Finisher device

Abstract

A collator for wires for collating wires by a person's hand, the collator having opposite sides in a resiliently articulated relationship and between which a cable can be received and held, the opposite sides forming a holding portion in which a portion of the cable is held, where the portion of the cable is held in the holding portion, where the portion of the cable is held in the holding portion, and where the portion of the cable is held in the holding portion, where the portion of the cable is held in the holding portion. The distal end of each side forms a mouth through which the wire can be received, the mouth contracting to a neck having substantially parallel sides to provide resistance to the wire passing through the neck and into or out of the retaining portion.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a collator device, and more particularly to a collator device for collating wire or the like.

[0002] When traveling and performing repairs, cables, wires, etc. are used anywhere, at home or at work. Cables and similar long items are typically wound and stored in the form of small loops as a convenient way to carry or store these items. As very long wires, extension wires are used from time to time to allow access to power away from the nearest electrical outlet and provide power. When working in the garden or when camping, extension wires are typically used to extend the range of use of electric items. Homes typically require multiple wires, and if not carefully stored, these wires can easily become tangled or messy. Usually, people will unwind the cable to provide length and plug it into a socket so that a power device can be used at an extended distance. After use, people typically wind the extension cable around their arm to form a small loop, and then repeatedly form loops of a similar size around their arm until the entire cable is looped. This method of looping the cable requires practice and may be difficult to perform for long and heavy cables. Once the cable is wound, there will be about 20 cable loops on a person's arm, and then the person needs to move the cable loops to a storage location while keeping all the loops in place. The reality is that this is very difficult to do, so usually people will try to tie the loops in place by using a portion of the cable to hold the loops in place after the loops are formed.

[0003] Electrical cables or communication cables are prone to damage due to excessive bending, stretching, or bundling. In fact, bundling electrical cables has never been recommended because it may damage the fragile conductor fibers and / or plastic coatings. Bundling the cable with bundling loops will shorten the long-term life of the cable and may also cause short-term damage, which is highly undesirable. For any long item, wire, cable, or hose, it is preferred not to bend or tighten the item excessively to prevent damage. This is also true for household cables and cables used industrially. In mines or industrial sites, there may be many electrical cables, and if these electrical cables are damaged or tangled, there will be unnecessary downtime, which will have a measurable cost.

[0004] If stored randomly, traditional cables may form loops in part during storage, but will become increasingly chaotic when moved during storage. When retracting the cable, after a period of time, the cable may thus be in a tangled mess. This is undesirable because when people look for the cable, they need to use it and expect to be able to use it quickly and easily. Instead, they will need to spend some time untangling the cable before they can use it. If a part of the cable has been used to tie up the cable, the tied-up part must be untied before the cable can be used, and the tied-up and overly bent cable may be damaged over time, which is not desirable. In addition, if the cable is tied, bent, or moved beyond its natural curve, the cable is vulnerable to damage, either internally or externally. If the cable can be gently and naturally looped for storage, this potential risk can be avoided.

[0005] The inventors have developed a surprisingly effective new method for organizing long items, such as wires or cables, in a quick and easy manner that can be easily used and reused without damaging the cable, even over the long term. The use of a cleverly designed arrangement enables the organizer to be used on the left or right side. The multi-faceted invention can be made of highly visible materials so that the organizer can be quickly found even at a distance, including LED lights, made of renewable materials, and including additional clip, hook, or handle features. The use of a central hole in the handle part enables a looped cable to be fixed in place by passing through the end or plug to help maintain the looped form. In this way, the organized cable is held in the organizer in a looped form and can be very easily stored or transported in a compact and secure form. Since the cable loops are perfectly held and prevented from tangling or knotting, damage during long-term storage or transportation is largely prevented. The organizer holds all the loops of the cable in place, sufficiently separated to prevent tangling, but loops all the loops of the cable together by threading each loop into the holding part. Additional clips may be included to hold the first half of the looped cable, and the last part is placed and held by the handle part of the holder.

