GB2548804A

GB2548804A - A cable coiling device

Info

Publication number: GB2548804A
Application number: GB1604811.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Laverty Owen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-03-22
Filing date: 2016-03-22
Publication date: 2017-10-04
Also published as: GB201604811D0

Abstract

A cable coiling device 1 comprises an elongate sheath 2 constructed from an elasticated material for reception of a cable 9 therein, the sheath 2 has an opening at each end for through passage of a cable 9. One of the openings may be arranged to secure the cable 9 in position relative the sheath 2 and the other of the openings may have means such as a retainer insert 6, 7 to releasably secure the cable 9 in position relative the sheath 2. Both of the openings may have means to releasably secure the cable 9 in position. The elongate sheath 2 is extensible and contractible along its length such that extension of the sheath 2 when mounted about a length of cable 9 will cause the sheath 2 to surround more of the length of cable 9 and thereafter contraction of the sheath 2 will cause the length of cable 9 internal the sheath 2 to be coiled therein. The cable 2 will be held in this coiled state by the device 1 and can be unwound by pulling on a free end of the cable 9. The retainer insert 6, 7 may be resiliently deformable and may have a transverse slit 8 or cruciform slits and a longitudinal slot. At least one rib (30 to 35 fig. 15) may define a serpentine passageway for retaining the cable 9.

Description

“A cable coiling device”

Introduction

This invention relates to a cable coiling device.

While there are a significant number of solutions available for managing excessive cable length including a number of solutions for coiling and uncoiling cables to reduce their length, coiling cables using these methods is time consuming and can damage the conductive strands of the cables. A particular challenge lies in the repeated coiling and uncoiling of a cable where a user regularly coils the cable to avoid tangling.

An example and particular cable management problem arises with users of wired headsets for mobile phones or the like where the user typically puts the headset in their pocket or bag when not in use resulting in the headset cable becoming knotted or entangled which is a nuisance. Existing solutions for overcoming this problem include spring loaded winding mechanisms and manual spools which users manually wind the cable onto. The shortcomings of the spring loaded winding mechanism are its relative bulk, it cannot be easily retrofitted to a cable and as it remains on the cable during use, it adds weight to the cable thereby pulling the headset out of the user’s ears and generally being a nuisance. The shortcomings of the manual spool are that it is a separate part which needs to be carried around, and manually spooling / unspooling the cable is time consuming. For cable longevity, any spooling mechanism should not cause the cable to bend below its recommended minimum bend radius so as to avoid excessive bending strain and failure of the metal conductive cable strands. Most of the available spools do not limit the bend radius without being excessively bulky.

Another significant issue is managing the excessive length of provided cables used with office equipment such as PC’s, monitors, printers and the like. Cable ties are the most popular solution, however these also require time to attach and are not practical to provide on the cable requiring an inconvenient separate purchase.

There is therefore a need for a device which can quickly coil a cable, can be supplied on or off the cable, is not bulky and will not damage the cable through bending. Throughout this specification, reference is made to coiling and it will be understood that this does not necessarily imply that the cable is wound in a uniform circular pattern. Instead, coiling will be understood to mean gathering the cable into a more compact fashion, thereby reducing the effective length of the cable without tangling the cable and allowing the cable to be subsequently unwound without difficulty.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable coiling device that overcomes at least some of the problems of the existing offerings and that provides a useful choice to the consumer.

Statements of Invention

According to the invention there is provided a cable coiling device comprising an elongate, substantially hollow, sheath for reception of a cable therein, the sheath having an opening at one end for through passage of a cable and an opening at the other end for through passage of the cable, one of the openings having means to secure the cable in position relative the sheath and the other of the openings having means to releasably secure the cable in position relative the sheath, and in which the elongate sheath is extensible and contractible along its length such that extension of the sheath when mounted about a length of cable will cause the sheath to surround more of the length of cable and thereafter contraction of the sheath will cause the length of cable internal the sheath to be coiled therein.

By having such a cable coiling device, the devices operation is extremely simple, quick and efficient to perform. The cable may be wound up by simply pulling on the devices ends thereby extending the sheath until the length of cable is contained in the sheath before relaxing their grip on the ends of the device so that the device is able to contract and the cable is wound automatically inside the sheath as the sheath contracts. In order to release the cable from the sheath, the user simply has to pull on a free end of the cable.

