Flexible conduit storage organizer

Abstract

Provided herein is a device which may be mounted to a vertical substrate, and which is useful as a rack for storing flexible conduits, such as wires, cables, hoses and the like in an orderly fashion during their non-use. A device according to the invention comprises a main backbone portion, to which a plurality of fingers are attached. The backbone portion is substantially-linear in a preferred embodiment, and is mounted with its longest length dimension in a vertical orientation. Successive loops of a flexible conduit are looped around successive fingers of the device to provide neat and orderly stowage of otherwise cumbersome conduits. A device according to the invention is especially well-suited for storing garden hoses in garages or residential backyard environments.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates generally to stowage means. More particularly, it relates to a hardware device useful for the orderly stowage of flexible conduits, including wires, cables and hoses. BACKGROUND [0002] The use of linear, flexible wares such as long wires, cables, hoses and other conduits present a problem from the standpoint of their orderly storage. While typically supplied in neat, orderly coils, once a user unwinds a coil of such material for its first use, it is typical that the flexible ware is never again stored as neatly as in its originally delivered form. In the case of electrical extension cords, it is well-known that such cords are prone to tangling and snarling during normal use. Additionally it is well known to coil them up by hand, by forming a series of loops adjacent to one another in a bundled fashion of common radius. So too it is with garden hoses. Typically, users will cause a garden hose to be coiled for storage after use in an effor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The present invention provides a device useful for the organized storage of flexible conduits, including hoses, wires, and cables. A device according to the invention comprises a backbone portion, having a longest length dimension, a width dimension, a height dimension, a first end portion, and a second end portion. There are a plurality of finger portions, each having a length dimension, a width dimension, a thickness dimension, a first end portion, and a second end portion. The finger portions are disposed along the length dimension of the backbone portion. Each of the finger portions are attached at their first end portion to the backbone portion. The finger portions are oriented such that their length dimensions extend substantially perpendicularly from the backbone portion with respect to the longest length dimension of the backbone portion. One of the finger portions comprises a terminal finger portion, and is disposed adjacent to an end portion of the backbone portion. The terminal finger portion preferably includes a hook means disposed on its second end portion.

Problems solved by technology

The use of linear, flexible wares such as long wires, cables, hoses and other conduits present a problem from the standpoint of their orderly storage.

While typically supplied in neat, orderly coils, once a user unwinds a coil of such material for its first use, it is typical that the flexible ware is never again stored as neatly as in its originally delivered form.

In the case of electrical extension cords, it is well-known that such cords are prone to tangling and snarling during normal use.

While the prior art devices described include some ingenious stowage means, none has provided a simplistic device which is readily useable, of low enough cost that it can be essentially discarded after only a few uses, and which is user-friendly to persons in all age categories.

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