[0006] The present invention includes a mouth portion and a holding portion through which the cable can be received, and a portion of the cable is held in the holding portion. The cable is looped and partially received in the holding portion to form and hold each loop. When this process is repeated, loops of the cable are formed, and the dressed cable changes from a long extension cable to a cable that will hold the dressed loops and be dressed until removed from the organizer. The holder enables an action somewhat similar to the conventional winding around an arm to be used, but each loop is held in the organizer and prevented from falling off, making the process easier to perform. When in use, the organizer can be held left and right with one hand and is convenient and intuitive to use. Once dressed, the cable will remain dressed, and even when transported in a boat or a car, the cable will remain tightly held in the two-part organizer to prevent it from becoming loose. A particularly useful form of the present invention is for keeping caravan or boat cables looped and neat during travel. Then, by using this very clever organizer, the looped cable can be easily stored with a minimum of floor space and will remain dressed even when moved or picked up. The organizer will keep the loops dressed indefinitely, so when a person returns to the cabinet or shelf where the cable has been stored, the cable will be in good condition, without excessive bending or damage and ready to be unwound.

[0007] The present invention is very well designed for a wide range of applications to keep the stored cables dressed and also to allow them to be very easily unwound and used. Over time, the device has been carefully developed to solve this long-standing problem in a way that is likely to be well received. The ingenious device is very simple to use and is quickly and easily understood because it is thought that a complex device would not work well for this particular application. People will use the device because its action is very similar to that of the looped cables they currently use, but instead of looping around their hand, they loop into the device and then hold and keep the loops in place. Also, importantly, equally, the unwinding of the cable is just as easy, the process is reversed, and the dressed cable is quickly unwound and ready to be used again. The gripping of the organizer device means that the unwinding and release of the loops do not occur until the person decides to do so and releases the loops from the organizer.

[0008] The following describes non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, which are used with reference to an extension cable or wire as a particularly good embodiment of the use of the present invention. However, the present invention can be used with any long item, such as an air supply hose, and is not limited to the use of an extension cable or wire other than as restricted in the claims. Any long item for which the present invention may be useful can be used with the present invention, and the configuration can be adjusted accordingly.

[0009] For the sake of clarity, any prior art mentioned in this document does not constitute an admission that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a collator device that at least ameliorates one or more of the above problems of the prior art. Another and separate object of the present invention is to provide a method of using a collator device that at least ameliorates one or more of the above problems of the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a collator for wire, for collating wire by a human hand, the collator having opposed side portions in an elastically hinged relationship, and the wire being receivable and retainable between the opposed side portions, a retaining portion being formed between the opposed sides, a portion of the wire being retained in the retaining portion, wherein the distal end of each side portion forms an aperture through which the cable can be received, the aperture tapering to a neck having substantially parallel sides to provide resistance to the wire passing through the neck and into or out of the retaining portion.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the neck leads to the retaining portion. Preferably, at the base where the side portions intersect, the collator flares outwards to support the wire from below. The collator may also include a recess formed in the base in which a portion of the wire can be received to secure the wire within the collator.

[0013] The collator may also include tactile ribs formed on the exterior of the base to facilitate gripping the collator. Preferably, the collator has an opening formed in and extending through the neck for mounting the collator. Preferably, when viewed from perpendicular to the parallel sides of the neck, the distal ends and edges of the sides of the neck have a substantially semi-circular shape.

[0014] The collator preferably has a one-piece structure. In a preferred form, the collator has an appearance selected from the group consisting of: coloured; white; black; multi-coloured; Hi-Viz; fluorescent; fluorinated substances; reflective materials including coloured reflective materials; or combinations thereof. Preferably, the collator is made of a high-visibility plastic material.

[0015] Preferably, the organizer is made to be adapted to hold the cable in the holding portion and has sufficient elasticity such that the cable can be pushed from the mouth to the holding portion by the push of a hand. Preferably, the wire is a cable. Preferably, the cross-section of the holding portion is substantially oval, which is particularly suitable for hanging or holding the loops of the cable together without damage. Preferably, the holding portion includes anchor means for connecting the wire before looping.