Advantageously, the cable is coiled in the device therefore preventing tangles in the cable, ensuring that the cable is ready for use immediately once it is unwound.

Furthermore, if used correctly, the minimum bend radius of the cable will not be violated thereby avoiding damage to the cable and extending the cables operational life.

In addition to the foregoing, the device is relatively light and can be made compact on the cable when the device is not in use (i.e. when the cable is not coiled). When the cable is extended and being used as a headset for example, both ends of the device may be pushed towards each other and retained in close proximity so that the devices length is minimised, making the device less obtrusive. If the sheath snaps due to over extension it will not cause injury as it will be safely contained on the cable. Finally, the device according to the invention is very economical to manufacture.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the sheath is constructed from a resiliently deformable material. This is seen as a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention that is simple and efficient to manufacture with the minimum number of components required for construction.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the sheath is constructed from an elastomer.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which both openings have means to releasably secure the cable in position. In this way, the device will not be permanently fixed to the cable or to a connector on a cable. Thus, when a user extends the sheath there is no risk of a cable connector unexpectedly releasing out of a device and injuring a user.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the means to releasably secure the cable in position comprises a retainer insert having an aperture for though passage of the cable.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the retainer insert is constructed from a resiliently deformable material.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the retainer insert has a shore A hardness of between 5 and 70. By having a retainer constructed from a relatively soft material, the strain on the sheath at the point where the sheath transitions from being in contact with the retainer to out of contact with the retainer will be reduced, thereby extending the devices operating life. Furthermore, this will obviate the likelihood of the device causing damage to the cable and will enable the cable to slide smoothly in the device when desired. In another embodiment of the invention, the retainer insert has a Shore 00 hardness of between 10 and 80.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the aperture comprises a transverse slit.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the aperture comprises a pair of slits arranged in a cruciform configuration. Other configurations, including a Y-shaped and a star-shaped configuration are envisaged.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the retainer insert comprises a longitudinal slot for insertion and location of a cable into the aperture. This will facilitate placement of the device on a cable with a large connector.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the sheath is configured to have a maximum longitudinal extension of at least 100% of the sheath’s relaxed length.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the sheath is configured to have a maximum longitudinal extension of at least 300% of the sheath’s relaxed length.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the sheath is configured to have a maximum longitudinal extension of at least 500% of the sheath’s relaxed length.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the sheath is configured to have a maximum longitudinal extension of at least 700% of the sheath’s relaxed length.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the sheath is configured to have a maximum longitudinal extension of at least 1000% of the sheath’s relaxed length.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the means to releasably secure the cable in position relative to the sheath comprises at least one inwardly extending rib defining a serpentine passageway through the opening.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which there are provided a plurality of oppositely disposed ribs defining the serpentine passageway through the opening.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a cable coiling device in which the means to secure the cable in position relative the sheath is located along the sheath spaced apart from the entrance of the opening.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the means to secure the cable in position relative the sheath is located internal the sheath.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a cable coiling device in which the means to releasably secure the cable in position relative the sheath is located along the sheath spaced apart from the entrance of the opening.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a cable coiling device in which the means to releasably secure the cable in position relative the sheath is located internal the sheath. Alternatively, the means to releasably secure the cable in position relative to the sheath could be located external the sheath.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side view of a cable coiling device according to the invention with a cable running through the device;

Figure 2 is a side cross sectional view of the device of Figure 1 showing the cable running through the device coiled in the device;

Figure 3 is a side cross sectional view of the device extended on a cable prior to coiling the cable;

Figures 4(a) to 4 (i) inclusive are a plurality of diagrammatic representations illustrating the device according to the invention being used to coil an earphone cable;

Figure 5 is a detailed view of the end of the device with the cable being retained in a straight slit opening in the device;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 with the cable being retained in a cruciform opening in the device;

Figure 7 is a side cross sectional view of the device not in use, compacted on a cable with the cable uncoiled;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the device with one end of the device being affixed to a cable;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention with the device formed in one part;

Figure 10 is a cut-away view of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a side view of the cable coiling device of Figures 1 to 3 showing a cable looped through the device;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of an over moulded retainer where the cable retaining means are a different material to the main retainer body;

