the power cord to a required location. The connection means may comprise screwthreaded and/or shaft and head attachment parts such as nails and screws, and at least one through-hole in the main body. Alternatively or in addition the connection means comprises an extending lip or flange, which may be perforated with through-holes for attachment parts. In further embodiments adhesive or hook and ioop portions may be available as a part of the connection means. In this way the connection means allows the guide to be securely yet removably located on vertical or non-horizontal surfaces.

Preferably the outer ends of the fingers extend towards one another, with a gap between the ends of the fingers substantially the same width as the circumference of* a domestic power cord. In some further embodiments the gap may be amendable, for example wherein the fingers are resiliently deformable. Preferred embodiments include two fingers, extending from and integral with the body. Further embodiments may have a higher number of fingers, and/or said fingers may be of a different more deformable material than the body.

Preferably the area of the space formed between the fingers is substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of a domestic power cord. The gap between the ends of the fingers allows a length power cord to be pressed or pushed into and out of the enclosed space through the gap, while allowing the open-ended enclosed space to be smaller than the profile of a power plug connected on one end of the power cord.

1 5 Preferably the space has a rounded profile. A rounded profile has no corners into which a cord within the space might pinch or catch.

Preferably the space has rounded corners at the outer or open ends. This allows the cord to travel or glide smoothly through the open-ended space without getting caught or snagged.

Preferably the guide further has a lip that extends from the main body, the connection means located on one side of the lip. The lip allows the guide to be connected so as to extend from the side of an object to which it is connected.

Preferably the lip extends from the main body substantially opposite the fingers. This location allows the fingers to be located opposite a body to which the guide is connected, so that the cord is held clear of the body.

Preferably the connection means is a hook-and-loop type fastener.

Preferably the hook-and-loop type fastener has a hook portion and a separable loop portion, one of the portions connected to or forming part of the main body, the second portion in use connected to a surface at or close to a user's working area to allow the main body to be detachably connected to the second portion. These types of fasteners are widely available, inexpensive, reliable and will cause minimal damage to any object to which they are connected.

Preferably the lip is offset to one side of the main body, the connection means located on the inner side of the lip. This allows the guide to be substantially aligned with the upper surface and the side of an item to which it is connected, which can be useful to counteract leverage forces applied by the cord in use.

The connection means may be a reusable adhesive strip. A reusable adhesive strip can be used as an alternative where the guide may be moved frequently.

Alternatively the connection means may be a clip. A clip can be used as an alternative where the guide may be moved frequently.

Preferably at least the fingers are formed from a resiliently deformable material. This allows the fingers to be slightly bent in use to push the cord through the gap between the fingers.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a power cord guide according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, having a main body with fingers extending from one end of the main body to form an open-ended substantially enclosed space between the main body and the fingers.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the power cord guide of figure 1.

Figure 3a shows a top view of the guide of figures 1 and 2.

Figure 3b shows a bottom view of the guide of figures 1 and 2.

Detailed Description

The preferred embodiment of the guide of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures. The preferred embodiment of guide as described below is described with reference to use with an iron and ironing board.

However, the guide could be used for other types of mains-powered portable tools or appliances such as drills, sanders or similar, or non-portable tools or appliances such as refrigerators or washing machines where to power cord may need to be guided as required.

The guide 1 has a main body 2 that in the preferred embodiment has a generally rectangular profile in plan view (viewed from above). Two fingers 3 extend outwards from one end or side of the main body 2. The fingers 2 extend outwards from the main body and then curve in towards one another to substantially enclose a space 4 between the fingers 3 and the main body 2. In the preferred embodiment, the fingers 3 are formed as extensions, or integral to, the main body 2, extending from two opposed sides of the main body 2. The space 4 enclosed by the fingers and body is open at each end (i.e. the upper and lower ends are open). A lip 5 extends from the main body 2, on the opposite side of the main body to the fingers 3 (although the lip 5 could be located on either of the two sides adjacent to the fingers 3). The lip 5 in the preferred embodiment is formed as an extension of the main body 2, and specifically, the upper surface of the main body 2. In use, the guide 1 is connected to an ironing board by a connection means. In the preferred embodiment, the connection means is a hook-and-loop type fastener 6 such as Velcro (RIM). One portion or half of the fastener 6 is connected to the underside of the lip 5, and the other portion or half is connected where required -e.g. on the edge of the top surface of an ironing board adjacent to the iron rest -so that the guide 1 can be mounted to the board. The particular configuration of main body 2 and lip 5 (the lip 2 extending from the upper surface of the main body 2) means that leverage forces acting against the fastening means are minimised as the side of the main body adjacent to or underneath the lip 5 will be supported by the side of the ironing board. The lip 5 is opposite the fingers 3, which allows the fingers 3 to be located opposite the ironing board to which the guide I is connected, so that in use the iron cord is held clear of the ironing board. The connection means allows the guide to be securely yet removably located near to a users work area.

As outlined above, the fingers form an enclosed, open-ended space. In the preferred embodiment, the outer ends of the fingers 3 are not quite in contact. The gap between the fingers is substantially the same width as the circumference of a domestic power cord (i.e. the power cord of the iron). In use, a user presses a portion of the body of the cord sideways through the gap so that the cord is held within the space 4. In the most preferred form, the gap is slightly narrower than the average width of a power cord. The fingers 3 are formed so as to be slightly flexible and resilient so that a user can push the cord through the gap against the resistance of the fingers, but they will spring back to their original shape and position. It is preferred that the gap 4 is sized so as to be smaller than the longest distance across a power plug profile at all the relevant angles to the space 4. As one end of the cord ends in a power plug and the other at the iron, once the cord is held in the gap, it cannot easily accidentally drop out of the guide 1, and the guide 1 will hold the cord out of the way and where required. It is most preferred that the gap is substantially wider than a cord, so that the cord can travel freely within the guide from one end to the other. It is most preferred that the space is rounded with no corners, either in plan view or where the walls meet the upper and lower surfaces. A rounded profile means that the space through which the cord runs has no corners into which a cord within the space might pinch or catch, and the cord travels or glides smoothly through the open-ended space without getting caught or snagged.

In alternative embodiments, the connection means could be a reusable adhesive strip. This alternative may be preferred where the guide may need to be moved frequently from one location to another. Furthermore, the connection means could be located on a lower surface or wall of the main body, and the lip may not be present. Another alternative connection means is a clip. For example a pair of jaws or extensions that lever apart and then connect to an item such as the edge of an ironing board. These could be spring-loaded if required. A clip can be used as an alternative where the guide may be moved frequently.

The preferred embodiment of guide I is constructed as a unitary item -body 2, fingers 3 and lip 5 all formed from the same material and merging with one another.

The fingers could be considered to be part of or an extension of the main body. For example the base of each of the fingers could be considered to be a half of the main body, and the specification should be read in this manner.

The guide 1 could be cast as a single-piece item, or it could be formed (e.g. blow-moulded) as two separate halves (upper and lower) which are brought together for forming. Preferred materials are thermoplastics or similar, which are widely available, inexpensive and easily formed, and which can also be easily coloured.

Further, a single guide has been described as being used to guide a single cord.

Multiple cords could potentially be guided through a single guide, and multiple guides could be used to form a path for a cord or cords.

Where directional references are made in this specification (upper, lower, front, rear, sides, etc) these should be taken as relative and not absolute, and also refer to an in-use orientation.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.