[0016] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of organizing a wire, comprising the steps of: providing an organizer of the type described herein, looping the wire and taking a first part of the first loop; receiving the first part of the first loop on the mouth of the organizer; pulling the first loop part through the neck and into the holding portion; and repeating the above steps with more loops to continue winding the wire.

[0017] There is also disclosed herein an organizer for a wire, the organizer comprising: receiving means for receiving a part of the wire, the receiving means having an opening for receiving the wire; and holding means in communication with the receiving means to hold the part of the wire received from the receiving means therein, wherein the wire can be wound up, and a part is received in the receiving means and moves as a series of loops to the holding means and is held in the holding means, and the organizer holds the loops in the holding means until the wire needs to be released for use.

[0018] There is also disclosed herein an organizer for a wire for organizing the wire by hand by a person, the organizer comprising: receiving means for receiving a part of the wire, the receiving means comprising two parts which are suitably open and spaced apart at the top to easily receive the wire therein, and the two parts are close together at the lower part to substantially prevent the wire from being transferred from the receiving means to the holding means without further action; holding means in communication with the receiving means to hold the part of the wire received from the receiving means therein, and the holding means includes sides and a space therein to hold the wire; and An elastic joint, the elastic joint including an opening between the receiving device and the holding device, the receiving device, the holding device and the elastic joint therebetween being integrally formed as a substantially single piece, and the size of the opening of the elastic joint being designed to prevent the wire from passing through until pushed, and the elastic joint having sufficient elasticity such that the wire can be pushed through the opening through the elastic joint from the receiving device to the holding device by hand pushing, wherein the wire is coiled and partially received in the receiving device and is moved to and held in the holding device by being pushed through the elastic joint and the opening, and the wire is held in the holding device as a series of loops, and the organizer holds the loops in the holding device until it is desired to release the wire, the elastic means enabling the wire to be easily pulled from the receiving device to the holding device, but once the wire is pulled into the holding device of the organizer, the wire cannot be removed again without being pulled out by resisting the action of the elastic joint, and wherein the organizer can be held with one hand and the pulling action is easily achieved with the other hand.

[0019] Preferably, the organizer enables the organization of long articles or wires for storage or transportation. Preferably, the present invention prevents wire entanglement. Preferably, when the organizer is held in the hand, the organizer receives the wire, and the wire is wound onto the organizer, and before being held in the holding means, successive wire loops are received in the receiving portion, whereby the wire is held in a loop form by the organizer. The organizer can take any useful form to prevent wire entanglement and reduce its storage footprint. Preferably, the organizer organizes the wire or long article into a compact loop form that is most convenient for storage. Preferably, the looped wire is suitable for convenient hand carriage. Preferably, the looped wire is suitably organized for carriage in a vehicle. The vehicle can be a car, caravan, boat or aircraft. Preferably, the looped cable can be stored in a toolbox. Preferably, the organization is a tidy organization. Preferably, the organization is a complete organization and resists separation until the user chooses to release the loop from the organizer. The organizer can be organized to be suitable for hanging on a hook or similarly stored in a location. A matching hook and eyelet arrangement can be used. A handle can be included such that in use the organizer can be held or suspended by the handle in the hand. The handle can take any suitable shape. The handle can be used for a range of applications. The handle can form part of the receiving means. The handle can be an extension of the receiving means. The handle can be a curved and extended portion of the receiving means. The curve can be substantially hemispherical, a smaller arc or a larger arc extending more than 180 degrees. The handle can be an extended and shaped portion of the receiving means adapted to serve as the handle. Preferably, the receiving portion extends in a curve and forms a hook that can be hooked onto the structure or part of a vehicle for storage or carriage therewith. The handle can be held in the hand, and / or the handle can be used to hold the organizer on a hook or for other storage items. In a preferred form, the organizer includes a handle, wherein the connected receiving portion and handle form a substantially inverted J-shaped profile. Preferably, the curved handle is integrally formed with the remainder of the organizer. In other forms, the organizer can be made as separate components, including the handle.