Figure 13 is a side cross sectional view of a further still alternative embodiment of device according to the invention;

Figure 14 is a side view of a further alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Figure 15 is a cross sectional view of the device shown in Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 14;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of device according to the invention;

Figure 18 is a front view of a further still alternative embodiment of device according to the invention;

Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view along the lines X-X of Figure 18 of the device of Figure 18; and

Figure 20 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figures 18 and 19.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, there is shown a cable coiling device according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The cable coiling device 1 comprises a cigar-shaped sheath 2 of elasticated material. The sheath in Figures 1 and 2 is shown in a relaxed state whereas the sheath in Figure 3 is shown in a stretched or extended state. The sheath 2 has an internal diameter DS and defines an internal space 14 with an internal surface 3. The sheath 2 comprises a thin wall with thickness T.

Inserted at either end 4 and 5 of the sheath 2 are retainer inserts 6, 7. The retainer inserts 6, 7 have an external surface 10 with a similar contour to the internal surface 3 of the sheath where the retainers and the sheath abut but the external surface 10 of the retainers 6, 7 is of larger dimensions than the relaxed internal surface of the sheath such that when the sheath 2 is engaged with the surface 10 of the retainers 6, 7, the surface 3 of the sheath 2 exerts radial pressure inwardly on the retainers 6, 7. The materials of the sheath 2 and the retainers 6,7 are chosen so that they have a certain coefficient of friction sufficient to maintain the sheath 2 in position on the retainers 6, 7.

The retainers 6, 7 are substantially hollow and have apertures 8 which allow for a cable 9 to enter and exit the device 1 as shown. The sheath 2 material is such that the sheath 2 can be temporarily extended by at least 100% and preferably up to and above 1000% of the relaxed length for its required operational life. The retainers 6, 7 are preferably of soft elastic material such as an elastomer, rubber or foam with a shore A hardness in the range of 5 to 70 Shore A and preferably with a shore A hardness less than the shore A hardness of the outer insulation 15 of the cable 9. It is believed that materials having a Shore 00 hardness of greater than 10 and less than 80 could also be used to good effect. The aperture 8 of the retainers 6, 7 comprises a slit releasably retaining the cable 9 where it engages the aperture/slit 8. The soft and elastic nature of the slit 8 material is such so as to prevent damage to the cable 9 during operation.

In use, a cable 9 is pushed through the aperture 8 in the retainer 6, threaded through the internal space 14 of the sheath 2 and pushed through the slit 8 in the other retainer 7 to exit the device 1. The cable 9 runs through the sheath 2 and the retainers 6, 7 and is releasably held by the engaging slits 8. The sheath 2 has a relaxed length LR (as illustrated in Figure 1) which is substantially shorter in length than the cable 9 (only part of which is shown). To coil a length of cable 9 to substantially the relaxed length LR of the sheath 2, the sheath 2 is extended as shown in Figure 3 by manually pulling the sheath ends 4 and 5 away from each other by a user grabbing the retainers 6, 7 and extending (stretching) the sheath 2 to a distance LX (as illustrated in Figure 3), where LX is substantially equivalent to the length of cable that is to be coiled and is less than the elastic limit of the sheath 2. The retainers 6, 7 grip the cable 9 at all points in the operation but their grip during extension of the sheath is sufficiently weak enough so as to allow the cable 9 run through the retainers 6, 7 without excessive force. In the extended position shown in Figure 3, the length of the cable to be coiled will be housed inside the sheath.

After extending the sheath 2 to a length LX as illustrated in Figure 3, the sheath 2 is thereafter relaxed to length LR with the retainers 6, 7 retaining their grip on the cable 9 so that the length L of cable 9 captured in the device 1 is retained in the device and coiled in the space 14 in the sheath 2. The effective reduction in length of the coiled cable 9 is considered to be either: the extended length LX of the sheath 2 minus the relaxed length LR of the sheath or the straight length of cable L captured by the extended device 1 minus the relaxed length of the device 1. To release the cable 9 from the device 1, the user simply pulls the cable 9 out of the device 1 with the elastic material of the slits 8 releasing the cable 9 under force. While the cable 9 is uncoiled, the user can push both the retainers 6, 7 together to compact the device 1 on the cable 9 as shown in Figure 7.

Referring now to Figures 4(a) to 4(i), the operations of coiling and uncoiling a length of cable will be described in more detail. In Figure 4(a), there is shown a cable, in this case a set of earphones 100 for a mobile phone or other device (not shown). The earphones 100 comprise a pair of in-ear earphones 101, 103 connected to a mobile phone connector (also referred to as a jack) 105 via a cable 9. The cable comprises a main cable portion 107 which separates out into a pair of branch cables, one for each of the in-ear earphones 101, 103. This is a standard type of cable commonly available and will be used to illustrate the operation of the invention.

In Figure 4(b), a cable coiling device 1 according to the invention has been placed onto the cable 107. This is achieved in the manner described above by threading the connector 105 though one end of the device 1 and out through the other end of the device. In this configuration, the cable internal the device (as illustrated by the dotted line in Figure 4(c)), is not in a coiled configuration.

Referring now to Figures 4(c) to 4(e), when the user wishes to stow away the cable, they may coil the cable safely inside the cable coiling device 1. In Figure 4(c), the user grips each end of the device about the retainer inserts 6, 7 between the tips of their thumbs and index fingers (shown in dashed outline). The user then stretches the device’s sheath 2 by pulling the two ends of the device apart in the direction of the arrows shown in Figures 4(c) to 4(e). Figure 4(d) shows an intermediate position for the sheath as it is being stretched along the cable and in Figure 4(e), the sheath is shown fully extended, encapsulating the majority of the cable 107, in this case the majority of the main cable portion.

Once the majority of the cable is internal the sheath as illustrated in Figure 4(e), the user then eases the separating force thereby allowing the two ends of the sheath to move back towards each other, as illustrated in Figure 4(f). As the retaining inserts 6, 7 grip the cable, the cable inside the sheath does not travel out of the sheath and instead, the cable inside the sheath is held inside and begins to coil as the ends of the sheath are brought together. In Figure 4(f), the length of cable inside the sheath is shown starting to coil as the ends of the sheath are moved towards each other. Referring to Figure 4(g), the cable coiling device is shown returned to a relaxed (i.e. non-stretched axially) configuration where the length of the cable coiling device 1 is again similar to the length of the cable coiling device 1 shown in Figures 4(b) and 4(c). However, in this compact configuration, the cable 107 (now shown in solid line for clarity) will be neatly coiled inside the sheath 2 of the cable coiling device 1. The user can then let go of the ends 4, 5 of the cable coiling device 1 and the cable 107 will be held inside the sheath, as illustrated in Figure 4(h).

Referring now to Figure 4(i), in order to release the cable 107 from the cable coiling device 1, the user simply holds onto one of the free ends of the cable protruding outwardly from the cable coiling device 1 with one hand and holds onto either the cable coiling device or the other free end of the cable with the other hand and pulls the cable end away from the cable coiling device. The cable will gradually unwind from the cable coiling device 1.

In practice it has been found that a value of the internal diameter DS of the sheath 2 of 16mm works well on a typical cable 9 used for phone head phones with a cable diameter of approximately 2mm. It will be appreciated that these values serve by way as an example only and may vary to suit different applications and tastes.

The maximum extended length LX of the sheath 2 is limited by its cross section, the sheath’s modulus of elasticity and the maximum percentage elongation of the sheath material. Of critical importance when coiling a cable 9 in the device 1 is that any bend in the cable 9 does not go below the approved minimum bend radius for that cable 9. In practice with a larger diameter DS for a given extension of the device 1 the coil will be looser resulting in a larger bend radius BR therefore putting less strain on the conductors of the cable 9. In many applications however, such as for use on mobile phone headsets cables, it is desirable to limit the value of the internal diameter DS so the device 1 is not too conspicuous and is practical to use. The elasticity of the sheath 2 and the stiffness of the cable 2 will impact how small diameter DS can be made to avoid overstraining the cable 9 through bending.