[0020] In one form, the organizer includes a handle or a bent portion for hooking the organizer onto other objects. For example, the organizer can be attached to the side of a caravan, a truck, or hooked onto a pole or a tube for storing or transporting the organizer and the organized wire. The most useful application of the present invention is a bent portion including a receiving portion of the organizer adapted to be hooked onto a pole or a tube, which can be part of a vehicle or a structure and thus attach the organizer thereto. The hook or the handle can be used to firmly attach the organizer to the structure or the vehicle. The organizer can be used in workshops, factories, homes, sheds or other workplaces, anywhere where extension leads, air supply lines or other types of wires are used. When connected to a vehicle, the organizer can be carried by the vehicle when the vehicle moves so as to transport the organized wire in a convenient manner. The hook or the handle can take any suitable form. The hook or the handle can be used to conveniently store the organizer and the organized wire in a convenient elevated position.

[0021] Preferably, the organizer is made of a suitable plastic material. The organizer can be made of any suitable material. Preferably, the organizer is substantially made of polyvinyl chloride material ("PVC"). The organizer can be made of a suitable renewable plastic material. Any suitable plastic material can be used, including engineering plastic materials. In some forms, the organizer can be substantially formed of a metallic material. The metallic material can be aluminum. The organizer can be made of fiberglass. Most preferably, the organizer is highly visible and can be used in industry or a mine. The organizer can have an appearance selected from the group consisting of: colored; white; black; multicolored; high visibility material (Hi-Viz); fluorescent; fluorinated coloring substances; reflective materials, including reflective green, red, orange, purple, and pink; or combinations thereof. The organizer can be made in one or more colors or a series of colors that can be used to distinguish products. Preferably, a series of products with different colors for organizers of different sizes are produced. These organizers of different sizes can be used for different purposes, as indicated by using different colors. For example, there can be organizers of different sizes or configurations, and such differences can be easily seen by using standardized different colors. Most preferably, the organizer is made of a high visibility material. Most preferably, the organizer is made of a high visibility plastic material. Preferably, the organizer is adapted to hold the cable in the holding device and has sufficient elasticity such that the cable can be pushed from the receiving device into the holding device by the push of a hand. The organizer is designed to be easy to use without requiring special strength, and the push resistance holds the cable in place. In this way, the organizer is an organizer that can be commonly used by any one of children, adults, and people with weak hands because only a small force is required to use the organizer.

[0022] Preferably, the wire is any suitable long item. The long item can be a cable. Preferably, the present invention is used with a cable. The cable and the organizer can be provided together. The organizer can be provided separately. The organizer can include means for holding the organizer attached to the cable such that it is always ready for use. In some forms of the present invention, the organizer and the cable can be integrally formed. The long item can be selected from the group consisting of: cable; wire; hose; The size and configuration of the organizer need to be adjusted to accommodate large and long items. The present invention can use any suitable long item. The size of the present invention can vary to accommodate specific applications. Most preferably, the organizer is used with the cable to hold the cable in a looped form. The cable can be a household cable. The cable can be more than one cable carried together. The cable can be an industrial cable. The cable can be any suitable cable, and the organizer is adapted and configured to fit the size of the loop and the weight of the cable.

[0023] The receiving device may be in any suitable form. Preferably, the receiving device includes an elastic device. Preferably, the elastic device is configured such that a loop of the cable can be pulled into the receiving device and received in the holding device through an opening. A pushing action may be used in an alternative form of the organizer. Most preferably, the elastic device enables the loop of the cable to be easily pulled from the receiving device into the holding device, but once pulled into the organizer, it cannot be removed again without being pulled out. Preferably, the opening is configured to require the cable to be pulled through and to prevent the cable from being removed without further action. The strength and spacing of the resistance will be adapted to cables of different widths or weights. It is envisaged that a series of organizers will be provided to fit a range of cables. The adaptation may allow cables that are smaller or larger than standard cables to be easily received and then held in the organizer. Preferably, a series of organizers will be provided. The series may be a set. The series may suitably be a collection of 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. Preferably, the organizers are provided in a color. A series of color-coded organizers may be provided. The colors may be customized for a particular market, such as to match a caravan, or may be used for entertainment, such as football colors. Any suitable color combination may be used. The series may be color-coded for ease of use, for example, in a mine or industrial site, to ensure that the correct organizer for the cable size is used. More than one cable may be stored in a single organizer of suitable size. In other forms of the present invention, a single cable may be used with a single organizer. This may depend on the length of the cable, where a long cable may fill the organizer, but several short cables may be used with the same cable organizer.

[0024] Most preferably, the resilient means is of plastic material and has sufficient flexure or resilience to open sufficiently when pressed by the pulling action of a cable or wire to allow the cable to enter the retaining means. The resilient means may be made of PVC. The organizer may be made substantially of PVC and the construction is such that the PVC forms the resilient part of the organizer between the receiving means and the retaining means. Alternatively, other materials such as other plastics, metals, composite materials or fiberglass materials may be used. Preferably, the opening is configured to only allow the cable to pass through once pulled so as to enlarge the opening. Alternatively, other forms of placing the cable from the receiving means to the retaining means may be used. Clips or other forms of opening and closing may be used in lower forms of the invention. Preferably, it is resilient enough to allow the cable to be easily pulled down into the retaining means but not so loose that the loop could easily fall off. There is a balance of ease of use and holding the loop in place. Optionally, additional retention may be included by additional clips or loops, but mainly, the organizer itself has sufficient retention on the loop to prevent escape. One of the most advantageous features of the organizer is that one can hold the organizer in the manner in which one would normally loop a cable, but when they loop the cable, they pass the cable from the receiving means through the resilient means into the retaining means, thereby holding the loop together and ready for later use. The ends of the cable or wire may pass through the final loop to help hold it in place. There may also be holes in the organizer through which the ends of the wire may pass to help hold it in place.

[0025] Preferably, the receiving means is in the form of two parts and the cable slides between the two parts. More than two parts may be included in other forms of the invention or alternatively a single integral part with a gap may be used. Most preferably, two parts are included and the two parts are bent away from each other to facilitate receiving the cable. Preferably, the two parts are of suitable resilience such that a cable etc. can be longitudinally pulled between them and the opening is opened wide enough to receive the cable into the retaining part. The two parts are suitably opened and spaced at the top but closer to the retaining part, the two parts are closer together. The cable will need to be pulled through the parts that are closer together. On release, the cable can be easily pulled up and out in the same manner. The design is carefully carried out to make these stages easy but effective. The cable may be pulled from the left or the right. Preferably, the organizer can be held in one hand and the pulling action can be easily achieved. In other forms of the invention, alternative actions may be used. In other forms of the invention, a pushing action may be present. Preferably, the receiving part and the retaining part are integrally formed with the hole therebetween to increase strength, through which the cable is pulled to hold each loop in place. The cable is pulled through at the junction between the receiving part and the retaining part.

[0026] Preferably, the holding device and the receiving device are formed as two side parts with a narrow space therebetween for receiving a cable and preventing a subsequently held cable from disengaging from the holding device. The holding device can be in any suitable form. Preferably, the cross-section of the holding device is substantially oval, which is particularly suitable for hanging or holding a loop of cables together without damage. Preferably, the holding device includes a substantially curved side part and a space therein for holding the cable. Preferably, the holding device is made of a strong plastic material suitable for holding the weight of the cable. This strong plastic material can be PVC. Any suitable alternative material can be used instead, including composite materials, fiberglass, engineering materials, metals or plastics. The size and material of the organizer device can be varied to suit the particular use to be carried out, such as a small version for thin cables such as headphone cables and a larger version for small industrial cables, where no reel is used. The organizer will have applications with many useful purposes and will thus be made in many forms suitable for these different uses. Preferably, the holding device includes an anchor device for attaching the cable. The anchor device can be in any suitable form. The anchor device can include passing the cable or other long item through a part of the holding device to hold it in place. Any suitable anchoring can be used instead. The anchor device can be a clip. The anchor device can be a clip that is open at the top so that a part of the cable can be pushed in and held. In some forms, the cable can be made integrally with the organizer such that a part of the cable is attached to the rest of the organizer. This can be a tight integral form or a separated form, and in the separated form, the organizer may interfere with the normal use of the cable.