The retaining means 6, 7 serve to hold the cable 9 in the space 14 in the device 1 while the cable 9 is actively being coiled and after being coiled. Their grip on the cable 9 is such that a light force applied by a user will easily release the cable 9 without damaging or marking the cables outer insulator or damaging it’s conducting strands. The device 1 confines the cable 9 so that it may be contained in a shorter length and will not get entangled while in a user’s pocket or bag for example.

Referring now to Figure 8, there is shown a further embodiment of the invention in which the device 200 is fixed at one end 4 to the cable connector 25 with a retainer 6 only on one end 5 of the sheath 2. In this embodiment the user holds the cable or the fixed end of the device 200 and pulls the retainer 6 at the opposite end along the cable 9 so the sheath 2 is extended as previously described. Once extended, the user releases the tension in the device 200 to coil the cable 9. This embodiment of the device 200 is envisaged as having utility where a cable supplier provides the device 200 fitted to the cable 9 so a user may quickly coil the cable 200. It may also be retrofitted to a cable 9 where required by fixing the sheath using various fixing means.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, there is shown another embodiment of a cable coiling device 300 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the device is constructed in one part with the retainers 6, 7 and the sheath 2 being moulded as one piece. Advantageously the material has the elastic properties required for the extending of the sheath 2 and is adequately rigid to retain the cable 9 but soft enough so as not to damage the cable 9. Where different material properties are required the device 300 can be over moulded so as to combine two material properties where the retainers may need to be of a harder material than the sheath portion of the device 300. To facilitate the forming of the thin sheath 2 portion of the device 300 for injection moulding, ribs 16 may be added substantially along its length to create a channel to get material flowing in the mould. In this embodiment the device 300 may be moulded inside-out to facilitate the removal of the device 300 from a mould. The device 300 may be injection moulded, dip moulded, rotational moulded or formed by other means. It will be appreciated that a sleeve (not shown) may be inserted into the device 300 at its ends 4, 5 to allow the user to grab the ends 4,5 while not squeezing the cable 9.

Referring to Figure 11, whereas heretofore the cable 9 has been shown with one of its free ends being brought through the device 1, it will be appreciated that neither free end of the cable 9 is required to go through the device 1. In Figure 11, a loop of the cable 9 has be brought through the device 1 as shown in Fig. 8 so no end connectors are brought through the device 1. This will be particularly useful where the cables 9 have large connectors at their ends which would be difficult to get through the device 1. Furthermore, this configuration will approximately double the amount of cable that can be coiled in the cable coiling device at any one time. Indeed, it is envisaged that multiple devices could be used in series on a length of cable if desired to coil the cable into a number of small coils along the length of the cable.

In the embodiments shown, the sheath 2 material is preferably made of an elastomer material such as latex, polyisoprene, rubber or any other polymer, material or composite that has the desired level of elastic modulus, elasticity, tear strength, cost and processability. For example one material that is deemed suitable is synthetic polyisoprene sold under the brand name K-440 by Kent Elastomer Products Inc. of Kent, Ohio, United States of America. This material has a minimum elastic limit of 750% and only requires a force of 230psi to extend it 300% of its length. Accordingly, this material requires a relatively low force to extend it to 300% of its relaxed length LR making it suitable for use as a sheath 2 material. It is important that the force to extend the sheath 2 is within a user strength, the sheath 2 material does not exceed its elastic limit during multiple operations and the extendable length of the sheath 2 is useful to the user so at there is a meaningful reduction in the free length of the cable 9 when the cable 9 is coiled in the relaxed device 1.

Referring now to Fig. 12, while the retainers 6, 7 have been shown as being of one part it will be appreciated that the main body 15 of the retainer 6,7 may be of a different material to the face 16 providing the slit 8. For example the retainers 6, 7 main body 15 may be of harder material than would be preferable for the face 16 contacting the cable 9 so as to prevent the cable 9 being squeezed when a user grabs the retainers 6, 7 while extending the device 1. The cable contacting surfaces and face 16 may be formed by a material which is over moulded to the main body 15.