[0027] Preferably, a hole is included that is adapted to receive the end of the cable passing through it after forming a loop to hold the end of the cable in place in the organizer. The hole can be replaced with any suitable form of clip or retainer to hold the end of the cable. Most preferably, the handle or receiving part includes a central hole, and the end of the cable passes through the hole after forming a loop and being held in the holding device to hold the organizer in place. The size of the hole can be adapted to receive one or more plugs. This configuration will accommodate the cable to some extent.

[0028] The visibility of the organizer can be useful for being able to locate it easily. Visibility can be achieved by using a high visibility reflective material or an LED. Any of these can be incorporated into the exterior of the organizer to help the organizer be seen. The reflective material can be useful when looking for the organizer in, for example, a storage box that may be dark.

[0029] The wire can be replaced by any similar cable or wire material, extending the usefulness of the present invention to many household uses.

[0030] This document also discloses an organizer and a cable provided together, the organizer and the cable comprising: A cable; A receiving device for receiving a portion of the cable, the receiving device having an opening for receiving the cable; and A holding device in communication with the receiving device to hold the portion of the cable from the receiving device therein, wherein the cable is capable of being wound, and a portion of the cable is received in the receiving device and held in the holding device as a series of loops, and the organizer holds the loops in the holding device until release.

[0031] Preferably, an anchor point is included, and the cable is anchored to the organizer before use.

[0032] The release device can be a manual release device for pushing or pulling. In other forms of the present invention, the release of the loop can be by clip or button release.

[0033] This document also discloses an organizer for a wire, the organizer comprising: A receiving device for receiving a portion of the wire, having an expandable or elastic opening for receiving the wire passing therethrough; and A holding device in communication with the receiving device and the expandable or elastic opening to receive the wire from the receiving device and the expandable or elastic opening and hold the portion of the wire when receiving a portion of the loop, wherein the wire can be wound, and a portion is received in the receiving device and held in the holding device as a series of loops, and the organizer holds the loops in the holding device until released, the organizer and the wire being provided together.

[0034] Therefore, a two-part receiving device for receiving a portion of a wire, having an expandable or elastic opening for receiving the wire passing therethrough; a handle formed by a portion of the receiving device for hooking the organizer and the organized wire to a structure or vehicle; and A holding device in communication with the receiving device and the expandable or elastic opening to receive the wire from the receiving device and the expandable or elastic opening and hold the portion of the wire when receiving a portion of the loop, Wherein, the electric wire can be wound, and a part thereof is received in the receiving device and held in the holding device as a series of loops, and the organizer holds the loops in the holding device until released, and can be hooked onto something for storage or carried by a vehicle.

[0035] Also disclosed herein is a method of using an organizer device for organizing wire or cable, the organizer device comprising a receiving device and a holding device having an expandable or elastic opening therebetween for receiving a looped electric wire or cable, the method comprising the following steps: a) forming a loop of the wire or cable and taking a first portion of the first loop; b) receiving the first portion of the first loop in the receiving device; c) pulling the first loop portion through the elastic opening into the holding device; d) repeating steps a) to c) with more loops to continue winding the wire or cable until it is fully wound and organized.

[0036] The method may further comprise the step of engaging the wire or cable with the anchor point of the organizer before use. The method can be used by pulling to the left or right. The ends of the wire or cable can be engaged through holes to remain in place after forming loops. Release can be effected by reversing the process.