While the aperture 8 has been described as a slit or cruciform shape (as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 respectively), it will be appreciated that another shaped opening may be deployed that releasably engages the cable 9 in a soft material such as an ellipse. Indeed the aperture 8 may be of such geometry such that it disengages with the cable 9 when squeezed in a certain plane. For example, with the opening being an ellipse, squeezing the ellipse along its major axis would open the ellipse and release the cable 9. Indeed the retaining means may consist of a serpentine path which the cable 9 passes through. Alternatively the sheath 2 may have a reduced opening or may have a twist to provide retaining means without requiring further retaining components. A twist along the length of the sheath will provide a neck constriction along the length of the sheath to grip the cable inside the sheath. It will be appreciated that separate and / or manual cable engagement and release may be used although this would not be as advantageous as the method previously described as it would require a further user operation.

Referring now to Figure 13, the device 1 is shown with retainers 20 and 21 attached to the ends 4 and 5 of the sheath 2 respectively. The retainers 20 and 21 each have an opening 22 which is larger than the cable 9. While the invention has been described as using retaining means 6, 7 to retain the cable 9 while being actively coiled, in this embodiment the retainers 6, 7 do not have a permanent cable grip means so that when a user extends the device 1 to capture a length L of cable 9 the user themselves squeeze ends 4 and 5 at the maximum required extension so that the cable 9 is gripped. The user maintains this grip while relaxing the tension so that the cable 9 will coil in the device 1 with the user maintaining their grip on the cable 9 during the retracting device thus coiling the cable 9. To maintain the cable 9 in a coiled position and in the device 1 a number of coil retaining methods can be deployed including using retaining ribs 23 (only one of which is shown) on the inside surface 3 of the sheath 2, the ribs 23 engaging the coiled cable 9 where it bends to encourage the cable to stay coiled. Alternative methods of keeping the cable coiled include increasing the surface friction on the inside surface 3 of the sheath and/or having a reduced diameter sheath opening 22 and/or providing a torturous path for the cable 9 so as to reduce its ability to leave the device 1.

Referring to Figures 14 to 16 inclusive, there is shown a further embodiment of a cable coiling device 400 where the device 400 is formed in one part by injection moulding or by other means. Ribs 30, 31 and 32 are shown grouped together and spaced apart in the device 400 and preferably at each end 4, 5 of the device as shown. The top surfaces 33, 34 and 35 respectively of the ribs 30, 31 and 32 are spaced relative to each other in a plane perpendicular to the main axis of the device 400 so that they form a torturous path for a cable 9 (not shown) when threaded through the device 400. The ribs 30, 31 and 32 cause the cable 9 to bend while passing over them, thus creating an impediment to movement and provide a loose retaining means.

Advantageously, the device 400 can be moulded in more than one material to provide the stiffness and flexibility as required in the device 400. For example it may be advantageous to have a more flexible material between thickened sections 36 of the device 400. To facilitate moulding of the device 400 in one piece and particularly to facilitate the injection moulding of the device 400, the device 400 may be moulded inside out which would allow for the moulding of the ribs 30, 31 and 32 and a strong mould core to create the external surface 36 of the device 400.

Referring to Figure 17, there is shown a further embodiment of a cable coiling device 500 where the device 500 is provided with a clamp 501 at one end 503 of the sheath 2. The clamp 501 provides a constriction at the opening 505 of the sheath to retain the cable in the sheath. This constricted opening 505 of the sheath will provide sufficient friction to prevent inadvertent paying out of the cable 9. The clamp may be permanently mounted on the sheath or may be detachably mounted on the sheath. Preferably, the clamp will be permanently mounted on the sheath. The clamp 501 is similar in many respects to a paper clamp used to attach a plurality of sheets of paper together. As an alternative to a permanent clamp, the device could be glued, welded or stitched to provide the constricted opening 505. Similarly, although the clamp is shown at the end of the sheath, it will be understood that the clamp could be located along the sheath spaced apart from the end of the sheath.

In Figure 17, the other end 507 of the sheath 2 is shown without a clamp however it will be understood that a similar clamp to the one mounted on the end 503 of the sheath or one of the other alternative configurations of clamp/securing means/releasably securing means described and/or illustrated with respect to the other embodiments could be provided at the other end 507 of the sheath 2.

Indeed, it is envisaged that the other end 507 of the sheath 2 may be closed instead of open. A cable could be secured to the other end 507 of the sheath internal the sheath. For example, the cable could be used as a tape measure or the like and the cable could be stored internal the sheath with one end of the tape measure permanently fixed inside the sheath and the remainder of the tape capable of being selectively housed predominantly inside the sheath or predominantly outside the sheath. When it is desired to use the tape measure, the free end of the tape measure that protrudes out from the sheath can be pulled away from the sheath thereby unwinding the tape measure and it can be stowed away again in due course by pulling the sheath along the tape measure towards the free end before releasing the sheath and coiling the tape measure in the sheath. A shackle or other fixing member could be provided on the exterior surface adjacent the other end of the sheath so that the end of the sheath 2 could be secured to another body. Indeed, these arrangements are not limited to the construction shown in Figure 17 and the other constructions of cable coiling devices described above with their openings and means to releasably secure the cable in position could be provided with one closed end as described here.

Referring to Figures 18 to 20 inclusive, there is shown a further still embodiment of a cable coiling device according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 600. The cable coiling device 600 is substantially cylindrical in shape and there are two retainer inserts 601, 603, one at either end of the sheath 2. Referring specifically to Figures 19 and 20, the retainer inserts 601 and 603 each have an aperture 8, in this case a slit for through passage of a cable (not shown). It can be seen that the sheath 2 extends around and partially covers the front face 605 of the retainer inserts 601, 603. Furthermore, referring specifically to Figure 19, it can be seen that the retainer inserts 601, 603 are substantially hollow. The outer surface of the retainer inserts may be configured to allow close alignment with the sheath.

It will be understood that various modifications could be made to the foregoing embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, while the retaining means 6, 7 have been described as having an opening/aperture to insert the cable 9 therethrough they may be split along their length to allow fitting over a cable 9. This is particularly useful with cables 9 having connectors at their ends or along their length that will not fit through the openings 8. Advantageously the diameter of the sheath 2 may be temporarily stretched in proportion to their materials elastic limit to accommodate any large connectors (not shown) on a cable 9 that need to be threaded through the device 1. In the embodiments shown, the sheath 1, 200, 600 retains the retainer inserts 6, 7, 601, 603 in position by applying an inward force onto the retainer inserts by virtue of the elasticity of the sheath i.e. the sheath is stretched over the retainer inserts and they in turn are held in place by the elastic force of the sheath. However, other means could be provided to hold the sheath in place instead of or in addition to this elastic force such as glue, a weld or a mechanical fixing arrangement.

Advantageously the sheath 2 and / or the retainers 6, 7 can be made of transparent materials so as to minimise their impact on the devices aesthetics. While the device has been described as being used to coil and shorten the effective length of a cable it will be appreciated that it may be used to the same effect on a hose, tube, rope, wire or indeed any other similar object that would benefit from coiling.

While threading the cable though the device has been described it may be pre-threaded with a plastic moulding which engages with a cable connector to allow the cable to be easily pulled through the device. For example a phone jack could be attached into a hole in the threaded part and the phone cable pulled through. While the sheath 2 has been described as having a continuous surface, it will be appreciated that the sheath may have a pattern of holes in its surface, indeed the sheath may be of a mesh/reticulated material. The mesh may be elasticated. Indeed, an elasticated member may run through a non-elasticated mesh.

While the sheath has been described as being elasticated it will be appreciated that the sheath may be of non-elastic material but may be otherwise connected to a further elastic component which encourages the device 1 to operate as described. This elastic component may be inserted, woven, over layered, layered or otherwise attached to the sheath 2.

While the sheath has been described as being circular in cross-sectional shape it will be appreciated that the cross section of the sheath may vary. Indeed while the coiled cable 9 has been shown as being uniformly coiled on a plane it will be appreciated that the coils may be formed on many different planes so as to overlap. The cross section of the sheath 2 influences the ability of the coils to be formed on multiple planes. While the device 1 has been shown as having straight sides with the cable coiled therein it will be appreciated that the sheath is made of soft elastic material and will bulge according to the shape of the coiled cable. It is envisaged for example that the sheath could be formed having a substantially square, rectangular or racetrack shaped cross-section shape. If the sheath is arranged with a rectangular or racetrack (i.e. oblong) shaped cross-section, it is envisaged that this will promote the cable to coil along one plane. This may be advantageous for certain types of cable, for example, fibre optic cable. Furthermore, it is envisaged that these alternative shapes may require less effort to extend due to the reduced cross-section of the material.