[0037] The method can be used with the present invention in any of its forms or variations. Description of the Drawings

[0038] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in conjunction with non-limiting embodiments, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an organizer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cable is omitted for ease of illustration; Figures 2 to 5 are respectively Figure 1 the front view, side view, bottom view and top view of the organizer of Figure 6 is a perspective view of another organizer; and Figures 7 to 10 are respectively Figure 6 the front view, side view, bottom view and top view of the organizer of

[0039] Detailed description of the drawings, including the best mode Reference Figures 1 to 5, an embodiment of the present invention will be described, wherein the organizer 10 has a body 12 formed by opposite side portions 14a, 14b having a holding portion 16 and a mouth 18. The body can be considered to be generally clam-shaped, and the opposite side portions 14a, 14b are elastically hinged. The entire organizer is made of a high-strength recycled plastic PVC material. The plastic material is designed to be easy to see and can be used in mining or industrial applications as well as for household use. The plastic is strong but has appropriate elasticity so that the cable can be pulled into the organizer and held, as described in further detail below. The body 12 has two opposite side portions 14a and 14b, and during use of the organizer, a loop of cable of a certain length can be placed between these side portions. At the base 30 where the side portions 24a, 24b intersect, the body 12 flares out or widens, as Figure 2 shown, to support the wire from below the wire. Thus, the wire is supported along an increasing length of the wire. Alternative shapes and forms of the present invention can be used alternatively. However, Figure 1 the shape and design shown are particularly convenient for left or right use and can be comfortably held in one hand.

[0040] In this form of the present invention, the anchor 20 is a pair of holes for receiving loops to hold the cable. By holding the ends of the cable, the anchor 20 can be used to provide a stable form for the present invention. The anchoring and use of the present invention can be easily carried out to the left or right. When the present invention is used as a retrofit for an existing cable as described herein, the anchoring will need to occur before use. Then, it may be useful to have multiple organizers, each for the cable to be organized. In another form of the present invention, the cable will be provided with the installed organizer ready for use. In this form, where the cable and the organizer are sold together, the construction will include connecting or anchoring the ends of the cable suitable for use. These forms of the present invention can be varied appropriately.

[0041] As Figure 3As shown, between the mouth portion 18 and the retaining portion 16 is a neck 22. The neck 22 has generally parallel sides 24a, 24b that form a constriction, and the wire passes between the parallel sides 24a, 24b, with the sides 24a, 24b contacting the wire and providing resistance to passage. Those skilled in the art will understand that the magnitude of the resistance is proportional to the size of the wire, the distance between the sides 24a, 24b, and the elasticity of the material. When a person forms a wire or cable loop in a conventional manner, a portion of the loop of the cable is gently pulled through the neck 22 such that it remains in the retaining portion in the form of a loop. Although a person can wrap the cable around their hand, the process can be repeated by the organized use of an elastic plastic device that expands the opening when pressed to receive the loop portion into the retaining portion 16. The retaining portion 16 is configured to be adapted to repeatedly receive a plurality of cable loops until the entire cable is wound. Spaces and retaining portions of different sizes can be used.

[0042] As Figure 2 shown, the distal ends of the sides 24a, 24b have a semi-circular shape, as does the edge of the neck. This allows the wire to be supported within the mouth portion 18 along the length of the edge of the neck before the wire is pulled into the retaining portion 16.

[0043] The cable can be one or more cables, but any long item, such as a hose, cord, or cable, can be advantageously used in the present invention. Anchors longitudinally passing through the base of the body 12 help to set the loops in place and hold them in place. When each loop is formed by a person, the loops are fed through the receiving portion, pulled into the retaining portion, and stacked one on top of the other, with the remainder of the loop hanging down below.

[0044] The hole 26 can be adapted for use when loop formation is complete to hold the end of the cable. For example, the loop of the cable can be fed through the hole and fixed by passing a plug or socket through it. Other forms of fixation can alternatively be used. The organizer 10 is ergonomically designed with shaped or tactile ribs 28 to fit comfortably in the hand for repeated use. Different shapes and configurations can alternatively be used. Once comfortable use is complete, the end of the cable (plug or socket) can be passed through the hole 26 and held in place as further support to hold the loops in a looped configuration.

[0045] Two cables can be installed in the organizer, where two sockets are accessible and the loops of the cables hang down in an organized manner. Although not shown in the figures, the end socket or plug can pass through the hole 26 to be held in place. The organizer can be a very neat way to capture, store, and hold the organization of the cables and solve a long-standing problem in the art.