Referring once again to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive and in particular Figure 2 showing a coiled cable 9 in the device 1, the cable 9 having a thickness TC, an outside bend radius BR, the sheath 2 having a relaxed length LR and an internal diameter DS. The maximum extended length LX of the sheath 2 (as illustrated in Figure 3) is limited by its cross section, the materials modulus of elasticity and the maximum elongation percentage of the material. Of critical importance when coiling a cable 9 in the device 1 is that any bend in the cable 9 does not go below the approved minimum bend radius BR for that cable 9. In practice with a larger diameter DS for a given extension, the coil will be looser resulting in a larger bend radius BR therefore putting less strain on the conductors of the cable 9. In many applications however, such as for use on mobile phone headsets cables, it is believed to be desirable to limit the value of the internal diameter DS so the device 1 is not too conspicuous.

In this specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising” and the terms “include, includes, included and including” are all deemed totally interchangeable and should be afforded the widest possible interpretation. The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims: (1) A cable coiling device comprising an elongate, substantially hollow, sheath for reception of a cable therein, the sheath having an opening at one end for through passage of a cable and an opening at the other end for through passage of the cable, one of the openings having means to secure the cable in position relative the sheath and the other of the openings having means to releasably secure the cable in position relative the sheath, and in which the elongate sheath is extensible and contractible along its length such that extension of the sheath when mounted about a length of cable will cause the sheath to surround more of the length of cable and thereafter contraction of the sheath will cause the length of cable internal the sheath to be coiled therein.
(2) A cable coiling device as claimed in claim 1 in which both openings have means to releasably secure the cable in position.
(3) A cable coiling device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the means to releasably secure the cable in position comprises a retainer insert having an aperture for though passage of the cable.
(4) A cable coiling device as claimed in claim 3 in which the retainer insert is constructed from a resiliently deformable material.
(5) A cable coiling device as claimed in claim 4 in which the retainer insert has a shore A hardness of between 5 and 70.
(6) A cable coiling device as claimed in claims 3 to 5 in which the aperture comprises a transverse slit.
(7) A cable coiling device as claimed in claims 3 to 5 in which the aperture comprises a pair of slits arranged in a cruciform configuration.
(8) A cable coiling device as claimed in claims 3 to 7 in which the retainer insert comprises a longitudinal slot for insertion and location of a cable into the aperture.
(9) A cable coiling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sheath is constructed from a resiliently deformable material.
(10) A cable coiling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sheath is constructed from an elastomer.
(11) A cable coiling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the sheath is configured to have a maximum longitudinal extension of at least 100% of the sheath’s relaxed length.
(12) A cable coiling device as claimed in claims 1 to 10 in which the sheath is configured to have a maximum longitudinal extension of at least 300% of the sheath’s relaxed length.
(13) A cable coiling device as claimed in claims 1 to 10 in which the sheath is configured to have a maximum longitudinal extension of at least 500% of the sheath’s relaxed length.
(14) A cable coiling device as claimed in claims 1 to 10 in which the sheath is configured to have a maximum longitudinal extension of at least 700% of the sheath’s relaxed length.
(15) A cable coiling device as claimed in claims 1 to 10 in which the sheath is configured to have a maximum longitudinal extension of at least 1000% of the sheath’s relaxed length.
(16) A cable coiling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the means to releasably secure the cable in position relative to the sheath comprises at least one inwardly extending rib defining a serpentine passageway through the opening.
(17) A cable coiling device as claimed in claim 16 in which there are provided a plurality of oppositely disposed ribs defining the serpentine passageway through the opening.
(18) A cable coiling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the means to secure the cable in position relative the sheath is located along the sheath spaced apart from the entrance of the opening.
(19) A cable coiling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the means to secure the cable in position relative the sheath is located internal the sheath.
(20) A cable coiling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the means to releasably secure the cable in position relative the sheath is located along the sheath spaced apart from the entrance of the opening.
(21) A cable coiling device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the means to releasably secure the cable in position relative the sheath is located internal the sheath.
(22) A cable coiling device as claimed in claim 4 in which the retainer insert has a shore 00 hardness of between 10 and 80.