[0046] After the cable is easy to use and looped, this compact organizer and the cable can be easily stored, carried with one hand, and otherwise effectively operated. The anchor 20 can be used to hold the loop of the wire within the organizer, but in an advanced form, it will include a hook or handle for mounting or securing the organizer. In a preferred form, the mouth 18 can be bent and extended to form a hook that can be hooked over a rod or tube. Then, the secure hook can be used to hold the looped wire and the organizer together for storage, such as a structural attachment, or can be hooked over the side of a vehicle or caravan and carried with it. The form of the hook or handle can vary to suit a particular application.

[0047] Figures 6 - 10 Another embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this regard, the organizer 110 includes a body 112 formed by opposite sides 114a, 114b, which has a holding portion 116 and a mouth 118. In this embodiment, like features from the first embodiment have been shown using reference numerals incremented by 100, and the foregoing description of these features is intended to apply.

[0048] The organizer 110 differs from the organizer 10 in that at the base 130, the sides have a greater opening, as Figure 7 shown. This opening portion includes holding means 132 in which a portion of the wire can be received and held in place.

[0049] The present invention is a significant improvement over the prior art and may be popular in many related industries.

[0050] Industrial Applicability The organizer can be industrially manufactured and directly supplied to customers or to wholesalers or retailers It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes can be made to the embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope described in the various aspects of the present invention.

[0051] List of Reference Marks: 10, 110 Organizer 12, 112 Body 14a / 14b, 114a / 114b Sides 16, 116 Holding Portion 18, 118 Mouth 20, 120 Anchor 22, 122 Neck 24a / 24b, 124a, 124b Parallel Sides 26 / 126 Hole 28, 128 Tactile Rib 30, 130 Base 132 Holding device

Claims

1. A finisher for wire rods, for finishing wire rods by a human hand, the finisher having opposite sides in an elastically hinged relationship, and the wire cable being receivable and retainable between the opposite sides, a retaining portion being formed between the opposite sides, a portion of the wire cable being retained in the retaining portion, wherein, The distal end of each side forms an opening through which the wire is received, and the opening tapers to a neck having substantially parallel sides to provide resistance to the wire passing through the neck and into or out of the retaining portion.

2. The organizer according to claim 1, wherein, The neck leads to the retaining portion.

3. The organizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein At the base where the sides intersect, the organizer flares out or widens to support the wire from below.

4. The organizer according to claim 3, further comprising a recess formed in the base, in which a portion of the wire can be received to secure the wire within the organizer.

5. The organizer according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising tactile ribs formed on the outside of the base to facilitate gripping of the organizer.

6. The organizer according to any of the preceding claims, having an opening formed in and extending through the neck for mounting the organizer.

7. The organizer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, When viewed perpendicular to the parallel sides of the neck, the distal ends and edges of the sides of the neck have a substantially semi-circular shape.

8. The organizer according to any of the preceding claims, the organizer having a one-piece construction.

9. The organizer according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the organizer has an appearance selected from the group consisting of: colored; white; black; multicolored; high-visibility material (Hi-Viz); fluorescent; fluorinated coloring substance; reflective material including a colored reflective material; or a combination thereof.

10. The sorter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The organizer is made of a high-visibility plastic material.

11. The sorter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The organizer is made to be adapted to hold the cable in the holding means and has sufficient elasticity to enable the cable to be pushed from the receiving means into the holding means by the push of a hand.

12. The sorter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The wire is a cable.

13. The organizer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The cross-section of the retaining portion is substantially oval, particularly suitable for hanging or holding loops of the cable together without damage.

14. The sorter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The retaining portion includes anchor means for attaching the wire before forming a loop.

15. A method of organizing a cable, comprising the steps of: providing an organizer according to any of the preceding claims, looping the wire and taking a first portion of the first loop; receiving the first portion of the first loop on the opening of the organizer; pulling the first loop portion through the neck and into the retaining portion; and repeating the above steps with more loops to continue winding the wire.

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